The Hybrid

Chapter 39

Kyra stirred, feeling the soft warmth of a solid presence next to her. Slowly, she opened her eyes and turned her head, finding Ryder asleep beside her. His chest rose and fell with steady, shallow breaths, his handsome face peaceful in the morning light.

Her heart fluttered as she took in the sight of him. Last night wasn’t a dream—it was real. The thought sent a wave of heat through her chest, a mix of excitement and contentment.

Careful not to wake him, Kyra gently slipped out of bed, the cold air biting at her skin as she dressed. She glanced back at Ryder, his dark hair tousled, his face calm. A soft smile spread across her lips.

Quietly, she stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her. The hallway was silent, the stillness almost eerie as she made her way to the dining room.

“I was beginning to wonder when you’d show up,” a voice said from the corner.

Kyra jumped, her head snapping toward the sound. A woman sat there, calmly sipping coffee and reading a newspaper. Her deep, gravelly voice carried a calm authority, one that immediately demanded attention. The woman, her striking features reminiscent of carved stone, with sharp cheekbones and dark, piercing eyes, folded the paper neatly and set it aside.

“Who are you?” Kyra asked, her tone guarded as she took a cautious step closer.

The woman offered a faint smile. “I go by many names, but you may call me Mary.”

Kyra’s instincts flared, but something about Mary’s presence was disarming, almost familiar. “What do you want?”

Mary gestured to the chair opposite her. “Sit, child. We have much to discuss.”

Hesitant but curious, Kyra sat down. A steaming cup of coffee appeared before her with a snap of Mary’s fingers. Kyra raised an eyebrow. “You’re a witch?”

Mary’s smile deepened, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Not exactly. I am far older and far stronger than any witch. But enough about me. I’m here for you.”

Kyra furrowed her brow, suspicion creeping into her voice. “What do you mean?”

Mary took another sip of her drink, her gaze never leaving Kyra. “I’m here to help you know the truth. The truth about you.”

Kyra’s pulse quickened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor as she turned to leave.

But Mary’s calm voice stopped her in her tracks. “I know what you are because I made it happen.”

Kyra froze, her breath catching in her throat. Slowly, she turned back toward Mary, her eyes narrowing. “What did you just say?”

Mary leaned back in her chair, her expression as calm and composed as ever. “You heard me, child. Sit.”

Against her better judgment, Kyra sank back into the chair. Her voice was low, almost a growl. “What do you mean you made it happen?”

Mary set her cup down, her piercing gaze locking onto Kyra. “Your existence is no accident. I orchestrated it. Your parents—Lydia and Dorian—were chosen specifically for their bloodlines.”

Kyra blinked, her mind racing.

Mary’s expression softened slightly. “Lydia was your mother, a werewolf descended directly from the first werewolf bloodline. And your father, Dorian, was a vampire of the ancient bloodline of the first vampire. Two of the most powerful bloodlines in existence, brought together to create something… extraordinary.”

Mary’s gaze sharpened. “Rodrick and the Elders ordered your death the moment they learned of your mother’s pregnancy. They feared what you would become, what you could mean for their precious balance of power.”

Kyra’s breath caught. She had heard from Dorian that her mother had been hunted, but hearing this now, from Mary, made it all the more real. “Then why am I still alive?”

“Because I stopped Rodrick,” Mary said, her voice calm but unyielding. “When you were born, your mother was gone, and you were helpless—a mere infant. Rodrick would have killed you without a second thought, but I intervened. I revealed to him the Prophetia Lunae Sanguinis—the Blood Moon Prophecy. It was the only way to ensure your survival.”

Kyra’s heart pounded in her chest. “What prophecy?”

Mary’s eyes seemed to darken, her voice taking on a reverent tone as she recited the words:

“In the shadow of the Blood Moon, a lone hybrid shall rise, born of two ancient lines, cursed to walk between worlds. Neither wolf nor vampire will claim her as kin, yet all will fear her, for she carries the power to unite the divided or bring ruin to them all.

The fate of her soul will hinge on the Alpha who dares to claim her. If his heart holds strength, loyalty, and love, he shall temper her chaos and guide her to unite the fractured packs and covens. But should his heart waver with greed, rage, or doubt, he will awaken the beast within, and the hybrid will burn the world to ash, sparing none.

Beware, for the bond they forge will shape the fate of all. She is both salvation and destruction, and the path she walks will echo for eternity.”

The words hung heavy in the air, and Kyra felt as though the room itself had grown colder. “That’s… me?” she whispered.

Mary nodded. “Rodrick didn’t dare defy the prophecy. He was terrified of the power you would wield, but he was even more afraid of what would happen if he destroyed you. So, he allowed you to live, but only under strict conditions. That’s why he placed you with Sally and Theodore. They were loyal to him and agreed to keep you hidden.”

Kyra swallowed hard, her pulse racing. “So, everything about my life—where I grew up, how I was raised—was all because of this prophecy?”

Kyra sat in stunned silence as the words of the prophecy echoed in her mind. Her heart raced, her thoughts a tangled mess. The prophecy was clear—she was the one, the hybrid who would either unite the divided or destroy everything. But there was more beneath it. The weight of the truth began to settle in, and Kyra’s breath caught in her chest.

Mary watched her, her expression unreadable, but her eyes never left Kyra’s. She knew what was coming.

Kyra suddenly jolted, her eyes widening with realization. “Wyatt,” she whispered, the name escaping her lips almost involuntarily.

Mary’s brow arched, but she didn’t speak. She waited.

Kyra leaned forward, her pulse quickening as everything started to fall into place. “That’s why Wyatt’s obsessed with me,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. “He didn’t just see me as a potential mate—he saw me as the key. The prophecy. It’s why he’s been hunting me, why he’s so determined to claim me.”

Her mind raced as she pieced it together. “He’s not just after my power… He believes he’s the Alpha meant to temper me, to use me so he can fulfill the prophecy. He thinks if he takes me, he can control everything—bring all the packs and covens together under his rule.”

Mary’s gaze softened with understanding. “Exactly. Wyatt believes he is the one who can shape your destiny, who can control the power you hold. But the prophecy is not that simple, Kyra. His heart must be true, or he will awaken the beast within you, and the world will burn.”

She hesitated before breaking the silence, her voice trembling with uncertainty. “Mary… what about Ryder? What would happen if he claimed me?”

Mary, who had been observing her quietly, tilted her head slightly, her dark eyes thoughtful. “Ryder,” she repeated, her voice rich and deliberate, “the Alpha who has already risked so much for you.”

Kyra nodded, her gaze dropping to her trembling hands. “He’s strong, loyal… but is his heart pure enough to tame the beast within me? Could he be the one to guide me, to help me unite the packs and covens?”

Mary regarded her for a moment, her expression softening. “The prophecy speaks of an Alpha with strength, loyalty, and love. If Ryder’s heart is true, he could temper the chaos within you, Kyra. But…” She paused, her tone growing serious. “If there is doubt in his heart—if there is greed, rage, or even fear—it could awaken the beast within you, and the consequences would be catastrophic.”

Kyra’s breath hitched, her mind swirling with doubt. She thought of Ryder’s touch, his words, his unwavering commitment to her. He had already proven himself in so many ways, but this… this was something far beyond what either of them had ever faced.

“But how can I know?” Kyra asked, her voice trembling. “How can I be sure his heart is pure enough? What if I’m wrong? What if I doom us all?”

Mary leaned forward, her voice softer but no less firm. “The answer lies in you, child. The bond between a hybrid and their mate is unbreakable, forged not by words but by actions. Trust what you feel, what you see in him. His actions will reveal the truth of his heart.”

Kyra swallowed hard, her mind spinning. The idea of Ryder claiming her—of their bond shaping the fate of the world—was both terrifying and strangely comforting. She thought of his steady gaze, his touch that seemed to ground her in ways nothing else could. But could she truly trust that his heart was pure enough to guide her away from the chaos?

Mary stood, smoothing the folds of her dark coat. “For now, rest. But remember this: you are stronger than you know, Kyra. And when the time comes, you will need every ounce of that strength.”

Before Kyra could respond, Mary snapped her fingers, and in an instant, she was gone, leaving behind nothing but the faint scent of spices and coffee.

Kyra sat there in stunned silence, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and questions she wasn’t sure she wanted answered.