The Hybrid King's Hidden Mate

Chapter 9: Having Her Watched

-Ronan-

I didn’t like seeing her run away from me. Everything in me screamed to go get her and make sure she could never leave again. It turned my mood sour to see her leave. It made me want to punch something.

I knew it wasn’t only because we were mates. It was because, as I had already mentioned, there was something lonely about being the only hybrid left. I had liked seeing those same eyes, feeling the familiar power from her. It made me feel less alone, but it was clear she didn’t feel the same way. She wanted to be far away from me, and while it angered me, I didn’t blame her.

Give her a few centuries. Then she will know what loneliness is.

My wolf was not wrong. She did seem quite young, inexperienced. Even her scent told me she hadn’t lived even one century.

“My King!” I saw Grayson and Enzo coming my way.

“You’re letting her leave?” Grayson asked.

Enzo looked at me confused as well. Even if he understood I would never choose another, it didn’t make sense that I would let the last female hybrid go out into this dangerous world. Some humans knew we existed, and if they got a whiff of her, they probably wouldn’t hand her over to me, or they would try to control me through her. It wasn’t safe to let her leave, but even if I said she was free to go, I hadn’t said anything about not letting anyone follow her.

“Send Seth after her,” I ordered.

“Is that your plan?” Enzo inquired.

“Someone will find her soon. It is best she realizes on her own where she is safest. I won’t force her. She will only continue to run,” I explained.

“She could still get hurt,” he reminded me.

“I know…”

I didn’t like to think about her getting hurt. Therefore, I hoped Seth could be there to interfere once trouble found her, because it would find her. The little hybrid was a little more vampire, so she would travel in the night anyway, which was why I sent Seth and not Grayson.

“She needs to learn it the hard way, this one,” I said. “Send him after her. Make sure he keeps her safe.”

Enzo and Grayson nodded but looked as worried as I felt, yet they didn’t say anything. Instead, they merely departed, as I closed the door behind me. I sat down in a chair by the big seating area, feeling so damn tired.

This day had not turned out the way I had thought it would. I didn’t know when I woke up that morning, I would suddenly be meeting the last hybrid female. I still didn’t know her name or where she came from. She was a complete mystery to me.

We can’t let her go! my wolf growled.

I knew my wolf didn’t approve of my plan, yet it was so strange hearing him talk. He had been so quiet since we lost Adrianna. He couldn’t take the pain, and I was surprised that I hadn’t thrown myself on the pyre with her, but I had sworn to avenge her, and I did.

After that, I wanted to follow her, but I knew no one would let me. They still needed me as their king, and I knew if Adrianna had been alive, she would have told me that I couldn’t leave either.

They need you… It was like I could hear her say those exact words. Even if the images of her had faded over the years, I still remembered her voice so clearly and her touch.

Let us go find her! my wolf suggested.

“She will come back when she realizes she has nowhere to go,” I assured him.

My wolf started to pace inside me, but I ignored him. Seth would keep her safe and make sure whatever trouble she would get into, he would save her from.

-Amber-

He really let me go! I couldn’t believe it. I had been certain someone would come for me before I even reached the door, but no one did. Even after I had gotten outside, no one stopped me. So, I continued to run and run. I ran until I could barely even breathe, but I was still on some lonely little road, not sure where to go.

I looked around myself. I knew where I had come from, but as I looked at the path, I was unsure of where it would lead me. I realized I had no idea where I was going or what to do next. All my belongings had been taken from me, not that I owned a lot. I only carried some money with me, that was it. I had never wanted a house because even a simple place made me feel trapped.

“Where the hell are we?” I asked.

Don’t ask me!

“Well, at least we’re free,” I pointed out and resumed walking.

I don’t think we thought this through, my wolf admitted.

I hated to agree, but she was not wrong. I had only thought about getting away from the king, and now I just... I had nowhere to go! I had no money, and I was still hungry because I refused the food the king had brought me. He got me cheeseburgers...

My stomach growled violently at the thought of it.

We should just have eaten it!

“Why are you suddenly giving in to him?” I questioned.

I am not! I am trying to take care of us!

I didn’t respond because I knew it was true. We needed food, and my wolf was, in this case, smarter than me. I was simply too proud.

I’m tired too!

“I will find us a place to sleep. Okay?” I inquired.

Where?

I looked around myself. I only had the option to camp in the woods, but it was unsafe. There were rogues around or crazy humans hiding out there. It wouldn’t be a good idea.

Car! my wolf exclaimed.

Suddenly, a car was coming our way. I smiled and placed myself in the middle of the road, hoping to stop the driver. The person luckily slowed down. It was an older lady coming out of the vehicle, asking if I was all right.

“Can you give me a lift to the nearest town?” I asked.

“What has happened to you, dear?” she inquired.

I gazed down at myself, knowing I looked terrible, but I couldn’t tell the nice human lady what had really happened.

“I was in an accident,” I said.

“We should get you to a hospital,” she suggested.

I shook my head. “I’m fine. Really. Just... I just need to get to the nearest town.”

The lady didn’t look reassured, but she told me to get inside anyway.

“Thank you so much!”

“How about you come home with me instead?” she asked, as she continued to drive.

I looked surprised at her, but she had such a worried look in her eyes.

“It is just me and my son who lives there now. He takes such good care of me.”

The woman was maybe in her late sixties, so she had to have an older son. I didn’t see any reason not to trust her. She was such a nice person.

“I will get you some food and some nice new clothes,” she promised.

“Thank you,” I replied.

She waved her hand through the air, as if it was nothing.

“Don’t thank me, you look like someone who has had a terrible night,” she told me.

“I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

She smiled at me, looking at me with so much sympathy, and I let myself fall back against my seat, sighing deeply. It felt like I had barely closed my eyes before the car suddenly stopped. I looked over at the nice lady, who smiled at me, telling me we were here.

“I’m Ruth,” she said, as I got out of the car.

“Amber,” I informed her.

We walked toward the front door of her house. The house was in such a quiet little neighborhood. Nothing terrible seemed to ever happen here. She unlocked her front door, and we walked inside. A small cat suddenly came running toward us, rubbing itself against Ruth’s legs, but as it saw me, it started to hiss.

“So sorry! She usually doesn’t mind strangers,” Ruth apologized.

I smiled nervously, before I followed Ruth further into the house. She found me some clean clothes.

“These were my daughter’s,” she informed me.

I looked confused at her.

“Were?” I questioned.

“Sadly, she isn’t here anymore,” she whispered.

I gazed at the lady, feeling so sad for her, and I tried telling her she didn’t need to give me her clothes, but Ruth insisted. She told me to go to the bathroom down the hallway and shower, as she went to the kitchen and started making me some food.