Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 54

**Isolde's POV**

"Thalia, you know if I had a choice, I'd rather go straight to training without breakfast," I said, nervously glancing down the hallway of the Alliance residence. "It's too early to start any conflicts, and the thought of those girls staring or bullying me gives me the creeps. Plus, I'm afraid they'll bring up the incident with the Security Director."

We stood in the corridor outside our apartment, morning light filtering through the windows. My star-shaped birthmark tingled against my shoulder, sensing my rising anxiety.

Thalia stopped walking and turned to face me with a dramatic eye roll. "What did I tell you just minutes ago?"

"I know, I know. If Alpha Ezra believes I'm innocent, then I have nothing to worry about," I said, scanning the hallway from end to end before focusing back on her. "But what about the bullying? Once the news that Alpha Ezra believes me reaches them—and I'm sure it already has—they're going to speculate about my relationship with him, and they'll eat me alive. And when Evanthe finds out..." I threw my hands into the air, imagining my doom. "God! Evanthe. She'll..."

"Hey, hey, hey... Isolde. Deep breaths." Thalia interrupted, and I closed my mouth, following her instructions. I closed my eyes and drew in large amounts of fresh, cool air through my nostrils until my chest was full, then released it. I repeated the exercise twice more, feeling my nerves magically loosening.

I fixed my gaze on Thalia.

"Those girls will make empty threats. Evanthe is just a desperate bitch who takes what she can get because what she wants doesn't belong to her in the first place," Thalia said firmly. "Forget about all of them when we go in for breakfast. You have nothing to worry about. Just think about what I told you last night. How to take full advantage of Alpha Ezra's interest in you." She gently patted my left shoulder and led the way into the dining hall. "Now, stop being a crybaby and follow me."

I took one more deep breath and followed her into the cafeteria, bracing myself for the onslaught of whispers and stares.

But when I walked in, the atmosphere was strangely quiet. I had expected the girls to start whispering among themselves, but no such thing happened. Everyone was focused on getting their food or eating. Thalia and I exchanged confused glances, and she shrugged.

"This is nice," I chuckled softly as we both walked toward the counter to get our food. We spotted an empty table nearby and claimed it. I kept scanning the girls, and each time my gaze landed on anyone staring at me, they immediately averted their eyes, as if my stare had shocked them.

"This is weird," I whispered to Thalia.

"This is peace," she whispered back. "At least we'll get to finish our meal today."

"Yeah. True."

We ate in silence for a few minutes, and I gradually relaxed, allowing myself to enjoy the unexpected calm.

"Is Isolde here?" a voice called from a corner. I froze. My spoon dropped on my plate, and I turned my head in the direction of the voice. An older administrator with a stern face was walking toward me. Thank goodness it wasn't Greta.

I glanced at Thalia, who looked as confused as I felt. My heart began to race, my mind running through all the possible reasons why she was approaching me. All negative. Had Alpha Ezra changed his mind? Had something else happened that made him believe I did send that package to Beta Nathaniel after all? Was she coming to announce my punishment?

"Isolde," she called, standing in front of me. I hurriedly stood up, my heart practically staying behind on the chair.

"Yes, ma'am," I responded, my knees weakening as she looked at me again after scanning the other girls who were now all paying attention to us. Once again, I was the center of attention.

"I just don't know how you manage these tricks, Isolde," she said with a frown. She looked surprised and confused and displeased about something regarding me. My heart raced faster. I took a deep breath.

"What do you mean, ma'am?"

"Out of all the girls here, why you? The most controversial girl in Silver Moon's Alliance Program?" I exhaled shakily. My palms started sweating from nervousness. I felt like I might faint.

"Ma'am," I whispered, my breathing quickening.

"You're to serve Alpha in his private penthouse tonight," she announced, and for a moment, I felt like I was outside my body. Like I was watching myself from her perspective. I felt both hot and cold, unsteady. I needed a moment to calm myself down. The collective gasps and whispers from the girls around us weren't helping.

I stared at her, unable to formulate a response. The star-shaped birthmark on my shoulder burned intensely as my mind tried to process what was happening.

"Tonight? I... I'm to serve Alpha Ezra personally?" I finally managed, my voice barely audible.

I collapsed back into my chair, pure panic flooding my system. Every single time I'd been near Ezra, my body had betrayed me in the most humiliating way possible—that uncontrollable heat, the wetness between my thighs, the desperate need that clouded my mind until I could barely think straight. And now I was supposed to be alone with him? In his private penthouse?

"Oh my god," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I can't do this."

Thalia reached across the table and squeezed my hand, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Isolde," she whispered eagerly, "this is it. This is exactly what we talked about. Your chance."

I shook my head frantically. "You don't understand. The last thing I need is to be in Ezra's sight. Every time I'm near him, I..." I couldn't even finish the sentence, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. "If I go to his penthouse tonight, I'm completely screwed. I'll totally lose control of myself!"

My birthmark burned against my skin like a hot coal as images of what might happen flashed through my mind. Me, alone with Ezra, my body betraying me, my wolf howling for her mate...

I was doomed.