Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

07:06 Mon, Nov 4 2.97%1 Chapter

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Even though all my wounds had healed up, I can still feel the twitching of my muscles from the hit I received during my fight with Titus. Elara prepared some time to help me with the pain, but I decided to pay a visit to the lake I saw a while ago while I was strolling through the woods. I wasn't planning on staying there for too long, so I decided to leave without telling anyone. It's already dark outside, and I'm sure that Scott and Elara have been beat up all day and they needed some rest.

Titus and Anna were nowhere in sight either. They were likely holed up in his room, wrapped up in their own world, doing whatever they pleased-and honestly, I didn't want to think about it. But the images slipped into my mind anyway, vivid and uninvited, sparking an ache in my chest that I tried to shake off. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, clearing the thoughts away.

"I seriously need a cold bath," I muttered under my breath, hoping it would cool down not just my skin but my racing mind as well. The thought of a dip in the forest's hidden lake was almost as calming as the real thing.

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Grabbing a small lamp from the table by the door, I headed outside. But as I stepped into the forest, I realized I barely needed it. The full moon was high above, casting a silver light over the trees and covering everything in a soft, pale glow. The air was still, filled with the Swans in awe as soon as I stepped foot into the lake. The scene before me was breathtaking. The moon cast a radiant silver light over everything, turning the quiet lake into a shimmering mirror. Its surface was so still, almost glass-like, reflecting the full moon and the stars and a kind of peace settled over me as I made my way to the lake. I was in as I scattered across the night sky. The water seemed to glow, surrounded by tall trees that framed the lake like loyal sentries, their branches swaying gently in the cool night breeze.

A feeling of calm washed over me as I took in the beauty of it all. This place seemed untouched, hidden away from the chaos and tension back at the house, offering me a brief escape. I stepped closer to the edge, my footsteps barely making a sound kneeled down to touch the cool surface. The water rippled gently beneath my fingers, each tiny wave catching the Donlight, sending little trails of light across the lake.

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the peacefulness of this hidden sanctuary seep into my bones, wishing I could somehow freeze this moment and hold onto it just a little longer

I settled all my things on the edge of the lake before I slowly removed each of my clothes until nothing was left. The place was secluded, and I'm sure that no one is passing through this place, as this is supposed to be a hidden hideout. I was confident that no one would see me here. Taking a deep breath, I slipped off the last piece of clothing, feeling the cool night air on my skin. I stepped forward, letting my toes touch the cold water, and a shiver ran through me. But as I waded in, the initial chill turned into a soothing comfort, wrapping around me like a gentle hug. I moved i I in deeper until the water was up to my shoulders, then dipped my head below, sinking into the quietness. When I came back up; I floated on my back, letting the water hold me as I stared up at the bright moon in the sky. Each soft wave rocked me, slowly loosening the tension I'd carried since stepping back into the house. The cold water felt refreshing, washing away my worries and aches with each stroke. I let myself drift, letting the gentle rhythm of the lake carry me. In those moments, there was no Titus, no pain, no past or future-only the moon, the water, and a simple, peaceful stillness in the night.

I swam a few more laps, savoring the peace of the water, until a faint rustling broke the silence nearby. I froze, turning quickly in the direction of the sound, but the trees and shadows revealed nothing.

"Is anyone there?" I called out, my voice breaking the stillness. My pulse quickened as a chill of unease crept up my spine. It was unlikely anyone else would be out here. Could our enemies have somehow tracked us down? I hugged my arms around myself, suddenly aware of how exposed I was in the water. My clothes were still sitting on the edge of the lake, just out of

ÜZ

7.00 MION, NOV 4

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reach. If I hurried, I could swim over, grab them, and hopefully cover up before anyone-or anything-showed itself.

With my heart beating, I moved toward the shore, paddling quickly. Just as I reached the edge and prepared to lift myself out, my gaze caught on a pair of dark boots planted firmly on the ground right in front of me. My eyes traveled upward, and there he was-Titus, standing there with an unreadable expression, his piercing gaze fixed on me. Instinctively, I recoiled, backing further into the water.

"Am I not allowed to walk around my land?" he replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.

I rolled my eyes. "You are, but maybe try doing it when no one's swimming... naked?"

He gave a smirk, his gaze unwavering. "It's not my fault if you choose to flaunt yourself in the open. What, are you trying to seduce me?"

I scoffed, my face heating up despite myself. "Why would I seduce you?" I shot back, narrowing my eyes. "And even if I was planning to seduce someone, what makes you think it's you I had in mind?"

His jaw tightened, his gaže darkening to a stormy shade as intense as the quiet night around us. The playful air between us shifted, and suddenly the silence grew thick. He took a slow step closer, his eyes still locked on mine, refusing to look away, as if daring me to say more. "Don't come any closer!" I warned, my voice shaky as I took another step back, pressing myself deeper into the water. The lake's cool embrace was the only shield I had, and I tried to hide my bare skin beneath the shimmering surface, painfully aware that each inch he gained brought him closer to seeing more of me than I wanted.

He paused, a smirk playing on his lips as he raised a brow, his gaze never leaving mine. "Afraid, are we?" His tone was taunting, almost as if he enjoyed watching me struggle to keep myself hidden.

My cheeks burned, my heart pounding as I tried to keep my composure. "Just... stay back," I insisted, feeling the tension tighten around us like an invisible cord.

But he didn't leave. Instead, he took another step closer, his intense gaze locked on me. "What if I don't?" he murmured, his low and threaded with a hint of something dangerous, something that stirred both fear and a strange thrill within me.

V

"Titus, I'm warning you-" I started, but before I could even finish, I felt something winding around my ankle, pulling me down. My leg was caught, tangled in the thick underwater weeds, and in an instant, the lake seemed to turn against me. The water churned around as I struggled to stay afloat, each movement only seeming to tighten the hold on my leg. I fought to keep my head above the surface, but with every second, it grew harder, the current strong enough to keep me from breaking free. Panic clawed at my chest as I gasped, my breath growing shorter. Suddenly, I heard a loud splash nearby, but I was too disoriented to make sense of it. My vision blurred as I thrashed, my lungs burning with the desperate need for air. My strength began to wane, and the world around me dimmed, sounds fading into silence. Just as darkness started closing in, I felt strong arms wrap around me, lifting me from the icy grip of the water. Titus's face hovered close to mine, his eyes wide with worry and fear, his breaths ragged as he hauled me up to the surface.

My eyes fluttered, struggling to stay open, and the blurred outline of his face was the last thing I glimpsed before I finally succumbed to darkness.