Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

Chapter 167 Chapter 167

SAGE

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They dragged me through the grand halls of the palace. The cold stone beneath my feet only made the dread in my stomach grow heavier. Every step I took echoed in the dimly lit corridors, each one bringing me closer to a fate I wasn't sure I could escape.

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I still couldn't understand how this had happened. Where did they even get the idea that I had something to do with the attack? Was it because I was an outsider? Because I had shown up with two children whose powers had suddenly manifested in a way no one could explain?

The moment we reached the courthouse doors, the guards yanked them open, revealing a chamber filled with people. Council members sat in their high, ornate chairs, their expressions unreadable. Nobles and pack leaders filled the rows, murmuring among themselves as they turned their eyes toward me. Some looked curious. Others looked outright hostile.

"Bring the accused forward," one of the council members announced, his voice ringing through the chamber.

The guards shoved me forward until I stood in the center of the room, exposed and vulnerable beneath the weight of so many judging stares.

You stand here accused of treason, endangering the king's life, and possible murder. How do you plead?"

Murder? Is he... no. It can't be. Are they doing this to point a finger at anyone just so they can have someone take the blame for what happened with His Majesty?

My head spun. My fingers clenched into fists at my sides.

This was insane.

I had fought beside him, shielded my children from harm, and nearly died trying to help Titus defeat the rogues. And now, they were accusing me of betraying him?

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm.

"I plead not guilty," I said again, my voice unwavering despite the fear clawing at my chest.

The courtroom erupted into murmurs, voices overlapping in hushed yet urgent tones. I could feel the weight of their judgment pressing down on me, their distrust as sharp as daggers aimed straight at my heart.

The elder council member leaned forward, his wrinkled face etched with suspicion. "Then explain yourself," he demanded. "You-disappeared for years, vanishing without a trace, and yet the moment you return, an attack is launched against His Majesty." His voice dripped with accusation. "Tell me, Lady Sage, what are the odds of that being a mere coincidence?"

I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. "Are you saying I orchestrated this?" I challenged, my eyes narrowing. "That I waited all these years, only to return just to plan an ambush against the one person who-" I stopped myself before I said too much.

Titus. The one person who had once meant everything to me.

"Then tell us, Lady Sage," another council member chimed in, his voice sharp and deliberate. "Where have you been all these years?"

My heart pounded against my ribs.

I can't tell them everything. Telling them would put Harper and Cooper in even more danger. Their powers had already begun to manifest, and the last thing I

needed was for these people-these suspicious, power-hungry nobles-to see them as

threats.

11:31 Fr

Fri, 7 Mar

Tve been living among humans these past few years, I stated, keeping my voice as steady as I could.

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The room was silent for only a moment before one of the council members scoffed. "That explains it, he muttered under his breath

I frowned, confusion settling deep in my bones. "Explains what, exactly?" I asked cautiously.

The council member leaned forward, his lips curling into a sneer. "You've been working alongside those humans who have been trafficking werewolves and other supernatural creatures, haven't you? His voice rang through the courtroom, thick

with acrutation.

A collective gasp rippled through the audience, and the murmurs returned, growing louder and more frantic. Some voices whispered in agreement, while others questioned the logic of the claim.

1 felt my pulse spike in disbelief. "What?" I breathed. "That's absurd!"

"Is it?" Another elder spoke up, his eyes sharp with scrutiny. "You were found in human territory, living among them as if you belonged. And just when His Majesty finally managed to exterminate those illegal activities, he was attacked while he was with you. Tell me, Lady Sage, why should we believe you had nothing to do with it?

1 gritted my teeth, forcing myself to remain calm. "Because I have never, and will never, betray my own kind," I declared, my voice unwavering, despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

The first elder let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Your own kind?" he sneered, tilting his head as if appraising me like I was some foreign creature. "And what exactly do you consider your kind to be, Lady Sage?" His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement as he continued, "Humans? Because from where I stand, you have no wolf, no magic in your system. You're more like them than you are one of us."

A fresh wave of murmurs swept through the room, whispers of doubt and suspicion spreading like wildfire.

I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms as I fought the urge to lash out. "I am the daughter of an Alpha," I stated, my voice firm and filled with conviction. "Wolfless or not, I will never betray my father's kind!"

The elder scoffed, shaking his head. "Words are cheap, woman. Tell us, why should we believe you?"

I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze without fear. "Because that's the truth!" I shot back. "And if you look at everything I've done, you'll see I have fought, bled, and nearly died to help His Majesty."

The murmurs wavered, some voices now whispering in agreement.

Another elder, an older man with silver-streaked hair, leaned forward. "Those prove nothing, woman," he said. "Since you failed to prove your innocence in front

of this court, I hereby sentence you, Sage Penelope Brown, to death by beheading!" he announced.

A stunned silence fell over the courtroom. The weight of his words crashed down on me like a landslide, suffocating, relentless.

My heart pounded against my ribs as I struggled to process what I had just heard. Death. They were sentencing me to death.

"For what crime?" I demanded again, my voice ringing with defiance as I fought against the lump forming in my throat. "Yes, I have no solid proof to defend myself, but neither do you! Where is your evidence? Where is your proof that I had anything to do with the attack? You have none!"

Gasps and murmurs erupted throughout the courtroom, some filled with doubt, others with quiet agreement. I saw a few council members shift in their seats, uncertainty flickering across their faces.

The elder at the head of the council slammed his hand against the wooden armrest of his chair, the sharp crack of the impact silencing the room instantly. His cold, piercing eyes locked onto mine, burning with outrage. "Silence!" he bellowed. "How dare you question the court's competence?"

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I squared my shoulders, refusing to back down. "I am questioning the fairness of this trial," I shot back. "Because from where I stand, this is not justice-this is a predetermined sentence against someone you have already decided is guilty!" Another elder, a woman with a regal posture and silver-streaked hair, leaned forward, her expression impassive. "Watch your words, woman. You are already standing on thin ice."

Thin ice? I was already sinking.

"What are you waiting for? Get her and prepare for the execution!" an elder shouted.

The heavy doors of the courtroom burst open with a resounding crash, silencing every murmuring voice in the chamber. The guards who had gripped my arms faltered, their hold on me loosening slightly as all eyes turned toward the grand

entrance.

A powerful, commanding presence filled the room as His Majesty strode in, draped in his royal robe, his every step exuding authority. Despite the brutal attack he had suffered, he moved with ease-no limp, no sign of weakness, as if he had not been on the brink of death just hours ago.

Gasps and whispers rippled through the courtroom.

"His Majesty...?"

"Is he awake?"

"This is impossible... the healers said-"

But no one dared to speak too loudly. The weight of his presence alone was

enough to silence even the boldest of his council members.

Titus' golden eyes scanned the room before settling on me. And just like that, my heart clenched painfully.

He was alive.

I felt my knees weaken from relief, but I forced myself to remain standing, meeting

his gaze despite the guards still holding

1. me.

Titus didn't spare the council a glance as he continued forward, stopping only when he stood between me and my captors. His jaw was set, his expression carved from stone. "Unhand her, he commanded, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

The guards hesitated, exchanging nervous glances.

“B–But Your Majesty," one of the elders stammered, "she has been sentenced-

"You dare sentence my queen to death?" His voice was low, deadly, filled with an unspoken promise of wrath.

The entire room froze.

Silence stretched across the courtroom like a blade at the throat, sharp and deadly. Even the elders, once so confident in their authority, sat motionless, their faces pale. The guards gripping my arms immediately released me and stepped back as if afraid to be caught in the crossfire of Titus' rage.

Queen.

He had called me his queen.

I barely had time to process the word before Titus turned, his golden eyes locking

onto mine. His gaze softened for a brief moment before he turned back to the council, his expression once again carved from steel.

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"I return from the brink of death only to find my mate on trial for a crime she did

not commit?" His voice was calm, but the rage simmering beneath the surface was unmistakable. "You dare call yourselves my council while condemning my queen without proof?"

One of the elders, the same silver-haired man who had sentenced me, swallowed hard. "Your Majesty, she has no wolf. She has no magic. How can she be your-"

"You dare question me?" Titus cut him off, his voice laced with lethal warning. The elder's mouth snapped shut.

Titus took a slow, deliberate step forward, his presence suffocating. “This trial is over," he declared. "Anyone who dares challenge my decision will answer to me personally."

No one moved.

No one spoke.

The weight of his authority crushed the air from the room, leaving only the sound

of my own pounding heartbeat.

Then, slowly, Titus turned back to me.

"Sage," he said, his voice softer now, though the intensity in his gaze nevernoveldrama

wavered. "Come here."

My legs felt weak, but I forced myself forward. The moment I reached him, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me against his chest.

My legs felt weak, but I forced myself forward, my heartbeat drumming in my ears. The moment I reached him, his strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me tightly against his chest. The warmth of his body, the solid strength of him, sent a shudder of relief through me.

"Let's get out of here," he whispered against my ear, his voice urgent yet weak.

It was then that I noticed the slight tremor in his grip, the way his breath came in uneven pants. My eyes widened in realization-he hadn't healed. He had forced himself to stand, to walk into that courtroom, to fight for me despite his own body screaming in agony.

Titus was still gravely injured.

Without hesitation, I shifted my weight, pressing myself against him for support,

making it look as if I were merely leaning into him. He walked with strength, his posture unyielding, his every step exuding authority. No one would dare question the power of their king. But I could feel the strain in his movements, the silent

battle he was fighting just to stay on his feet.

As we stepped past the heavy doors of the courtroom, away from prying eyes, the moment his foot crossed the threshold- his body gave out.

"Titus!" I gasped, barely catching him as he crumpled. His weight nearly dragged

me down with him, but strong arms reached out just in time.

"Alpha!" Beta Scott was there in an instant, his face lined with worry as he caught Titus before he could hit the ground.

"Let's bring him back to his chamber," I commanded, my voice steadier than I felt.

"Now!"