Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 268

Isolde's POV

The black SUV hummed quietly as we navigated through the city streets, two security guards flanking me in the spacious back seat.

Through the tinted windows, I could see Orion's vehicle leading the way, his silhouette rigid behind the wheel of the car ahead..

He was angry with me. I didn't need werewolf senses to know that—it was written in every line of his posture, every sharp turn he made. Two years. Two years since I'd vanished without a word, without explanation, leaving behind the few people who had actually cared about me.

Orion had been one of those people. Maybe the only one, besides Thalia.

I closed my eyes and leaned back against the leather seat, drawing in a shaky breath. He'd believed in me, had seen potential in me when no one else would, and I'd repaid that faith by disappearing without so much as a goodbye. No wonder he was pissed.

I bit my lip, anxiety crawling up my spine like ice-cold fingers. If Orion was this angry with me, how would Thalia react? Would she even want to see me? The thought of facing her disappointment, her hurt, made my stomach churn.

*Maybe coming back here has been a mistake.* I thought. I should have stayed in Sapphire District, should have found another way to advance my career that didn't involve walking back into the lion's den.

"We've arrived at the destination," one of the security guards announced, his voice professional and detached.

I straightened up, quickly unbuckling my seatbelt as the car came to a smooth stop. The door was opened for me with practiced efficiency, and I stepped out onto perfectly manicured pavement.

And then I saw it.

My jaw literally dropped.

"This is it?" I asked, turning to the security guard who'd opened my door. He shrugged, looking just as uncertain as I felt.

"Should be. Nice place," he added, glancing around at the other equally impressive properties lining the street.

I stared up at the modern luxury villa before me, my brain struggling to process what I was seeing. This wasn't some corporate apartment or hotel suite—this was a full-blown private mansion. Glass and steel architecture gleamed in the afternoon light, surrounded by meticulously landscaped gardens.

My eyes tracked movement, and I spotted Orion walking toward us from his car, his expression still that same stoic mask of displeasure.

"Orion," I said carefully, my voice coming out smaller than I'd intended. "This is what Ezra prepared?"

My gaze swept over the villa again, taking in the sweeping driveway, the elaborate fountain, the way the entire property seemed to scream wealth and privilege.

"Yes," Orion replied curtly.

"This is insane!" I burst out, unable to contain my shock any longer.

Something flickered in Orion's expression—the ghost of a smile—and his voice softened just a fraction. "Not for you, it isn't."

The warmth in those words caught me off guard, sending an unexpected flutter through my chest. For just a moment, it felt like old times, when Orion had been the person I could count on to treat me with kindness.

He moved closer, his steps deliberate and measured, and I found myself holding my breath as he spoke again.

"You're Isolde," he said, his voice carrying an intensity that made my heart skip. "The fated mate he lost two years ago. Do you really think he'd settle for anything less than perfection now that he's found you again?"

The words hit me like a physical blow, leaving me speechless. My mouth opened and closed wordlessly as my thoughts scattered in a dozen different directions. I wanted to protest, to argue, to say something—anything—but the words seemed stuck in my throat.

*Fated mate.* The term sent shivers down my spine, awakening memories and sensations I'd spent two years trying to forget.

"This is too much," I finally managed to stammer out, my voice shaky. "I can't accept this. People will think I'm getting special treatment. They'll start spreading rumors about me, making accusations..."

The thought of facing that kind of scrutiny again, of being the target of whispered conversations and jealous glares, made my skin crawl. I'd lived through it once before, when Evanthe had made sure everyone knew exactly what she thought of me. I couldn't go through that again.

"People know exactly what you are to him," Orion said, his tone gentle but firm. "They wouldn't dare spread rumors."

But I couldn't let it go. The anxiety was building in my chest, threatening to overwhelm me. What if people thought any success I achieved in the competition was just because of my connection to Ezra? What if they dismissed my work, my talent, because they assumed I was getting help behind the scenes?

"Orion..." I started to argue, but he held up both hands, cutting me off.

"I'm just the messenger," he said, his voice calm but leaving no room for discussion. "Don't shoot the messenger. If you have any issues with these arrangements, you should take them up the next time you see him—though we both know he's not going to change his mind. You're staying here. Final decision."

I bit down on my lower lip hard enough to taste copper, frustration and resignation warring in my chest. With a heavy sigh, I nodded reluctantly, knowing I had no choice in the matter.

My eyes swept over the property again, taking in the sheer scale of it. The villa was massive, the grounds perfectly maintained, and I could only imagine what kind of staff might be waiting inside to cater to my every need.

*Oh, Ezra,* I thought with a mixture of exasperation and something dangerously close to fondness. *He really does like to go big.*

But then Orion's expression shifted, the brief warmth disappearing as if it had never existed. His face returned to that cold, professional mask, and my stomach dropped as I realized our moment of peace was over.

"You left us," he said quietly, his voice carrying a weight that hit me like a punch to the gut. "And we looked everywhere, trying to find you."

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Dear readers, hello! Thanks to everyone who is reading this book. I'm very SORRY to tell you that there's been a situation today, so I'll only be posting one chapter. Starting tomorrow, we'll be back to normal!!! Love you all!