The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter
Chapter 49: A Trail of Breadcrumbs

Chapter 49: A Trail of Breadcrumbs

Zane~

I stared at Griffin Blackthorn, studying the confidence etched into his face, the unwavering way he met my gaze. He truly believed he could just walk in here, demand Natalie, and leave with her. Like she was a possession. Like she was his to claim.

I tilted my head slightly, letting the silence stretch between us, my expression plain.

"Are you sure?" My voice was smooth, deceptively calm, but Red, was stirring in the back of my mind, watching Griffin like a predator watching its prey.

Griffin met my gaze without hesitation. "Yes," he said, voice firm. "Natalie Cross is my mate. Hand her over."

I blinked. Then, I laughed.

It wasn’t forced or calculated. It was genuine, a slow, amused chuckle that grew into something darker.

Griffin’s jaw tightened. "What’s so funny?"

"You," I said simply. "You think this is a store? That you can just walk in, ask for Natalie, and take her with you?" I shook my head, leaning back in my chair. "You do realize she’s not some item you lost and are now reclaiming, right?"

His eyes flashed with irritation. "She’s my mate."

"Is that so?" I mused, folding my hands on the desk. "Funny, because I remember you, Griffin Blackthorn."

A flicker of confusion crossed his face.

"You were at the art exhibition, weren’t you?" I continued, my voice deceptively light. "With Alpha Darius."

His fingers twitched against the armrest of the chair.

I smirked. "I also remember Natalie being humiliated in front of a crowd, being treated like garbage." I leaned forward slightly. "I remember you standing there, not lifting a damn finger to help her. In fact," I added, watching his face carefully, "if I recall correctly, you sided with Darius. Asked Natalie if she had lost her mind for talking back to him."

Griffin flinched. It was brief, but I caught it. His expression shifted, something raw flashing across his face—pain, regret, maybe both.

"This isn’t your concern," Griffin muttered, his tone suddenly defensive. "This is between Natalie, Darius, and me."

I scoffed. "Oh, so now she matters to you?" I tapped my fingers against the desk. "Tell me something, Blackthorn. If she’s your mate, why did you treat her like that?"

He didn’t answer.

I narrowed my eyes, the pieces slowly falling into place. And then—realization struck.

My lips curled into a knowing smirk. "You rejected her, didn’t you?"

His whole body tensed.

I tilted my head. "Was it because she’s wolfless? "

The silence that followed was all the confirmation I needed.

I let out a slow exhale, shaking my head. "Wow." I leaned back, crossing one ankle over my knee. "You rejected her because she didn’t have a wolf. Because she wasn’t powerful enough for you. And now, what? You suddenly want her back?" I studied him carefully. "Why?"

Griffin clenched his jaw, but he didn’t speak.

"If you really cared," I continued, my voice laced with quiet venom, "you wouldn’t have let her be banished from her pack. You wouldn’t have let her live in a homeless shelter. You wouldn’t have let your uncle hunt her down like a cornered rat."

His jaw ticked, his fingers curling into fists.

"So," I mused, "what’s changed? Why do you want her back now?"

His eyes flashed with something unreadable, but I wasn’t naïve enough to believe it was remorse.

"You don’t need to interrogate me," Griffin said tightly. "I didn’t come here to be judged. Just hand her over."

I laughed again. "Hand her over?" I echoed, amused. "You really don’t get it, do you?"

Before I could say more, a small voice interrupted.

"Daddy?"

I turned my head, watching as Alexander abandoned his Legos and made his way to my desk. His tiny feet padded across the floor, his sleepy eyes blinking up at me.

Griffin’s gaze flicked to the boy, momentarily thrown off.

Alexander tugged on my sleeve, glancing at Griffin before turning his wide, innocent eyes back to me. "Why does this man want to take Mummy Natalie?"

Griffin stiffened. His gaze snapped to me. "Mummy Natalie?" he repeated, clearly thrown.

Alexander puffed up his little chest. "Mummy Natalie is my Mummy!" he said proudly.

Griffin looked absolutely bewildered. "Why is he calling her that?"

I couldn’t hide my amusement. "Because," I said smoothly, "she’s his mother."

Griffin’s expression twisted into one of disbelief. "That’s ridiculous."

I turned to Alexander. "Go play, little one. No one is taking your Mummy Natalie away. Remember uncle Seb’s promised."

Alexander studied Griffin skeptically, then nodded, satisfied. "Okay, Daddy." He gave Griffin one last suspicious look before turning and marching back to his toys.

Griffin exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "This is insane."

I smirked. "You have no idea."

His frustration boiled over. "I don’t have time for this," he snapped, standing abruptly. His chair scraped against the floor. "Mark my words, Lucky—"

"That’s Mr. Lucky to you," I cut in smoothly.

His gray eyes flashed with fury. "I will get her back. No matter what. And if you know what’s good for you, you won’t stand in my way."

I simply arched a brow. "Big talk for someone who already lost her once."

His jaw tightened, and with one final glare, he turned and stormed out of my office, the door slamming behind him.

I sighed, rubbing my temple. What the hell was Griffin playing at?

*********

Later that evening, I was back home, sitting in my living room. The room was quiet and warm.The evening was still, save for the faint crackling of the fire and the rhythmic breathing of the small boy curled up in my lap.

Alexander’s tiny fingers clutched the fabric of my sleeve, his face serene in sleep, his chest rising and falling in soft, steady rhythms. I absentmindedly ran my fingers through his soft curls, the familiar gesture calming me even as my mind churned with thoughts.

Griffin Blackthorn.

I didn’t like surprises. I especially didn’t like surprises wrapped in arrogance and served with an air of self-importance. The fact that Griffin had the audacity to show up at my office today, looking for Natalie as though she were a misplaced item, made my blood simmer.

Natalie.

My fingers stilled in Alexander’s hair.

Why had she never told me about Griffin? About the rejection? And more importantly—where could she be? Was she safe? Had she eaten today?

Oh Goddess, please keep her safe.

I exhaled sharply.

Then came a whoosh sound from outside, like the sound of wind, and I instantly knew who it was.

"Come in," I called, my voice low.

The door swung open, and there stood Sebastian, looking every bit like he had just stepped off the cover of a high-end fashion magazine. He always loved to look his best even at night, it was ridiculous. His perfectly tailored suit clung to him in a way that screamed expensive, and, as always, a smirk danced at the edges of his lips like he was perpetually entertained by the world around him.

Sebastian was many things—arrogant, insufferably dramatic, and incapable of reading a room—but, he always delivered on his promises. And judging by the look on his face, he had something important to say.

Sebastian’s sharp gaze scanned me before settling on Alex. "You look like a dad from one of those human Hallmark movies. Cute."

I rolled my eyes. "Did you come here to be annoying, or do you actually have something useful to say?"

"I have news," he announced, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

I arched a brow. "What kind of news? Have you found her?"

Sebastian’s gaze flicked down to Alexander again, who stirred slightly but remained asleep. He met my eyes again. "The kind we should discuss privately."

I studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Come to my study."

Carefully, I adjusted Alexander in my arms, ensuring he didn’t wake, before rising to my feet. His tiny arms tightened around my arm for a moment, as if sensing my movement, but he didn’t stir beyond that.

Sebastian stepped aside, watching as I carried Alexander down the hallway.

"You know," he mused as he followed behind me, "for someone who claims to be cold and heartless, you’re disgustingly gentle with that kid."

I rolled my eyes. "Try saying that again when he’s awake and throwing a tantrum because I won’t let him eat five cookies before dinner."

Sebastian chuckled. "Fair point."

We reached my study, and I pushed the door open with my elbow before stepping inside. The room smelled of leather and aged paper, the scent of old books lingering in the air. The fireplace here was unlit, but the low glow of the lamps provided enough illumination.

I crossed the room and gently laid Alexander down on the couch, tucking a blanket around him. He barely stirred, his small eyelids twitching in sleep.

Sebastian perched himself on the edge of my desk, arms crossed, his usual smirk still in place.

"Alright," I said, turning to him. "Talk."

Sebastian tilted his head slightly, as if savoring the moment before he finally spoke. "I had my secret service people track Natalie."

My spine straightened.

"I gave them her picture and asked them to check CCTV footage across the state," he continued. "They did. And guess where they found her?"

A slow, uneasy feeling crept up my spine.

"Where?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

Sebastian’s smirk widened, but there was a spark in his eyes. "The airport."

I frowned. "The airport?"

"Mm-hmm," he hummed. "With Jacob."

I froze.

"What?"

"And not just that," he added, watching my reaction carefully. "They booked a flight."

I took a slow breath, forcing my voice to remain even. "To where?"

Sebastian’s smirk vanished.

"Paris."

For a second, everything around me felt distant—like I had been plunged underwater and all the sounds in the room had become muffled.

Then, the words exploded out of me.

"WHAT?!"

Alexander stirred in his sleep, a tiny whimper escaping his lips. My heart dropped as I looked down at him, immediately regretting my outburst.

I ran a soothing hand over his head. "Shh, little one," I murmured. "It’s okay. Go back to sleep."

He let out a soft sigh, nuzzling into the blanket before his breathing evened out again.

Sebastian, ever the menace, smirked. "Maybe try not yelling like an insane person while in a room with a sleeping child?"

I shot him a glare. "You’re telling me Natalie and Jacob just... decided to fly to Paris? In less than twenty-four hours? How the hell did Jacob even get her travel papers that fast?"

Sebastian shrugged. "That’s the interesting part. I don’t know. But..." He leaned forward slightly, his tone dropping into something more serious. "Something about the CCTV footage caught my attention."

I narrowed my eyes. "What?"

Sebastian held my gaze, the playful edge in his character vanishing.

"They were seen in almost every camera," he said slowly. "Every street camera, every building entrance, the security feeds at the airport—all of it. Up until they passed the boarding line."

My grip tightened on the edge of my desk.

Sebastian’s lips curled slightly. "It’s almost like they were leaving a trail of breadcrumbs."

I exhaled sharply. "Breadcrumbs..."

"Like they wanted to be seen," Sebastian continued. "Wanted to be found."

I clenched my jaw.

Natalie.

What the hell are you doing with Jacob?

I straighten and looked Sebastian dead in the eyes, "then, I’m following those breadcrumbs."

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