All Chapters of The Rejected Prisoner Who Became the Alpha King's Mate : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Zaren’s PovMy father leaned forward.“I also want an explanation for the payments connected to Ironmoor. Why was money transferred to prison officials while Lyra Ashbourne was being held there? Were you attempting to influence her case? Were you paying someone to keep her imprisoned? Or is there another explanation you would like to present to this council?”A murmur spread through the room and Selene's fingers tightened around my stepmother's sleeve.I watched her carefully.Her eyes were moving too quickly, darting from Kael to the documents and then toward the guards stationed beside the doors. She had entered this room expecting to become my Luna. Now she was watching her brother struggle to explain why the same prison that had held Lyra for three years appeared in his financial records.I could almost hear her thoughts. This wasn't supposed to happen.No, Selene. It wasn't.You had expected Lyra to remain the family's convenient scapegoat while you took her place, her opportunit

Ezra's Pov  My mouth snapped shut. He knew my secret. The one thing I had spent years concealing, the reason he had never truly trusted me with the throne. I could see the warning in his eyes, reminding me that if I pushed him any further, he might finally reveal what I had done. I lowered my gaze, swallowing the fury burning in my throat. Father turned away from me and faced the council, visibly struggling to regain his composure. "I apologize for this disgraceful display," he announced. "This meeting was supposed to address matters of security and alliance, not give my sons an opportunity to tear one another apart." He then turned toward Kael, whose expression had grown increasingly troubled. "As for you, Alpha Kael, I am deeply disappointed. You came into my territory demanding punishment for a girl you have repeatedly called a tr

Lyra's Pov "Keep moving," he ordered.Selene's eyes remained fixed on mine."I will destroy you!"The doors slammed shut behind her and Silence settled over the chamber.Kael was still standing there.My brother.The man who had once carried me on his back when I was too small to keep up during warrior training.The man who had taught me how to hold a sword.The man who had once promised that nobody would ever hurt me while he was alive.Now he couldn't even look at me without seeing a problem he wanted removed.He took a step toward me and my body instinctively stiffened.Before he could take another, someone moved between us.Cade.The Alpha King's Beta stepped forward with such calm authority that I barely noticed him until his broad shoulders blocked Kael's path.Something inside me loosened.I didn't know why.Maybe because I had spent so long standing alone that having someone deliberately position himself between me and danger felt unfamiliar.Cade glanced at me first."Are yo

Lyra's Pov Cade slowed beside me and gave a little bow  "Zelda," he said. The woman turned and her gaze landed on me. For several seconds, she said nothing. Then she studied me from head to toe. "You must be Lyra." I nodded quickly. "Yes." I bowed my head respectfully. "And you must be the priestess of Silver Crest." A faint smile appeared on her lips. "You are very observant." Her voice was calm, but something about it made the hairs along my arms rise. Cade shifted beside me. Zelda's attention never left my face. "May I speak with her privately, Cade?" Cade's expression immediately tightened. "I'm sorry, Zelda, but no." She raised an eyebrow. "Since when do I need permission to speak to someone inside my own healing

Zaren's POVI stared at my mate, and for a dangerous moment, I forgot every reason I had come here.Lyra stood in front of me with her cheeks flushed from our kiss, her breathing still uneven. Her hair had fallen loosely around her shoulders, and the neckline of her blouse had shifted just enough to reveal the curve of her cleavage.My gaze caught there before I could stop it.The sight nearly wrecked the last piece of restraint I had.Her nipples were visibly hard beneath the thin fabric, and my wolf reacted instantly, dragging a rough growl from somewhere deep in my chest. Desire hit me so fast that I had to clench my jaw.One kiss.That was all it had taken.One fucking kiss from my mate, and my entire body was reacting as though I hadn't spent months forcing myself to keep my distance.I wanted her.Badly.I wanted to pull her against me, bury my face against her neck, breathe in the scent that belonged only to her, and forget every damn problem waiting outside that room. My wolf