Chapter 396
3rd Person’s POV
Eldric remained near the ballroom entrance, barred from reentering yet unwilling to leave. Confusion and irritation churned through him like poison beneath his skin.
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When the thunderous applause had erupted from inside the grand hall, pride swelled instantly in his chest. He had assumed the celebration belonged to Rowan.
Who else could command such admiration tonight?
But then Rowan Blackfang stormed out of the ballroom with fury radiating off him in suffocating waves. And only then did Eldric realize the applause had never been for Rowan at
all.
“How?” Eldric demanded sharply, turning toward Cora. His voice carried the edge of a growl now. “How is that possible? Isn’t Lylah’s mate supposed to be some filthy mutt with a ruined bloodline and dirty money?”
That was what he had believed all this time.
“What exactly is he?”
Cora’s jaw tightened. “He is…”
“Who?” Eldric pressed impatiently. “Someone more influential than Rowan?”
For a brief moment, humiliation flickered across Cora’s face like a shadow she couldn’t hide.
Then she finally forced the words out.
“Lylah’s mate…” Her throat tightened. “Is Alpha Ezra of Moonclaw.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
It felt as though the ground vanished beneath Eldric’s feet.
His hand slipped from Cora’s wrist as his entire body went rigid with shock. “Goddess…’
The color drained from his face.
Moonclaw.
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Chapter 397
Not just any pack. Not some insignificant territory hidden at the edge of Verdanth.
Moonclaw.
The most powerful pack in the entire continent.
Meanwhile, irritation burned hotter and hotter beneath Cora’s skin.
She hated this.
Hated admitting it aloud.
Hated the way people’s expressions changed the instant Ezra’s name entered the conversation.
“But why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Eldric snapped suddenly. “All this time I thought that stray had mated beneath herself!” His breathing grew uneven. “If I had known she became Moonclaw’s Luna, I never would’ve treated her with hostility. She could’ve been useful to us.”
Something inside Cora finally snapped.
“Useful?” she repeated quietly.
Then louder,
“Useful? Useful?” Her wolf surged violently beneath her skin, gold flashing briefly through her eyes. “Is that all you ever care about, Father? I spent years being useful to you! I did everything you asked. Everything!”
The bitterness in her scent thickened.
“You were the one who told me to stop associating with Lylah because she would drag me down. And now suddenly this is my fault because I didn’t know who her mate was?”
She was exhausted.
Exhausted from Rowan. From Lylah. From tonight.
From the crushing realization that no matter how desperately she tried to climb higher, Lylah somehow still stood above her.
But Eldric’s expression hardened instead of softening. He said coldly, “Yes.”
Cora froze.
“Yes, you failed.” Eldric stepped closer, his voice ruthless now. “Let’s be honest for once.” His lip curled faintly. “I had to beg Rowan and Vale to pull strings just to get you accepted into Lunar Grace. Meanwhile, Lylah earned her place there on her own.”
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Chapter 397
“And now?” Eldric continued. “You couldn’t even secure a mate worthy of elevating our family further while Lylah became Moonclaw’s Luna without any help from anyone.” Each word cut deeper than the last. “So yes. You fell short. Useless.”
Cora stared at him in disbelief.
For one terrible moment, she couldn’t breathe.
Her fingers curled tightly at her sides while fury and humiliation crashed together inside her chest. Gold flickered dangerously through her eyes as her wolf strained against her control.
Then suddenly,
An aura rolled between them like a winter storm.
Rowan stepped forward without hesitation, placing himself between Cora and Eldric.
“Enough.” His voice was low.
Rowan’s eyes locked onto Eldric with open contempt.
“You always have plenty to say when things stop benefiting you, Eldric.” His lips curved without warmth. “But let’s stop pretending anyone else is the problem here. The only truly worthless is you.”
The words landed with brutal precision.
“Not Cora. Not me. Not even Lylah.” A dangerous growl vibrated faintly beneath his voice. “You’re the worst kind of father anyone could have.”
Eldric’s face darkened instantly, but Rowan continued before he could speak.
“And you seem to forget something important. Cora is no longer merely your daughter. She is my Luna now.”
The warning hung sharp as silver between them.
“If you make an enemy out of her, then you make one out of me too.” Rowan spared him one final look of disgust. “So watch your tongue next time before it gets you into trouble you can’t survive.”
Without another word, he guided Cora down the corridor beside him.
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11:29 Fri, May 15 M…
The betrayed Princess Rising
Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.