Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 180

ISOLDE'S POV

The courtroom fell silent as the judge delivered the final verdict.

"Sybilla Blackwood, this court sentences you to life imprisonment."

I released the breath I'd been holding, a wave of relief washing over me. Despite everything Sybilla had done—the attempts on my life, the manipulation, the cruelty—I'd feared she would face public execution. The werewolf justice system could be brutally efficient when it came to attempted murder of a Luna-to-be.

My relief was short-lived as a piercing scream cut through the courtroom. My stepmother lunged to her feet, her face contorted with rage and desperation.

"No! My daughter is innocent!" she shrieked, her perfectly manicured hands clawing at the air. "It was me! It was all my plan to get rid of her!"

The courtroom erupted in shocked murmurs as security personnel moved toward her. She thrashed wildly, trying to reach me where I sat in the front row.

"You bitch! You stole everything from us!" She lunged at a nearby bailiff who attempted to restrain her. "My daughter is innocent!"

It took three security guards to finally drag her from the courtroom, her screams echoing down the hallway long after she disappeared from view. The judge called for order, but the damage was done—her outburst had been recorded by every journalist present.

As people began filing out, I noticed Evanthe sitting several rows behind me. Unlike the somber mood that had settled over the courtroom, her face bore the brightest smile I'd ever seen her wear. Our eyes met briefly before she turned away, her victory walk more of a strut as she left the courtroom.

*She won't be smiling for long,* Lyra growled inside me.

"She'll get that judgment soon enough," I whispered to myself. "I'll make sure of it."

---

The sleek black limousine pulled up to the entrance of Ezra's penthouse tower. As I stepped out, the evening air felt heavy against my skin, matching the weight in my stomach. The driver nodded respectfully before pulling away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Ezra was waiting for me at the private entrance, his tall figure silhouetted against the building's lights. As I approached, his expression softened from its usual stern mask.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, taking my hand in his.

I hesitated, searching for the right words. "I don't feel good," I finally admitted, my voice barely audible. "She's my stepsister. We grew up under the same roof." The reality of what had happened—what Sybilla had done and what she would now face—settled over me like a heavy blanket.

Ezra's thumb traced gentle circles on the back of my hand. "She got what she deserved, Isolde. She tried to kill you. Multiple times."

"I know," I nodded, looking down at our entwined fingers. "It just feels... strange. We shared everything once. Before her mother came into the picture."

Ezra pulled me closer, his powerful arms wrapping around me. "What can I do to make you feel better?"

"This needs time," I said, resting my head against his chest. "But I'll be okay."

He placed a gentle kiss on my hand before pulling me into a warm embrace. I breathed in his scent—fresh and woody with undertones of his unique Alpha musk. The familiar smell calmed my racing thoughts, grounding me in the present moment.

"Let's get you inside," he murmured against my hair. "You need rest."

As we approached the private elevator that would take us to his penthouse, Ezra's phone rang. He frowned at the screen.

"Orion?" he muttered, clearly puzzled.

Ezra answered, his brow furrowing deeper with each second. "Yes? What is it?"

I couldn't hear Orion's words, but the panic in his voice was evident even from where I stood. Ezra's body tensed beside me, his jaw clenching.

"I'll be right there," he said tersely before hanging up.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my blood suddenly feeling too hot in my veins.

"I don't know," Ezra replied, his voice tight. "Orion says there's an emergency at my office. He wouldn't tell me what it was about over the phone."

"That doesn't sound like Orion," I said, worry creeping into my voice. "Should I come with you?"

Ezra shook his head firmly. "No. Go inside and rest. I'm sure it's nothing too serious."

But his eyes told a different story. Something had rattled him.

"Are you sure?" I pressed, my instincts screaming that something was very wrong.

He leaned down, capturing my lips in a brief but intense kiss. "I'm sure. The security team will escort you up." He turned to the waiting guards. "Take her inside. Make sure she's safe."

---

EZRA'S POV

The moment I stepped off the elevator into my office suite, I knew something was terribly wrong. Orion stood near my office door, his normally composed face pale with tension.

"What's going on?" I demanded, striding toward him.

Before Orion could answer, my office door swung open, revealing Evanthe comfortably seated on my leather sofa. She looked up at my arrival, her face lighting up with a brilliant smile that sent a chill down my spine.

"What the hell is she doing here?" I snapped at Orion, completely thrown off guard.

Orion stuttered. "She... I... um... there's been a situation."

His voice was so low I could barely hear him, which was saying something given my enhanced hearing.

I turned my attention back to Evanthe, who continued to smile at me as if this were a casual social call rather than whatever emergency had prompted Orion's panic.

"What situation?" I asked sharply, not moving from the doorway. "What are you doing in my office, Evanthe?"

She rose gracefully, her high heels clicking against the marble floor as she approached me. Every instinct told me to back away, but I held my ground.

"Stay right there," I commanded, my Alpha tone leaving no room for negotiation.

She stopped, but her smile never faltered. I turned back to Orion, who looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor.

"Are you going to tell me what's happening here?" I demanded.

Orion shook his head, gesturing weakly toward Evanthe. "I think she should be the one to explain."

*This isn't good,* Prime growled within me, my wolf shifting restlessly. *She smells... different.*

I faced Evanthe again, maintaining a safe distance. "Explain. Now."

Evanthe's blue eyes sparkled with triumph as she straightened her designer dress. "I have some news, Ezra. Important news."

"What news could possibly warrant this level of drama?" I asked coldly.

She took a deep breath, her face transforming into an expression of pure joy that made my stomach turn.

"I'm pregnant!" she announced, her eyes gleaming with victory.