Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 289

ISOLDE'S POV

"I'm here to see you," Ezra said simply, that maddening hint of a smile still playing at his lips.

"Why?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.

"Because I missed you." His words hit me like a physical blow. "I've been waiting out here for a while, but I knew you were busy inside, so I chose to wait for you out here."

My chest tightened. The simple honesty in his voice made my wolf Lyra stir restlessly, but I forced myself to remain cold.

"You have to stop coming to places like this to find me," I said, stepping past him and starting to walk.

Within two steps, he was beside me, matching my pace perfectly as we headed toward God knows where. I didn't even know where I was going—I just needed to move, to put distance between us and the building where people might still be watching.

"I'm not even thinking straight anymore," I muttered, more to myself than to him.

"People are already talking," I said after a moment, stopping abruptly and turning to face him.

"Talking about what?" His gray eyes darkened with interest.

I took a deep breath, then let it out in a frustrated sigh. "Favoritism. They're saying I'll win this design competition because of my relationship with you."

His eyes flashed anger—just a hint, but enough to make my pulse quicken. "Tell me their names. I'll have them disqualified!"

"That's exactly the attitude that will make them target me more and make this whole thing worse!" I snapped. "You can't do that. Just stop showing up here."

"You won't let me come to your place, and now you won't let me come here," he said, his voice taking on an edge of frustration.

"Can you blame me for making these decisions?" I shot back.

He fell silent for several seconds, and we stood there staring at each other.

"Let me drive you home," he said finally.

"I don't want you to drive me." I started walking again, but honestly, I had no fucking idea where I was going. I was lost, but I just wanted to get away from this man and his overwhelming presence.

He caught up to me from behind, stepping in front of me with his hands casually tucked into his suit pockets, that gentle smile back on his face.

"We both know how this is going to end," he said softly.

I groaned and rolled my eyes hard.

"You're going to force me into the car," I said flatly.

He stepped closer, looking directly into my eyes. "I wouldn't use the word 'force'... I'll coax you into letting me give you a ride." His voice was full of deceptive charm and softness.

Heat crawled up my neck and spread across my cheeks, making my face burn. My body started to tremble slightly.

That's when I noticed people watching us. Some business executives had stopped to stare, and several designers were walking by, their eyes fixed on our little drama.

I fucking hated this.

"Where's the damn car?" I hissed quietly, my voice severe.

His face broke into a victorious smile. "This way, ma'am."

I followed him like an obedient puppy toward his luxury sedan, my internal monologue screaming with frustration. *He always manages to get me to do things his way. Always! This is so fucking annoying!*

Once we were both settled in the car and Ezra was buckling his seatbelt, he glanced at me with obvious curiosity.

"Why were you suddenly so eager to get in the car?" he asked as his driver Cade started the engine. "I know it wasn't because of anything I said."

I almost rolled my eyes again. "Are you blind? Didn't you see how many people were already giving us strange looks? Some people even stopped walking to watch our argument."

"What's wrong with that?" he asked.

I leaned back against the leather seat and glared at him fiercely, my voice rising. "Are you seriously asking me that question right now?"

The luxury sedan pulled out of the parking lot as I continued to stare at Alpha Ezra, convinced he'd lost his mind.

But he was smiling. *He's actually smiling, like there's something funny about what I just said.*

"Nothing's funny," I said bluntly. "I don't understand why you're laughing."

He reached out with his index finger and made a small circle in front of my face. "This... this whole dramatic scene you're creating right now is amusing. And cute."

I frowned, my expression darkening as I crossed my arms over my chest angrily, my sharp gaze never leaving his face.

He actually chuckled.

*This is so fucking irritating.*

"Did you bring me here just to mock me?" I demanded.

"Of course not! Why would I do that?" he protested.

"That's what it feels like right now."

"Isolde." His voice became soft, and his right hand reached out to take mine.

I almost melted. My gaze shifted from our joined hands—where it should have stayed—to his face, and he captured me completely. His deep gray eyes stared into the depths of my blue ones, with gold flickering around the edges.

The intensity of his gaze shook me to my core, and my will to fight with him evaporated like steam. My wolf Lyra almost whimpered inside me.

"Isolde." His voice was full of affection.

I almost groaned in response, feeling like he was saying my name with such meaning.

"I heard you the first time you said my name," I replied rudely.

"I'm sorry if my laughter made you feel like I was mocking you," he said earnestly. "That wasn't my intention. I'm laughing because I'm happy that you're back by my side."

His voice grew more earnest. "And I know... I'm very aware that our relationship isn't good right now, but you're here, and I can see you when I want to, and talk to you..."

He lifted my hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of it.

"I can touch you like this with my lips. All of this brings me tremendous joy, Isolde. And while I know you won't share this joy with me right now, it exists, and I know that someday, you will. It won't be too long."

"Someday?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"Not too long?" I asked again.

He nodded.

I shook my head.