The Hybrid

Chapter 47

Rodrick opened the door and stepped aside as the three Elders entered. They exuded an air of authority, their presence commanding immediate attention. Marcus, the tallest of the two men, had a severe expression etched into his angular face. His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked back, and his piercing gray eyes seemed to dissect everything in his sight. James, shorter and stockier, had a gruff demeanor with a thick beard and a scar running along his jawline, a testament to his battle-hardened nature.

Felicity, the sole woman among them, was striking. Her dark hair was pulled back into an elegant braid, and her sharp features gave her an almost predatory air. Her olive-toned skin and the faint trace of a Spanish accent hinted at her heritage. She radiated a quiet but unmistakable menace, her calculating eyes scanning the room like a hawk.

Rodrick bowed his head respectfully. “Elders, welcome. Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

They didn’t acknowledge him. Without a word, they strode into the room, their attention immediately on Kyra.

Kyra’s eyes flickered toward the window, where she noticed several large, heavily armed bodyguards stationed outside, their imposing figures casting shadows on the snow. Her stomach tightened, and she forced herself to stay calm.

The Elders stopped in the center of the room, and Felicity’s gaze landed on Kyra. She tilted her head slightly, studying her like one might examine an exotic animal. “So,” she began, her tone laced with disdain, “you must be the… hybrid causing all this trouble.”

Kyra’s muscles tensed, and she clenched her fists, her temper bubbling just beneath the surface.

Felicity smirked, taking a slow step toward her. “Well, I must say, you are a fetching creature,” she said, circling Kyra like a vulture. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity and something darker. “I can feel the power surging through your aura. Remarkable.”

Rodrick quickly interjected, “The situation is more complicated than we anticipated. Wyatt and Evelyn have joined forces to capture her. They intend to—”

Marcus cut him off with a cold, cutting tone. “This all could have been avoided if you had done your duty and killed the beast in the first place.”

A growl erupted from Ryder before he could stop himself, his fury simmering at their callous words.

The Elders turned to him in unison, their eyes sharp with interest.

Rodrick cleared his throat loudly. “Don’t mind him. He’s the Alpha protecting Kyra. Pay him no attention.”

Marcus and James exchanged a brief glance, clearly dismissing Ryder, but Felicity’s curiosity lingered. Her eyes glinted with intrigue as she walked toward him, her movements fluid and deliberate.

Ryder’s body stiffened as she circled him, her gaze raking over him like she was assessing his worth. Her smirk deepened. “Interesting,” she said softly, stopping in front of him.

Ryder’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing.

Felicity turned her attention back to Rodrick. “You failed to mention something rather important,” she said, her voice dripping with amusement. “The hybrid has found her mate.”

Marcus and James snapped their gazes back to her, their expressions hardening.

“And,” Felicity continued, taking a delicate inhale, “it seems they’ve already consummated part of their bond.”

A wave of tension swept through the room. Marcus and James exchanged uneasy glances, their discomfort evident.

Rodrick closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Felicity’s smirk widened as she sauntered back to Kyra. “Well, this complicates our plan a bit, doesn’t it?”

Ryder’s voice cut through the silence like a blade. “What plan?”

Felicity turned to him, her eyes gleaming with malice. “The plan was simple,” she said. “To bring Kyra back with us. To have her under our… protection.”

Ryder’s entire body tensed, his wolf clawing to the surface. “What do you mean, under your protection?”

Felicity’s gaze was calm, almost mocking, as she replied, “I mean away from the world, Alpha. The only way to stop this prophecy is to keep her from being marked.”

Ryder’s chest constricted, his breath catching in his throat. He glanced at Kyra, who stood frozen, her burgundy eyes wide with a mix of fear and defiance.

The weight of Felicity’s words hung heavy in the air.

Ryder’s chest heaved, his growl rumbling deep and guttural. “You’re not taking her anywhere,” he snarled, his voice low and dangerous.

Marcus stepped forward, his expression twisted with disdain. “How dare you speak to us like that? Who do you think you are?”

Rodrick moved to stand between them, his voice sharp. “Ryder, stand down. This is the only way to keep her safe.”

Ryder’s blue eyes burned with fury as he glared at Rodrick. “Safe?” he spat. “Wyatt and Evelyn will still find her. Evelyn is too strong. She has magic on her side. You can’t protect Kyra from her!”

Felicity smirked, tilting her head slightly. “We have a plan for them, Alpha. Don’t concern yourself with matters beyond your comprehension.”

Behind them, Kyra stood frozen, her breaths shallow and rapid as panic began to claw at her chest. Her mind raced, her instincts screaming at her to run, to fight, to do something.

Felicity’s sharp eyes softened slightly as she turned back to Kyra. Stepping closer, she reached out to touch Kyra’s face. The gentle gesture made Kyra flinch, her breath hitching in her throat.

“Tranquila, niña,” Felicity cooed, her Spanish accent thick as she spoke. “Don’t worry. You’ll be safe with us, and we can… understand what you are better.” She brushed Kyra’s hair to the side.

Ryder lunged forward, but one of the bodyguards immediately stepped in front of him, blocking his path. The guard was massive, nearly as tall as Ryder and built like a tank.

Ryder’s muscles coiled, his fists clenched, but he forced himself to stop short of an outright attack. His eyes locked on Felicity, his voice a growl that cut through the tense air. “She’s not a science experiment. She’s mine. She goes nowhere without me.”

Felicity turned her gaze back to him, unimpressed by his defiance. She let out a small, mocking scoff, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, Alpha, but this is bigger than you or her. This is bigger than any of us.”

Her voice grew colder as she stepped away from Kyra, addressing Ryder directly. “The prophecy is a threat to the balance of the entire world—humans, witches, vampires, and werewolves alike. If it takes the wrong turn, everything burns. The entire world will be reduced to ash.”

Ryder’s wolf snarled within him, demanding he tear apart anyone who dared to take Kyra from him. “You think locking her away will stop it?” he spat. “You’re wrong. You’re underestimating Evelyn and Wyatt. They won’t stop. They’ll destroy anyone who gets in their way—including you.”

Felicity’s smirk faltered for just a moment before she recovered, her confidence unshaken. “We know the risks,” she said coldly. “But keeping her from being marked is the only way to prevent catastrophe.”

Kyra finally found her voice, stepping forward, her tone shaking but resolute. “And what about me?” she demanded. “You talk about me like I’m some kind of tool or weapon. I’m not just some ‘hybrid.’ I’m a person. I have a life, people I care about—”

Felicity interrupted her, her voice icy. “Your life is no longer your own, niña. You are the key to either salvation or destruction. Sacrifices must be made to ensure the world doesn’t burn.”

Tears filled Kyra’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Her gaze darted to Ryder, who stood rigid with rage, his protective instincts roaring to the surface.

“This isn’t over,” Ryder growled, his voice low and deadly. “I will protect her. With or without your so-called council.”

Felicity’s smirk returned, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. “We’ll see, Alpha,” she said smoothly. “But for now, you’d do well to remember your place.”

The tension in the room was suffocating, the air thick with anger and unease. Ryder’s wolf paced inside him, demanding he act, but he held himself back—for now.

Kyra glanced at him, her eyes full of fear and resolve. Ryder gave her the faintest nod, silently promising her that no matter what, he wouldn’t let anyone take her from him.