My Beloved Hybrid Queen

Chapter 15

Astrid’s POV

Caspian’s presence beside me was steady and grounding. Inside the cabin smelled faintly of leather and polished wood. It was warm and clean, almost luxurious. The seats were wide and soft, I slid into the one nearest to the window, and I let my fingers brush over the smooth armrest, as if I could absorb the confidence it radiated.

Caspian moved to the seat beside me, and the subtle shift of his aura made me feel safe in a way I hadn’t known for years. The engines thrummed, vibrating through the floor. Outside, I could see the soldiers, Lycans, vampires, and humans holding formation, their eyes following our every move. Their respect and wariness were tangible. I felt… powerful simply by being with him.

Soon the jet began to move, taxing toward the runway. I pressed my forehead lightly to the window, watching the familiar landscape shrink. The Red Mist Pack’s territory, forests, rivers, and the burnt-red soil diminished with each passing second.

I let out a slow breath, feeling the tension in my chest ease. Every mile we left behind was another chain breaking.

Caspian reached for my hand again. “You’re leaving the past behind, Astrid. This is yours now. Our future.”

I nodded, fingers intertwining with his. The truth of it settled in me like sunlight after a storm. I had survived, I had been chosen, and I was being seen not as a girl from a broken pack, but as someone important.

The jet had lifted us above the clouds, but in my mind, I could still feel the weight of the world below. Caspian sat beside me, calm and controlled, fingers occasionally brushing mine, grounding me. Even at this altitude, his presence felt like armor.

Ahead, Nolan, Caspian’s Gamma, was on a video call with who I learned was the beta and he stayed behind to look after the pack in caspian’s absence. His dark eyes sharp even over the screen. Abel, the Delta, sat quietly across from us in the cabin, his posture relaxed but alert, a hand resting lightly near the concealed weapon at his side.

I watched the exchange carefully. It wasn’t just casual talk. It was planning, protection, hierarchy. This was a king and his inner circle, and I was beginning to understand how much went into keeping him and me safe.

Nolan: “Your Majesty, sensors confirm no unauthorized aerial movement along the flight path. The border remains secure. However, the Lycans from the northern territories are approaching, they’re curious. We can’t guarantee they won’t try to intercept if we make any deviations.”

Caspian leaned back in his seat, hands steepled. His voice was calm, but every word carried authority.

Caspian: “I expected curiosity. That’s why we maintain altitude, speed, and protocol. Abel, make sure our ground teams are ready for any unscheduled landings or interference.”

Abel the Delta didn’t shift his gaze from the cabin floor, but his voice was steady.

Abel: “Already done Your Majesty. Convoy is on standby, They won’t get near you. Not even if they try.”

I swallowed, impressed. They weren’t just warriors they were strategists. And they served Caspian with absolute loyalty.

He turned slightly, giving me that calm, reassuring look he always used when he knew I was worried.

“Sweetheart I know this is overwhelming. It’s a lot to take in, the planes, convoys, Lycans, vampires, humans all watching. But you’re not just my mate. You’re part of this now. You have every right to be here.”

I bit my lip, heart fluttering. “I… I just don’t want to slow you down. I’m not ready for any of this.”

He gave me a small, amused smile. “Astrid, you’ve been through things I don’t want to think about. Yet here you are. You’re more ready than you realize. All you need to do is stay with me.”

I nodded, letting my fingers find his again. Somehow, with him beside me, the chaos of the world, the political intrigue, the supernatural powers converging, the danger, it felt manageable.

I pressed one hand to my chest, feeling the rhythm of my heartbeat settle. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t running. I wasn’t hiding. I wasn’t waiting for someone to come for me or to hurt me. I was moving forward. With Caspian. Into a world where I had a name, a place, and a purpose.

Nolan leaned closer to Caspian’s side.

“We have the palace staff and security prepped. Gatekeepers, Lycans, they’re ready to pay proper respect. Your arrival will be uncontested.”

”Good. Make sure the humans don’t get in the way, either. I won’t tolerate mistakes. Astrid must be safe above all else.”

Abel added, voice low but firm. “We’ve reinforced the palace perimeter. Even if a rogue group tries something, we’ll intercept before they reach the gates.”

I listened, feeling the magnitude of it all. These men weren’t just bodyguards, they were extensions of Caspian, capable of planning, defending, and executing at a level far beyond anything I’d ever known.