Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

Chapter 128 SAGE I crossed my arms over my chest, narrowing my eyes at him. "Help? Since when do you help anyone without expecting something in return?" My tone was sharp, laced with suspicion.

His smirk widened, unbothered by my pointed words. "Touché, he drawled, leaning casually against the doorframe. "But let's just say I'm protecting my investment. I was a little concerned that the alpha's... attachment to you might complicate things when it ctfor you to fulfill your end of our little deal. Luckily for me, it seems the pieces are aligning all on their own." I blinked, momentarily thrown off by his brazen honesty. There wasn't an ounce of shin his tone, only a smug satisfaction that made my stomach churn. "Why am I not surprised?" I replied, my voice bitter as I tried to keep my composure.

Kieran chuckled softly, as if my words amused him. "You really shouldn't be," he said, his gaze flickering with something unreadable. "But don't misunderstand me-I'm not here to gloat. I genuinely want to help you." "And how are you planning to help me?" "Rather than telling, why don't I show you?" he said as he slowly took a step inside my room.

I automatically took a step back as I watched his every move. But being a skilled hunter that he is, I underestimated how quickly he moves. I frowned in confusion and annoyance when I suddenly found him in front of me, a few inches away "What the hell are you doing?" I snapped, my voice laced with irritation and confusion.

Kieran didn't answer. Instead, he stepped closer, his hands moving with lightning speed to cup my cheeks...ore I could react, he pulledtoward him, closing the distance between us in a heartbeat. My brain struggled to catch up with his actions. It hitall at once-he's kissing me.

My body froze, disbelief and outrage warring within me. My feet were glued to the floor, my hands useless at my sides as I tried to process what was happening. This man-this smug, unpredictable lunatic-had just stolen a kiss.

As reality snapped back into focus, I raised my hands, ready to shove him away with every ounce of strength I had. But just as quickly as he had kissed me, Kieran letgo, stepping back with a smirk that made my blood boil.

"What the fu-" I started, my voice trembling with fury. But before I could finish, Kieran was ripped backward by an unseen force.

It all happened in a blur. One moment, Kieran stood in front of me, looking insufferably pleased with himself. The next, he was slammed onto the floor with a force that rattled the room.

My eyes widened as I saw Titus looming over him, his crimson eyes blazing with fury. He didn't hesitate-his fists rained down on Kieran with unrelenting power, each punch landing with a sickening thud. The raw, primal anger radiating off Titus was enough to make the air in the room feel suffocating..

"Titus, stop!" I gasped, rushing toward them. But he didn't hear me, or maybe he didn't care. His focus was entirely on Kieran, his rage manifesting in every blow he delivered.

"Alpha!" I tried again, my voice shaking. "Titus, stop it! Please!" I pleaded.

He paused mid-swing, his head snapping toward me. His expression was wild, untamed, but it softened just slightly when his eyes met mine. For a moment, the room was silent except for our ragged breathing.

Then, the weight of what had just happened sank in. My hands trembled as I clutched them to my chest, my thoughts racing. How long had he been standing there? Did he see the kiss Titus rose slowly, his chest heaving as he glared down at Kieran, who lay on the floor, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "If you ever touch her again," Titus growled, his voice low and venomous, "I'll make sure you don't live to regret it." Kieran, to my shock, managed a laugh, though it was weak and laced with pain. "Relax, Alpha," he rasped, spitting out a bit of blood. "It was just a kiss. Nothing you can't fix." "Titus, stop!" I repeated, my hands still pressed against his chest, though his fury felt like a physical force pushing back against me. His crimson eyes locked onto mine, blazing with emotions I couldn't fully decipher- anger, betrayal, something deeper that I wasn't ready to face.

"Why?" he growled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Afraid your little boyfriend can't handle a scratch?" His words were sharp, laced with anger and disgust, each syllable cutting into the fragile air between us.

I flinched at his accusation, a rush of frustration and disbelief flooding my veins. "He's not my-" I stopped myself, shaking my head. Explaining wouldn't matter. Not now. Not when he was like this.

"You think I didn't see?" Titus continued, his voice rising. "That smug bastard putting his hands on you? Kissing you?" His fists clenched again, his whole body trembling th barely restrained rage. "And you just stood there." His words stung, and I felt my own anger rising to the surface. "You don't know what you saw," I snapped, my voice shaking as I met his glare. "I didn't ask for any of that." "Then explain it to me, Sage," he shot back, stepping closer, his towering presence overwhelming. "Explain why you didn't push him away. Why you let him-" He cut himself off, his jaw tightening as though the thought itself w o much to bear I opened my mouth, the words ready to explain everything, but they stuck in my throat the moment I caught a glimpse of Keiran. He stood off to the side, his usual knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips. It was like he was silently daring me, urgingto take this moment and turn it into something useful, to push forward with what we needed to do.

So I did. I squared my shoulders and spoke, letting my anger lead the way.

"And so what if he's kissing me? You have no right to attack him! "Attack?" Titus shot back, his voice sharp with bitterness. "I wasn't attacking him-I was protecting you. Something you clearly don't know how to do for yourself when it comes to him. anger and His words hit like a slap. My hands, which had been pressed against his chest, fell to my sides, trembling with disbelief. My voice shook, but I forced it to steady. "You don't get to stand there and judge me, Titus," I said, my tone low but razor-edged. "You have no right. Not after everything."

For a moment, he froze, his burning gaze faltering. There was something there-guilt, regret, was gone before but it could be sure. He spoke again, quieter this time, his voice rough with emotion.

"Everything I've done," he murmured, "has been for you. To protect you. To keep you safe." "I didn't ask for any of it!" I shouted, my voice ricocheting off the walls, filling the space between us. It felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving just us and the weight of everything we couldn't say.

Titus stepped back, his eyes growing cold and hard, but I could still see a flicker of something vulnerable.m Neither of us spoke for what felt like forever. His chest rose and fell slowly, each breath measured, while the silence between us weighed heavier than any words we could say. Without a word, he turned around, his boots clicking sharply against the floor. Each step echoed in the room, sounding like a farewell I wasn't ready to hear. I stood frozen, my heart pounding so hard it hurt, watching him head for the door.

He stopped just before reaching it, his hand hovering near the doorknob. His back was to me, but I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way he seemed to wrestle with himself, holding back words he couldn't seem to let out.

"I'll never stop trying to protect you," he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion I couldn't quite nHal didn't look back at me, didn't letsee his face. Then he was gone. The door closed behind him with a soft thud, the sound echoing through the empty space he left behind. 1 stayed there, staring at the door, unable to move. My breaths cshallow and uneven as my mind raced. A part ofwanted to run after him, to stop him, to say something-anything-to make him stay. But deep down, I knew it wouldn't change anything.

Eventually, I sank into the chair by the window, my thoughts spinning. The silence in the room felt louder than ever, pressing down onlike a weight I couldn't escape.

0