Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 263

ISOLDE'S POV

My heart hammered against my ribs like a caged animal desperate to escape. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my reflection in the vanity mirror, and tried to steady my breathing.

It wasn't the competition itself that had me so rattled. I was confident in my abilities as a designer, certain that my talent and creativity could win me the title of "fashion's next rising star." Two years of building Liberty Designs from nothing had proven that much.

No, the real source of my terror was much simpler and infinitely more complicated: I was returning to Silver Moon Group headquarters. The same place where I'd endured the darkest period of my life nearly two years ago, trapped in that suffocating "Moon Alliance Program" like a bird in a gilded cage.

And worst of all—I would see Ezra again after two years.

*What if he tries to get revenge for the way I ran?* The thought sent another wave of nausea through me. *What if he threatens to punish me for deceiving him? What if he's happy to see me? What if he tries to pull me back into his world again?*

I shook my head sharply, trying to dislodge the spiraling thoughts. "None of that matters anymore," I muttered to my reflection. "I'm going there for my career. Everything else is irrelevant."

After one final check of my appearance, I grabbed my portfolio and handbag. The driver had already loaded my suitcase into the car. It was time to face whatever waited for me.

---

"Good morning, everyone," I said with a smile as I descended the stairs to the dining room.

Lydia glanced up from her phone with an amused smirk. "Why are you always the last one to show up? Is this some kind of designer thing where you have to make a grand entrance everywhere?"

I laughed, settling into my chair. "If I could explain that mystery, Lydia, I would have done it years ago. Maybe you all get up too early, or maybe I just have a terrible sense of time."

Holden was already dressed and ready to accompany me to Silver Moon Group, which sent a warm flutter through my chest. Over the past few years, he and I had grown surprisingly close—even closer than Lydia and I, honestly. There was something about his quiet, steady presence that made me feel protected.

Lydia's attitude toward me had softened considerably too. We no longer went at each other's throats like we used to, and she'd actually accepted me as part of the family. It was... nice. Different, but nice.

"Look at Holden's face," Lydia said with a theatrical laugh, "like he's the one about to compete in a design contest."

Nobody joined in her laughter, which only made her shrug and return to her phone.

"How are you feeling about today?" Mom asked, her voice gentle with concern.

I appreciated her asking, even though the answer was complicated. "Nervous as hell," I admitted honestly. "I honestly wish I could postpone this whole trip. I hate this feeling like my stomach is tied up in knots."

Holden had prepared the same breakfast for me that he'd made for himself—scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit arranged just so. It was such a small gesture, but it was his way of showing he cared. He always did things like this, these quiet acts of consideration that spoke louder than words.

"Thank you, Holden," I said softly, touched by the thoughtfulness.

Then Lydia dropped a bomb that made me nearly choke on my coffee.

"What if Ezra tells you he wants you back when you see each other again?" she asked with the casual tone of someone discussing the weather. "Would you give up your design career and become his Luna?"

I coughed, my coffee going down the wrong pipe. "Why would I do that?"

Lydia leaned forward, her eyes bright with conviction. "Because it would be so much more promising than what you're doing now. He's the Lycan King of the entire werewolf world, Isolde. If you got back together with him, you'd become the Luna of this hidden world. All that power, all those resources, all that influence—it's way more valuable than some fashion designer title."

"It's not that simple, Lydia," I said carefully, knowing she wouldn't truly understand no matter how I explained it.

"You just don't want to admit I'm right," she pressed. "If I were you, I'd go back to him in a heartbeat and forget about everything else."

Bruce cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. "That's quite the utilitarian way of thinking... The value in life isn't just power and status. True happiness is worth far more than those things."

"I don't think there's anything more valuable than becoming the queen of werewolves who control major global economies," Lydia shot back firmly. "That kind of influence is incomparable!"

I decided to follow Holden's lead and focus on my food. There was no point in arguing with Lydia about this—she'd never understand the complexity of what I'd been through with Ezra.

"Alright..." Mom's voice cut through the tension. "Let's not waste time on hypothetical questions. Isolde is about to embark on an important career opportunity. What she needs from us is support and encouragement, not pointless arguments."

"Pursuing power isn't pointless!" Lydia muttered under her breath, loud enough for all of us to hear. When everyone looked at her, she shrugged. "Fine, I'm just saying what everyone's thinking anyway!"

---

The breakfast continued with encouragement from the rest of my family and Lydia's persistent "suggestions" about seizing any "life-changing opportunity" if Ezra tried to pursue me again.

I found the whole idea both ridiculous and naive. Ezra and I were on completely different paths now. I'd built something meaningful with Liberty Designs, something that was mine.

Whatever we'd had—or thought we'd had—was in the past.