The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter
Chapter 83: Not Ready

Chapter 83: Not Ready

Zane~

I exhaled slowly as I stepped into the large hallway, my father’s words still echoing in my head.

"End it."

"She is a weakness you cannot afford."

"Then I will make her disappear."

The moment I shut the door behind me, I clenched my fists. The rage burning inside me was like an untamed wildfire, consuming every rational thought. Red prowled in my mind, his growl reverberating through my skull, itching to be let loose.

"No one threatens my mate."

I barely had time to collect myself when my father’s voice slithered through my mind, the cold steel of his tone sending a shiver down my spine.

"One more thing, Zane."

I froze mid-step, my pulse hammering against my ribs.

"You will take up the throne in less than a year."

I sucked in a sharp breath. My entire body went rigid.

"What?"

His laughter was deep and humorless, echoing through my mind like a ghostly whisper. "Didn’t we agree I had four years?" I shot back, my teeth grinding.

"You had four years under the condition that you would find the Celestial Princess. That search has led nowhere."

"That’s not—"

"And you’ve become... distracted." He practically spat the word. "A wolfless woman? I’m disappointed in Charlie and Nora, I thought they raised you better than this, Zane. That girl will cost you everything."

My jaw tightened at the mention of those vile creatures. I forced myself to keep moving down the hallway, each step heavy with tension. I didn’t want to have this conversation here, not where anyone could see the storm raging inside me.

"I have only spent two years from the four you gave me, I still have two years left. I am not ready."

"Readiness is irrelevant," he said dismissively. "I have spent my reign gathering powerful allies, securing the future of this kingdom. Even if the Celestial Princess arrives at the side of another man, my allies will ensure the throne remains in your grasp by all means necessary. I am done waiting."

A sharp exhale left me. My father had always been calculating, always thinking ten steps ahead. But this—this was a move I hadn’t seen coming.

"This is ridiculous father. Are you planning on fighting against the goddess herself?!"

"If that’s what it takes to see you keep our ancestral throne, then yes, Zane." My father replied.

"And what if I refuse?"

"You won’t," he said simply. "Because as of this moment, I will be preparing the world for your reign. You will slowly be introduced as my son—my heir. No more hiding behind a mask, Zane. No more playing pretend as Cole Lucky. You are the Faceless Prince no longer."

I stopped walking, my entire body tensing.

No.

He was taking my choice away.

My fingers twitched at my sides, an uncontrollable tremor running through them.

"You can’t just decide this without me—"

"You will attend a royal ball in the palace in two months," he interrupted coolly. "And when you do, you will stand by my side as my successor. And, I better not see that wolfless disease around you by then."

My vision blurred with fury.

"This isn’t what we agreed on."

"You will do as I say, Zane. If not for yourself, then for the kingdom."

And then—silence. The link severed.

I stood there, my breathing uneven, my heart pounding like a war drum in my chest.

This wasn’t happening.

But it was.

Red’s snarl echoed in my skull. "This changes everything we’ve planned."

I wanted to roar. To punch something. To teleport to my father’s office and throw his desk out the damn window.

Instead, I swallowed the rage. I buried it deep, beneath the layers of control I had perfected over the years.

Because there was one thing I knew for sure.

I wasn’t going to let my father dictate my future.

This war had just begun.

And I never lost.

**********

My boots struck the marble floors with force as I stormed down the corridor, my rage barely contained. The passing servants and guards shrank away, pressing themselves against the walls, their gazes lowered. They could feel my Alpha aura, they knew better than to get in my way.

My fists clenched at my sides, nails biting into my palms as I replayed the conversation over and over again. He had stripped me of my choice—publicly unveiling me as his heir, expecting me to take the throne without warning, without preparation, as if I were a mere pawn in his elaborate political game.

And then there was Natalie.

His complete dismissal of her, his disgust at my relationship with her, made my blood boil. If he only knew she was the Celestial Princess.

That thought alone forced me to take a deep breath, my mind racing. I couldn’t afford to act recklessly. Not yet.

I pushed open the heavy wooden doors to the visitors’ waiting quarters and stepped inside.

The moment I entered, Sebastian let out a low whistle and leaned back in his chair, smirking as he crossed his legs. "Judging by that storm cloud on your face, I’d say you just got your ass handed to you."

Fox, sprawled across the velvet couch, laughed under his breath. "More like someone tried to hand him his ass, but he refused to take it."

Tiger, as usual, was silent. He simply sat there, arms folded over his chest, green eyes watching me closely.

I shot them all a dark glare before turning toward the guards stationed at the entrance, as well as the ones patrolling the halls. Too many ears. I reached out through our shared mind-link instead.

"My father knows about Natalie."

That got their attention.

Sebastian’s smirk widened. "Well, damn. Took him long enough."

Fox whistled. "And? How dramatic was it?"

I exhaled sharply. "He ordered me to end it."

They were silent for a bit, then, they all erupted in laughter.

Fox, Sebastian, even Tiger chuckled—Tiger!—as if this was some twisted joke.

Sebastian wiped at his eye. "Oh man. He really thinks you’re going to break up with the love of your life just because he said so?"

Fox grinned. "Wait, wait. This means no more secret dates? No more sneaking around like a teenager in love? No more prince charming acting all mysterious?"

I gritted my teeth. "It’s not funny."

Sebastian waved a hand. "It’s hilarious."

I dragged a hand down my face before growling, "There’s more. He’s forcing me to take the throne in less than a year."

The amusement died instantly.

Fox sat up straight, his golden eyes narrowing. "Wait, what?"

Sebastian’s expression darkened. "That’s not part of the plan."

I scoffed. "No kidding. But my dear father has decided that readiness is ’irrelevant.’ He’s also going to announce me as his heir to the entire kingdom at the royal ball in two months."

Sebastian let out a low curse, shaking his head. "That’s why you look like you want to rip someone’s throat out."

Fox, on the other hand, leaned back with a thoughtful hum. "So, that means..."

I arched a brow. "What?"

His lips curved into a smirk. "It means you won’t be the ’Faceless Prince’ anymore."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Fox, I swear to the goddess, if you don’t stop enjoying this—"

Fox threw up his hands in mock surrender. "Whoa, whoa, let’s not drag my mother into this. I’m just saying! You’ll finally have a title with an actual face! No more mystery, no more lurking in the shadows. This is a historic moment."

Sebastian let out a dramatic sigh, rubbing his temple. "Ignore him, as usual. But seriously, I still don’t get why you won’t just tell your father the truth about Natalie. That she’s the Celestial Princess. One conversation and—boom—all this unnecessary drama disappears."

I let out a slow breath, pressing my fingers against my temple as if that could somehow ease the pounding headache brewing there. "Because the second I do, my life is over. Poof. No more freedom, no more choices. Just endless meetings, political nonsense, and decisions that will literally change the course of the entire kingdom. Do you really think I want to spend my honeymoon phase with Natalie debating trade agreements?"

Sebastian blinked, tilting his head. "Honeymoon phase?"

I met his gaze head-on. "Yes, Sebastian. Honeymoon phase. Not that you’d understand, considering you’ve never had a mate. Or fallen for anyone, for that matter."

Fox practically folded in half laughing, slapping his knee like I’d just delivered the joke of the century. Even Tiger let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all.

Sebastian, meanwhile, crossed his arms over his chest, looking like I’d just personally offended his entire bloodline. "Damn, Zane. That was brutal. You do realize it’s not my fault I don’t have a mate, right? You rubbing your sappy love life in my face and acting like I’m some heartless loner is just—just cruel at this point."

I smirked, crossing my arms right back at him. "Then find one."

Sebastian scoffed. "If only to shut you up."

At that, Fox and Tiger suddenly exchanged a knowing glance.

Fox grinned. "Be careful what you wish for, Sebastian."

Sebastian raised a brow. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Tiger simply shrugged. "Nothing."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes suspiciously but let it go. He stood, dusting off his suit and then said out loud. "Alright, let’s move. If we don’t leave now, we won’t make it to Vereth in time. I have business to handle."

I nodded, adjusting my coat. As we made our way toward the exit, Sebastian gave me a pointed look. "Stop overthinking. Everything will be fine. No matter what happens, I’ve got your back."

Fox grinned. "Me too. Always."

Tiger clapped a firm hand on my shoulder, his voice steady. "Brother-in-law, you are not alone."

Something in my chest tightened at their words.

I nodded. "Thank you."

We stepped outside into the cool evening air. The palace grounds were quiet, bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun. But as we approached the driveway where our limousine was supposed to be waiting, something... unexpected happened.

A group of palace guards—ten of them, all in pristine uniforms—marched toward us in perfect synchronization.

They stopped before me and bowed deeply.

One of them, a man with silver-threaded hair, stepped forward. "Mr Lucky, the King has ordered that we become your personal guards from this moment forward."

Everywhere became silent.

I stared at them.

Fox choked back laughter.

Sebastian whistled under his breath.

Tiger simply blinked.

I slowly turned to them, my jaw tightening. "Did I hear that right?"

Sebastian smirked. "Oh yeah. You’ve officially lost your freedom."

Fox patted my shoulder. "Congrats, Mr Lucky."

I glared at them, then turned back to the guards, my mouth parting—only to realize I had absolutely no idea what to say.

I closed my mouth. Opened it.

Then sighed.

Well.

This just kept getting worse.