Their Broken Hybrid Mate

CHAPTER 5 - ETHAN'S SICK PLAN

EMILY'S POV

The next morning, I woke up with a splitting headache. I blinked at the ceiling, hoping and praying, that last night was just a nightmare. But no matter how much I wanted to convince myself otherwise, I knew the truth.

It had all been real.

I let out a long, shaky sigh and pressed my palms to my temples. The events of last night replayed in my mind like a cruel loop I couldn’t escape from. Ethan, with his smug smile and dangerous threats. Lucas, with his kind eyes that I couldn’t bear to meet. Liam, who had looked like he was going to cry. And then there was me, standing in the middle of it all, breaking apart piece by piece.

I was trapped with them. Trapped by the triplets, and now, by Ethan's twisted demands. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push the thoughts away, but they clung to me like shadows.

And the worst part? I’d been forced to reject them.

I groaned and rolled over, reaching for my phone on the nightstand. The screen lit up, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the notifications.

Twenty-three missed calls from my best friend, Mia.

With a heavy sigh, I pressed the call button. It rang only once before her voice burst through the speaker.

“Emily! Finally! What’s going on? Are you okay?” Her words tumbled out in a rush, full of worry.

“I’m fine,” I lied, my voice barely audible. “We’ll talk at school, okay?”

“But—”

“I’ll explain everything then,” I said quickly, cutting her off before she could press further. “I promise, Mia. Just… wait for me.”

I hung up before she could argue and I stood up from my bed.

Getting ready for school was like a chore today. My limbs were heavy, and every step felt harder than the last. I had my bath and dressed up quickly, as my mind replayed every detail of Ethan’s threats to me.

When I finally made it to the kitchen, the smell of coffee greeted me. For a split second, I felt a bit of comfort—until I saw him.

Lucas.

He was sitting at the table, his golden hair catching the sunlight streaming through the window. He looked up when I walked in, his face lighting up in a soft smile that made my chest tighten painfully.

“Good morning,” he said warmly, setting a steaming cup of tea in front of me.

I froze, my hands clenching at my sides. Why did he have to be so kind? So perfect? It would’ve been so much easier if he hated me. If he treated me with cold indifference, just like Ethan. At least, I could have been able to convince myself that he didn't deserve me. But no—he was the only one who actually cared about me.

“Morning,” I muttered, keeping my eyes down.

I sat across from him, the tea untouched in front of me. I could feel his gaze on me, studying me, probably trying to figure out why I was acting so distant. But I couldn’t look at him. If I did, I was afraid I’d fall apart completely.

The silence stretched between us for a long time and finally, he spoke up.

"I made pancakes," He said, hos eyes fixed on me. "Care for some?"

"Yes," I muttered.

I had almost forgotten that I had come to the dining for breakfast. His presence literally sent shivers running down my spine.

After a quick breakfast of pancakes and tea, I rose up from the table and waved him goodbye. I didn't even have the courage to look him in the eyes and luckily for me, he didn't try to stop me as I made my way out.

Mia was waiting for me by the lockers when I got to school, her arms crossed and her expression sharp.

“Alright,” she said the moment I approached. “Start talking.”

I glanced around, making sure no one was close enough to overhear, before grabbing her arm and pulling her into an empty hallway. My hands were shaking, and my heart raced as I tried to find the right words.

“It’s… complicated,” I began hesitantly.

"Complicated?" She stared at me.

“Ethan—he blackmailed me. He has some, um, photos of me. Nude photos," I lied.

Mia was my best friend but I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth about my ancestry - the fact that I came from a long line of outcast witches, and that somehow, Ethan had found out my secret.

Mia’s eyes widened in shock. “What? How did he even—”

“It doesn’t matter,” I interrupted quickly. “What matters is that he’s threatening to release them if I don’t do what he says.”

"And what exactly does he want you to do?" Mia queried.

"He wants me to reject his brothers," I said with a sigh.

Mia's face hardened and she frowned. "You need to tell someone. The principal, the police, anyone!”

“And then what?” I snapped, my voice cracking. “He’ll still have the photos, Mia. He’ll ruin me.”

She fell silent, her jaw tightening. “Then run away,” she said after a moment. “Leave town. Get as far away from him as you can.”

I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. “You don’t understand. Ethan will find me. He always finds a way. Running isn’t an option.”

Mia’s shoulders slumped, and for the first time, I saw helplessness in her eyes. She always had a plan, always knew what to do. But now, even she was at a loss.

“What if…” Mia hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip. “What if rejecting Lucas and Liam isn’t enough? What if Ethan wants more?”

My stomach turned, and I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms. “I don’t have a choice,” I said quietly. “But if I do what he says…”

“They’ll be furious,” Mia finished for me, her voice barely above a whisper. “And jealousy…”

“Jealousy is dangerous,” I said, echoing her thoughts. I already knew that.

Before I could say anything else, my phone buzzed in my pocket. My heart leaped into my throat as I pulled it out. A text from Ethan.

Mia noticed the change in my expression immediately. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

I couldn’t speak. My hands shook as I unlocked the screen and read the message.

“I WANT THEIR REJECTION TO BE IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE SCHOOL, TODAY.”

My stomach dropped, and I felt like I might throw up. My vision blurred for a moment as the weight of the message sank in.

Mia’s eyes darted between me and the phone. “Let me see.”

Wordlessly, I turned the screen toward her. Her face paled as she read the text.

“That psycho,” she whispered, her voice trembling with anger. “He’s insane. He can’t actually expect you to—”

“He can, and he does,” I said, my voice hollow. “And if I don’t…”

I didn’t need to finish the sentence. Mia already knew what was at stake.

She placed a hand on my shoulder, her grip firm and grounding. “We’ll figure this out, Emily. You’re not alone."

I wanted to believe her. I really did. But as I stared at the message on my screen, I knew that Ethan's sick plan to cause a rift between myself and his brothers was already in motion.