Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 122

Isolde's POV

"Thank you for letting me tag along," I said, breaking the silence.

Orion glanced at me, flashing a smile that revealed charming dimples. "Oh, it's nothing. I should be thanking you for agreeing to keep me company."

We pulled out of Silver Moon's underground parking garage.

"You look beautiful today," Orion said suddenly, his eyes briefly leaving the road to glance my way.

"Thank you," I managed, my voice sounding smaller than I intended.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, unsure how to respond. Orion seemed to sense my discomfort and kept his eyes on the road ahead, navigating through the busy downtown traffic with practiced ease.

"I don't think you understand what I mean," he continued after a moment. "You have this special glow about you today, like something exciting happened."

My heart skipped a beat as panic surged through me. Was it that obvious? Did he somehow know about last night with Ezra? I unconsciously touched the Moon Alliance bracelet on my wrist, my fingers nervously tracing its smooth surface.

I let out an awkward chuckle, trying to ease the tightness in my chest. "Nothing particularly exciting... I'm just... you know... glowing for no reason."

Orion's lips quirked upward. "I doubt that, but I'll take your word for it."

"Thank you," I said, grateful he wasn't pushing the issue.

The car fell silent again, save for the soft purr of the engine and the muted sounds of the city outside. I watched the buildings blur past, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

"But your eyes are sad," Orion observed, breaking the silence once more. "Something's bothering you. What is it?"

I turned to him, startled. "Is this man psychic?"

"Um, nothing. I'm fine," I lied, turning to look out the window again.

"That's a lie," Orion said firmly. "Tell me what's bothering you. I won't stop asking until you tell me what I want to know."

I realized he was serious. As Silver Moon's security director, Orion was trained to read people, to see through masks and facades. My pitiful attempts at deception wouldn't fool him.

I sighed, turning to face him. "My friends are avoiding me. Nyssa and Thalia—it's like they suddenly decided to stop talking to me overnight."

Of course I couldn't tell him about last night.

"Did you do something to offend them?" he asked, his tone neutral.

"I don't think so," I replied, shaking my head. "No matter how much I think about it, I can't remember doing anything to upset them."

"Then why would they suddenly stop talking to you?" Orion asked, briefly glancing at me. His eyes flashed gold for just a second—his wolf peeking through.

I hesitated, weighing my words carefully. "I feel like they're being influenced by someone... because I know Thalia too well... and Nyssa... I feel like someone is playing a role in their sudden cold attitude toward me."

"Do you have anyone in mind?" he asked, his tone carefully measured.

My heart rate picked up. "Umm..." I thought about how to mention Evanthe—Orion's sister, Silver Moon's PR director, and the woman who had been close to Ezra for years.

"I do. But I don't have evidence, so I'd rather not name anyone," I said finally.

Orion nodded slowly. "Wise move... I'll see what I can do. Okay?"

"What are you going to do?" I asked, surprised by his offer.

"I'm not sure yet, but I'll try to find the root of the problem," he said. "How does that sound?"

My face broke into a smile as bright as sunshine. "That sounds amazing. Thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied, his own smile warm and genuine.

We drove in silence for a while, the cityscape rushing past us. I watched people going about their normal lives—something I hadn't experienced since being sold into the Moon Alliance Program.

"Would you like some music?" Orion asked, breaking the silence.

"Ah... yes. I'd love that," I replied enthusiastically, grateful for the distraction.

Orion pointed to a small box in the console. "My phone's in there. Connect it to the car's Bluetooth. The name is 'Orion-SM'."

I picked up the high-end smartphone, noticing the Silver Moon logo as his wallpaper. Orion tapped the touchscreen of the luxurious sound system.

"Now you can play whatever songs you like," he said.

I smiled as I opened the music app and scrolled through his playlist. I selected a popular rock song, and the car filled with music. We didn't talk after that. Orion focused on driving, and I relaxed, listening to the music.

This is why I like this man, I thought. When I'm with him, he always lets me be myself.

"We're here," Orion announced as he pulled up in front of a luxury high-rise owned by Silver Moon Group. I paused the music.

"Do I need to get out?" I asked.

"No," he replied simply.

Orion pressed a button, and the window rolled down. A man in a suit approached, his eyes briefly flashing gold when he spotted me in the passenger seat.

"Good day, Gamma Orion. The documents you requested," the man said, handing Orion a brown envelope with the Silver Moon logo.

Orion opened it, examining the contents—some confidential documents and what looked like a microchip.

"Thank you. That will be all. You may go," Orion said.

That man gave a slight bow and walked away. Orion closed the window and placed the envelope in a secure box in the back seat.

I was curious about the contents but knew better than to ask. In Silver Moon, some things were best left unquestioned.

"So, Isolde," Orion said, raising an eyebrow. "Do you have any plans for today?"

I shook my head. As a Moon Alliance member, I rarely had freedom to make my own plans.

"Nothing in particular," I replied.

"Perfect! Then let's spend the day together!" he exclaimed.

I stared at him, confused and surprised. In the Moon Alliance Program, I rarely had opportunities to leave the main building.

"Spend the day together?" I repeated.

"Yes," Orion confirmed, starting the car again and pulling away from the high-rise.

"We'll go to a seafood restaurant first. How does that sound?" he suggested.

"Um... sounds delicious!" I replied, trying to match his enthusiasm.

"I knew you'd say that, right?" he grinned.

I leaned back against the luxury leather seat, suddenly feeling lightheaded. My heart was racing, threatening to burst from my chest.

Spending an entire day with Silver Moon's security director, a Gamma wolf, sounded both terrifying and exhilarating.

*Be careful,* Lyra warned in my mind. *If Ezra finds out you're spending a day alone with one of his subordinates, the consequences could be severe.*

The thought sent a chill down my spine, but I pushed it aside. After last night and this morning, I deserved a day away from it all.