The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter-Chapter 107: A Hard Decision

Cassandra~

The warmth of Sebastian’s body against mine was like heaven. Vampires were supposed to be cold, unfeeling creatures, yet here he was, warm and cozy. And he was holding me like I wasn’t the monster I knew myself to be.

I traced my fingers over the fabric of his shirt, feeling the slow rise and fall of his chest. I shouldn’t have let things get this far. I shouldn’t have kissed him. I shouldn’t have allowed myself to pretend, even for a moment, that this could be real. But here I was, wrapped in his arms, savoring every second.

Sebastian shifted slightly, his fingers brushing against my lower back. "Tell me about yourself."

My body stiffened. "What do you mean?"

He let out a low, amused chuckle. "You know quite a bit about me, Brielle—" he paused, rolling the name over his tongue like he was testing it. I nearly flinched at the name. "You know about my company, you’re here in my home... yet I know nothing about you. So tell me—who are you, really?"

I stared at him, my mind scrambling for a response. I couldn’t tell him the truth—not about the demon, not about my real mission, not about the fact that I’d been Kalmia’s slave since I was sixteen, used as a weapon against his kind. No, I couldn’t give him that. But I could give him something else.

Half-truths.

I forced a smile, shifting slightly so I could look into his hypnotic black eyes. "I was born into the Wolfcrest Pack—one of the strongest and most respected werewolf packs in the region."

Sebastian’s brows lifted slightly, interest sparking in his gaze.

"My parents were warriors," I continued, letting the words flow easily from my lips. "Respected, honored. They raised me with love, but also discipline. They taught me how to fight, how to defend myself, how to never bow to anyone."

Sebastian hummed in approval, brushing his fingers absentmindedly over my arm. "That explains a lot."

I smirked. "Explains what?"

He tilted his head, smirking back. "The attitude. The confidence. The fact that you look like you could kill me in my sleep."

A bitter laugh nearly escaped me. Oh, Sebastian, if only you knew.

Instead, I played along, chuckling softly. "You’re not wrong."

Sebastian’s gaze darkened slightly, his expression turning more serious. "What about your family? Are they still alive?"

I nodded. "Yes." Another lie. "I’m the youngest. I have four older brothers. They were very protective...still are." I let out a small laugh, allowing myself to remember, just for a second, what life had been like before everything went to hell. "They used to chase off anyone who so much as looked at me the wrong way."

Sebastian smiled at that. "Sounds like they love you a lot."

I swallowed hard, nodding. "They do." They did. And I had failed them.

Sebastian’s fingers found mine, entwining them gently. "I like hearing you talk about your family. You have this... look in your eyes."

"What look?" I asked softly.

He studied me for a moment. "Like you belong to something. Like you have something good."

I forced myself to keep smiling. "I do."

Sebastian sighed, running a hand through his jet-black hair. "I wish I could say the same."

I looked up at him, waiting.

"My parents were killed when I was young," he admitted. "By an enemy I never saw coming. I was raised by someone who later turned on me. But then, I was saved by someone who naturally should have been my enemy, he became my light instead. Zane." A small, almost wistful smile touched his lips. "He’s my only family now. My best friend. My brother in every way that matters."

Something tightened in my chest. I shouldn’t have cared. I shouldn’t have felt this ache for him, this unbearable need to erase the sorrow from his face. But I did.

I reached up, cupping his cheek. "You have me now."

Sebastian’s gaze softened. "Yeah," he whispered. "I do."

For the next two hours, we stayed tangled in each other, talking, laughing, kissing—pretending like this moment could last forever. At one point, Sebastian had tried to leave the bed to make breakfast, but I pulled him back, refusing to let go.

"I just want to stay here," I murmured, my face buried in his chest.

Sebastian chuckled, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "You’re acting like I’m going to disappear."

I tightened my grip around him. "I never thought I’d have a mate. Let alone someone like you."

He let out a soft sigh. "I know the feeling."

I closed my eyes, breathing him in, memorizing his scent, his warmth, the way he felt in my arms.

But time was running out.

I opened my eyes, glancing at the bedside clock. Two hours. My time was up.

Regret settled in my bones as I slowly reached for the small vial hidden in the thin bracelet around my wrist. It was always with me, no matter what I wore. A single drop of the liquid inside could put even the strongest vampire into a deep, dreamless sleep.

I ran my fingers up Sebastian’s spine, trailing soft, feather-light touches against his skin. He sighed in contentment, pressing a lazy kiss to my shoulder.

"I think I’m addicted to you," he murmured.

I smiled sadly. "That makes two of us."

With one swift motion, I brought my fingers to his lips, slipping the drop of liquid onto his tongue before he could react.

Sebastian’s body tensed. His eyes widened in shock as he opened his mouth, but I was faster, capturing his lips in a slow, lingering kiss. I had immunity to the drug.

He melted against me, his grip tightening—then loosening.

His body relaxed, his breaths growing deeper, heavier.

He tried to fight it—I could see it in the way his fingers twitched, the way he tried to hold on—but the potion was too strong. His lashes fluttered, his grip on me going slack as he finally surrendered to sleep.

I swallowed hard, looking down at him. My chest ached as I brushed his hair back, pressing one last kiss to his forehead.

"I’m sorry," I whispered.

My fingers traced his lips, memorizing the shape, the feel.

"This is for your own safety."

I leaned down, pressing one last, lingering kiss against his lips before I forced myself to pull away.

I dressed quickly, my hands shaking as I buttoned my shirt. My legs felt like lead as I stepped away from the bed, away from him.

I turned back one last time.

Sebastian lay there, peaceful, beautiful, completely unaware of the war raging inside of me.

Tears burned at the back of my eyes, but I blinked them away.

Then, without another word, I turned and ran.

And I didn’t look back.