From Betrayed Luna to Wolf Queen (Lillian) novel Chapter 195

Chapter 195 Defending Iris

Third–Person POV:

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Feeling the chill radiating from Julian grow sharper by the second, Liam pressed a hand to his forehead. Victor’s mouth was truly beyond saving at this point.

Julian’s gaze cut toward Victor. “What exactly did she do?”

“Huh?” Victor blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question.

“What did Iris do over the last six months,” Julian repeated, each word edged with ice, “that made you despise her so much?”

Victor finally caught his meaning and met Julian’s dangerous stare. “Seriously, Julian, what’s with you-”

Had he said something wrong? Why was Julian looking at him like that?

“What,” Julian ground out, “made you so disgusted by her?”

Victor fell silent. Was Julian actually defending Iris right now? After everything that had happened–after he’d just broken his mating bond because of her?

Thinking back on how Julian had repeatedly taken Iris‘ side over Lillian’s these past months, Victor felt a surge of irritation. What was this, some kind of loyalty test in front of his own friends?

“You called us here because you were upset about the bond breaking, right?” Victor shot back, frustration creeping into his voice. “So what’s this about now?”

No wonder Lillian had been willing to go to such extremes to sever the bond. How could anyone live like this?

Even as a friend, Victor was finding it hard to keep his cool–let alone imagine being mated to someone under that kind of tension.

Julian didn’t answer. Instead, he pressed harder, his tone accusing. “I asked you a question. What did Iris do to earn this much hatred from you?”

Now Victor was pissed. “Come on, you know exactly what she did. If she hadn’t pulled all that crap, would you and Lillian even be in this mess?”

This was insane. Suddenly, Victor understood why Finn had taken the stance he did about

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Chapter 195 Defending Iris

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Julian and Lillian’s relationship. FChapter 194 Doubts and Drunkenness

Third–Person POV:

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Victor was the first to break the silence. “Look, that pup’s got a mother. Why are you making it your problem?

“She’s not struggling for money. She’s not lacking people to look after her. So why do the need to step in?”

That was what Victor couldn’t wrap his head around the most.

you

feel

Just because Ethan was gone, Julian had to take on his responsibilities? Iris was the one who

birth to those pups. gave

And Iris was well–connected. Eleanor favored her, and she had a powerful mother backing her.

She didn’t need resources or support–so why did Julian have to be the one to play r

r?

In Victor’s eyes, Julian was blowing this whole thing out of proportion.

He seemed to think that with Ethan dead, he owed it to the pup to step up.

But was this really about the pup?

Couldn’t he see what Iris really wanted from him? Or was he just choosing not to?

If he kept this up, he was going to wreck what he had at home.

Watching Julian drain another glass without a word, Victor leaned in. “What set it off this time?”

Lillian had been stirring up one storm after another lately.

Burning down a house, rallying public opinion–she’d done it all.

She’d gone

head–to–head with Iris, back and forth, just to get that mating bond severed.

Julian shut his eyes briefly. “It’s done. The bond is terminated.”

Victor stared. “What?”

Liam froze beside him. “Terminated? For real?”

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Chapter 194 Doubts and Drunkenness

Victor couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

So did Liam. He asked, “You actually agreed to end it?”

After all the scenes Lillian had made before, Julian had never given in.

But now…

Victor and Liam exchanged a stunned look.

Then Victor turned back to Julian, voice low. “What did she do this time?”

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If all the previous chaos hadn’t broken the bond, something major must have happened now.

What could be worse than burning a house down…?

Julian’s voice was flat. “The girl from the twins. She’s dead.”

Victor and Liam fell completely still.

A cold weight settled in their chests. They glanced at each other, then back at Julian.

Victor spoke carefully, “What are you saying? You think Lillian killed a pup just to break the bond with you?”

As the words left his mouth, Victor’s mind began to spin. This wasn’t just serious–this was catastrophic.

Even as an outsider, he felt his thoughts short–circuit.

This wasn’t some petty feud anymore. This was the world caving in.

Julian took several long swallows from a fresh bottle. “The pup was taken yesterday.”

Victor and Liam went rigid.

How had things gotten this bad? They hadn’t heard a thing.

“I should’ve ended it with her sooner,” Julian said, his words thick with drink and regret.

“I didn’t realize how far she’d go to be free of me. I never thought she’d go this far.”

The pain in his voice was palpable.

Victor held up a hand. “Wait–you really believe Lillian killed the pup? That doesn’t sound

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Chapter 194 Doubts and Drunkenness

right.”

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Lillian and Julian had been mated for years. Their relationship had always been solid.

In Victor’s mind, Lillian wasn’t capable of something like this.

Sure, she hated Iris. She’d even torched Iris‘ mother’s house. But hurting a pup? Never.

Why would she harm an innocent just to force Julian’s hand?

Julian didn’t answer. Instead, he hurled the half–empty bottle in his hand onto the stone steps.

It shattered violently, scattering glass in every direction.

Victor and Liam flinched back.

Seeing Julian’s rage, neither knew what to say for a long moment.

What could they even say? Something this horrific…

But Liam finally murmured, “Lillian… she doesn’t seem like that kind of person. Could there be a misunderstanding?”

Victor nodded slowly. “Yeah, there has to be more to it.”

If he was being honest, he’d believe Iris killed her own child before he’d believe Lillian hurt a

pup.

Hell, maybe the pup was already sick. Maybe Iris knew and used its death to frame Lillian.

That woman was absolutely capable of something that twisted.

Aside from her, there wasn’t a soul in Gilneas City who would stoop that low.

Whatever Victor was thinking, he said it outright.

“If you ask me, I’d believe Iris smothered that pup with her own hands before I’d believe Lillian had any part in it.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Julian’s drink–hazed eyes sharpened and locked onto

him.

Liam winced, shooting Victor a warning look. “Hey, man…”

You couldn’t just say things like that.

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Chapter 194 Doubts and Drunkenness

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Lillian might not be that kind of person, but you couldn’t toss the blame onto Iris without proof.

In Liam’s heart, Lillian wasn’t a killer.

But by the same token, he didn’t believe Iris would kill her own flesh and blood either.

Victor shrugged, on a roll now. “What? After all the vile stunts Iris has pulled these past six months? Using a pup’s death to take down Lillian sounds exactly like something she’d do.”

Liam pressed his lips together.

They were both seated beside Julian.

Victor, caught up in his own reasoning, didn’t notice the dangerous chill spreading from Julian’s direction.

But Liam felt it–cold and sharp.

He kept trying to signal Victor with his eyes.

But Victor wasn’t paying attention. He pushed on, “And it’s not just Iris. A cold woman like Margaret? She’d probably kill her own granddaughter if it suited her.”

Bottom line–Victor was convinced Iris and Margaret were both capable of it.

But Lillian? Never.

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inn had said it plainly before, “Just end the bond already.”

Back then, Victor had thought that was too harsh. “No matter what, you don’t just tell someone to break a mating bond.” But now… maybe Finn had a point.

Their eyes locked–one sharp and unyielding, the other burning with anger.

Liam jumped in, trying to smooth things over. “Alright, look–Iris didn’t do anything worth mentioning. Julian, let’s just drop it, okay?”

He said it thinking this was Graves Pack business, none of their concern anyway.

But Julian’s sharp gaze swung toward him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I didn’t-”

“You think she brought this on herself, too?”

Liam stared. He hadn’t even finished his sentence.

“I didn’t say that,” he insisted, just wanting the conversation to end. But now Julian was turning on him instead.

“So what if he did?” Victor cut in, still fuming. “Hasn’t Iris done enough shady stuff? That whole fake–sweet victim act she puts on–it makes me sick just hearing her voice.”

On the last word, Victor made a gagging motion.

Julian’s grip tightened around his bottle.

Victor noticed. “What, you gonna hit me over Iris now?”

Julian’s breathing quickened, his jaw clenched. “She lost her mate. She was carrying pups. Do you have any idea what kind of position that put her in-”

“Okay, okay, Julian. Let’s just drink,” Liam quickly interrupted, shoving a bottle toward him. “Have another.”

When he and Victor had first arrived and saw Julian drinking, they’d wanted to tell him to take

it

easy.

Now, though, maybe more alcohol was exactly what he needed–enough to knock him out so he’d stop saying things that made everyone uncomfortable.

So, right in front of Victor’s irritated glare, Liam started “drinking with Julian“-which really

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Chapter 195 Defending Iris

meant he kept refilling Julian’s glass.

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Victor shot him a look, but Liam flashed back a clear don’t–you–dare–say–a–word expression.

Before long, Julian was completely wasted.

Slurring and rambling, he muttered into his glass, “I just mated an omega I liked… Why’s there so much drama?

“Tell me–she used to be so good. So sweet. Listened to everything I said. Obedient. Hardworking.

“How did she turn so vicious? And cheating on me… What did Finn even offer her that was worth betraying someone who treated her right?”

He took several deep swallows after that.

Liam and Victor exchanged a look. After what had happened earlier, neither of them reason with him. One wrong word, and Julian might redirect all that anger back at t

But what he was saying… that he’d treated Lillian well.

Why did that leave such a bitter taste?

If he’d treated her so well, why had she been so desperate to break the bond? Was he really that clueless, or was he just patting himself on the back?

And claiming Finn must have given Lillian some kind of reward–was he kidding?

Lillian had almost ended up in prison, and Finn was the one who’d stopped it.

Now, with the whole situation around the lost pup and Lillian still walking free, chances were Finn had been pulling strings behind the scenes all along.

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