The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 407

Chapter 407

3rd Person’s POV

Futed

“Because we can’t allow you to walk into Moonclaw territory with nothing to your name,” Parker Ashcroft said heavily.

The strain in his voice carried the exhaustion of a wolf who had spent too long surviving on pride alone.

“With Blackfang in this condition… You know how powerful Packs think, Tiara. The Moonclaw nobles already see us as weak. If you go there empty-handed and vulnerable, they’ll look down on you even more. They’ll insult you behind your back.” His gaze softened with helpless concern. “Your aunt and I couldn’t bear that.”

The words struck Tiara harder than she expected.

Heat burned suddenly behind her eyes.

Even now… they were still thinking about her.

Not themselves.

Not the debts strangling the family like chains around their throats.

Not the rogues lurking at the edges of Blackfang territory like scavengers waiting for dying prey.

Not the fear that had driven them to send her away to Lunaris in the first place.

They were vulnerable too.

Yet somehow, they were still trying to protect her.

Tiara swallowed hard against the ache rising inside her chest. “I’m not a child anymore, Uncle,” she said, her voice roughening. “I’ll be fine.”

Her wolf stirred restlessly beneath her skin, emotions running too sharp, too raw.

“You can’t keep putting me first. You need to think about yourselves for once. About this family. About yourself, Auntie, Nana.”

“But Tiara-”

“Uncle.” Her voice cracked like a whip through the room. “If you refuse that money, I might do something reckless that none of you will like.”

“Tiara!”

“That’s exactly why you should accept the damn wealth Damon’s family gave you!” she burst out.

The force of her emotions rolled through the room so suddenly that even the air seemed to tense.

“I don’t need it.” she said fiercely. “I can earn money myself. But you-” Her throat closed before she could

1/3

:35 pm

Chapter 407

Finished

finish.

Because the truth hurt too much.

Her family had been drowning silently while pretending everything was fine.

Tiara looked away quickly before the tears gathering in her eyes could fall. “With that money, you can finally live comfortably.”

Before anyone could stop her, she turned sharply and rushed upstairs.

The second her bedroom door slammed shut above them, silence settled heavily over the house.

Parker blinked in confusion.

“Strange,” he muttered. “Why was she so upset?” He looked toward his mate uncertainly. “Diana… did I say something wrong?”

Diana remained quiet for several seconds.

Then suddenly, realization flashed across her face.

“No…” she murmured slowly. “I don’t think this is about the money.” Diana looked toward the staircase, unease creeping into her expression.

“Parker… do you think she knows?”

His body stiffened instantly.

“About our debt,” Diana whispered. “The rogues’ attack on our house? What if she overheard us that night? What if that’s why she reacted like this? She was angry.” Her throat bobbed. “Angry that we were trying to give away the very help she sacrificed herself to bring us.”

Parker’s eyes widened.

Then another realization struck him just as hard.

“And Tiara…” Parker said slowly, still struggling to make sense of it all. “That girl never wanted to be tied down. She’s always chased freedom over responsibility. A pup alone wouldn’t suddenly make her agree to move into a foreign Pack, and accept a mating arrangement… no matter how powerful her mate is.”

Diana’s breath caught softly.

Parker looked toward the staircase again, his chest tightening.

“What if…” he said quietly, “the real reason she accepted the Damon family’s offer… was to help us?”

The front door opened before Diana could answer.

Cold wind swept briefly into the house, carrying the scent of frost, pine, and pheromones powerful enough to press against the walls themselves.

Damon stepped inside.

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