The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter Chapter 161: Dark Clouds

Jacob~

The gas station. It haunted more than I’d like to admit.

It was supposed to be simple—just a quick stop so Easter could use the bathroom, maybe grab a snack if she dragged it out. Instead, I ended up standing way too close to her under those brutal fluorescent lights, close enough to feel her breath hitch when she cried. Close enough that, for one reckless second, I almost kissed her.

Almost.

Since then, my mind had been an absolute battlefield.

When I brought her back ho yesterday, walking her to her door, I thought I had regained so semblance of control. I kissed her cheek, sothing innocent, sothing friendly, right?

Wrong.

The way she blushed, the way my heart leapt into my throat—it wasn’t innocent at all.

I felt giddy. Alive in a way that was absolutely ridiculous for a creature as ancient as .

Mist, the legendary Wolf Spirit, feeling like a clumsy teenager.

It would have been laughable if it hadn’t been so real.

When I returned to my room last night, I stood by the window for hours, staring into the woods, repeating to myself: You’re not falling for her. You’re not falling for a human.

She’s human. Humans are disloyal, selfish, fragile. She deserves kindness, sure. A soft place to land because she had been through a lot. But nothing more.

I had promised myself to protect her, guide her if she let , but nothing beyond friendship.

And then... my whole resolve crumbled like ash the mont Tiger suggested a stroll through the forest after breakfast this morning—and Easter, all bright-eyed and trusting, accepted.

Just like that.

My day turned sour before it had even properly started.

I found myself lurking by the front porch, arms crossed, foot tapping impatiently against the wood. Every few minutes, my head would snap towards the edge of the forest, searching. Waiting. Worrying.

I hated it.

I hated the ugly thought gnawing at the back of my mind: Does Tiger have feelings for her? He could. Why wouldn’t he? Easter was... Easter. Kind and soft-spoken, with those wide, wounded eyes that made you want to shield her from every hurt this world could dish out.

I gritted my teeth. I didn’t want to think of any man chasing her, especially not Tiger.

It was a selfish thought. I knew that. I was supposed to be better than this. But knowing didn’t change how I felt.

When I finally spotted movent between the trees, my heart skipped a beat—and then stopped entirely.

Tiger was carrying Easter on his back, her arms wrapped loosely around his shoulders as she laughed at sothing he said.

Laughing.

Holding onto him.

I nearly had a stroke right there on the porch. My powers stirred restlessly inside , rumbling with sothing wild and possessive.

I barely noticed when Bubble and Fox ca to stand beside , curiosity etched on their faces before the walked away smiling. I was too busy trying to keep my rage contained, to plaster on so neutral expression before Easter saw it.

But then—her phone rang.

I saw the shift in her imdiately.

Before she even answered, before a single na was spoken, a very dark cloud appeared above her head, twisting the sunlight into sothing heavy and foreboding. I tensed instinctively, sensing a storm about to break across her world.

But when I looked at her—frozen there with the phone trembling in her hand, heart pounding like war drums—I knew.

She needed this call.

Even if it ripped her apart afterward.

So, I encouraged her to pick up.

Her voice cracked as she answered.

And then she whispered the na that made my heart sink for her.

"lody..."

I moved closer without thinking, standing just behind her as she hunched over slightly, as if all the troubles of the mont were resting heavily on her slender fra. Tiger stepped back respectfully, his green eyes flickering to mine in silent understanding.

I stayed close, grounded, a silent anchor for her as she trembled through the call.

When lody asked to see her—pleaded, really—Easter’s eyes darted to mine, full of wild hope and terrible fear.

Without hesitation, I murmured low enough that only she could hear, "Tell her you’ll get back to her shortly with a date."

Easter nodded shakily and repeated the words into the phone.

When the call ended, she just stood there, staring at the screen, her hands trembling. I reached out and tilted her chin up, forcing her to et my gaze.

"You okay?" I asked softly.

She shook her head, tears glistening in her lashes. "No... but I think I will be."

Mother, she was brave. Broken and battered and yet still burning bright.

I pulled her gently into my arms, feeling her collapse against , her body light but her emotions heavy enough to crush mountains. I rested my chin on the top of her head, breathing her in. She slled like wildflowers and sothing even more precious—hope.

"You were never ant to carry this alone, Easter," I whispered against her hair.

Tiger cleared his throat quietly. "Co. Let’s get you inside."

Easter sniffled and nodded. Together, we walked toward the house, Donut padding along faithfully at her side.

The mont we stepped into the warmth of the house, Easter broke completely.

She sank onto the couch, clutching her phone to her chest, sobbing—but they were different tears now. Tears of relief. Of gratitude.

"I—I kept my number," she choked out, laughing and crying at once. "I kept it because I knew. I knew she’d find one day. I never changed it, even when everything else in my life fell apart. I had faith."

Her smile lit up the room, radiant and heartbreaking all at once. She was over the moon, shining with a happiness so pure it physically hurt to look at her.

I stood there, paralyzed, my chest twisting with a pain I couldn’t even begin to na. Because I knew sothing she didn’t.

Humans... they have this stubborn, beautiful flaw — they cling to hope like it’s a lifeline, even when it’s a blade pressed to their own throats.

I knew that no matter how carefully I tried to wrap the truth in soft words, no matter how many warnings I tucked between my smiles, Easter would never listen. Not when it ca to lody.

She was too full of hope. Too desperate to hold on to the dream she’d spent so long chasing.

I lowered myself onto the couch beside her, forcing a smile that felt like it might crack open. She talked fast, her hands painting wild shapes in the air, her face lighting up with every word. Tiger and the others drifted into the kitchen, pretending to be busy with clinking dishes and half-hearted conversation. But their quiet support hung heavy in the air, a warm shield we both needed.

Easter spun toward suddenly, her eyes huge, raw, so heartbreakingly vulnerable. "Jacob... what if she still needs ?" she breathed. "What if this ti... I can be the person she counts on? Ever since that dreadful party, I’ve always wanted that. Always."

I swallowed down the words that crowded my throat. I didn’t want to lie. But I couldn’t be the one to shatter her either.

I slid my hand over hers, gentle, steady. "We’ll make a plan," I said, voice low, asured. "We’ll take it slow. You’ll be safe, Easter. I swear it."

She squeezed my hand like she was holding onto a lifeline. "Thank you," she whispered, like it cost her sothing. "For everything."

I wanted to tell her she didn’t owe a single thing. That just existing—just letting orbit her bright, unstoppable light—was more than enough. But I bit it back. I didn’t want my untreated feelings to weigh her down.

So instead, I just watched her glow.

So fragile. So fierce. So painfully, heartbreakingly human.

And in that quiet, impossible mont, I made a promise I didn’t dare speak aloud:

I would stand between her and the storm that was already gathering. Even if it ripped apart. Even if she stopped looking at the way she had always done.

Because for the first ti in more lifetis than I could count, I wasn’t Mist the Wolf Spirit.

I was just Jacob.

A fool ridiculously falling for a girl who still believed in human miracles.