Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 140

ISOLDE'S POV

"Good evening. Sorry to call you out so late." Orion's deep voice filled the quiet interior of his luxury SUV.

My fingers nervously played with the hem of my silk nightgown as I sat in the passenger seat. The thin material suddenly felt completely inadequate for a meeting with Silver Moon's Security Director.

"Honestly, when I got the notification, I was startled... for a moment I thought I was in trouble," I admitted, trying to keep my voice steady despite my racing heart.

Orion shook his head immediately. "No, nothing like that."

*He doesn't seem like he's here to cause problems, but stay alert,* Lyra whispered in my mind.

The parking lot was eerily quiet this time of night, with only a few cars scattered across the vast space. The Silver Moon Tower loomed behind us, its windows glittering like stars against the night sky. I couldn't help but wonder if Ezra was up there somewhere, perhaps looking down at us right now.

"I just wanted to check in on how you're doing under the current circumstances. I mean with Ezra and his recent mood swings," Orion said, his amber eyes studying me carefully.

I swallowed hard, surprised by his directness. Part of me wanted to maintain the facade that everything was fine, but something in Orion's expression made me feel safe enough to be honest.

"These days have been difficult because he's been so cold and distant... I feel useless," I confessed, my voice dropping to barely above a whisper. The admission made my chest ache. "Especially as someone who was forced into the Moon Alliance Program, I don't exactly have a guidebook for dealing with this."

Orion's expression softened slightly. "Don't give up on him."

I blinked in surprise.

"Isolde..." he continued, his voice taking on a grave tone, "Ezra is going through an extremely difficult time right now... I can only say that you might be the key to solving all the problems he's facing."

Confusion washed over me. What problems? Ezra seemed perfectly in control of his empire, his pack, everything. What could possibly be troubling the mighty Alpha?

"How can I possibly help him when he keeps pushing me away, treating me like garbage to be used and discarded?" My voice cracked with emotion. "He... he's like a beast in bed, showing no mercy!" The words tumbled out before I could stop them, and I immediately felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the painful memories of our recent encounters flooded back. The mechanical way he'd taken me, the cold dismissal afterward—it all hurt more than I wanted to admit.

Orion's expression remained calm, but I saw a flash of something—anger? concern?—in his eyes. "Come here," he said softly, opening his arms.

Before I could think better of it, I leaned into his embrace, my tears finally breaking free. His arms wrapped around me, gentle yet firm. I could feel the steady beat of his heart, the warmth of his body providing a comfort I desperately needed. The scent of pine and clean linen emanating from him was so different from Ezra's more intense, dominating scent—it felt safe rather than overwhelming.

"The problem is, he doesn't even know he needs your help," Orion murmured into my hair.

I pulled back slightly, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. "What do you mean?"

"I'll talk to him. I'll make him stop treating you so cruelly." His voice had a certainty to it that I found both comforting and surprising. "My influence over Ezra is much greater than you might imagine. We're not just colleagues who have worked together for years—he trusts my judgment."

I studied his face, searching for any sign of deception. "In exchange for what?" I asked cautiously. Nothing in this world came for free, especially not in Silver Moon.

A small smile touched his lips. "I hope you won't give up on him. Hope you won't hate him."

The request caught me off guard. Hate Ezra? Despite everything, despite the humiliation and pain, I wasn't sure I could ever truly hate him. Angry? Yes. Hurt? Absolutely. But hate? There was something inexplicable that tied me to him, something that made true hatred impossible.

*That's ridiculous,* Lyra scoffed in my mind. *After how he's treated you, you should hate him.*

"Alright," I said finally. "I'll take your word for it and try not to give up on him."

"Thank you," Orion replied, his expression relaxing slightly as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

A moment of silence passed between us, not uncomfortable but contemplative. Then, unexpectedly, he turned to me with a lighter expression.

"Want to go for a drive?"

I glanced down at my attire—the thin silk nightgown that left little to the imagination—and hesitated. "I'd love to, but look what I'm wearing."

Orion's eyes briefly traveled down my form, but there was nothing lascivious in his gaze. "What you're wearing is perfect for a night drive. Elegant yet comfortable."

Before I could formulate a proper response, he started the engine. The powerful SUV rumbled to life beneath us.

"What are you doing? I can't go for a drive in my nightgown!" I protested, though part of me was already thrilled at the prospect of escaping the suffocating atmosphere of Silver Moon Tower, even temporarily.

"Says who?" Orion challenged with a hint of mischief in his voice.

My thoughts were a jumble of conflicting emotions—fear of breaking rules, excitement at the small rebellion, gratitude for Orion's kindness, and lingering pain from Ezra's rejection. But as the SUV pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the glittering city lights, I felt something I hadn't experienced in weeks: a sense of freedom.

The powerful engine roared as we merged onto the main road, leaving Silver Moon Tower and all its complications temporarily behind us, disappearing into the night.