The Alpha’s hybrid mate.

9. Dylan

I listened to the beat of her heart as she stayed beneath the water. Not for a few seconds, but 20 minutes.

I watched eagerly as I watched her fingers tap on her stomach. Her legs swinging back and forth over the sides as her toes danced to what ever music she had going through her head.

“She’s ok” julian said “she can hold her breath indefinitely, I think”

I needed to find out more. But he can’t speak internally until he comes of age. Which is too far away for my likings.

Even then, that’s only if he is a beta. Which, at this point in time, isn’t going to happen.

I just don’t trust him enough.

Getting him away from zia is another problem. Just Long enough to be able to get more information.

Without making her mad.

“Is that because of what she was injected with?” I would presume the 11% vampire is the cause. Wolves don’t breath under water this long.

“Probably” julian shrugged “that’s what makes her more important. The others didn’t survive that injection”

“The vampire blood?”

“How do you know that?” He quickly asked.

“I can’t help her if you don’t trust me. I need to know everything” I frustratedly rubbed my face “where’s the journal?”

“I know it nearly word for word. I used it to teach her to read”

“Let me be straight with you” I growled “I don’t trust you any more than you trust me. But she is important to all 3 of us. I can’t protect her if you hide things that are relevant. Where’s the journal?”

“Why am I important to you, alpha?” She asked, her green eyes piercing me in the heart. The water sat at her bottom lip, her hair stuck in all directions against her wet skin.

It only just occurred to me that her hearing may not be as restricted as ours are, in water.

“He is a caring alpha” julian told her “he wants to help you get better”

I’m more than confused with Julian’s answer. He won’t share anything with us, but isn’t against us either.

Why else would he compliment me to her.

“I do” I told her “I need to know how to stop your pain. To keep you safe from the other lycanthrope’s”

“You can’t” she said “they want to breed me. To create a species that is unstoppable”

~over my dead body. She’s mine~ max growled.

His sudden appearance, though it shocked me, relaxed me just knowing he has calmed down.

I can’t focus if he’s giving me the cold shoulder.

Her head ticked faintly, as she stared at me. Her sweet, casual demeanour a complete contrast to her usual speech directed at me. Or anyone, that’s not julian.

They want to breed her? My mate? With other males? I clenched my fists wanting to beat my chest and declare a war.

“That won’t be happening” I confidently told her.

“I need him and luka’s help” julian gained her attention briefly before she looked past me at luka “i can’t do this alone. The innocent people here need protection too”

She slid back beneath the water, staying there.

Julian held his finger to his lips, pointing at the tub, as I opened my mouth.

15 minutes later, half her face appeared, looking around at the trees.

“Ok” she held her hand up to her nose, screwing up her face “it would be safer if I left. Innocent people will die if I stay here”

For the first time since I first seen her, i smelt her fear. Even over the skunk, it’s crippling.

Her hard exterior, not even shifting a little.

-can you smell that?- I asked luka.

I needed to know if i can just smell her because of the bond or if everyone can.

If it’s a scent everyone can smell, then that’s not good. The last thing she needs is for her fear to feed those that hunt her.

-other than skunk?- he asked.

-yes-

-no, what is it?-

-she’s scared- even though I didn’t want to share my findings with anyone, both luka and I needed to know that deep down she is still capable of feeling.

-she is? You can smell her?-

-Just her fear. Nothing else-

My wolf whimpered, needing to surround her in safety. Desperately wanting her to know I’m here, and nothing will ever get to her.

Fuck, I wanted to just grab her, stench and all. And hold her for eternity against me.

“You are staying here. We will protect you, no matter the cost” I told her.

“I second that” luka said.

“You would risk your pack for a diseased monster? Stupid” she laughed “you want to breed with me too alpha?”

I nearly choked up a lung. Her eyes darkening as she stared at me.

-don’t answer that- luka warned.

“You want a deadly army, like your sister too, alpha?” Her words toxic, but seductive. The way she said alpha, biting down on her bottom lip.

Had me painfully hard, even with the scent of her fear and the false act of confidence.

-she’s bating you- luka added.

Her fear still as strong as before, as she licked her bottom lip, giving me a smile that could kill.

A very sexy smile, even if I know she’s testing me. Using my sister against me to upset me. To force me to agree to her pleas to leave.

But hoping I don’t.

Her words still felt like I had been punched in the gut, however.

A strong army like my sister.

A pack is not an army. It’s a family. It’s safety.

Not a killing force. For what reason?

She was the next in line. This pack was meant to be hers.

“I want you safe” I told her, directing her to stand up “we need to change the tub water”

She stood, slowly. Standing before me like a prize. The pulse beneath the skin on her neck, where my mark belongs, pulsed hard against the tender skin.

I dragged my eyes away from her neck with great difficulty. Her mouth hung slightly ajar, as the green of her eyes softened.

Making her look like a timid little mouse.

Her heart started beating rapidly, as her cheeks started to become pink.

I couldn’t smell anything at that moment.

So I did the only thing I could do in that situation.

I grabbed the tub, emptying it before scooping up some fresh water.