SAGE


    Titus''s confession stayed with me, lingering in my thoughts even after our conversation ended. His words echoed in my mind, over and over again, like a song I couldn''t stop hearing. The way he looked at me, the way he spoke-so honest, so certain-should have given me


    A part of me wanted to believe him, to hope that maybe, just maybe, we could have a future together.


    But hope is a dangerous thing. It sneaks up on you, fills your chest, and makes you dream of things that might never happen. I knew better than to hold on to it. I knew better than to let myself believe in a happily-ever-after when so much was still uncertain. The truth was, it felt like wishful thinking. A fantasy. And fantasies, no matter how beautiful they seem, always disappear when you wake up


    We are already packing our things for our next journey. We are nning to leave as soon as possible.


    But before we left the Silver River Pack house, Titus, Scott, and I gathered for a meeting to discuss our next move. ra was busy packing some elixirs and ointments that we might need in our journey. On the other hand, I have no idea where Anna is, and why is she not included in this meeting?


    The mood in the room was serious but hopeful. Gaining the Silver River Pack''s support was a huge victory, but it came with an even bigger bonus-three other packs allied with Silver River had also agreed to stand with us. In total, we now had the backing of four packs, a solid step forward in our fight against Titus''s uncle.


    Titus stood at the head of the table, his strong presence filling the room as heid out our strategy. "We can''t lose momentum," he said, his voice steady andmanding. "The more allies we gather, the better our chances. We need to keep moving."


    Scott, seated to Titus''s right, flipped through the pages of his journal before stopping on one and looking up. "The next pack we''re heading to is the Ironw Pack," he informed us, his tone thoughtful. "Their Alpha, Marcus, is known for being tough and cautious. He doesn''t make decisions lightly, and he''s not the type to be swayed by empty words."


    Titus nodded, considering Scott''s words. "That means we need to be direct with him," Titus replied firmly. "Marcus will want to know exactly what he''s fighting for and what we can offer in return."


    I leaned back slightly in my chair, my brow furrowed. "What if he refuses to join us?" I asked, voicing the worry I couldn''t keep to myself. "We can''t assume every pack will agree, no matter how strong our case is."


    Titus''s gaze flicked toward me, unwavering as always. "Then we move on," he said calmly but with an edge of resolve. "We don''t have time to force anyone''s hand. This has to be their choice."


    Scott nodded in agreement. "Marcus doesn''t like the way Titus''s uncle has been running things, much more than his son. From what I''ve heard, Ironw''s pack members are growing restless under his rule. That might be the opening we need to gain Marcus''s trust."


    The n was starting to take shape, and the sense of urgency in the room was undeniable. We were racing against time, and each pack we convinced brought us closer to turning the tide.


    "We''lHeave within the hour," Titus announced, rising to his feet. The journey to Ironw territory will take us a couple of days. We need to stay alert and move quickly."


    Scott and I both nodded, understanding the weight of the task ahead. As we prepared to leave, I couldn''t help but nce at Tifus. Despite the heavy responsibility on his shoulders, he carried it with such determination, like he refused to let doubt touch him. It was hard not to feel inspired when he spoke.


    III


    In the afternoon, we are all ready to leave. Alpha Arthur graciously saw us off, standing tall at the edge of his pack''s territory as we readied ourselves for the long journey ahead. His warm farewell came with a few words of encouragement, along with the quiet understanding that the road before us was anything but easy.


    We prepared our horses. It was still a long way to our next destination, and as before, we only had four horses between the six of us. That meant sharing-again.


    I expected things to be the same asst time. Scott would ride with ra, Titus with Anna, and I would share with Kieran, the skilled hunter whose calm demeanor had made him an easy riding partner. But just as I stepped toward Kieran, ready to take my ce behind him, something unexpected happened.


    Titus''s hand suddenly wrapped around my wrist. Before I could protest, he tugged me firmly toward him. "You''re with me," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.


    "Wait, what?" I blurted out, but my words were ignored. With practiced ease, he turned and lifted me onto his horse as though I weighed nothing.


    "Hold on," he ordered softly as he mounted up behind me, his strong arms brushing against me as he grabbed the reins.


    I blinked, stunned. My heart raced as I realized what had just happened.


    Anna, of course, was far less willing to let it slide. "Titus!" she snapped, her voice sharp with irritation as she moved toward us. "What are you doing?"


    "I changed my mind," Titus said calmly, cutting her off without so much as a nce in her direction..


    Her face flushed with frustration. "This isn''t fair! Why you-


    Titus flicked his eyes toward her then, his gaze cool and unyielding. "We don''t have time for this, Anna. If you have a problem, you can ride with Kieran."


    Kieran, to his credit, looked unbothered, though he shot me a knowing look as he mounted his own horse. Scott, meanwhile, stood back with ra, clearly trying not tough at the drama unfolding before us.


    Anna''s mouth opened as if to argue further, but Titus had already turned his attention back to the path ahead. "Let''s move," he said, nudging the horse forward.


    The sudden movement startled me, and instinctively, I grabbed onto the nearest thing for support-Titus''s arms. I could feel the heat of him behind me, his steady presence a mix offort and something far more unsettling. "What was that about?" I muttered under my breath, my fingers still gripping his forearm as I adjusted to the motion of the


    horse.


    Titus leaned in slightly, his voice low enough that only I could hear. "You''re safer with me."


    I stiffened, turning my head slightly to look back at him. "That''s not an answer."


    His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in his gaze-something I couldn''t quite name. "It''s the only one you''re getting right now," he replied smoothly.


    I huffed in frustration, but I didn''t push it. There were bigger things to worry about, and arguing with Titus wasn''t a battle I''d win.


    Behind us, Anna''s grumbles were faint but unmistakable, her frustration clear even over the sounds of hooves hitting the dirt path. Scott and ra, however, seemed to be enjoying the spectacle, their quiet chuckles carrying on the breeze.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    I settled back into my seat, my body still hyper-aware of the man behind me. Titus''s presence was impossible to ignore, his warmth bleeding through the thinyers of fabric separating us.


    111


    Chapter 121-


    The journey was going to be long, and if the ride so far was any indication, it was also going to beplicated.


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