Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 146

ISOLDE'S POV

My heart rate accelerated as I watched the elegantly dressed Lycan woman stride purposefully toward Sybilla's table. The executive cafeteria suddenly felt charged with tension, conversations quieting as people sensed the brewing confrontation.

The Lycan woman moved with graceful precision, her expensive suit perfectly tailored to her figure. Her posture exuded confidence and authority, but her eyes—those were cold as ice and fixed directly on my stepsister. What struck me most was Sybilla's reaction. For perhaps the first time since I'd known her, genuine fear flashed across her face.

*Look at her eyes. She's here to settle a score.* Lyra whispered in my mind.

The Lycan woman stopped directly in front of Sybilla's table, towering over her seated form. "Are you Sybilla?" she asked, her voice calm but carrying a dangerous undertone.

Sybilla nodded stiffly, her usual social media queen confidence nowhere to be seen. The woman's expression immediately darkened, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

"So," the woman's voice cut through the now-silent cafeteria, "you're the famous Sybilla. The one who's been trying to seduce every married executive at Silver Moon, whether they have mates or not."

My eyes widened. *Oh shit,* I thought to myself, *if this is what I think it is, Sybilla's in serious trouble.*

Sybilla's face drained of color. "I... I... I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, her carefully constructed image crumbling before our eyes.

The Lycan woman's lips curved into a cold smile. "No? Perhaps I should refresh your memory then." With deliberate slowness, she upended her expensive designer handbag over Sybilla's table. Out tumbled lacy lingerie—a thong, a push-up bra, and what looked like a sheer nightgown—landing directly on top of Sybilla's untouched lunch.

"I believe these look familiar to you," the woman stated, her voice dripping with contempt.

Gasps and muffled giggles erupted around the cafeteria. Several Moon Alliance girls audibly inhaled, while others didn't bother hiding their snickers. I sat frozen, shocked yet strangely unsurprised. This felt inevitable, like watching a car crash in slow motion.

Sybilla stared at the lingerie, completely dumbfounded. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Her carefully crafted social media persona was disintegrating in real time before everyone's eyes.

"Other women whose mates you've harassed wanted to come as a group to deal with you," the Lycan woman continued, her voice ice-cold. "But I convinced them to let me handle it. I'm sure you're wondering which of the men you've been pursuing is mine."

I found myself holding my breath, mentally running through the high-ranking executives Sybilla might have targeted. Whoever this woman's mate was, he must hold significant power in the company.

"Beta Nathaniel," she announced, her voice ringing with pride and fury. "He is my fated mate."

I nearly choked on my water. Beta Nathaniel? Ezra's right-hand man and the second-in-command of both Silver Moon Group and the wolf pack? I recalled my own misunderstanding with Beta Nathaniel weeks ago, when Sybilla had manipulated circumstances to make it appear I was pursuing him. If Ezra hadn't intervened...

*What the hell was Sybilla thinking?* I wondered. *Going after the Beta of all people?*

"You tried to seduce my mate," Beta Nathaniel's wife continued, leaning closer to Sybilla. "You sent him these vulgar items, doused in your perfume, thinking that would somehow entice him to betray me? Is your brain waterlogged? Don't you know what to do when you discover a man has a mate?"

Sybilla remained speechless, staring at the woman with wide, terrified eyes.

"I've heard you've been trying to seduce every man with power in the 'Moon Alliance Program,' but let me tell you something." She bent down closer to Sybilla's face. "If you ever pull this kind of stunt with my mate again, I won't just humiliate you. I'll make sure you can't show your face in this city again. Understand?"

When Sybilla failed to respond, the woman abruptly grabbed her chin, forcing eye contact. "When I ask you a question, you answer me, girl. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Sybilla blurted out, her voice small and frightened. "Yes, I understand."

"Good." Beta Nathaniel's mate released Sybilla's chin and straightened up. "I'll be watching your every move. One more misstep, and your days at Silver Moon are over." She slammed her palm down on the table, making the silverware jump.

With that final warning delivered, she turned and walked out of the cafeteria with the same commanding presence she'd entered with, leaving behind a stunned silence.

The quiet lasted only seconds before the cafeteria erupted with whispers and poorly concealed laughter. I glanced across the room and caught Evanthe in the corner, a smug smile playing on her lips. She was clearly enjoying Sybilla's humiliation.

Sybilla sat frozen for a moment, then began gathering the lingerie with trembling hands, stuffing the items back into the designer bag. Tears welled in her eyes as she became acutely aware of everyone watching her.

"I don't feel sorry for her at all," I thought to myself. "She brought this on herself."

Thalia broke our silence first. "Looks like our little slut has been leaving her mark all over the place," she said loudly enough for nearby tables to hear, triggering another wave of laughter.

"Thalia," I tried to hush her, though I couldn't deny a part of me enjoyed seeing Sybilla get what she deserved.

"Come on, Isolde," Thalia pressed. "She had it coming. Beta Nathaniel? Seriously?" Cleo nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Yes, she did," I admitted. "But what's the point of piling on?"

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Just once, when your stepsister screws up, say something bad about her."

I shook my head, watching as Sybilla, now clutching the bag of lingerie, rushed out of the cafeteria with tears streaming down her face, leaving her untouched meal behind. Those same girls who had once followed her around like puppies were now laughing.

"What would be the point?" I asked quietly.

I observed how quickly Sybilla's so-called friends had turned on her. Not one of them had offered support or tried to help; instead, they'd joined in her public shaming. The scene reminded me of why I kept my circle small.

*That's what happens when you challenge wolves stronger than yourself,* Lyra commented in my mind. *She should be grateful that woman only humiliated her instead of tearing her apart.*

As we returned to our meal, I couldn't help but think that perhaps this was exactly the wake-up call Sybilla needed. Her mother would be furious when she heard about this incident, but maybe, just maybe, this public humiliation would teach my stepsister something about consequences.

But knowing Sybilla, I doubted it.