The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter-Chapter 157: Giddy Heartbeats

Easter~

The moment Jacob’s lips touched my cheek, I felt everything inside me stumble. I gasped—not out of fear, but joy, the kind that bubbles up from somewhere deep and untouchable. I didn’t move, didn’t speak. Just stood there, frozen in that single second like a girl caught dreaming with her eyes open.

Then he walked away.

Fast. Like the kiss had meant nothing to him.

But I could almost swear it had.

I felt that way because he didn’t look back.

And God, how I wished he would’ve looked back.

The moment the hallway swallowed him, I slipped into my room and let the door shut behind me with a quiet click. I stood there, breathless, back pressed against the wood like it was the only thing keeping me upright. The room swayed around me, like the world had tilted just a little. The air felt charged—sweeter, sharper, alive with something electric. And my heart? It wasn’t heavy with pain or guilt anymore. No... it was something far more reckless. Far more dangerous.

Hope.

Despite everything those cruel women had said about me earlier—their judgmental glares, their venom-laced words—I was smiling.

He kissed me.

Jacob, the literal god, kissed me.

I felt like I was glowing.

Still smiling, I turned toward the little bed near the window, ready to crawl into bed beside my baby girl. Only to stop in my tracks.

The bed was empty.

"Rose?" I whispered.

A flutter of worry brushed across my chest. But only a flutter. Because deep down, I already knew where she was.

I turned, slipped quietly out of my room, and padded down the dim hallway toward the other rooms. Tiger’s door was closed, but warm light peeked from beneath it. I raised my hand and knocked gently.

There was a pause, then a voice rumbled low and calm.

"You may enter."

The door creaked open slowly, and my heart melted at the sight.

There she was.

My Rose.

Fast asleep on Tiger’s broad chest, her tiny mouth slightly open, one hand curled in his shirt. Tiger lay on his back, head propped against the headboard, his golden-brown hair a little messy, his forest-green eyes meeting mine in a soft, wordless hello. His hand moved in slow circles, caressing my daughter’s curls with the kind of tenderness that stole my breath.

"She looks so peaceful," I whispered, stepping inside.

"She always does," Tiger murmured. His voice was always like that—low, steady, filled with something that made you trust him instantly. "She fell asleep while I was telling her a story about the foxes in the forest."

My heart swelled. "Thank you," I said, barely able to hold back tears. "You’ve looked after her all day, haven’t you? I didn’t even get the chance to thank you properly."

Tiger gave me a slight smile, one of those rare ones that warmed the whole room. "It was my pleasure," he said. "Besides, she spent most of her time playing with Alex. I hardly had to do anything."

He said it so flatly—but there was a subtle shift in his voice, the tiniest hint of pout.

I grinned, folding my arms. "Tiger," I teased, "are you jealous of Alex?"

He huffed, looking away, but I saw the corner of his mouth twitch.

"I just think it’s suspicious," he muttered. "She laughs more with him than with me. His jokes aren’t even that funny."

I laughed quietly, covering my mouth so I wouldn’t wake Rose. "Tiger, he’s only nine years old. You’re ridiculous," I said fondly.

He gently adjusted Rose in his arms. "Let’s get you both back to your room," he said.

And before I could blink, the world shimmered—and with a blink of power, we were back in my room.

Tiger knelt beside Rose’s little bed, tucking her in with a gentleness I never expected from someone so powerful. I stood beside him, my heart impossibly full.

He stood and turned to me. "You should rest, Easter."

I nodded. "I will."

"Good," he said. Then his hand reached up and he kissed my forehead. It was warm, comforting—like being wrapped in a blanket on a rainy day.

But it didn’t make me gasp.

It didn’t make my knees weak.

It didn’t make me feel like I’d never be the same again.

Not like Jacob’s kiss did.

"Goodnight, Tiger."

"Goodnight, Easter," he said, and then vanished with a gust of earthy wind and a soft rustle, like leaves blowing in the breeze.

The next morning, I woke up to the soft humming of birds outside and the golden light of morning peeking through my curtains. Rose was curled beside me, one hand in my hair, her little chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. She must have gotten into my bed sometime in the night.

I brushed a kiss to her forehead and whispered, "Let’s get ready, baby girl."

We spent the early morning in bliss—playing pretend tea party, dressing up Donut in silly clothes, and dancing to music we weren’t even sure had a beat. By the time Alex knocked on the door, Rose was squealing with laughter.

"Auntie Easter!" Alex called. "Can Rose come play? I made a tiny obstacle course!"

Rose leapt from the bed, nearly knocking over a lamp in her excitement. I chuckled and opened the door to find Alex grinning, arms wide.

"Go on, sweetheart," I told her, brushing her curls gently. "Be careful, okay?"

"I will!" she said, then hugged my leg tightly before zooming out the door with Alex.

I stood for a moment, smiling, my chest still warm with contentment. No classes today. No worries. Just... peace.

When I stepped into the dining room, the smell of roasted vegetables, eggs, and sweet honey bread greeted me like an embrace. Fox, the one who always cooked, stood by the stove flipping something in a pan with ease. His red hair shimmered under the sunlight, and he winked at me as I walked in.

"Morning, sunshine," he said. "Hungry?"

"Starving," I admitted, grinning.

Everyone was already seated: Jacob, Tiger, Natalie, Bubble, Alex (with Rose on his lap), and Griffin. Donut rubbed himself against my legs as I sat down.

"Don’t even think about it," I told him, placing him in my lap. He purred anyway, victorious.

Laughter rippled around the table—stories being shared, jokes traded, food passed in large bowls. It wasn’t a palace. It wasn’t perfect.

But it felt like home. A real home.

And I’d never had one like this before.

I didn’t realize how deeply I was smiling until Natalie nudged me gently. "You good?" she whispered.

"I’m... better than good," I whispered back and she smiled.

After breakfast, as Fox cleared the dishes and Bubble told Rose a story about a water dragon that loved pancakes, Tiger turned to me. His voice was quiet, but clear enough for the room to hear.

"Easter," he said, "would you like to come with me on a walk through the forest? I need to feed the animals."

I blinked at him, then grinned. "Yes. Yes, I’d love to."

He stood and walked to my chair, offering his hand like a gentleman. I slipped mine into his, and he pulled me up effortlessly.

I felt Jacob’s eyes on me then. I glanced his way.

His expression was unreadable—eyes shadowed, lips pressed in a firm line. But he didn’t say a word.

Before I could think too hard about it, Donut trotted up to me and pawed at my shin.

"Oh my gosh," I giggled. "Really, Donut?"

He meowed like I’d insulted him.

I scooped him up, snuggling his soft belly, and walked over to where Rose sat on Alex’s lap. She looked up at me with a big, happy smile.

"Sweetheart," I said, brushing her hair back, "Do you want to come with us?"

Rose looked at Tiger, then at Alex, and shook her head. "I want to play more!"

I kissed her cheek. "Okay, my love. Be good."

Then, still holding Donut, I turned to Tiger.

He reached for my hand again, and I took it.

And together, we stepped out of the dining room—leaving behind laughter, stories, and the man whose silence weighed heavier than any goodbye.