The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter-Chapter 424: I Feel You

Vincent/ Vaelthor/ Star

I sat there in that strange, vine-draped room, the air thick with the scent of blooming nightshade and damp earth, feeling like a shadow of myself—literally. My head pounded like a war drum, fragments of dreams swirling just out of reach, but nothing solid, nothing real. Katrina’s blue eyes, rimmed with unshed tears, bored into me like accusations. She looked at me as if I’d just ripped her heart from her chest and crushed it under my boot. And maybe I had, without even knowing it. Nicholas and Winter hovered nearby, their faces a mix of shock and helplessness, like statues frozen in a storm. I didn’t know them—not really—but the ache in my chest told me I should. Especially her. Katrina. The name alone stirred something deep inside, a whisper of fire in the darkness.

"I’m so sorry," I murmured, my voice cracking like brittle ice. I reached out tentatively, my fingers brushing hers. They were warm, alive, and it sent a jolt through me, like touching a live wire. "Katrina, I... I can see it in your eyes. The pain. It’s killing me that I can’t remember you the way you deserve. The way you all want me to." I glanced at Winter, her pale face etched with shadows, her hands twisted in her lap like she was holding back a storm. "Sister... if that’s what you are to me, I wish I could pull those memories back. And you, Nicholas—mate to her? Friend? Whatever we were, I hate that I’m letting you down too."

Katrina’s lips trembled, and a single tear escaped, tracing a glistening path down her cheek. She didn’t wipe it away; she just stared at me, her reddish-blonde hair falling like a curtain around her face, catching the faint light filtering through the leafy canopy above. "Vincent... Star... how can you not remember? We fought for this. For us. You were everything to me—my dream come true, my fire in the dark. And now..." Her voice broke, and she pressed a hand to her mouth, stifling a sob.

Nicholas shifted uncomfortably, his black hair tousled as if he’d run his hands through it a hundred times. His dark eyes flicked between us, that cocky edge he usually wore softened into something raw. "Man, this is messed up. Vin, you’re like a different person. No snarls, no threats. It’s freaking me out. Winter, back me up here. Tell him about the time he nearly tore my head off for looking at you the wrong way."

Winter’s enigmatic gaze softened, her cold demeanor cracking like frost under sunlight. She leaned forward, her voice a whisper laced with venom and vulnerability. "Brother—Vaelthor—you were always the protector. The one who wove shadows to shield me from uncle’s wrath. We played in the dark realms, crafting nightmares like toys. Don’t you feel it? That bond? It’s still there, even if your mind betrays you."

I rubbed my temples, the pressure building like a gathering storm. "I want to. Gods, I do. But it’s like grasping at smoke. Everything’s blurred, except..." I turned back to Katrina, my heart twisting at the sight of her silent tears. They fell now, unchecked, splashing onto her hands. Nicholas and Winter exchanged a helpless glance, the room heavy with unspoken grief. "Except for you, Katrina. Even if my mind’s a blank slate, my heart... it knows. The moment I opened my eyes and saw you, it was like the world snapped into focus. You’re the one. The only one. I can’t explain it, but I feel it here." I pressed a hand to my chest, over the steady thrum of my pulse. "Like you’ve always been there, waiting for me to catch up."

She let out a shaky breath, her blue eyes shimmering. "Vincent, that’s... that’s what you used to say. Before you pushed me away. Before everything fell apart." Her voice was barely above a whisper, laced with a mix of hope and heartbreak.

"I’m sorry," I said again, the words tumbling out like a confession. "For whatever I did before. For rejecting your love like you said—gods, how could I have been so stupid? If I hurt you, it was a mistake. A colossal one. But please, believe me when I say that right now, in this moment, you’re all I see. All I feel."

Nicholas cleared his throat, trying to inject some levity into the tension. "Okay, this is getting sappy. Vin, if you’re pulling some long con here, it’s working too well. Kat, you gonna let him off that easy? Remember that time he called me a ’blood-sucking mutt’ and we almost came to blows? Classic Vincent."

Winter shot him a glare, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes, a rare crack in her vengeful armor. "Nicholas, not now. This isn’t a joke. Brother, if you can’t remember the shadows we shared, perhaps we can rebuild them. Start with the small things. Like how you taught me to dream-walk, slipping into minds like ghosts."

I nodded, grateful for their attempts to bridge the gap, but my focus remained on Katrina. Her tears had slowed, but the pain lingered, etching lines around her eyes. Without thinking, driven by that inexplicable pull, I reached for her. My arms wrapped around her slender frame, pulling her close. She stiffened at first, a gasp escaping her lips, but then she melted against me, her head resting on my shoulder. The scent of her—wildflowers and storm winds—filled my senses, stirring echoes of forgotten passion. "Katrina," I whispered into her hair, "let me make this right. Even if I have to learn you all over again."

She pulled back slightly, her face inches from mine, those blue eyes searching. "You really feel it? Even without the memories?"

"More than anything," I replied, my voice low and fervent. And then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world—like breathing—I leaned in. Our lips met in a kiss that ignited every nerve in my body. It was deep, consuming, a torrent of emotion pouring out. Her mouth was soft, yielding, tasting of salt from her tears and something sweeter, deeper. My hands tangled in her reddish-blonde hair, pulling her closer, as if I could merge our souls through this contact. She responded with equal fervor, her arms wrapping around my neck, her body pressing against mine. The world faded—the vine-woven walls, the worried gazes of Nicholas and Winter—everything dissolved into this perfect, electric moment. Time stretched, hearts pounding in unison, a spark of recognition flaring in the void of my amnesia.

"Woah, okay, that’s... intense," Nicholas muttered from the side, his voice a distant buzz. "Winter, should we... give them space? Or, uh, intervene?"

Winter’s response was a soft hiss. "Let them be. For now. This might jog his memory. Or break her heart further."

But their words were lost to me. Katrina’s kiss deepened, her fingers clutching my shirt as if afraid I’d vanish again. It felt right, like coming home after an eternity in exile. My demonic strength hummed beneath my skin, shadows flickering at the edges of the room, responding to the surge of emotion. Her celestial light seemed to mingle with my darkness, creating a balance that thrilled and terrified me.

And then, the door burst open with a thunderous crash, vines snapping like whips. Footsteps pounded in—multiple sets, heavy and urgent. Katrina’s mother, Queen Natalie, swept in first, her celestial aura glowing like a beacon, her face a mask of concern turning to shock. Beside her strode King Zane, the Lycan King, his massive frame radiating alpha authority, eyes narrowing to slits. Other adults followed—uncles, perhaps, or guards—their presence filling the room like a gathering storm.

"What in the realms is going on here?" Zane bellowed, his voice a growl that shook the leaves overhead. His gaze locked on us, fury igniting in his eyes as he took in our entangled forms. "Katrina! Vincent! Stop that kissing immediately!"

Katrina jerked back, her cheeks flushing crimson, but her hand lingered in mine, a defiant spark in her blue eyes. I held her gaze, my heart racing, the interruption shattering the fragile perfection we’d just reclaimed. The adults’ arrival hung like a dark cloud, promising conflict, but in that moment, with her taste still on my lips, I knew one thing for certain: memories or not, she was mine. And I’d fight whatever came next to keep her.

Nicholas stood abruptly, his cocky grin resurfacing as a shield. "Uh, Uncle Zane, you’re back. Perfect timing. We were just... catching up."

Winter rose gracefully, her enigmatic poise returning, though her eyes flickered with unease. "Father... Mother? No, wait—these are Katrina’s parents. Uncles and aunt, why on earth do you all look mad?"

I squeezed Katrina’s hand, whispering urgently, "Whatever happens, I’m not letting go."

She nodded, tears drying as resolve hardened her features. "Neither am I."

Zane’s growl deepened, stepping forward. "Untangle yourselves from each other. Now."

But as the room tensed, charged with impending drama, I felt a thrill course through me. This was just the beginning—or perhaps a rebirth. Either way, with Katrina by my side, I was ready for the storm.