Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

SAGE

As we neared the gatehouse of the pack's territory, an unsettling silence hung in the air. There were no howls, no patrols calling out, not even the usual sounds of life you'd expect from a pack. The quiet felt heavy, like a thick fog pressing down on us, making it hard to

breathe.

I scanned the area, my nerves on edge. Something about this wasn't right. Packs were known for being fiercely protective of their territory, and uninvited guests were almost always met with some sort of pushback. But here? Nothing. It was too quiet, too still. Kieran was the first to speak, his voice low and laced with suspicion. "This isn't normal." His hand instinctively rested on the hilt of the blade strapped to his thigh, his eyes scanning the area for signs of an ambush.

Titus dismounted, his movements slow and calculated as he took in the scene. "Stay sharp," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for debate. "This could be a trap."

Elara and Scott exchanged a wary glance as they climbed off their horse. "It's too quiet," Elara muttered, her usual confidence giving way to unease.

I swallowed hard and slid off the horse with Kieran's help. My boots hit the ground softly, but the silence made the sound echo unnaturally in my ears. Every nerve in my body screamed at me to be cautious, to prepare for something unexpected.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

The massive iron gates loomed ahead, their dark metal gleaming in the faint sunlight. They stood slightly ajar, as if beckoning us to enter. A cold shiver ran down my spine.

"They're waiting for us," Titus said, his voice grim.

"How can you be so sure?" I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the growing knot of anxiety in my stomach.

Titus's eyes flicked toward me, dark and unreadable. "Because this isn't a defensive stance. This is an invitation."

Kieran stepped forward, his usual smirk nowhere to be found. "An invitation doesn't mean it's friendly, Alpha. We could be walking straight into a setup."

"Don't you think I know that?" Titus snapped at him. He motioned for the group to move forwar for anything." He give me a quick concerned look, but didn't say anything. Stay close, and be ready

As we stepped through the gates, the eerie silence deepened. The path ahead was lined with towering trees, their branches forming a canopy that blocked out most of the light. Shadows danced across the ground, making it impossible to tell what might be hiding in the dark.

A group of people emerged from the shadows, their movements quiet and precise. They stepped forward in unison, their cold, assessing gazes stopping a few feet away from us. There was a strange tension in the air, as if they were speaking to each other without words. "We need to speak with your Alpha," Titus said, his voice calm but commanding, slicing through the heavy silence.

For a moment, no one responded. The group exchanged cautious glances, their expressions unreadable. Finally, a tall man with sharp features and piercing eyes gave a slight nod. "Follow us," he said, his tone even, though there was something unsettling about it. Without any other choice, we followed them. My stomach churned as we moved deeper into the territory. The silence around us felt unnatural, and the shadows from the tall trees lining the path seemed to stretch longer with every step.

"Stay close and be ready for anything," Titus muttered, his voice low but firm. He glanced at me briefly, concern flickering in his eyes, but he said nothing else. 16:29 Wed, Nov 27

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Instead of hallways or an open courtyard, we were led into a large room inside the pack's central building. It was dimly lit, the air thick with an unspoken tension. At the far end of the room stood the Alpha, his broad shoulders and commanding stance exuding authority. His sharp gaze swept over us, assessing every detail.

And then I saw him.

Standing beside the Alpha was Holt.

For a moment, I couldn't move. Memories came crushing like a tidal waves. I can still feel the same familiar comfort I had whenever I'm with Holt. He has been my anchor during my tough times in Alpha Gordon's house. However, my heart remains beating the same. The feeling that makes my heart beat erratically was far gone. All I see in front of me was nothing but memories of a person I once hold dearly.

"What the hell is he doing here?" I murmured. What is Holt doing here?

"Isn't that your ex-boyfriend, Sage?" Elara whispered but her voice was loud enough to hear by those closer to us.

"What is Holt doing here?" I asked myself.

I suddenly felt a blazing eyes pointed at me. When I turned to my side, I saw Titus glaring at me as he switches his eyes between me and Holt. Did he hear what Elara said? Holt's presence here didn't make sense. Why was he standing next to the Alpha of the Silver River Pack?

Before I could even begin to piece together an answer, the Alpha's booming voice filled the room, breaking the tense silence. "Welcome to the Silver River Pack, Alpha Titus!" he announced, his arms spreading wide in a grand gesture of hospitality. His tone was smooth, almost theatrical, as if he were playing a part on a stage. "I've been expecting you."

I glanced at Titus, who hadn't taken his eyes off Holt. His sharp gaze flicked between the Alpha and the man standing beside him, suspicion etched into every line of his face. It didn't take a mind reader to see where his thoughts had gone.

Had Holt tipped them off? But how? Holt didn't know anything about our plan.

Holt stood there, his expression unreadable. He didn't flinch under Titus's accusing stare, nor did he try to explain himself If anything, he looked composed, as though he'd anticipated this reaction.

Titus straightened, his commanding presence intensifying. "Expecting me?" he said, his voice stea, but laced with sharpness. "Interesting, since I don't recall sending word ahead."

The Alpha of the Silver River Pack chuckled lightly, his smile widening as if enjoying the tension crackling in the room. "Ah, well, let's just say we have our ways," he replied, his tone as smooth as silk.

I didn't miss the glance he exchanged with Holt-a look too brief for me to fully interpret but enough to stoke the unease building in my chest. Holt didn't say a word, his silence only adding fuel to the fire of questions burning in my mind.

Titus finally turned to face the Alpha fully, his hands at his sides but clenched into fists. "We came here in good faith" he said, his voice hardening. "So, let's cut the games. Why don't you tell me how you knew we were coming?"

The Alpha's smile didn't waver, but his eyes gleamed with something sharper, more calculating. "Patience, Alpha Titus. All in good time. For now, why don't we discuss this... arrangement of yours?"

The tension in the room was suffocating, the air thick with unspoken challenges. I couldn't stop the sinking feeling in my gut.

The Alpha of the Silver River Pack leaned back in his massive chair, his fingers drumming lightly against the wooden armrest. His piercing gaze swept over our group as Titus laid out the offer, his words calm and calculated. An alliance against the current king. A chance to shift the balance of power. And in return, the royal family would owe the Silver River Pack a debt that could never be repaid.

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For a moment, the Alpha was silent, his face giving away nothing. The tension in the room was suffocating, each second stretching longer than the last,

Then, he smiled-a sharp, predatory smile that sent a chill down my spine. "An interesting proposal, Alpha Titus," he said, his voice smooth but carrying an undercurrent of amusement. "But I'm afraid your terms don't quite appeal to me."

Titus's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. "Then name yours," he said flatly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The Alpha's smile widened. "I propose... a duel."

The word hung in the air like a thunderclap. My stomach dropped as I glanced at Titus, who remained perfectly still, his expression unreadable.

"A duel?" Titus repeated, his voice steady but low, a warning tone beneath it.

"Yes," the Alpha said, clearly enjoying the tension he was creating. He gestured toward Holt, who had yet to say a word. "You and Holt. A fight to the death. The winner takes what they want."

The room seemed to grow colder. My breath caught, and my eyes darted to Holt, who was now watching Titus with a calm intensity that made my skin crawl.

"That's ridiculous," I snapped, stepping forward, my voice slicing through the heavy silence. "Why would you pit the two strongest fighters against each other like that?"

The Alpha's gaze shifted at me, his smile never faltering. "Look who do we have here? Daughter of a traitor," he commented.

I suddenly regretted speaking up. It suddenly shifted an unwanted attention towards me. I'm sure my presence doesn't look good on Titus.

"Set aside your biases against me, Alpha. His Majesty came here in good faith. Pitting them against each other will only result to death. What good will it bring to us?"

"o of you. If you refuse,

"Because trust isn't given freely, young lady. It's earned. And I must know where loyalty truly lies." The Alpha leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his gaze sharp. "This is my condition. A fight betwee there is no alliance. You'll leave here empty-handed." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My mind raced, trying to find a way out of this insanity. I stepped forward, but Titus's hand shot out, stopping me in my tracks.

"I'll do it," he said, his voice sharp, cutting through the heavy silence in the room.

"Titus, no!" I blurted out, not thinking before the words escaped my mouth. Titus turned to face me, but what caught me off guard was the anger in his eyes. Was he upset because I didn't want this duel to happen? But why would he be angry about that? "Don't worry," he muttered, his voice low and almost mocking. I'll make sure your little boyfriend won't feel a thing

The Alpha clapped his hands, clearly pleased with the decision. Excellent. It's settled then. The duel will take place at sunrise. Richard, why don't you escort them to their room and get them settled?"

Titus gave a brief nod, muttering, "Thank you," before he turned and walked out of the room. We all followed in silence, the tension thick between us.

As soon as we stepped out of the room, I couldn't hold it in any longer. "You can't do this, Titus!" I said, my voice shaking with worry.

Titus stopped briefly, his back still to me, and then he turned, a hard look in his eyes. "Well, we wouldn't be in this mess if you'd kept your mouth shut to that little boyfriend of yours," he said sharply, his words hitting me like a slap. 16:29 Wed, Nov 27 QB.

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"What?" I asked, stunned by his response. I couldn't believe he was blaming me for all of this. But before I could say anything else, he quickened his pace, walking away from me. Anna stepped in front of me, blocking my path as she silently signaled for me to stay back.