Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 124

Orion's POV

I drove my luxury sedan into the family mansion's circular driveway in the financial district, a smile plastered across my face that I couldn't seem to shake. The morning had exceeded all my expectations in the best possible way.

I'd deliberately driven past the Privilege Apartments, hoping for a chance encounter with Isolde. What I got instead was so much better. Under the pretense of a security check, I'd managed to take her out for several hours. We'd visited shops, had lunch, and just talked—something so simple yet so fulfilling.

There was a full-blown party happening in my head right now as I killed the engine.

The way she'd laughed at my jokes, how her eyes lit up when she spoke about things she was passionate about—it was intoxicating. I wished I could spend every day with her, but I wasn't foolish enough to risk Ezra's wrath by being too obvious.

As I walked toward the mansion's grand entrance, a slight smile played at the corner of my lips. I couldn't help but hope that Ezra would choose Isolde as his Luna. She had all the qualities needed—strength, intelligence, compassion. But if he didn't... well, I'd find a way to make her mine.

Our butler greeted me cheerfully as I entered the marble-floored foyer. "Good afternoon, Mr. Hawthorne. Welcome home."

I returned his smile. "Is my sister here?"

"Yes, sir. Miss Evanthe is in her suite."

"Let her know I'm here," I instructed, already anticipating the confrontation to come.

Two werewolf maids approached, offering their greetings and asking if I needed anything.

"I'm starving," I admitted. My time with Isolde had been so engaging I'd barely touched my lunch.

"We'll prepare your special, sir," one of them responded with a bow.

I made my way to the family bar and poured myself a whiskey, settling onto a high stool. Looking around the luxurious living room, a familiar warmth washed over me. I missed living here, despite my father's strictness. He'd pushed me relentlessly to become an excellent Gamma warrior like himself.

The day I was appointed Security Director for Silver Moon Group was the best day of his life—the only time he genuinely smiled at me and expressed pride. I'd had tears in my eyes. I was grateful he hadn't spoiled me; otherwise, I might have ended up like my sister Evanthe—beautiful but entitled.

I heard the click of Evanthe's heels on the marble floor before I saw her descending the spiral staircase. Our eyes met, and she rolled hers dramatically, clearly unhappy to see me. She knew why I was here.

"What is it now, Orion?" she demanded irritably. "Are you here to lecture me about the methods I use to get the man I want?"

I drained my crystal glass, set it on the bar counter, and slid off the stool. I shoved my hands into my tailored suit pants pockets and stood straight, feet slightly apart, my expression brooking no argument.

"Unfortunately, yes," I replied evenly.

Evanthe sighed impatiently. "Then get on with it."

"A girl died!" I stated bluntly.

She dismissed this with contempt. "She was collateral damage," she said, crossing her arms over her chest and rolling her eyes again.

"She was a werewolf!" I emphasized, my voice hardening.

"Exactly! A lowly one at that. I had to get rid of her because she was going to ruin everything for me."

I stared at her, genuinely appalled. "Do you have any idea what would happen if Ezra found out about this?"

"Of course I do!" she snapped. "I'd be immediately arrested by security and thrown into the silver-coated cells beneath Silver Moon Headquarters..."

"Where the walls are covered in silver," I continued, spelling out the consequences, "and you'd be whipped until you're wounded before being locked inside, letting the silver seep into your injuries to torture you. Then you'd be tried by the werewolf court and sentenced to death. That's the punishment for werewolves who commit murder in Silver Moon, Evanthe!"

"I know that already!" she insisted.

"Yet you still killed a girl."

"Like I said... collateral damage."

Her callousness made my blood boil. "I could report you, you know."

Evanthe approached me, a smug smile on her face. "You won't! First, you have no evidence linking me to Ash's death. Second..." she chuckled lightly, "you can't do that to your only sister. Our parents would never forgive you. After they've killed me, you'd never forgive yourself either. You'd live a miserable life."

Her confidence infuriated me. "Then you don't know me at all," I replied, pulling out my smartphone and turning the screen toward her.

The smug smile vanished from her face, replaced by spreading fear as she stared at the phone in disbelief. "You've been recording our conversation?" she gasped.

I smiled, tucking the phone back into my suit's inner pocket. "Yes, and I'll keep this recording for a very long time as evidence."

Her expression shifted from fear to terror. "Are you threatening me?"

"Yes. Stay away from Isolde. If you want Ezra, find another way. I'm warning you—if you continue making that girl's life miserable at Silver Moon, I'll make sure you face the werewolf court."

"You'd choose a stranger over your own sister!" she shrieked.

"First, release your hold on Isolde's friends so they stop avoiding her. If by the end of this weekend I find that Isolde and her friends haven't reconciled, I'll become your worst nightmare."

"You can't do this to me!" she cried desperately.

"Oh, yes, I can! And I'll only stop when you stop acting like a malicious witch. That's it for today." I walked past her toward the dining room.

"Going to all this trouble for a girl you don't even plan to claim?" she called after me. "It's Ezra who wants her. You're fighting his battles!"

I stopped, turned around, and gave her a relaxed expression. "That's exactly what I was born to do. That's my purpose. To fight his battles! You didn't think my responsibility to him was limited to security work or managing the underground arena, did you?"

"How pathetic," she sneered.

"You should be grateful I'm the one fighting this battle. I've been gentle with you. If Ezra had seen firsthand the dirty things you've done to hurt his potential mate, you'd be meeting our ancestors by now. So thank your lucky stars it's me fighting this war with you."

"You're a loser!" she spat.

"At least 'murderer' isn't on my resume," I retorted, winking at her before heading to the dining room for dinner.