The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter-Chapter 28: Alpha’s Standoff

Natalie~

The sharp sound of the slap still echoed in my ears, but I had no regrets. My palm stung, but it was nothing compared to the rage boiling inside me.

Alpha Darius’s black eyes blazing with fury. His lips curled back, baring his sharp canines as he took a threatening step toward me.

"How dare you?" His voice was low, dangerous.

The room grew more tense, choking and electric. I knew I had crossed a line, but I didn’t care. Let him do his worse.

Before I could respond, another voice entered the conversation.

"Natalie, have you lost your damn mind?" It was the mate that took one look at me and thought I wasn’t worth it. Griffin.

I turned to see him standing at Darius’s side, his expression twisted with disbelief. He looked me up and down like I was something unrecognizable, something beneath him.

I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Oh, now you care?" I tilted my head, my voice dripping with mockery. "Ignore me like you always have, Griffin. You’re not even worth the breath it takes to argue with."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Some of the werewolves looked between us in shock, while the humans whispered among themselves, trying to piece together the drama unfolding before them. Even Luna Gabriella, Darius’s mate, had heard my words. She pushed through the onlookers, her sharp eyes locking onto mine.

"How dare you disrespect my mate?" she hissed, stepping forward as if she meant to put me in my place.

But I didn’t flinch. My body trembled, yes, but not from fear— from anger. I wasn’t the scared little girl they thought they could bully anymore.

Darius’s face darkened even more, his patience clearly running out. "Enough of this," he growled. "You think you can humiliate me in front of my pack and these humans and walk away unscathed?"

He snapped his fingers, and two of his enforcers stepped forward—massive men with cold eyes and even colder expressions.

"Take her away," Darius ordered, his voice full of authority. "I’ll teach her a lesson she’ll never forget."

My breath hitched, but I stood my ground. My heart pounded against my ribs, and a sliver of fear crept into my chest, but I buried it beneath my fury.

The enforcers advanced toward me. My body tensed, my muscles coiling, ready to fight—even if it was hopeless. I had little strength left, but I would not let them drag me away like some helpless victim.

One of them reached out to grab me—

But then, a strong hand caught his wrist mid-air.

A blur of movement, a change in the air—

And suddenly, Abel stood between me and the enforcer.

The enforcer stumbled back as Abel shoved him away from me, his face impassive but his stance deadly.

And then, on my other side, Roland appeared, his presence solid and unwavering. free𝑤ebnovel.com

Shock coursed through me. Abel? Roland? What the hell were they doing here?

I barely had time to process it before Darius’s furious snarl echoed in the hall.

"Stay out of this," he growled at them. "If you don’t want to be on my bad side, walk away now."

But I was already moving, stepping behind Abel and Roland, keeping a safe distance from the enforcers still eyeing me like prey.

Abel cracked his neck, looking utterly unimpressed. "I’d rather be on your bad side than let you lay a hand on her."

The enforcers lunged—but they never stood a chance.

Roland moved like lightning, dodging the first enforcer’s punch before slamming his fist into his gut, sending him sprawling onto the marble floor, wheezing in pain.

Abel caught the second enforcer by the throat, lifted him effortlessly, and tossed him to the side like he weighed nothing. The man crashed into a table, shattering glasses and spilling drinks.

The entire room erupted in stunned murmurs.

Darius’s expression was murderous, but he didn’t move yet. He was trying—desperately—to maintain his composure.

His patience was hanging by a thread.

"Move," he ordered Abel and Roland, his voice low and dangerous. "This is between me and her."

Abel didn’t budge. Instead, he smirked. "You see, that’s where you’re wrong. Natalie didn’t come here with you. And our boss gave us strict orders to protect her with our lives." His eyes darkened. "So if you want her, you’ll have to get through us."

Darius’s nostrils flared. His cool demeanor cracked.

"You don’t even know who your boss is dealing with," he sneered. "You want to die for a worthless whore like her? Fine by me."

My stomach twisted at his words, but Abel didn’t even flinch.

"Then bring it," Abel taunted, his voice daring and calm.

Darius was seconds away from attacking—his body coiled, his claws lengthening—

When a sharp, commanding voice sliced through the chaos.

"Enough."

The entire hall stilled.

Zane strode forward from the direction he had disappeared earlier, his presence was so commanding that even Darius hesitated.

Relief washed over me as he approached. Without hesitation, he took my hand in his. His touch was warm, steady and it felt so nice.

Darius growled, stepping forward. "And who the hell are you?"

Zane turned to face him, his expression calm but firm. "I’m the man whose men you just threatened. Is there a problem here?"

Darius’s eyes narrowed. "You’re their boss?"

Zane nodded, his expression unreadable. "Mr. Cole Lucky."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Darius scoffed. "Take your hands off Natalie and leave with your men. She’s mine."

At his words, I caught a glimpse of Luna Gabriella’s face twisting with rage. She turned sharply on her heel and stormed out of the gallery. Even Griffin looked at Darius horrified.

Zane’s response? Laughter.

Low, amused laughter.

Darius’s jaw clenched. "Something funny?"

Zane smirked. "Just making sure I heard you right." He turned to me then, his face serious. His voice, however, was loud and clear.

"Natalie." He met my eyes. "This man says you’re his; do you belong to him?"

I clenched my fists, anger surging through me.

"I do not belong to him. I never have." My voice was strong, filled with conviction.

Gasps and murmurs filled the room.

Zane turned back to Darius. "Well, there you have it. She doesn’t belong to you."

Darius’s face twisted with fury. "She bears my mark," he hissed. "That makes her mine."

Zane’s eyes narrowed. "How exactly did she end up with your mark?"

Darius hesitated, the question catching him off guard. He didn’t answer.

Instead, his lips curled into a snarl. "You’ll regret this boy," he spat. "You have no idea who you’re challenging." His voice was full of warning, but Zane remained unfazed.

Zane simply tilted his head. "Do your worst."

Darius’s lips curled into a snarl. "Mark my words, I’ll crush you." With that, he turned and stormed out of the gallery with Griffin and his enforcers trailing behind him.

The room buzzed with whispered conversations, but I could only focus on Zane as he turned back to me. His hand found mine again, his touch steady and reassuring.

"Relax," he said softly. "You’re safe now."

For the first time since we arrived here, I let out a shaky breath.

I wasn’t alone.

Not today at least.