The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Lylah’s POV

Finished

Alpha Ezra was silent as we drove toward the City Court, but I could feel the fury coiled beneath his calm.

It made guilt twist in my chest–I hated that I had dragged him into this.

Finally, Damon pulled up in front of the courthouse, and we stepped out together.

The crowd that had gathered was larger than I expected. Every pair of eyes that landed on me dripped with mockery, disdain, and barely concealed curiosity. I swallowed the heat rising in my throat and stepped inside.

The air here was heavier, as if the very walls anticipated the storm about to break.

I scanned the room, and my gaze landed on him. Rowan.

He stood at the center, framed by people who smiled at him with reverence, bowing and offering warmth, treating him like a king among his subjects.

“Hi, Lylah,” he said, his voice smooth as silk as our eyes met.

“Lylah Moonrow,” an older man with a white beard chimed, stepping forward. “Finally, you’ve come. I am the High Judge of Lunaris City Court. We’ve been waiting to address your illegal actions.”

“Illegal?” My teeth ground together, sharp as a snarl.

“According to our records,” the Judge continued, “After leaving the Ironcrest Pack under Alpha Eldric, you placed yourself entirely under the protection and authority of Alpha Rowan Blackfang. For the past five years, he has been your Alpha, and it was expected that you defer to him on all significant decisions- including registering for Lunar Grace and leaving his Pack.”

The weight of every gaze pressed down on me.

Rowan’s smile was deceptively calm, almost innocent, but I could feel the predator lurking beneath it, enjoying every second I struggled to defend myself.

I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“Alpha Rowan knew I’ve accepted at Lunar Grace,” I said, voice rising. “And he sabotaged it. I refuse to serve someone as my Alpha who manipulates me, who claims authority but betrays trust.”

A gasp rippled through the room.

“And your mating?” the Judge pressed. “You may deny him as Alpha, but you were still his mate. How could you hold a mating ceremony with another man?”

The hall erupted in whispers.

“She’s Alpha Rowan’s mate and still managed to seduce Alpha Ezra into claiming her? Disgusting.”

“Not surprising. A woman like her would crawl over anyone to seize a Luna’s seat.”

1/3

1:23 pm

Chapter 63

Finished

“Such audacity…”

Before I could respond, the air shifted.

A grounding pressure pressed against my spine, and I felt it deep in my bones.

“No.” Alpha Ezra’s calm voice cut through the murmurs. “Lylah is my mate. Not his.”

The courtroom froze. Every jaw dropped.

Someone started. “Alpha Ezra pardon me, but you don’t need to defend her now-”

“What are you doing here?” Rowan’s growl ripped through the room, low and lethal, his golden eyes burning like wildfire.

Everyone instinctively recoiled, only Gavriel dared to step forward, bracing himself to hold Rowan back.

“To protect my Luna,” Ezra said, calm as the wind before a storm.

Rowan roared. “What kind of bullshit is this?!”

“Alpha, please control yourself,” Gavriel whispered, though I could still hear him. “Let’s back off, there’s no point in pushing further against him. At least now we finally understand why the app on Lylah’s phone couldn’t track the one who contacted her-”

“No!” Rowan’s roar shattered the air.

He ripped free from Gavriel’s grip, eyes blazing gold, fangs bared. “I refuse to believe he was the one Lylah married!” He jabbed a trembling finger in Alpha Ezra’s direction.

Ezra shifted subtly, guiding me to stand firmly behind him.

Rowan’s fury erupted. Eyes blazing gold, claws extending, muscles taut and trembling on the edge of shift, he surged forward, each step faster. Until,

“Guards.” Ezra’s single command sliced through the chaos like sharpened steel.

Damon and three guards appeared as if from the shadows, slamming into Rowan and holding him back. He thrashed against them like a cornered beast, claws flexing, golden eyes blazing as he roared, cursing and pointing straight at us.

“Let me go!”

But the moment the words left my lips, he froze. “Alpha Rowan, you hacked my phone? Planted the app without my knowledge?”

The air shifted instantly.

Gasps rippled through the courtroom as every gaze snapped to Rowan. Hands flew to mouths, murmurs rising like a storm.

He scrambled for words. “No! Lylah, please listen to me-”

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