The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter Chapter 106: A Love I Could Never Have

Cassandra~

I woke up to the sensation of being watched. My senses sharpened instantly, my body tensing as I prepared for a fight. But when my eyes fluttered open, the sight before was not an enemy.

It was Sebastian.

He was lying beside , his head propped up on one arm, watching with an expression so raw, so intense, that it made my breath catch. His dark eyes burned with sothing unspoken, sothing I wasn’t sure I had the strength to face.

For a long mont, neither of us spoke. The silence between us was heavy—dangerous, even. I should have looked away. I should have rolled over, put so distance between us. But I didn’t.

Instead, I let myself drink him in.

Sebastian, with his jet-black hair that fell over his forehead in careless waves. Sebastian, with his perfectly sculpted features, his smirk always a second away from appearing. Sebastian, whose re presence made my chest ache in ways I forced myself to ignore.

Gods, I wanted him.

I wanted him more than I had ever wanted anything in my life.

But I couldn’t have him.

His life, his very existence, was in danger because of . If I let myself love him—if I let myself fall—it wouldn’t be long before Kalmia decided to take what she wanted. His blood.

Sebastian didn’t know it, but every vampire I had ever co across had died at my hands. Kalmia made sure of it. And I couldn’t—wouldn’t—let Sebastian be next.

He deserved better.

He deserved to live.

Even if it ant I had to leave him.

Just two more hours. That was all I would allow myself. Two hours before I forced myself to walk away.

But damn it, he was making it difficult.

"You’re staring, Sebastian," I murmured.

Sebastian blinked, as if only just realizing he had been caught. His lips curled into a cocky smirk. "Can you bla ?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Yes, actually."

He laughed, the sound low and husky in the quiet morning air. "Well, that’s unfortunate, because I have no intention of stopping."

I tried to glare at him. Really, I did. But the way he was looking at —the way his dark eyes traced my face as if morizing every line—made it impossible.

Instead, I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling. "You do realize you’re acting like a total creep, right?"

Sebastian humd, utterly unbothered. "Mmhmm. But I bet you love it."

Damn him.

Damn him for being right.

I turned my head, eting his gaze. I pretended not to notice the way his fingers twitched, like he was fighting the urge to reach for . And gods help —I wanted him to. Badly.

I’d spent my whole life keeping people at a safe distance, making sure no one got close enough to hurt . But Sebastian... he was different. He made feel things I had no business feeling. He made wish—just for a second—that I could be soone else. Soone worthy of him.

And just this once, I decided to let myself have this. I knew I shouldn’t, but I chose to be selfish.

I reached out slowly, letting my fingers brush softly against his cheek.

Sebastian stiffened, his breath hitching. He stared at like I’d just rewritten every unspoken rule between us—like I’d just broken sothing he never expected to touch.

To be fair, I couldn’t believe it either. All I knew was that I needed to feel him.

"Brielle..." he breathed.

My heart stilled.

He didn’t know my real na. And I couldn’t bring myself to correct him because if I did, he might start digging. And if he did that... he might find the monster underneath.

Sebastian grinned, fangs flashing. "I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen."

I felt my heart leap. I never thought I will ever hear soone say that to . My eyes welled up quickly and just as quickly I pushed the tears back down and forced a smirk. "I think you’re the most beautiful vampire I’ve ever seen too."

Sebastian’s smirk faltered, his expression turning almost... bashful.

Gods, why was he so damn cute?

I tilted my head, watching him closely. "What? Did I just make the great Sebastian Lawrence blush?"

His eyes narrowed. "I don’t blush."

I grinned. "You so would if you were human."

Sebastian scoffed, rolling onto his side to face fully. "You’re awfully confident for soone who just woke up looking like she fought a war in her sleep."

I gasped in mock offense. "Excuse ?"

His lips twitched. "You heard ."

"I’ll have you know, I wake up looking flawless."

He chuckled. "Of course you do, Brielle."

Brielle.

The na really stung, even though it shouldn’t have. It was a lie. A shield. A way to make sure he never went looking for the real .

And yet... a part of almost wished he could call by my real na.

I shook the thought away. I was playing a dangerous ga, and I needed to stop before I forgot who I really was.

Before I forgot that I wasn’t allowed to have this.

But then Sebastian took my hand and pressed a kiss to my knuckles.

My breath hitched.

His lips were cool against my skin, but his touch burned.

I looked into his eyes and saw the silent plea there. The longing. The need.

I shouldn’t.

I couldn’t.

But gods, I wanted to.

So I did.

I leaned in slowly, closing the distance between us. Sebastian’s eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn’t expected to make the first move.

And then, just as my lips brushed against his cool ones, he lted completely.

The kiss was slow, lingering—almost hesitant, as if he was savoring the mont. As if he was afraid I would disappear if he moved too fast.

I pressed closer, losing myself in the feel of him, in the way his hands rested on my waist, in the way he kissed like I was sothing precious. Sothing fragile.

Like I was sothing worth loving.

It was intoxicating.

It was Dangerous.

I wanted more. I wanted so much more.

My hands tugged hungry at his shirt, hoping to take it off his back but before I could take things further, Sebastian pulled back slightly, resting his forehead against mine.

His voice was soft, almost reverent. "We have ti."

I blinked, trying to focus. "What?"

He smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "We have forever, Brielle. There’s no rush."

Forever.

The word cut through my heart leaving a deep wound.

There was no forever for us.

But I couldn’t tell him that. Not now.

So I let him hold .

I let myself pretend, just for a little while longer, that this could be real.

That I could be his.

That I could stay.

I closed my eyes and rested my head against his chest, ignoring the coldness of his skin.

Because no matter how cold his body was, I felt warm.