The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter Chapter 135: The One I Shouldn’t Love

Easter~

Three Days Ago.

The morning had started cold.

Not in weather—but in soul. Jacob had left with Natalie just after sunrise, and even though he said they wouldn’t be gone long, I felt it, deep in my chest: that lonely ache of absence.

It was silly. I barely knew him.

I wasn’t supposed to miss him.

But I did.

The feeling was like a dull ache settled in my chest, like soone had taken a warm blanket away on a freezing morning. I told myself I had no right to feel anything—Jacob wasn’t mine. He never was. But still, the silence that followed their departure was loud.

I went outside their impossibly beautiful ho and sat on the porch steps with my arms wrapped around my knees and tried to swallow the odd twist of emptiness curling in my stomach.

I must’ve been staring off at the treeline for too long because Tiger appeared beside , silent as a shadow. One minute I was alone, the next, there he was—tall and graceful, like the forest itself had sent him.

He didn’t say anything, just reached down and held out his hand. I blinked at him.

"What?"

He pointed toward the woods.

"Oh. You want to co with you?"

He nodded.

And so I followed.

That morning beca one of the happiest I’d had in years. Tiger didn’t speak much, but he didn’t need to. His presence was enough. Peaceful. Powerful. Comforting. He led deep into the woods, to a clearing so full of light it looked like sothing out of a dream.

And the animals ca.

A baby deer that nuzzled my hand. Curious foxes that circled around . Birds that perched on branches and sang as though they were greeting an old friend.

And then the cat.

A fat, fluffy ball of attitude and smugness. He strutted out of the trees like he owned the world, sat at my feet, and owed once—as if to say, "You’ll do."

Tiger gave the smallest smile I’d ever seen from him and said, simply, "He’s yours."

And I had nad him Donut.

By the ti we returned to the house, I was glowing. I didn’t even realize it until Natalie said sothing later. But in that mont—right before everything changed again—I felt light. Whole.

Jacob ca back.

My heart did sothing wild and ridiculous in my chest when I noticed him, and before I could think, I was a happy child again. I wanted to tell Jacob everything—about the deer, the foxes, Donut—and I did. But it wasn’t enough, I wanted to sit with him and have him tell about his day as well, I wanted him to stay with and not leave again, at least for the day but, things didn’t go my way.

Because sothing in Natalie’s eyes shifted.

And everything went wrong.

Her back went rigid. Her pupils blew wide. And her voice—only a whisper—chilled the air.

"Jacob... I just had a vision."

The joy I’d felt monts ago scattered like birds at the sound of a gunshot. Jacob asked what she saw, and when she said Sebastian, I didn’t know who that was, but the way everyone reacted told it was very bad.

And just like that, they were gone. Again.

Leaving behind.

I stood in the suddenly empty living room for a mont, frozen, with Donut pressed against my chest, and I told myself not to feel anything. Not to be angry or disappointed. Jacob was helping soone. That’s who he was—he helped people. Just like he’d helped .

I had no right to expect anything from him.

Still...

I didn’t realize I was still staring at the spot they vanished from until Tiger’s voice broke the silence.

"You like him."

Tiger’s voice broke through my thoughts. Calm. Direct. Not a question. A statent.

I nearly jumped out of my skin. "W-what?" I laughed awkwardly, heat rushing to my cheeks.

"You like Jacob," he repeated, not blinking. "You were staring at the spot where he vanished for the past ten minutes."

I opened my mouth to deny it—but the words didn’t co. "I an... No! I an—of course not. That would be crazy. I’ve barely known him two days, and—"

Tiger tilted his head slightly, studying like he was watching a leaf flutter in the wind. "You know how long it takes to fall in love in our world?"

I swallowed, shaking my head.

He raised a brow. "Less than a second."

My lips parted, but I didn’t know what to say.

Tiger adjusted Rose in his arms with quiet ease, then moved toward one of the couches. With fluid grace, he sat down and settled her gently in his lap. She had already drifted off, her tiny fist clutching a wrinkle in his shirt like it was her anchor. When he finally spoke, his voice was lower—calm, almost tender.

"Don’t be afraid of it. Even if that soone is Jacob."

"But..." I bit my lip. "He’s a god. I’m just... ."

Tiger nodded slowly, eyes calm. "Jacob is kind. Too kind. A lot of won misinterpret that and end up with broken hearts. He’s never been in anything romantic. Not once."

My stomach sank.

"And there’s sothing about humans," he added. "Sothing... complicated. He doesn’t talk about it."

I frowned. "What do you an?"

But Tiger didn’t answer. He just looked at with sothing like sympathy. And for a mont, I felt like a puzzle piece that would never fit.

I turned away, arms folding across my chest. "Then what’s the point?" I whispered. "Even if I was... even if I am falling for him, what good does it do ? He’ll never feel the sa."

Tiger studied for a mont, then said quietly, "You’re the first woman, first human—first anybody—he’s ever brought ho."

I blinked. "I—actually... that’s not true. I kind of forced myself into his life. I was the one who clung to him. I begged him to take with him. He didn’t want to bring ."

Tiger’s lips curved ever so slightly. "Then that gives even more hope."

My head snapped toward him, confused. "Hope? How?"

He didn’t answer imdiately. Instead, he looked down at the sleeping child in his arms, brushing a gentle finger over her tiny cheek. "He could have said no. He never says yes to things like that. But he said yes to you."

I opened my mouth to argue—but the words never ca. Because suddenly, I wasn’t sure what we were talking about anymore. Was there a chance?

I stared at the fireplace, the flas flickering. The room was quiet now. Donut had returned to my lap, curling into a soft ball of fur and warmth. But the quiet inside wasn’t comforting.

It was uncertain.

"Tiger," I whispered, "what if he never feels the sa?"

"Then you’ll heal," he said simply. "But don’t kill the seed before it ever grows. Don’t be afraid to feel sothing beautiful, even if it hurts."

I smiled faintly. "That’s... kind of poetic, you know."

He shrugged. "I’m nature."

And then—like fate had decided to throw a bone. Tiger chuckled—a low, quiet sound. "And besides," he added, "I’ll help you win his heart."

My jaw dropped. "You—you will?"

He nodded solemnly.

Joy swelled in my chest so fast it made my head spin. I was still trying to find the words to thank him when a shimr of light flashed in the middle of the room.

Bubble appeared—bright, mischievous and beautiful. But he wasn’t alone.

A young boy stood beside him. Maybe eight or nine years old, with curls like spun gold and wide brown eyes that darted around the room with curiosity.

When he spotted Tiger, he ran forward with a gleeful, "Uncle Tiger!" Donut got startled and leaped off my laps with an angry ow.

Tiger crouched and caught him in one arm while still holding Rose with the other.

But then the boy’s eyes landed on .

And instantly, he went still. Guarded.

I tensed.

"This is Easter," Tiger said gently. "And that’s Rose. They’re good people. They’ll be living with us."

The boy relaxed a little, though he still watched warily. Then he gave a shy smile. "Hi."

"Hi," I said softly.

He peeked at Rose, asleep in Tiger’s arms, and whispered, "She’s really pretty."

I smiled. "She is."

"Where’s Mommy Natalie?" he asked. "And Daddy?"

So this was Alex. Natalie’s son.

Tiger answered without skipping a beat. "They had to go out for a bit. They’ll be back soon. Why don’t you go freshen up and co back for dinner?"

Alex nodded happily.

Bubble scooped him up and gave a wink. "Co on, squirt. Let’s go wash that face."

They vanished upstairs.

Tiger stood, adjusting Rose gently in his arms. "I’ll put her to bed."

Then he, too, was gone.

And I was left alone.

I sank completely into the couch, Donut hopping up beside and curling into my lap again like he was happy to get so peace. His purring vibrated against my thighs, a small comfort in the stillness.

My gaze drifted back to the spot where Jacob had disappeared.

Was I really in love with him?

And if I was... did I even have a chance?

Even if I did—was it right?

I wasn’t even legally free yet. The bruises on my heart hadn’t healed.

Was it too soon to love again?

Was it foolish to love him?

A god.

My fingers trailed through Donut’s fur, my thoughts swirling like leaves in a storm.

But deep in my chest, beneath all the fear and doubt, a fragile hope began to bloom.

And I didn’t want to let it go.