Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 207

Isolde's POV

I heard whispers behind me, female voices speaking in hushed but vicious tones.

"Did you see how she pushed her? She's so cruel!"

"She's so vicious!"

I turned around, scanning the room. The faces looking back at me were filled with disapproval, some with outright disgust. My blood ran cold as I realized what was happening. Evanthe had turned this around on me, making it appear that I had viciously attacked her rather than simply pushing her away after she deliberately spilled a drink on me.

Evanthe's voice broke through the murmurs, her tone tearful and pathetic. "I know you're upset because I'm carrying Ezra's child, but you're the one he loves and chose to be with. I can't compete with you. So why can't you stop attacking me and my baby? For God's sake, I'm pregnant, and this child is innocent. Please stop trying to hurt us!"

I tried to speak, but the words caught in my throat. "Evanthe, I..." I looked at her through tears of frustration. "No, I didn't even push her that hard."

"She's practically a demon!" someone muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.

Lyra growled inside me. *That lying bitch!*

A deep, commanding voice cut through the tension. "What's happening here?"

The crowd parted immediately, the atmosphere shifting from gossipy tension to reverent fear. Everyone could feel the Alpha's pressure radiating through the space. Ezra stood there, his golden eyes surveying the scene with dangerous intensity.

I shook my head, desperate to escape. "I want to leave. Please take me away from here." My voice was barely audible, even to my own ears. "I didn't do it! I swear I didn't do anything!"

Evanthe clutched her waist, crying like a child. "I know I did wrong, but she shouldn't have pushed me like that. She wanted to hurt our baby." Her eyes flashed with triumph when no one else could see.

Ezra's gaze shifted to me, and I shook my head frantically. "No, it wasn't like that. I swear I didn't..." My blue eyes were wide with fear and helplessness.

"Shh..." Ezra stepped closer, his voice low and steady. "You don't need to explain anything to me. I believe you." His golden eyes locked with mine, unwavering.

Relief washed over me like a cool wave. He believed me. Lyra settled within me. *He trusts us...*

Ezra turned to Evanthe, his voice carrying an edge of steel. "Get up, and stop embarrassing yourself. This is an official Silver Moon event, not your personal drama stage."

"I can't get up," Evanthe whimpered.

With a slight motion of his hand, Ezra signaled security personnel, who quickly moved to help Evanthe to her feet.

"Ezra, didn't you hear what I said?" Evanthe cried. "She pushed me!"

A girl from the Moon Alliance Program spoke up, "Yes, sir. I saw it."

Ezra's eyes flashed dangerously as he addressed the girl. "Did I ask you to report anything to me?"

The girl trembled, quickly shaking her head. "No, sir."

"If you don't stop this charade right now," Ezra warned Evanthe, "I will remove you from your position and send you back where you truly belong." His voice carried undeniable authority.

"This isn't fair!" Evanthe shrieked, stomping her foot before storming away, muttering curses about me trying to kill her unborn child.

People around us still looked at me like I was some kind of witch, but I didn't care. Ezra believed me, and that was all that mattered.

"Do you need to change your dress?" Ezra asked softly, examining the stain Evanthe had caused.

I shook my head. "It's not too bad. I don't want to leave the event."

Ezra sighed. "I shouldn't have left you alone. My mistakes keep piling up." His eyes held a rare hint of regret.

I stiffened in his arms, remembering I was still angry with him about everything that had happened between us.

Ezra guided me through the crowd toward the main table. Two special chairs waited at the center, clearly designated for the Silver Moon CEO and his companion. I didn't like this arrangement—it felt like I was being displayed as a trophy.

For the next hour, the ballroom returned to its lively state as Alpha business leaders from different districts arrived, greeted us, introduced themselves, and took their seats at the main table.

I began to relax again, but my irritation flared when I realized Evanthe was seated right next to me at the high table, elegantly dressed and occasionally stroking her belly in an exaggerated protective gesture.

Ezra seemed surprised by this seating arrangement too. "I can have her moved," he offered.

"No," I refused. "I can handle a few hours near her. I won't let her win."

The ceremony began with speeches, entertainment performances by elite werewolves from various districts, and sumptuous food and drinks. My previously nervous stomach and poor appetite disappeared. I found myself becoming more like my true self—tasting the delicious food, critiquing the performances in my mind, and enjoying the atmosphere while completely ignoring Evanthe beside me.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Ezra whispered in my ear, his breath tickling my neck and sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

I nodded with a small smile. "Yes, I am. This ritual isn't so boring after all."

He grinned, reminding me of our earlier conversation about the Silver Moon annual celebration. "I guess we both need to take back our words."

"Indeed," I agreed, noticing the way his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners when he genuinely smiled.

A piercing scream shattered the atmosphere, interrupting our moment. The sound came from Evanthe, who had one hand clutching her stomach as she screamed again, drawing every eye in the room to our table.

My smile vanished as I stared at her in horror, rising from my seat. "Evanthe!" My heart pounded, and my instincts screamed that something terrible was about to happen.

The performers on stage stopped, and an eerie silence fell over the room as everyone stared at our table with a mix of shock and fear.

Ezra stood up too, rushing to Evanthe's side and catching her as she started to collapse. "Evanthe! What's wrong?"

I looked down and saw the chair where Evanthe had been sitting was covered in blood. Every hair on my body stood on end.

Ezra saw the blood too, his eyes turning blood red. "Security!" he roared, his Alpha command vibrating through the entire hall.

Security personnel appeared instantly, one of them taking Evanthe and carrying her away toward the medical area.

My body began to shake, my lips trembling and my heart racing so fast I thought I might faint. I knew I was being framed, but I couldn't find the words to defend myself.

The ballroom erupted into chaos, with werewolves whispering and staring at me like I was a monster.

An angry old man shouted from below. "Lock the doors! There's a murderer here!" His eyes pointed directly at me.

As the security personnel carrying Evanthe rushed out, the electronic locks of the ballroom clicked shut, sealing all exits.

My mind raced in panic. *What the hell is happening?*