The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Lylah’s POV

Finished

The night was too quiet for the storm inside my head. I slipped out of my bedroom with my laptop tucked against my chest, then sat by the balcony and reopened the MDT application form.

Everything had been simple–name, credentials, proposal outline–until I reached the final section.

Supervising Professor.

My fingers stilled over the keyboard.

The supervising professor was someone every student had, and that was the problem. I wasn’t a student. I was merely Professor Clark’s assistant. Would it be presumptuous to list his name? Would he consider it disrespectful?

I leaned back, pressing my lips together.

Should I call Iris? Ask her what she thought?

Before I could decide, my phone rang. The sharp vibration shattered the quiet. Without checking the caller ID, I answered.

“Hello?”

“Little Moon, it’s been so long.”

My spine went rigid.

“Rowan?”

A soft chuckle answered me. “Yes, it’s me. I’m glad you still recognize my voice.” He paused, and I could practically imagine that infuriating smile. “Wait, Lylah–please don’t hang up. I really want to talk to you.”

“Let me guess, you’re calling because you want to hold me accountable for what happened to Cora this afternoon.”

“Cora? No.” His tone turned impatient. “It has nothing to do with her. I told you before that I don’t love her. I’ll end things with her.”

A hollow laugh rose in my chest.

“Lylah please,” he continued, lowering his voice. “I regret it so much. What happened between us–it’s destroyed me. I can’t live without you…”

Destroyed him.

How poetic.

“This was the path you chose yourself, Alpha Rowan Blackfang.”

1:24 pm

Chapter 77

Finished

He exhaled sharply. “I admit it I made the worst mistake of my life. Yes, I was stupid to give in to a momentary desire.” His voice roughened. “But isn’t that a common mistake? I’m a male. I’m an Alpha,”

My fingers tightened around the phone until the casing creaked.

“You’re still as disgusting as ever,” I said. Then ended the call.

I massaged the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes. Rowan’s voice still echoed in my mind. That arrogant cadence, that stupid excuse of instinct and Alpha privilege.

‘Selene, why did it take so long for you to reveal the rot beneath his facade?‘

A warm, sweet scent drifted through the air, wrapping around me before I even realized it.

I opened my eyes.

A mug of hot chocolate now rested beside my laptop, steam curling gently into the air.

“This will help ease your anger,”

I turned.

Ezra stood there.

A small smile tugged at my lips despite myself. “Can you read my mind now too?”

“I heard your conversation with Rowan.” Ezra stepped closer, closing the distance between us.

A flicker of guilt ran through me. I must have raised my voice more than I realized–loud enough to

disturb him.

But then, Alpha Ezra said something that stunned me,

“And I’m jealous.”

My breath caught.

“You’re jealous?” I stared at him. “Of Rowan?”

“Yes,” he said calmly. “Because when you speak to him, your emotions are alive.” His eyes darkened slightly. “But with me, it feels like you’re guarding something, like there’s a barrier between us.”

The words sank deep.

Silence stretched between us,

“It’s not like that, Ezra,” I said finally. “I wasn’t upset because of Rowan. He’s insignificant to me.” That part, at least, was true. I gestured toward my laptop. “I want to apply for a project the Modern Healing Department is holding, but it requires a supervising professor. The problem is…I don’t have one.”

Ezra’s expression sharpened, attentive.

“I’m just Professor Clark’s assistant, and he’s not officially my supervisor.” I gave a small shrug. “I don’t

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify