The Betrayed Princess Rising Chapter 122

3rd Person's POV

The moment Corvin Vale stormed out, the entire room seemed to pivot toward Grimwood. Every pair of eyes settled on him.

“Professor Grimwood, it’s been so long since you’ve visited Lunar Grace. Will you give us the honor of teaching us again?” someone called out.

“Yes, please. It would mean a lot to us if you replaced Professor Vale for today.”

Grimwood lifted a hand to his ear, letting out an irritated grunt as the chorus of voices pressed in around him.

He relented at last.

“Fine. Fine,” Grimwood said "I’ll replace Vale and lead the project today.”

Lylah couldn’t hide her smile.

She quickly retrieved a white lab coat and held it out to her mentor. But just as Grimwood reached for it, she caught his wrist before he could pull away.

His brows lifted in surprise.

“What is it now, child?” he asked dryly. “I’ve already agreed to replace Vale for today. Don’t tell me you’re about to start shouting at me too.”

“I’m not, Professor,” Lylah replied quickly, shaking her head.

She hesitated for a moment before continuing, her curiosity finally spilling over.

“I was just wondering… earlier you told me you wouldn’t show up today. Yet here you are now.” Her brows drew together slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me anything?"

Grimwood’s expression sharpened, though there was a quiet warmth beneath it.

“When I said I wouldn’t show up, I meant I wouldn’t appear as a professor and draw attention from these fools who seem determined to miss me no matter how often I scold them.” His gaze swept across the room before returning to her. “But who said I wasn’t going to watch?”

Lylah’s eyes widened. “You’ve been observing since earlier?”

“Of course,” he huffed. “Whenever a project ends up under Vale’s supervision, I make it a habit to keep an eye on things. History has proven that man possesses impressive talent for turning the simplest task into a spectacular disaster.” He gave a small snort. “I stayed just to watch how badly he would embarrass himself today.”

Then his voice dropped, quiet but edged with steel.

“I told you I wouldn’t step in for you again,” he said. “But don’t mistake that for permission for fools to run their mouths. I will not stand by while some idiot thinks he can slander and humiliate my student in front of everyone and walk away unscathed.”

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The remaining hours passed far more smoothly under Grimwood’s guidance. By the time Lylah finished working alongside him, the sky beyond the windows had faded into the soft amber glow of evening.

When she stepped out through the gates of Lunar Grace, she didn’t head straight back to the penthouse.

Instead, she turned toward the park.

Iris had shown her a few recommended spots around Lunaris—quiet places where one could shift and let their wolf run freely.

Inside the small changing room, Lylah removed her clothes and hung them neatly. Moments later, her claws pressed into the cool, dew-soaked grass.

The earth welcomed her weight as she stretched, muscles rippling beneath silver-grey fur. Cool grass brushed against her paws while the damp scent of soil and distant pines drifted through the evening air, calming the restless rhythm of her heart.

'I already told Alpha Ezra we would talk tonight,' she murmured inwardly to her wolf. 'There’s no avoiding it anymore.'

Her heart pounded hard against her ribs.

Returning to the penthouse had never made her this nervous before.

What she intended to tell him tonight could change everything between them.

Lylah had always known she couldn’t hide the truth forever. But if she confessed it…

Would it truly be the right choice?

'Selestine,' she whispered to her wolf, 'do you think this would be easier if things between the Alpha and us were… normal? And if he was just a wolf from an ordinary rank?'

Her paws pressed deeper into the grass as the thought weighed heavily in her chest.

Because confessing her love to the Alpha of Moonclaw Pack—without knowing what Ezra truly felt for her—was like laying her heart bare in his hands.

With no idea, would he hold it…

Or crush it?