Mated To The Hybrid

Chapter 7

*VALENTINA’S P.O.V*

As a present for my tenth birthday, my parents took us on a vacation further up north. They rented a cabin near the mountain side of a small town. It had everything I had ever dreamed of as a child. A firewood place, a wrap around couch in front of it and a small fire pit outside. Perfect for roasting marshmallows and making s’mores. It was incredible…until it wasn’t.

Most wolves shift the day they turn eighteen, while Alphas shift at the age of seventeen. Even the royals shift at the early age of thirteen. It’s natural for one to experience extreme pain during their first shift. What was unnatural was the fact that I had my very first shift that night.

I was outside playing with Maisie and the twins when I felt my first wave of pain. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was as if my inside were being ripped apart while my whole body was on fire.

“VAL! VAL! WHAT’S HAPPENING?!” I can remember my mother shouting as she tried to help me.

That’s when a beam of light shot out of me as my fur started to come in. A bigger beam of light came when my left leg turned into a paw.

“It can’t be!” I remember hearing as more magic poured out of me.

My mom ran inside while my dad held me in his arms.

Shifting into my wolf lasted an hour and by the end of it, a powerful white light took over the sky. The mark of the hybrid. The mark that condemned me after that trip. We managed to escape that night without being seen or noticed. It helped that the mountains were not as easy to get around that night. One thing was for sure…every supernatural being knew that the hybrid existed again.

Which is what happened last night. Using magic while in my wolf form left behind my hybrid symbol. I had been hidden for so long…

I woke up inside my room with a vital monitor attached to me.

“Val?” My sister Maisie wakes up as I try to get out of bed.

“What happened?” I ask as I rip the wires off my chest.

“Well-“

“How did I get home?”

She doesn’t say anything as she tries to get me to lay back down.

“Mai, what happened?”

“A lot” she says with a sigh. I sit on my bed as I see my sweater and shoes on top of my dresser. Even the ring that William gave me yesterday is there. Everything but…the pendant necklace?!

“Looking for this?” As if she’s reading my thoughts, Maisie holds up the silver necklace I took from the witch.

“One of the witches had that on last night” She hands it to me and I examine the symbols on it, “A pentagram with two swords on fire”.

She comes closer and notices the initials K.R. in the middle.

“What coven was it?” She asks

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen this symbol”

“Did they say anything?”

“Nothing useful” I say giving her the necklace back, “Keep it somewhere safe”.

“There’s something you should know” She says putting the necklace down, “There were no bodies of witches or wizards at the scene”.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean they are blaming the m******e of the Shadow Hunters on the rogues and…”

“Me?” I ask quietly.

She nods, “The royals are at the scene now. The investigators think that the hybrid collaborated with the rogues to do that”.

“That’s ridiculous” I say with an exasperated tone, “How can they believe that?!”.

“I don’t know but that’s what…” She trails off again.

“What?”

She exhales heavily, “Samuel and Josephine told me”.

“Josephine survived?” I ask surprised.

“She was the only one. Her entire family and pack all died” Maisie says sadly. Her father was the gamma of the Shadow Hunters and a very sweet person whenever he came.

“Poor Jo, I can’t imagine what-“

“They were on a date” Maisie abruptly says, “He was taking her home when everything was unfolding”

“Wh-what?” My heart sinks as I hear what she’s telling me. But I also can’t believe what I’m hearing.

“He stayed with her until the investigators came”

All I can manage to do is nod and look away as I try not to imagine them together.

“I’m sorry Val” She says as she comes to hug me, “He’s here if you want to talk to him”.

I shake my head and feel the tears stream down my face as Maisie hugs me tighter. It’s my own fault. I chose to leave him. I always knew he would move on but this feels too soon. Too soon for my heart to take it. Perhaps this is how he felt when I suddenly got engaged to William. We don’t say anything for a while as I try to relax.

“Who brought me here?” I finally ask as I clear my throat.

“Dad. He found you first and brought you straight home” Maisie says, “He had doctor Ali monitor you all night”.

I nod as I finally get out of bed, “I’ll shower quickly and meet you in dad’s office”.

“Are you okay?” She asks worriedly. I nod and put on a big smile as she frowns, “You don’t look fine”.

“Tomorrow’s my wedding, of course I’m fine” I say as I continue to smile. She nods and walks out of my room as I head to the bathroom. I quickly scrub my entire body before moving onto my hair.

You’re not okay. I know your heartbroken, My wolf Amora says quietly.

You’re right. I can’t lie to you. I hate that he isn’t my mate! I hate that I can’t be with him! Now he’s moving on.

Isn’t that what you wanted, She asks, For him to be happy even if it’s not with you?

Yes but-

Now he is. You just need to be happy now too, she says trying to cheer me up.

It’s not easy. You know how disappointed I was when I turned seventeen and didn’t feel the connection.

Well technically I told you we didn’t feel it when we were young, She reminds me.

I know but I guess I was hoping you were wrong

My wolf smiles at me and her warmth radiates throughout my body. She’s giving me her strength so I can feel that she’s on my side, always.

As I left the bathroom, I put on my engagement ring and quickly got dressed. A simple black dress with black stockings and brown boots. I headed downstairs when I came face to face with Austin. He doesn’t look happy at all.

“Why did you get involved last night?!” He lowly scolds me, “Do you know what would have happened if you had gotten hurt?!”

“Well I’m fine, see” I say as I gesture towards myself, “Plus I’m feeling better.”

“That’s not the point” he says in a slightly calmer tone, “My brother doesn’t know that you got hurt last night so-“

“So he doesn’t have to know. I’m not saying anything and neither will my family. Okay?”

“Fine” He nods and leads me down the hall in the opposite direction of my fathers study.

“Where are we going?” I asked quietly. He doesn’t say anything, but I start to see guards wearing royal symbols.

“We’re leaving” he says quietly, “The car is parked by the side. Tic and I will take you home”

“I have to talk to my father”

He shakes his head, “He knows your leaving. He’ll talk to you tomorrow”.

“But I have-“

“No time” He says as we walk outside and towards the car.

“Why am I leaving like this?” I ask annoyed, “I can’t even say goodbye”.

“Your father gave me this order” He says, “I honestly don’t know but I think it’s best if we go home”.

We get into the car and the guards let us pass by. Tic speeds away as he takes a backroad to get away. From our view, I see the royal cars heading to Midnight Stone. At least five SUVs speed off as Tic continues driving.

“I wonder if this is about what we saw last night” Tic says while looking at Austin through the rear view mirror.

“You know it is” Austin tells him.

“I can’t believe the hybrid is real” Tic says in awe, “I always assumed the rumors were fake”.

“Me too but he must be near by or in hiding” Austin continues, “No way he’s hiding in plain sight”.

“What do you mean by ‘he’?” I ask Austin.

“Well the hybrid has always been a man. The last one that existed was over five centuries ago”.

“I guess you’re right” I say agreeing with him.

He’s right of course. All past hybrids have been men, and no woman. I’m the first female hybrid to ever exist. Because of this my identity is still a secret.

“William called” Austin says as he looks at his phone.

Surprisingly I take the cellphone from him and dial William. Austin raises his eyebrow at me but I hold my a finger to my lips.

After a couple of rings, he finally picks up.

“Tell me she’s fine” William angrily says through the phone.

“I’m perfectly fine” I say in a sweet tone, “Are you okay?”

“Oh, uh Val? I’m sorry I though it was Austin calling” he says in a flustered tone, “I’m happy to hear from you instead”.

“Me too. I’m worried about you” I say still using my sweet voice.

“I’m fine love. Are you heading home?”

“Yes we are. Where are you?” I ask in a semi-concerned voice.

“We’re heading to Midnight Stone” He pauses before saying, “I’ll see you at home”.

He ends the call before I have to chance to say goodbye and I hand the phone back to Austin.

“Where did he go yesterday?” I ask Austin.

He doesn’t say anything but I can see his eyes cloud over as he mind links Tic.

I nudge Austin and raise my eyebrow, “Well?”.

He sighs as he slightly shakes his head, “The crown prince accepted Tamara’s hand in marriage”.

My mouth falls open but I quickly recover as Tic chuckles. Tamara marrying a royal. No wait, Tamara becoming The Queen?!

“We had the same reaction” Austin says laughing, “This Nicholas guy must be desperate”.

“Tamara would make a horrible Queen” Tic adds as they both laugh. I giggle a little as I think of her whining and throwing tantrums.

“When’s their wedding?” I ask casually.

“No clue but don’t be surprised if their marriage announcement is already a headliner” Austin says.

I sit back into my seat as I think of this Nicholas guy. Why would he want to marry Tamara? What does a royal gain from marrying a regular wolf? Don’t they usually marry other royals? Why did I care so much? Was I…jealous?

“Wait what’s going on?!” Austin shouts as he points up ahead. His shouting pulls me out of my thoughts as I see what he’s showing us.

There I see six rogues starting to block the road. I turn around and see eight rogues coming behind us.

There coming for us! My wolf Amora warns me.