The Hybrid

Chapter 43

Rodrick sighed, rubbing the bruises on his neck before continuing. “Ryder, your encounter with Evelyn was no coincidence. She’s not just a random rogue vampire. She’s a key player in something far bigger and far more dangerous than you realize.”

Ryder crossed his arms, his tone sharp. “Then stop wasting time and tell me.”

Rodrick glanced at the fire, his expression dark. “Evelyn wants Kyra’s power for herself. If she succeeds, she’ll become an unstoppable force, and there will be no one left to stand against her.”

Ryder narrowed his eyes, tension thick in the air. “Why?”

Rodrick hesitated, his gaze flickering toward the window as if weighing his next words carefully. “Evelyn’s hatred isn’t just about power—it’s personal. Years ago, your father led the charge against Evelyn’s coven. He was the one who killed her mate. That loss drove her to madness and fueled her hatred. Now, she’s vowed revenge, not just on your bloodline but on all werewolves. She blames your kind for everything. She’s made it her life’s mission to see us eradicated. Taking Kyra’s power is just her means to an end.”

Ryder’s fists tightened, his voice low and dangerous. “She’s strong—stronger than anyone I’ve ever faced. She nearly killed me, and I’m not just any alpha, I’m one of the strongest Alphas. How is that possible?”

Rodrick’s expression grew even darker. “Evelyn made a deal with a witch long ago. She offered her soul—or what was left of it—for a chance at revenge. The witch’s magic didn’t just make her stronger and faster; it gave her abilities no vampire should have. She became something far more dangerous. But there was a cost, one that affected your family more than you know.”

Ryder’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

Rodrick sighed heavily, reluctant to continue. “The same magic that made Evelyn powerful… was also the reason your father went insane. After killing her mate, Evelyn cursed him through the witch. That curse poisoned his mind, twisting him until he was driven mad. His paranoia, his violent outbursts, his eventual downfall—it was all her doing.”

When a vampire’s mate dies, the bond they share doesn’t just sever cleanly. A vampire’s mate bond is different from that of werewolves—it’s much more intense and consuming. Vampires’ bonds are forged through a deep connection of blood, magic, and emotions.

The surviving vampire often feels the loss like a physical and mental wound that never fully heals. Unlike wolves, whose bonds might fade or allow for eventual recovery with a second or chosen mate, a vampire’s bond breaking can unravel their sanity. They don’t get a second or chosen mate, they get one and only one. Many vampires descend into madness, consumed by grief, guilt, and a desperate longing for their lost mate.

This madness can manifest in different ways. Some vampires become violent and uncontrollable, lashing out at anyone and anything. Others fall into despair, retreating from the world entirely, unable to cope with the emptiness left behind. In extreme cases, a surviving vampire might even seek death themselves, unwilling to continue in a world without their mate.

For those who channel their madness outward, revenge becomes a common focus. They may fixate on finding someone to blame for their mate’s death, even if the circumstances were beyond anyone’s control. This is what makes Evelyn so dangerous. The loss of her mate not only broke her bond but also fueled a vendetta against werewolves, especially Ryder’s bloodline, whom she holds responsible for her pain.

Combined with the power she gained from the witch’s dark magic, Evelyn’s grief and rage have made her nearly unstoppable—a predator with nothing left to lose.

Ryder froze, his eyes blazing with fury. “You’re telling me Evelyn is the reason my father turned into the monster everyone feared? She did that to him?”

Rodrick nodded solemnly. “Yes. Her hatred runs that deep. And now, she’s coming after you. She sees your bloodline as unfinished business, a loose end she’s determined to tie off. But this time, she’s not just after revenge. She’s after domination. And with Kyra’s power, she’ll have everything she needs to destroy not just you, but every werewolf alive.”

Gregory leaned forward, his voice low and serious. “So, she’s coming after Kyra to take her power and wipe us all out? How does she plan to do it?”

Rodrick nodded grimly. “The witch’s magic can extract Kyra’s unique essence—the blend of werewolf and vampire bloodlines. It’s ancient and potent magic. If Evelyn gains that power, she’ll become something even worse than she already is: a being of both werewolf and vampire strength, with none of their weaknesses. She’ll be unstoppable.”

Ryder growled, his teeth bared. “So we’re fighting a war on two fronts: Wyatt, who wants Kyra to build his army, and Evelyn, who wants her power to destroy us all.”

Rodrick’s jaw tightened. “Yes. And both of them are rallying forces. Wyatt has rogues and power-hungry wolves flocking to him. Evelyn is uniting vampires under her banner, promising them a world without werewolves. It’s chaos. And we’re running out of time.”

Ryder stood there, his mind racing as the weight of Rodrick’s words settled over him. The revelation of Evelyn’s vendetta, his father’s downfall, and Kyra’s role in a prophecy far larger than any of them was almost too much to bear. But amidst the chaos, one thought rose above all others.

He took a step closer to Rodrick, his eyes blazing with determination. His voice was low, almost a growl, but steady. “What if I claimed Kyra?”

Rodrick’s usual composed demeanor faltered, genuine shock flashing across his face. He took a step back, his jaw tightening as he processed Ryder’s words. “Claim her?” he repeated, his voice uncharacteristically uncertain. “Do you even understand what you’re saying? What you’re suggesting?”

Ryder’s gaze didn’t waver. “I know exactly what I’m saying. She’s my mate. She’s already mine in every way that matters. But if claiming her binds us in a way that protects her—if it makes her stronger, makes me stronger—then it’s worth the risk.”

For the first time, Rodrick’s mask of stoicism cracked, and real concern showed on his face. “Ryder, you don’t understand. This has never happened before. Not with someone like Kyra. She isn’t just a werewolf, and she isn’t just a vampire. Her very existence defies every law of nature we know. If you claim her…” He trailed off, shaking his head.

“What?” Ryder pressed, stepping even closer, his voice hardening. “If I claim her, what happens?”

Rodrick sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. No one does. This has never been done before—anything close to it. A bond between an Alpha and someone like Kyra could…” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “It could either make you the strongest Alpha who’s ever lived, or it could destroy you entirely. The process itself might kill you. Or worse, it might… change you.”

Ryder narrowed his eyes. “Change me how?”

Rodrick’s voice dropped, a shadow passing over his face. “I don’t know if you’d even be the same person afterward. Kyra’s power is ancient, primal. It’s tied to both life and death, creation and destruction. Binding yourself to her could mean sharing that power. It could mean losing control of who you are—or worse, becoming something unrecognizable. Something neither wolf nor man.”

Ryder took a deep breath, his jaw clenching. “You don’t know for sure.”

“No, I don’t,” Rodrick admitted, his tone grave. “And neither do the elders. But I’ll tell you this—if you claim her, you’ll be rewriting the rules of our kind. The bond you’d share wouldn’t just be about love or loyalty. It would go deeper, to the very core of your being. It could save her, maybe even save us all… but it could also destroy everything.”

Ryder stared at him, unshaken. “If it keeps her safe, then it’s a risk I’ll take.”

Rodrick shook his head, his voice sharp. “You don’t understand the gravity of this, Ryder. This isn’t just about you or Kyra. This is about the balance between our worlds. If something goes wrong, it won’t just be you or her who pays the price—it could be everyone.”

Ryder’s voice was like steel. “Kyra isn’t just a prophecy or a weapon. She’s my mate. And I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. Even if it means taking that risk.”

Rodrick held his gaze for a long moment, his face unreadable. Finally, he sighed deeply and took a step back. “This is beyond us, Ryder. Beyond me. I can’t make this decision alone. This isn’t just a matter of instinct or strength—it’s something our kind has never faced before.”

Ryder furrowed his brow. “What are you saying?”

Rodrick straightened, his tone resolute. “I’m saying we need the counsel of the other elders. This isn’t something I can decide or guide you through on my own. The consequences of claiming Kyra are too great to leave to chance. The elders must convene and discuss the steps that need to be taken—if it’s even possible to move forward with this.”

Ryder’s frustration flared, but he forced himself to stay calm. “And how long will that take? Every second we wait, Wyatt and Evelyn get closer. Kyra is running out of time.”

“I know,” Rodrick said gravely. “But rushing into this without understanding the risks will do more harm than good. The elders need to weigh in. I’ll call for a council immediately. We’ll need to gather quickly and make a decision.”

Ryder clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. “She doesn’t have time to wait for bureaucratic debates.”

Rodrick’s expression softened, just slightly. “I understand your urgency, Ryder. But this isn’t just about Kyra or you—it’s about the survival of all of us. If this bond can help her, we need to ensure it won’t also destroy her. Or you.”

Ryder turned away, pacing as his thoughts churned. He hated the idea of waiting, of relying on the elders for anything. But deep down, he knew Rodrick was right. This wasn’t just about them anymore.

Finally, Ryder stopped and nodded stiffly. “Call the council. But make it fast, Rodrick. We don’t have time for delays.”

Rodrick inclined his head, his expression serious. “I’ll summon them immediately.”

As Rodrick turned to leave, Ryder glanced toward the hallway where Kyra had disappeared. His heart clenched, knowing she was carrying the weight of all of this. He vowed silently to himself that no matter what the elders decided, he would do whatever it took to protect her—even if it meant defying them all.