The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter Chapter 73: Lingering Scent

Darius~

The soft creak of the door pulled from my thoughts. A young girl, no older than nineteen, stepped into my chambers, her head bowed, hands trembling at her sides. She had been dressed in fine silks, her dark curls pinned back with delicate golden clips, her lips painted a deep red. Despite the effort to make her look desirable, fear clung to her like a second skin.

She stopped a few feet away from my bed, her gaze locked on the marble floor. I leaned back against the pillows, shirtless, my arms folded behind my head, watching her with mild interest.

"Luna Gabriella sent ," she whispered, her voice barely a breath.

I didn’t bother with pleasantries. "Take off your clothes and lie down."

She flinched, her breathing uneven. "Please... I just want to go ho to my parents. I don’t belong here."

I sighed, irritation sparking in my chest. "Did I ask you to speak?"

Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn’t move. I pushed myself off the bed, crossing the room in two long strides. My fingers curled around her wrist as I yanked her closer, my grip tightening just enough to make her gasp.

"If you were smart, you’d do as you’re told," I murmured, releasing her with a shove.

She stumbled back, shaking, and I could already feel my patience wearing thin.

Twenty minutes later, she was gone, ushered out of my chambers in a ss of quiet sobs, torn dress and trembling limbs. She was wounded and bleeding all over but I didn’t care. I sat on the edge of my bed, running a hand through my hair as frustration curled through like wildfire. The scent of her tears did nothing for .

"Not satisfying," Claw, my wolf, growled in my mind. "She had no fire. No strength. Not like her."

I clenched my jaw. I knew exactly who he ant. Natalie. The one who had burned herself into my thoughts, her scent lingering in the corners of my mind no matter how many others I took into my bed. She was the only one who had ever looked in the eye and dared to defy .

Ten minutes passed before the door swung open again.

Gabriella stord in, her face lined with frustration, dark circles beneath her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest, staring down. "Did you have to leave her in that condition?"

I arched a brow, unimpressed. "She wouldn’t stop crying. I gave her sothing to cry about."

Gabriella exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers to her temple. "I’m done doing this, Darius. I don’t want to dress up innocent girls for you anymore. It’s disgusting."

I smirked, leaning back lazily. "And yet, you’ve done it over and over again. Because you know you have no choice."

Her lip quivered, but she quickly masked it with anger. "Why did you even mate if you never planned on being faithful? Do you have any idea how humiliating it is to be your Luna while you—"

"Enough," I interrupted, standing. I reached for her, pulling her against before she could step away. "You knew exactly what I was when you beca mine. You knew I had... needs. And you know you’re not enough to satisfy them."

Her body stiffened against , but she didn’t pull away. Not yet. I brushed my fingers along her cheek, my voice dropping into sothing gentler, more coaxing. "You want to be a good Luna, don’t you?"

She swallowed hard, eyes flickering with uncertainty.

"Then stop questioning ," I murmured, my lips barely grazing her ear. "Accept your role. You provide what I need, and in return, you remain my Luna."

She trembled slightly, but I could already feel her resolve breaking. She needed to believe that this was her fault—that if she were only better, I wouldn’t seek others.

But we both knew that was a lie.

She let out a shaky breath. "Will it ever be enough?"

I humd, considering. "Perhaps... if I had her."

Gabriella stiffened. "Natalie? Again with her? She’s a traitor’s daughter—a cursed, wolfless girl. Why are you so obsessed with her?"

My fingers tightened around her waist as I turned her to face fully. "Because she had fire, Gabriella." My voice was almost wistful, an old hunger curling at the edges of my words. "No one else has ever looked at with such defiance. No one else has ever slled the way she does—like sothing forbidden, sothing just out of reach. Every girl you bring is nothing more than a pale shadow of her."

Gabriella’s face twisted with sothing between jealousy and rage. "You’re chasing a ghost, Darius."

I smirked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Am I?"

My mind drifted back to the first ti I saw Isla—Natalie’s mother. She had been a wild little thing, stumbling into my pack’s territory with nothing but sharp eyes and sharper words. Back then, my pack was young, still finding its footing. My best friend, Evans Cross, had been my Beta, and together, we had built sothing out of nothing.

And then Isla arrived.

She wasn’t the strongest werewolf, but she had sothing that drew in—an untad spirit that made want to break her, ta her, own her. I had already been mated to Gabriella then, but Isla had called to in a way that my mate never had.

Unfortunately, Evans had seen her too.

We had both pursued her, though she had been wise enough to know I was off-limits. In the end, she chose him. And for that, I had hated her.

I never forgave Evans for taking Isla away from .

I buried that resentnt deep in my chest, locking it away where no one—not even Gabriella—could see. But it never truly disappeared. It simred beneath my skin, poisoning every mont, every decision. Evans had won back then, and I had no choice but to let it go. Isla beca his, and I remained with my mate, Gabriella, pretending I didn’t care.

But three years later, fate played a cruel ga.

Isla gave birth to a daughter—Natalie. A splitting image of her mother.

The mont I laid eyes on her, sothing in twisted and burned. It was as if the universe was mocking , dangling before what I had lost. Natalie had Isla’s deep blue eyes, the sa defiance in her gaze, the sa fire that had once drawn in. And as she grew, that fire only burned brighter.

I told myself it was nothing, just the past creeping up on . But every ti I saw Evans with her—saw the way he adored her, cherished her, protected her—it beca clear. Evans had stolen Isla from . And now, he was raising the one thing that gave hope of a second chance at what I could never have.

But I knew Evans would never let have her. I knew Evans would rather die than give his daughter. So this ti, I had to be smarter. I would not let what happen before happen again.

Evans had to go.

I spent years waiting, watching. Evans was an honorable man, upright and loyal. He never faltered, never gave an opening to strike. But I was patient. I knew a day would co when he would slip. And when it did, I would be ready.

Then, the opportunity presented itself in the form of a royal visit.

The King and his court were coming to Silverfang. It was rare for a royal to visit a lesser pack like ours, but I knew it was a test. A test of my leadership, my strength. If I impressed the King, it would elevate my pack’s status. But if I failed, the disgrace would be imasurable.

I saw my chance. At the cost of my pack’s status. I didn’t care.

I arranged for Isla to be taken the night before the King arrived. My n snatched her from their ho, making it look like a rogue attack. I knew Evans would not stand by idly. He would do anything to get her back, even if it ant defying and bailing out of the royal visit.

And that was exactly what I needed.

The morning of the royal visit, Evans stord into my office just as I was reviewing the final preparations. His eyes were wild, his face pale with panic, and his sweet Natalie was clutched tightly in his grasp.

"Darius," he growled, his voice shaking. "It’s Isla. She’s been taken. I – I found Natalie crying this morning when I got back from my duties and she told Isla was taken yesterday.

I leaned back in my chair, feigning concern." Taken? By who?"

"Unknown people. I don’t know, Darius!" Evan’s voice broke. "I have to go get her." He said, and oh, how much I wanted to laugh at that mont.

But instead, I made my face look cold and I leaned forward. "Evan, this is bad news but the royal family is arriving today. You’re needed here. We can’t afford to slip up in front of them. You are in charge of the gas. That is your responsibility."

"Darius," Evans begged, his voice shaking, "please, let go get her. She could be in danger, I’m begging you."

I made my tone go firm. "No. You’re the Beta and your absence right now would be an embarrassnt to the pack. After the royal family leaves in four days I’ll personally help you find her. But until then you stay here." I knew Evans wouldn’t accept that.

"Four days?" He asked, his voice breaking. "Darius, she could be dead by then! Please, I’ll go alone—I just need your permission." He was desperate now and it was music to my ears.

So, I delivered the final blow. "No. You’re needed here. This conversation is over. Go and make sure everything is flawless."

He clenched his fists, trembling with rage and desperation. I could see the war inside him. His love for Isla versus his duty to the pack.

And I knew which one would win.

Evans was too much like .

He would choose love.

By evening, the royal visit was in full swing. The King and his entourage were seated in the grandstand, waiting for the gas to begin. The entire pack was gathered, anticipation thick in the air.

But Evans was nowhere to be seen.

I stepped forward, addressing the crowd. "Let the gas begin."

The mont the first match started, it beca clear sothing was wrong. The preparations had been sabotaged by , of course. The fighting pit was unstable, the weapons were not sharpened, the challenges poorly arranged. It was a disaster.

The King’s face darkened with displeasure.

When the final match was supposed to start and there was no proper setup, the King stood abruptly.

"This is an insult," he declared, his voice like thunder. "A pack that cannot honor its King does not deserve his favor."

He turned to , his golden eyes burning with judgnt. "You have wasted my ti, Alpha Darius. I leave you with nothing."

Then he left, his court following in his wake.

The silence that followed was suffocating. Then, like a storm breaking, the pack erupted in outrage.

"Where is Beta Evans?" soone shouted.

"He was in charge of the gas!"

"He’s ruined us!"

Just as I had planned.

That night, the pack called for justice. Evans had shad us in front of the King. That was treason in their eyes. The punishnt was exile at best. But I knew what they really wanted.

Blood.

Evans returned a few days later, carrying Isla’s unconscious body in his arms. He was battered, bruised, and broken. He had found her, but it was too late for him.

The pack seized him the mont he stepped foot in our territory, just like they had done his daughter and that foolish family he left her with.

I stood before him as he knelt before with Isla’s body cradled in his arms.

"You disobeyed ," I said, my voice cold. "You dishonored this pack."

He lifted his head, his eyes filled with betrayal. "You did this. Didn’t you?"

I didn’t answer.

His gaze darkened, and then he whispered, "You’ll never have her." But, oh, he never knew the depth of my plans.

The next day I arranged for their execution and that of that lousy family; and of course, I found a loophole to keep Natalie alive because she was my price.

************

I had gone through hell to make Natalie mine.

And yet, despite everything, she slipped through my fingers like grains of sand, leaving behind a ghost of her scent that tornted every waking mont.

At first, I wanted her as my mate—to bear strong sons, to stand beside as my Luna. But when I discovered she was wolfless, I adjusted my expectations. She couldn’t give the heirs I wanted, but I could still claim her in other ways. I told myself it would be enough to have her in my bed, to have her submit to in the only way that truly mattered.

But Natalie had been a problem from the start. Headstrong. Stubborn. Defiant. No matter how many challenges I threw in her way, she refused to bow. She refused to need .

Then, as if the universe itself was mocking , she was revealed to be Griffin’s mate. My nephew.

That made things even worse.

People would talk. They already whispered in the shadows about my obsession with the wolfless girl I had marked. Keeping her close would only fuel the rumors, and I couldn’t have my authority questioned. So, I made a decision I never thought I’d make. I let her go.

I banished her.

At first, I thought I could live with it. The first week was tolerable. The second week, frustrating. But by the end of the month, I knew I had made a mistake. Her scent still lingered in my nose, in my mind, on my tongue. The hunger for her refused to fade, gnawing at my insides like a beast trapped in a cage.

I tried to cure myself of it.

At first, I turned to Gabriella. She was my mate, after all. I took her every night, hard and fast, forcing myself to believe that if I buried myself deep in her, I would forget. That if I clung to the bond we shared, I would be free of the girl who had beco an obsession.

It didn’t work.

So I sought another thod.

Gabriella had failed in many ways. She was weak. She couldn’t bear sons. And she couldn’t rid of the ghost of Natalie. If she couldn’t fulfill my needs, then she would at least serve another purpose.

I made her bring girls. Young, pretty things, all around Natalie’s age. She resisted at first, but I commanded her. And no mate could defy her Alpha’s command.

Gabriella’s voice pulled back to the present. "I don’t want to do this anymore," she said, voice tight, her shoulders tense and her face a mask of hatred.

I glanced at her, unimpressed. "You think I care what you want?"

Her jaw clenched, and I saw the fire in her eyes, but she said nothing. She knew better.

I leaned back against the headboard, exhaling heavily. "You failed to give sons, Gabriella. You failed to be enough for . The least you can do is bring soone who will."

Her nails dug into her palms. "They’re just girls."

"They are replacents."

"For Natalie?" she hissed, her voice laced with venom.

I smirked. "You’ve always been jealous of her."

Gabriella shot up from the bed, fists shaking. "You are obsessed with her! You think no one sees it, but they do! Everyone does!"

I looked at her, unbothered. "Then they should also see that I have no intention of stopping."

She let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh. "You’re pathetic."

I raised a brow. "You want to see pathetic? Walk out that door without following my orders, and you’ll find out exactly what that word ans."

Her breath hitched, and I knew I had her.

"Tomorrow night," I said smoothly, running a hand through my hair. "I want soone better than the last one. Soone softer. Soone who won’t whimper so much."

Gabriella’s lips parted in disgust. "You’re a monster."

I let out a low chuckle. "I’ve never claid to be anything else."

She turned on her heel and stord out, slamming the door behind her.

I didn’t move. I simply exhaled, staring at the ceiling, feeling nothing but an emptiness that no body had managed to fill.

Natalie had ruined .

No matter how many won I took, no matter how many I used, none of them slled like her. None of them made my blood burn the way she had.

And now, to make matters worse, another man had stolen her away.

Cole Lucky.

I had thought Natalie would be unwanted after I banished her. She was wolfless, marked by , cursed. What fool would take her?

But I had underestimated her. Or maybe I had underestimated the desperation of other n.

Cole Lucky had taken my place.

And I would not allow it.

I had already sent out a secret search party, but the reports I received only fueled my rage. Natalie was thriving. She had protection. She had bodyguards now. She was no longer the weak girl I had thrown away.

And worst of all?

Griffin was also looking for her.

That little bastard.

After rejecting her, he was now desperate to find her. I knew he wasn’t helping . He had his own agenda, and I was going to find out exactly what it was.

But first, I would deal with Cole Lucky.

The man who thought he could take what belonged to .

As if my problems weren’t enough, my pack was under attack.

Rogues? Traitors? A rival Alpha? I couldn’t pinpoint the source. But whoever they were, they had chosen the worst possible ti to challenge .

I would crush them.

But not before I got what I wanted.

I had already decided.

Until I found Natalie—until I had her back—no one would know peace.

I sat up, rolling my shoulders, my muscles tense with frustration. The hunger inside was unbearable, an itch I couldn’t scratch.

Tomorrow, I would continue my search.

Tomorrow, Gabriella would bring another girl.

But tonight, I would sit in this darkness, haunted by the scent of the one woman I could never forget.

And for the second ti in my life, I hated the fact that I had let go of soone I desperately wanted.