The Lycan King's Second Chance Mate: Rise of the Traitor's Daughter

Easter~

For three days, life felt exactly the same. Or at least, that’s what I told myself.

Each morning started in my familiar little haven—our sun-dappled house tucked beneath whispering trees in a quiet, picturesque neighborhood. Light slipped through the sheer curtains in golden streams, dancing on the wooden floor. The air smelled like pine needles and damp earth, and the birds outside chirped their usual cheerful song. Nothing seemed out of place.

And then came Rose, as always—my little ray of warmth—climbing into my bed with her tangled curls and sleepy grin, her tiny fingers patting at my cheek.

"Mama," she whispered, her voice barely a breath against the quiet morning—the very first morning I started feel the edges of my world shift. Her warm cheek nestled against mine. "Where’s Uncle Tiger?"

I opened one eye, brushing a few strands of her hair out of her face. "Uncle who, baby?"

"Uncle Tiger," she said, very seriously, sitting up and blinking at me with those big green eyes. "And Uncle Jacob. And Alex. And Auntie Natalie. And Bubble. And Fox. And Eagle."

I let out a sleepy chuckle, ruffling her curls. "That’s quite the crew, sweetheart. Did they all show up in a dream?"

She didn’t laugh. Instead, she stared at me like I was the one who’d gotten something wrong.

"No, Mama. They’re real. We live with them. We always play together. Don’t you remember?"

I forced a smile, kissed her forehead, and wrapped the blanket tighter around her. "You’ve got the wildest imagination, pumpkin."