Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 216

Orion's POV

Rage coursed through my veins as I drove the custom black Range Rover through the city's congested streets. My knuckles turned white against the leather steering wheel while thoughts of my sister Evanthe and her latest manipulation churned in my mind.

My phone vibrated against the center console. Mother. Again. The third call in the last hour. With a frustrated sigh, I swiped to answer, putting it on speaker.

"Orion, thank God you finally answered." Her voice trembled, thick with tears. "It's your sister—she's lost the baby."

I remained silent, jaw clenched so tight I could feel my molars grinding together.

"Did you hear me? Evanthe lost the baby! She's absolutely devastated. You need to come see her immediately. She's been asking for you since they told her." The desperation in my mother's voice would normally have moved me, but not today. Not after everything I knew.

"I'm busy," I replied flatly.

"Busy? Your sister just lost her child—Ezra's child! How can you possibly be too busy for this?"

"Goodbye, Mother." I ended the call, tossing the phone onto the passenger seat as if it had burned me. I'd pretend this conversation never happened—just like my family pretended they weren't complete manipulative sociopaths.

All my life, I'd known Evanthe was ambitious, ruthless even. But I never truly understood the depths she would sink to until now. Killing her own unborn child just to frame Isolde and secure her position with Ezra? It made me physically ill thinking about it.

*They've gone too far this time,* Talon, my wolf, growled in agreement. *Our own blood, betraying everything we stand for.*

"I don't even recognize them anymore," I muttered, swerving around a slow-moving delivery truck. The parents who raised us, who I once respected despite their flaws, were blindly supporting Evanthe's worst impulses, helping her destroy an innocent woman's life.

I couldn't stomach any of them. Not anymore.

The traffic light ahead turned red, forcing me to stop. I drummed my fingers against the steering wheel, thoughts racing. My sister had orchestrated this entire scenario—getting pregnant by someone other than Ezra, claiming it was his heir, then poisoning herself to lose the child and frame Isolde all in one calculated move.

And to think our father had the audacity to confront Ezra, demanding punishment for Isolde based on these lies.

Twenty minutes later, I pulled into the private driveway of my residence in the exclusive Granite Heights neighborhood. Omar, my head of security, was already opening the gate, offering a respectful nod as I drove past.

After parking in the garage, I stepped out just as Omar approached.

"Good evening, Mr. Hawthorne." He straightened his posture, military precision in every movement. "Everything is secure. No unusual activity to report."

"Thank you, Omar." I offered him a small smile, adjusting my custom Tom Ford suit jacket. "Has Ms. Ravenwood arrived?"

"Yes, sir. I escorted her inside approximately thirty minutes ago. She's waiting in the main living room."

A wave of relief washed over me. After the hellish day I'd had, Thalia's presence was exactly what I needed. But I kept my expression neutral, not wanting to broadcast my eagerness to see her to the security staff.

"Excellent," I replied with a professional nod, striding toward the house entrance.

Inside, I moved quickly through the marble-floored foyer toward the living room. The modern open-concept space, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and minimalist furniture, came into view—and there she was.

Thalia sat on my charcoal leather sofa, tablet in hand, her short chestnut hair framing her face as she concentrated on whatever she was reading. For a moment, I simply watched her, allowing myself this brief respite from the day's tensions.

At the sound of my footsteps, she looked up, her bright green eyes immediately shifting from relaxed to concerned.

"Orion," she said, setting down the tablet and standing. "How bad is it?"

No pleasantries, no small talk. This was one of the many things I appreciated about Thalia. She cut straight to what mattered.

"Is it true?" Her voice grew more urgent. "The rumors about Isolde being locked in Silver Moon's detention facility? They're saying she poisoned Evanthe and caused her to lose the baby?"

I exhaled heavily, gesturing for her to sit back down as I joined her on the sofa. The leather creaked beneath my weight.

"It's worse than the rumors," I admitted, my voice low. "The situation is extremely serious."

Thalia's eyes widened, her body tensing. "How serious are we talking?"

"We need to mobilize every resource we have to prove Isolde's innocence."

Her eyes flashed with anger and concern, her voice shaking slightly. "This is absurd! She would never do something like that!" She leaned forward, hands gripping her knees. "Isolde would never harm anyone, especially not a pregnant woman, no matter how horrible Evanthe has been to her. She's innocent!"

"I know," I said firmly, meeting her gaze. "I believe that completely. But right now, only a handful of people share that belief. The elders, the other district Alphas, most of the company executives—they've all aligned with Evanthe's version of events. They're pushing for the harshest possible punishment for Isolde. If we don't act quickly..." I let the implication hang in the air between us.

Thalia's eyes filled with tears, her voice catching. "No! That can't happen. We can't let her be punished for something she didn't do. She's..." Her voice broke. "She's our friend!"

I reached out, placing my hand on her shoulder in what I hoped was a comforting gesture. I'd come seeking solace and support, but here I was, comforting someone else instead. The irony wasn't lost on me.

Thalia suddenly straightened her spine, eyes hardening with determination as she wiped away unshed tears. "No, we absolutely will not let this happen!"

"I promise you, we won't stand by while she faces unjust punishment," I said calmly. "I've already contacted several trusted investigators. Nathaniel is quietly supporting our efforts as well. Isolde is Ezra's true mate—that alone means we must protect her."

Thalia's expression grew increasingly resolute. "I want to join the investigation," she stated firmly. "As Isolde's only friend in that wretched Moon Alliance Program, I have an obligation to help her. I know who to talk to, how to get information. Let me be part of the team."

"You're already an essential part of the team," I assured her, then hesitated, feeling my heart rate pick up. "But there's something I've been debating whether to tell you. I realize now that if I don't, I might never forgive myself."

Thalia's brow furrowed, her expression suddenly guarded as she studied my face.

My mouth went dry. This moment could change everything between us.