Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 31

Isolde's POV

 

I was running late to training, my body still recovering from two days of forced confinement. Every muscle ached as I hurried toward the battle arena, mentally preparing for Nyssa's inevitable lecture about punctuality.

 

But when I pushed through the doors, the last person I expected to see was standing in the center of the training floor.

 

Ezra Silverwood, in fitted athletic wear that showcased his powerful frame, was observing the morning session with the kind of intense focus that made everyone around him move a little more carefully.

 

*What the hell is he doing here?*

 

*He's watching for us,* Lyra whispered excitedly. *He came to make sure we're okay.*

 

*Don't be ridiculous,* I replied, though my heart rate had definitely picked up at the sight of him.

 

Nyssa spotted me first. "Miss Blackwood, you're fifteen minutes late."

 

"Sorry," I said, quickly moving toward the equipment area. "I overslept."

 

I turned to find Orion approaching, his expression filled with what looked like genuine concern. He was dressed in his usual training gear, his broad shoulders and confident posture commanding attention from several Alliance girls who'd paused their routines to watch him.

 

"Orion," I said, surprised by his direct approach.

 

"I wanted to check on you personally," he said, his voice pitched low enough that only I could hear. "When I heard about what happened, I was concerned."

 

*He's being awfully attentive,* I thought, glancing around to see if anyone else was noticing his focused attention on me.

 

That's when I caught sight of Ezra's expression. He was still standing in the same spot, still maintaining his composed Alpha demeanor, but there was something in his eyes that made the air around him feel charged with electricity.

 

"Where have you been for the past two days?" Orion continued, apparently oblivious to the dangerous energy radiating from across the room. "When you missed training yesterday, I was worried something had happened."

 

"I was... indisposed," I said carefully, not wanting to broadcast my disciplinary punishment to the entire training floor.

 

"I see." His expression darkened slightly. "Well, I'm glad you're back safely. Why don't we start with some light sparring? I can work with you personally to make sure you're not pushing yourself too hard."

 

*Personal attention from the security director.* Under normal circumstances, that would be considered a privilege. But something about the way Ezra's jaw had tightened made me suspect these weren't normal circumstances.

 

"That's very kind of you," I said, "but I'm sure I can manage with regular training—"

 

"Nonsense," Orion interrupted smoothly.

 

He placed a hand on my shoulder—a gesture that was probably meant to be reassuring but felt oddly possessive. The moment his fingers made contact, I felt rather than saw Ezra's reaction ripple across the room like a physical force.

 

*Oh shit.*

 

*He doesn't like other men touching us,* Lyra observed with obvious satisfaction. *Look at him trying to control himself.*

 

I glanced toward Ezra again and immediately wished I hadn't. His expression hadn't changed, but there was something predatory in his stillness that reminded me exactly what he was capable of when provoked.

 

"Shall we begin?" Orion asked, guiding me toward one of the sparring mats.

 

For the next hour, Orion provided what could only be described as preferential treatment. He corrected my form with gentle touches, praised my technique with genuine enthusiasm, and made sure I had water breaks whenever I looked even slightly tired.

 

Under any other circumstances, I would have appreciated the attention. Orion was skilled, patient, and clearly invested in my improvement. But I was distracted by the increasingly tense energy coming from Ezra's direction.

 

*He's going to lose it,* Lyra whispered as Orion demonstrated a defensive move by wrapping his arms around me from behind. *Look at his hands.*

 

I followed her observation and noticed that Ezra's fingers were clenched into fists so tight his knuckles had gone white.

 

"Excellent progress," Orion said as we finished the session. "You're recovering your strength faster than I expected."

 

"Thank you," I said, reaching for my water bottle. "I appreciate you taking the time to—"

 

"It's my pleasure," he interrupted. "In fact, why don't I escort you back to the residential floor? We can discuss your training schedule for the rest of the week."

 

*Escort me back?* That seemed unnecessary, even by Orion's heightened standards of helpfulness.

 

But before I could respond, a voice cut through the ambient noise of the training floor.

 

"That won't be necessary."

 

Everyone in the arena froze. Ezra had spoken for the first time since I'd arrived, his voice carrying enough Alpha authority to make several people involuntarily step back.

 

Orion turned slowly, his expression shifting from surprise to something that looked like challenge. "Alpha Ezra. I was just offering to—"

 

"I heard what you were offering," Ezra interrupted, moving toward us with the fluid grace of a predator. "But I need you to stay here."

 

*Oh, this is bad.*

 

The tension between the two men was suddenly palpable, crackling through the air like electricity before a storm. Everyone in the arena seemed to sense it—conversations died, training sessions paused, and all attention focused on the confrontation building in front of us.

 

"Because I'm suggesting a training exercise between you and me," Ezra replied smoothly. "Since I haven't had proper training for a long time."

 

*Holy shit. They're about to fight over me.*

 

*This is so hot,* Lyra panted in my mind.

 

*This is so dangerous,* I corrected.

 

But as Ezra and Orion moved toward the center sparring mat, stripping off their shirts to reveal powerful, battle-scarred torsos, I couldn't deny the thrill that shot through me at the sight of two magnificent men preparing to fight for my attention.

 

*What have I gotten myself into?*

 

"What rules would you prefer, Alpha?" Orion asked, assuming a ready stance.

 

"Standard combat rules," I replied, rolling up my sleeves with deliberate slowness. "No claws, no teeth, no shifting. Just skill against skill."

 

The fight began with circling, each man assessing the other's strengths and weaknesses. Orion moved first.

 

But Ezra simply defended, deflecting each strike with minimal effort while maintaining the kind of relaxed composure that suggested he was barely trying.

 

*He's toying with him,* I realized as Orion's attacks became more aggressive, more desperate.

 

The truth became clear when Ezra finally shifted from defense to offense. His movements were faster than anything I'd ever seen, powerful enough to send Orion stumbling backward with each strike. Within minutes, he had Orion pinned to the mat with what looked like effortless dominance.

 

*Show off,* Lyra murmured approvingly.

 

As Ezra stood over his defeated opponent, his eyes found mine across the arena. The possessive intensity in his gaze made my breath catch and heat pool low in my stomach.

 

*I can't believe that he's actually jealous for me?*