Hybrid

The Diner

At the moment Rachel opened up emotionally to Lenny, even knowing his secret, she was willing to face the consequences of her love. Even without being certain that this was really what she wanted, Rachel found it intriguing to be in a relationship with a werewolf, to learn about his culture, and to raise a child with him in the midst of the pack.

Lenny attended the same college as Rachel and had a genuine interest in her because of her strong personality and friendly smile. After he finally won her over, he made her believe that the love they had cultivated was enough, but obviously, it was not. Lenny was not the perfect boyfriend, and whenever he needed to apologize for something, he used his secret as a way to defend himself or, better yet, to play the victim.

Rachel discovered that the guy was a werewolf after a year and three months of dating when he accidentally scratched her face during his first transformation in front of her, leaving her with a horrible scar, which was also a sign that she was strong enough to calm Lenny during his fit of rage.

Promising to love unconditionally and take her to meet his parents in the pack where they lived, Rachel began to blindly believe that the danger she faced in this relationship was exciting and worthy of envy. Even knowing that Lenny's parents would never approve of his involvement with a human, overcoming the barriers to live this love was the girl's greatest dream.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea for me to go dressed like this?” Rachel asked, worried about the dress she had chosen for the occasion. Although she loved vibrant colors, she opted for a neutral one so as not to make a bad impression on her in-laws.

“I never said it was good, but it’s not bad either. Maybe if you dressed in a way that pleases you, you wouldn’t be so anxious,” Lenny replied, not even glancing at the girl’s silhouette, unaware of what dress she was wearing, as at that moment he was only concerned with the sermons and glances he would receive from his relatives.

Rachel swallowed hard; she was already used to her boyfriend’s coldness, but sometimes she wished he were a little more affectionate. Just like Lenny, the girl also had a secret she would reveal to him that night, something that would change their lives forever, but the fear of rejection was overwhelming, so taking it one step at a time and meeting the guy's parents first was the right thing to do.

“Are you ready? We’re late!” Lenny said, walking ahead of Rachel toward the car.

The girl took a deep breath, swallowed the excess saliva resting in her mouth, and got into the vehicle, noticing that Lenny had already started driving before she even put on her seatbelt. She brushed off his disregard for her safety and shifted her thoughts to the event at hand. If she was nervous about the meeting, how much more would he be, knowing he could face his parents’ wrath for falling in love with a human?

The trip to the pack would take about three hours, so Rachel played some calm music to help them relax a bit. Lenny's concern was visible, but if it troubled him so much, why had he invited her and told his parents about the visit? This question kept nagging at Rachel as she constantly glanced at her boyfriend, who kept his eyes fixed on the road.

It was still early; the sun had begun to hide behind the trees. Lenny glanced at his watch—there was just over an hour until nightfall. He knew that if they didn’t arrive in time for dinner, his parents wouldn’t bother to meet her. It was a race against time, as if the sound of the clock’s pendulum echoed in his head, prompting him to press harder on the gas.

The sun disappeared, giving way to the glow of the moon. It was seven o’clock, and Lenny’s heavy breathing gradually eased as he filled his lungs with air and let it out slowly, relieved. The pack was now visible—a cluster of houses with porches, warm yellow lights, benches surrounding extinguished campfires. The smell of dogs was embedded in every corner of the place, but Rachel was used to it. Lenny parked the car and unbuckled his seatbelt; the girl did the same, and when she turned to look at her beloved, he was already out of the car, without saying a word.

She followed him out, watching him expectantly, waiting for him to show her the way. Lenny approached, took her hand, and guided her through the benches until they reached a house where voices and soft music could be heard from a distance.

Rachel took a deep breath, held Lenny’s hand tightly, and they entered the house. An oppressive silence filled the space as soon as they spotted her. The voices ceased, the music was paused, and all eyes were fixed on Rachel, who swallowed hard, feeling the atmosphere press down on her.

“This is Rachel; be kind to her,” Lenny said, releasing her hand and approaching his family. Rachel stood frozen, still under their gaze.

“Come on, we don’t bite,” Lenny’s mother, the matriarch of the house, said, sitting down with the other family members around the table. The dinner was candlelit, but the atmosphere was anything but warm. The table was long, made of dark wood with intricately carved details, filled with sturdy dishes and wine glasses. It seemed there was some effort to please the girl. Still, his family watched her with critical eyes, as if examining her for flaws. Rachel sat between Lenny and a woman with long, messy hair who kept her gaze fixed on Rachel. She hadn’t introduced herself, nor had the rest of the family.