The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter-Chapter 123: A Dangerous Mate

Sebastian~

I stared at her like she’d grown horns and sprouted wings.

"Yeah," she said, voice only a whisper. "That one."

Silence engulfed us tight and choking.

I took a step back, bumping into the doorframe. My hand clenched around it like it was the only thing keeping me upright. Brielle—no, not Brielle, not the woman I thought she was—stood there with eyes that looked like storm clouds holding secrets sharp enough to cut.

"You’re the one everyone fears. The one who—" I shook my head. "Sebastian, you’re such an idiot." I said to myself.

It wasn’t a bad coincidence after all.

She flinched, just barely, but I caught it.

"I didn’t come back to hurt you, Sebastian," she said, voice trembling now. "I came back because I couldn’t stay away."

I barked a laugh. "Oh, really? That before or after you laced my tongue with whatever demonic roofie made me pass out like a drunk freshman?"

She stepped closer, cautious, like I was a wounded animal. Maybe I was. She stopped just short of touching me.

"I’m sorry Sebastian, I had to leave," she said, voice trembling. "I thought I could protect you by staying away. But I was wrong."

I stared at her, cold. "Protect me? By running off without a word? That’s not protection—that’s abandonment."

Her cool expression crumpled. "I know. I know I hurt you, and I’ll regret it for the rest of my life."

She reached out, hesitating. "I missed you, Sebastian. Every second I was gone—it tore me apart. The mate bond... it was stretched so thin I could barely breathe."

I flinched. Those words affected me more than I thought they could.

Cassandra moved forward—slow, sinuous, like a predator cloaked in velvet. Each step she took was deliberate, every sway of her hips an invitation wrapped in danger. The dim light shimmered against the curve of her body, her silhouette a masterpiece of temptation. Her eyes, heavy-lidded and glinting beneath thick lashes, locked onto mine like a spell woven in moonlight.

"I’m sorry," she murmured, her voice a sultry murmur, smooth and liquid like warmed honey. "I thought disappearing was the right thing to do... but gods, it ripped me apart." Her breath hitched, barely audible. "Every moment away from you felt like I was peeling my own skin."

Then her voice wavered, just enough to expose the storm beneath the surface. "When I saw how Griffin died..." Her throat worked, a swallow trembling just beneath the soft skin. "When I woke up and realized his body—vanished, like the universe swallowed him whole... I was terrified, Sebastian. Terrified that the same thing would happen to you. That I’d lose you without warning. Without goodbye."

She blinked slowly, lashes fluttering like dark wings. Then, almost casually, she slid the question in, her tone a shade too soft. "What... what happened to his body, Sebastian?" Her voice cracked like a whisper wrapped in guilt. "I never got to say goodbye. I still feel like I betrayed him. Like I got him into a deep mess and then left him behind."

My jaw tightened, my eyes flashing with something I couldn’t even explain, a raw feeling. "I told you already," I said, voice cold with restrained. "Fox took him. You know that." Something was wrong, I could feel it deep down. I just couldn’t pin my finger on what it was.

She tilted her head slightly, her hair falling like silk over one shoulder. "And where’s this... Fox now?"

I let out a short, bitter laugh. "He’s a god, Cassandra. A literal god. You think I have his movements tracked? And even if I did"—my gaze turned razor-sharp—"why would I tell you anything? After everything? You broke my trust, Cassandra. You shattered it."

A silence settled between us, thick and humming with tension.

"I know," she breathed, her voice barely more than a tremor on her lips. "And if it takes a thousand lifetimes, I’ll keep apologizing—again and again—until the weight of what I did stops haunting your eyes."

Then she did it—bit her lower lip. Just a faint press of teeth, so subtle it could’ve been missed. But I didn’t. I felt it like a punch straight to the chest.

Her eyes dropped to my mouth, lingered there for a heartbeat too long, then began a slow, deliberate journey over me. It wasn’t just a glance—it was a caress, an exploration, a silent promise. And when she stepped close enough for her breath to ghost against my skin, I couldn’t move.

Didn’t want to.

Her fingers touched my chest, light as a feather, tracing the fabric like it offended her. I cursed myself for not stepping back, for letting her this close. But her touch burned through the cotton, warm, teasing, familiar. My fangs ached—not with anger, but with something older, deeper. The bond.

Her fingers trailed lower, slow, deliberate, dancing down the ridge of muscle beneath my shirt. Her voice was barely a whisper. "Do you feel it too? This... ache? The bond never left us, Sebastian. I tried to run from it—but it pulled at me, ever since I met you. And this morning... walking away from you... it nearly broke me."

"Cassandra..." I murmured, her name scraping against the edge of a warning.

She didn’t stop.

Her other hand slid up, curling around the back of my neck, nails grazing my skin just enough to make my breath hitch. "Don’t fight it," she breathed, her forehead brushing mine. "I’m tired of fighting this. I just want us."

Her lips hovered just above mine, her eyes never leaving mine. The heat between us was electric, alive.

And then—she kissed me.

Soft at first. Testing. Tasting. Her lips parted, and mine answered before I could think. Her body pressed against me, and the warmth of her curves molded perfectly to mine. Her fingers tangled in my hair, and her mouth deepened the kiss, slow and searching, like she was trying to memorize the shape of my soul.

She pulled back just an inch, her lips brushing mine as she spoke. "You feel like home."

My hands had moved without permission, gripping her waist, anchoring her to me like I’d drown without her there. Her scent engulfed my senses like a drug.

But then—

Something shifted.

Her heartbeat wasn’t racing.

It was steady. Too steady.

A hand slid behind my neck, the movement precise.

And it hit me.

This wasn’t surrender.

It was a setup.

I jerked back—too late.

Her other hand plunged forward, a wooden stake in her grip.

"CASSANDRA!" I shouted, twisting away as it grazed my ribs.

She moved fast—unnaturally so. Her eyes—empty. Her body tensed, launching at me again.

"Cassandra, STOP!" I dodged left as the stake slammed into the wall behind me, splintering on impact.

But she didn’t stop.

She didn’t even hesitate.

She lunged again, wild and feral.

I ducked, rolled across the bed, landed on my feet. "This isn’t you!" I yelled. "Fight it!"

She roared, a sound that shattered any illusion of familiarity, and charged. I caught her wrist mid-strike, struggling to hold her back.

"Don’t make me do this!" I shouted. "I don’t want to hurt you!"

She snarled, snapping her teeth inches from my neck.

And then—

"Stop," a deep voice boomed.

The room exploded in fire and golden light.

Cassandra froze, mid-attack. I stumbled back, blinking against the brightness.

Fox stood near the door, hair blazing, eyes molten gold. "Someone call pest control?" he said with a smirk.

Natalie strode in behind him, followed by Jacob, who looked more annoyed than alarmed.

"What the hell happened here?" he asked, surveying the wreckage.

"Stab attempt, emotional trauma, general vampire, werewolf drama," I muttered. Natalie shook her head with a smile.

"Move," Jacob said, stepping forward.

"Jacob, wait—don’t hurt her—" I started.

He didn’t answer. His bare feet glided forward. He raised a hand, silver light forming in his palm.

"Jacob—!"

"She’ll be fine," he said calmly.

He thrust the light into Cassandra’s chest. She convulsed, gasping—and then slumped to the floor.

Still.

Breathing.

Barely.

I dropped to my knees beside her. "Cass..."

Natalie joined me, her hand gentle on my back. "She’s okay. He stopped her in time."

"She tried to kill me," I whispered. "But I don’t think she meant to. I think she came back for a reason other than killing me... I know she cares for me."

"She does," Natalie said softly.

Fox knelt beside Cassandra, touching her forehead. "Her aura’s stabilizing. She’s gonna be out of it for a while. But she’s back."

Jacob sighed. "That was exhausting."

"You only lifted one hand, Jacob, you barely broke a sweat." I snapped.

He grinned. "And you’re welcome." I rolled my eyes.

I looked down at her pale face, brushing hair from her cheek. "You came back for me... even though you didn’t have to..."

Natalie smiled gently. "Love makes people do crazy things."

Fox scoffed. "You call this crazy? I call this Tuesday."

I didn’t answer. I just kept looking at Cassandra.

And all I could think was—

What the hell happens now?