The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter-Chapter 31: A Promise.

Zane~

Natalie trembled in my arms, her body so fragile, so light, as if she could disappear at any moment. Her sobs had faded into soft hiccups, her breathing uneven, her grip on my shirt desperate. I didn’t let go. I couldn’t.

She clung to me like I was her only grip on reality, and maybe, at that moment, I was.

Alexander was still wrapped around her as well, his small hands clutching her shirt, his little face buried against her side. His sniffles had quieted, but he refused to let go.

"I’ve got you," I murmured, running my hand gently over her back. "You’re safe."

I didn’t know if she believed me. I didn’t even know if she was fully aware of her surroundings anymore. But I meant those words. Whatever haunted her, whatever Alpha Darius had done to her, it wouldn’t reach her here. Not in my home. Not under my watch.

Her breathing evened out eventually, the tension in her body fading bit by bit. The moment I felt her muscles relax against me, I realized—she had fallen asleep in my arms.

I exhaled, relief mixing with something else I didn’t want to name.

Alexander crawled onto my lap, settling against my chest, his little head finding a comfortable spot against my heart. He yawned, his warm breath fanning against my skin.

"She’s okay now, right, Daddy?" his voice was small, sleepy.

"Yeah, buddy," I whispered, brushing his blonde curls back. "She’s okay."

I held them both, the weight of them relaxing me in a way I hadn’t expected. Natalie had been through a lot—I could tell that much. But I hadn’t realized the depth of it. Not until now. A panic attack. Over just seeing and speaking to Alpha Darius.

I knew that bastard had made her life difficult. But to this extent? To the point where his very name could shatter her?

If I had been curious before, I was determined now. I needed to know. I needed to make it my business.

Because whatever he did to her, I wasn’t going to let it haunt her anymore.

I glanced down at Natalie’s sleeping form, her face finally peaceful, her lips slightly parted as she breathed evenly. The contrast between the broken girl who had sobbed against my chest and the fragile calmness she had now unsettled me.

I had questions—so many questions.

For one, why the hell had she been sleeping on the floor when there was a perfectly good bed in this room?

I turned to Alexander, who was still wide awake despite his droopy eyes.

"Hey, buddy," I said in a hushed tone, careful not to wake Natalie. "Why was Mummy Natalie sleeping on a blanket on the floor?"

Alexander hesitated. His little fingers played with the fabric of my shirt, his lips pressing together. Then, in a whisper, he said, "Mummy Natalie is scared of fancy beds because in her former pack she was—"

He suddenly stopped, eyes widening. His small hand flew up, covering his mouth like he had just revealed a dangerous secret.

My brows furrowed. "Because in her former pack she was... what?"

Alexander shook his head quickly. "I can’t say," he mumbled behind his little fingers.

Something in my chest tightened. "Why not?"

"I promised Mummy Natalie I wouldn’t tell."

That caught me off guard.

Natalie talked to him about her past? About her fears? But why couldn’t she tell me?

I exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over my jaw. It wasn’t the first time I’d been amazed by my son’s ability to keep secrets. But the fact that Natalie—who barely spoke about herself—had confided in a seven-year-old yet refused to trust me was... frustrating. Very frustrating.

Still, I wasn’t going to push him. If Natalie trusted him with her story, I wasn’t going to force it out of him.

I sighed. "Alright, buddy."

Gently, I shifted my hold on them and stood up from the ground, cradling Natalie against my chest as I carried her to the bed. Carefully, I laid her down, making sure her head rested against the pillow.

I was about to straighten up to take Alexander to his room when I felt a hand grasp mine.

Natalie.

Even in her sleep, she held onto me like she was afraid I would disappear.

A frown tugged at my lips. What was she dreaming about? What was she so afraid of?

I sat down beside her instead, adjusting the blanket over her before scooting her over. Gently, I guided her head to rest on my chest, feeling her breath warm against my skin.

Alexander climbed in beside me without hesitation, using my chest as his pillow.

I sighed, my arms instinctively wrapping around them both.

For a long time, I just watched them.

Natalie—so small, so delicate, yet so strong in ways I couldn’t even begin to understand.

And Alexander—so innocent, so full of love, completely oblivious to how rare it was for someone like me to let my guard down like this. Red wasn’t even opposing, he was all for it.

I could tell now that Natalie had a pure soul. I could see it in the way she spoke to my son, the way she treated him like an equal rather than a child. Not many adults could do that.

I didn’t know why, but right then, I made a silent promise.

I was going to protect her.

She was going to be safe.

And I was going to get to the bottom of whatever haunted her—rip it out of her life like weeds choking a garden.

Eventually, exhaustion pulled me under, and I let sleep take me.

*********

When I woke, the first thing I noticed was the soft weight pressing against my chest. Their breathing was steady, quiet, and warm, and it made me feel fulfilled for some strange reason.

The second thing was the glaring red numbers on the bedside clock: 5:00 AM. Early. Too early.

Carefully, I shifted, slipping out from under their hold like a shadow retreating. Natalie murmured something in her sleep but didn’t wake, her face looked peaceful, framed by loose strands of her red hair that caught the faint light. I tucked the blanket snugly around her and Alexander, ensuring the cocoon of warmth remained undisturbed.

Silent as a ghost, I slipped out of the room.

By 8:00 AM, the dining room was alive with the low hum of activity. Natalie shuffled in, her steps hesitant, her cheeks were flushed with sleep. Her hair, tousled from the night, made her look almost childlike, but her eyes were sharper, clearer. Alexander, on the other hand, was a ball of energy, bounding into the room as if the world itself was his playground.

Natalie lingered at the doorway, her gaze darting between me and the floor. She looked... embarrassed.

"Um... thank you, Sir," she mumbled, her voice barely audible.

I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You don’t have to thank me."

Her blush deepened, painting her cheeks a beautiful pink. "Still... I appreciate it," she whispered, her fingers twisting nervously in the hem of her sleeves.

"Sit," I said, gesturing to the chair opposite me. "Eat something. You look like you need it."

She hesitated, her body tensed with unspoken fears, but eventually, she slid into the seat beside Alexander. Nora, motherly as always, set plates in front of us, the warm aroma of breakfast filling the room.

Between bites, I glanced at Natalie. "Do you have panic attacks often?"

The question froze her mid-chew. For a moment, her gaze flicked up to meet mine before darting away. She nodded slowly, her hands tightening around her fork.

I didn’t push. She wasn’t ready to talk. But I filed it away, a puzzle piece waiting for its place.

Later that morning, Roland stepped into my office. The man was efficient, as always, his expression was a blend of seriousness and respect.

"I found out that the GED exam can be taken at any time," he began. "But she’ll need preparation. Most people hire private tutors for this."

I leaned back in my chair, drumming my fingers on my desk. "Then find the best tutor money can buy. Bring them here."

Roland inclined his head. "Yes, Your Highness."

Once he left, I asked Nora through our mind link, to please call Natalie to my office. When she entered, her posture screamed fear, her body coiled as if she was bracing for something or someone to jump her.

"Come in Natalie, and try to relax," I said, my tone softer than I intended. "I’m not going to hurt you."

Her lips parted slightly, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "I... I know," she said, though the tightness in her shoulders suggested otherwise.

Once she was seated, I told her about the GED exams and how I was planning on getting her a private tutor. Her reaction was immediate—shock, disbelief, and something I couldn’t quite name flashing across her face.

"You were serious about helping me with my education?" she asked, her voice heavy with shock.

"One hundred percent," I replied without hesitation.

She stared at me, her expression calculating. After a long pause, she gave a small nod. "Thank you, Sir" she said softly, and this time, there was no hesitation in her words.

********

Three days later, Roland returned with news.

"I’ve found the perfect tutor," he had announced through the mind link, his voice was brimming with confidence so I trusted him and I asked him to bring the tutor over to the house.

An hour later, the tutor arrived.

He was tall, impeccably dressed, with sharp, intelligent eyes and a jawline that looked like it had been sculpted by gods. His dark hair was neatly styled, and there was an air of refinement about him that made the room feel smaller just by his presence.

For some inexplicable reason, the moment I saw him, I disliked him. Instantly.