The Betrayed Princess Rising Chapter 138

Cora's POV

I was supposed to be heading to lunch when my phone rang. Gavriel’s name flashed across the screen, and the moment I answered, his voice came through urgently.

"Alpha Rowan is at Lunar Grace."

The words made my stomach tighten.

Rowan hadn’t told me he was coming—not a message, not even a call. And the moment I heard where he was, I knew exactly who he had come for.

Lylah.

I abandoned my lunch plans immediately. Luck seemed to be on my side today, because the moment I crossed the academy lawn in search of him, I spotted them. The two of them stood in a quiet corner near the stone walls.

But what I saw next made my blood boil.

Rowan was bent over, clutching his leg in pain. Lylah stood in front of him.

Rage exploded through my chest.

I’ll kill her!

But before I could move—

Smack!

The sound echoed sharply through the air.

Pain exploded across my face.

Before I could even react—

Smack!

A second slap landed on the same cheek.

My head snapped to the side as the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

For a moment, I could only stare at her.

“You… you slapped me?” I whispered, blinking in disbelief.

Lylah had never dared to do something like this before. Eldrid and Daia would have torn her apart if she had ever raised a hand against me.

And yet now—

She had struck me twice without the slightest hesitation.

“To knock some sense into that empty head of yours,” Lylah replied coldly.

My wolf stirred angrily beneath my skin.

I spat the blood pooling in my mouth onto the ground.

“What are you talking about?” I demanded, fury blazing in my chest.

“Oh, forget it,” she said dismissively. “You’d never believe me anyway.” Her gaze flicked briefly toward Rowan, who was still groaning in pain. "Go tend to him,” she added flatly. “You were terrified I might kill your mate, didn’t you?”

Her finger pointed toward Rowan like he was nothing more than an inconvenience. “So go on. Take that Blackfang scumbag away from my sight.”

My nails dug into my palms.

“Lylah… you’ll pay for this,” I said through clenched teeth. “I’ll come for you.”

She looked at me with nothing but cold indifference.

“I’ll be waiting,” she replied calmly. “You’ve been coming after me all this time anyway. That’s nothing new.”

And with that, she turned and walked away without a second glance.

I stood there, stunned, staring after her retreating figure.

My mind struggled to process what had just happened.

Then Rowan groaned beside me.

“What are you doing?” he muttered harshly. “You’re an idiot, Cora. You only made her angrier.”

His words snapped my attention back to him.

I hurried to his side, reaching out to help him stand.

But the moment I touched him, Rowan shoved me away.

The force of it made my chest tighten painfully.

“Rowan?” I said, stunned. “I’m only trying to help you—”

“I don’t need it,” he cut in coldly. He straightened slowly, adjusting his clothes with indifferent movements. “I’m fine. Worry about yourself. Didn’t she just slap you?”

My eyes stung.

“So you did see her slap me,” I said, my voice trembling. “And yet you’re still treating me like this?”

Tears burned behind my eyes.

“Rowan, I don’t understand what’s happening to you lately,” I continued. “You’ve changed. The way you treat me… It’s like I’m not your mate anymore. It’s like I’m nothing but trash to you.”

Rowan looked at me.

His gaze was cold.

“I’ve wronged Lylah too much, Cora,” he said quietly.

A chill crept down my spine.

“And don’t pretend you’ve forgotten,” he continued. “Some of that happened because of you.”

“M–me?” I blinked.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

Rowan blaming me?

But his next words struck like a blade driven straight into my chest.

“So whatever Lylah does to you now… endure it,” he said flatly, his expression unchanged. “Because you deserve every bit of it.”