Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

SAGE

We all returned to our rooms to pack, the air heavy with unspoken tension. Titus had made it clear-our time in this pack house was over. Without Alpha Marcus's support, we were left scrambling to find another ally strong enough to help us win the looming war. While I was packing all my things, I heard a soft knock at the door that broke my train of thought. Startled, I froze for a moment before walking over to answer. When I opened the door my breath hitched at the sight of Scott standing there. "S-Scott," I stammered, nerves prickling at the seriousness in his expression. "Do you need something?"

His voice was steady, but the weight in his tone sent a chill down my spine. "Can I come in? We need to talk."

I hesitated, glancing over my shoulder at the hall-packed bag on my bed. Taking a deep breath, I stepped aside and gestured for him to enter. "O-Of course," I said, closing the door softly behind him. "What's this about?"

Scott turned to face me, his eyes piercing as he spoke. "We both know why I'm here, Sage."

His words made my stomach twist. I forced a strained smile, trying to deflect. "I'm afraid I don't. You'll have to enlighten

me."

He didn't bite. Instead, he studied me with that sharp gaze of his, cutting through my feigned ignorance. "It's about Alpha Titus's decision," he said plainly.

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. "What about it?"

"Is it safe to assume we both believe what he did wasn't the best decision for our cause?"

I hesitated, weighing my words carefully. Finally, I exhaled a long breath. "If you're asking for my honest opinion, then yes," I admitted. "I believe rejecting Alpha Marcus's offer was a mistake. We need his support if we're going to win this war."

Scott's expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed slightly, as though he'd expected my response but was still calculating his next move. "Then you'll help me convince him to reconsider?"

His words caught me off guard, and I shook my head. "Even if I wanted to, it's not my decision to make. I have no influence over him."

Scott's jaw tightened, and his voice dropped to a near growl. "You think you have no influence? Sage, he chose you over his throne. He's willing to jeopardize this war for you. So don't stand there and tell me you can't sway him."

His accusation struck like a blow, and I felt anger bubbling beneath the surface. "Why does everyone believe it was me?" I snapped, my irritation breaking through. "Why does everyone assume I'm the one he was referring to when he said he already had a Luna? Did you all forget that he chose Anna over me? He broke our bond to protect her!"

My voice shook with a mix of frustration and pain, the words spilling out before I could stop them. Scott flinched slightly at my outburst but didn't back down, his expression hardening.

"Maybe he did once," Scott said after a moment, his tone quieter but no less firm. "But that doesn't change the fact that his actions today suggest otherwise. He's making decisions with you in mind, whether you see it or not. And if you care about this pack-about the people counting on us-you need to stop denying it and do something."

I clenched my fists, his words slicing through me. A part of me wanted to argue, to push back against the pressure he was putting on me. But part of me knew he wasn't entirely wrong.

"You're a fool if you think I have anything to do with his decision, Scott."

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Scott's presence in my room felt heavier than the air between us His sharp eyes locked onto mine, brimming with purpose, though beneath it, I sensed frustration simmering just beneath the surface.

"I didn't come here to argue," Scott began, his voice quiet but steady. "I came here because I believe you're the only one who can get through to him."

I crossed my arms defensively, the weight of his words already settling on my shoulders. "And what exactly do you expect me to do, Scott? Titus has made his decision. We all heard it."

He took a step closer, his expression tightening. "That's the problem, Sage. He made a decision based on his feelings, not what's best for the pack. You and I both know rejecting Alpha Marcus wasn't the right move. We need his alliance."

I laughed bitterly, though there was no humor in it. "You think I have any influence over Titus? You've got it all wrong."

Scott raised an eyebrow, his lips curling in faint disbelief. "He doesn't make a single move without thinking of you first, whether you realize it or not. That declaration about having a Luna? That wasn't about Anna. It was about you."

His words made my breath hitch, and I felt my stomach twist. "Stop," I said sharply. "I have nothing to do with this!"

"On the contrary, all of these have everything to do with you," Scott shot back, his voice growing firmer. "You're in his heart, Sage, and that's clouding his judgment. As much as I hate to say this, but you're the one hindering us from getting the support we need in order to win this war."

I swallowed hard, the ache in my chest growing sharper with every word. "Even if that's true, what am I supposed to do about it? Beg him to change his mind?"

Scott stepped closer, his gaze piercing. "If that's what it takes, then please do so. Make him see past whatever feelings he's tangled up in. This isn't just about you or him, Sage. This is about all of us. If we lose this war, there won't be a pack left to protect."

His words struck me like a physical blow, leaving me reeling as if the air had been sucked out of the room. I closed my eyes, willing myself to steady the chaos rising inside me. The weight of what he was asking pressed down like a boulder on my chest, the enormity of it threatening to crush me.novelbin

"Why are you doing this to me, Scott?" I asked, my voice shaking with frustration and a tinge of betrayal.

Scott's expression softened, but his resolve remained unyielding. "You are my friend, Sage," he said quietly, his tone carrying a rare gentleness, "and so is Alpha Titus. But my loyalty lies with my Alpha and the pack above all else. Everything I do, everything I'm asking you to do, is for their survival. I'll protect them with everything I have, even if it means putting you in this impossible position."

I swallowed hard, his words hitting deeper than I wanted to admit. "Why does it have to be me making this sacrifice?"

His gaze hardened, though the sadness in his eyes didn't fade. "Because Alpha Titus has already made his sacrifices for you, Sage. More than you realize. He's put his future, his throne, and this pack on the line for you. And now..." He paused, as if searching for the right words. "Now it's your turn. It's your turn to make a sacrifice for the greater good, for the people who are counting on us to lead them out of this chaos."

His words were like a slap, one I couldn't dodge. I shook my head, trying to clear the whirlwind of emotions clouding my thoughts. "Still," I whispered, my voice trembling, "I have no idea how to do what you're asking me to do."

Scott's voice cut through the air like a blade, cold and unyielding, a far cry from the familiar warmth that usually softened his words when he spoke to me. His sharp gaze was relentless, pinning me in place as though daring me to defy him. There was no room for argument in his tone, no trace of the man who once called me a friend.

Do it by whatever means possible," he repeated, his voice lower now but every bit as resolute, each word sinking heavily into the charged silence between us. "I don't care how you do it, Sage, as long as we achieve the same result."

The weight of his demand pressed down on me like a physical force, and I found myself rooted to the spot, unable to

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respond. His words hung in the air long after they were spoken, their meaning undeniable. This wasn't just a suggestion or a plea-it was a command, delivered with all the authority of someone who believed the fate of the pack depended on it. Scott's expression didn't waver as he turned away, his movements brisk and purposeful. The sound of his boots against the floor echoed in the room as he headed for the door, his departure as abrupt as his arrival.

I drew in a shaky breath, my chest tightening with the weight of what had just transpired. Scott's words played on a loop in my mind, their cold finality impossible to ignore.

The door clicked shut behind him, the sound jolting me out of my stunned stillness. I felt like I'd just been given an impossible task, a burden too heavy to bear, and yet... there was no escaping it. Scott's message was clear: failure was not an option.

It hadn't been long since Scott was gone when another knock at my door startled me. My nerves were already frayed, and I hesitated before crossing the room to open it.

When I did, I was met with the infuriatingly smug grin of Kieran. He leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, his sharp eyes glinting with something between amusement and curiosity.

"Well, well," he drawled, stepping into the room uninvited. "Looks like you've had a rather intense heart-to-heart with our dear Beta. Care to share what's got you looking like you've seen a ghost?"

I scowled, closing the door behind him. "What do you want, Kieran? I'm not in the mood for your games."

He raised a brow, feigning innocence. "Games? I'm hurt, Sage. I came here to offer my help."

Hrowned, confusion settling over me as I looked at him.

I

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