Rise of the hybrid king

Chapter 4

Zane still watching where sable left , his mother ask him “”is everything alright zane? 
She-she is my mate mother !
Queen eye widen with fear 
Rowan sat there, still puzzled, watching Zane disappear down the corridor to his chamber.
He turned to Queen Erica.
“Why did everyone look… afraid?” Rowan asked. “Even you.”
The Queen’s expression turned grave.
She lowered her voice, making sure only he could hear.
“Because, Rowan… the Ashborn people carry Lycan blood.”
She continued.
“Our Crimson Moon lineage is controlled pure werewolf blood. Refined through generations of discipline. We shift when we choose. We hold onto our mind . We have good terms with humans.”
Her gaze hardened.
“Ashborn Lycans… are different.”
Rowan froze.
“Beastly,” she whispered. “Their Lycan blood is raw. Untamed. Some say when they shift into their true form… they don’t always come back. They don’t follow order , 
Rowan sat in stunned silence as Queen Erica continued, voice low and heavy with old history.
“Before the Great War,” she said, folding her hands slowly, “Lycans ruled over all wolves.”
His brows furrowed.
“Ruled?”
She nodded.
“Not as kings. As tyrants. Their blood was stronger — half beast, half god — and they believed that gave them the right to dominate us.”
Rowan swallowed.
Queen Erica’s eyes hardened as she recalled the ancient tales.
“They were cruel. Merciless. They treated wolf packs as slaves. Some they bred for war. Others for sport.”
A hush fell over the table rowan listen deeply.
“Our ancestors feared extinction,” she continued. “So the wolves united. All packs — Crimson, Elowen, Silvercrest — stood together. And with the help of a coven of witches…”
She paused.
“…they waged war against the Lycans.”
Rowan exhaled slowly. “And won.”
“Barely,” she corrected softly.
“Some Lycans were destroyed. Some were cursed. Some bloodlines… diluted.” 
So iam afraid if she carry any—
Rowan rubbed the back of his neck.
“So if Zane binds himself to her…”
The Queen closed her eyes.
“…he risks resurrecting a bloodline our kind once went to war to destroy.”

 The great iron gates of Ashborn swung open as Sable and Ethan arrived. Warriors stood in rows, torches blazing — but no one dared speak. News of her capture had already reached them.
Before she could dismount, a tall, broad figure strode from the castle steps.
King Aloha. Her father. Pride of Ashborn.
His fierce expression melted the moment he saw her.
He pulled her into his arms at once, holding her tight.
“My love,” he breathed into her hair. “Did they hurt you? Tell me — I will burn their kingdom to dust if they laid a finger on you.”
Sable’s throat tightened. She shook her head quickly.
“No, Father, I’m fine. I—”
But before she could finish—
Another presence cut through the courtyard like a blade.
Queen Selene.
Tall. Regal. Her beauty was sharp steel — high cheekbones, black hair braided like a crown, her eyes striking and cold as winter.
She didn’t walk — she marched toward them.
Before Sable could react, her mother’s hand shot out—
SLAP.
The crack echoed across the courtyard.
Sable’s head snapped to the side, cheek burning.
“Mother—”
Queen Selene gripped her by the arm and spun her to face her fully.
“HOW DARE YOU,” she thundered, voice like fire and thunder.
“How dare you disobey the sacred rule of our blood! How dare you set foot on their filthy land?!”
Sable’s eyes welled — not from pain, but from shame. From exhaustion. From everything.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
King Aloha stepped forward, voice low and warning.
“Selene—”
“DO NOT DEFEND HER!” the Queen barked at him.
Her fury wasn’t just anger. It was fear.
Her grip trembled on Sable’s arm.
“Do you know what could’ve happened if your Lycan blood awakened there? In their territory?”
Her voice cracked — the steel softening just for a heartbeat.
“They would have killed you. Or worse — claimed you.”
Sable’s breath caught.
Claimed.
Her wolf stirred.
Her mother saw the flicker in her eyes and froze.
Slowly… Queen Selene whispered:
“…Sable. Did something happen?”
She felt her pulse racing. She looked away.
“No.” She lied.
Sable didn’t blink.
Didn’t tremble.
Didn’t look away.
“Nothing happened.”
Her voice was steady. Too steady.
Queen Selene watched her closely… searching for cracks. Sable’s wolf, Nyra, stayed eerily silent inside her, holding the lie with her.
After a long, tense moment—
Selene’s shoulders finally lowered. Just slightly. A long exhale escaped her lips.
Relief.
King Aloha gently stepped between them, placing a calming hand on his mate’s arm.
“Enough, my Queen,” he said softly. “She is home. She is safe. That is what matters.”
Queen Selene turned away, hiding the storm still swirling in her eyes.
Aloha wrapped a comforting arm around Sable’s shoulders.
“Come,” he murmured, voice kinder than she deserved. “Inside. You both need rest.”
Selene walked ahead without looking back, regal posture restored.
Sable followed beside her father.


She sat at her beside table in her chamber 
Knock.
She didn’t bother to stand.
“Come in.”
The door burst open and Lexa flew inside, eyes already watery.
Before Sable could react, Lexa threw her arms around her.
“Thank the Goddess you’re safe! I—I thought he— I thought they—”
Sable managed a small smile, returning the hug firmly.
“I’m fine.”
Lexa pulled back, scanning her from head to toe.
“You did great, Lexa,” Sable added softly, cupping her friend’s cheek.
That made Lexa smile through teary eyes.
“What happened there?” she asked quietly.
“Who was that alpha?”
Sable’s face immediately hardened — turning from warmth to stone in a heartbeat.
“He,” she said through clenched teeth, “is the most annoying, arrogant wolf I’ve ever met.”
Lexa’s jaw dropped.
“He dared to touch you? Did he hit you?”
Sable let out a humorless breath.
“No.”
“Then—?”
“He chained me.” Her tone was flat. “Silver cuffs. And wolfsbane.”
Lexa’s hands shook with rage.
But Beta Ethan arrived on time .”
Relief filled lexa face.. 
She said nothing about the Mate Bond.
Didn’t mention how her wolf still trembled inside her.
Didn’t say how Zane’s scent still lingered on her skin, refusing to fade.
⸻
Lexa sat beside her, gripping her hand.
“Well… whoever he is… he’ll regret crossing you.”
Sable didn’t answer.
But her eyes — dark and unreadable — whispered a silent truth.
He already has.


Warm golden sunlight spilled across Sable’s chamber floor, stretching slowly toward her bed like gentle fingers trying to wake her.
She was already awake.
She had been awake long before dawn — lying still, staring at the ceiling while Nyra paced restlessly inside her.
He’s awake too.
Her wolf’s voice whispered.
He’s thinking of us.
Sable shut her eyes tightly.
“Stop.”
Nyra huffed.
You cannot silence a bond.
Sable sat up abruptly, heart pounding
She dressed quickly, in her usual light leather armor and soft cream shawl — nothing that suggested she had spent the night battling her own soul.
She walked into the balcony overlooking the Ashborn courtyard.
Warriors were training.
Servants were bustling.
Her kingdom was alive and peaceful.
She made her way down to the gardens.
The flowers were freshly watered, their petals glistening. Birds fluttered. A calm breeze moved through the willow trees.
Welcome back, my princess.”
The familiar deep voice made her turn.
Nox — her father’s trusted warrior and her childhood companion — walked toward her with his usual calm grin. Tall, strong, always steady. A comfort she didn’t realize she needed until that moment.
“I am glad you are safe.”
Sable’s lips curved into a small, rare smile.
“Thank you, Nox. I’m glad to see you well too.”
She stepped closer, looking him over — but her eyes caught something.
A fresh claw mark across his shoulder, faintly bandaged.
Her brows furrowed.
“What is this mark?” she asked, gently touching the edge of the bandage. “Who hurt you?”
Nox chuckled lightly, shrugging it off.
“Nothing serious. Just a scratch—Lexa got me while I was training her.”
Lexa, who had wandered into the garden silently, lifted her chin proudly.
Sable blinked… then laughed.
“You let her land a hit? You’re getting slow, Nox.”
Lexa crossed her arms. “He underestimated me.”
Nox smirked. “Never again.”
The three of them shared a quiet moment — the kind born from years of loyalty and trust.
But as Sable laughed…
Something inside her twisted.
Because for the first time…
Her wolf didn’t react to Nox’s presence like she used to.
There was no warmth. No flutter.
Only silence.
“Father is looking for you, Lexa,” Sable said evenly. “You should go pay him a visit.”
Lexa arched a brow knowingly.
“Or perhaps someone here wants me gone.”
She winked at Sable and slipped away, leaving her alone with Nox.
Silence settled gently between them, but not an uncomfortable one — Nox’s presence had always been a quiet anchor in her life.
He stepped closer, his expression unusually soft.
“I’ve missed you, Sable.”
Her heart tightened.
“I was so worried when I heard they captured you.”
She gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m fine, Nox. Can’t you see?”
He didn’t answer verbally.
Instead, he took her hands — firm, warm, grounding.
Her pulse leapt in her wrist.
“I can’t wait anymore,” Nox said, voice thick with resolve. “Your brother is arriving tomorrow. I will speak to your father about asking for your hand.”
Her heart raced — but this time, it wasn’t from doubt.
It was from joy.
Sable’s smile softened fully, her gaze lifting to meet Nox’s.
No fear. No confusion.
Only certainty.
She took one step closer, closing the distance between them as their hands remained intertwined.
For a heartbeat, Nox said nothing — just stared at her as if afraid to breathe, afraid she’d vanish like a dream.
Then…
He laughed — low and disbelieving — before pulling her into his arms.
Sable let herself melt into his chest, feeling the solid warmth of him, the familiar scent of pine and steel that had always made her feel safe.