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

Chapter 270: What Now?

Zane~

It was never my intention to hurt Natalie.

I stood there frozen, watching her sob on the golden marble tiles, her small frame shaking as if the world was crumbling around her. My chest tightened so hard it felt like my ribs would snap under the pressure. Damn, this was all my fault. The one thing I swore never to do – make her cry – and here she was, crying because of me.

"Natalie..." I whispered, my voice breaking as it passed my lips.

She lifted her head, and when her teary eyes met mine, I swear the ground beneath me trembled. Her sky blue eyes were swollen red, her cheeks blotched and glistening with tears. Even then, she was so damn beautiful that it hurt to look at her.

"I’m sorry," I choked out as I dropped to my knees in front of her. "I didn’t mean to make you cry. I hate seeing you cry, Nat. I... I can’t stand it."

She sniffled softly, biting her trembling lip. "I didn’t mean to blurt out what I said earlier about Alex. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to take him away from Emma. I’m sorry, Zane."

"No, no, sweetheart." I reached forward and cupped her cheeks with both hands, forcing her to look into my eyes. "You weren’t wrong for what you said. I just... I needed some time to think, I swear. I love you, Natalie. Goddess knows, I love you so much it scares me."

A small smile trembled onto her lips as tears slipped down her face. She leaned into my touch, her fingers wrapping around my wrists. "I love you too, Zane."

I pulled her into my chest, hugging her tightly like I could shield her from every cruel twist of fate. Her warmth seeped into me, calming the violent storm in my chest for a moment. I buried my face in her hair, breathing in the scent of honey, vanilla, and wildflowers.

"I feel so guilty," I confessed quietly. "Emma... she was an orphan before she died. Alex was all she had. And now... now I feel like I’m robbing her of the one thing that kept her name alive."

Natalie pulled back just enough to look up at me, her eyes sincere and glistening under the bathroom lights. "Zane... I would never try to take Alex away from Emma. Never. I’m just... happy. Happy that he’s happy and that he has all the love he deserves. That’s all I want."

My chest tightened again, but this time it was from relief. I reached up and brushed away the tears on her cheeks with my thumbs. "I thought about it, you know. Sebastian knocked some sense into me earlier. He made me realize... Alex being your son doesn’t change the fact that he’s also Emma’s. If anything, it just means he has love from two wonderful mothers. And gods, Natalie... I couldn’t have hoped for anything better for him." noveldrama

Tears welled in her eyes again, but this time they were happy tears. I pulled her into another hug, pressing her flush against me as I whispered into her ear, "I love you, Natalie Cross. More than life itself."

"I love you too," she whispered back, her voice shaking with emotion.

I pulled back slightly, my hands on her shoulders. "But we need to find out why Alex was born to Emma instead of you in this life. Something’s not adding up."

She nodded, brushing her hair away from her damp face. "You’re right. We need to know. We owe it to ourselves and Alex."

We sat there, holding each other on the cold marble floor, just breathing each other in like it was the only way to survive. Then, suddenly, the sharp ringing of the doorbell sliced through the moment, echoing through my suite like a siren.

I sighed and stood up, scooping Natalie up bridal-style without warning. She squeaked, slapping my chest lightly. "Zane!"

"What? You want to keep sitting on the bathroom floor crying your pretty eyes out?" I teased softly, smirking down at her as I carried her out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.

She rolled her eyes but her lips curved into a smile. "You’re impossible."

"Yeah, but you love me for it," I said as I gently laid her down on the plush bed, brushing her hair away from her forehead before standing upright again.

She stuck her tongue out at me, earning a chuckle from deep in my chest. But before either of us could say another word, there was a knock on the suite door. I walked over and opened it, only to find one of the royal guards standing rigidly with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Your Highness," he bowed respectfully. "His Majesty requests that you and Princess Natalie join him in the throne room in thirty minutes."

"Alright," I said, frowning slightly. "Thank you."

He bowed again and turned away, leaving me staring after him with my brows furrowed. Why didn’t my father just mind-link me instead of sending a guard? As if on cue, his deep voice rumbled through my mind.

"Dress nicely, Zane."

I scowled inwardly. "What are you up to, old man?"

"Nothing." His voice carried that mischievous amusement I hated, and then he severed the link before I could question him further.

"Coward," I muttered under my breath.

When I turned back to Natalie, she was sitting on the bed, swinging her legs like a child. Her eyes widened as she asked, "What did the guard want?"

"My father wants us in the throne room in thirty minutes," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Do you know why?" she asked, her brow scrunching adorably.

"No," I sighed. "But I suspect he’s hiding something from us."

She hummed thoughtfully, but before either of us could say anything else, the doorbell rang again. I groaned, walking over to the intercom panel near the wardrobe. Pressing the button, I spoke into it firmly. "Who is it and what do you want?"

A female voice answered with practiced politeness. "Your Highness, His Majesty sent us to assist Princess Natalie in getting ready. When she wasn’t in her suite, we thought she might be here."

Natalie’s eyes widened, and she sat up straighter on the bed, her hair falling around her shoulders like a waterfall of molten strawberry gold. She looked at me, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Looks like your father is definitely planning something."

I rolled my eyes. "Tell me about it."

She laughed softly and pushed herself off the bed, walking toward me with purpose in her steps. "I should go get dressed before your father’s secret plan turns into my public disgrace due to bad hair or a wardrobe malfunction."

I chuckled at her dramatic sigh. "Feeling better?"

She stopped in front of me, looking up with sparkling eyes. "Yeah. Much better." Then she reached up and kissed me softly on the lips, her fingers curling into my shirt. She pulled away, leaving me breathless, and whispered, "I’ll meet you in the throne room, Your Highness."

I watched as she walked to the door, her hips swaying hypnotically under the loose satin robe she wore. She opened the door to reveal two women bowing deeply in greeting. One of them said something I didn’t catch as Natalie stepped out, and the door closed behind them with a soft click.

For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the closed door like a lost puppy. Then I sighed heavily, running my hands through my hair.

"Red," I muttered internally. "What the hell is my father planning?"

"Who knows," Red replied with a wolfish yawn. "But you better look the part, Prince."

I rolled my eyes, walking over to the wardrobe. As I pulled out my ceremonial attire – a deep midnight-blue tunic lined with silver embroidery, black dress pants tailored to perfection, and my formal boots polished to a mirror shine – I couldn’t help but feel that familiar weight settle on my shoulders.

I dressed carefully, each layer hugging my frame with precision as I strapped on the black leather belt embroidered with the royal crest. As I buckled the silver clasp, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My hair fell slightly over my forehead, giving me that rugged prince look Natalie always teased me about. But there was an edge in my eyes today, a silent question burning behind them.

What was this about?

Why did my father want us both there?

And what secrets were about to unravel tonight?

Gods knew I wasn’t even remotely prepared for another round of drama. Honestly, I’d had enough chaos to last me, like, ten lifetimes. If drama were a sport, I’d already have a trophy room collecting dust somewhere in the back of my mind.

"Finally, something we agree on," Red muttered dryly. "One more mess, and we’re changing our name to Trouble Magnet."

I rolled my eyes, both at life and at him. He wasn’t wrong, but did he have to say it like that? We agree on a lot of things.

I adjusted the silver pin holding my tunic’s collar, then grabbed my watch and strapped it onto my wrist. The ticking of the second hand sounded like a drums in the silent room.

I had a strong feeling that tonight was going to be life-changing.

I could literally feel it in my bones.

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