Betrayed and Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 86

Isolde's POV

The movie's explosions flashed across the massive screen in Ezra's penthouse, but I couldn't focus on a single scene. My mind kept replaying what had happened earlier—his hands on my waist, his lips claiming mine, the way he'd pressed me into the sofa cushions before suddenly stopping everything.

*"Are you sure you want my cock inside you, Isolde? That you want me to claim you?"*

His words echoed in my mind, causing heat to flood my cheeks even now. He'd seen right through me, recognized my hesitation before I could even name it myself.

And now here we were, sitting in excruciating silence, watching some action movie I couldn't focus on, hyperaware of his presence beside me, the electricity between us crackling with unresolved tension.

The truth was, I'd never gone that far with anyone, not with Kieran during our two years together. Despite his constant pressure, I'd always held back, never feeling ready. And now here I was, nearly having sex with the CEO of Silver Moon Group after knowing him for mere weeks.

*You're not ready,* he'd said. The words both stung and relieved me.

I stole a glance at Ezra's profile, his strong jawline illuminated by the screen's glow. He seemed completely engrossed in the movie, as if what happened between us earlier hadn't affected him at all. 

Was I being ridiculous to feel disappointed after his rejection? He'd done the right thing—the gentlemanly thing. But why did it still sting?

*Maybe because you want him,* Lyra whispered in my mind.

*No!* I mentally shouted back. *I don't. I can't.*

But the lie felt hollow even to me. I forced myself to focus on the screen, though I couldn't tell you what was happening in the movie if my life depended on it.

*He is the Lycan King, Silver Moon's CEO, and I'm just an ordinary werewolf sold to cover family debts,* I reminded myself harshly. *Whatever's happening between us can't last.*

Yet even as I tried to quash these feelings, my heart refused to cooperate. The man was driving me insane while sitting mere inches away.

The credits finally rolled, and we'd barely exchanged ten words the entire time. 

"Thank you for the movie," I said awkwardly, standing up.

Ezra merely nodded, his expression unreadable. "Get some rest."

I climbed into bed, hyperaware of him moving around the penthouse before eventually joining me, maintaining a careful distance on his side. The silence between us was deafening as we both pretended to sleep.

* * *

Morning arrived with a blank space where Ezra should have been. A note on his pillow caught my attention, his handwriting surprisingly elegant.

*"Not wanting to disturb your sleep, I've gone to the office. As yesterday, company staff are at your disposal. No combat training today. Moon Alliance administrators won't schedule you for anything. Rest well. Ezra."*

After a quick shower and breakfast, I decided to return to the Alliance residence. The Silver Moon SUV dropped me off before noon. I nodded thanks to the driver and security detail, ignoring the hostile stares from several Alliance girls lounging near the entrance.

"Look who's back from the CEO's bed," one whispered loudly enough for me to hear.

"Slut," another muttered.

I kept walking, head high. Let them talk. Their jealousy wasn't my problem.

When I reached my apartment door, something felt wrong. The hairs on my neck stood up as I entered, and Lyra immediately went on high alert within me.

*Danger!* she warned as I stepped inside.

Evanthe Hawthorne sat perched on the edge of my bed, her golden hair gleaming in the sunlight, her designer outfit immaculate as always. My first instinct was to run, but my feet felt rooted to the floor.

"Do you know how long I've been waiting here?" she asked, her voice deceptively calm. "It's almost noon now, and I've been sitting here since eight this morning. That's four whole hours waiting for you to return."

She stood, and I nearly lost my balance, backing against the closed door. The memory of yesterday's beating flashed vividly, sending chills down my spine.

"You're right," Evanthe continued, stepping closer. "I've lost my mind, Isolde."

There was something raw and vulnerable in her expression that caught me off guard.

"I've loved Ezra since I understood what love meant," she whispered, her blue eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I worked like an idiot to get close to him. I won him. Before you came along, he was mine."

My star-shaped birthmark tingled against my shoulder as I found my voice. "Your issues with Ezra aren't my fault. If you're hurting, why not try to fix things with him instead of bullying me?"

Her eyes flashed dangerously. "What happened in the Battle Arena yesterday should never have happened," I continued, surprising myself with my boldness. "You broke the rules, sucker-punched and kicked me, and even tried to claw my face. You owe me an apology."

A cold smile spread across her face. "I have until the end of today to make that damn apology, but you'd better watch yourself, because I really don't want you to leave this world before I've had the chance to apologize."

She approached slowly, eyes locked on mine. "You're wearing his clothes." Her gaze flickered to the oversized designer shirt I'd thrown on. "You even smell like him." She reached out, trailing her fingers along my cheek. "Enjoy it while you can. Next time, Ezra won't arrive in time to stop me."

I slapped her hand away, stepping back. "There won't be a next time."

Her laugh was hollow, empty. "We'll see about that."

After she left, I slumped against the door, releasing a frustrated sigh. My birthmark burned hot against my skin.

*Why can't she just leave me alone?* I thought, sliding down to sit on the floor.

My mind circled back to Ezra, to the way he'd looked at me last night—desire mixed with something deeper, something that terrified me more than Evanthe's threats. I couldn't afford to develop feelings for him. Not when I was just another Alliance girl, and he was... everything.

*No!* I shook my head in denial. *I can't love him.*

I needed to stop these feelings before they grew stronger, or I was just setting myself up for heartbreak. He was the Lycan King, Silver Moon's CEO, and I was nobody—a debt payment, a temporary amusement.

As I changed into my own clothes, I caught a whiff of his pine and winter scent still clinging to my skin. Despite everything—despite Evanthe's threats, despite the impossibility of it all—I couldn't help the way my heart raced at the thought of seeing him again.

*Goddess help me,* I thought, *I'm in serious trouble.*