The Hybrid

Chapter 29

Ryder darted through the dense forest, his powerful black wolf form weaving effortlessly between the trees. The moonlight filtered through the canopy above, casting fleeting shadows on the ground. He was focused, but his thoughts betrayed him. Kyra’s face kept flashing in his mind—the way she looked at him under the moonlight, the small, intoxicating sound she had made when he touched her chin. The memory of their almost-kiss burned in his chest, igniting something primal and uncontrollable within him.

Focus, he growled to himself, shaking his head as if that would clear her from his thoughts.

A sudden voice broke through his distraction.

“Alpha, I’ve picked up a scent near the south wall,” one of the guards mind-linked him, their tone urgent.

Ryder’s ears twitched, his body tensing. “I’m on my way,” he responded sharply, veering toward the south side.

As he approached the perimeter, his nose twitched, and a low growl rumbled in his throat. The scent hit him all at once—vampire. It was floral and musky with that distinct undercurrent of decay, the unmistakable marker of death. But there was more. Beneath the vampire stench was another scent, one that made him stop in his tracks and sniff the ground again.

Werewolf.

But this scent was unfamiliar, not from his pack or any allied packs in the region. Ryder’s hackles rose. What was a werewolf doing this close to their borders, and why would they be with vampires?

A rustling sound broke through his focus, and he lifted his head to see his guards approaching in their wolf forms. They padded up to him, their golden eyes glowing in the dark as they sniffed the air and assessed the area.

“Alpha,” one of them mind-linked. “What have you found?”

Ryder lowered his head, inhaling deeply at the ground again before looking up. “Vampire, definitely. But there’s also werewolf—foreign. Not from any pack we know.”

The wolves shifted uncomfortably, their ears flattening.

“Vampires and wolves don’t work together,” another guard said through the link, his tone tinged with unease. “Could they have been hunting each other?”

Ryder shook his head, his sharp instincts telling him otherwise. “No. The scents are too close, too intermingled. They were together.” He glanced around, sniffing once more to confirm his thoughts. “Whatever their reason, they’re not here now. The trail is cold—they’ve already moved on.”

The guards exchanged worried glances, and one stepped forward. “What should we do?”

Ryder straightened, his commanding presence radiating through the link. “Spread out. Check the entire perimeter one more time. If you find any fresh trail, report back immediately. No one rests until we’re sure they’re gone.”

The wolves lowered their heads in acknowledgment and scattered, their forms disappearing into the shadows as they carried out his orders.

Ryder remained behind, sniffing the ground again and scanning the area with piercing blue eyes. His wolf form was tense, his muscles coiled like a spring. He couldn’t shake the nagging question of why a rogue wolf pack and vampires would be working together—or worse, what their intentions might be near Bloodstone’s borders.

After several more minutes of searching and finding no further traces, he finally turned and began his own sweep of the area, his powerful form gliding silently through the trees.

The forest was still and quiet, but Ryder’s mind was anything but. His thoughts circled back to Kyra, her safety now an even greater concern. Whatever this was, it felt like the beginning of something far more dangerous than he had anticipated. She would need him now more than ever.

With a final look over his shoulder, he turned toward the pack house, determined to protect her and his pack at all costs.

Ryder reached the pack house just as the first light of dawn began to touch the horizon. Shifting back into his human form, he quietly slipped inside, his bare feet making no noise on the wooden floors. His thoughts were still racing from the discovery near the south wall, but one concern rose above the rest: Kyra.

He moved silently through the corridors until he reached her door. Placing his hand on the knob, he hesitated for a moment before quietly cracking it open. Moonlight filtered through the window, illuminating her peaceful face. She was curled up under the blanket, her chest rising and falling with each steady breath.

Ryder exhaled softly, relief washing over him. She’s safe.

For a moment, he stood there, torn. A part of him wanted to step inside, lie down beside her, and let her warmth and presence soothe the turmoil in his mind. But he knew better. His feelings for her were already complicated, and crossing that line wouldn’t make things any clearer.

With great effort, Ryder pulled the door shut and made his way to his own room.

Once inside, he leaned against the wall and rubbed a hand over his face. His body was still tense, his mind a storm of thoughts. The cold shower he took did little to calm him, but it was enough to bring him back into focus.

Lying in bed, Ryder stared up at the ceiling, his mind racing through the events of the night. The scent of foreign werewolves and vampires working together was troubling enough. But what truly gnawed at him was why.

What would vampires and rogue wolves want with Bloodstone?

And then, a chilling thought struck him, making his heart race.

Kyra.

Could Wyatt have found out that she was here? That she was under his protection? It seemed impossible—only a select few even knew she existed, let alone her location. But Wyatt was ruthless and resourceful, and if he’d enlisted the help of rebel vampires, there was no telling what he might know.

Ryder’s jaw tightened as he turned the idea over in his mind. The memory of his father briefly surfaced—a man who had once sought the aid of rebel vampires in a moment of desperation. It hadn’t ended well. Ryder’s father had turned on them, killing their leader and sparking a brutal retaliation. That betrayal was one of the many events that had driven his father into madness.

If Wyatt had somehow allied with those same rebels, or their remnants, their reasons for targeting Bloodstone could be deeply personal. But Ryder couldn’t shake the possibility that this was about Kyra.

She’s the key.

His mind refused to settle as the hours dragged on. Ryder replayed every interaction with Kyra, every clue, every warning sign he might have missed. The thought of Wyatt getting anywhere near her made his blood boil, and the image of vampires and werewolves plotting together was a nightmare he couldn’t ignore.

By the time the sun fully rose, Ryder was still awake, his eyes shadowed with exhaustion but his resolve stronger than ever. If Wyatt or anyone else thought they could threaten his pack or Kyra, they were in for a rude awakening.

Ryder swung his legs over the edge of the bed, running a hand through his tousled hair. He needed to act—and quickly. With the full moon celebration only a few days away, the timing of the intruders couldn’t be ignored. If anything, it felt deliberate.

He decided to call an immediate meeting with Gregory and the guards. Security around the pack house needed to be tightened, and patrols would have to double. But Ryder was determined to keep the threat under wraps for now—there was no need to cause a panic until he was absolutely certain of who or what they were dealing with.

One thing was certain, though: keeping Kyra safe was his top priority.

As he stood, Ryder felt a strange heaviness settle over him. His thoughts drifted to Kyra, as they so often did these days. His feelings for her were… different, deeper than what he expected from a mate bond.

He thought of his first mate, Kari. The love they had shared was strong and pure, and the pain of losing her had nearly broken him. Yet what he felt for Kyra was something else entirely—more intense, primal, almost consuming. It wasn’t just about the bond. It was as if every part of him was drawn to her, needing her in a way that went beyond reason.

Ryder clenched his fists, shaking his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts. He hated the lack of control she seemed to evoke in him, hated how easily she could stir emotions he thought he’d buried long ago. But above all, he hated the vulnerability that came with it.

And yet… he couldn’t deny the truth anymore.

I love her.

The realization hit him like a thunderclap, sending his heart pounding in his chest. It wasn’t just a fleeting feeling or a mate’s instinct. This was something deeper, something that felt as if it had always been there, waiting for him to see it.

Ryder exhaled sharply, trying to focus. There was no time for this now. Kyra’s safety was what mattered most. Whatever he felt for her, he’d have to deal with it later.

Pulling on a shirt, Ryder strode toward the door, his resolve hardening. The pack relied on him to protect them, and he wouldn’t fail—not now, not ever.

But in the back of his mind, one thought lingered like a flame he couldn’t extinguish: Kyra wasn’t just his mate. She was everything.