The Hybrid

Chapter 44

Ryder stood outside the door, his hand resting on the handle as a flood of emotions surged through him. He had never felt so uncertain, so unsure of what he would face on the other side. Kyra’s anger earlier had been a force of nature, a mix of pain, betrayal, and rage. He had never seen her like that, not even during the confrontation with Amber. This was something deeper, rawer—something that terrified him because he didn’t know if he could help her through it.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, steadying himself. He could feel her emotions even from here: a storm of anger, sadness, and exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him. Ryder wasn’t one to hesitate, but this wasn’t a battle he could charge into blindly. He needed to tread carefully, for her sake and his own.

Finally, he opened the door, stepping inside quietly. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of moonlight streaming through the window. Kyra stood by the glass, her back to him, watching the snow fall outside. She didn’t turn when he entered, but Ryder could feel the tension radiating from her.

“Kyra,” he started softly, his voice careful, almost hesitant. “I’m sor—”

Kyra whipped around, her burgundy eyes blazing with anger. “How could you, Ryder?” she snapped, her voice trembling with fury. “How could you bring him here after what he did?”

Ryder felt the full weight of her anger hit him like a blow, but he stood firm. “Kyra, he’s the only one who has answers,” he replied, his voice steady but filled with urgency. “The answers we need to figure this out, to stop Wyatt and Evelyn.”

Kyra’s eyes narrowed, and her voice rose, filled with pain and betrayal. “He tried to kill me, Ryder! He killed my mother! And for what? Because he was afraid of something he couldn’t control? Of something stronger than him?”

Ryder took a step closer, his hands raised in a calming gesture. “Kyra, I know you’re angry. You have every right to be. But Rodrick might be the key to understanding what’s happening. We need him—”

“Need him?” Kyra shouted, cutting him off. “Do you even know what I’ve been through because of him? Do you know what Wyatt did to me when he found out what I was?” Her voice cracked, the anger giving way to raw, unfiltered pain. “Do you want to know, Ryder? Do you want to hear every horrible detail?”

Ryder’s chest tightened, his heart breaking at the sight of her. “Kyra, please…” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

But she wasn’t finished. Her voice trembled as she continued, her gaze distant as if she were reliving the horrors. “Wyatt tortured me. Beat me. And…” Her voice cracked, and tears filled her eyes. “And he touched me. Against my will.”

Ryder’s jaw tightened, and his breathing grew heavier, his rage barely contained. He clenched his fists, his entire body trembling with the effort to stay calm for her. “Kyra,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

Kyra shook her head, her eyes glassy with tears. “He wasn’t always like that,” she said, her tone softening briefly. “Growing up, he was kind. He protected me from bullies, taught me how to fight. His wife, Alice, was the sweetest woman I’d ever met. They loved each other so much. I envied them.” She let out a bitter chuckle, her expression turning dark. “But then I hit puberty, and everything changed. That’s when the monster came out.”

Ryder closed the distance between them, his hand gently brushing her arm. “Kyra, no one could have known. What happened to you—it’s not your fault. And it’s not Rodrick’s fault for what Wyatt became.”

Kyra flinched at his touch but didn’t pull away. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with anger and pain. “But it is his fault for abandoning me. For letting me suffer. He was supposed to protect me, Ryder. He failed.”

Ryder cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs gently wiping away her tears. “I know he failed you, Kyra. And I won’t make excuses for him. But I promise you, I’ll never let anyone hurt you again. Do you hear me? Never.”

Kyra’s lips quivered, and for a moment, the fire in her eyes dimmed. “I don’t know if I can keep fighting, Ryder.I’m so tired of being strong all the time. Of fighting battles I never asked for. I’m tired of being a weapon, a prophecy, something everyone wants to control.”

Ryder pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest. “You’re not a weapon, Kyra. You’re not a prophecy. You’re you. And that’s enough. For me, for this pack—for all of us. You don’t have to carry this alone anymore. Let me help you.”

Her lips quivered as she tried to hold back a sob, but it broke free, and she collapsed against him, letting herself feel the safety of his embrace. For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to let go, even if only for a moment.

They stood like that for a long time, the snow continuing to fall outside the window. Ryder held her as if she might shatter, his heart silently vowing to protect her from everything—even from herself.

Finally, Kyra pulled away, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and hesitation. “I don’t know if I can trust Rodrick, Ryder. I don’t know if I can trust anyone but you.”

Ryder nodded, his hand resting on her cheek. “I understand. But for now, we need him. He knows things we don’t, and we need every advantage we can get against Wyatt and Evelyn.”

Kyra took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “Fine. But if he crosses me again, Ryder, I won’t hold back. He won’t get another chance.”

Ryder gave her a small smile. “Fair enough. Now, why don’t you get some rest? I’ll handle Rodrick and make sure he doesn’t overstep.”

Kyra hesitated, then nodded. “Okay. But Ryder…”

He raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”

Her voice was soft, almost fragile. “Don’t leave me for too long.”

He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. “I’m not going anywhere.”

As Kyra settled onto the bed, Ryder turned toward the door, his mind racing. Rodrick’s arrival had brought more questions than answers, and the path ahead was full of uncertainty. But one thing was clear—he would do whatever it took to protect Kyra, no matter the cost.

Ryder made his way to door, he had to go talk to Rodrick and confront him.

Ryder took a deep breath as he stood outside the bedroom door, leaning heavily against the frame. His emotions were in turmoil—anger, sadness, and a burning need for answers. Kyra’s pain was unbearable, and the thought of what Wyatt had done to her was like a dagger in his chest. He had to get away, to clear his head before his emotions consumed him completely.

Straightening, he made his way down the hall, each step heavy with purpose. He needed to confront Rodrick. The man had been at the center of everything, always holding back pieces of the truth, and Ryder wasn’t going to let him walk away without answers.

When Ryder entered the dining room, he found Rodrick sitting at the bar, casually sipping a martini. The sight ignited a spark of anger in Ryder—how could the man sit so calmly when Kyra’s entire world was crumbling?

Rodrick didn’t even turn around, though he acknowledged Ryder’s presence. “Whiskey’s on the counter,” he said, taking another sip of his drink. “I figured you’d need it.”

Ryder walked up to the bar, grabbed a glass, and poured himself a generous helping of whiskey. He downed it in one swallow, the burn barely registering. Slamming the glass on the bar, he finally broke the tense silence.

Rodrick glanced sideways at him. “The council will be here first thing tomorrow morning,” he said evenly. “They’re not thrilled, but they’ll come.”

Ryder ignored the comment, his tone dark and gravelly. “Did you know what Wyatt did to Kyra?”

Rodrick tensed slightly, setting his martini down with deliberate care. “Ryder, there’s no point in dredging up the past—”

Ryder’s glass shattered against the wall as he hurled it with all his strength. His roar reverberated through the room. “Did you know?!”

Rodrick’s face hardened, and he turned to fully face Ryder. “Yes,” he said, his voice flat, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.

Ryder’s breath came in heavy bursts, his fists clenched tight enough to draw blood. “And you did nothing to stop him?” His voice was low, dangerous.

Rodrick’s stone mask cracked as he furrowed his brow. “Do you think I just sat back and let it happen? I tried to reason with him, Ryder. But Wyatt wasn’t just a man anymore; he was a monster. He threatened to kill me, the council, and anyone who stood in his way.”

Ryder’s grip on the edge of the bar tightened, splintering the wood beneath his hands. “She was a child, Rodrick. A child!” His voice broke with the weight of his anger and sorrow.

Rodrick’s composure faltered for the first time, but he quickly recovered, his sharp eyes studying Ryder. Then, he sniffed the air and froze, his eyes widening slightly.

“Ryder,” he said slowly, his voice tense. “Did you… sleep with Kyra?”

Ryder’s eyes locked onto Rodrick’s, defiance burning in his gaze. “It wasn’t planned. It just happened. We couldn’t stop it.”

Rodrick inhaled sharply, running a hand down his face as if to physically wipe away the stress. He downed the rest of his drink in one go, slamming the glass onto the bar. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” he said, his voice sharper now. “This isn’t just about your bond. You’ve tied yourself to the most powerful hybrid in existence, Ryder. You’ve marked yourself as her equal—and as her greatest weakness. Do you realize what that makes you to the council? To Evelyn? To Wyatt?”

Ryder’s growl was low and menacing. “I don’t care. She’s mine to protect now.”

Rodrick shook his head, exhaling sharply. “You don’t get it. Protecting her is one thing, but now you’ve just put both of you in more danger than you can imagine. Evelyn won’t just come after her anymore. She’ll come after you, too. She’ll do whatever it takes to break this bond.”

Ryder stepped closer, his voice a growl. “Then let her come. I’ll kill anyone who tries to take her from me.”