Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 160

Ezra's POV

I was still seething with rage as I strode down the hallway toward my office. Just the thought of Sybilla's name and face made my blood boil. That manipulative bitch had been nothing but trouble since day one—constantly stirring up drama and targeting Isolde.

The fact that Isolde was Sybilla's stepsister had completely slipped my mind until recently. No wonder there was such animosity between them. Family drama had spilled into my domain, and now innocent blood had nearly been shed.

"The surveillance footage is irrefutable," Orion said, matching my pace. "We have clear evidence of Sybilla tampering with the food. The Alpha guests will be satisfied once they see it."

I nodded curtly. "Tell Nathaniel to release Isolde from that basement cell immediately. She's to be escorted to my penthouse. I want every available staff member tending to her needs."

Orion stopped walking. "Yes, sir." He reached for his communication device, stepping aside to relay my orders while I continued toward my office.

My mind raced with conflicting emotions. Relief that Isolde would soon be cleared. Rage that she'd been put through this ordeal in the first place. And underneath it all, a strange, unfamiliar sensation that felt suspiciously like guilt.

*She was innocent all along,* Prime growled inside my head. *Our mate is suffering right now.*

I pushed his voice away, focusing instead on the task at hand. I needed to clear Isolde's name publicly and ensure justice was served. The politics of the situation were delicate—I couldn't appear weak in front of the other Alphas, but I also needed to protect what was mine.

When I reached my office, Alpha Howard and Alpha Tudor were already waiting. Their faces lit up with anticipation as I entered—no doubt hoping for blood and spectacle. Howard's fingers were drumming impatiently on my desk, a liberty I wouldn't normally tolerate.

"I hope you called us here to tell us the girl is about to be executed so we can watch," Howard said with a predatory grin. The Blue Diamond District Alpha had always been too eager for violence.

"Sit down and shut up!" I commanded, my voice carrying the weight of the Lycan King.

Both Alphas immediately complied, their bodies responding to my authority before their brains could object. Howard's hands stilled mid-tap, and he sank back into his chair. I could smell their submission—a mixture of fear and respect that satisfied Prime.

Orion entered behind me and moved to the large screen on the wall, preparing to play the surveillance footage.

"What you're about to see," I began, my voice controlled but cold, "is evidence that will change everything you thought you knew about this incident."

Orion played the footage. The crystal-clear video showed Sybilla sneaking into the kitchen, carefully adding substances to specific food portions, and then directing those plates to be served to particular guests. There was no room for interpretation—the evidence was damning.

When the video ended, I turned to face the two Alpha leaders. "The girl who was dragged from the venue, the one formally accused, is innocent." I let that sink in before continuing. "The real culprit is the girl you just saw in the footage. She's now in custody in the basement."

Alpha Tudor jumped to his feet, his eyes flashing gold. "Then the criminal should be executed immediately!" His voice carried the eagerness of someone who had been denied entertainment and was desperate to reclaim it.

I fixed him with a glare that made him flinch. "You don't make those decisions in my territory, Tudor. Your eagerness for blood is noted, but unwelcome."

"But protocol dictates—" he began.

"I am your King!" I roared, letting my Alpha power surge through the room. The windows vibrated with the force of my voice, and both visiting Alphas lowered their eyes immediately. "You will return to your respective territories. This matter falls under my jurisdiction, and I will handle it according to proper procedure. I will inform you when a decision has been made."

Howard and Tudor exchanged glances before bowing their heads. "We apologize, my king. We'll take our leave," Howard said, his earlier bravado completely evaporated.

After they left, Orion closed the door and turned to me with a hint of a smile. "You did it."

The tension that had been building in my shoulders for hours suddenly dissipated. "The anxiety I was feeling just jumped out of a twentieth-story window," I admitted, allowing myself a rare moment of vulnerability. "But this wasn't just my accomplishment, Orion. You played a crucial role in this investigation."

He nodded, accepting the rare compliment. A moment of comfortable silence passed between us before I decided to address what I'd been sensing for some time.

"You like her, don't you?" I asked directly.

Orion's expression remained carefully neutral. "Of course I like her. She's a sweet girl."

"That's not what I meant," I pressed. "You're in love with her, aren't you?"

His eyes met mine, unflinching. "What does it matter?"

"She's mine," I stated, the possessiveness in my voice surprising even me.

"I know," he replied simply.

"But you desire her."

He couldn't deny it. "I do."

Orion's jaw tightened slightly. "I would never desire what belongs to my King. That would be sacrilege. I swore to protect you and your possessions, not take them from you."

"Then what stops you?" I asked, genuinely curious. "If I weren't in the picture?"

"My duty and our friendship," he answered without hesitation. "Look, forget about my feelings for Isolde. Focus on repairing your relationship with her." He stepped closer, his expression earnest. "If you don't, you'll lose a great mate, and this organization will lose the chance to have a great Luna ruling over its members."

With that, he clapped me on the shoulder and walked out of my office, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I stared at the door long after it closed, his words echoing in my mind. Prime stirred restlessly within me, for once in complete agreement with Orion's assessment.

*He's right,* my wolf rumbled. *We need to make things right with her. She's suffered enough because of our stubbornness.*

The realization hit me with unexpected clarity: I needed to reconcile with Isolde, or I would lose her forever.

*And losing her is not an option,* I thought.