The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 176

Chapter 176

3rd Person’s POV

0191

+5 Pearls

Lylah had foolishly believed that once the meeting adjourned, she would be free to leave. Free to return home, to Ezra, to the quiet safety of his presence.

She was wrong.

Dean Peter of Blackmaw Pack had other plans. Attendance at the dinner was not optional, not with Alpha Rowan Blackfang and Logan Silver in the room. It was an order wrapped in politeness, and every wolf there understood the weight behind it.

Dahlia’s hand tightened around Lylah’s arm, silently urging her to follow-because the consequences of refusing wouldn’t be light. As if the night couldn’t sour any further, Lylah’s phone buzzed.

A message from Damon.

‘Alpha Ezra would be at the Research Center tonight. He wouldn’t return home until late!

The small flicker of hope she’d been holding onto dimmed instantly.

Swallowing her disappointment, Lylah forced herself to remain.

“Attention, Alpha Rowan of Blackfang Pack.”

The announcer’s voice cut cleanly through the hall as the doors slid open.

Unlike earlier at the meeting, Rowan showed up this time. At his side was Cora, already changed into a lowing white dress that swayed with each step.

Her smile was proud, almost triumphant-as she walked beside him, her hand looped possessively around

nis arm.

Lylah’s stomach churned.

‘Dahlia,” she murmured, “I’ll ask Dean Peter for permission to leave after the welcoming speech. I don’t feel well.”

But that wasn’t her true reason.

Rowan had already noticed her in the crowd-and the moment his gaze found hers, a quiet dread stirred beneath Lylah’s skin, her wolf restless with the certainty that something bad was coming.

‘Alright,” Dahlia replied under her breath. “I might do the same.”

The evening unfolded with rigid formality.

One figure after another stepped onto the podium, voices blending into a meaningless hum. Plates were set, wine poured, and the scent of rich food filling the air-but Lylah had no appetite for any of it.

The moment she could, she rose from her seat.

1/3

11:27 am MM

Chapter 176

018

+5 Pearls

But before she could take more than a step-

Cora blocked her path.

“Where are you going, Lylah?” Cora asked, her voice soft and lilting, yet perfectly pitched to carry across the nearby tables. “Alpha Rowan is speaking, and you’re leaving already? That’s a little discourteous, don’t you think?”

Lylah’s gaze hardened, her wolf bristling beneath her skin.

“Don’t lecture me about discourteous,” she hissed. “Move.”

“No.” Cora folded her arms, smugness curling at her lips.

Behind them, Dahlia was still gathering her things, too far to intervene.

Cora leaned closer, her breath brushing against Lylah’s ear.

“Running won’t save you,” Cora whispered, venom sweet in her tone. “You can’t stand seeing Rowan and me together like that, can you? So close… so affectionate.” A soft, mocking laugh slipped from her lips. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you see everything tonight. Every moment. Until it’s carved into your mind- until you remember how I stand in the light while you fade into nothing.”

For a second, Lylah said nothing.

Then she smiled.

“The light?” Lylah’s gaze steadied on her. “You mean the one I put you in?”

Cora blinked, “What do you mean-”

“Don’t fool yourself, Cora” Lylah cut in.

She didn’t have the patience for this-not tonight, not anymore. “If it weren’t for me, Rowan would have died from the infection in his leg back then. Corlis Prime wouldn’t exist. And this project he named after you? It would be nothing but an idea buried with him.”

Her smile deepened. “All these exist now because I chose to save him. Not because you were ever worth it.”

Cora’s composure cracked.

Lylah didn’t wait for a response, she stepped past her.

Enough of this. Enough of them.

All she wanted now was to leave-to return to the comfort of home, to Ezra. To his presence that brought her peace, his voice soothing away the tight knot of worry… the way everything within her calmed at the mere thought of him.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify