The Betrayed Princess Rising Chapter 56

Ezra's POV

I informed Lylah I would be out, that I wouldn’t be at the penthouse when she returned. She agreed too easily. A part of me had hoped she would object—hope she would try to stop me, but she didn’t. So I left.

The restaurant had been cleared for a private meeting. The kind reserved for alphas, and those who liked to pretend they were untouchable.

The hostess led me down a secluded corridor toward the reservation suite. Conversations in the hallway faltered as I passed. Wolves sensed dominance even without recognizing its source. Heads turned. Spines straightened. My presence carried weight whether I wanted it to or not.

It was night, so I didn’t bother with my tinted glasses. Moonlight never bothered me the way sunlight did. If anything, it only sharpened my vision.

Before the door even opened, I caught Rowan Blackfang’s voice.

“He’s late. He has no respect for my time.”

“You were the one who requested this meeting, Alpha Rowan,” Archer West replied coolly. “You’ll bear with it.”

Rowan scoffed. “He hasn’t even earned a name yet, and he’s already this arrogant?”

“Just a reminder,” Archer said mildly, “Sir Riven isn’t fond of small talk. So get to your point when he arrives.”

My hand closed around the polished handle. I pushed the door open.

The room went dead silent.

Three men stood inside: Archer West, Rowan Blackfang, and Rowan’s Beta, who lingered a half-step behind him.

“Alpha Rowan,” Archer said, his tone measured, “this is the man you insisted on meeting. Lunaris’ lead tech engineer.”

Rowan took a step back.

If his Beta hadn’t steadied him, he might have stumbled.

The shock on his face was unmistakable. His skin drained of color. His wolf recoiled inside him, startled, terrified, recognizing what his mind hadn’t yet accepted.

“You…” Rowan rasped, half-choked.

“I suppose there’s no need for further introductions,” I said calmly.

His throat worked. Slowly, disbelief etched into every line of his face.

“Alpha Ezra Moonclaw,” he said. His gaze snapped to Archer, betrayed and furious.

Archer’s voice hardened. “Per our agreement, everything you see and discuss in this room remains sealed. You and your Beta will not speak of this outside Lunaris territory.”

Rowan barely seemed to hear him. His eyes flickered with too many emotions—shock, fury, fear, and something dangerously close to challenge.

I walked to my seat and sat with deliberate ease.

“Sit,” I ordered.

Power rippled through the room at my command. They stilled at once—three wolves obeying on instinct. Wine was poured. Crystal glasses clinked softly, too loud in the sudden silence.

“You came alone, Alpha Ezra?” Archer asked.

“I assigned Damon to retrieve my Luna and keep her company while I’m here.”

Rowan choked on his wine.

“Your Luna?” Archer blinked, surprised. “I was out of town last week. I hadn’t heard you already have a Luna."

“We sealed our bond a few days ago,” I said evenly.

Archer’s eyes widened, then softened. “My sincerest Congratulations, Alpha Ezra.”

Rowan’s grip tightened until the crystal groaned in protest, spiderweb cracks threatening beneath his fingers.

“Your Luna?” He demanded. “Who is she?”

Archer’s gaze cut to him, sharp as a blade “Alpha Rowan, remember your place.”

Rowan’s Beta placed a firm hand on his shoulder. Rowan blinked, regaining control—barely.

“My apologies,” Rowan said quickly. He forced a thin smile. “I was just surprised. This is quite a coincidence.”

“No worries. Alpha Ezra, please excuse Alpha Rowan’s curiosity,” Archer said smoothly. Then he steered the room back to business. “Let us proceed. Alpha Rowan has a proposal he believes will benefit both Corlis Prime and Lunaris.”

Rowan straightened, forcing his shoulders back as he swallowed his pride.

He began to speak. Wrapping his ambition in polished words—shared growth, open systems, national development. The language of diplomacy. The language predators used to make their hunger sound reasonable.

But I heard what he wasn’t saying.

Rowan didn’t just want cooperation. He wanted control.

Full access to Lunaris’ research center—its secured labs, its classified development floors, the very heart of our innovation. He wanted my engineers, my facilities, my resources. The minds and machines that had taken years to build were guarded by loyalty and oath.

He was asking me to build his private empire on the bones of my own.

When Rowan finally finished, Archer gave a measured nod and turned to me.

“Alpha Ezra,” he said carefully. “The decision is yours.”

The room held its breath.

Rowan’s jaw trembled. His wolf pushed hard against his skin, a low, furious snarl vibrating through his chest. He already knew.

“I decline," I said.

Rowan exploded to his feet. His chair scraped violently across the floor.

His fist came down on the glass table with a thunderous crack.