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 doorfra. My hand clenched around it like it was the only thing keeping 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 co back to hurt you, Sebastian," she said, voice trembling now. "I ca 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 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 .

"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 ? By running off without a word? That’s not protection—that’s abandonnt."

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 apart. The mate bond... it was stretched so thin I could barely breathe."

I flinched. Those words affected 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 shimred 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 ward honey. "I thought disappearing was the right thing to do... but gods, it ripped apart." Her breath hitched, barely audible. "Every mont 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 sa 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 ss and then left him behind."

My jaw tightened, my eyes flashing with sothing I couldn’t even explain, a raw feeling. "I told you already," I said, voice cold with restrained. "Fox took him. You know that." Sothing 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 movents 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 lifetis, 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 . 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 sothing 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 , ever since I t you. And this morning... walking away from you... it nearly broke ."

"Cassandra..." I murmured, her na 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 .

Soft at first. Testing. Tasting. Her lips parted, and mine answered before I could think. Her body pressed against , 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 morize the shape of my soul.

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

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

But then—

Sothing shifted.

Her heartbeat wasn’t racing.

It was steady. Too steady.

A hand slid behind my neck, the movent precise.

And it hit .

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 again.

"Cassandra, STOP!" I dodged left as the stake slamd into the wall behind , 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 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 bood.

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. "Soone call pest control?" he said with a smirk.

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

"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 , her hand gentle on my back. "She’s okay. He stopped her in ti."

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

"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 welco." I rolled my eyes.

I looked down at her pale face, brushing hair from her cheek. "You ca back for ... 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?