Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 171

ISOLDE'S POV

"He deserved worse," I scoffed.

Ezra handed me a crystal glass of aged whiskey, the amber liquid catching the moonlight. He leaned against the railing beside me, his presence commanding yet somehow comforting.

"My father betrayed my mother too," I said suddenly, the words tumbling out before I could reconsider.

Ezra lowered his whiskey glass, his eyes flashing with surprise. I'd caught the mighty Alpha off guard.

"He had an affair with Sybilla's mother," I continued, my fingers tracing the cool metal of the terrace railing. "Despite my mother being his mate—his true mate."

"What happened?" Ezra's voice was quiet, controlled, but I could sense the tension beneath.

I took a deep breath, the memories still painful after all these years. "Sybilla was about three when my father brought her and her mother to our family mansion in Emerald Valley. He gathered the entire family and announced he had to marry Sybilla's mother to 'strengthen business alliances.'"

I laughed bitterly. "As if we didn't all know the real reason."

Ezra's eyes flashed gold momentarily. "He dared to treat his mate this way?"

"My mother left the city when I was around four," I said, my voice dropping lower. "The heartbreak and humiliation were too much. I never saw her again. Not even a text message."

The pain of abandonment washed over me anew. I'd spent years wondering if she ever thought of me, if she ever missed the daughter she left behind.

"I tried to find her many times," I admitted. "But each time, my father threatened to cut me off from all family resources if I continued asking questions. So I stopped."

I stared out at the city skyline, my voice barely audible even to my own ears. "Now I don't even know if she's still alive."

Ezra's expression darkened, his fingers tightening around his glass. "Your father was cruel to your mother," he said, his voice carrying a hint of barely suppressed anger.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. For a moment, I considered asking Ezra to help find my mother. With Silver Moon Group's resources, it would be possible. But I quickly dismissed the idea. My position in the Moon Alliance Program was still precarious. It wasn't the right time.

"Enough about my sad past," I said, gently swirling my whiskey. "What about you? I've heard you lost your mate. That must have been devastating."

Ezra's expression instantly transformed, his eyes becoming cold yet filled with sorrow. He turned away from me to face the city view, his shoulders tensing visibly.

"Devastating, destructive, heartbreaking..." he began, his voice low and strained. "No word is strong enough to describe what I felt when she died."

The raw pain in his voice made my heart ache for him.

"I felt like the world had collapsed," he continued. "All light was swallowed by darkness."

He took a long sip of his whiskey before speaking again. "My wolf suffered the heaviest blow. Prime didn't communicate with me for months. He wouldn't even let me feel his presence."

I remained silent, giving him space to share at his own pace.

"To cope with the pain of losing his mate, he invented a coping mechanism—sex." Ezra's expression was slightly embarrassed as he continued. "He completely altered my sex drive. That's why... why I need to be with different women almost every night."

Understanding dawned on me. His behavior, his reputation—it all made sense now.

"No, don't pity me," Ezra said suddenly, his expression brightening. His lips curved into a genuine smile as he reached for my hand.

He brought my hand to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on my knuckles before pressing it against his cheek. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, savoring my scent.

"Isolde, you've made that pain disappear," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "You've made my life better. Before, I was living only for my company and my pack, but you entered my life and made me want to live for myself. You've given meaning back to my life. For that, I'm eternally grateful. For that, I thank you."

My heart raced wildly, and Lyra howled with excitement within me. I couldn't stop the radiant smile that spread across my face.

*Thalia might be right,* I thought. *Even though we both know we're mates, his connection to me is still blocked by his past trauma. His soul recognizes me, but he is still too damaged to fully embrace our bond.*

I made a decision then and there. *I'll be more wholehearted with him. I'll heal his broken heart with love. With time, he'll heal completely, and our mate bond will strengthen to what it should be. I know we're meant to be together—I just need to be patient while his wounds heal.*

Lyra growled in approval.

"At first, I didn't want to open up to anyone," Ezra continued, his voice softer now. "That's why I didn't resist when Prime kept urging me to sleep with different women. I wanted to spend the rest of my life alone, but now it's different. I'm willing to give this relationship a chance. We'll take it step by step until we're both ready. I'm willing to change for you. To be the sweet, romantic lover I once was. You deserve that."

Tears of joy glistened in my eyes. "Oh, Ezra," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. Lyra purred contentedly within me.

Ezra pulled me into his arms, tenderly kissing the top of my head as he closed his eyes and breathed in my scent.

"I feel like I'm walking on clouds," I murmured against his chest. "My heart could burst with happiness."

I looked up into his eyes. "I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you," I said softly.

Ezra’s lips crashed into mine, a kiss so fierce and hungry it stole my breath away. It was as if all the words we’d just shared—our pain, our promises—ignited something primal between us. I kissed him back with equal desperation, my fingers clawing at his shirt, tugging him closer.

The moonlight, the whiskey, the city skyline—it all melted away until there was only us, heat and need pulsing through every touch.

His hands slid down my back, gripping my hips with a possessive strength that made Lyra howl inside me. “Isolde,” he growled against my lips, his voice rough with desire, “I need you. Now.”

“Yes,” I gasped, my body already aching for him. The emotional floodgates had opened, and with them came a tidal wave of pent-up lust I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding back.