The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter Chapter 272: A Crush and an Uninvited Guest

Easter~

When Jacob suggested I escort him to the supermarket today, my heart actually leaped for joy. I tried so hard not to show it, keeping my face calm, giving a little nod like it was no big deal. But inside, I was screaming.

Honestly, I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. Jacob – the insanely handso, ridiculously kind man who just moved in across the street – actually wanted to hang out with... .

, with my tangled-up life and all its chaos. , with a past so bruised I prayed no one would ever stumble across it. , with my energetic little girl who ruled my world, and my belly already six months swollen with another tiny human.

Why would a man like him – soone who looked like he’d just stepped out of a movie scene with that easy smile and soft brown eyes – even bother talking to soone like ?

But sohow... he did.

And for once in my life, I felt... wanted. Even if it was just for sothing as mundane as grocery shopping.

The trip started off perfectly. I walked beside him down each aisle, listening to his deep, calm voice explaining the differences between brands like it was the most fascinating thing on earth. I kept sneaking glances at his sharp jawline, at the way his black hair curled slightly over his forehead, at his strong, graceful hands as he inspected items before placing them gently in the trolley.

I felt like I was floating. Like my feet barely touched the tiles. Like I could reach out and touch his warmth whenever I wanted.

"Easter," he said suddenly, pulling from my daze.

"Hm?" I looked up, blinking. My cheeks heated instantly when I realised I’d been staring at his hands.

He smirked softly. "I asked if you like these biscuits. You spaced out."

"Oh—uh—" I grabbed the packet quickly, studying the brand na as if it held the secrets of the universe. "Yeah. They’re... they’re great. Rose loves them."

"Then we’ll get them," he said, and that gentle smile made my chest ache.

We continued walking. At one point, I picked up a pastel pink ceramic plate with tiny painted daisies around the rim and pressed it against my cheek. "So smooth," I whispered without thinking.

Jacob chuckled. "Want to get it?"

"No, it’s too pretty to use."

He didn’t reply, but I noticed him quietly placing a set of the plates into the trolley later on.

I was having the ti of my life... until my back started aching. A dull, throbbing ache that spread to my hips, making each step heavier. I tried to hide it. I bit down on my bottom lip and kept walking, smiling up at him whenever he glanced at .

But Jacob noticed everything. He was too good to be true.

"Sit down," he said softly, guiding towards a small wooden bench near the bakery section.

I shook my head quickly. "No, no, I’m fine."

"Easter," his voice dropped low, quiet but firm. "Sit."

And I obeyed. Like my body couldn’t resist that tone. Like the re command in his words unlocked sothing warm and fragile inside .

My cheeks burned pink as I lowered myself onto the bench. He crouched down before , his pretty eyes eting mine, making forget how to breathe.

Then, Jacob reached into his shopping cart and pulled out this massive, gorgeous brown teddy bear. For a second, I just sat there, stunned. Then he handed it to with that easy smile of his, and I swear, my inner child practically did backflips. I hugged the bear tight against my chest, feeling ridiculously happy.

Jacob chuckled softly and said, "Stay here. I’ll get you sothing to drink."

"You don’t have to—"

But he was already standing up, his tall, lean form moving gracefully through the aisles until I couldn’t see him anymore. I let out a shaky breath, pressing a hand to my belly. Rose was probably having a blast with her friends at school. I missed her already, but right now, I was glad she wasn’t here to see her mother being so... stupidly lovestruck.

I stared down at my hands wrapped around the teddy bear on my lap. My nails were short and clean. I wore a simple grey maternity dress with little yellow sunflowers printed all over it. The hem rested just above my knees, my ankles swollen from standing too long, my feet in cheap white sandals. Compared to Jacob, I felt like... a wilted weed standing next to a rose garden.

"Easter?"

A voice suddenly snapped out of my thoughts, making jump. I glanced up, and my stomach dropped like a stone.

Brandon?

For a mont, my mind whirled with confusion. What was he doing here? I’d been spotting him everywhere these past few days –at school (okay, that I understood) – but at the pharmacy, and even outside Rose’s preschool? Part of was starting to wonder if... no. That was just being paranoid. Right?

He smiled that bright, toothpaste-comrcial smile and sat down beside , far too close for comfort. His expensive cologne wrapped around instantly, musky and sharp.

"Hey... what are you doing here all alone? You okay?" His bright eyes flicked down to my belly with concern.

"I’m fine," I replied politely, shifting slightly away from him. "I’m here with... soone. He went to get a drink."

"Oh?" Brandon’s smile didn’t falter, but I noticed a flicker of sothing dark in his eyes. Anger? "Who are you here with?"

"Just... a friend."

"Really?" he drawled, leaning closer. "What friend? Anyone I know?"

"No," I said quickly, clutching my belly protectively. "You wouldn’t know him."

Brandon laughed softly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "I see. Well, I guess I’ll keep you company until your... friend returns."

"That’s really not necessary, Brandon," I murmured, praying silently that Jacob would co back soon.

"I insist." He settled back, crossing his legs casually. "So... tell about him. What does he do? Where does he live?"

I frowned. "Why do you want to know that?"

He shrugged. "Just curious. I an... judging by how your body language reacted to my questions, I’m guessing you barely know him, do you? Going around with a man you know nothing about... that’s dangerous, Easter."

"Don’t be nosy," I snapped before I could stop myself. My voice trembled, and I hated that he noticed it.

Brandon laughed again. "Don’t be so defensive. I’m just looking out for you. I care about you, you know? And honestly..." He reached out, brushing a curl away from my face with his fingers lingering against my cheek, "I’d be a better fit for you than so stranger you don’t even know."

My chest tightened painfully. I opened my mouth to reply, to tell him to leave alone, when—

"Am I interrupting sothing?"

That voice.

Deep. Calm. Commanding.

My eyes widened and I whipped around so fast I almost gave myself whiplash.

Jacob stood there, tall and strikingly handso in his black t-shirt and dark jeans, holding out a chilled mango juice and a cinnamon pastry wrapped neatly in paper. His brown eyes flicked from to Brandon with a calmness that felt... deadly.

Brandon stood up imdiately, smoothing down his blazer. He extended a hand towards Jacob with a forced smile. "Hey, man. I’m Brandon, Easter’s classmate and friend."

Jacob smiled back. A slow, lazy smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He took Brandon’s hand and shook it firmly.

Too firmly.

Because within seconds, I noticed Brandon’s confident smile falter. His face twitched. Then slowly, his tanned skin started turning an alarming shade of red.

"Ah—hah—hey—easy there, man—" Brandon croaked, his voice strained as Jacob continued squeezing his fingers painfully tight.

I stared, frozen. Jacob’s expression remained unchanged, casual almost, like he wasn’t effortlessly crushing another man’s bones in his grip.

Finally, after what felt like eternity, Jacob released his hand. Brandon quickly pulled it back, massaging his fingers with a grimace, trying to regain composure.

"Well..." Brandon forced out a chuckle, eyes darting from Jacob to , "I’ll... um... leave you two to it then."

"Please do," Jacob replied calmly, his tone polite but his eyes glinting with sothing dark and surprising.

Brandon looked at , his gaze lingering for a mont, as if trying to silently tell sothing, then he turned sharply and walked away without another word.

I released a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My whole body trembled as I stared at Jacob. He placed the mango juice into my hands with surprising gentleness, brushing his thumb over my knuckles briefly.

"Drink up," he murmured softly.

I looked up into his warm eyes, and for a mont, I thought I saw sothing there. Sothing deep and fierce and protective. Sothing that made my heart ache so badly I almost cried. But I knew it was probably my wishful thinking playing tricks on .

"Thank you..." I whispered, my voice catching in my throat.

He crouched down before again, his large hand gently covering my belly, feeling the baby’s soft kicks. His touch was so tender it broke sothing inside . Tears welled in my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away before they could fall and make look desperate.

"Don’t thank ," he said, his voice low and rough with emotion. "I’m just glad you’re okay."

I stared at him, my lips parting, words dying in my throat. Because what could I say to that? To the man I was falling so desperately in love with, even though I knew he could never be mine.

Instead, I took a sip of the mango juice. The sweetness coated my tongue, cooling the burning ache in my chest.

Jacob stood up again, holding out his hand to . "Co on," he said softly, his eyes gentle and knowing. "Let’s go ho."

And without a second thought, I placed my trembling hand in his, letting his warmth swallow my fears whole.