The Unveiling of the Hybrid

A Secret Told

Star's Point of View:

Returning to the kitchen I see that Stacy and my mother are sitting in silence sipping cups of tea. I sit to join them. “There you are,” says Stacy. “Imma head over to my house to pick up all the stuff I need for the sleepover tonight and tomorrow,” she informs me. “No problem, take your time,” I reply. Stacy heads out the front door and goes over to her house, leaving me alone with my mother. My mother looks at me with confliction evident in her eyes, piquing my curiosity. “Is there something that you want to say, mom?” I ask her. She takes a pained breath.

“There’s something I want to tell you,” she admits. I look at her intently and she takes it as a sign to continue. “Many years ago, before you were born, before I met Marcus, I was nothing but a lost soul. I was probably near 160 years old or so. During this time, I was confused. Most wolves find their true mates by the time they’re one hundred and only a few find them afterwards, if they ever find their true mates at all. I was losing hope. I was beginning to ask myself, Starla, are you really going to find the one? Or should you give up and choose a mate? I know this must be shocking to you, seeing as how Marcus and I are but, as I said I was confused. Confused and alone. But then I met him. A man that was my very first love and the only one to ever gain my interest. I’m no saint. Like many others, I of course slept with people seeing as how I was already 160. But I never got into a serious relationship with anyone and I was always careful. No matter the circumstance, I always made sure to use protection. However, here I was, with my very first love and under the impression that I’d never find my true mate. I became careless. We were both madly in love and didn’t care about the consequences. We were together for years until one day, he found his true mate. Given our ages, we never thought that either of us would find the one, but we always knew that there was still the possibility. I don’t know whether or not his mate knows of me or if he even remembers me. Not too long afterwards, I met Marcus and in that instant I knew how it was so easy for my first love to leave me. Star, the reason that I am telling you this is very important. Marcus hates you because... you’re not his daughter.”

I fall back from the kitchen chair. It all makes sense. The reason why we don’t look alike, smell alike, act alike is because he’s not my father. Your true mate having a child with someone else before you’ve ever even seen them, I must be the most painful reminder of that. Every time he sees me, that’s what he must think of. My chest tightens and I feel like I can’t breathe. Am I having a panic attack? Oh, my gods, it all makes so much sense. How could I never see it before? “Nobody knows of this except for myself and Marcus. Your real father... he doesn’t know you exist. Marcus was furious when he found out I was pregnant with you and we haven’t been able to conceive a child of our own either which infuriates him even more. He lets you live because he knows that it would hurt me if something happened to you and as my true mate, he can’t bring himself to do that,” she explains. I take a few deep breaths as she helps me to get off the floor. “So, who is he?” I ask. “I can’t tell you. If I did, it would only stir up trouble. If you met him, things could happen to you. People would go after you, consider you dangerous. Have you noticed anything recently? Any changes over the past few years?” my mother inquires.

I shake my head no but then my clan marking from earlier flashes through my mind. “Wait a second,” I say. “I thought I was just imagining things earlier but maybe I wasn’t,” I continued. My mother looks at me with concern and asks, “Seeing what things, sweety?” I roll up my right sweatpants leg over my calf and show my mother my clan marking. My mom looks at my wolf marking and gasps. I look down and sure enough, it is still there. The wolf eyes are pure black. Then it hits me. I gasp and whisper, “He was a demon. My father...he’s a demon isn’t he?”

My mom looks at me with guilt. Clans have been forbidden from procreating with one another outside their clan. There are no guarantees that the offspring will survive even if one were to fall pregnant. Not to mention that thousands of years ago, the hunters viewed demons with animosity and went to war with them. About three quarters of the female demon population were completely wiped out. Common folk were under the impression that demons were all evil ruthless creatures that couldn’t coincide with other beings due to their religious beliefs which led in a worldwide attempt to m******e any females and prevent procreation of the clan. Even in today’s age, demon females are considered rare. The Flight and Tempted branches gave up on the concept of true mates due to the lacking female population. Although it's forbidden to procreate with other clans, it’s always been allowed to procreate with the common folk. Procreating with the common folk has a higher success rate of pregnancies and limits the power of the clan. To procreate with a different clan folk is unheard of.

“I’ll be hunted,” I say in a grim voice. “No sweety, only if they find out and I would never let that happen,” my mother says reassuringly. “Mom, even if the hunters and council don’t come after me, any unmated male demon will. My body is completely compatible for procreation and I’m the first wolf demon hybrid that I know of. Am I going to sprout wings and fangs? Gain the ability to turn into a demon?” I ask my mother. “I don’t know. Female demons take longer to mature and usually don’t hit puberty until they’re 18. The late bloomers hit it when they turn…” my mom stops what she was saying. “22. The late bloomers gain their abilities when they turn 22,” I finished speaking for her. “Only your clan marking has changed a little bit to show your bloodlines. If people aren’t paying attention, then they won’t even notice it and since you’re a hybrid there’s always the possibility that you’ll be completely normal when you turn 22. No demon characteristics at all,” she says to me reassuringly.

We hear the front door open and I quickly roll down my pant leg. “Star, I’m home, my sweet wolfie pie,” announces Stacy in a sing-song voice. My mother laughs softly. Stacy comes inside, “Oh...Starla, you’re still here. Haha. My bad. Are you staying for girls’ day?” asks Stacy. My mom gets up and responds, “Nope. I was just getting ready to say goodbye.” My mom hugs me and whispers in my ear, “Keep me posted, I’m so sorry sweety, and I love you.” I hug her back and say, “Love you too mom.” Stacy and I watch my mom go out the front door.