The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter
Chapter 50: A Strange New World

Chapter 50: A Strange New World

Natalie~

I had never been on a plane before.

The entire flight, my heart had been lodged in my throat, an unrelenting weight of fear pressing against my chest. The moment the engines roared to life, my hands had turned ice-cold, gripping the armrests like my life depended on it. But Jacob had been there, warm and steady, his fingers lacing through mine without hesitation.

"It’s just a big, floating metal bird, Nat," he had said, voice laced with amusement. "We’ll land in one piece, I promise."

His humor didn’t help, but his presence did.

From the moment we stepped onto the plane, I had been treated like royalty. The flight attendants were kind, their smiles warm, their voices soft as they checked on me repeatedly, offering me food and drinks I barely touched. Even as we landed in Paris, the security personnel were nothing short of respectful, almost too kind. It was as if the universe had flipped overnight, replacing the cruel world I had known with one where people were actually... good.

Was this what it was like to be normal?

As we reached the airport entrance, a beautiful black car was already parked, waiting for us. The driver stepped out immediately—a man who looked like he was in his fifties, dressed sharply in a dark suit. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly combed back, and his eyes crinkled with warmth when he saw Jacob.

"Master Jacob," the man greeted with a bow.

Master?

I turned to Jacob, eyebrows raised, but he only smirked.

"Frankie," Jacob said, shaking the man’s hand. "It’s good to see you."

"You as well, sir," Frankie responded, before his gaze flickered to me. Instantly, he straightened, bowing slightly. "And this must be Miss Natalie."

I blinked in shock. "Uh... yes?"

He beamed. "An honor, truly."

Honor? What was happening?

As we slid into the car, Frankie and Jacob started chatting, their words casual but laced with familiarity.

"I can’t thank you enough for what you did for my family," Frankie said after a while, his voice thick with gratitude. "We will never be able to repay you."

Jacob waved a hand dismissively. "Come on, Frankie. You act like I performed a miracle."

"You did," Frankie insisted. "Because of you, my son got the best medical treatment possible. My wife can finally smile again."

Something about the way Frankie spoke made my stomach tighten. I turned to Jacob, but he only offered a nonchalant shrug.

Then, out of nowhere, he grinned and said, "Frankie, my friend, you’re one lucky man."

Frankie chuckled. "Why’s that?"

Jacob pointed at me. "Because from now on, your life will change for the better."

I frowned. "What?"

Jacob leaned toward Frankie, whispering conspiratorially, "She brings prosperity to whoever meets her. Especially those who are kind to her."

I choked on air.

Frankie’s face lit up, his hands gripping the steering wheel like he had just been blessed by the heavens. "Truly?"

"No!" I blurted, turning to Jacob with wide eyes. "Jacob, what are you talking about?"

Jacob winked at me. "Oh, come on, Nat. Don’t be modest."

Modest?!

I was the opposite of what he claimed. I was cursed. I was wolfless. I brought nothing but misfortune to those around me.

Still, Frankie kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Miss Natalie, thank you for gracing my car with your presence."

I forced a smile. "You... really don’t have to thank me, Jacob is being ridiculous."

Jacob stifled a laugh.

The ride continued in comfortable silence, with only the occasional hum of French music playing from the radio. About thirty minutes later, we finally arrived at our destination.

And my breath caught in my throat.

Jacob’s house—if you could even call it that—was massive. Nestled in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by pine trees and rolling hills, it was a stunning blend of modern and traditional architecture. The stone walls gave it an old-world charm, while the glass-paneled windows reflected the golden hues of the setting sun. It was breathtaking.

"This... is your house?" I whispered.

Jacob grinned. "Surprised?"

I could only nod.

Frankie got out first, bowing several times before finally driving off. I barely had a second to recover from the shock before we reached the front door. But just as Jacob reached for the handle...

The door swung open on its own.

I froze.

A young man stepped out, and for a moment, the world tilted.

He was breathtaking—almost unreal. Silky silver hair framed his face, catching the afternoon light like strands of liquid moonlight. His skin had an ethereal glow, smooth and flawless, as if he wasn’t entirely bound by mortal flesh. But it was his eyes that stopped my breath—icy blue, nearly translucent, shimmering with an otherworldly light. There was something about him, something that defied logic. He wasn’t human. Or if he was, he was something beyond it.

And then, as if the universe had decided one wasn’t enough, three more figures emerged behind him.

The second man had golden-brown hair, the color of autumn leaves kissed by sunlight. His light green eyes held a quiet intensity, like a force of nature in perfect balance. He stood tall, lean but strong, exuding a steady, grounded energy—like the mountain itself had taken human form.

The third had hair like fire, wild and unruly, as if it refused to be tamed. His eyes burned a molten gold, shifting like flickering embers. A slow, mischievous smirk curved his lips, promising chaos and adventure in equal measure.

The fourth moved like a shadow caught in the wind. His long, dark hair seemed to have a mind of its own, shifting as though unseen currents played with it. His piercing silver eyes shimmered with sharp intellect, his every movement fluid, effortless—like the wind itself had given him form.

My heart slammed against my ribs. I stumbled back, pulse racing.

Jacob chuckled. "Easy there, Nat."

Easy? How could I be calm? These men weren’t normal. They couldn’t be.

Before I could react, they closed in.

"Natalie!" The silver-haired one grinned, his voice like a melody woven with stardust. "You’re finally here."

The redhead reached out, gently running his fingers through my hair, his golden eyes widening with delight. "Such a unique color! I love it."

The silver-haired man’s gaze softened, his lips curving. "You’re even more beautiful in person."

The golden-brown-haired one and the dark-haired one stood slightly apart, more composed, but their eyes held the same strange warmth.

I stared at them, struggling for words. "I... I don’t know you."

The redhead pouted, crossing his arms. "Of course you do! Do you have any idea how long we’ve been waiting for you?"

Waiting for me?

What kind of fever dream was this?

Jacob, sensing my distress, stepped in. "Alright, boys, give her some space."

They hesitated but obeyed.

Jacob turned to me with a smirk. "Natalie, meet my brothers. Bubble, Tiger, Fox, and Eagle."

I blinked. "Those are... interesting names."

Jacob shrugged. "They suit them."

I turned back to the four men, my fear ebbing slightly. They were weird, sure, but... something about them felt strangely familiar.

Still, one question burned in my mind.

I took a deep breath. "Are you... mortal?"

For a second, silence filled the room. Then...

They burst into laughter.

"Of course not," Fox grinned.

I tensed.

Tiger suddenly snapped his head toward Jacob, his glowing green eyes narrowing. "Wait... she doesn’t know?"

Jacob’s smirk deepened. "Not yet."

A collective gasp filled the air. All four men clutched their chests dramatically, as if Jacob had just committed an unspeakable crime.

"No wonder you’re in human form," Eagle muttered, shaking his head.

Human form?

Before I could ask what the hell that meant, it happened.

In the span of a heartbeat, their entire presence shifted. One moment, they were otherworldly—ethereal beings with glowing eyes and flowing hair that moved as if caught in a perpetual breeze. The next, they looked... normal. Still ridiculously attractive, but normal. The glow was gone, their eyes no longer shimmered with an unnatural light, and their hair—while still striking—looked as if they had just raided a high-end hair dye store.

I swayed on my feet, my mind struggling to process what I had just seen. "What the hell... "

My legs gave out, but before I could hit the floor, Jacob was there. He caught me with ease, lowering me gently into a chair. His touch was steady, grounding.

"Breathe, Nat," he said, his voice calm, as if this was all perfectly normal.

Fox chuckled, watching me with amusement. "She’s adorable when she panics."

Jacob shot him a sharp look. "Leave her alone."

But how was I supposed to be calm? They had just transformed. What the hell was going on?

Then, as if nothing strange had happened, Fox casually asked Jacob, "So... did the prince find your breadcrumbs?"

Jacob’s eyes gleamed. "As we speak, he’s following the trail. He’ll be here by tomorrow."

My stomach twisted.

Prince? Breadcrumbs? What were they talking about?

I felt like I had stepped into a fairy tale—one that made absolutely no sense.

And yet, somehow... it felt like I had always been meant to be here.