Chapter 287
Chapter 288
3rd Person’s POV
Finished
Even if those so-called pack members harbored ambitions against their Alpha, they would have found subtler ways to act on them. Yet here they were, standing beneath Ezra’s roof, groveling before his grandfather, offering up their sons like bargaining chips… all while the true Alpha still lived and breathed.
Lylah’s voice cut through the room, calm but edged with quiet steel.
“That isn’t just pitiful,” she said. “It’s humiliating p>
The words landed harder than any shouted accusation.
At her side, Zyrelle’s lips curved, though she could no longer fully suppress the flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. She had expected many things from Lylah-hesitation, fragility, perhaps even fear.
But not this.
Not a Luna who stood her ground against wolves twice her age.
Across the room, one of the elders-Myranda-stiffened, her expression sharpening with clear displeasure.
“You would do well to watch your words, Luna,” she said coldly. “We have known Ezra far longer than you. It is not your place to lecture us p>
Before Lylah could respond, Vargan’s voice rose.
“Lylah speaks the truth p>
He stepped forward, his presence alone enough to still the restless tension in the room.
“She is Ezra’s mate,” he continued, “That alone grants her more right to speak on his behalf than any of you.” His gaze swept over them, unflinching. “And I do not recall a single day when any of you were truly present in his life. After my son and his mate died, I raised Ezra myself. Alone. Until he found her, his mate p>
A ripple of discomfort spread through the gathered elders.
“That was not entirely our fault, Master Vargan,” one of them countered, though his voice lacked its earlier confidence. “Ezra has always been so strict. Even as a pup, he kept others at a distance p>
A low, quiet shift of energy answered him.
“I learned early,” Ezra said, his voice smooth, almost conversational, “how to tell the difference between those who truly sought me and those who sought my crown p>
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
“For some of you,” he continued, eyes glinting faintly, “it was never about me p>
Heavy silence followed.
Several of the elders looked away, their expressions tightening, shame burning red beneath their
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Chapter 288
composure.
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Vargan was in complete agreement with his grandson, but as the eldest of the family, he also understood that his role was to stand as the mediator between them.
“You all came here for the New Moon celebration, right?” he said firmly. “Not to claw at my grandson’s crown like starving dogs.” His gaze hardened. “Let this end here. It would be disgraceful to taint a sacred night with greed p>
Reluctantly, the tension broke.
The elders withdrew, returning to their seats with forced composure.
Tea was poured, dishes passed, but the air remained thick, the unease lingering like the scent of a storm that had not yet fully passed.
By the time night fell, the estate had quieted.
The moon hung high, its pale light spilling through the windows like silvered mist.
Lylah stood in the room she and Ezra had been given-his old room. Her gaze settled on the long couch beneath the window, bathed in moonlight.
It hadn’t been there before.
“Ezra,” she called softly, her voice quieter now, threaded with curiosity. “I don’t remember that being here last time. Did you have it brought in p>
The bathroom door opened behind her.
Ezra stepped out, a dark silhouette against the dim light.
A bathrobe hung loosely over his frame, the fabric clinging just enough to hint at the powerful lines beneath. Damp strands of black hair fell across his forehead, shadows cutting sharper angles along his already chiseled features.
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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.