Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 198

Isolde's POV

I stared at the ceiling of the bedroom, my body exhausted but my mind refusing to shut down. The digital clock on the nightstand glowed 3:47 AM, mocking me with each passing minute. I had been waiting for Ezra all night, but he hadn't shown up.

Where is he? I wondered, my heart aching despite my anger. Probably handling the Evanthe situation... or worse, with her.

I rolled onto my side, hugging a pillow to my chest as anxiety gnawed at my insides. The sheets still carried his scent—pine, winter, and that dark, intoxicating essence that was uniquely Ezra. Once, that scent had brought me comfort.

He called me his mate, I thought bitterly. He even hinted that I could be his Luna someday. What a joke.

My mind replayed our recent interactions—his angry outburst when I mentioned leaving Silver Moon, the Alpha command that had frozen me in place, and now this isolation. Fear crept through my veins like ice water. If Ezra could use his power to control me so easily, what other extreme measures might he take to keep me?

I love him, I admitted to myself, tears welling in my eyes. God help me, I still want him. But I can't stay in this "Moon Alliance Program" any longer. Not with Evanthe determined to make my life hell.

Lyra stirred within me, radiating agreement. *We need to escape this gilded cage,* my wolf whispered.

I nodded in the darkness, wiping away my tears. Whether it took days or weeks, I would find a way out.

---

Morning light filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows as I finally dragged myself from the king-sized bed. My head pounded from lack of sleep, and my eyes felt swollen and irritated.

With a deep sigh, I padded across the heated marble floor into the private bathroom. The space was unnecessarily large, with dual sinks set in Italian marble, a rainfall shower big enough for four people, and a soaking tub that could fit a small family.

I splashed cold water on my face, avoiding my reflection in the mirror. I knew I looked terrible—eyes red-rimmed, complexion pale from stress. I quickly brushed my teeth and washed my face, not bothering with anything elaborate. What was the point? I was a prisoner, not a guest.

When I returned to the bedroom, I startled at the sight of a maid I didn't knew emerging from the walk-in closet.

"Wow!" I exclaimed, instinctively tightening the belt of my robe.

She regarded me with cool professionalism, her expression revealing nothing. "Good morning, Miss Blackwood." Her tone carried a practiced detachment.

"Good morning," I replied, my voice nearly lifeless. I was still shocked by her unannounced presence. How long had she been in the apartment? Had she watched me sleep?

"You've already showered, good," she said, moving to the bed and beginning to efficiently strip the sheets. "I've laid out your clothes for today. You can change, and I'll have the bed made and breakfast delivered."

I watched her work, noticing the slight curl of her lip and the stiffness in her movements. It was obvious the woman resented serving me.

She sees me as nothing but a temporary plaything for Ezra, I realized. Another Moon Alliance girl who'll eventually be discarded.

If Ezra had publicly acknowledged me as his mate from the beginning, perhaps Silver Moon's staff would have shown me some respect. Instead, he'd kept our connection secret, allowing me to be treated like an interchangeable body in his modern harem. That was something I couldn't forgive.

"Where is Mr. Silverwood?" I asked quietly, the question burning in my mind.

She paused her work, her eyes narrowing with suspicion as she looked at me. The tension between us was palpable.

I could see through her professional smile and deliberately gentle tone. The woman clearly despised me, resenting the task of serving a new member of the "Moon Alliance Program." She probably viewed me as unworthy, a temporary amusement for Ezra that would soon be forgotten.

This is Ezra's fault too, I thought bitterly. If he had acknowledged me as his mate from the start, they would have respected me. Instead, he let me be treated like a disposable toy.

"Where is Mr. Silverwood?" I repeated, my voice firmer this time.

She sighed before answering, "The Alpha is still resting in his main suite."

"I need you to tell him I want to see him," I requested.

Her face twisted with annoyance. "My job description doesn't include being a messenger or secretary to relay your demands," she snapped. "Stop acting so entitled and get dressed. Don't waste any more of my time."

The tension between us was almost tangible, and I felt my stomach clench painfully. She clearly had no fear of me reporting her rudeness to Ezra, which spoke volumes about how little power I actually had in this relationship.

"Can you help me with something else then?" I asked, trying to maintain some politeness despite her obvious irritation at my continued conversation.

"Being stuck alone in this luxurious cage all day is unbearably lonely," I explained. "Could you at least let my friend Thalia come visit for a while? I'll go crazy if I remain cut off from everyone like this."

"I'm sorry, that's not within my authority," she replied coolly, continuing her work without even looking at me. Her dismissal was complete and final.

Tired of the fruitless exchange with the new maid, I walked into the expansive walk-in closet to choose my outfit for the day. As I sifted through designer clothes that felt like someone else's life, I made a silent promise to myself.

*The next time I see Ezra, I'll make him pay for treating me like this,* I thought, my resolve hardening. I don't care if he's the Alpha or the Lycan King himself. No one has the right to cage me.