Chapter 156 SAGE

I let out a slow breath as I pushed the door open, stepping inside my room. The tension from my meeting with Titus still clung to me like a second skin, but the sight before me was enough to momentarily ease the weight pressing down on my

chest.

Harper and Cooper were sprawled out on the floor, giggling as they stacked wooden blocks into a wobbly tower. Their laughter, so pure and innocent, filled the space, washing away some of the darkness I had carried back with me. For a moment, just a moment, I allowed myself to take it in-to believe that we were safe, that this was normal.

"Mommy-oops! I'm sorry." Harper squealed when she noticed me, immediately abandoning the tower and running to my side, but immediately covered her mouth when she remembered what I told them a while ago.

It's a good thing that there's no one else here in the room right now.

Cooper followed right after, his tiny arms wrapping around my waist as Harper clung to my side.

I hugged them tightly, burying my face into their soft hair, inhaling their familiar scent. They were my anchor, my reason to fight. No matter what happened, I would protect them. I had to.

"Are you okay, Mommy?" Cooper asked, pulling back to study my face. His little brows furrowed with

concern.

"Cooper, stop calling her mommy," Harper immediately scolded her brother.

"I'm sorry," he said, bowing his head while pouting his lips.

I smiled, "It's fine, Harper. Good job remembering it. But it's fine, since we're the only ones here." I turned

to Cooper, stroking his cheek. "I'm fine, sweetheart. I'm just... a little tired."

Harper tilted her head, watching me carefully. "Did Mister make you mad?"

I tensed, my mind flashing back to Titus's piercing gaze, the way his lips had brushed against my skin, the cruel authority in his voice when he told me I had no choice.

"No, he didn't," I lied, brushing a stray lock of hair from Harper's face. "We just had a talk. That's all."

Cooper pouted. "I'm glad he didn't make you mad. He seems nice, and I like him. It will be sad if he turns out to be a bad guy."

I let out a soft chuckle, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "He's not a bad guy, sweetie."

"Then, why do we need to pretend in front of him and all the people around here?" Harper curiously asked. "You said he's not a bad guy. Then, maybe he can help us find our father!" she suggested excitedly.

I froze.

My arms stiffened around them as Harper's innocent words sliced through me like a blade. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, drowning out everything else in the room.

If only she knew.

If only she understood that the very man she was talking about-the one she thought could help us-was the father she had been searching for.

I forced a smile, trying to keep my expression neutral. "Sweetheart, sometimes things are more

complicated than they seem," I said gently, brushing my fingers through her hair.

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Harper's brows furrowed. "But why? If he's strong and powerful, then maybe he can protect us. Maybe he can take us home"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "We already have a home, baby. And I will protect you."

Harper looked unconvinced, but she didn't push further. Instead, she exchanged a glance with Cooper, who was still watching me closely, as if trying to figure out if I was telling the truth.

"Okay," Harper finally said, though her voice lacked its usual cheerfulness. "He has the same hair as Cooper; I thought he might know who our father is."

I sighed, pulling them both into another embrace. "Listen to me," I whispered against their heads. "No matter what happens, I need you both to trust me. Can you do that?"

Harper and Cooper nodded without hesitation.

"Good," I said, my voice a little steadier than before. "Now, why don't we finish building that tower of yours?"

Harper's face lit up. "Yes! But Cooper keeps knocking it over!"

Cooper gasped dramatically. "That was an accident!"

Their giggles filled the room again, and for a moment, I allowed myself to pretend that everything was normal. That we weren't trapped in a place we didn't belong. That we weren't living under the shadow of a man who could destroy everything if he ever found out the truth.

But deep down, I knew this fragile moment of peace wouldn't last forever.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of laughter and whispered conversations. For a short while, I let myself enjoy it, savoring every second with my children, knowing that moments like this might not come often. But as night fell and the warmth of the day faded, the reality of my situation pressed down on me

once more.

The papers.

Titus had given me until tonight.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the unopened envelope as if it held my fate in its folds. The weight

of his threat lingered in the air-if I didn't sign, he would force me. And I knew all too well that an Alpha's command was not something I could fight against.

"Mommy?" Harper's soft voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I quickly shoved the envelope beneath my pillow before looking up at her. She and Cooper were already snuggled under the blankets, their small bodies curled up together.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

She hesitated, then bit her lip. "Are we really safe here?"

I inhaled sharply. Out of the two, Harper had always been the more observant one. She noticed things, even when I tried to shield her from them.

I walked over to the bed and sat beside her, running a hand through her hair. "Of course, we are. I won't let anything happen to you."

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She studied my face for a long moment before nodding. "Okay, Mommy. Good night."

I kissed her forehead, then did the same to Cooper, who was already half-asleep. "Good night, my loves."

I waited until their breathing evened out before slipping off the bed and making my way to the window. The moon was high, casting silver light across the landscape. My mind was racing, my chest tightening with uncertainty.

I brought the paper out of the envelope and started reading it. I was so busy spending time with my kids that it totally slipped my mind. Using my pen, I encircled the parts that I'm going to raise my concern. I was so engrossed in reading the papers that I totally lost track of time.

A knock at the door made me jump.

My pulse quickened as I turned toward it, my heart hammering in my chest. I already knew who it was before I even reached for the handle.

Titus.

I swallowed hard, bracing myself for whatever was coming next. Then, with a deep breath, I opened the door.

"Y-Your Majesty," I greeted.

He raised an eyebrow as he looked at me, his expression unreadable yet filled with something that sent a shiver down my spine. His gaze swept over my face, lingering for a brief moment before trailing downward. My breath hitched as I followed his line of sight, realization dawning on me far too late. The thin fabric of my nightgown did little to conceal the curves beneath, the dim glow of the candlelight making it even more transparent than I had intended.

Heat crawled up my neck as I instinctively folded my arms over my chest, attempting to shield myself from his intense scrutiny. But it was too late for that.

Titus's lips twitched, as if he were amused by my sudden self-consciousness. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossing over his broad chest, exuding the kind of dominance that made the air between us crackle with tension.

"I thought we had a deal?" His voice was low, almost teasing, but there was a sharpness beneath it, a challenge.

I squared my shoulders, ignoring the warmth creeping along my skin. "I was about to go visit you. Please give me a minute; I'll go get change," I said.

As I was about to close the door, he quickly used his hand to stop me from doing so.

He let out a hum, his gaze darkening slightly as his eyes flickered over me once more. "You don't have to. Since I'm already here, we can talk about it in your room."

My eyes widened in panic. I was excited to spend more time with my children that I opted to have them sleep in my room.

"No, I think it's best if we discuss this in the library. It's a more appropriate setting," I insisted, keeping my voice steady.

Titus chuckled, a deep, knowing sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "You're about to sign a contract that gives me the right to take you to my bed..." His voice dropped lower as he deliberately stepped closer. "...to fck you senseless, and fill you with my seed.

I stiffened, my breath catching as he stopped mere inches from me, his presence overwhelming. His gaze burned into mine, dark and amused. "So forgive me if I find it ironic that you want this to be formal."

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came. My mind warred between the heat he ignited within

me and the terrifying awareness of our surroundings. My children were only a few feet away.

Then, as if sensing the shift in my emotions, his expression darkened. His gaze flickered past me, locking onto something behind me. I didn't need to turn around to know what he had seen. The slight furrow of his brow confirms that he had

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noticed Harper and Cooper lying on my bed.

My heart pounded painfully against my ribs.

"What are they doing here?"