The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 344

Chapter 344

3rd Person’s POV

“No, Jude.” Logan’s voice dropped into something final. “Whatever your reasoning is, we’re not turning Lunaris Research Center into a stage for Eldric to parade his son. If that boy wants a place in the tech field in Lunaris, he’ll earn it the same way other engineers and I did, through sweat and tears.”

A low murmur rippled through the room.

“And if we go down that path,” Isaac added, quieter but no less firm, “we’ll end up pushing out the truly gifted mind. That’s not justice. That’s corruption dressed as loyalty.”

Victor leaned forward, “And you really think Jax would approve of this? Turning what was meant to protect his daughter into a war against everyone else?”

Jude’s jaw tightened, his wolf flickering dangerously close to the surface. “And what happens if we don’t?” he shot back. “If no one in Cora’s family stands strong enough to rival Rowan Blackfang, she won’t be free from that jerk’s grasp!”

Silence followed. It pressed in from all sides, waiting.

All eyes turned to Thane. Waiting for him.

When he finally did speak, his voice was low.

“We’re not going to keep propping up weakness just to feed our egos-polishing dull steel doesn’t make it cut. I’ve learned that already.”

His gaze hardened, something colder slipping into his tone. “Tell me Judge, does Cora’s family truly need this to free her from Rowan Blackfang? Or is this just Eldric’s design? A way to have others fight… while he stands back and reaps the outcome?”

For a brief moment, the conference hall replayed vividly in Thane’s mind-Eldric’s voice, sharp and merciless, the way he had torn into Lylah without hesitation. Without restraint.

A man who could shred his own daughter in public like that…

Could he truly be acting for anyone but himself?

Across the room, something shifted in Jude’s expression.

The fire in his eyes faltered, replaced by something quieter-uncertainty.

The tension began to unravel.

Without another word, Thane turned and walked out.

Under the pale afternoon light of early spring, Ezra arrived at his family’s private treatment center in Lunaris. He moved through the halls without pause, his footsteps echoing softly until he reached the designated room.

Today marked the schedule of his second treatment.

“Alpha Ezra,” Maureen greeted, already prepared for the procedure. The healer’s expression was composed, though a hint of caution lingered in her eyes. “Before we begin… I need to ask- did you experience any side effects after the first dose?”

Ezra didn’t answer immediately. His mind drifted back to that moment.

Pain. Yes.

But beyond that, he saw her. Lylah. Standing beside him, close enough to feel. Close enough that her presence had steadied something deep within him. He could still see her smiling softly.

Ezra’s gaze darkened slightly. “Would hallucinations count?”

Maureen blinked, caught off guard. “No, Alpha. That is not one of the effects.” She straightened, slipping back into clinical certainty. “The serum induces severe pain, your wolf will feel it as strongly as you do. Muscle constriction, cranial pressure, vomiting, extreme cold-those are expected. But hallucinations… no.”

“Then I experienced none of them,” Ezra said calmly. He ordered. “Proceed.”

‘So it was nothing more than a trick of the mind, he told himself. ‘A desperate illusion of my Luna standing beside me.’

Maureen moved efficiently, preparing the next dose. “We may need to restrain you this time. If your wolf reacts more aggressively-”

Ezra didn’t even look at her. “No.”

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