Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 309

Ezra's POV

"Did you have a boyfriend when you were fifteen?"

The color drained from Lillian's face instantly, her complexion shifting from its natural warmth to something resembling porcelain. Her expression transformed before my eyes—from the confident, seductive woman who'd been trying to manipulate me moments before into what looked like a mask of pure terror.

She took a sharp intake of breath, her eyes darting away from mine as if she couldn't bear to maintain eye contact. But I wasn't about to let her escape that easily. I kept my gaze locked on her, refusing to give her even a second to compose another lie.

Her mouth opened and closed like she was trying to speak, but no words came out. I could see her throat working as she swallowed hard, her entire body going rigid with tension.

"I... I, um... I didn't," she finally managed to stammer, her voice trembling like autumn leaves in a storm.

I looked at her for a long moment, feeling a cold smile creep across my lips. Then I fixed her with another penetrating stare.

"You're still lying to me."

"You had a boyfriend starting when you were fifteen years old, three years before we met. True or false?" My voice remained leve.

Lillian's response came out as barely more than a whisper, almost like she was choking on the words. "Ezra, what are you talking about?"

"Do you want to play innocent?" I asked.

"No... I'm just..." she started, but I cut her off.

"Then answer the question honestly."

She let out a resigned sigh, her shoulders sagging in defeat.

"I... yes. I had one."

Finally. A piece of truth.

"Five years ago, when I asked about this, why did you lie?" I continued.

"Because I thought if you knew I had a boyfriend, you would reject me," she answered, her voice barely audible.

I studied her face, noting how she still couldn't meet my eyes directly. There was more to uncover, and I intended to dig until I found every buried secret.

"Were you really raped? Or was that another lie?" The question came out sharp as winter steel.

Lillian's reaction was immediate and dramatic. Tears welled up in her eyes, her chest began heaving with rapid, shallow breaths, and her lips started trembling uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, and then the tears began flowing freely. She covered her mouth with her hand, muffling quiet sobs as the moisture traced paths down her cheeks.

"So you lied about being a rape victim," I stated flatly, the disappointment evident in my voice despite my attempts to remain detached.

"I only lied because I was afraid of losing you," she said between sobs.

"Really?" I asked, narrowing my eyes like I was evaluating a questionable contract proposal.

"Yes. I swear it!"

But I wasn't finished. Not even close.

"What about seeing that man again after you accepted me as your mate? You continued meeting with him behind my back. You betrayed me with him."

The words hit her like a physical blow. She recoiled in shock, her eyes widening with what looked like genuine terror.

"Yes. I know about that too," I confirmed.

She began shaking her head frantically, denying what we both knew was true.

"Don't even think about denying it. I know you were still seeing Byron while we were together. And I also know that Byron's uncle is Luther Reyes. The Alpha who ambushed us five years ago. The attack that supposedly resulted in your death."

I took two deliberate steps closer to her. She immediately jumped back.

"Were you really kidnapped like you claim, Lillian?"

"Yes, I was! I swear I was," she insisted, desperation creeping into her voice.

"Now I have to question every single word that comes out of your mouth." My mind was warning me that she was still withholding crucial information.

"Were you really kidnapped as you claim? Were your kidnappers always masked? Were you locked in a room and tortured for years? Is any of this true?"

She broke down completely then, sobbing openly with tears streaming down her face. The sound filled the room—gasping, whimpering, choking on her own emotions.

But I felt no sympathy. Only cold fury at the manipulation and lies.

I reached out and lifted her tear-stained chin with my finger, forcing her to look at me again.

Her eyes were bloodshot and gleaming with moisture, and she was hiccupping like a child. Her carefully applied makeup was now streaked and ruined.

"Tell me the truth," I said quietly.

"Everything I told you before was the truth. I was kidnapped by a man whose face I never saw. I was kept in a cell."

"Then prove it."

Confusion flickered across her features. "Huh?"

"Prove it by retracing your steps back to where you were held. That's all I need you to do."

"But I don't know how to get back there."

I felt the last of my patience evaporate.

"If that's the case, then don't expect me to come see you again. Only when you finally decide to tell me what I need to hear will I come around. Good night."

I turned to leave, my movements crisp and final.

"Ezra," she called out, grabbing my right arm tightly to stop my progress.

I glanced at her sideways, my eyes flashing anger. She immediately released her grip and stepped back, recognizing the threat in my expression.

"What?" My voice was low and cold.

"Please don't do this."

"Call me when you're ready to talk."

I walked out of her apartment without looking back.

Orion had warned me not to reveal how much we knew.

*He's going to be furious when he learned about this conversation.*