The Betrayed Princess Rising Chapter 145

Lylah's POV

I had never imagined something like this would happen.

The moment I stepped into the hall earlier, Professor Grimwood had seized my arm and dragged me straight into the center of the room. After that, everything had blurred together—voices rising around me, warm congratulations, applause echoing against the stone walls.

But it wasn’t the students offering those smiles.

It was the professors.

Every healer in the department had gathered, their sharp gazes softened with approval as they praised me. The attention felt overwhelming, almost unreal.

By the time the crowd finally thinned, my arms were full of bouquets, small wrapped gifts, and handwritten notes of commendation.

“Professor,” I said as I walked toward Professor Grimwood, struggling to balance the armful of offerings. “Why didn’t you tell me something like this would happen? At least I could have prepared myself.”

He snorted, waving a dismissive hand.

“As if I knew,” he said. “Those old wolves are usually far too proud to bother honoring a student’s achievement.”

I blinked. “So… this is unusual?”

“Unusual?” He huffed. “This is the first time it’s happened in years. The last time the department made such a fuss over a student,” he said slowly, “was for the Alpha of Moonclaw, when he was still studying under me.”

My breath caught.

Professor Grimwood chuckled to himself.

“I thought I’d never see the day again,” he continued. “But here we are. And this time… It’s his Luna standing in the center of it all.”

His eyes returned to me, glinting with quiet amusement. “Funny how fate works, isn’t it?”

For a moment, I didn’t know what to say.

To be mentioned in the same breath as Ezra—

to follow even a small step behind him—

It felt strangely beautiful.

“I haven’t said it before,” Professor Grimwood added gruffly, “but I’m proud of you.”

The words hit me harder than all the applause combined.

Professor Grimwood was not a man who handed out praise easily.

And hearing it now made a ridiculous, unstoppable smile spread across my face.

-----

There were no classes scheduled for the rest of the day, so after the celebration ended, I headed down the hall to meet Iris.

My arms were still full of flowers and gifts, and my chest felt light—too light, as if my heart had grown wings. I was so lost in that happiness that I barely noticed anything else.

Not until someone slammed into my shoulder.

The force knocked me sideways, my back striking the wall with a dull thud.

I blinked in surprise.

“Cora?”

She stood a few steps away, her pale face tight with disdain.

“All that fuss over a lowly junior assistant from such an inferior class..." she said coldly. “What a spectacle.”

“And yet I received it,” I replied evenly. “While you—someone from the most prestigious class, trained by the best professor—never have.”

I tilted my head slightly. “I suppose that says quite a lot.”

Something sharp flashed in her eyes.

“If it weren’t for my parents raising you, and my mate's influence back then,” she added icily, “you wouldn’t even have been able to step foot in this academy, Lylah." Her voice dropped lower.

“You certainly wouldn’t have met Professor Grimwood.”

Her gaze raked over me.

“You’d still be out there in the outskirts of Whitepine, cleaning stalls and gathering firewood. That,” she finished coolly, “is what your real family looks like.”

I studied her quietly.

“You speak as if you know them better than I do..."

“Oh.” Cora stepped closer, a strange smile tugging at her lips. “Because I do.”

My brows knit slightly.

“I do, Lylah,” she repeated softly. “Those pathetic stray dogs—your biological family.” Her eyes gleamed with cruel amusement. “They came to me yesterday."

I blinked.

I didn’t believe her.

But hearing her speak about them… about the family I had never truly known…

A small flicker of curiosity still stirred inside me.

“Really?” I asked lightly. “If dealing with them is such a burden for you, then why not send them to me instead?”