Chapter 462
Chapter 462
3rd Person’s POV
Rowan stared at her in silence.
For all her attempts at composure, she wasn’t nearly as unreadable as she believed herself to be.
The shifts in her expression.
The slight changes in her scent.
The way her aura darkened whenever Ezra’s name entered the conversation.
Rowan noticed all of it.
“That’s all I came to tell you.” Luén straightened, putting distance between them. “Whether you believe me or not is your choice, Rowan. I don’t expect your trust.” Her violet eyes met his steadily. “After all, we’re stil strangers. And strangers don’t simply hand each other their faith p>
Something unfamiliar stirred beneath Rowan’s ribs.
“Then why?” Rowan stepped closer. “If you don’t expect my trust, why seek me out at all? You could have offered your loyalty to Ezra. Secured his favor. His protection. Like Erik did. Instead, you came to me p>
His eyes narrowed.
“And for someone who doesn’t even know Lylah personally… You sound awfully hurt on her behalf p>
His wolf leaned forward, watching.
Waiting.
“Who exactly are you, Luén? What connection do you have to her p>
For several long seconds, she said nothing.
The silence stretched.
Then she lowered her gaze.
“You’re right. I don’t know Lylah personally p>
Not in this life.
Not in any way he could understand.
A flicker of pain crossed her expression before she buried it.
“But I know what betrayal feels like.” The words emerged almost as a whisper. “I know what it feels like to discover that someone has been deciding your future without your knowledge p>
Rowan watched her carefully.
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Chapter 462
The scent of sorrow lingered around her.
Old.
Deep.
Ancient enough to make his wolf restless.
“I suppose…” she continued quietly, “I sympathize with her as someone who once bore the same pain p>
The explanation sounded reasonable.
Yet something about it felt incomplete.
Like a truth wrapped around a much larger lie.
“And as for why I helped you Rowan…” For the first time, hesitation entered her voice. She looked away. “When it comes to the heart… logic isn’t always involved p>
Luén laughed faintly at herself. Her eyes returned to his.
“I know it would be easier to stand beside Alpha Ezra. But I can’t force my heart to choose him p>
The words landed harder than they should have.
For one impossible second, Rowan wanted to believe them.
A dangerous thought.
A foolish thought.
Yet it remained.
His wolf lifted its head.
Watching her.
Studying her.
As if trying to decide whether she was prey, threat, or something else entirely.
Before he could respond, Luén took a step back.
And just like that, she left.
Again. Always the same. Appearing without warning, turning his thoughts upside down, and then vanishing before he could make sense of any of it.
Rowan stood motionless long after she disappeared.
For the first time in a very long time…
He wasn’t certain of anything.
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15:56 Sat, Jun 13
Chapter 462
Meanwhile, night settled fully over Lunera Valley.
The mountains stood like sleeping giants beneath the silver glow of the moon.
Lylah had spent the entire day assisting Jude with the outreach project. By the time the final reports were completed and supplies packed away, exhaustion tugged at her limbs.
She gathered her belongings and prepared to leave.
Before she could, he approached.
“It’s already late,” Jude said. “You’ve been helping me since morning. Let me handle our dinner p>
Lylah blinked.
Then shook her head. “That’s not necessary. I can cat back at the volunteer cabins p>
Jude frowned immediately.
“By the time you get there, dinner will probably be over.” He crossed his arms. “They’ll have emptied every pot. The least I can do is make sure you don’t go to sleep starving. Please p>
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The Betrayed Princess Rising