Chapter 174
SAGE
13
I couldn’t take my eyes off Titus as we walked back to the palace. Every few steps, I glanced his way, as if afraid he’d disappear again–like this was all some fragile dream that could shatter at any moment. But he was here. Warm. Solid. Breathing. His fingers were laced with mine, his grip firm and reassuring. And for once, I didn’t mind the possessiveness of
- it.
I’m starving!” Harper groaned, rubbing her stomach as we stepped inside.
Titus chuckled, finally releasing my hand–only to drape his arm around Harper’s shoulders, pulling her close. There was a warmth in his gaze, a soft wonder as he took in the sight of her, taller, older, and so much more grown than the last time he saw her.
I watched them, my heart swelling. I used to fear I’d never be the most important woman in his life. But now? Now, I knew I never would be. Because Harper was here. And I wasn’t jealous–I was grateful.
“That’s probably why you’re growing so fast,” Titus teased, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I was only unconscious for a little over a week, and suddenly you’ve aged years.”
“Ew! Don’t call me ‘princess,’ Dad!” Harper scrunched her nose in disgust, then froze as the realization of what she’d just said hit her. Her expression softened, hesitation creeping in. “Is it okay for me to call you Dad?”
The vulnerability in her voice made my chest ache.
Titus’s expression shifted, the teasing glint fading into something deeper. He crouched slightly so he was at eye level with her, his gaze searching hers. Then, with all the certainty in the world, he answered, “It’s more than okay. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Harper blinked rapidly, clearly trying to suppress her emotions. But Cooper, standing just behind her, smirked and nudged her playfully. “You’re such a crybaby.”
“Oh, shut up,” Harper shot back, shoving him in the arm.
I couldn’t help but notice how much they had changed—not just in height, but in presence. Their words, their stance, even the way they looked at the world–it was all older, wiser. They weren’t children anymore.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I had missed so much already. And the truth was, they were still growing. With every second that passed, they were slipping further away from the childhood they barely had.
I used to think time stole children’s innocence slowly.
But for Harper and Cooper, time had stolen it in an instant.
The halls of the palace felt both familiar and foreign as we walked through them. It had only been a short while, yet so much had changed. The way the guards eyed the twins with cautious curiosity, the hushed whispers of the servants as they stole glances–it was clear that Harper and Cooper were no longer seen as mere children. They were something more now.
Titus kept Harper close to his side, while Cooper walked just ahead of me, his shoulders squared, his steps confident. The way they carried themselves now makes me feel proud.
When we reached the dining hall, the servants had already laid out a feast fit for royalty, as if they had anticipated this very moment. The scent of roasted meats, fresh bread, and rich stew filled the air, making Harper groan dramatically.
“I swear, if I don’t eat in the next five seconds, I might actually die,” she declared, plopping down onto the nearest chair.
Titus chuckled as he sat beside her. “Go on then, princess.”
Chapter 174
*
55%
She shot him a glare, but her irritation barely lasted a second before she began piling food onto her plate.
Cooper, however, was more reserved. He didn’t dive into the food immediately. Instead, he watched as the servants moved around the room; his eyes were sharp and calculating.
“Cooper?” I said softly, placing a hand on his arm as I took a seat beside him.
His gaze flickered to me, then to Harper and Titus, before he finally spoke. “They still don’t trust us.”
The air in the room seemed to shift.
Titus set down his goblet, his expression darkening. “Who?”
“The council. The guards. Everyone who witnessed what happened today,” Cooper muttered, poking at his food but not eating. “They’re afraid of us.”
Harper paused mid–bite, her brows furrowing. “That’s ridiculous. We passed the test. The labyrinth itself confirmed we belong here.”
“That doesn’t matter to them,” Cooper replied, his voice steady but firm. “They fear what they don’t understand. And we’re something they’ve never seen before.”
Titus leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Let them fear, then.”
I turned to him, startled. “Titus-”
“No,” he cut me off gently but firmly. His eyes flicked between the twins. “You don’t need their approval. You don’t need to prove yourselves any further. The labyrinth did that for you. Let them whisper, let them watch. But never let them make
you
feel like you don’t belong.”
The conviction in his voice sent a shiver down my spine.
Harper straightened her shoulders, determination flickering in her gaze. Cooper, though still wary, gave a slow nod.
We continued eating silently. And for the first time, we weren’t pretending. We weren’t hiding or living in fear.
We were a family.
Laughter echoed through the dining hall as Harper made a face after taking a bite of something too spicy. “What is this?” she coughed, reaching for her goblet.
Titus smirked. “Dragon pepper stew. A palace delicacy.”
Harper groaned. “It’s an attack on my taste buds, that’s what it is.”
Cooper chuckled, shaking his head as he took a careful bite. Unlike his sister, he didn’t seem bothered by the heat. “You’re just weak.”
“I am not!” Harper shot back, taking another daring bite and immediately regretting it.
Titus threw his head back and laughed, the sound deep and rich, filling the room like a long–forgotten melody. My heart warmed at the sight of him, of them–together. It was surreal.
“You think this is funny?” Harper accused Titus, she wasn’t bothered that she was talking to the most powerful lycan this land
has ever known.
Titus joking zip his mouth as if he was afraid of her. “Definitely not,” he said.
Harper’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, chewing furiously as if determined to prove a point. But the moment the spice fully
15:23 Tue, 11 Mar TOM.
Chapter 174
ཛཱ 55%
+13
hit her tongue, her expression twisted, and she grabbed the nearest goblet, gulping down water like her life depended on it.
Titus, despite his earlier claim, let out another laugh–deep, rumbling, and unapologetic.
Harper slammed her cup down and wiped her mouth, glaring at him. “You do think this is funny!” she accused, pointing an accusatory finger at him.
Titus raised his hands in surrender, amusement dancing in his blue eyes. “Not at all,” he said, lips twitching as if he was holding back another laugh. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Harper pouted her lips and tears welled up around her eyes.
Titus immediately panicked when he noticed that Harper’s was about to cry. His playful smirk vanished in an instant, replaced by sheer panic. His broad shoulders tensed, and he straightened in his seat as if preparing for battle–except this was a battle he had no idea how to fight.
“H–Hey, I–I’m sorry. P–Please, don’t cry,” he stammered, his eyes darting to me for help.
Harper sniffled dramatically, her lower lip trembling as she wiped at her eyes. “You laughed at me,” she whimpered, her voice thick with feigned betrayal.
Titus looked utterly lost. He had faced wars, conquered enemies, and ruled with an iron will, but nothing in his long, powerful reign had prepared him for this moment. “I–I wasn’t laughing at you,” he said quickly. “I was just–uh–admiring your bravery. Yes. That’s it!” He nodded as if convincing himself. “Only the strongest warriors can handle spice like that. I was impressed!”
Harper peeked at him through her fingers, her pout deepening. “Really?”
that pepper, would you, son?”
Cooper, who had been calmly eating his meal, froze mid–bite. He lifted his gaze, narrowed his eyes at his father, then slowly shook his head. “Nope. Not falling for that,” he muttered before stuffing a piece of bread into his mouth.
“Absolutely,” he assured her, his voice firm. “I mean, look at Cooper. He wouldn’t even dare try
Titus exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face before turning back to Harper. “Come on, don’t cry. What do I have to do to make it up to you?”
Harper dropped her hands and tapped her chin, pretending to think. Then, her lips curled into a mischievous smile. “Hmm… a phone maybe?”
Titus blinked, taken aback. “What? You’re too young to have phone, young lady.”
Harper gasped. “So, you’re not going to give to me?”
Titus groaned, realizing he had walked right into another one of her traps. “That’s not-” He looked at me with pleading eyes as if begging me to help him. But I just shrugged my shoulder, letting him fight his battle. He sighed in defeat, shaking his head. “Fine. I’m going to give you one tomorrow.”
Harper beamed, the fake tears instantly vanishing as she threw her arms around him. “Yes!”
I couldn’t help but laugh, watching as my once–mighty mate sat there, utterly defeated by his own daughter.
“Hey! What about me?” Cooper protested.
Harper smirked and playfully stuck out her tongue, taunting her brother.
Chapter 175
