Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 296

Ezra's POV

That smile. That fucking beautiful smile she gave me —it was worth every second of humiliation I'd endured tonight. Worth waiting for hours like some lovesick teenager. Worth her calling me pathetic, because maybe I was. Maybe I'd completely lost my damn mind when it came to Isolde Blackwood.

Yeah, I'd been too aggressive tonight, too possessive. I'd probably scared the shit out of that designer pretty boy with my territorial display. But in the end, I'd made her smile. And right now, that smile was enough to let me sleep tonight.

*That's what you're celebrating?* Prime growled in my head. *Making our mate smile while she goes on dates with other males?*

I ignored him. My wolf had been particularly vindictive lately, especially when it came to Isolde's growing independence. But I had bigger problems to worry about—like the fact that Daryl fucking Fields had the balls to pursue my fated mate. I had to admire his courage, really. The man either had massive steel balls or a death wish. Either way, I hoped he enjoyed whatever brief moments he'd get with her, because sooner or later, I was taking back what belonged to me.

But first, I had other issues to handle. Issues I'd been putting off for too long.

"Take me to Lillian's place," I told my driver.

---

I'd wanted to give Lillian more time to adjust, to heal from whatever trauma she'd endured. But time was something I was running out of.

Isolde was slipping away from me. I could feel it with every passing day—she was so close I could touch her, yet so far away she might as well be on another planet. If I didn't act soon, I'd lose her completely. Hell, I might lose her to another man. The thought made my jaw clench so hard I was surprised my teeth didn't crack.

I'd rather die than let that happen.

When I reached Lillian's bedroom door, I knocked gently. "Lillian? It's me."

"Come in," came her soft voice.

I pushed the door open carefully and stepped inside. Lillian sat at her vanity, wearing a silk nightgown, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. When she saw me in the mirror, she stood up quickly, spinning around to face me. The shock and disbelief in her eyes was unmistakable.

"Alpha Ezra," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Lillian."

She moved toward me, a smile spreading across her face. "You came."

"Yes."

"I... this is such a surprise. I didn't expect you to visit at this hour."

I opened my mouth to explain why I was here, that we needed to discuss some important matters, but before I could get the words out, Lillian suddenly rushed forward and threw her arms around my torso, nearly knocking me backward with the force of her embrace.

I stood there, shocked to my core, my arms hanging at my sides as I looked down at the top of her head pressed against my chest. What the hell was happening?

"I'm so happy to see you," she said, her voice shaking with what sounded like tears.

I could feel her trembling against me, and when I listened more carefully, I realized she was crying. Soft sobs escaped her as she clung to me like I was her lifeline.

"Why are you crying?" I asked, genuinely confused.

She looked up at me, tears streaming down her face. "I'm just... I'm so happy to be here with you. I thought I'd never see you again... I thought... I thought..." She broke off, sobbing harder.

The sight of her tears stirred something protective in me. I gently gripped her shoulders and guided her to sit on the edge of the bed. Whatever she'd been through, it had clearly left deep scars.

"You don't need to cry anymore," I said, trying to comfort her. "The important thing is that you're home now, and you're safe. Okay?"

"Okay," she whispered, wiping the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand.

I sat beside her, studying her face. The bruises had faded, but I could still see the shadows of whatever hell she'd endured. My chest tightened with guilt and anger. Wherever she'd been held, whoever had hurt her, they'd put her through unimaginable suffering.

After a moment, when her tears had subsided, Lillian looked at me with a question in her eyes.

"By the way... you haven't told the pack members and the company about my return yet, have you?"

"No, I haven't," I admitted.

"I've been wondering... when do you plan to announce it?"

My eyebrows shot up so fast they nearly disappeared into my hairline. My eyes widened, and for a moment, I was completely speechless. What the fuck did she just say?

"I... I uh... I don't understand what you mean."

Lillian's expression grew more earnest, more hopeful. "I know the pack and the company mourned for me. I know they'll be excited to hear that I've returned. So I was wondering when you plan to tell them that their Luna isn't dead. That she's come home."

My jaw practically hit my knees. I stared at Lillian in complete disbelief, my mind struggling to process what I was hearing.

I had absolutely no idea how to make sense of any of this.

I sat there, staring at Lillian's expectant face, feeling the weight of the impossible situation I'd created. How the hell was I supposed to explain that while she'd been gone, I'd found my true fated mate? That the bond I'd shared with her, as strong as it had seemed, was nothing compared to what I felt for Isolde?

How was I supposed to tell her that her return, as miraculous as it was, couldn't undo the fundamental shift that had occurred in my heart and soul?

*You have to tell her,* Prime urged. *The longer you wait, the worse this gets.*