The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 192

Chapter 192

3rd Person’s POV

Finished

“Alpha Eldric and Luna Daia?” Gerald’s eyes narrowed, a low, instinctive growl threading beneath his voice. “So the girl Vala and Jax raised, the one we all believed to be theirs, was actually adopted… and the real daughter belongs to Ironcrest Pack?”

“You know Cora?” Lylah asked.

“Yeah. I did. All of us who trained under Vala knew her.” Gerald exhaled slowly, jaw tightening. “She told us the true child of Jax and Vala died right after birth.”

“That’s not true. I’m here, alive and well. In fact, Cora and I lived each other’s lives for fifteen years.” Lylah didn’t raise her voice. She spoke as though the truth itself required no force to be heard.

And somehow, that made it all the more powerful.

Gerald stared at her, something shifting in his expression. The calm, control, and quiet authority that mirrored Vala so precisely were almost unsettling.

There was no denying it.

This girl was Vala’s daughter.

“Then why would Cora lie?” Gerald muttered, more to himself than anyone else, disappointment lacing his tone. “We all trusted her–every one of us. Why would she do something like this?”

“Is this the same Cora?” Gwyn spoke up, brows knitting together. “Who has a relationship with Alpha Rowan Blackfang?”

Gerald nodded grimly.

Hearing that, Soren quietly slipped out of the room.

Drawn by instinct more than thought, she made her way to the ward where Cora was on duty.

Fortunately, she was alone.

“Soren?” Cora turned, feigning surprise, her expression soft with practiced innocence. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with your friend–the one who just had her baby ripped away?” Her lips curved faintly. “I heard the father came and demanded that woman.”

Soren frowned, a slow, dangerous crease forming between her brows. There was something off in Cora’s tone–too light, too entertained. As if her friend’s suffering were nothing more than a passing spectacle.

“Oh, Soren….” Cora drawled, tilting her head as she looked her over. “Who would’ve thought you’d associate with people like that?”

“Like what?” Soren’s voice dropped.

Cora’s smile sharpened. “Like whores.” She let the word linger. “Haven’t you heard? Birds of the same

12:47 **

Chapter 192

feather flock together” Her gaze darkened with malice. “It must mean you’re just the same as-

The crack echoed through the ward.

Soren’s hand struck her across the face before she could finish

Cora’s head snapped to the side from the force of the slap, blonde hair spilling across her cheek. For a heartbeat, the room went still–then slowly, she turned back.

The air shifted

Her wolf stirred beneath her skin, a low, dangerous heat rising into her gaze as it locked onto Soren Rage flared–sharp and bright–her dominance pressing outward like a warning snarl.

Soren had struck her.

A mere councilman’s daughter daring to lay hands on the Alpha’s woman.

“How dare you” Cora hissed, her voice dropping into a growl thick with authority, “raise your hand against your Luna?”

Soren didn’t flinch. If anything, she stood taller, chin lifting as her defiance cut clean through the tension. “Luna?” she echoed, her voice laced with cold contempt. “No. A liar. A filthy, calculated liar.”

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