Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 282

Isolde's POV

My voice came out like a pitiful whisper as tears welled up in my eyes. I fucking hated how easily he could make me emotional, how his mere presence could unravel all the walls I'd built around my heart over the past two years.

He looked so sad, so broken, standing there in the doorway like a man who'd lost everything that mattered. The desperation in his voice was almost tangible, thick enough to choke on.

"Isolde."

Thalia cleared her throat, breaking the suffocating silence that had settled over the kitchen like a heavy blanket. She moved with quick efficiency, setting down the spatula she'd been holding, the metal clattering against the marble countertop.

"Good morning, Alpha Ezra," she said politely, though I could hear the tension underlying her formal tone.

"Good morning, Thalia," he replied, though his eyes never left mine. It was like I was the only person in the room, the only person who existed in his world.

Thalia glanced between us. "I'll give you two some privacy."

*No.* Panic shot through me like lightning, making my palms sweat and my breathing shallow. "No... I don't want to be alone with him. Please don't go," I said, my voice trembling despite my efforts to sound strong.

But Thalia was already moving toward the door, her expression gentle but firm. "You two need to talk. I'll be right outside."

And then she was gone, leaving me alone with Ezra. My heart was thundering in my ears so loudly I could barely think. My knees felt like they might give out at any second.

"Isolde," he said again, his deep baritone washing over me like a drug I couldn't resist.

I felt that strange combination of warmth and numbness spreading through my body, starting from my chest and radiating outward. Memories of our intimate moments flashed through my mind—his hands on my skin, his lips claiming mine, the way he'd made me feel like I was the only woman in the world. The way he'd whispered my name in the darkness, the way his touch could set my entire being on fire.

Why did this feel so fucking intense when he wasn't even a stranger to me? Why did my body betray me every single time he was near?

I tried to maintain my composure, but my voice came out nervous and pathetic. "What are you doing here?"

His usual commanding, authoritative demeanor was completely gone. He looked shattered, desperate, like a man hanging onto his last thread of hope.

"I came to see you... to know how you're doing."

The rawness in his voice made something crack inside my chest. I had to look away from those gray eyes before I did something stupid like run into his arms.

"As you can see, I'm fine. You can leave now," I said, trying to sound dismissive even though my heart was breaking into a million pieces.

"I'm not leaving, Isolde," he said firmly, and there was just a hint of his old authoritative self creeping back into his tone.

"But you should. Go be with Lillian. She must need you." When I mentioned her name, he exhaled heavily, his breath brushing against my face as he'd moved closer without me realizing.

The mention of Lillian sent a fresh wave of pain through me, and my voice rose along with my shoulders. "Don't you see... this is a sign."

I gestured wildly, feeling the tears threatening to spill over again. The logical part of my brain was screaming at me to stop, but the words kept pouring out like water through a broken dam.

"I'm not right for you as your Luna. I've caused you nothing but trouble. I even left you for two years when you needed me most. That pissed off the Moon Goddess, so she brought back your first mate. You have to go back to Lillian. She's the one who's right for you."

"No," Ezra tried to interrupt, taking a step closer. The intensity in his eyes made my breath catch. "There's no sign. We're still investigating this whole situation. Isolde, no. You're wrong. The mate bond doesn't work like that... I—"

*RING RING RING.*

His phone's shrill tone cut through his words like a knife. He glanced at it, jaw clenching so hard I could see the muscle jumping. "That's not important."

The dismissive way he said it only made my anger flare hotter. "Answer the damn phone!" I shouted, my patience finally snapping.

He hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering over the device, before reluctantly accepting the call. I could hear the frantic voice on the other end, every word like a dagger to my heart.

"Lillian's awake and she's crying again. Nothing we do or say can calm her down. You need to come here right now. We have no choice."

Ezra hung up, and his expression looked like a man about to break down and sob. The color had drained from his face, and for a moment, he looked utterly lost. My emotions became even more fucked up seeing him like this.

The words came out of my mouth like shards of glass cutting my throat. "She needs you."

*This sounds so ridiculous!* I thought bitterly. *I'm literally telling the man I love to go to another woman.*

"I don't want to go see her!" Ezra protested, his voice cracking slightly.

*I don't want you to go either, damn it!* I screamed internally.

"But you have to," I forced myself to say, not daring to look him in the eyes as I fought back tears. "She's your mate. You have obligations to her. Go fulfill those obligations before you piss off the Moon Goddess even more. Leave."

"This isn't what you really want," he said, seeing right through me like he always could.

"What I want doesn't matter anymore. Go. Please." I cursed my heart, cursed my tears, cursed Lillian, cursed this whole fucking life.

His low voice broke the silence, rougher than before. "Fine... I'll go. But I'm coming back. Soon."

My heart lurched violently, hope and fear warring in my chest. "I'd rather you didn't come back here."

His voice turned dangerously husky. "We both know that's a lie, Isolde. You want me to come back, and I will."

He took two steps closer until our bodies were almost touching. The heat radiating from him was overwhelming, making it hard to breathe.

He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, and the sensation was like a drug that sent me into a euphoria I never wanted to escape. His lips were warm and soft against my skin, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

"You are my life, Isolde," he said solemnly, his breath warm against my skin. "Asking me to give you up is like asking me to give up my life. I can never do that. I promise I'll make this right."

Then he turned and left the kitchen.

I stood there, confused, shocked, my heart pounding so hard. My legs felt unsteady, and I had to grip the counter for support.