The Hybrid

Chapter 36

Kyle, Allie, Amber and Ethan held the vampires off until Gregory and the guards burst into the clearing, their howls piercing the night as they tore into the vampires with ruthless efficiency. Evelyn hissed in frustration, staggering to her feet, She vanished into the shadows.

Wyatt, now back on his feet, growled low as his gaze locked onto Kyra. But he didn’t dare make another move. “This isn’t over,” he sneered before shifting into his wolf form and retreating.

Kyra, still in her wolf form, turned her attention to Ryder, who was struggling to stand. Blood matted his black fur, and he let out a low growl of pain, his legs trembling beneath him. Kyra nudged him, trying to help him to his feet. Ryder whined softly, the sound laced with both pain and frustration.

Gregory barked an order to the group, his tone urgent even in wolf form. Kyle and Ethan flanked Ryder, helping to steady him as Kyra remained close, anchoring him with her presence. Together, the group moved quickly through the forest, their breaths heavy and their steps hurried.

Reaching the emergency cabin near the northern wall, they shifted back into their human forms. Gregory threw clothes at everyone, urging them to dress quickly. Ryder groaned as he struggled to dress, his movements sluggish and strained. As soon as the clean white shirt was over his head, he collapsed into a chair, his face pale and slick with sweat.

He winched with pain, Gregory knelt beside him, pulling up the shirt to inspect the damage. The wounds on Ryder’s side and shoulder were deep, the gashes angry and red, with blood soaking through the once clean white shirt.

Gregory’s expression darkened as he realized the severity. “f**k,” he muttered under his breath. “I don’t have time to stitch you up. I’ll have to wrap it for now.”

He grabbed gauze and worked quickly, wrapping Ryder’s wounds as tightly as he could to stem the bleeding.

Ryder winced, his breathing shallow, but managed a weak smile. “I’m fine,” he said, though his voice was hoarse and unconvincing.

Kyra stood frozen, guilt weighing heavily on her. She knew Ryder was lying. Werewolves couldn’t heal from vampire-inflicted wounds, and the sight of his blood-stained shirt made her chest ache.

Gregory finished wrapping Ryder’s wounds and stood, his jaw set. “We need to move now,” he said, urgency sharpening his tone.

Everyone hurried out of the cabin and piled into a hidden SUV parked nearby. Ryder leaned against Kyra for support as the vehicle roared to life. Ryder got in the passenger seat while Gregory got in the drivers seat. Everyone else climbed in the back. They drove out of the pack walls, the forest disappearing behind them.

The SUV sped down the dirt road, jostling everyone inside as Gregory gripped the wheel, his jaw set in determination. In the front passenger seat, Ryder leaned heavily against the door, his head lolling as he fought to stay conscious. Blood seeped through the hastily wrapped bandages, staining his shirt and pooling beneath him.

“Don’t fall asleep on me, old man,” Gregory said, his tone sharp but filled with worry.

Ryder forced a weak chuckle, his eyelids fluttering. “I’m not falling asleep… just resting my eyes. Big difference.”

Gregory glanced sideways at him, his grip tightening on the wheel. “Yeah, right. That’s what all old people say.”

In the back seat, Kyra seat behind Ryder. Kyle sat behind his dad, while Allie, Ethan and Amber sat in the back.

Gregory suddenly slammed on the brakes, bringing the SUV to a screeching halt on a ridge overlooking a ravine. “Holy s**t”, he barked, throwing the door open.

Ryder groaned as the car jostled, his hand pressing weakly against his side. He didn’t move, just cracked the door open and let one leg dangle outside as the others piled out.

Kyra followed, her heart pounding as she approached the edge of the ridge. Below, the fires burning their home illuminated the dark horizon. Smoke billowed into the night sky.

Amber paced frantically, her breathing erratic. “What the f**k happened?” she shouted, her voice trembling. “Why did they attack us? Who the hell was that lunatic in the field? And our home—it’s gone! Goddess only knows if anyone is still alive!”

Her wide, furious eyes locked on Kyra. “And you! What the f**k is going on with you? What’s up with your wolf? What’s your connection to all this?”

Kyra froze, her mouth dry. She didn’t know what to say.

Ryder’s weak voice broke the tense silence. “She’s a hybrid.”

Kyra turned toward him, shock and betrayal flashing across her face. “You knew?” she whispered.

Ryder gave a faint nod, his face pale but calm. “I made Theo and Sally tell me the truth when you were in the hospital. I had to know.”

Kyra’s mind swirled with emotions. He had known this entire time, and yet he never said a word. Was he trying to protect her, or was there more to it?

Amber’s laugh was bitter and sharp. “So you knew you were putting us all in danger? If I were you, knowing a psychopath was after me, I would’ve done the right thing and just—killed myself to keep everyone safe.”

The words hit Kyra like a slap, and something inside her snapped. A dark, hollow laugh escaped her lips, startling everyone. It grew louder, more menacing, as she straightened and fixed Amber with a cold, deadly glare.

“You truly are as f*****g stupid as you look,” Kyra spat, her voice laced with venom.

Amber recoiled, crossing her arms defensively. “Excuse me?”

Kyra’s smile was chilling. “You think I haven’t tried? That I didn’t think about ending it all? Well, guess what—I can’t die.”

Amber’s confusion deepened. “What do you mean, you can’t die?”

Kyra’s laugh turned bitter as she stepped closer, her voice rising. “I mean exactly what I said. I. Can’t. Die.”

To prove her point, Kyra grabbed a jagged rock from the ground and, without hesitation, slashed it across her throat. Blood poured from the wound, and the others gasped, horrified. Ryder tried to shout but only managed a weak groan. The wound closed within seconds, leaving Kyra standing there, unscathed.

Kyra didn’t stop. She slit her wrist, the blood flowing for only a moment before the wound closed as if it had never existed.

“Then thinking since I’m part vampire, piercing my heart should do the trick, right!?” she broke a thick branch off a nearby tree and drove it through her own chest, straight into her heart.

She fell to her knees with a grunt of pain, her head bowing as blood poured from the wound. But just as quickly, she yanked the branch out and the bleeding stopped and the wound healed. Standing back up as if nothing had happened.

The group stared at her in stunned silence, their faces pale.

Kyra stepped toward Amber, her voice cold and cutting. “I’ve tried everything. Slitting my throat, stabbing myself, throwing myself in front of a train—you name it. Nothing works. The Moon Goddess won’t let me die.”

Tears welled in Kyra’s eyes, and her voice cracked. “Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I wanted to be hunted, to put all of you in danger?”

Amber opened her mouth, but no words came out. The weight of Kyra’s anguish left her speechless.

The silence that followed was unbearable, broken only by Ryder’s ragged breathing. He slumped forward in his seat, his strength fading fast.

“s**t,” Gregory muttered, rushing to his side. “We need to get him to shelter now. He’s losing too much blood.”

The group hurried back into the SUV, Ryder groaning as Gregory helped him back into the front seat. Kyra climbed into the back again, her hands trembling as she stared at Ryder’s pale face.

As they sped down the road once more, the only sounds were Ryder’s labored breaths and Gregory muttering under his breath, trying to focus on the road. Kyra clenched her fists, her mind racing. No matter what it took, she would protect them—even if it meant unleashing the full extent of the power she feared most.

The SUV cruised down an empty snow-covered road as the first flakes of a soft snowfall began to stick to the windshield. The quiet hum of the heater filled the car, broken only by the rhythmic swish of the wipers. Kyra watched the snowflakes swirl in the dim glow of the headlights, her gaze drifting to the dashboard clock. 11:05 p.m. They had been driving for hours.

She glanced over at Ryder, slumped against the passenger door. His breathing was shallow, his skin pale. Gregory gripped the wheel tightly, his eyes flicking between the road and Ryder, the tension in his jaw betraying his concern.

Finally, the SUV pulled into the parking lot of a small ski resort nestled deep in the woods. The building looked almost abandoned, with dim lights flickering in a few windows and no other cars in sight.

Gregory killed the engine, and everyone piled out of the vehicle. Snow crunched under their boots as Gregory quickly threw a jacket over Ryder, covering the bloodstains on his shirt, and helped him toward the entrance.

Inside, the resort was eerily quiet. Behind the front desk, an elderly woman with white hair and small reading glasses looked up from a knitting project, her hands trembling slightly. Her voice was soft and shaky as she greeted them. “How can I help you fine folks tonight?”

Gregory gave her a polite smile. “We’d like to rent out all your rooms, please.”

The woman’s eyes widened, and for a moment, Kyra thought she might keel over. “Oh, well… that’ll cost you quite a bit,” she stammered.

Without missing a beat, Gregory pulled a thick stack of cash from his pocket and placed it on the counter. “Keep the change.”

The woman blinked in shock, then quickly handed them a bundle of keys. “Enjoy your stay,” she said, her voice quivering.

The group made their way upstairs, the creaking floorboards beneath them echoing in the stillness. The rooms were all lined up next to each other, and Gregory led the way into one of them, helping Ryder inside.

Ryder groaned as Gregory eased him into a chair by the small table. His shirt, soaked in blood, stuck to his skin as Gregory peeled it off, revealing the deep gashes that had worsened during the drive.

Kyra winced at the sight, her stomach twisting. “It’s getting worse,” Gregory muttered, grabbing the first-aid kit they’d brought. He worked quickly, cleaning the wounds and carefully stitching them closed.

Once he was finished, Gregory sat back with a heavy sigh, exhaustion etched into his face. “At least it’s stopped bleeding,” he murmured.

Kyra placed a hand on his shoulder. “Go get some rest. I’ll stay and keep an eye on him.”

Gregory hesitated, his gaze flicking between her and Ryder. “Are you sure?”

Kyra nodded firmly.

He sighed, rising to his feet. “I’m in the next room. If anything changes, come get me immediately.”

“I will,” Kyra promised.

Gregory gave her a tired nod before stepping out and closing the door behind him.

For a moment, the room was silent, save for the faint whistle of wind outside. Ryder stirred, slowly pushing himself to his feet. Kyra frowned, stepping toward him.

“You should be resting,” she said, but Ryder ignored her, walking over to the window. He leaned against the frame, his breath fogging the glass as he stared out at the falling snow.

Kyra crossed her arms, her frustration mixing with concern. “Why didn’t you tell me you knew what I was?” she asked, her voice soft but laced with hurt.

Ryder turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “I wanted you to trust me enough to tell me on your own,” he said after a pause.

His words gave her a small sense of relief, but she still felt a knot of uncertainty in her chest. “And how does it make you feel?” she pressed, her voice trembling slightly. “Having an ab—” She couldn’t bring herself to say the word, her throat tightening with emotion. “A freak in your pack.”

Ryder’s gaze snapped to hers, sharp and serious. “You are not a freak. Do you understand me?” he said firmly, his voice low but resolute.

Kyra looked away, unable to meet his intense gaze.

“You are amazing,” he continued, his tone softening. “Smart, funny, beau—”

A sharp hiss of pain cut him off, and he doubled over slightly, clutching his side.