The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter

Chapter 285: Forever Relevant

Jacob~

The throne room buzzed with cheers and quiet thanks, voices bouncing off the marble walls like music. I stood back in the shadows, arms crossed, just watching her—Natalie, my little moon. Her hair was back to its deep red, glowing under the chandelier. There was a playful spark in her eyes, thanks to Jasmine’s influence, and she looked unstoppable. Seeing her like that filled me with pride so strong it almost hurt. But under all that pride, there was this heavy sadness pressing on my chest, eating away at me no matter how hard I tried to ignore it.

Natalie’s gaze found me, her smile softening as she tilted her head, concern flickering across her face. "Hey..." Her voice was gentle, cutting through the noise like a warm breeze. She stepped closer, her boots clicking softly against the polished floor. "Jacob, you okay?"

I forced a grin, the kind I’d perfected over centuries—carefree, deflecting, the Wolf Spirit’s mask. "Me? I’m fine, little moon. Just taking it all in." I gestured vaguely at the room, hoping she’d let it slide. The truth was, I wasn’t fine. Not even close. The image of Easter’s tear-streaked face, her emerald eyes wide with confusion as I bolted from her side, haunted me again and again. I’d left her alone in my house, curled up on the couch like a lost child. She’d looked so small there, eyes wide with shock, probably terrified after everything that had just happened. But I couldn’t stay. The vision pulled me away from her with a force I couldn’t fight, tearing me from her side before I could even promise her I’ll be back and the we’d be okay.

And when I arrived, it hit me again—Natalie didn’t need my help. She didn’t need me anymore. That thought burned through me like acid, leaving this bitter taste at the back of my tongue. It felt like swallowing glass, each breath catching in my throat as the truth sank in. She was strong enough now to stand on her own, and somehow that hurt more than anything else.

She studied me, her eyes narrowing as if she could see the storm raging behind my facade. Without a word, she turned and crossed the room to Zane, who stood cradling a sleepy Alex in his arms. The boy’s blond curls were mussed, his cheek pressed against his father’s shoulder, and my heart twisted at the sight. Natalie leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Zane’s lips, then another to Alex’s forehead. "I’m gonna have a chat with Jacob," she murmured, her voice warm but firm. Zane nodded, his eyes glowing with that quiet pride he always had around her. She ruffled Alex’s hair, earning a sleepy giggle, before turning back to me.

Her hand found mine, her grip surprisingly strong for someone who’d once been so fragile. "Come on," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Nat, really, you don’t need to—" I started, but she cut me off with a look that could’ve silenced a thunderstorm.

"Don’t even try it, Jacob." Her voice was playful but edged with steel. Before I could protest further, the world shimmered around us, the throne room dissolving in a swirl of light and shadow. My stomach surprisingly lurched as Natalie’s teleportation magic whisked us away, and when the world solidified again, we were on the palace roof.

The night air was cool, carrying the sweet scent of flowers mixed with a hint of rain far away. Above us, stars dotted the sky like tiny lanterns. The rooftop garden felt like a secret world, filled with blooming roses and trellises covered in ivy. Tucked between the flowers was a stone bench. Natalie pulled me toward it, her fingers tight around mine. She flopped down onto the bench and tugged me beside her. The world around us fell quiet, the only sound coming from the gentle rustling of leaves in the soft breeze. noveldrama

"Alright," she said, fixing me with those piercing eyes that saw too much. "Talk to me, Jacob. And don’t give me that ’I’m fine’ nonsense. I know you too well for that."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, the strands falling messily over my forehead. "It’s nothing, Little Moon. Really. You’re making a mountain out of a molehill." I tried to flash that roguish grin again, but it felt hollow, and her expression told me she wasn’t buying it.

"Jacob Bartholomew," she said, her voice low and fierce, "you’re my brother, and I can tell when something’s eating you alive. So spill it. Now."

The heaviness in my chest just kept growing, making it hard to breathe. I turned my eyes away from her and stared out at the horizon, where the trees touched the sky. I wanted to speak, but the words felt trapped, choking me. Her silence only made it worse, pressing down on me until I couldn’t take it anymore.

Finally, I let out a shaky breath. "A few hours ago... I was in Paris," I said quietly, my voice rough. "And then... I saw something. A vision. You, Zane, Alex... all of you were in danger." I swallowed hard, forcing myself to keep going. "It was like being struck by lightning, Nat. I couldn’t just sit there and ignore it."

Her brow furrowed, but she stayed quiet, letting me continue. I swallowed hard, shame creeping up my spine. "When it happened... I was with Easter." My voice faltered, and I forced myself to meet her eyes. "I was... kissing her. On top of her, Nat. And I—" I broke off, my cheeks burning. "I would’ve gone all the way... you know. But then the vision came, and I just... left. Ran out of the house without a word, teleported straight to Alex. I didn’t even look back."

Natalie’s eyes widened, but there was no judgment there, only concern. I pressed on, the words tumbling out now, raw and unfiltered. "I’m happy for you, Nat. So damn happy. You’re strong now, a force to be reckoned with. You don’t need me hovering over you anymore, and that’s... that’s good. But it’s also..." I sighed, my shoulders sagging. "It’s hard. I’ve spent so long protecting you, being your shield. And now? Now you’re this incredible woman who can handle anything. It’s like I’m... obsolete."

Her eyes glistened, and before I could say another word, she launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around me in a fierce hug. I froze, caught off guard by the intensity of it, her warmth seeping into me as she buried her face against my shoulder. "Jacob," she whispered, her voice thick with tears. "Don’t you ever say that. Ever. You’re my big brother. I will always need you. Always."

I hesitated, then wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight. Her words sank into me, soothing the ache I hadn’t realized was so deep. "You didn’t call me," I murmured, my voice muffled against her hair. "You handled it all—Kalmia, Nathan, the whole damn mess—without me."

She pulled back, cupping my face in her hands, her eyes fierce and shimmering. "I didn’t call you because you taught me to be strong, Jacob. You taught me to stand on my own, to be the woman I am now. But don’t you dare think that means you’re not relevant. You’re my rock, my anchor. I’ll always need you, and when I do, I’ll call. I’ll always call."

Her words hit me like pure electricity, and I felt the knot in my chest loosen, just a little. But then she tilted her head, her expression shifting to something sterner. "But you messed up, Jacob. Leaving Easter like that? Without a word? You should’ve brought her with you. Or at least explained."

I looked away, my jaw tightening as guilt surged back, sharper this time. "I couldn’t bring her," I said quietly, my voice barely audible. "She... she doesn’t remember me. Or any of us."

Natalie froze, her hands dropping to her lap. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice sharp with confusion.

I rubbed the back of my neck, sheepish and ashamed. "Her nightmares... they got too strong. They were tearing her apart, Nat. And the baby—" I paused, my heart clenching at the thought of Easter’s unborn child, so small and vulnerable. "The baby was being affected. She couldn’t sleep, couldn’t rest. I had no choice. I wiped her memory. Called Mirabel, the Dream Weaver, to craft a new reality for her. One where she’s safe, happy... free from all this."

Natalie’s face changed in an instant, her eyes blazing with disbelief and something close to anger. She shot to her feet, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. The air around us seemed to crackle, Jasmine’s power flaring faintly in her aura. "You did what?" she demanded, her voice ringing out over the rooftop, sharp and incredulous.

The words hung between us, heavy and final, as the stars above bore witness to the fracture in our moment of reunion.