Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 166

ISOLDE'S POV

Frustration burned through me as I paced the hallway outside Ezra's penthouse. The fact that Evanthe had once again escaped punishment made my blood boil. I'd finally gotten answers from Sybilla, watched her break down and confess her jealousy and hatred—but the real mastermind was still walking free, probably plotting her next move against me.

*She's dangerous,* I thought, my jaw clenching. *Far more dangerous than Sybilla ever was.*

Evanthe wasn't just some jealous stepsister with a grudge. She was calculated and ruthless, a woman who had spent years building her influence within Silver Moon. Her position as PR Director gave her access to information, resources, and people. She knew how to manipulate perceptions, how to twist narratives.

And she was willing to kill to get what she wanted—to get me out of Ezra's life.

*We need to be vigilant,* Lyra warned in my mind. *She won't stop until one of us is dead.*

I nodded slightly, acknowledging my wolf's concern as I entered Ezra's penthouse. The door clicked shut behind me with a soft thud, and I found him standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his powerful frame silhouetted against the city lights.

"What will happen to Sybilla?" I asked without preamble.

Ezra turned slowly, his expression unreadable. "That's not your concern."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I'm just asking what punishment she'll face. How severe will it be?"

"I said, it's not your concern," he repeated, his tone clipped.

I'd expected this response, but I pressed on anyway. "I know she's done terrible things, but she's still technically my stepsister. I just want to know what's going to happen to her."

Ezra turned fully toward me now, his gray eyes flashing with irritation. "Why do you even care, Isolde? After everything she's done to you?"

"I don't know if I do care," I admitted. "But I'd still like to know."

He studied me for a moment, his expression calculating. "Is there a reason you're asking? Do you want to suggest some form of leniency?"

I considered this for a moment. "What about sending her back to my father in Emerald Valley? Would that be possible?"

Ezra spun around so quickly I nearly stepped back. His gray eyes flashed dangerously as he fixed me with a hard stare.

"Absolutely not!" he snapped.

The vehemence in his voice startled me. I hadn't expected such a strong reaction.

"Someone died, Isolde," he continued, his voice dropping to a deadly calm. "She attempted to poison other Alphas. This is murder, not some offense that can be forgiven."

I felt my stomach drop as the gravity of the situation hit me. I'd known it was serious, but hearing him lay it out so starkly made it real in a way it hadn't been before.

"She'll face internal judgment within Silver Moon," Ezra continued. "The likely sentence will be execution."

"Execution?" I whispered, the word feeling heavy on my tongue.

Despite everything Sybilla had done to me, I'd never imagined things would end this way. A cold feeling spread through my chest as I thought about what this would do to my father and stepmother. They would be devastated. My stepmother would probably lose her mind.

I thought about Sybilla—the spoiled, vindictive girl who'd made my life hell for years. She'd always gotten everything she wanted, had been coddled and pampered by my father and her mother. Her arrogance and stupidity were the products of their indulgence. And now she'd made a fatal mistake in the wrong place, with the wrong people.

"Isolde, are you alright?" Ezra's voice cut through my thoughts.

I looked up at him, suddenly aware that I'd been silent for too long. "Will my father be told about this?"

"Of course..." Ezra's expression softened slightly. "I've already sent someone to inform him. The news should have reached him by now."

I nodded, a jumble of emotions washing over me. I felt sorry for my father, who despite his many failures as a parent, would be crushed by this news. Sybilla had always been his favorite, his golden child. And now she was facing execution for murder.

My stepmother would be inconsolable. I could already imagine her hysterical crying, her accusations. She would blame me somehow, claim I should have taken the fall for Sybilla. She'd call me a monster, a heartless bitch.

*She never considered you family anyway,* Lyra scoffed in my mind. *Why should you care what she thinks?*

She was right, of course. My stepmother had made it clear from day one that I was an unwelcome reminder of my father's first marriage, a burden to be tolerated at best.

"I appreciate you telling me," I said finally, looking back at Ezra.

He was watching me with an intensity that made my skin tingle. "Your expression concerns me. Something is bothering you. Tell me what it is, and I promise to address it immediately."

For a moment, I was touched by his concern. The gentleness in his voice, the way his eyes searched mine—it reminded me of the Ezra I'd glimpsed beneath the harsh exterior, the man who'd held me when I cried, who'd shown me tenderness when I least expected it.

But then I remembered how he'd treated me these past few weeks—the cold dismissal, the cruel words.

Anger surged through me, hot and fierce. I glared at him, my eyes narrowing to slits.

"Now that my name has been cleared and this whole farce is over," I said, my voice tight with suppressed rage, "should we talk about how you've been acting like a complete asshole to me for the past few weeks?"

Ezra's eyes widened with shock. He clearly hadn't expected this sudden shift in the conversation. His mouth opened slightly, then closed again as if he couldn't quite formulate a response.

I stood my ground, my heart hammering in my chest. Part of me was terrified of confronting the Alpha like this, but a larger part—the part that had been hurt and humiliated—needed answers.

*Good girl,* Lyra purred in my mind, her approval warming me. *Don't let him off the hook. He needs to understand that his actions have consequences, Alpha or not.*

I waited, chin raised defiantly, ready for whatever came next. The air between us crackled with tension as Ezra's shocked expression slowly transformed into something unreadable.

The confrontation had begun, and there was no turning back now.