The Hybrid's Second Chance Mate

Gabriel and I were on our way to the lake house for the weekend. I could not wait to share the news with him. We took a small group of guards with us at the request of my father. He can be over protective at times, but I loved him for it. We had just left the Royal pack grounds and Sapphire started to growl. I took a sniff of the air and noticed the scent of rouges. There were a lot of them. I looked over to Gabriel and he nodded his head. He grabbed his sword and leaned in closer to me. “No matter what happens, run back to the pack grounds and get help. I will hold them off as long as I can”, he tells me before kissing my cheek. I watched him get out and then it all happened so fast. I was pulled out of the carriage and dragged across the ground. I heard the fighting around me before I saw a man holding Gabriel by his neck. I growled at the man and attacked the rouge holding me. I was able to get away but was attacked by three other rouges. “Don’t kill her. We need her alive” the man barked at the others. I looked around and saw that everyone was dead. I turned back to the man holding Gabriel. “You better let him go right now, or you will regret it” I growled out. He just chuckled and tossed Gabriel to the ground. I readied myself to attack. “Remember that we cannot shift” Sapphire said in warming. I knew it was going to be tough but we trained for this. “We got this Saph.” I told her before lunging at the man. He took out a blade at the last minute and sliced deep into my stomach. Sapphire was howling out in pain and I screamed. Before I pulled away, I let my claws slip out and s***h at the man's face. He was left with a cut down the right side of his face. One of the guards got to me but the man turned and tried to slice into me again. “You will pay for that” he growled. The guard blocked him and looked at me. “Princess, run” he barked out. I got up to my feet and started to run until I felt the worst pain in my chest. When I turned around, I saw a sword was sticking out of Gabriel’s chest. I wanted to fall to the ground but I knew I had to get back. Sapphire came forward with the strength that she had felt and pushed us on. We reached the clearing on the other side of the forest and I saw my parents come rushing towards me. ‘They killed Gabriel”, I choked out before I blacked out. I woke up feeling empty. It has only been four months since his death but it felt like yesterday. I know my parents have been worried about me since I have not left our room since the attack. My mother even tried to get me to leave the food to feed but I wouldn’t move. Even Keenan tried to get me to at least go for a run. I was a shell of who I used to be. I was weakened from not feeding and from the loss of my mate. All I do anymore is sleep and cry. The pain is still there but is starting to fade. I don’t think I can continue like this; I miss him so much. There was a soft click of the door and I knew someone had come into my room. By the smell, it was my father. “Sweetheart, you need to eat” he said. I rolled over to look at him. “Dad, I have no appetite. I am not interested in eating or anything. I just want to be left alone,” I told him. He sighs. “Look, I know you are in pain and hurting from losing Gabriel.” I am done with people thinking they know how it feels to lose a mate. “You don’t get it. No one will understand the pain I am going through. I wish I had died too.” I shouted at him. His eyes went wide and then I saw sadness in them. “Sky, I do know what you are going through. Your mom was my second chance mate. I lost my first mate in a rouge attack. She was carrying our child. It almost killed me when I felt the bond snap. I was wondering around for a few months getting into fights until I crossed the wrong man while I was drunk.” He chuckled and it made me think about how he and mom first met. “That was when you met mom, wasn’t it.” He chuckled but nodded his head. “Yes, that was when I ran into your mother. The guy I got into a fight with was one of her guards. She killed him for attacking me and the rest is history.” I loved my parents’ story. I leaned into my father and let his warmth comfort me. “Dad, will I ever get lucky and meet someone new?” I asked him. He pulled me into a side hug and patted my back. ‘Sweetheart, we never know what fate has in store for us but one thing for sure is that you cannot let the pain keep you from living. It will be hard but you have to move forward. Keep those happy memories with you in your heart.” He told me. “ Ok father. I will try to move forward. Thank you for sharing your story with me.” I leaned back against him. We talked a little while longer until my mother came into the room with a cup for me. “Honey, I know that you have been through a lot, but please you have to fight and stay healthy for us.” I nodded my head and took the cup from her. I drank the whole cup and got up. “I think it’s time that I started acting like the woman that I need to be for my people. We all suffered losses during the attack and it's time that I moved forward too.” I started to head towards the bathroom and cleaned up. When I walked out, I saw my best friend Keenan sitting on my bed. I ran over to him and tackled him onto the bed. “I am sorry Keenan. I have been awful to you and you have done nothing to deserve it.” He chuckled and tapped my back. “Sky, you have nothing to apologize for. You lost your mate and I can’t even imagine the pain you must have gone through.” I propped myself on my elbows to look into his eyes. “Ke, you are my best friend and I should have leaned on you more. You have always been there for me. I promise you that I will let you in when I am hurting.” He smiled and closed his eyes. “Sky I will always be here for you. Now let’s get you some food.” My stomach growled and we both started to laugh. 10 years later I am working in my office when my dad walks in. “Hello dad, what brings you to my office?” He walks over to sit across from me and sighs. “Sweetheart, the annual Alpha meeting is next week and you will need to attend this year. I don’t want you out in the open, but there has been an increase of attacks on the packs and, since I am the king of lycans, I promised to protect them.” I knew about the attacks and have been working on a plan with Keenan to help protect the packs but I am shocked that my father is torn up about asking me to attend. “Dad, to tell you the truth, I have been working with Keenan to come up with a new security system to help the packs. I was planning on talking with you and mom this evening about going with you guys next week to the meeting.” I smiled at him and he smiled back. “Skylar, you are amazing. I am just worried about them having an issue with you being a hybrid. Not a lot is known and the wolves don’t like the unknown.” I chuckled. “Then I will have to show them that I am just as powerful as they are, if not more so. Plus, I will need to get to know them when you and mom step down.” He just smiles at me. “You know that will not be for a while. You need to learn not only to lead the wolves but also the vampires. You are a mix of both and when you find a life partner or your second chance mate, you will need to talk with him about becoming like you if he is a wolf.” I am shocked at my father. He knew that it still stings at times when he brings up finding a partner. I searched for five years and found no one. I looked down. “I’m sorry sweetheart. I didn’t mean to sound that way. I know you have searched. I should have kept my mouth close.” I looked up to my father. “You have been under a lot of stress dad. When the time is right, the right guy will come into the picture. Now let’s focus on how we can solve this problem with the packs.” He smiles at me and starts to tell me everything that has been going on. Keenan walks into the office to let us know that dinner is ready. “Sky, I may have found something that could work for the packs. We can talk about it after dinner”. I looked at him and nodded. We headed down to dinner and started to eat. My mother cleared her throat before speaking. “Sky, I know tomorrow is going to be busy but you need to feed. It will be a good way to keep your powers in check and you will be stronger if there are any issues.” I nodded to my mother and knew I would have to drink fresh blood. I don’t like it and don’t do it very often, but I know you have a point. “I understand mother.” She nods her head with a smile. We finished eating and then I headed back to my office to talk with Keenan. “Keenan, tell me this idea you have.” I looked at him and knew he was nervous but I trusted him. “What’s wrong? There is something else on your mind.” He looked at me and nodded his head. “Sky, I may have found my mate but I was too afraid to get close to him. He is strong and I can sense an aura coming from him, but not like an alpha, but more like a beta. He is visiting for the conference tomorrow.” I smiled at him. “Keenan, that is wonderful news. Why are you worried about it?” “I don’t know if he would accept me. I am gay and he may not like that fact.” I can tell this was really eating him up. He was a wolf that my father saved from his pack. He was abused and mistreated for being gay. We became friends right away and have been close ever since. “Keenan, you have been blessed with a mate from the moon goddess. He was made for you and you were made for him. If he has a problem with you being his mate, it is his loss. You are amazing and don’t forget that.” I told him as I pulled him into a hug. He nods his head and wraps his arms around me. “Sky, you are my best friend and I don’t know what I would do without you.” I pull back and look him in the eyes. “Keenan, tomorrow after we are done with work, you and I will find your mate. I will be with you every step of the way.” He nodded his head and smiled. “Thanks Sky." We talked for a couple of hours about what we could do and came up with a plan. Before Keenan left, he walked over to me. “Sky, you need to feed. I know you don’t like to but you have to for tomorrow.” I sighed, knowing he was right. I hated it but there was an understanding within our kingdom about the vampires that lived here. Most of the time, they would feed on their mates, but with me not having one, I would have to feed on an unmated person. My normal go to is now mated and I have no one that could. “Keenan, I will be fine. I can drink an extra cup tonight and some in the morning before the meeting.” He walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Sky, you know that will not be enough. You can feed from me. I know that you don’t want to, but you don’t have a choice in this. I cannot protect you when you walk into that room tomorrow.” I sighed and knew he was right. I looked up at him to find anything and saw how serious he was. “Keenan, you know that my scent will be on you if we do this. It may be hard on your mate.” “Sky, I will explain to him when the time comes. Please let me do this for you.” I sighed and nodded my head. I grab his hand and press his wrist to my lips. I inhale and let my fangs extend. When I bite into his wrist, I hear him inhale a sharp breath. I feel my power growing but also becoming more stable. When I pull away, I lick the wounds for them to heal. I looked up to see Keenan looking at me. “Feeling better?” he asked me. I nodded my head and saw that he looked a little pale. “Ke, make sure to get some rest and drink lots of water. Thank you. I hate that I have to do this but I promise I will be there to help you with your mate.” He nods his head and makes his way out of my office. I put my head back and felt my lycan getting antsy. “Sap what’s wrong?” I could feel her pacing in my head. We hadn’t shifted for a while and she had been pretty quiet since we lost Gabriel. “I don’t know Sky; I feel like something is coming.” “Maybe a run will help calm you down.” She retreated to the back of my mind and was quiet again. We haven’t shifted in 10 years. I knew that losing our mate affected her the most and I knew that she would be there when the time calls for it. I got up and made my way to my room. I need sleep and a hot shower to calm my nerves for tomorrow.