The Hybrid's Second Chance

Chapter 3

Marvin’s POV

I had gotten to our training area early to set up the equipment so we could start as soon as Julia arrived. We had been training here for close to three years. In that time, Julia had shown amazing progress. It had been my idea to train her even though the Alpha had forbidden it. She wasn't keen on the idea at first, but I convinced her it would be a good thing. I planned to keep training her and train her wolf once she appeared tomorrow.

Of course, she couldn’t show she was able to fight, which made my blood boil. I tried my best to protect her but there was only so much I could do. If the Alpha thought for a second I was too soft on her, he’d release me from my duties and put someone else in place. His son, Logan, was going to take over soon, and I knew her life would get considerably worse after that. The least I could do was keep her safe as long as I could in my position of power. I was pulling out the punching bag, which stood on a metal stand, when voices caught my attention.

“Where are you going in such a hurry, half wolf?” I knew immediately who that voice belonged to. Logan had seen Julia heading into the woods.

“Da*mmit,” I huffed, running in the direction of the voices. When I got to where the chaos was, I saw Logan with his hands on Julia, and his two friends, Ian, and Tyler, standing just behind him laughing.

"You're getting mouthy," Logan told her, raising one of his hands about to strike when I intervened.

"Logan, Ian, Tyler, that's enough!" I boomed in my Beta voice, letting them know I was serious. Logan tried to act innocent, but I knew better. This man was turning out to be just like his father. His mother had died when he was six in a rogue attack, and Gregory had raised him to follow in his cruel footsteps.

Once I was sure they had left, Julia and I walked to our training area. The last thing I needed was for Logan to find out what we were doing. He wouldn't tell his father, but he would use it to blackmail me until I died.

We started our training with a 2 mile run, followed by some conditioning before we put the mats down for sparing. I had confidence that Julia would be able to hold her own if we were ever attacked. I felt bad she couldn’t use and grow her powers as a witch. I couldn't help her in that department as much as I wanted to.

"Don't forget to move your feet," I reminded her. We were circling each other, each waiting for the other to make a move. She lunged at me and I dodged, but she got a punch to my shoulder. I whipped around, grabbing her from behind, pinning her arms against her sides. She wiggled trying to get free. "Don't forget, use your size to your advantage." Because she was part witch, she was not nearly as tall as a wolf. At 5'4" and maybe 105 pounds, she could get in and out of positions better than someone larger.

She let go of all her body weight, and became like a lead weight in my arms. I tried to readjust my grip, which she took advantage of, snapping her arms up and out of my grasp. "Very good!" I told her. She smiled, proud that she was able to outsmart me. After another hour or so of sparing, I decided to call it for the day. We sat down under a tree to take a water break and eat the sandwiches I had my mate, Beth prepare. This was how we usually had lunch on the days we trained, which was most Saturdays after breakfast.

"Are you excited about your birthday tomorrow? 18 is pretty big, you're gonna get your wolf and shift for the first time."

"What if I don't have a wolf?" She questioned.

"What are you talking about?"

"What if my witch side is too strong and I don't have a wolf?" She repeated.

"That's ridiculous. Of course, you'll have a wolf. We knew the minute we found you, you were a werewolf, we could smell it. You're going to get a wolf just like everyone else." I didn't know where this was coming from. She had never mentioned worrying about something like that. "What made you think of that?"

"It's just something I heard a couple of girls talking about the other day. They were saying just being a hybrid doesn’t automatically entitle someone to a wolf." She looked down at the sandwich in her hands, not making eye contact with me.

"Listen, you are a wonderful person who's going to do amazing things. There's no way the Moon Goddess wouldn't bless you with a wolf."

"I don't know. She left me abandoned in the woods, only to be found by a pack that hates hybrids. It seems to me like she has a funny sense of humor."

"The universe never gives us more than we can handle. You have to believe that. I'm the one that found you, not the Alpha. He also agreed to let you stay, which was a miracle. Something good is going to come out of this, I know it." I put my hand on her shoulder and squeezed. Both my daughters had grown up and found their mates, going to live in their packs. It was nice having Julia here. I thought of her as a third daughter.

"I should probably head back. I told my mom I was hanging out with Naomi today, so I should probably go do that before she realizes." Julia stood up.

"Sure, I should go see the Alpha anyway. He's been trying to contact me; he'll be angry I've been blocking him. You should change back quickly because Logan saw you coming into the woods in one outfit and if he sees you coming out in a different one, he's gonna ask questions."

"Oh, you're right." She grabbed her clothes and went back behind the tree to change. Coming back out while stuffing her shorts and shirt back into her purse. "Thanks for the training today, and lunch."

"You’re welcome. Same time next Saturday?"

"I’ll be there!" She waved at me before turning around and walking back towards the border. I put all the equipment back, hiding it as best I could in case anyone came this way. Once I was satisfied with the equipment placement, I followed Julia’s trail back to the pack. When I got to the edge of the woods, I saw Logan and Alexis standing over Julianna who was on the ground. Logan looked up and made eye contact with me. I heard him tell Alexis to leave, which they both did. Julianna got to her feet, meeting my eyes, before nodding. I nodded back in response and kept walking. Gregory was trying to link me, and this time I let him through.

“Marvin!” He barked.

“Yes Alpha?” I responded.

“I’ve been trying to contact you for an hour. Where the he** have you been?!” He was angry, but I knew the one lie that would calm him down.

“Sorry Alpha, Beth and I were having some alone time.”

“Oh, I see. Well, come to my office when you’re done.”

“Already on my way.” He cut the link and I dragged myself up to his office on the Alpha floor. I knocked twice before hearing his voice.

"Come in." I pushed the door open and walked slowly inside, taking note of the tension I sensed in the room. He was sitting behind his desk, in his large black high back chair. He was busy scribbling on a piece of paper. His dark blonde hair perfectly quaffed to the left. He looked up when I closed the door, surveying me with his brown eyes, one bushy eyebrow raised.

"Logan tells me you’ve been defending the hybrid?" Of course, Daddy’s boy immediately told him about what happened in the woods. Luckily, after 15 years, I’d become a master at acting like I was doing it for the sake of his son.

"Well, I didn’t think the soon-to-be Alpha should bother getting his hands dirty. It’s not a good look to other pack members if he’s attacking people unprovoked. She was simply walking, which isn’t a crime."

"You know that rule doesn’t apply to her, people are free to do to her what they want."

"Of course, Alpha," I bowed my head in respect to him. "I just think people should respect him because of how he leads and not the fear he invokes."

"Fear is important, it let’s the people know who’s in charge."

"Certainly, I just want the young Alpha to start his reign on good terms before he takes over. He was also missing training, which is invaluable." He laughed slightly.

"Thank you for looking out for him and his image. You’ve served me well all these years." I bowed my head to him again but didn’t say anything more on the subject. Instead, I changed it.

"Is that all you wanted me for? Or did you need to discuss anything regarding Logan’s Alpha ceremony next week?"

"Now that you mention it, we should talk about that. I just received the finalized guest list. All the Alpha's and Luna's from the neighboring packs are coming, along with the Lycan King."

"The Lycan King is coming?" I was shocked. Lycan's and werewolves did not get along. Each thought they were better than the other and long ago that idealism started a war. Since then, we have all kept to ourselves, leaving the King to rule his Southern Territory how he pleased. We've been cordial with the Lycan pack, but I never expected they would come to Logan's ceremony.

"They obviously know how important Logan is and are finally showing us the respect, we deserve."

"That's excellent news, Alpha. Logan should be proud he has so many supporters."

"Thank you, it's comforting to know you support him as well."

"Is there anything else you need from me?" I asked, hoping I would get out of this situation soon.

"No, you're free to go." I turned to leave and managed to make it to the door when he called me back. "Oh, one more thing." I turned to look at him.

"What is it?"

"The hybrid turns 18 tomorrow, she'll get her wolf and will shift for the first time. Make sure she does not try to attend the ceremony for other pack members turning 18. She's not welcome and once she's 18 I plan to banish her from the pack."

"But Alpha, I thought she was free to live here?" I felt like I had been drowsed in ice water. Ray was frozen with his mouth open.

"She's about to be 18 and I've done what I promised. I promised to give her refuge until she was old enough to be on her own. She's old enough now, and I want her gone. I think I've been quite lenient with even allowing her into this pack in the first place. Had she been older she would have been turned away on sight. She's a stain on this pack. Make sure it's done. Take her to the Northern Border and send her on her way."

I didn't know what to say. I couldn't let this happen, but I also couldn't tell him no.

"Since she's already been living here for so long, what's the harm in letting it continue?"

"Are you insane? I won't have her here for Logan's ceremony. The Lycan King himself will be here!" He had stood up from his desk now, both hands flat on top. His Alpha aura was starting to permeate the air, making it hard to breathe. I knew I had gone a little too far.

"Apologies Alpha, I meant no disrespect." He stopped glaring at me and sat back down in his chair.

"What the he** are we gonna do?" Ray asked frantically.

"We'll figure something out. We have until tomorrow to do it."

"You can go now."

"Yes, Alpha," I said, bowing my head. I left his office and walked slowly to the end of the hallway.

"I don't understand how Gregory could be so cruel. For all he knows, she's never trained to defend herself. He's just sending her out into the wild to get killed. You know what happens to female rogues if they're caught by males."

"We won't let that happen. We'll find a way to keep her safe. We've been doing it for 15 years and I'm not about to stop now."