Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 230

Ezra's POV

The words hit me like a fucking freight train to the skull. Six months. Six goddamn months of lies, manipulation, and deceit.

I stared at Atlas, my hands gripping the edge of my desk so hard I thought the wood might crack. The rage building inside me wasn't just anger—it was the kind of fury that made my wolf want to tear through my skin and rip someone's throat out.

"Six months," I repeated, my voice deadly quiet. The room felt like it had dropped twenty degrees. "You've known for six months that Evanthe is your mate, and you said nothing?"

What Orion had called a "shock" was a fucking understatement. This wasn't a shock—this was a bullet through the head. Evanthe had been playing games with both of us, keeping her fated mate on the side while pursuing me like some kind of twisted hobby.

"Atlas..." I started, then stopped, running a hand through my hair. "I... I don't understand. She... she how... fuck, I'm confused." I looked directly at him, needing answers that made sense. "Did you know about our sexual relationship?"

Atlas met my eyes, and I saw the same pain and anger reflected there that was eating me alive from the inside.

"I did," he said simply.

The words exploded in my brain like a chain of dynamite going off. Every muscle in my body tensed, and I felt Prime stirring beneath my skin, ready to shift and destroy something—anything.

"What the fuck do you mean, you knew?" I snarled.

Atlas's face hardened, but I could see the hurt underneath his calm exterior. "We met at a business mixer six months ago. The moment I saw her, I knew she was my mate. The pull was immediate, undeniable." He paused, his jaw clenching. "When I approached her, she threatened to reject me outright. Said she wanted to be with you instead of 'someone ordinary like me.'"

I felt something cold settle in my stomach. Evanthe and I had never had any form of real relationship, but I'd let that slide for now.

"I was completely infatuated," Atlas continued, his voice growing harder. "The mate bond made me want to protect her, even from herself. When I threatened to tell you about our connection, she knew you'd end whatever arrangement you had with her."

"That's ridiculous," I said flatly.

Atlas's laugh was bitter. "You think it's ridiculous? When you're dealing with someone as ambitious and self-centered as Evanthe, you have to resort to ridiculous measures. Including deceiving the CEO of Silver Moon Group and the Lycan King."

My blood was boiling, but I forced myself to stay calm. "So you're telling me Evanthe has been fucking both me and you this entire time?"

Atlas nodded, and my heart sank into my boots.

"When you stopped seeing her, it was just me," he added quietly.

The reality of the situation hit me like a sledgehammer. "Did you ever suspect the child might be yours?"

"I confronted her about it," Atlas replied. "She insisted it was yours. Said only the mother knows who the father really is."

I leaned back in my chair, the pieces finally clicking into place. "The timeline doesn't work, Atlas. When Evanthe miscarried yesterday, she was four weeks pregnant. The last time I slept with her was eight weeks ago." I fixed him with a hard stare. "That child was yours, and she knew it. That's why she killed it."

Atlas's face went pale, then flushed with rage. "What do you mean she killed it?"

"Do you believe the rumors that Isolde poisoned Evanthe with Silver Ion Extract?" I asked.

He shook his head slowly.

"I have evidence that Evanthe had someone acquire Silver Ion Extract for her. I also have evidence that Evanthe planted evidence on Isolde to frame her for the poisoning." I watched Atlas's face shift from confusion to horror. "She's that selfish and callous, Atlas. Your unborn child isn't the first person she's murdered."

"Atlas," I said, trying to inject some compassion into my voice, "I understand that Evanthe is your mate and you love her very much—"

"No," he cut me off, his voice and expression deadly serious. "No."

I blinked, surprised by the vehemence in his response.

"We brought you here because we hoped you'd help us expose Evanthe for what she really is," I continued carefully. "Reject Evanthe, help us reveal her true nature, and I promise you the Moon Goddess will reward you with a second chance mate. As your Lycan King, I'll petition the Moon Goddess on your behalf."

Atlas's eyes flashed with something dark and dangerous. "Alpha Ezra, right now I honestly don't give a shit about getting a second chance mate. I just want that bitch to pay for what she did to my unborn child. I'll do anything to expose her."

Relief flooded through me. I turned to the other Atlas, who'd been silently operating his laptop throughout our conversation. "What about you, Terry? Are you with us?"

He gestured toward his laptop screen, which was displaying the surveillance footage he'd shown us earlier. The implication was clear—he'd already chosen his side.

"Good," I said with satisfaction.

Orion stepped forward. "Thalia just told me the girls are ready to testify as well. The maids at Silver Moon Tower have told me the same thing. So I think we have enough evidence and witnesses to prosecute Evanthe."

I felt a surge of dark satisfaction flow through my veins. Finally, we had what we needed.

"Orion," I ordered, "take everyone who's provided us with information to my secure apartment. Take them and anyone close to them to my safe house and keep them there temporarily."

"After that, Nathaniel," I turned to my Beta, "you take some security personnel to my penthouse and arrest Evanthe."

Orion's eyes widened. "Evanthe is in your penthouse?"

"Yes," I confirmed.

"It's a long story. Also boring. You do what I've told you, and call me when the chaos erupts again. I'll wait here."

"Yes, Alpha," both Orion and Nathaniel responded in unison.

"Remember, Nathaniel. You must wait until everyone has been taken to my safe house before you execute the arrest."

"Understood," Nathaniel replied with a sharp nod.

Orion led the group out of my office, and I was finally alone.

I collapsed onto the nearby designer sofa, letting out a deep breath with a satisfied smile spreading across my face. After months of Evanthe's manipulation and lies, after watching Isolde suffer in that detention cell, justice was finally within reach.

I couldn't wait to see the look on Evanthe's face when she saw us in court.