Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 279

Orion's POV

I guided my black Mercedes SUV through the gates of the upscale residential complex, the security system automatically recognizing my vehicle with a soft beep. The guards at the entrance snapped to attention, offering crisp salutes that I acknowledged with a brief nod. Two years ago, I would've considered this level of security overkill.

That was before Thalia moved in with me.

I pulled into my designated parking spot and killed the engine, sitting for a moment in the sudden quiet. Today had been a fucking disaster. Lillian's return had thrown everything into chaos, and watching Ezra struggle with the impossible situation made my own head spin. How the hell was he supposed to choose between his past and his future?

The elevator ride to my floor passed in a blur of exhausted thoughts. When the doors opened, The maid was already waiting for me, her efficient hands reaching for my briefcase and suit jacket before I'd fully stepped into the hallway.

"Good evening, Mr. Hawthorne," she said in her crisp, professional tone. "I trust your workday went smoothly?"

I almost laughed at the irony. "About as smoothly as a train wreck. But thank you for asking."

She accepted my jacket with practiced ease, her expression remaining carefully neutral despite my obvious sarcasm. "Shall I prepare anything for dinner, sir?"

"Thalia's already handled it, I'm sure. You can head home for the evening."

"You're back!"

Thalia's voice rang out from the second floor, bright and warm and exactly what I needed to hear after the day I'd had. I looked up to see her leaning over the railing of the curved staircase, her face lighting up with that smile that never failed to make my heart skip beats.

She was already moving, her feet flying down the stairs with a grace that somehow managed to make me nervous every single time. "Careful," I called out, my protective instincts flaring as she took the steps faster than any reasonable person should. "This girl is going to give me a heart attack one of these days," I muttered under my breath.

But then she was launching herself into my arms, and all my worry melted away. I caught her easily, lifting her off her feet as her legs wrapped around my waist. For a moment, I just held her there in the middle of our foyer, spinning slowly as her laughter filled the space around us.

This had become our ritual—her enthusiastic welcome home, my moment of pure contentment after whatever chaos the day had brought. It was something I looked forward to more than I'd ever admit out loud.

"Welcome home, honey," she said when I finally set her down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips that made everything else fade into background noise.

"Thank you, baby," I replied, meaning it more than she probably realized.

But Thalia knew me too well. Her bright expression dimmed slightly as she studied my face, her brow furrowing with concern. "You look troubled. What happened?"

I tried to brush off her worry with a shake of my head, but she wasn't buying it.

"Come on, what's wrong?" she pressed, her voice gentle but insistent.

I sighed, knowing there was no point in trying to hide anything from her. "There's a very complicated situation that needs to be handled."

Her eyes widened slightly. "Oh God, what happened?"

"Do you remember Lillian?" I asked, watching her face carefully.

Thalia's frown deepened as she searched her memory. "Lillian? I'm not sure..."

"Ezra's first fated mate," I prompted.

Recognition flickered across her features, followed quickly by understanding. "Oh... right. Her. Lillian Torres. Ezra's... yes. What about her?"

I shook my head slowly, still hardly believing it myself. "You'll never guess."

"Tell me," she urged, her concern growing. "What happened?"

"Lillian isn't dead," I said simply. "We've all been deceived this whole time."

Thalia's head tilted, confusion clear in her expression. "I... I don't understand. You're saying Lillian isn't dead?"

"She showed up at Ezra's penthouse today," I explained. "She looked... rough. Beaten up, obviously been through hell. But she's alive. She's back."

"I... I can't believe this..." Thalia's voice was barely a whisper. "Are you sure? You're certain it's not some kind of imposter? How is this possible?"

"Ezra confirmed it himself. He said he could smell her pheromones. It's definitely her."

"Oh my God," Thalia breathed, her hand flying to her mouth. "This is terrible... Isolde. Oh God, poor Isolde! She must be devastated when she hears this news."

"She already knows," I told her. "Ezra told her himself."

"Why would he do that?" she asked, genuine confusion in her voice.

"He didn't want her to hear it from someone else. If that had happened, she would've been even more angry."

Thalia nodded slowly. "Yeah, that makes sense." She let out a heavy sigh and began pacing the length of our foyer, her mind clearly racing.

"I have to go see Isolde," she declared suddenly, her voice filled with determination. "She must be heartbroken right now. I can't imagine how much pain she's in."

"You want to see her?" I asked, though I wasn't really surprised by her reaction.

"Yes."

"I thought you were still angry with her."

Thalia paused in her pacing, meeting my eyes with a look of quiet resolve. "I am angry... but she needs a friend right now. She needs me."

The simple honesty of her words made my chest warm with pride. "You're the kindest she-wolf in the world, baby."

"Can you take me to see her tomorrow morning?" she asked. "To wherever she's staying?"

"Of course," I agreed. "I'll arrange it."

"How is Ezra?" she asked, her concern shifting to our Alpha. "Is he okay?"

I considered the question, thinking about the broken look in Ezra's eyes, the way he'd struggled to process Lillian's return. "He's very confused right now. This is a difficult time for him."

Thalia's expression softened with sympathy. "Ah... poor Alpha. Just like before. When trouble comes, you take care of Ezra, and I take care of Isolde."

"History really is repeating itself," I agreed with a rueful laugh.

"The Moon Goddess has given those two so many trials to face," Thalia observed, shaking her head.

"She really has."

Thalia looked at me then, really looked at me, and I could see the moment she registered my exhaustion. "You look tired."

"I am tired," I admitted. "And I'm starving."

She reached for my hand, her fingers warm and reassuring as they intertwined with mine. "Come on..." she said, tugging me toward the staircase. "Let's get you a shower, some food, and then you can relax properly."

"Relax?" I couldn't help but smile at the suggestion. "That sounds nice."

She laughed softly, and I let her lead me toward the stairs, already feeling some of the day's tension beginning to ease.