The Hybrid War

Chapter 3

3 years ago...

"What is it like to have a mate? Do you really feel nothing for anyone else once you find them?" I am asking Jack about mates because this week in training we were told that we have to learn to control our emotions so that we can stay focus on task even when feeling something as distracting as the pull of your mate.

"Your mate is that person that is made for you. They understand you and will give you great strength; they do also become the most important person in your life. Their safety is paramount and in many cases women stay back to protect others so their mates can protect the pack." Jack answered looking at me with an emotion I hadn't seen before. I knew he had a mate I had never met, she had passed before I came to live with him. He nodded to me before continuing, "Sasha had been one of those that stayed back, and it's true that not always does it mean they are kept safe. She was protecting young pups in a school when they were attacked. She saved the pups but didn't make it herself. Her death along with countless others is why all wolves are trained now, but it's also why you have to learn this control. The feeling of losing your mate is like nothing you will ever experience. There will be a time to mourn, but if you are distracted by the pain of your mates death it could mean your demise as well." He finished as he held my hand. I listened intently and then made a decision in that moment.

"I would rather stay without a mate, then I won't be concerned with the well being of another and can focus on my mission." I sounded sure of myself at the time. If only I had known what was to come.

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"It wouldn't make sense because I have found my mate, isn't that right Adelaide?" Lochlan stated as he looked me in the eyes. My green eyes boring in to his hazel ones; in that moment he had brought all my resolve down around me and I could feel a flood of emotions. I felt the rage burning inside of me, how dare he out this so nonchalantly; did he not care at all what this would mean?

Suddenly feeling a hand on my shoulder I turn to see Jack's face; I can see his lips moving but I hear no words. All I can hear is a ringing in my ears mixed with my thudding heart beat. I try and focus on hearing his words as I look down at the table and I notice I have broken off a piece of it in my hands. I look to the others at the table and everyone has a look somewhere between shock and fear; except for 2. The Alpha who suggested the marriage was looking at me with purr hatred in his eyes; he looked ready to attempt to destroy me. Lochlan looked, for lack of a better word, amused; this was a game to him. That thought had me seething again. At that moment I catch a glimpse of myself in the window as Jack abruptly turns me by my shoulders to face his with a jolt, again pulling my focus to him. My eyes have lost their colour, my fangs have come out, and my hands and face have partially shifted in to my hybrid form. If they didn't know what I was, they do now.

"Ladybug, you have to gain control. Breathe and release thjs; it's ok. No one is scared, just surprised. You are ok, everything will be OK. Just breathe." He keeps talking as I close my eyes and I feel myself slowly gaining control. My face and hands relax, highlighted by the sound of the piece of the table I was holding hitting the floor. When I open my eyes again Jack looks calmer and he nods to me with a small smile. "You're ok, we all are. Just keep breathing. Alpha, perhaps a small break is in order?" He states turning to Alpha Cain.

"Yes, let's break for lunch. Alpha Damian, Alpha Edward; My wife will lead you out to where the caterers have set up for lunch. I also thought we could spend the afternoon portion of our meeting outside." He sounded polite and calm but I could sense the anger and tension rolling off of him, having this many Alpha born in one room was becoming stifling. "If I could have a talk with Adelaide and my son, that would be great, Jack I suppose you should stay as well." He continued urging Luna Eva to guide the others to lunch, likely their mates would be there as well.

We moved from the table to a more comfortable seating area. The Alpha motioned for me to sit on the sofa and Lochlan sat down beside me, throwing his massive arms across the back of it, resulting in one arm resting behind me. He also made himself as wide as possible taking a very relaxed posture. This caused me to huff from the unwanted closeness; to avoid him as much as possible I sat forward with my legs crossed. Looking across to Jack and Alpha Cain the both looked amused. Just then a chuckle came from beside me, causing me to turn and see the same amused look on Lochlan's face; but there was something more there this time. Desire; he wanted this mating, I had read his initial indifference all wrong. He knew the Alpha was going to suggest the union and he forced himself to remain as stoic as possible to maximize the shock.

"Do you two need a moment?" My uncle Jack asks. I turn to speak but Lochlan beats me to it.

"I believe we are good to start, I believe our dear ladybug just pieced together why I wasn't so quick to announce our mate bond. " He stated, raising his eyebrow as he nodded to me. That caused both Jack and Cillian to turn to me.

"Yes; he knew the union would be suggested and he wanted to maximize the shock of this announcement. Though, I'm sure a more subtle approach would have made the afternoon treaty discussions easier." I retort, looking back at him. All he does is shrug, clearly less concerned with this negotiation and more concerned with causing conflict.

"Damian needed to be put in his place, he's been trying to marry me to his daughter for years. Your arrival gave me the ultimate 'never happening' and I wasn't going to waste it." He replied, his smirk highlighting his mischievous side. I tried to hide my amusement in the moment but I caught myself smiling at it as well; had the rolls been reversed I likely would have done the same thing.

A clearing of a throat brought us back to reality and we turned to the two men facing us. "You are right a more subtle approach would have been ideal, but Damian is a pompous jerk and needed to be knocked down a peg or two. Thankfully Edward has already agreed to the land negotiation on his end, so we don't actually need Damians support; though I was hoping to move his border a little further from where it is now, currently so close to the end of town."

The lands for Lycan didn't follow the same town lines the humans followed, we had our borders stretching beyond some and it made for some interesting times. Mostly the packs tried to keep a buffer of neutral land between the packs for safety. It would result in less concern of wolves crossing borders unannounced and cause less conflict. Damian and Cillian had no neutral land between them; causing there to be skirmishes often. The negotiation is more important than Cillian was making it out to be, but he knew he would need to find a different angle to make it happen.

"Now Adelaide, Lochlan, let's discuss this mate situation." Cillian states. He is looking at his son with a mix of pride and frustration. "For Heavens sake Loch, close your legs and give the girl some space. You look like a beast over there." His tone made me smile as Lochlan straightened himself out, sitting up some, but leaving his arm across the back of the sofa behind me. I wanted to dislike it but I knew I couldn't. Call it fate, call it true love, call it destiny, but whatever it is I knew just having him near felt right.

"I'm sorry Uncle, I should have said something immediately but I didn't want to disrupt the meetings. I assumed this wouldn't have been an issue for the rest of the day and we could have discussed it when we broke for the day." I explain, knowing this could have large repercussions for both packs.

"You are not at fault Laidey, neither of you are; finding your mate is a wonderful time but now we must discuss how to handle this moving forward." Jack responded. He looked at as both, then to Cillian who nodded. "For the rest of the day you two will need to walk the line of two Alphas that have found their mate, but also be part of these talks. The future of your pack Lochlan, and your position Adelaide, is sitting in the balance."

We both agreed, not yes having an opportunity to even speak to each other. As the rest of us headed to lunch we all agreed on two things. Firstly; that Alpha and Luna Cain, Lochlan, Jack and myself would have dinner together. The second was more difficult; in this hour break for lunch my new mate and I would spend some time alone to talk and get to know each other. At the end of the hour we need to be able to look like happy mates, content with this new realization, not two wolves at ends with their fate.