Hybrid: Between Alphas and Secrets

Shadows In The Darkness

Josh´s POV

The pain still pulsed through my body, every bruise a reminder of Alpha Marco's fury. He had shown no mercy. I knew my mistake was unforgivable. Losing sight of Alina, allowing her to attack me... But even with all the training I'd had at the Alpha's side, something in her made me pull back. It wasn't a simple instinct for self-preservation - it was something bigger, something I couldn't describe.

My legs could barely support me when I finally made it out of the dungeon. Every step was a torment. My body struggled to recover, but the pain was profound. I leaned against the cold wall for a moment, breathing hard. I couldn't show weakness, I couldn't afford to succumb to the pain. After a few minutes, I gathered my strength and headed for my room.

The hot steam from the bath relaxed my muscles, but it didn't dispel the revolt. How could I have feared a hybrid? My mind tried to justify my reaction, but the answer lay in the memory of her eyes. They were the Alpha's eyes. That didn't make sense, I could have sworn they had been black, but at some point they had turned red, like flames. Maybe fear has made me see things... or maybe I'm facing a bigger problem than I can understand, or that I can sustain if this all blows up.

I'm brought out of my thoughts by the sound of knocking on the door. Before I can answer, Marta enters. Shock and concern flash across her face at the sight of my bruises, which were already healing.

- What happened? - her voice carries a mixture of disbelief and anger.

- The price of a job poorly done,” I reply with an empty smile.

- Alpha did this to you? He can't... this is absurd! - she explodes, her indignation overflowing.

I hold her hands, trying to calm her down.

- Marta, please, no scandal. When I fail, I get the punishment that Alpha thinks is fair.

- But you're friends, you grew up together! What kind of friendship is that? - she asks, and before I can answer, she wraps me in a tight hug.

She pulls away a little and touches my face, her fingers gliding gently over the bruises that still mark my skin. Carefully, she takes a damp cloth and begins to clean a deeper cut on my arm.

- Does it still hurt? - he asks, his voice laden with tenderness.

- I've felt worse. - I try to smile, but it comes out crooked.

Marta sighs and continues to tend to the wounds with patience and delicacy, as if each touch was a silent promise that I wasn't alone. When she's finished, she stares at me for a few seconds, her eyes shining with a mixture of relief and desire.

I close my eyes, feeling her warmth, her presence. I can't deny how much I need her right now. I hold her waist, pressing her against me, and kiss her neck, right where I've marked her as mine. Martasighs and surrenders, her hands sliding over my chest.

Our lips meet in a hungry kiss, full of desire and need. Her fingers explore my skin as I pull her closer, feeling every curve of her body. I lead her to the bed and we lie down, our touches intensifying. Her sighs mingle with mine as our clothes disappear. The connection between us is visceral, as if our bodies knew exactly what to do. I move slowly at first, enjoying every second, every expression on her face. Marta digs her nails into my back, pulling me closer to her, and I obey her, plunging even deeper into this moment that is ours alone. Pleasure consumes us in an intimate and passionate dance, where there is no pain, fear or orders to follow - just us.

When I leave the room, I'm already more centered. Alfa is waiting for me in the living room, holding a small bottle filled with a dark liquid.

- It will prevent her from noticing you,” he says, handing it to me. - Be careful. I need you to get into her house and find any trace of blood from the Maybane who attacked her. As soon as you do, let me know. Get back to work.

I'll just sign off before he leaves.

Getting into Alina's house was easy. I already had copies of all the keys. The place was clean, but the smell of blood permeated the air. I started looking for any trace of Maybane. That's when I felt my cell phone vibrate in my pocket. My stomach churned when I saw the name on the screen: Unknown.

Unknown: Why did you leave your post?

That's great. That's all I needed.

Unknown: Why isn't she home?

I replied: If you know that, why do you need me to keep an eye on her?

Unknown: Don't be stupid. You need someone in the trenches. And because of your incompetence, I had to use other means.

My patience was at its limit.

“f**k you,” I typed and sent it.

Unknown: I think you must have hit your head somewhere. You seem to have lost track of who you're talking to. By the way... how's Marta?

My blood ran cold.

“Leave her out of it. Marta doesn't know about our business,” I replied immediately.

Unknown: Our business? I don't think it's just ours, since it involves your Alpha and his entire pack.

- You bastard,” I cursed aloud.

Unknown: Why did you leave your post?

“I had to resolve a matter for the Alpha.”

Unknown: I doubt it.

“Believe what you want.” I sent it and then added another message: “I'll get back to you as soon as she returns.”

There was no way I was going to let this bastard know about my karma.

I take a deep breath and put my cell phone back in my pocket. I need to be smarter. I can't let Marta get involved in this. She has nothing to do with my choices, with my past mistakes. I look around the house, trying to ignore the growing irritation inside me. I focus on the goal. There's something here, something I need to find before it's too late.

I approach the living room and notice a small scratch in the wood near the door. I reach down and run my finger over the mark. Dried blood. A trace of the attack. I pull a small vial from my pocket and scrape some of the residue into it. That should do the trick.

Before I leave, something makes me hesitate. An uncomfortable sensation runs down my spine. I'm not alone.

I take a firm hold of the gun in my holster and inhale deeply. It's not unusual for us wolves to have guns, they make it easier on many occasions when we shouldn't draw attention to ourselves. I turn slowly and hear a subtle noise, like controlled breathing. My instincts scream. I take a step forward and see a shadow moving outside the window.

My skin crawls. I know it's not Alina. The energy is different, heavy, hungry.

I run for the exit, but when I reach the door, a metallic, rotten smell invades my nostrils, a renegade perhaps? A low growl reverberates in the room. My wolf, Warren, awakens inside me, restless.

Something is wrong. Very wrong.

I pick up my cell phone and send a message to Unknown:

- Did you send someone to watch me? - I ask directly.

Unknown: No.

- I think a renegade has been here,” I mutter, smelling the rotten odor in the air.

Unknown: OK. Tell your alpha, I can't do everything myself.

I feel like an asshole when I quickly send a message to Alpha Marco: “I got the blood, but there's an unknown watching the house. Maybe a renegade. I couldn't see, but the rotten smell is suggestive.”

Alfa Marco replies almost immediately: “Go back now. If it's a renegade, that changes things and could be dangerous.”