Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 52

Isolde's POV

I stood before Ezra and Nathaniel, my posture tense but no longer kneeling. My mind still reeled from the shock of CEO Ezra's unhesitating declaration of my innocence. I stole glances at him, terrified he might change his mind at any moment and condemn me to whatever punishment Greta had been planning.

Ezra broke the heavy silence. "Tell me exactly what happened."

I raised my head shakily to look at him, tear tracks still fresh on my cheeks, Lyra restlessly pacing within me. "Alpha Ezra..." My voice cracked, uncertain where to begin. My nerves had me digging my nails so deeply into my palms I was sure they'd leave marks.

"Don't be afraid, Isolde," he said, his tone unexpectedly calm. "Just tell me the truth."

His stormy gray eyes watched me, flecks of gold shimmering beneath the surface, silently assuring me in a way his words couldn't.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I recounted everything.

When I finished, both executives stared at me in silence, making me wish the floor would open up and swallow me whole.

"How can we be certain you're not lying?" Nathaniel asked, his expression serious and professional.

I nervously touched the star-shaped birthmark on my shoulder as it tingled beneath my shirt under his scrutiny.

Ezra shifted his gaze from me to Nathaniel. "She isn't lying."

I widened my eyes in surprise, hardly believing what I was hearing.

Where did this certainty come from? How could the CEO of Silver Moon Group be so confident in my innocence? When Ezra looked back at me, heat coursed through my body, and Lyra whimpered inside me.

"Based on your account and the pattern of events," Ezra said analytically, "this was clearly a calculated setup."

He stepped closer to me. "Tell me, Isolde, is this connected to why you were crying in the headquarters garden earlier today?"

I stammered, "I... I wasn't crying in the garden."

Ezra's gaze sharpened. "You dare lie to me? Are you suggesting Silver Moon's CEO is blind? Or that I misidentified the tears on your face?"

I lowered my head in submission. "I'm sorry, Alpha. I didn't mean to hide it. Those tears were... unrelated to this situation."

The office fell silent. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, city lights twinkled in the darkness. I fixed my gaze on the marble floor beneath my feet.

The emptiness and helplessness I felt was suffocating, breeding desperation. Life needed some spice, but what if the only spice you attracted as a werewolf was trouble? Would it be better to be boring than to be surrounded by problems that had no source and no end?

"Isolde." Ezra's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I looked up with newfound composure, meeting his gaze. Something electric passed between us, making my entire body tremble. His eyes had completely shifted to gold now, his Alpha aura filling the entire room.

"Yes, Alpha Ezra," I responded softly.

"Are you being bullied by other girls in the Moon Alliance Program?" he asked directly.

I gasped, eyes widening in shock. How had the Silver Moon CEO guessed so accurately?

My mind flashed through everything the Alliance girls had done to me, including Evanthe's threats. This was the perfect opportunity to ask for his help, yet my body refused to cooperate with my brain.

I wanted to speak, to ask for protection, but something blocked my throat. My pride rejected the idea of appearing weak. The star-shaped birthmark burned hot against my skin as Lyra growled anxiously within me.

"I'll take your silence as confirmation," Ezra stated.

I finally forced out the words: "I'm fine."

Even as I said it, I mentally laughed at my own stubbornness. I couldn't bring myself to meet Ezra's eyes, afraid to see disappointment in those golden orbs.

*What kind of fool am I?*

"I'll be the judge of that," he replied, his penetrating gaze seeming to strip away my defenses. Every thought I refused to voice, every admission I held back—he appeared to extract them all from my mind, his expression growing more intense with each moment. "Return to your residence."

"I promise I had nothing to do with this," I insisted, needing him to understand my innocence.

"I'm aware of that. Now go, and rest assured you won't face consequences for something you didn't do."

"I'm deeply grateful, Alpha Ezra." I bowed repeatedly before hurrying out of the office, my thoughts in complete disarray. Whatever had just happened in there was beyond my comprehension, but I was simply thankful to have escaped unscathed.

When I made it back to our apartment, Thalia immediately enveloped me in a hug.

"I've heard. How are you holding up?" She pulled back, examining me with concern. I managed a faint smile and nodded.

"I'm okay." My stomach betrayed me with a loud growl.

"I figured you might be hungry." She revealed a package of food she'd brought for me. My eyes welled up at this simple act of kindness.

"Thalia, I can't tell you how much—"

"Don't mention it," she cut in. "I knew you wouldn't get dinner after all that chaos. Eat something and tell me everything. Surely they'll investigate properly? They can't possibly blame you for something you didn't do."

I settled on her bed with a grateful smile, and she sat down beside me.

"Now tell me what happened in there."

"You probably won't believe this."

"Try me."

"Alpha Ezra himself declared I was innocent. He dismissed the accusations and assured me I won't be punished." Thalia stared at me in stunned silence.

I understood her shock completely. I'd have reacted the same way if our positions were reversed.

"Isolde," she finally whispered.

"Yes?"

"Do you realize you've somehow earned the favor of both the Security Director and now the Alpha himself? Can I offer you some advice as your friend?"

"What is it?" I asked, puzzled by her tone.

"Haven't you had enough of these Alliance girls and their constant harassment?" she asked in a voice so low it was almost unsettling.

I nodded slowly. "Absolutely."

"Then you should consider turning this situation to your benefit. I know romantic entanglements aren't your priority right now, but Isolde, you've been handed a rare opportunity, and you desperately need it."

"I'm not following you."

"Let me spell out what's obvious to everyone but you. Alpha Ezra appears to have taken an interest in you. The Alpha doesn't personally intervene in matters concerning regular Alliance girls without reason. He's watching you, and you should leverage that. Develop a connection with him, cultivate that relationship, and these bullies will back off because they'll continue tormenting you until they break you completely, Isolde. Your only effective defense is to become someone with more influence than they have. A connection to Alpha Ezra would give you exactly that power and protection."

I froze mid-chew, staring at her in astonishment.

She gave me an encouraging nod and a knowing smile. I remained speechless as her final words echoed in my thoughts.

"...a connection to Alpha Ezra would give you exactly that power and protection."

I finally swallowed my food.

*Is this something I should consider?*