The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter
Chapter 234: The Chains Come Loose

Chapter 234: The Chains Come Loose

Natalie~

The soft clatter of Darius’s chains echoed through the dim corridor as we stepped into view—shadows peeling away like old skin to reveal us.

His head jerked up at once.

Our eyes met.

And there it was—raw and unfiltered.

Shock. Disbelief. Fear.

He buried it quickly, but not quickly enough. I caught the twitch in his jaw, the slight flare of his nostrils, the pupils that widened a fraction too much before shrinking back down. He stood straighter, too fast, too rigid, like a man trying to salvage the last scraps of pride from a shattered crown. Once, he was the mighty Alpha. Untouchable. Now? Chained, dirt-caked, and completely rattled by the girl he’d once branded as "worthless" and "wolfless."

Zane moved up beside me, a living blade of quiet wrath. His face was calm, but the storm simmering beneath it was deadly. In his arms, Alexander rested peacefully—small, safe, unaware of the monster at our feet. Zane’s jaw flexed once as he looked down at Darius, and that single, sharp movement said everything: You don’t get to speak. Not after what you’ve done.

Darius, of course, couldn’t help himself.

"Praise be to the goddess," he rasped, voice hoarse and scraping like gravel—but laced with mock amusement. "Look who crawled out of the shadows. The little rat... and her royal mutt."

He smirked like he still had teeth. Like his chains were just for show.

"What are you doing here, Natalie? And with him?" His gaze cut to Griffin, sneering. "Of all people... The one who tossed you aside like spoiled meat. The one who begged me to banish you from Silverfang. What a poetic reunion."

Griffin moved before I could stop him. One step forward—fire in his eyes, fists clenched, fury barely leashed.

"That’s a damn lie!" he growled, voice low but laced with heat. "I never asked you to banish her!"

"Oh, you most certainly did," Darius purred, relaxing back against the cold stone as if he weren’t shackled at the neck, wrists, and ankles. He made it look like a throne instead of a prison. "You said she was weak. Powerless without her wolf. Unworthy of you. I did you a favor, remember? You tossed her to the wolves, and I just made sure she never came back."

I stepped forward then—fast and sharp.

"Enough," I cut in sharply.

They both turned to me.

"It doesn’t matter," I said, voice cold and laced with fire. "I’m not here to debate history. Besides, Griffin is someone I protect now. That’s what matters."

Jasmine stirred inside me, her voice low and deadly. "Say the word and I’ll burn his tongue out. Slowly."

"Not yet," I told her, mentally stroking her fur. "Let’s hear him out... then we make him regret every breath he’s ever taken."

Darius let out a low, bitter chuckle. "Protect, is it? What an idiot you are. You’ve got this all backwards, Natalie. You think you’re some kind of martyr now? Heroine of the broken boys? Please." He leaned forward, chains rattling. "You’re just being unfair. Sure, I did a few mean things—"

"Mean things?" I exploded, fists clenched so hard my nails dug into my palms. "You killed my parents. You murdered my best friend and his family. You MARKED ME AGAINST MY WILL! You ruined my life!"

"And I’d do it all over again," Darius said, unflinching.

His voice was low, calm—far too calm. That same cold gleam lit up his eyes, the kind of twisted satisfaction that made your skin crawl. There was no remorse. No hesitation. Just pure, calculated venom.

"Let the world scream," he continued, like he was delivering a sermon. "Let them point fingers and cry foul. Your parents were traitors. So were the others. Every last one of them. They got exactly what they deserved."

He tilted his head slightly, as if studying me—dissecting me—with that slow, predatory smile curling his lips.

"And as for you?" His voice dropped into something darker, uglier. "My only real regret?" He chuckled—a low, bitter sound. "Not bedding you when I had the chance. You would’ve made fine pups for me. Strong ones."

The words landed like a slap. Not even the chains could soften the blow of them.

But behind the smugness, behind the sick smile and taunting words, I saw it—that flicker again. That desperate need to still hold power. To still matter. To still make me flinch.

He didn’t realize it yet, but he’d already lost.

Zane’s growl thundered beside me, low and vicious, vibrating through the walls. His canines elongated. Red was definitely clawing to be let loose.

Griffin wasn’t any better. His claws extended, eyes glowing silver. "You sick son of a—"

"Stand down," I said, soft but commanding.

Zane’s eyes snapped to mine, glowing crimson with restrained fury. "Natalie—"

"Trust me."

Even Jasmine was growling. "Please let me eat him. Just a leg. Maybe an ear. He won’t miss one."

"Hold."

I stepped closer to the cell.

Darius was smiling. His smile died when I spoke again.

"If that’s what you regret most, Darius," I said smoothly, tilting my head, "then maybe I should give you an opportunity... to get your wish."

Silence filled the room.

Zane stiffened.

Griffin actually stumbled back.

Michael’s eyes widened. "Natalie... what the hell are you talking about?"

Even Darius looked thrown, blinking like I’d spoken in another language.

Then—he laughed. A slow, grating, greasy sound.

"Ohhh, I see. You’re talking big because I’m in chains." His eyes slid to Zane and Griffin. "And you’ve got a royal bodyguard and a guilty ex-boyfriend guarding your little bubble of power. That’s why you’re brave now."

I crossed my arms.

He kept going, smug and venomous. "You think a few parlor tricks and some shimmering magic make you special? I admit, you had me fooled for a while. That whole Celestial Princess act at the ball? Convincing." His eyes narrowed. "But I’ve had time to think. You’re not divine. You’re not royal. You’re nothing. A mutt pretending to be something she’s not."

He leaned forward again, eyes hungry with hate. "Once the people backing you figure it out, they’ll cut your head off. You’re a fraud, Natalie. Just a stupid, desperate little girl playing pretend."

I smiled.

It wasn’t sweet.

"Let’s test that theory then," I whispered.

He frowned.

I lifted one hand. The chains binding Darius rattled violently.

And then—

SNAP.

They broke.

The sound was sharp and final. Steel hit stone.

Zane stepped forward instantly. "Natalie—what are you doing?"

I didn’t answer him.

Instead, in the blink of an eye, I vanished—and reappeared inside the cell.

Right in front of Darius.

He froze.

The cell stank. Of blood. Sweat. Death. But I didn’t care.

He was taller than me. But definitely not stronger. He stepped back.

I smiled, slow and deadly, as my voice dropped into a whisper.

"No guards. No chains. No backup. Just me."

Jasmine purred in my head. "Finally. Let’s see how long he screams."

"I’m right here, Darius," I murmured. "Now’s your chance. Fill me up with pups, remember? Go on."

His eyes darted around, flicking toward the locked cell door. He hesitated.

I leaned in, voice softer than silk.

"What’s wrong? You said you’d do it again. Said I was nothing. Just a rat. You’re free now. Come and take what you think you deserve."

He didn’t move.

Outside the cell, Zane was shaking with restraint. Griffin looked like he was about to shift, and Michael had gone pale.

But me?

I had never been more calm.

Because Darius wasn’t the monster in the room anymore.

I was.

And he finally knew it.