Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 13

Isolde's POV

The next day.

"I really don't need to know how to apply mascara," I told Thalia as we walked toward the beauty classroom. "I'm perfectly capable of putting makeup on myself."

"It's not about the makeup," Thalia replied, linking her arm through mine. "It's about fitting in. Besides, I heard Victoria Reed is an excellent instructor."

I sighed but didn't resist. After yesterday, I was trying to keep a lower profile. If attending beauty classes helped me blend in with the other girls, so be it.

The classroom was set up like a professional salon, with individual vanity stations equipped with mirrors. About fifteen girls were already seated, chatting quietly as they waited for the instructor to arrive.

Sybilla was there, of course, holding court near the front of the room. She caught my eye and gave me that familiar smirk that made my blood pressure spike.

"Ladies, welcome to today's beauty enhancement session," a crisp voice announced.

Victoria Reed entered the room with the confidence of someone accustomed to being the center of attention.

"Today we'll be covering essential techniques for presenting yourselves as desirable companions," she began, arranging various cosmetics on her demonstration table. "Remember, your appearance is your first and most important tool for success in the Alliance Program."

For the first hour, everything seemed normal enough. Victoria demonstrated contouring techniques, showed us how to create a "natural but enhanced" look, and explained the importance of proper skincare routines.

I was actually starting to relax when the tone shifted.

"Now," Victoria said, her voice taking on a different quality, "let's discuss the real purpose of these techniques. Beauty, girls, is about power. Specifically, the power to attract and retain the attention of powerful Lycan men."

Thalia and I exchanged glances. This was taking an uncomfortable turn.

"The goal isn't just to look pretty," Victoria continued, pulling out a selection of revealing lingerie. "It's to understand what drives these men, what makes them want to claim you, to keep you."

She held up a sheer black negligee that left nothing to the imagination.

My stomach began to churn. This wasn't a beauty class—it was a fucking training session for high-end prostitutes.

"Miss Blackwood," Victoria's voice cut through my thoughts. "You look concerned. Do you have a question?"

Every eye in the room turned to me. I felt heat crawl up my neck. "I just... I thought this was supposed to be about makeup and skincare."

"Oh, my dear," Victoria's smile was condescending. "That's such a naive view. You're not here to learn party tricks. You're here to learn how to survive and thrive in a world dominated by Lycan men."

Sybilla raised her hand. "Ms. Reed, I think my step-sister might need some extra help with the basics. She's always been a bit... inexperienced with men."

The humiliation hit me like a physical blow. Several girls giggled, and I felt my face burning with embarrassment and rage.

"Is that so?" Victoria's eyes gleamed with interest. "Well, experience can be gained. Let's move on to our practical demonstration."

She gestured to a mannequin that had been wheeled into the center of the room. "Today you'll be learning the art of seductive undressing. This is crucial for maintaining interest during intimate encounters."

*You've got to be fucking kidding me.*

"The key," Victoria continued, beginning to demonstrate on the mannequin, "is confidence and control. You want to reveal just enough to drive them wild, but slowly enough to make them beg for more."

She was actually showing us how to strip. In detail. With commentary about what "drives Lycan men crazy" and tips for "maximizing the visual impact."

I watched in growing horror as some of the girls took notes like this was a legitimate educational seminar.

"Now," Victoria announced, "I need volunteers to practice. Who would like to demonstrate?"

Sybilla's hand shot up immediately. "I'd love to show everyone the proper technique."

She moved to the front of the room with the confidence of someone who'd done this before. A lot. Watching my stepsister slowly peel off her outer layer while maintaining eye contact with an imaginary partner made me want to vomit.

"Excellent form, Sybilla," Victoria praised. "Notice how she maintains control while appearing submissive. That's exactly what Alpha males respond to."

When Sybilla finished her demonstration, she looked directly at me. "Maybe Isolde should try next? She could use the practice, especially after her... difficulties with her ex-boyfriend."

The room fell silent. Even Victoria looked intrigued by this bit of gossip.

"What kind of difficulties?" Victoria asked.

"Oh, you know," Sybilla said with false sympathy, "she just couldn't satisfy him. He ended up coming to me because she was so... inadequate in bed. I felt terrible about it, but what's a girl to do when a man has needs?"

The rage that exploded in my chest was unlike anything I'd ever felt.

*Calm down,* I told myself. *Don't give them the satisfaction.*

But Victoria wasn't done. "Well then, this is perfect timing. Isolde, please come demonstrate. Think of it as remedial education."

"No." The word came out louder than I intended.

"Excuse me?"

"I said no. I'm not participating in this... whatever this is."

Victoria's expression hardened. "Miss Blackwood, this is a required course. Participation is mandatory."

"Required?" I stood up, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Required for what? To learn how to be a whore?"

Gasps echoed around the room. Several girls looked shocked, others excited by the drama.

"That's quite enough," Victoria snapped. "You will apologize immediately and—"

"No," I interrupted, my voice gaining strength. "I won't apologize for refusing to degrade myself. And I won't pretend this is about beauty or self-improvement."

The memory of my mother's tear-stained face flashed through my mind. Her broken sobs when my father left her for someone younger, prettier, more willing to be whatever he wanted.

"Sit down this instant," Victoria commanded.

The room was dead silent now.

"Why should we have to learn how to strip like dancers? Why should we compete for male attention like prizes at a carnival? What happened to having value just for being ourselves?"

"Because that's how the world works!" Victoria snapped, her composure finally cracking. "You can either learn to navigate it successfully, or you can remain naive and end up discarded."

"Then maybe the world is fucked up," I shot back. "Maybe instead of teaching women how to be better objects, we should be demanding to be treated as equals."

The silence that followed was deafening. Victoria's face had gone white with rage.

"Get out," she said quietly.

"What?"

"Get out of my classroom. Now. And don't bother coming back until you're ready to take your future seriously."

I grabbed my things and headed for the door, my heart hammering with adrenaline and anger.

Thalia caught up with me in the hallway, slightly out of breath.

"Well," she said, "that was certainly dramatic."

"Are you going to lecture me too?"

"Hell no," she replied. "I was about thirty seconds away from walking out myself. That was disgusting."

I felt a rush of gratitude toward her. "Thanks for backing me up."

"Someone had to." She said.