The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 99

Finished

“Even two years from now, when this contract ends and Rowan thinks he’s finally won…” I let the words settle, tasting their finality. “He’s wrong. I would rather die than go back to that rotten man again.”

Relief loosened something tight in my chest, as if an invisible claw had finally unhooked from my ribs.

I exhaled slowly. “Are you still angry? Or do you feel better now?”

Ezra’s gaze rested on me. “Much better now.”

“Good.” I smiled and glanced at the clock. “Let’s have dinner. I’ll cook tonight.”

“Sure.”

I turned and walked to the kitchen.

The moment I crossed the doorway, my steps faltered.

I leaned against the frame, pressing my palm to my chest.

My heart refused to settle.

I knew Ezra was kind. Patient. But even the most controlled wolf had limits.

If Rowan kept pushing him, Ezra would eventually grow sick of this contract–with me.

Was his anger earlier really about Rowan’s threat? Or was he already thinking about ending what bound

us?

The next few days passed in a blur of studying.

I buried myself in preparation for the test, and with my ‘cheat‘ helping me, everything changed. Knowledge settled into me faster and more clearly, and I could recall every material perfectly.

By the time the test day arrived, I was ready. I went to Lunar Grace early that morning, expecting the familiar halls, only to find Professor Clark already waiting by the roadside.

He said we wouldn’t be conducting the test there, then turned and walked away.

I followed.

We walked several blocks in silence until we reached a small white building. At first glance, it looked like a home, but the closer we got, the more I could smell it–the herbs, the antiseptic, and beneath it all, the lingering scent of sick wolves. A treatment house.

He led me inside, and the sharp herbal air filled my lungs.

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Chapter 99

“Professor, is this yours?” I asked, looking around the modest maintenance area.

Finished

“This clinic belongs to my relative,” he said. “He’s out of town now. And I happen to have a student who needs to demonstrate her abilities. Perfect timing.”

I froze.

He wanted me to replace an experienced healer!

Before I could protest, he handed me a white coat and told me to put it on.

Minutes later, I was sitting behind the healer’s desk, my hands stiff in my lap, while he settled himself comfortably in the corner with a cup of coffee and a book.

Every time the door opened and a patient walked in, his eyes lifted briefly, observing my every move like a silent judge.

I had no choice.

So I did it.

I treated them as carefully as I could. Though I had never handled real patients on my own before, I forced myself to stay calm and appear capable. One patient after another came and went.

Until the fifth.

My wolf sensed her first–the fading aura of a dying wolf–before my eyes ever found her. It hit my senses ike rot beneath snow.

A small, frail old woman approached slowly. Her skin was unnaturally pale, her cheeks tinged purple, and her eyes had faded into a sickly yellow. I didn’t need to touch her to know how close she was to the end.

‘Excuse me,” she said softly.

‘Welcome, ma’am,” I replied, forcing a smile onto my lips.

‘I heard this place has cured many illnesses,” she said, her voice trembling with fragile hope. “Can you help me too?”

‘Sure,” I said gently. “Please lie down first. I’ll check your pulse.”

But before I could do anything, Professor Clark spoke from behind me.

“Late–stage Moonrot of the stomach. Gastric cancer,” he said calmly. “It has spread and her wolf has already given up. Anything we do will be useless.”

I turned and glared at him.

The old woman sighed weakly. “I already knew.”

My heart sank.

“Then Lunaris Treatment Center is where you belong, he continued, sipping his coffee. “That is where the

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Chapter 99

best healers and equipment are. Not a small clinic like this.”

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