The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 342

Chapter 342

Tiara’s POV

I let Lylah end the call, even though every instinct in me wanted to keep her there a little longer. But I knew she had responsibilities waiting, just as I did. Still, the silence she left behind settled too heavily.

I turned toward the window.

Beyond the glass, Blackfang southern forest stretched wide and restless, its trees still dusted with the last remnants of winter. Snow clung stubbornly to the earth, but beneath it, I could already feel the shift-the pulse of spring awakening. It called to something deep inside me.

My wolf stirred immediately.

A low, eager thrum spread through my veins, sharpening my senses, urging me to run.

I didn’t resist.

Nana was asleep down the hall. I could hear her slow, steady breathing even from here. I avoided passing her door, not wanting to risk waking her. Instead, I slid the window open and pulled myself through without hesitation.

The cold hit me instantly.

My bare feet sank into damp soil, chilled and soft beneath my weight. The scent of earth, melting snow, and distant pine flooded my senses, clean and wild.

But shifting here would be careless. Too exposed.

So I moved, circling the house silently, each step instinctive, my wolf guiding me toward the deeper shadows-

Until voices cut through the stillness.

I froze.

Uncle and Auntie.

What were they doing outside at this hour?

I slipped closer, keeping low, my steps light enough that even the wind wouldn’t betray me,

“Will paint even hide that?” Auntie’s voice trembled, tight with worry. “At least make it less noticeable. Before Tiara sees and starts asking questions we can’t answer.”

13

Tanter 31

My body went still.

“Those claw marks are too deep,” Uncle replied grimly. “Inside, I’ve covered what I could with furniture. Mother patched the rest before she called Tiara from Lunaris, said she was sick.” His voice lowered. “She must have been terrified… alone when those rogues came.”

Rogues?

The word struck like a blade.

My wolf snapped to attention, a low growl rising instinctively in my chest.

I stepped closer without thinking.

“With Alpha Rowan gone, nothing is stopping them from crossing into Blackfang territory,” Uncle continued, his tone dark. “And with the debt we owe… we’ve given them every reason to target us.”

“No…” Auntie’s voice broke. “We can’t let this continue. Not now that Tiara’s home. If she sees -” She sucked in a shaky breath. “Should we send her away again? Back to Lunaris… or somewhere farther? At least she’d be safe.”

“That was our last savings, Diana,” Uncle said quietly. “We barely managed this month. There’s no way we can afford to send her anywhere now.” He pause. Then, more hesitant, “What about Lylah? Tiara said she’s mated to someone powerful… maybe-”

“No.” Auntie cut him off sharply. “If we ask for help, Tiara will know everything.” Her voice softened, but fear laced every word. “And I’m afraid she might hate us for it.”

The air felt too tight in my lungs.

I backed away before they could sense me.

By the time I reached my window, something inside me had shifted, something cold and hollow settling beneath my ribs.

I pulled myself back inside, closing the window without a sound.

Auntie and Uncle had been the closest thing to parents I’d known since losing my own.

The idea that they would hide something this serious from me-it didn’t sit right. It couldn’t.

Rogues.

They had come here. Into our territory. Into my home.

213

To Nana.

My chest tightened as the realization sank in.

No wonder the message about her sudden illness had come so urgently. It hadn’t been sickness —it had been fear. She had lied to bring me back so that she wouldn’t be alone.

The image of her facing them by herself-frail, defenseless-snapped something inside me.

It felt like a snare had cinched tight around my throat, cutting off air, feeding the slow, rising fury of my wolf.

I moved without thinking, crossing to the drawer and pulling out my savings book—the one I hadn’t touched since returning from Lunaris.

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