Chapter 281
Chapter 282
3rd Person’s POV
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Ezra’s voice broke the silence, rough and unsteady in a way Lylah had never heard before.
“He called me,” he said. “He told me he had something that belonged to you. That bracelet p>
The words seemed to drag against his throat, as if each one cost him something. “He said you were the one who gave it to him. I didn’t believe him. Of course I didn’t p>
But Lylah felt it.
Not through his words, but through the subtle shift in the air, through the restless stir of her wolf beneath her skin. The truth flickered there, sharp as lightning across a blackened sky.
He had believed it.
Even if only for a moment.
Even if he hated himself for it.
Rowan had gotten to him.
Lylah’s jaw tightened, a low, dangerous heat coiling in her chest.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded, her voice sharpening. “That parasite dared to call you? To provoke you? I would’ve dealt with him myself p>
And she meant it.
That night at the treatment center flashed through her mind-how easily she could have gone further, how much restraint she had shown Rowan. Now, it felt like a mistake.
“Ezra,” she continued, stepping closer, her voice firm. “I didn’t give that bracelet to him. Why would I? It was never his to have p>
She reached for the velvet box, flipping it open with swift precision before taking his hand and guiding his fingers inside.
“You feel this,” she said, her tone insistent. “This is the other one. Yours. A matching pair p>
The words hung heavy between them.
“The one Rowan has-the one he told you about-was mine. And I was going to give you this one.” Her breath caught slightly, frustration bleeding through. “I don’t know how it ended up
in
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Chapter 282
his hands p>
Then, suddenly, it clicked.
That night.
The confrontation.
The blow she had landed across Rowan’s bruised face twice.
Her expression shifted, realization settling in.
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“…I must’ve dropped it,” she murmured. A quiet exhale followed. “But whatever, I’m not going anywhere near him just to take it back. I’ll replace it p>
Before the words had fully settled, Ezra moved. He reached into his pocket and withdrew something small, placing it into her palm.
Her bracelet.
For a moment, Lylah could only stare at it.
Stunned.
“How did you p>
“After his call, I had my guard take me to him,” Ezra said, his voice steadier now, edged with something far darker. “How he got it didn’t matter. Gift or not, I was taking it back p>
His jaw locked, tension rippling through him like a restrained snarl.
“Why would I let another male keep something that belongs to my Luna p>
The word carried weight.
Possession. Claim. Devotion.
All wrapped into one.
“I don’t allow that p>
A soft sound escaped Lylah-half breath, half disbelief.
“Oh p>
She hadn’t expected that.
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Hadn’t expected him to go that far.
Gently, he lifted her wrist, his large hand engulfing hers with a care that felt almost reverent. The bracelet clicked softly into place, resting once more against her skin.
And with it, something shifted inside her.
Warmth unfurled through her chest-slow, deep, and aching in a way she couldn’t quite name.
“We really do hate that Blackfang plague, don’t we?” Lylah said lightly, a small laugh slipping through, though her eyes remained soft. “So why suggest calling him earlier, Ezra? Inviting him here p>
Ezra held her gaze, a quiet and resolute expression settling into his face.
“I do despise him,” he said. “That hasn’t changed. But does that outweigh my need to keep you with me? To make you happy? No p>
His voice lowered.
“The moment you walked in, I knew something was wrong. You were distant… suddenly packing, avoiding me.” His jaw tightened. “I thought you were leaving me. And when wouldn’t say anything-I didn’t know what to do p>
His voice dropped, quieter now, stripped of everything but truth.
“I would’ve done anything… if it meant you’d stay p>
Lylah’s chest tightened.
you
Before he could say anything more, she lifted her hand and pressed a finger gently against his
lips.
“Ssh p>
Her eyes softened, though a hint of amusement flickered through them.
“Stop talking.” A faint smile tugged at her mouth.
“You’re silly big wolf. I’m not leaving you. We’re leaving together for Moonclaw tomorrow.” A small tilt of her head. “I already told you that, remember p>
Realization broke across his face in a sudden, overwhelming wave.
Relief followed just as swiftly, loosening every rigid line of his features, unraveling the tension that had held him so tightly wound. The shift in him was immediate, and it stirred something uneasy in Lylah’s chest.
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Even someone like him could be shaken…
Could be afraid.
Could stand before her, stripped of everything but raw, unguarded vulnerability.
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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.