Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 23

**Ezra's POV**

 

The events from this morning refused to leave my mind—watching Isolde spar with Orion in the training facility. The memory replayed in vivid detail: her lithe body moving with surprising precision, each calculated strike revealing years of dedicated training. Most Alliance girls could barely lift a finger without damaging their manicures, yet there she was, holding her own against my Security Director.

 

Her combat skills had caught me completely off guard. I'd expected a pampered business magnate's daughter, not a disciplined fighter with finely-honed battle instincts.

 

*She's exceptional*, Prime whispered in my mind. *Strong. Worthy.*

 

I clenched my jaw, trying to silence him. But the images continued flooding in—Isolde's chestnut curls pulled back in a tight ponytail, sweat glistening on her skin as she executed a perfect counter-strike. Those long, elegant legs that moved like a dancer's, powerful and graceful as they connected with Orion's defenses.

 

But what truly haunted me was what happened next.

 

The moment my gaze had lingered on her—truly focused on her—her body had responded. Within seconds, the air had grown thick with her arousal, sweet and intoxicating. I'd watched, transfixed, as a dark patch formed on her training pants, her body's response to my mere attention so intense it had visibly soaked through the fabric.

 

I'd seen women react to my prolonged stare before—it was part of my unique power as Alpha. One focused look could send them spiraling into desperate need. But never had I witnessed such an overwhelming response. Never so immediate. Never so powerful.

 

*Because she's our mate*, Prime insisted. *Our second chance.*

 

A sharp knock interrupted my thoughts. "Enter," I commanded.

 

"Alpha," Greta said, inclining her head respectfully. "I thought you might appreciate some... relaxation this evening. It's been a stressful week."

 

Before I could ask what she meant, the door opened again, and four women entered my office. Alliance girls, all of them stunning in the way that suggested careful selection and preparation. The first was a blonde with curves that defied physics, wearing a dress that was more suggestion than actual clothing. The second was a brunette with legs that seemed to go on forever, her outfit equally revealing. The third and fourth were equally beautiful, equally available.

 

All of them looked at me with the practiced sultry expressions of women who knew exactly why they were here.

 

"I thought you might enjoy some company," Greta said with a smile.

 

The blonde stepped forward, her hips swaying in a way that was clearly meant to be seductive. "Good evening, Alpha," she purred. "We're here to help you unwind."

 

I stared at them, waiting for the familiar stirring of desire, the automatic response that beautiful women usually triggered. Instead, I felt... nothing. Worse than nothing—I felt almost repulsed.

 

*What the hell is wrong with me?*

 

As the brunette moved closer, leaning over my desk in a way that gave me an unobstructed view of her cleavage, her face seemed to shift in my vision. For a moment, instead of seeing her perfectly applied makeup and practiced smile, I saw green eyes and natural beauty. I saw Isolde.

 

*Fuck.*

 

"We can be very... accommodating," the blonde continued, reaching out to trail her fingers along my arm. "Whatever you need, Alpha."

 

The third woman—a redhead with a body that belonged in magazines—approached from my other side. "We live to serve," she whispered, her hand landing on my shoulder.

 

All four of them were close now, surrounding my chair, their hands beginning to roam. Professional touches designed to arouse, to seduce. The blonde's fingers worked at the buttons of my shirt while the brunette's hand slid down toward my belt.

 

I should have been responding. Any normal man would have been responding to this level of attention from four beautiful women. Instead, I found myself comparing them to someone else entirely.

 

The blonde's hair was too light, too artificial. The brunette's eyes were brown instead of green. The redhead's skin lacked the natural flush that came from real emotion rather than calculated seduction.

 

None of them were her.

 

When the brunette's fingers reached for my belt buckle, something snapped inside me.

 

"Stop." My voice came out as a growl, making all four women freeze instantly.

 

"Alpha?" the blonde asked uncertainly. "Did we do something wrong?"

 

"Get out." I stood abruptly, causing them to step back. "All of you. Now."

 

"But Alpha—" the redhead began.

 

"I said get out!" The command came out with enough Alpha authority to make them all flinch and immediately start backing toward the door.

 

Greta, who had been watching from near the entrance, stepped forward with a frown. "Alpha, perhaps if we tried a different selection—"

 

"No." I turned away from them all, facing the window that overlooked the city. "I don't want a different selection. I don't want any of them."

 

The silence stretched uncomfortably before I heard footsteps and the quiet closing of my office door. When I turned back around, the room was empty except for the lingering scent of cheap perfume and my own frustrated thoughts.

 

Another knock sounded on my door. This time it was Nathaniel, my Beta.

 

"Come in," I called, grateful for any distraction from my own thoughts.

 

Nathaniel entered and closed the door behind him, his expression serious. "Alpha, there's something you need to know."

 

"What about it?"

 

"Our security team reported an... irregularity last night. One of the participants was logged as being off-premises without proper authorization."

 

My attention sharpened immediately.

 

"Which participant?" I asked, though something cold was already settling in my stomach.

 

"Isolde Blackwood," Nathaniel said, and I felt my hands clench into fists at my sides. "She was seen leaving the building with Orion around nine PM and didn't return until after midnight."

 

The words hit me like a physical blow. Orion. She'd been with Orion.

 

 

"What was the nature of their... meeting?" I asked, my voice carefully controlled despite the rage building inside me.

 

"Unknown, Alpha. When questioned, the guards were told it was related to a security assessment."

 

*Why the fuck was she with Orion?*

 

"Alpha?" Nathaniel's voice seemed to come from far away. "Are you all right?"

 

I forced myself to take a deep breath, to regain some semblance of control.

 

"Thank you for the report," I said finally, my voice deadly calm. "That will be all."

 

After Nathaniel left, I stood alone in my office, staring out at the city lights and acknowledging what I'd been trying to deny for days.

 

I wanted Isolde Blackwood. Not just physically—though the desire for that was strong enough to drive me insane—but completely. I wanted her attention, her time, her thoughts.