Rise of the hybrid king

Chapter 6

Far across the border, deep within Crimson Moon Castle, Zane shot upright in his bed.
His breathing echoed harsh in the silence as his wolf Drake snarled restlessly inside him.
“What is it?” Zane muttered, pressing a hand to his chest.
A burn. A pull.
Not physical — something deeper.
Something wrong.
Drake roared inside him.
—She’s hurting! Our mate is hurting—
NO. SOMETHING IS HAPPENING TO HER. SHE’S SLIPPING—FADING—
A sharp pain lanced through Zane’s heart so violently he nearly doubled over. It wasn’t physical. It was bond-deep.
His fists clenched against the sheets as Drake’s voice grew frantic.
—They’re taming her. Caging her. Binding the wolf—
Zane’s eyes flashed molten gold.
“Who?” he growled aloud, fury trembling through him. “Who’s touching what’s mine?”
Zane burst into Rowan’s chamber without knocking.
“Get up.”
Rowan, half-asleep and tangled in furs, groaned. “Zane—what in the goddess’ name—”
“We’re leaving.” Zane’s voice was low, controlled, but Rowan could feel the storm beneath it.
That woke him fast.
“Leaving? At this hour?”
Zane’s jaw flexed. His eyes flickered gold.
“I’m sick of this mate problem. Either we end it… or claim it. But I won’t sit here and rot while she slips away.”
Rowan stared at him for one heartbeat — then swung his legs off the bed.
“…Alright.” He stood, cracking his neck. “No talking you out of it, huh?”
“No.”
Rowan nodded once, already reaching for his sword belt.
“Should we take Jade with us?”
Zane hesitated — then nodded sharply. “Yes. I’ll need her nose and her temper. Quickly — get the horses ready. Ashborn is far.”
Rowan grinned despite the tension.
“Finally. Some real chaos.”
———————
That’s it?” Sable whispered as the witch-fire died down. She flexed her hand slowly. There was no snarl, no tug from Nyra — just silence.
“I don’t feel her anymore but … no wolf beside her”.
The witch’s smile was chillingly calm.
“We sealed the wolf… but not what sleeps beneath her.” It will soon awaken 
They walked back through the hidden passage in tense silence. Once outside in the night air, Lexa finally hissed:
“You didn’t tell me, Sable.”
No answer.
Lexa quickened her steps, cutting in front to block her.
“You bound your wolf. Fine. You carry a Lycan. Terrifying. But this—” she clenched her fists “—this mate business—you didn’t tell me.”
Sable’s expression hardened. “Because it doesn’t matter.”
“It does! Who is he?”
Sable hesitated… then said with clear strain in her voice,
“Prince Zane.”
Lexa blinked. “…Zane? Of Crimson Moon?”
Sable nodded once.
Lexa stared at her in disbelief. “Your mate is our enemy. The one we’re preparing to fight.”
“Yes.”
Lexa let out a shaky laugh. “Goddess… no wonder you want Nyra asleep.”
Sable didn’t respond, but her hands trembled slightly.
Lexa stepped closer, voice softer now.
“Do you… feel anything for him?”
Sable’s jaw tightened.
“Nyra did. I won’t.”
Lexa studied her for a heartbeat.
“And when he comes for you?”
Sable froze.
Because deep down—she already knew—
He would.



 They crested the low ridge that marked the Ashborn border, moonlight slashing the trees into silver blades. Zane pulled the cloak tighter around his shoulders and nodded to Jade and Rowan without a word.
“I need to draw a scent–ward,” he said quietly. “Something to blur our trail so their trackers don’t pick us up.”
jade arched a brow, already bristling. “Can anybody tell me why we’re going into enemy territory at midnight ?”
Zane didn’t bother answering. He sank to one knee, pulling a small dagger free. With the tip, he carved a circle into the dirt and smeared his thumb across the blade — a shallow cut, enough for blood to bead.
To finally get rid of you, Jade.” , Rowan said.
Jade scoffed and flipped her braid over her shoulder. “You wish.” She swung back into the saddle, eyes glittering. Charming. Save the flirting for the festival, Rowan”
Zane finally stood, wiping blood from his hand. His eyes glowed faintly — gold burning beneath restraint. “Jade,” he said flatly, “I brought you along so that if we’re caught, I can trade you for a distraction.”
Jade scoffed. “You wish.”
Rowan chuckled, tightening his cloak. 
Zane turned toward the dark Ashborn woods — the pull of the bond burning like a tether in his chest.
Sable writhed on the cold marble floor of her chamber, the fever tearing through her veins like fire. Her skin burned, sweat rolling down her temples as her vision flickered. She clawed at the ground, gasping.
“Nyra…?” she whispered — but her wolf was silent.
Instead, another presence stirred.
A deeper growl. Ancient. Unfamiliar.
Her nails scraped sparks across the floor. Her breath turned wild — animalistic. Her eyes snapped open, blazing a vicious blood-red.
Something was waking.
⸻
Far beyond the castle walls, Zane stumbled mid-stride, clutching his chest as if struck.
“She’s in pain,” he snarled.
He broke into a run, leaves scattering behind him. Rowan and Jade rushed to keep pace, but he was moving too fast — driven by instinct more than sense.
The silhouette of Ashborn Castle loomed through the mist.
Zane threw a sharp look over his shoulder. “Jade. Get us inside. Now.”
Jade exhaled sharply. “Teleporting into an enemy’s stronghold is suicide.”
“Do it,” he ordered, eyes burning gold. “Or I’ll go alone.”
She muttered a curse in ancient tongue, grabbed both their wrists, and began chanting. Air cracked like shattering glass.
The world dissolved—
then slammed back into existence.
They dropped hard onto polished stone, landing in a dim corridor lit by flickering torches. Their scents were cloaked by Zane’s earlier spell — unnoticed for now.
Rowan winced, rubbing his tailbone. “Next time, warn me before you rip my soul out of my body.”
Zane didn’t hear him. He was already moving, head raised, following an invisible pull through the castle halls — straight toward the chamber where Sable lay convulsing on the floor, fire awakened in her blood.