The hybrid nobody wanted

Chapter 7: Alone in the dark

I ran.

Through the forest. Past the cliff. Toward the place where the bond pulsed,weak, faint, but alive.

Dorian.

The whisper came again. Not words. Just presence. Like a candle flickering in the dark.

I'm coming, I sent back. Hold on.

Nothing. But the pulse was still there. Still alive.

I ran faster.

I found him at the bottom of the cliff.

He lay among the rocks, barely visible. Blood covered his face, his chest, his hands. So much blood.

I dropped beside him. Touched his face.

Cold. So cold.

"Dorian." My voice cracked. "Dorian, wake up."

Nothing.

I pressed my hand to his chest. Searched for a heartbeat.

Nothing.

"No." Tears burned my eyes. "No, no, no"

The bond pulsed. Weak. But there.

Alive. Barely.

I grabbed his face. "You stayed for us. Now you have to WAKE UP. I can't carry you alone. I can't" My voice broke. "Please."

Nothing.

The bond pulsed again. Fainter.

I sat there in the dark, holding him, willing him to breathe.

The forest was too quiet. Too still. Every shadow felt like death waiting.

I had to move him. Had to find shelter. Had to!

A howl echoed in the distance.

Close. Too close.

My heart hammered. The Pack was still hunting. They'd found the bodies. They'd be looking for us.

I grabbed Dorian. Pulled him up.

He was heavy,too heavy. My arms burned. My legs shook. But I dragged him. One step. Then another. Then another.

The howl came again. Closer.

"Come on," I hissed at him. "Come ON."

He didn't move. Didn't respond. Just hung there, dead weight, killing me with every step.

My foot caught a root. We both fell.

I hit the ground hard. Dorian landed beside me, face in the dirt, still not moving.

I lay there, gasping. Tears mixed with mud on my face.

"I can't," I whispered. "I can't do this."

The bond pulsed. Weak. Faint. Like it was saying goodbye.

"No." I crawled to him. Grabbed his face. "No. You don't get to die. Not after staying behind. Not after" My voice broke. "Not after making me feel something I never wanted to feel."

Nothing.

I pressed my forehead to his. Closed my eyes.

"Please," I begged. "Please don't leave me alone."

The bond pulsed.

Stronger.

I gasped. Looked down.

His eyes were open.

Barely. Just a slit. But open. Dark eyes, unfocused, struggling to find mine.

"Dorian?"

His lips moved. No sound.

"What? What is it?"

He tried again. A whisper. So faint I almost missed it.

"Cave..."

I looked around. Saw it…a small opening in the rocks, hidden by vines.

"Okay. Okay. Hold on."

I pulled him up again. Dragged him toward the cave.

Behind us, another howl. Closer still.

I didn't look back. Just kept moving.

I got him inside as the moon reached its peak.

The cave was small, damp, cold. But hidden. Safe. For now.

I laid him down. Checked his wounds. Too many. Too deep.

He needed blood. Needed to feed. Needed!

I looked at my wrist.

No. Absolutely not.

The bond pulsed. Weak. Desperate.

I thought about Jax. About Mira. About Old Tom. About everyone I'd lose if Dorian died.

I thought about his face when he said I'll hold them.

I thought about how he'd stayed.

I pressed my wrist to his lips.

"Drink," I whispered.

Nothing.

"DRINK."

His eyes flickered. Confusion. Then understanding. Then refusal.

He tried to turn away. Too weak.

"I said drink." My voice broke. "You stayed for us. Now let me save you."

He looked at me. Through the bond, I felt it,his guilt, his shame, his desperate hunger.

Then his fangs pierced my skin.

The pain was sharp. Bright. But then... something else.

Warmth. Spreading through my veins. Through the bond. Through him.

He drank. Not much. Just enough.

When he pulled away, his eyes were clearer. Stronger.

"You're an i***t," he whispered.

I laughed,broken, exhausted, half-crying. "Takes one to know one."

He almost smiled.

Then his eyes closed, and he slept.

I sat there in the dark, watching him breathe. My wrist throbbed. My body ached. My heart pounded.

Outside, wolves howled.

But they didn't find us.

Not tonight.