Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 202

Orion‘s POV

I lingered just outside Ezra's office door, my back pressed against the wall as I strained to hear the conversation inside.

I could hear the muffled voices of my father and Ezra through the thick door. My father's tone was aggressive and entitled as always, while Ezra's responses came out cold and controlled. From what I could gather, my father was once again pushing for Ezra to take Evanthe to the summit, citing her pregnancy as leverage.

I closed my eyes, focusing all my enhanced werewolf hearing on their conversation. My wolf, Talon, stirred within me, equally curious about what was happening.

As their discussion continued, I could sense my father's scent shifting, turning acrid with anger. His heart rate increased, his breathing becoming shallow with rage. God, what was he thinking? Threatening an Alpha, especially one like Ezra, was pure stupidity.

The meeting ended abruptly with my father storming toward the door. I quickly ducked around the corner, watching as he marched down the hallway, his back rigid with indignation.

I shook my head, disgusted. My father was like a desperate gambler doubling down on a losing hand. The shame of being related to someone who would use his own daughter's pregnancy as leverage made my stomach turn.

Without hesitation, I followed him, keeping enough distance that he wouldn't notice me. In the lobby, he shoved past several employees, ignoring their startled expressions. I quickened my pace as he exited the building.

"Father!" I called out, but he didn't stop. "Father, wait!"

He continued toward his Mercedes, pretending not to hear me, though we both knew his werewolf hearing was perfectly intact. I jogged forward, positioning myself directly in front of his car.

"Move," he snapped, finally acknowledging my presence.

"We need to talk," I said firmly.

He glared at me, his eyes briefly flashing irritation. "Unless you're here to convince your Alpha to fulfill his responsibilities to your sister, we have nothing to discuss."

I held my ground as he tried to step around me. "Father, please. You need to stop this madness!"

His face contorted with rage, the veins in his neck bulging. "Madness? You call this madness?" He jabbed a finger at my chest. "He got your sister pregnant and refuses to take responsibility, and you're still taking his side?"

"He has promised to care for Evanthe and the child," I countered.

"That's not enough!" My father's voice rose, drawing attention from passersby. "She deserves a place in his life, not just to be the mother of his child!"

I took a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure. "Father, you can't force a man to marry someone he doesn't love. He has a fated mate!"

"To hell with his fated mate!" he spat. "Evanthe is better suited to be Luna. She's from a respected family, and—"

"I don't want to hear this anymore." I cut him off, my patience wearing thin. "Watching you and Evanthe scramble for Alpha's attention without a shred of dignity is embarrassing. Father, please stop."

The slap came so suddenly I didn't have time to react. My cheek stung from the impact, but I didn't move, didn't flinch. I just stared at him, surprised at how little his action affected me emotionally.

"I sometimes wonder if you're really my son," he sneered, his voice low and venomous.

I touched my cheek briefly, then dropped my hand. "Look at my face, Father. Look at my eyes, my nose, my jawline. I am your son. I am your blood. I just don't agree with what our family has become."

His nostrils flared. "Get out of my way."

"Your plan is going to fail," I told him calmly. "Ezra isn't like other Alphas. He will never bow to your will."

"We'll see about that." He pushed past me and climbed into his car. The tires screeched against the pavement as he pulled away, leaving the smell of burnt rubber in his wake.

I watched his car disappear into traffic, a small, cold smile playing on my lips. "He'll never change," I murmured to myself.

*He is still your father,* Talon reminded me.

*Biologically, yes. But that doesn't mean I have to respect what he's doing.*

I returned to the building, nodding at the security guards as I passed. When I reached Ezra's office, I knocked once before entering.

Ezra was leaning back in his chair, looking surprisingly relaxed despite the confrontation that had just occurred. His calmness was almost unnerving.

"You're back," he said simply, his gray eyes studying me.

I hesitated by the door, suddenly feeling awkward. "I already know," I admitted. "I was curious and listened in. I'm sorry."

A hint of amusement crossed his face. "Don't be. Sometimes moral guidelines need to be temporarily set aside to achieve important objectives."

I moved further into the room. "Ezra, I'm sorry about the pressure my family is putting on you... I know it's frustrating. I wish I could control them."

The office fell silent. I worried I'd said something wrong, somehow angered my Alpha with my unnecessary apology.

"Why exactly are you apologizing to me?" Ezra finally asked, his head tilted slightly.

"Because my family is causing you trouble," I replied honestly.

"And you're helping me through it," he countered. "For that, I'm grateful. So there's no need for apologies."

I felt my neck grow warm with unexpected embarrassment. I scratched the back of my head nervously, not used to receiving praise from an Alpha. "I wish I could convince them to stop."

"Your father and sister are too ambitious and determined to be swayed by words," Ezra said. "Don't waste your energy. Just continue to help me as you've been doing."

I smiled and nodded. "I will."

Ezra sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "I'm exhausted. I'm taking the rest of the day off. You're free to do the same."

My smile widened as thoughts of Thalia immediately filled my mind. I could go see her, check on her, make sure she was doing okay in the Moon Alliance Program. "Thank you, Ezra."

"You're welcome," he replied, already turning his attention to his phone.

I left his office, practically jogging down the hallway. *This is great!* I thought, feeling lighter than I had in days. A chance to see Thalia was exactly what I needed after dealing with my father.

As I headed for the elevator, I pushed aside thoughts of family drama and corporate politics. For a few hours at least, I could focus on something—someone—that made me genuinely happy.