Royal Hybrid

False Sense of Security

The dark doesn't bother me like it does normal humans. Thanks to my fox-shifter blood, I can see almost as clear as during the day. The familiar territory also helps me get through without stumbling over twigs or branches from nearby trees.

Deep in the woods, I listen carefully, making sure no one is around me. The chirps of crickets and the trees' rustling are the only noise that falls on my ears. Good enough for me. I don’t bother to check any further since it's night and no one has caught me before.

Why would they now?

I carefully place my backpack by a large oak tree. I open the single clip and begin to undress, everything from my shirt, bra, underwear, and shorts. I even take my hair down, not wanting to shred one of the last ones I have during my form shift. I toss each piece of fabric into my backpack and click it back shut.

I breathe in deeply as my ears focus on the sound of the crickets singing their songs. I relax my muscles as I call on my ability to shift. Willing for the shift to happen.

My blood begins to pulse as my heartbeat quickens, my body burns red hot with a fever as pain surges through me. The pain of a thousand knives stabs against my bones as loud stomach curdling cracks ring through the air, pounding against my eardrums. My skin begins to itch as long red hairs sprout, followed by my nails thickening and turning a dark black.

My bones shift into smaller counterparts as my new paws meet the ground, my transformation complete, I let out a soft cry of excitement. The euphoria of being able to shift for the first time in ages outweighs the ache of my bones that haven't been through such strain in a while.

My sleek rust-colored fur flows wildly against the wind as I sprint further into the forest. Swerving in and out of trees, avoiding the hazardous terrain below me. I slow to a slow gallop as I search for my prey.

I sniff the air around me, searching through the musky scent of the cool, damp ground. Instantly, the smell pricks my nose- the smell of earthy pinecones, a squirrel. A small morsel, and not something I’m terribly good at catching. The quick little critters tend to run into their hidden holes, avoiding my claws.

But I have to take what I can get. It is getting colder, so wildlife doesn’t come out as often. That and there’s not much I’ve successfully caught by myself. This is technically my first hunt since my father usually came along with me.

Dad, I huff at myself. I regret not listening to him and not paying attention to him when he tried to show me things. As rare as it was, I shouldn’t have taken it for granted.

Crunch, a twig snaps in half in front of me, the loud sound bellowing through the air. A squirrel wouldn’t have been able to break that. I get as low to the ground as I can, my long stomach fur being tickled as it rubs against it. Flattening my ears against my head as I smell and look for the object that shattered the old twig.

I don’t see anything, nor do I smell it. No trace of the animal or thing is around me. Perhaps I just imagined it?

Quickly a small red creature runs past my right side. Astonished, I spin around to see a squirrel twitching it’s way further away from me. Leaping from area to area, it sprints forward as I dart quickly behind it. I gain up on it as I bare my teeth, ready to pounce. With a loud snarl, I grab its tail and chomp down hard. Blood oozes into my mouth as it squeals loudly and flails violently beneath me.

With one heavy stomp, I crush my large paw onto its neck, firmly snapping it, causing it to do a death twitch. I chomp into the morsel with my sharp teeth, eating everything, including the bones.

I lick the blood and small remnants from my lips as I start to pad my way back to where my backpack rests. I check my surroundings as I make sure no one’s watching.

With a loud bone-breaking crunch, my bones break once more as they go back into their normal position. The pain is more of a sting than when I shifted earlier tonight.

I quickly grab my backpack and click it open, then grab the clothes from inside it. Hurriedly I throw the clothes on and click the power button on my phone that’s still inside my backpack—11:47 p.m. Mom should still be up, so I’ll go visit her before I grab my change of clothes to go stay with the twins. I don’t like calling her or anyone else with my phone; the speaker is broken, so it distorts everything.

Leaving my hair down, I sprint back toward the house.

___

I catch my breath as I stand in front of the door to the house. My bones ache from the recent shift, but I don’t mind it. Silently, I push open the front door and latch it shut behind me. I pad my way quickly up to my mother's room and come to an immediate stop. Her door is cracked, the lights on, and there's another voice inside.

The male voice shouts loudly; his anger sends chills down my spine. “Scarlet, what the f**k is she?”

Scarlet. That's my mom. “It’s not-”

“Don’t give me that bullshit! You know hybrids aren’t allowed by the royals! Both of you are unfit to rule this clan!” he howls in disbelief.

“Crevan-”

“Don't Crevan me. I knew there was something wrong with her. Seeing her fox just confirmed it,” he grunts matter of factly.

So he’s the creature that stepped on the twig? What’s wrong with my fox?

“Topaz is perfect in every way,” my mother whispers.

“She’s a disgrace is what she is! She’s probably not even my real niece!” he shouts with clear venom dripping off his words.

I slam open the door, my mother spins to face me, and Crevan scowls. “What’s so disgraceful about me?” I question with a scowl.

My mother stands straight with a smile plastered on her face. “Nothing, Sweetheart.”

Crevan growls at me, which makes my hair stand on end. “You’re a mixed breed,” he pauses as a smile spreads across his face, “The royals have a bounty on those like you, and I intend to claim it.”

Pressure slams against my throat and spine as I’m thrown against the wall in the hallway. My backpack pushes hard against my back as I realize Crevan has me pinned against the wall by my throat. I gasp for breath as I claw at his masculine hand, his eyes filled with hatred.

“Crevan,” my mother shouts. I look at her through my tear-stained vision to see panic spread across her face.

I try to speak as I feel like my throat is being crushed. “M-Mo-m,” I cry.

Pain rushes through my left side as I’m flung away and crash onto the floor. I frantically glance around as I look for my mother. Further down the hallway, Crevan is on top of my mother, who slammed him off of me.

His long white hair rests against her body as he grabs her throat tightly. “Topaz, come here, and I won’t hurt your mother,” he coos as he glares right at me; a drop of blood falls from his lip. Mom must have busted it when she slammed into him.

What do I do? I stand frozen as I look at Crevan and my mother. At some point, my feet started to carry me forward toward them, my heart pounding out of my chest in fear.

“No!” my mother shrieks in pain as she flails under Crevan. Kicking and clawing, I watch as she tries to get free. “Topi- Go!”

My heart drops at those words. My mother and father instructed me at a young age, ever since I could shift, that if they muttered that phrase during a critical situation to run north and hide.

“You won’t get far, mutt!” Crevan howls as he slams my mother against the wall.

With tears streaming down my face, I grasp my backpack tightly as I sprint down the hallway and out the door. I don’t bother to close the door as I rush toward the woods I just came from. To the North like I was instructed.