Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 67

Ezra's POV

I adjusted my tie for what must have been the tenth time in as many minutes, my fingers moving to the platinum cufflinks emblazoned with the Silver Moon logo. The board meeting continued around me, voices discussing quarterly projections and territorial disputes, but my mind was elsewhere.

With her. With Isolde.

Last night's kiss replayed in my mind like a film I couldn't stop watching. The softness of her lips, the warmth of her body pressed against mine, the slight moan that escaped her when I deepened our connection. Her taste was intoxicating.

*She's like a deadly drug,* I thought, *impossible to resist once you've had a taste.*

I regretted letting her stay in my penthouse for so long. What had I been thinking? I'd set a trap for myself. I was addicted to her now. I couldn't function without her. I needed her in my life.

"My King?"

The formal address snapped me back to reality. I blinked, suddenly aware that every executive in the room, including Orion, was staring at me. Fuck. I'd completely zoned out during a board meeting—something that had never happened before.

I cleared my throat and straightened in my chair, adjusting my posture to project the authority expected of me.

"Could you repeat that?" I asked, my voice steady despite my internal embarrassment.

Orion stepped in smoothly. "We were discussing the oil resource dispute in Red Canyon Industrial Zone. The Blood Stone District and Sapphire District packs are requesting Silver Moon arbitration on the matter."

I nodded, mentally thanking Orion for his intervention as I made notes on my tablet. The room fell silent, waiting for my decision. The tension was palpable as I gathered my thoughts.

"Let me summarize the dispute," I said, recalling the details from the briefing documents I'd reviewed earlier. "Alpha Alfonso Leone claims that the oil-rich northern section of Red Canyon was not included in the previous generation's business agreement between Blood Stone and Sapphire Districts, and therefore should fall under Blood Stone's commercial interests."

I turned to face the other party. "Meanwhile, Alpha Liam Azure argues that Leone's father had already ceded the territory to his father's company during the last resource negotiations, and Leone is only making claims now because of the recently discovered oil reserves."

I noticed Alpha Leone's face had turned pale with anger, his fingers drumming impatiently on the expensive conference table. My father had warned me about him—greedy and dangerous as a business opponent.

"Alfonso," I addressed him directly, "both you and I know that Silver Moon's archives department maintains complete business agreements and geographical boundary files for both districts. It would take only minutes of electronic searching to determine the truth."

I leaned forward slightly. "So, I suggest you put away your business ambitions and leave with your team with dignity. Or continue with this lie and make me reconsider all of Blood Stone's cooperation projects with Silver Moon. Your choice."

The word "choice" reminded me of the option I'd given Isolde last night—"dinner with me or bathing with me." She'd chosen dinner, which had disappointed me more than I cared to admit.

Leone's face darkened. "With all due respect, Mr. Silverwood, I question your professional handling of this matter. Your judgment seems... compromised today."

Orion's voice dropped to a dangerous pitch. "Are you questioning the judgment of Silver Moon's CEO and the Lycan King?"

I studied Leone, thinking what an obstinate fool he was. He knew he had no case, yet he persisted.

"My final ruling," I announced, "is that Alpha Leone must cease all development projects in the disputed area. The territory belongs to Sapphire District's commercial interests." I fixed him with a hard stare. "Should you fail to comply, Silver Moon will reevaluate all cooperation agreements with Blood Stone District."

I stood up. "This meeting is adjourned. Gentlemen, you may leave."

Orion quickly escorted both Alphas out of the conference room. When they were gone, I remained standing, rolling my shoulders to release the tension.

"That was a perfect business decision," Orion said as he returned.

"Leone is a complete idiot," I replied, loosening my tie slightly.

Orion studied me with concern. "I noticed you were distracted for most of the meeting. Is everything alright?"

My thoughts drifted back to Isolde. I was still confused by her failure to mention our mate bond. Couldn't she feel it? Hadn't her wolf, Lyra, signaled her? Prime wouldn't be wrong about something as fundamental as identifying our mate. If Prime said Isolde was our destined partner, then she was.

But why didn't she seem to feel the connection?

"Alpha Ezra?"

I blinked, returning to the present. Orion was watching me with increased concern.

"You drifted off again," he said. "Are you sure everything is okay?"

"I just worked late last night," I explained, though it was only partly true. I had barely slept, but that wasn't the real reason for my distraction today. Isolde was the true cause of my wandering mind.

"We've handled the main agenda items for today," Orion suggested. "I think you should return to your penthouse and rest. Beta Nathaniel and I can handle the remaining matters."

I smiled gratefully at him. "This is why I rely on you, Orion." He was incredibly dependable, serving Silver Moon with complete dedication.

I stood and gathered my things, my shoulders stiff from tension and exhaustion. As I stepped into my private elevator, thoughts of Isolde flooded my mind again, my heart rate accelerating.

This was dangerous. After just one night in her company, I was already losing control of myself. That girl would be my undoing!

*She's ours,* Prime growled in my mind. *Stop fighting it.*

I closed my eyes, leaning against the elevator wall. For the first time in years, I found myself without a clear strategy—and that terrified me more than anything.