Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 334

Ezra's POV

The elevator ascended through Silver Moon Tower's upper floors, carrying me toward my office, but I felt like I was sinking instead of rising. Each floor that passed only made Isolde's words echo louder in my head.

Her voice had been so raw, so vulnerable when she'd said it. And what had I done? I'd let her walk away angry, let her get out of my car believing I was choosing Lillian over her. Again.

*"You're an idiot,"* Prime's voice suddenly cut through my thoughts, sharp and unforgiving.

I didn't need this shit right now. *"Not now, Prime."*

*"Yes, now,"* he snarled back. *"You let our mate walk away thinking we chose that lying bitch over her. You should have explained—"*

*"Explained what?"* I shot back mentally. *"That I'm playing house with my ex to catch her in some scheme? You think that would make Isolde feel better?"*

The elevator shuddered slightly as it reached the top floor, and I realized my hands were clenched so tightly my knuckles had gone white.

*"Even if I explained everything, she wouldn't accept it,"* I continued, my mental voice heavy with exhaustion. *"Lillian was my first mate, Prime. That's not something Isolde can just overlook."*

*"And whose fault is that?"* Prime's response was like a knife to the gut. *"If you hadn't been such a coward two years ago, if you'd marked her when you had the chance, none of this would matter. She'd be our Luna, wearing our mark, and no dead bitch could waltz back in and threaten what's ours."*

I felt like I'd been punched. The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, but I couldn't move. Prime had hit the one nerve I couldn't defend against—the truth about my own failures.

*"I did everything I could to prove my loyalty to her,"* I said weakly, but even I could hear how pathetic it sounded.

*"You need to do more,"* Prime growled. *"And you need to do it now, before you lose her forever. If you were in Isolde's position—if she had some ex-mate living with her, no matter what the reason—you'd be ready to tear the city apart. You'd feel threatened. You'd feel replaced."*

The truth of it slammed into me like a freight train. If the situation were reversed, if Isolde had some former lover staying in her apartment, even for the most innocent reasons, I'd lose my fucking mind. I'd probably level half the city before anyone could explain the logic behind it.

*"Shut up,"* I muttered, pushing myself away from the elevator wall and stepping into the hallway. *"Just... shut up."*

I slammed the mental barriers down, cutting off Prime's voice before he could twist the knife any deeper.

When I finally pushed through the doors, I found Orion waiting for me, leaning against my desk with his arms crossed. His sharp amber eyes took in my appearance—probably looking like I'd been through hell—and he straightened immediately.

"Alpha Ezra," he said, his tone careful and professional. "You sounded pretty worked up on the phone. Everything alright?"

I moved past him toward the bar cart in the corner, needing something stronger than coffee. "Byron and Luther. Tell me you have something."

"Actually, I do." Orion's voice brightened, and I could hear the satisfaction in it. "I think we found Byron and Luther. He's been hiding in an abandoned warehouse in the eastern part of Azurite District. Beta Nathaniel already took a team out to bring him in."

For the first time all day, something resembling hope flashed through my chest. My face must have shown it because Orion continued with more confidence.

"We should have him in custody within the hour. And once we do, we can start getting real answers about what Lillian's been up to."

I poured myself three fingers of whiskey and knocked it back in one swallow, feeling the burn clear some of the fog from my head.

But the relief was short-lived, because anxiety crept in immediately after. Every minute this investigation dragged on was another minute Isolde spent believing I'd chosen someone else. Another minute for doubt to poison whatever was left between us.

Orion was watching me carefully. "What's got you looking like you're about to tear someone's head off?"

"If this investigation takes much longer," I said quietly, "I'm going to lose Isolde."

"She's my mate," I continued, my voice rough. "But other men are still pursuing her, and she seems to be giving them chances. She agreed to go out with someone tonight, and she wouldn't listen when I tried to object."

Orion was quiet for a long moment before he spoke. "You know she's only doing that to get a rise out of you, right?"

I turned to look at him. "What?"

"She's deliberately trying to make you jealous," he said with something that might have been amusement. "She wants to force you to make a choice between her and Lillian. This whole date thing? It's a power play."

"You think so?" I wanted to believe him, but doubt gnawed at me. "What if this guy convinces her that she'd be better off with someone who doesn't come with all this baggage?"

Orion actually had the audacity to look at me like I was an idiot. "For someone who's the Lycan King and runs a business empire worth billions, you really don't understand how mate bonds work, do you?"

"Excuse me?"

"That's pretty pathetic, honestly," Orion continued, apparently immune to the danger radiating from me.

"Don't be a smart-ass," I said, but there was no real heat behind it. I was too tired to maintain my usual intimidating presence.

Orion's expression softened, and he actually smiled before reaching out to pat my shoulder—a gesture that completely shattered the formal hierarchy between us for a moment.

"Look," he said, his tone becoming almost brotherly, "Isolde loves you. That's not going to change because some designer takes her out for dinner. But you need to keep showing her that you're willing to fight for her. Keep groveling if you have to."

I joked. "I'm going to kill you."

"No, you won't," Orion replied with infuriating confidence, already turning toward the door. "You need me too much. This empire of yours would fall apart in a day without me."

His words made me laugh.

He paused at the door, looking back with that same knowing smirk. "Focus on winning back your Luna instead of making empty threats, Alpha."

"I don't remember dismissing you," I called after him.

But he was already walking out, completely ignoring my authority. The bastard.

*Finally, I'm close to win Isolde back.*