The Hybrid

Chapter 21

Ryder couldn’t help but feel all of Kyra’s emotions, the betrayal, sadness, and anger. He stopped by the gift shop and got her a little stuff wolf holding candies and a small bouquet of roses, not knowing if she was even into those sort of things. He walked back towards her room the door was now open, she was done scolding Theodore and Sally.

He gently knocked on the doorframe, Kyra was alone in the room reading a book. She looked up and couldn’t help but give a big smile, “Hey I thought you left.”

She closed the book and placed it next to her.

Ryder smiled, “No just thought you, Theodore and Sally need some time to talk.” Ryder sat in the chair next to the bed, “Here I got you a little something to feel better.”

He handed her the flowers and gift, her face brightened up. It was almost as if no one’s ever given her anything before.

She smelt the roses, “Aw thank you, you didn’t have to do that.” She put her flowers in a cup of water by her bed, she pet the stuff wolfs fur.

Kyra cleared her throat, “Do you have any hotels here in town?”

Ryder furrowed his brow, “What do you mean, you’re not planning on leaving are you?”

Kyra chuckled, “Just my aunt and Uncles house for a little while, I just.. I want space from them after what they did. I understand they were trying to help but still.”

Kyra looked down at her stuff wolf and played with the little bag of candies it was holding.

Ryder heart broke for her, this was a lot for her. The only people she felt she could trust betrayed her and now she wants to be alone.

Ryder perked up, “You can stay at the pack house, I can enroll you in a mentorship program we have. I think a you’ll like the Community project program, so what do you say?”

Ryder felt like a teenager again, his heart raced with anticipation.

Kyra smiled, the thought of staying under the same roof with him made her excited and nervous.

Mentorship at the pack house is a great way to integrate Kyra into the pack while fostering trust and reducing fear. Having her getting more involved with the pack and building their trust and respect will hopefully make it easier when the time comes to reveal her true identity. Not to mention have her trust Ryder enough to tell her the truth.

“And I know the perfect project for you to start helping with, The Full Moon Celebration. There’s still a few things that need to be done and I think your input will be appreciated.”

“Input for what?” Sally walked in with two coffees, she went to hand one to Kyra but Kyra flinched when she went to hand it to her.

The look on Sally’s face was as if someone just punched her in the stomach, Kyra had zero trust in her.

Ryder felt bad, he gently grabbed the coffee and took a sip without thinking, testing it for Kyra. He let it sit for a minute before swallowing it.

He nodded his head, “It’s safe,” he handed it to Kyra, “You like black coffee?”

Kyra smirked and took the coffee, “Yea, it’s healthier and you don’t crash as hard as you would from the sugar.” She took a sip.

Ryder couldn’t help but smile, she was starting to trust him.

Sally cleared her throat, “What were you two talking about?”

Kyra’s smile quickly fade and turned to a scowl, “I’m going to be staying at the pack house, Ryder said he’ll enroll me in a mentorship.”

Sally was going to argue but knew there was no use, “Kyra I don’t know what else to say, we were only trying to help.”

“There’s nothing to say, as soon as I’m discharged here I’m packing my stuff and going to the pack house.”

Tears fell from Sally’s eyes, her lip quivered.

Kyra felt a little bad, Sally was always the one she turned to for advice on girl stuff.

Kyra sighed, “Aunt Sally it’s only for a little while, I’m sorry but I need space right now.”

Sally wipes the tears away and nodded, “I understand, I’ll head home and start packing some of your things then ok.”

Kyra pressed her lips together and nodded, “Ok, thank you.”

As the door closed behind Sally, a heavy silence settled over the hospital room. Kyra leaned back in the bed, her fingers absently playing with the edge of her hospital gown. She didn’t look at Ryder, but she could feel his eyes on her.

“Are you sure about this?” Ryder finally asked, his voice steady but tinged with concern.

Kyra nodded, her gaze fixed on the mountain line outside the window. “I need space,” she said softly. “I can’t stay there right now, not after… everything.”

Ryder leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You’ll have a place at the pack house for as long as you need. No strings attached. You can even take the mentorship program at your own pace if you want.”

Kyra glanced at him, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Thank you, Ryder. For understanding.”

Ryder shrugged, though his eyes softened. “It’s my job to take care of the people in my pack, Kyra. That includes you.”

She studied him for a moment, her heart squeezing at his sincerity. His words were simple, but the weight behind them struck a chord. She wasn’t used to people offering her support without some hidden agenda. “Why are you being so nice to me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ryder held her gaze, his expression unreadable. “Because you deserve it,” he said after a beat. “And because I think you’re stronger than you realize.”

Kyra looked away, her cheeks warming. She wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so she didn’t. Instead, she reached for the cup of coffee on the table by her bed, using it as a distraction.

“About the program,” Ryder said, breaking the silence again. “You’ll be working on community projects—helping with repairs, organizing events, like the Full Moon Celebration. It’s a good way to get involved and meet people.”

Kyra nodded, appreciating the opportunity to do something useful. “Sounds like a good start.”

Ryder’s lips quirked into a faint smile. “You might even enjoy it. The pack house can be… lively.”

Kyra raised an eyebrow at his tone. “Lively how?”

Ryder chuckled, a deep, rich sound that sent a strange warmth through her. “You’ll see.”

She shook her head, but a small smile played on her lips. For the first time in days, she felt like she could breathe again.

The door opened, and a nurse walked in with a clipboard. “Miss Kyra, your discharge papers are ready. Just need your signature here.”

Kyra stood, her legs a little shaky but steady enough. She signed the papers and handed the clipboard back, glancing at Ryder. “I guess that’s it.”

He stood too, towering over her in a way that made her feel both small and strangely protected. “Let’s get you settled at the pack house,” he said. “You’ve got a new start waiting for you.”

Kyra smiled and nodded, she reached for her clothes that were in a bag. Ryder quickly turned about, resisting the urge to turn around. He her sliding on her cloths, a warmth pulsed around his body.

Kyra cleared her throat, “Ok all set.”

Ryder turned about he motioned towards the door, “Shall we?”