Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 196

Ezra's POV

Orion burst into my office without knocking. He clutched a tablet in his hand.

I looked up from my desk, where I'd been attempting to collect my thoughts after the disastrous meeting with the elders. The confrontation had left me drained.

"What now, Orion?" I couldn't keep the exasperation from my voice. After going toe-to-toe with the Council of Elders and revealing Isolde as my fated mate, I wasn't in the mood for another crisis.

Orion took a deep breath. "Evanthe's pregnancy news has leaked to social media. The entire company is talking about it."

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose, letting out a frustrated sigh. Of course. This was Evanthe's next move. I should have anticipated it. She'd never accept defeat gracefully—not when she believed she deserved to be my Luna.

"Damn it! Evanthe!" I growled. I was almost certain she had orchestrated this herself. The timing was too perfect, coming right after I'd officially declared Isolde as my mate to the elders.

"And the comments section isn't looking good for us," Orion continued, his concern deepening. "Investors and partners are watching this closely. Some have already started pressuring the board."

I extended my hand for the tablet, though I knew I shouldn't look. Nothing good would come from reading the public's uninformed opinions. Orion hesitated, worry etched across his features.

"Are you sure you want to see this?" he asked cautiously.

I answered with a pointed look, and Orion placed the tablet in my hand.

Leaning back in my leather chair, I focused on the screen. It displayed a gossip article with three carefully arranged photos: Evanthe looking elegant and professional, Isolde captured in a vulnerable moment, and me looking stern and powerful between them. The headline screamed speculation about a love triangle at the top of Silver Moon Group. The article itself was filled with "insider sources" and thinly veiled insinuations about the future leadership of my company.

I scrolled directly to the comments section, my jaw tightening as I read the first comment:

"'Evanthe and Ezra Silverwood are the perfect couple. Isolde is just a temporary distraction, Ezra needs to think about the future of the company!'"

I scoffed, shifting in my seat. What a moron.

The second comment was equally infuriating: "'He must take responsibility! Silver Moon Group has always promoted corporate responsibility and family values. Let's see if the CEO practices what he preaches in this situation.'"

Well said! I thought sarcastically. But I was nearly certain the child wasn't mine. The timing was too convenient, the announcement too calculated. Even if it was—and I wasn't ruling out the possibility completely—it still wouldn't change my decision about Isolde. A child did not override a mate bond.

The third comment made my blood boil, starting with four emojis: "'That low-ranking werewolf from Emerald Valley probably thought she hit the jackpot becoming Silver Moon CEO's girlfriend.'"

A reply beneath it added: "'Ezra to her: "Uh... Isolde... um... we have to end things, you need to go back to the Moon Alliance because I have to marry Evanthe." Poor Isolde will be devastated!'" The comment ended with three crash emojis.

As I continued scrolling through the vicious comments about Isolde, Prime growled furiously within me, his protective instincts flaring. Some comments speculated about Isolde's background and motivation, others openly mocked her, and still others suggested that I'd only been using her as entertainment while waiting for a proper match.

"Fuck this!" I hurled the tablet onto my desk and rose to my feet, letting out a frustrated groan as I stalked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

They know nothing about my bond with Isolde, yet they think they have the right to comment so viciously. They hadn't seen how she'd stood her ground when others cowered, how her intelligence and compassion outshone everyone around her. They didn't know about the connection that pulled us together despite my initial resistance.

At least I'd restricted Isolde to the room without social media access. If she saw these comments, she'd be devastated and even more determined to leave me. The thought sent a spike of panic through me. She was already hurt and angry about Evanthe's pregnancy announcement. This public humiliation would push her further away.

Orion cleared his throat behind me. "I can contact the IT department, instruct them to suppress this content. At least prevent it from spreading on platforms we control."

I laughed humorlessly. "And what good would that do? The entire world already knows what's happening. The damage is done." I ran a hand through my hair, frustration building.

"Then what do we do?" Orion pressed. "With this news out in the open, the board will soon demand that you respond. We can't maintain silence anymore."

"I'm well aware of that," I said, turning to face him. "Get Evanthe in here."

Orion's eyebrows shot up. "Evanthe?"

I nodded, my gaze steely. Orion hesitated. "Again?"

"Yes. Again. She's behind all this mess. There are some things I need to make clear to her before I start cleaning up the shitstorm she's created."

I walked to the transparent floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the financial district below. The view that usually gave me a sense of pride and accomplishment now felt hollow. People were moving like ants far below, oblivious to the werewolf drama unfolding in the tower above them.

"I'm waiting," I said to Orion, who seemed to be frozen in place.

I knew this was uncomfortable for him too. Evanthe was his sister, and he had always been loyal to Silver Moon. He was caught in the middle of this drama, and I didn't envy his position. While I trusted Orion, I knew family ties were powerful—especially in werewolf bloodlines.

After Orion left to summon Evanthe, I remained by the window, consumed by my thoughts. I knew exactly why Evanthe had leaked the pregnancy news. I knew what she wanted from me, and I knew how far she was willing to go to get it.

But she wouldn't. Not in a million years.

I had never felt anything beyond physical attraction for her, and even if I hadn't found Isolde, Evanthe would never be the woman I'd choose to spend my life with.

Her ambition was too naked, her methods too underhanded. She cared about the position of Luna, not about me.

She wanted the power, the status, the recognition that came with being the Lycan King's mate. Isolde had never sought any of that—in fact, she'd resisted it, resisted me, which only made me want her more.

Twenty minutes later, Evanthe sauntered into my office, a smug smile playing on her lips.

She wore an elegant dress that strategically emphasized her midsection, her hand lightly resting on her stomach in a pose that screamed "expectant mother" to anyone watching.

"Twice in one day?" she purred, her voice grating on my nerves. "Does this mean you're finally giving serious consideration to my proposal?"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes at her calculated smile.

Seriously consider it? Not a chance in hell.