The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 58

The Betrayed Princess Rising

Chapter 58

3rd Person’s POV

Gavriel slammed the hotel suite door shut behind them.

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Finished

“Damn,” Gavriel muttered, running a hand through his hair. “That man is dangerous. He caught every weakness Archer missed and exposed them without a second thought.”

Rowan didn’t answer right away. He moved to the table with the heavy, restless stride of a caged predator, poured more wine, and drained it in a single, merciless swallow. The alcohol barely touched the fire in his veins. His skull throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the fury clawing at his chest.

Ezra’s voice still rang in his ears. Ezra’s confidence. Ezra’s bond.

And worst of all, the knowledge that Ezra had something Rowan believed should have been his.

A Luna.

“Less than five years, Alpha.” Gavriel continued, voice edged with disbelief, “Alpha Ezra has dragged Lunaris into a new level of technology and warfare.”

Rowan’s fingers tightened around the glass. “What level?” he asked. His tone flat, a challenge disguised as indifference.

“All this time we thought Riven was just a ghost. A brilliant engineer with no past or pack ties. A nobody with extraordinary skill.” Gavriel gave a humorless laugh. “But if he’s Alpha of Moonclaw, then of course he excels. Power creates opportunity and wealth breeds advantage.”

A bitter curve touched Rowan’s mouth.

His bloodshot eyes burned with alcohol and resentment. “You think he’s that impressive?”

“Compared to you?” Gavriel said instantly. “He’s nothing, Alpha. Don’t insult yourself by measuring against someone born into strength.”

“Of course we’re not the same,” Rowan snarled. “Moonclaw never fell. Ezra was never left crippled while his pack burned around him. He never felt silver in his blood, slowing his healing, rotting his strength, breaking him for three long years!”

His glass hit the table with a sharp crack.

“I fought my way back with blood, sweat, and nights so long my wolf nearly tore itself apart. While Ezra was fed Moonclaw’s legacy with a silver spoon. If he had lived my life, he wouldn’t have survived long enough to wear that Alpha crown.”

Gavriel nodded, though a flicker of unease crossed his face.

Even he couldn’t deny the truth – Alpha Ezra of Moonclaw was not just powerful. He was young. Brilliant. Rising fast. A threat in ways Rowan hadn’t faced in years.

“The guy who kept calling Lylah, Riven,” Rowan said suddenly, his voice dropping. “Did you uncover

1:21 pm

Chapter 58

anything else?”

0:31

Finished

“No. Alpha. After that last call, there’s nothing else. It’s as if the line went dead.” Gavriel hesitated. “Perhaps Lylah prepared her escape after that. Maybe he helped her sever the app’s link.”

Rowan shook his head sharply. “Impossible. I wrote that code myself. It answers only to network shifts. Distance means nothing.”

“Then perhaps they simply stopped contacting each other,” Gavriel offered. “He could have been nothing more than a student, someone helping her with paperwork and entry clearance into Lunaris.”

Rowan said nothing.

But his wolf stirred restlessly, pacing inside his bones.

He knew one thing – it wouldn’t be long before Lylah was back in his arms.

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