Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 275

Isolde's POV

"Liar!" I exclaimed when he just shrugged dismissively.

"I'm not lying!" Holden protested, but his slight smile gave him away.

"Come on, why don't you have a girlfriend? Haven't you met anyone who makes your heart race?"

I was genuinely curious. Holden was handsome, smart, and came from a good family. Sure, he could be cold and distant sometimes, but underneath that exterior, I'd glimpsed someone capable of real warmth. It seemed impossible that no one had caught his attention.

The strangest part was that he was actually engaging with this conversation. Usually, any mention of his personal life would have him shutting down completely or walking away. But here he was, in this loud, crowded club, actually talking to me about relationships.

*He probably likes you,* I thought to myself, not in any weird way, but in that protective big-sister way that made him want to confide in me. The realization warmed something in my chest.

"There's got to be someone," I pressed, leaning closer so he could hear me over the music. "Come on, Holden. You're surrounded by potential matches in this place. Just look around—there are tons of beautiful women here."

Holden's expression shifted, becoming more serious. "What kind of sister encourages her brother to pick up women at a nightclub?"

I grinned at him. "One who doesn't follow conventional rules!"

"Fair point," he said, and for a moment his cold mask slipped entirely, revealing something almost fond.

But then his expression grew thoughtful, and when he spoke again, his voice carried a weight I hadn't expected.

"Tell me what I need to know," I said, sensing there was more to this conversation.

Holden turned to face me fully, his gray eyes steady and serious. "I'm waiting for my fated mate."

I stared at him, my drink halfway to my lips, completely stunned.

"Yes," he continued calmly, as if he hadn't just rocked my entire understanding of who my brother was. "I won't be with anyone else except the one who's fated for me. So I'm waiting for her."

*Holy shit.* I set my glass down carefully, afraid my trembling hands might drop it.

"That's..." I struggled for words, my heart doing something complicated in my chest. "Romantic. She's going to be one lucky girl."

Holden's cheeks actually flushed slightly. "Makes me sound like a freak, doesn't it?"

"No!" I said quickly, reaching out to touch his arm. "Not a freak. Different. Special. In the coolest way possible."

He smiled then, a real smile that transformed his entire face. But I could see the exhaustion creeping in around his eyes—all this social interaction was draining him. I knew he'd probably disappear for a week after tonight, hiding away to recharge.

"Excuse me."

The smooth male voice interrupted our conversation. I turned to see a man approaching us—tall, dark-haired, with the kind of confident smile that suggested he was used to getting what he wanted.

"Would this beautiful lady allow me to buy her a drink?"

*Oh, for fuck's sake.* "No thank you," I said politely but firmly.

The stranger's eyes flicked to Holden, as if assessing whether he was competition. Holden looked between us, then stood up from his barstool.

"Feel free," he told the stranger casually. "My only request is that she's in one piece when I get back."

*I'm going to kill him.*

Without another word, Holden melted into the crowd, leaving me alone with this persistent stranger. I watched his retreating form with a mixture of affection and murderous intent.

The man slid into Holden's vacated seat, and I turned to face him with my most serious expression.

"How do you know the person you just scared away wasn't my boyfriend? Or my fated mate?"

He didn't seem fazed by my directness. "Two reasons. First, he looks too young to be your type. Second, I couldn't help but overhear part of your conversation. You're siblings."

*Great. An eavesdropper.* "So you're the all-knowing type, then."

"Maybe," he said with a grin that was probably supposed to be charming. "Look, let me buy you that drink. What do you say?"

"I already told you no. I'm leaving soon anyway."

But he wasn't giving up that easily. "Then if you won't let me buy you a drink, how about you give me the first and last dance of the evening?"

I had to admit, he was persistent. And objectively speaking, he was attractive—the kind of face that probably graced magazine covers. But something about him felt... off. Like he was trying too hard.

I forced myself to focus, maintaining eye contact while trying to project confidence. "First you want to buy me a drink, then you want to dance with me... what's next? Are you going to ask for my virginity too?"

The words slipped out before I could stop them—a defense mechanism, really, meant to shock him into backing off. But instead of being offended, the stranger's grin widened.

"Interesting."

The voice came from behind me, low and unmistakably familiar. Ice flooded my veins as I slowly turned around.

*Shit. Shit shit shit.*

"Alpha Ezra!" The words escaped me in a strangled whisper.

There he stood, imposing and immaculate, gray eyes fixed on the stranger with an expression that could have frozen hell.

"Do I need to tell you what to do?" Ezra's voice was deadly quiet, but it carried clearly over the music.

The stranger's confident demeanor evaporated instantly. "No, sir. Sorry, sir." He practically tripped over himself getting away from the bar, disappearing into the crowd like smoke.

Ezra slid into the now-empty seat beside me, those steel-gray eyes turning their full attention to me.

"Was that really necessary?" I managed to ask.

His expression was unreadable as he studied my face. "What are you doing here?"

The question caught me off guard. "What are *you* doing here?"

"I asked first."

*Stubborn asshole.* But before I could formulate a response, his next words made my blood freeze.

"Why are you in a nightclub discussing your virginity with strange men?" His voice carried clearly over the music, and I was mortified to realize several nearby conversations had paused.

I nearly choked on my drink, my face flaming with embarrassment. "Jesus Christ, Ezra!" I hissed, glancing around at the faces that had turned our way. "Could you say that any louder?"

*This is so not how I wanted this evening to go.*