The Betrayed Princess Rising Chapter 123

3rd Person's POV

By the time Lylah returned to the penthouse, night had already settled over Lunaris.

The place was unusually quiet. Even Bambi was nowhere in sight, and for a moment, she assumed Ezra hadn’t returned home yet.

Lylah headed to her room, washed away the day, and changed into something more comfortable. Only when she stepped back into the living room did she notice him.

Ezra was sitting on the couch.

His eyes were closed.

Sleeping.

A book rested loosely in his hand, his posture awkward, like he had meant to read but had accidentally drifted off. She approached slowly.

Up close, the dim light softened the sharp lines of his handsome face, but it also revealed the faint exhaustion shadowing it—likely from the meetings he’d attended all day.

A quiet pang of sympathy stirred in her chest.

Carefully, she reached forward, intending to slip the Alpha’s jacket off his shoulders and adjust his position so he could rest more comfortably.

But the moment her fingers brushed the fabric—

His hand shot out and clasped her wrist.

His eyes snapped open.

“Ezra—”

She barely managed his name before his arm slid around her waist and pulled her down, settling her onto his lap in one smooth motion.

“I thought you were asleep,” Lylah said calmly, though her heart had already begun to race.

“I was,” he replied quietly. “But after my training in Moonclaw, deep sleep became a luxury I rarely get. Warriors are accustomed to staying alert. It’s a habit that never truly leaves.”

His gaze softened as his fingers lifted her chin gently.

“You’re home.”

Lylah nodded.

“You said this afternoon there was something you wanted to talk to me about.”

She nodded again.

A sharp pang of guilt tugged at her chest. The thought that he might have spent the entire day waiting—wondering what she meant—made her uneasy.

Her fingers rose, brushing gently along the line of his jaw.

“It can wait,” she murmured. “I’ll make dinner first—”

“I can’t wait any longer, Lylah.”

His voice was low, rough, the restraint in it stretched thin.

She swallowed, nerves tightening in her chest. What she intended to confess tonight suddenly felt embarrassingly fragile—something that might sound foolish once spoken aloud.

“Ezra,” Lylah shifted slightly, hoping to hide her face. “Put me down.”

But he didn’t move.

His hands around her waist remained steady as stone.

“Please,” she added softly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Only then did his grip loosen slightly.

Lylah took the chance to slide down from his lap and settle beside him on the couch.

They were still close—too close. Their faces were only a breath apart.

“Okay…” She swallowed, steadying herself. “That night in the rain when you came to pick me up and Rowan was there. Do you remember?”

Ezra nodded, his expression immediately darkening, the warmth in his eyes hardening into something far more dangerous.

“He came for you again,” His voice low and edged with anger. “He will never stop trying to make you his—”

“No.” Lylah shook her head. “Do you remember the woman who stood beside him that night? Her name was Coraline. She was the one Rowan wanted to make his Luna.”

Her voice faltered as she paused, gathering the fragile courage that was building in her chest.

Then she spoke again.

“I want you to be honest with me… outside of this mating contract, was there ever someone? A mate… someone who could have been your Luna?”

Confusion flickered across his face.

Slowly, he shook his head.

“No.”

Lylah blinked, her breath catching for a moment.

Still, she forced herself not to let hope bloom too soon.

“Even in Moonclaw? Wasn’t there someone waiting for you? Someone you knew growing up, a lady from your council, or someone your family hoped you would choose?

The confusion in his eyes deepened, as if the very idea puzzled him.

“No, Lylah,” he said firmly. “There has never been anyone like that for me.”

He leaned closer then, lifting a hand to cup her chin and gently tilt her face upward until their gazes locked. The distance between them shrank to almost nothing.

“What is this really about?” His voice lower now, threaded with quiet concern. “Why are you suddenly asking me this?”

“Because…” Her throat tightened as the word left her lips.

She swallowed, fingers curling in her lap as if bracing herself.

“I don’t want to make a mistake.”

Her voice trembled slightly, though she tried to steady it.

“I don’t want to confess something… without knowing where you stand first.”

She hesitated, her heart pounding so loudly she was certain he could hear it.

“I don’t want to walk into your life and ruin it with my feelings,” she whispered. “I don’t want to stain whatever future you might have by suddenly telling you that…”

Her eyes lowered briefly before she forced herself to meet his gaze again.

“…I think I might be falling for you.”