The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter-Chapter 26: The Backup Secretary

Natalie~

The atmosphere in the boutique dressing room felt suffocating—not because of the lavish surroundings or the staff’s unending lies about how each dress I tried on was made for me, but because my mind wouldn’t stop spinning. Garrick had left the hospital without so much as a goodbye, and no matter how I tried to push the thoughts away, they clung to me like a shadow.

Why would he leave like that? Was he better now? Or was something wrong? I thought we had bonded during our stay at the shelter. He had listened to me, encouraged me when I felt lost, and yet... he had left without a single word. No indication that he was okay. Why? Had I been nothing more than a fleeting acquaintance to him? My heart sank deeper with every question I couldn’t answer.

"Miss, this one!" one of the women chirped, holding up a flowing blue dress. Her enthusiasm barely registered with me as I nodded absentmindedly.

"Absolutely, that color will bring out her eyes," another added, stepping forward with jewelry to match.

The women fluttered around me like bees, their voices buzzing with excitement. They seemed determined to find the perfect outfit, as if disappointing this "Mr. Cole Lucky" they kept mentioning would be a personal failure. I wanted to ask if they were referring to Zane, but I couldn’t summon the courage. Something about their admiration of the man that made me hesitate.

A sweet, impatient voice interrupted my thoughts. "Mommy Natalie, are you done yet? I wanna see!"

I smiled despite my mood. Alexander’s eagerness was a balm for my frazzled nerves.

"Not yet, sweetheart," I called back, my voice soft. "Just a little longer."

"Okay, but hurry up! I want to show Daddy too!" he shouted back, his little voice full of excitement.

The women giggled, charmed by his innocence.

"Such a sweet boy," one of them said.

I nodded absently, adjusting the dress as I listened to their hushed conversation.

"Do you think she’s Mr Lucky’s girlfriend?" one whispered.

"Or his new wife?" another speculated.

"No way. There haven’t been any headlines about Mr. Cole Lucky having a girlfriend, let alone a wife," one argued. "We’d know."

"What if she’s his sister?"

"Impossible. He’s an only child."

"Then maybe she’s the nanny. The little boy must’ve just mistaken her for his mom."

"That makes sense," they all agreed in unison.

I felt my cheeks burn. Their whispered assumptions raised so many questions. How did they know so much about Zane? And why were they calling him Cole Lucky? Was that his real name? If so, why had he introduced himself as Zane to me? And how did all these people seem to know him so well?

More importantly, how could someone be so hot and cold? One moment he accused me of trying to ruin his life and that of his son, and the next, he was feeding me breakfast and buying me expensive clothes. It was exhausting trying to figure out what he was going to do next.

"Miss Natalie, are you ready?" one of the women asked, drawing me out of my thoughts.

I took a deep breath and stepped out of the dressing room. The soft blue dress hugged my figure nicely, the fabric flowing gracefully to my ankles. The staff had assured me it was the perfect choice, one that both Alexander and Zane would approve of.

As I emerged, Alexander’s eyes lit up. "Mommy, you look beautiful!"

I smiled, his words warming my heart.

Zane’s gaze met mine, his expression unreadable at first. Then, a small, almost barely seen, smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He beckoned me over with a nod.

"You look decent," he said, his tone casual, though his eyes lingered a moment longer than necessary.

"Thanks," I replied, unsure whether to take his comment as a compliment or an insult.

He sighed suddenly, rubbing his temple as though a headache had taken root. "I just got off the phone with my secretary. He’s unwell and won’t be able to accompany me to an important event tomorrow."

I tilted my head, confused by the sudden change in topic.

"There’s an art exhibition and auction I need to attend," he continued, "and now I need an emergency backup secretary."

He turned to me with a pleading look that caught me completely off guard. "Natalie, will you come with me as my secretary?"

I stared at him, stunned. "Me? But...I’m not qualified for something like that. I didn’t even finish eighth grade, remember?"

"As long as you can read and write, you’re perfect for the job," he said firmly.

I hesitated. Zane had done so much for me—helped me when no one else would. This was such a small thing to ask in return, but what if I embarrassed him there? Would he be able to forgive me?

"I don’t know..." I murmured.

He leaned closer, his tone soft but insistent. "You’ll be fine, Natalie. I promise I’ll be right there with you the whole time."

I stared at him for a short while; his pleading eyes stared back, and then I sighed, "All right," I agreed softly. "I’ll do it."

Zane’s smile was brief but genuine. "Good. Now, let’s find you some more clothes for tomorrow."

The next day, Nora helped me dress in a stunning gown Zane had picked out. The dress was a deep navy blue, with intricate beading around the waist and a flowing skirt that shimmered under the light. Matching earrings and a delicate bracelet completed the look, and my red hair was styled into soft curls that framed my face.

When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The woman staring back at me looked elegant, sophisticated—like someone who belonged in Zane’s world.

"You look incredible," Nora said with a proud smile as she adjusted my dress at the hem.

I swallowed hard, "thanks for helping." I replied feeling both nervous and excited.

When I descended the stairs, Zane was waiting by the door. He turned to look at me, and for a moment, his expression softened, his blue eyes taking in every detail.

"You look beautiful," he said simply, his tone professional but sincere.

"You don’t look so bad yourself," I replied, noticing how dashing he looked in a tailored black suit that perfectly complemented his blond hair and striking features.

Alexander appeared, his little face crumpling with disappointment. "Mommy, I want to come with you!"

Before I could respond, Nora swooped in, scooping him up. "Come on, little man. Let’s let Natalie and Daddy have their grown-up time."

"Let go of me!" Alexander wailed, tears spilling down his cheeks before he shifted into his wolf form and tried to bite Nora. Nora let him go and he ran out of the room.

I hesitated, my heart breaking at his cries.

"He’ll be fine," Zane said softly, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Let’s go."

I didn’t want to leave him like that but I reluctantly nodded, allowing Zane to lead me out the door.

The drive to the gallery was quiet, the hum of the engine filling the silence. Zane didn’t ask any abrupt questions or make any sarcastic remarks, which was unusual. Instead, he glanced at me briefly and said, "Just relax and act naturally. You’ll do great."

I nodded, trying to ignore the knot of nerves in my stomach.

When we arrived, the gallery was already bustling with people. The grand building was lit with warm golden lights, its marble floors gleaming under towering chandeliers. Paintings of all sizes adorned the walls, each one more breathtaking than the last.

Zane navigated the crowd effortlessly, introducing me as his secretary to everyone we encountered. I stayed close, scribbling notes in the small notebook he’d given me, describing the paintings and my impressions of them.

Everything was going smoothly until a man with a mysterious air around him approached Zane, leaning in to whisper something in his ear.

Zane’s expression darkened slightly, but he masked it quickly. "Wait here," he said to me, his tone brisk. "I’ll be right back."

Before I could protest, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving me standing awkwardly by myself.

I glanced around the room, pretending to admire the artwork, when a familiar figure caught my eye. My heart stopped and my blood ran cold.

Griffin Blackthorn.

My former mate, the one who had rejected me so cruelly, was entering the gallery with a beautiful woman on his arm, his face as confident and smug as ever.

As if that weren’t enough, a familiar figure followed close behind—Alpha Darius. The man who had ruined my life, marked me, and left me without a home walked into the gallery with his Luna by his side.

Cold sweat broke out across my skin as panic set in. I glanced frantically toward the direction Zane had gone, silently pleading for him to return and take me away before either man noticed me.

Please, Zane. Where are you?