Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 325

Ezra's POV

The sight of Lillian orchestrating my dining room like she owned the place made my jaw clench so hard I thought my teeth might crack. But I forced myself to walk toward the dining table, keeping my expression as neutral as possible.

"Don't you want to ask how I spent last night?" Lillian's voice cut through my thoughts, her tone carrying that familiar edge of expectation mixed with manipulation.

I turned to look at her.

"How did you spend your night?" The words came out dry as dust, but at least they came out.

Lillian's eyes lit up with satisfaction, and she stepped even closer, her fingers trailing across the front of my tailored suit jacket in slow, deliberate circles.

"Ask me again," she purred, her gaze locked on mine with what she probably thought was seductive intensity but looked more like a devil's temptation to me. "But this time, ask with more... enthusiasm. More sincerity."

*Jesus Christ.* Prime snarled in my mind, his disgust matching my own. *How did we ever tolerate this woman?*

I felt my hands ball into fists at my sides, fighting the urge to step away from her touch. Instead, I forced out another question, injecting just enough warmth to satisfy her without making myself sick.

"I need to get to the office," I said, attempting to redirect this painful conversation.

"Oh no, no, no." Lillian's hand caught my arm, her grip surprisingly firm. "I've been up since six AM, darling. I personally made several dishes. Come, sit."

She guided me toward the dining table. I watched as she pulled out the high-backed leather chair.

"You didn't need to do all this," I said, my voice coming out colder than intended.

Lillian's smile never wavered. "Of course I did. I'm your mate, Ezra. Taking care of your meals is exactly what I should be doing. In fact, from now on, I'll be overseeing all your dining arrangements."

*Shit. The situation just keeps getting worse.* Prime's low growl echoed my thoughts perfectly. The idea of this false intimacy becoming a daily routine made my stomach turn.

I caught sight of Una appearing from the kitchen.

Through our pack link, I reached out to her. *What the hell happened here?*

Una's response came immediately, tinged with apology. *She arrived at six this morning demanding to take over breakfast preparations. I couldn't stop her.*

I looked down at the elaborate spread Lillian had orchestrated.

Yesterday I'd refused her dinner. If I refused this breakfast too, it would reveal just how little I cared about her supposed efforts. It would blow our entire investigation.

*Fuck!*

Una's voice touched my mind again. *Should I create a distraction? Get you out of this?*

I stared at the food, at Lillian's expectant face, at the disaster my life had become in less than forty-eight hours.

*No. It's fine. I'll eat it.*

Una's surprise was palpable through our connection, but I cut the link before she could protest. Turning to Lillian, I forced my lips into what I hoped passed for a smile.

"What did you prepare for breakfast?"

The pleased expression that spread across her face made me want to punch something. *If she knew how much I despise being around her, she'd probably lose her mind.* Prime rumbled his complete agreement.

---

Eight AM. Silver Moon Group headquarters.

"Why do you look like you swallowed a porcupine?" Orion asked the moment I walked into my office.

Nathaniel looked up from his reports, taking in my expression with the analytical gaze. "What happened?"

I dropped into my leather chair with more force than necessary. "I ate a mountain of food that Lillian prepared. Prime's still protesting in my head."

Both men stared at me like I'd announced I was joining a circus.

"You ate her food?" Nathaniel's voice carried the kind of alarm usually reserved for natural disasters.

"Not a mistake," I said quickly, "but dangerous. We told you to let her move in to gather intelligence, not to start eating meals she prepares."

"I had to." I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of the morning's performance. "If I kept refusing everything she does, she'd get suspicious. Prime hates it, but he agrees it was necessary."

Orion and Nathaniel exchanged one of those silent looks that meant they were having an entire conversation without words. After a moment, they both nodded.

"Just... be careful," Nathaniel said finally.

"I want a day without Lillian," I declared, feeling my patience reach its absolute limit. "I don't want to hear her name, think about her schemes, or deal with any of her bullshit. Can we manage that?"

"Actually," Nathaniel said, his expression brightening, "I have some good news that might help with that. We caught the bastard who sabotaged Isolde's equipment in the design competition. It was another competing designer."

For the first time since walking into that dining room disaster, I felt genuine satisfaction. "Good. Justice served." I reached across the desk to shake Nathaniel's hand.

"There's more," Orion said, but his tone made my blood run cold. "It looks like Luther is still alive."

My heart dropped into my stomach. Prime immediately went on high alert, his dangerous snarl echoing through my consciousness.

"What?" The word came out barely above a whisper.

"He was last seen in Azurite District, but he's been missing for weeks now. I think finding Luther is the key to solving the Lillian mystery. I have a feeling they're connected somehow."

Every instinct I had screamed that Orion was right. Luther's reappearance couldn't be a coincidence.

"What about Byron?" I asked, referring to Luther's nephew.

"Still working on that lead," Orion replied. "But I think we need to dig deeper. Whatever's coming, we need to be ready."

I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of impending disaster. *There's a bomb heading straight for me. I can feel it.*