The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 415

Chapter 415

Lylah’s POV

I slowly set the patient files aside.

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Finished

The moment Eldric stepped into my office, Selestine stirred beneath my skin with a low, warning growl. Her hackles rose instantly.

Behind him, Daia entered with practiced elegance while Orion lingered a step behind them, tension clinging to his scent.

My eyes narrowed.

Three uninvited guests.

Three people I would rather never see again.

“Lylah-”

“What do you want?” I cut in coldly before he could continue.

The warmth inside the office seemed to vanish.

Eldric paused, clearly thrown off by the sharpness in my voice, but he recovered quickly. “We came to visit you.”

Visit.

The pathetic excuse almost made me laugh.

“And to ask something.” he continued carefully, “We found out your mate is Alpha Ezra of Moonclaw Pack, the strongest Alpha on the entire continent.” Eldric drew a slow breath before continuing more quietly, “Why did you hide something like that from us for so long?” His eyes locked onto mine, searching for something that no longer existed between us. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

I leaned back slowly in my chair, studying him.

“So that’s why you’re here.”

My voice came out calm, but beneath it lay something far colder than anger.

“Tell me, Alpha Eldric, why exactly would I owe you information about my mate?”

His jaw tightened.

Before he could answer, Daia stepped forward with a graceful smile that never quite reached her eyes.

“Lylah, it’s basic courtesy,” she said smoothly. “We were once family. In some ways, we still are.” Her gaze swept across the office. “You should have told us something this important. Carrying the title of Moonclaw’s Luna must place enormous pressure on your shoulders.”

For one brief moment, I nearly laughed out loud.

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14:09 Tue, May 19 M

Chapter 415

Fav ted

The audacity was unbelievable.

“Is that all?” I asked flatly. Then I sighed and gestured toward the door. “If so, this conversation was pointless. Please leave. I still have work to do, Alpha Eldric. Luna Daia.”

Eldric’s expression flickered.

But instead of leaving, he stepped closer to my desk.

His wolf pressed faintly against the surface now, pushing out traces of Alpha pressure as though trying to remind me who he once was in my life.

“Lylah,” he said quietly, “I know you resent us. You have every right to.” His expression softened into something painfully rehearsed. “I was wrong. We hurt you. I caused you suffering no daughter should endure.” He exhaled heavily. “But your life is better now, isn’t it? You found a powerful mate. You became Moonclaw’s Luna.” His voice lowered. “Surely fate has compensated you for the pain of the past.”

Selestine snarled viciously inside me.

Compensated?

As though suffering could be balanced like a debt ledger.

As though abandonment could be erased with luxury and status.

“And no matter what happened,” Eldric continued, “I still raised you for fifteen years. I fed you. Protected you.” His gaze searched mine desperately. “For fifteen years, you were my daughter.”

A cold silence settled between us.

Then I rose slowly to my feet.

“Yes,” I said. “Until your real daughter appeared. One night is all you need to sever every tie between us,” I continued, my voice sharp as silver. “If you came here hoping for my sympathy, then you should’ve prepared a far better story. And you have none.”

Daia’s eyes flashed gold for a split second.

Eldric stiffened, offense rippling through his scent, but he forced himself to remain calm.

“I know I failed you, Lylah,” he said quietly. “When I was your father, I gave you little more than pain. Nothing I ever did could compare to what Alpha Ezra has given you now. “But you…” His eyes softened, glowing faintly. “You’ve always had a heart far too merciful for this world. Bigger than mine ever was. That’s why I know, someday… you’ll forgive me.”

The manipulation was almost insulting.

“You’ve had more than enough fortune now already,” Daia snapped, the fragile mask of sorrow finally shattering.

The sweetness in her voice curdled into something sharp and ugly, revealing the woman beneath the performance she had worn so carefully. “It would be a pity if all that comfort still failed to soften your heart.”

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Chapter 415

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Ah. There it was.

Entitlement.

So now they wanted to play the victims.

Daia stepped forward before I could answer.

“After everything we gave you for fifteen years, you still haven’t repaid your debt to this family.” Her fingers curled possessively around Orion’s arm, pulling him closer to her side as though displaying him like leverage. “But now…” Her eyes gleamed. “You finally have the chance to repay it. For your brother.”

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