The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 374

Chapter 374

Cora’s POV

Days drifted by after the night of my engagement, yet the unrest festering beneath my skin only deepened with time, clinging to me like a wound that refused to close. But with the Lunaris business gathering only two days away, I decided to focus on something simpler tonight-finding the perfect gown.

Alone.

I had asked Rowan to come with me earlier, but he refused without hesitation. For a male who had only recently marked his lady publicly through our engagement, Rowan had become distant in a way my wolf deeply disliked.

And people noticed.

They always noticed.

The thought made irritation crawl beneath my skin.

I pushed it aside as I stepped deeper into the boutique, surrounded by shimmering fabrics and soft golden light. Expensive scents filled the air-silk, perfume, polished wood. Then I saw it.

A satin violet gown displayed beneath the chandelier lights, elegant and breathtaking. The fabric caught the light like liquid moonlight, rich enough for royalty.

Perfect.

“I want this one,” I said immediately, pointing toward it.

The clerk’s smile faltered. “My apologies, Lady Cora, but that gown has already been reserved.”

I frowned. “Reserved?”

“Yes, my lady. It was personally selected for someone’s mate.”

Mate.

Something about that word snagged unpleasantly inside my chest.

What kind of male personally chose gowns for his mate?

And why did the idea bother me so much?

“He hasn’t paid for it yet, has he?” I asked smoothly. “Surely this boutique understands priority clientele.”

The woman visibly tensed beneath my gaze.

“I-I’m sorry, Lady Cora, but I can’t release it. If you wish, you may speak with the gentleman directly.”

I nearly scoffed.

Ridiculous.

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apter 4

Still, I followed the direction she pointed toward, heels clicking sharply against polished marble as I approached one of the private waiting lounges near the back of the boutique.

The moment I stepped inside, my wolf stiffened violently.

A man stood near the window with his back facing me, speaking quietly on the phone. Tall. Broad shoulders beneath perfectly tailored black clothing. Even from behind, there was something unnervingly commanding about him.

Then his aura hit me.

My breath caught.

Alpha.

Power rolled off him so heavily that my wolf immediately lowered its head beneath the pressure. The air itself felt sharper around him, charged with something ancient and predatory.

I had felt powerful Alphas before.

But this was different.

Terrifyingly different.

Recognition struck a second later.

“You…” The words escaped before I could stop them. “You’re Lylah’s mate.”

He turned toward me.

And suddenly, everything inside me went still.

Moon Goddess.

This male looked less like an ordinary wolf and more like a god draped in mortal flesh-cold perfection carved into bone and power-the kind of Alpha who could bring an entire pack to its knees without uttering a single word.

And Lylah belonged to him?

The realization settled bitterly inside me.

His gaze landed on me without warmth.

He recognized me too.

“I saw you before,” I said quickly, my voice softening instinctively beneath the oppressive force of his presence. “Outside the restaurant during the rain and during the surprise Lylah prepared for you on the Night of Spring.”

At the mention of her name, something shifted subtly in his expression.

Possessiveness.

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4

“Lylah and I knew each other growing up,” I continued carefully. “The clerk informed me you reserved that gown for her.” I forced a polite smile. “I came to ask whether you’d allow me to purchase it instead. I need it for an important event.”

Silence stretched between us.

Then he lifted one hand toward the clerk waiting nearby.

“Pack everything I selected for my Luna,” he said coldly. “I’ll take all of it.”

For a moment, I genuinely thought I misheard him. “What?”

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