The Hybrid King's Hidden Mate

Chapter 10: Worried

-Amber-

The water was heaven as it hit my back. I wished I could have stayed in there longer, but I knew I couldn’t. I was very hungry and needed to eat. I quickly got dressed in some black jeans and a long white shirt. The sizes were a little too big for me, but I didn’t mind. I was merely happy to get some fresh clothes on and take a shower. Then I went to the kitchen, where Ruth had already cooked me a lot of food.

“You didn’t have to do all of this,” I told her.

This human is a pure angel! my wolf exclaimed.

“Of course, I did,” she said. “Now sit down.”

I smiled at her and sat down at the small kitchen table. Just as I began to eat, I heard the front door open. What I assumed was her son came into the kitchen. He seemed to have just come home from some social event. His shirt was unbuttoned a little, his light hair was slightly messy, and he had the faint smell of alcohol.

He froze as he saw me. “And who is this?”

I felt strangely observed by the tall stranger. He had these dark green eyes that I didn’t like on me.

“Amber. I found her running on the road. Lost,” Ruth explained.

“Mother, what have we talked about bringing strangers into the home?”

Ruth waved a hand through the air again. “The girl had been in a terrible accident. You should have seen her before the shower.”

“Are you saying a shower fixed her?” the son inquired.

It was clear his mother was a confused woman. A kind person, but a confused one. Her son found me more suspicious, but it was clear there was no way he could convince Ruth to kick me out. He tried, but eventually gave in, as his mother insisted that I was to stay here for a few days.

So, he left the kitchen shortly after and went to bed, while Ruth continued to chat with me. She asked me a lot of questions, but I couldn’t be very honest.

Instead, she told me a little about herself. She was diagnosed with cancer that unfortunately couldn’t be cured, and her son was taking care of her in her last time. Yet it was peculiar that I hadn’t felt very comfortable in his presence, like I felt in hers. Something didn’t feel right about her son.

-Ronan-

I got worried when two days went by, and I still hadn’t heard anything from Seth. I really hoped he still kept track of her. No, no, he did, I insisted internally. I was certain of it, but it worried me that he hadn’t told me he had to save her from something and bring her back to me.

However, I had spent my time trying to learn more about her, but there was nothing. Nothing about my family line hiding something or any of the others that were written about. Whoever this little hybrid was, she had come out of nowhere. How? I had no idea, but I would find out once she came back.

“Just go get her!” Enzo demanded.

I was out on the run under the strong moonlight. Enzo had decided to come along. I couldn’t concentrate these days. I needed the little hybrid back before I could truly feel calm. I was doubting my choice, but I was certain she needed to learn it the hard way, or she would keep trying to run from me.

“No,” I replied, as I stopped to take a small break.

“You’re clearly not yourself right now,” he said. I leaned my back against a tree as my friend stopped in front of me, shaking his head at me. He was as sweaty as me. I had made us run far and fast, but I needed the distraction. I needed a little time to forget and not focus on that stupid feeling of worry inside me. When was the last time I had felt so on edge? Oh yes, the night my mate had died. I wasn’t quite as scared, but I was still worried.

“You don’t think I know?” I questioned.

“So, why not go get her? She isn’t safe out there.” Since she was the last hybrid female, and my warriors had sworn their loyalty to me, they felt just as strong a need to protect her as me. I knew in a way I was torturing them too, but this was needed.

“She needs to want to come back,” I explained.

“f**k that,” he said.

“She was locked up. Chained. They even tried to weaken her, just so she couldn’t run away. I hear she even hurt three of her guards, bit almost one of their arms off. If that is not proof that she doesn’t want to be here, I don’t know what is.”

I pushed away from the tree and started to walk back toward our home. Enzo followed me. I knew he wasn’t agreeing with me, but he wasn’t king, and I made the decisions here, so there wasn’t much he could do. Though he still made sure to voice his opinion.

“What if something happens to her?” he asked.

“Seth is keeping an eye on her,” I reminded him.

“And when did you last hear from him?”

“He will let me know what is going on soon,” I remarked.

“You should have sent me,” he said.

“I need you here. Right now, I don’t trust many, but I trust you,” I told him.

He groaned, frustrated. “You could just go find her yourself. Just check on her,” he insisted.

I shook my head. “No, it is best I leave her alone for now.”

“Isn’t it driving you insane?”

I could only nod. This wasn’t just about the mate bond between us. It was my natural need to protect her as another hybrid. So, of course, I was going insane. It was even worse that she didn’t want my help.

She seemed to rather want to be out there, without any money, without any protection or help, than be here with me, where she could sleep in a warm bed, where she had food, clean clothes, anything she wanted. Yes, hybrid females definitely got spoiled. There was no doubt about that.

“If I force her back, she will run again,” I said.

“At least we can bring her back again and again.”

“Until she finds a way to run far enough and get herself into trouble without us knowing,” I countered. “I would rather have her come to terms with the fact she will be safer here.”

Enzo sighed, knowing I was right. It was better this way, even if we had to sit and wait. Even two days felt like an eternity, and I was still not sure exactly how long she was going to make us wait.

“When she comes back, what do you plan to do with her?” he inquired.

I knew he hoped for the same thing as everyone else, even though he would never try to push me, he still hoped I would be part of saving the hybrid line.

“No,” I replied, answering the real question he wanted to ask me.

“She is the last female hybrid,” he pointed out.

“I know.”

“It could save your race.”

“Don’t you think if hybrids were meant to continue to rule, we would be?” I asked.

“Are you really putting this up to fate or are you merely looking for an excuse not to f**k her?” he questioned.

“It won’t happen, Enzo.”

“You’re mates,” he reminded me.

I didn’t keep secrets from Enzo, and I knew once the little one came back, everyone would find out about our connection anyway. It was stupid to try to hide it, even if I would love nothing more than to act like it wasn’t true.

“I’m aware.”

“How long do you think you can keep away from her?” he asked.

I sighed.

“I can’t be so naïve and say forever, but I won’t ever be able to love her, and when it comes to creating a child with her, there are ways to stop that,” I pointed out.

Enzo shook his head, not believing I was really going to be so stubborn, but even he did not understand the depth of my love for Adrianna. I didn’t want to trade it out with anything. Even though I was given this second chance, there was no way I was taking it.

Not because I wasn’t grateful for it, but because I was grateful for not having to be the only hybrid left anymore. However, my heart wouldn’t switch sides. It belonged to Adrianna, and I wished someone would understand that, but they only saw what the union between me and the little hybrid could bring, which was the next heir.

I wouldn’t be sorry to disappoint them, and I didn’t think she would either, but even if I wasn’t going to make the next heir with her, I was still going to make sure she was protected and safe. That was my duty to her, as another hybrid. I only hoped she realized soon that being out there was worse than being trapped here with me.