The Hybrid King's Hidden Mate

Chapter 7: Angry

-Ronan-

“You locked her up!” I shouted.

Colum and Derrick sat in front of me. I knew a lot more people were a part of this, but these two idiots were not supposed to go behind my back like this. The little hybrid was both dehydrated and clearly not properly fed in a long time.

How long were they going to keep her like that? I wondered. Colum said he wanted to ease me into the idea of her, but that could have taken months, most likely years! Were these two insane or something? What had gotten into them?

“We were going to free her,” Colum assured me.

"At what point? When I suddenly conceded and said, 'Sure, let me meet this secret hybrid female you have kept hidden for months!'?" I inquired.

“We only found out about her three weeks ago. We kept her safe for two.”

“This is what you assholes call safe?” I exclaimed. “Locked up and not fed properly.”

“We only had her since last night. Blame the wolves,” Derrick retorted.

“You didn’t make it better!”

“She was dangerous. We needed to weaken her a bit,” Colum told me.

I wanted to strangle the both of them. This was completely out of line, and they had to understand that. I understood people were desperate for me to claim this little one, and for her not to run away again and stay hidden for… well, who knew how long she had been hiding?

But I could not allow this to go unpunished! They needed to be reminded who was in charge. However, they were weakly attempting to come up with excuses at that moment.

“Not okay!” I growled at them, and they both looked toward the ground, showing submission.

It calmed me, seeing their guilt, and as I had already mentioned, I understood the desperate desire to continue the hybrid line. I recognized that upon my death, there would be a significant void in leadership, potentially leading to chaos. Nobody desired chaos.

Our species was already struggling enough, but this was not the solution. I needed them to comprehend that. It was no wonder the young hybrid resented me, believing I was somehow responsible for all of this. Despite showing some improvement after being kept out of the sun, she remained unhappy. I couldn’t coax her to eat.

I had taken her to my room, leaving some of the warriors to look after her, but she had not wanted to stay calm. Yet, not long after, Colum had arrived, and a little later, Derrick, which meant my attention had been pulled elsewhere. However, I knew I couldn’t avoid her forever. We needed to figure all of this out, and she needed to see I had no part in her kidnapping.

“We just wanted—” Colum began.

“I know what you wanted, and I am still saying no!” I exclaimed.

“You don’t feel anything toward her?” Derrick asked.

I looked at him, but I didn’t respond. However, that seemed to be answer enough. He smiled, pleased.

“I knew it,” he said confidently.

“It wasn’t so hard to guess. We are the only ones left, but my answer is still no.”

“But if she is your mate, then why fight it?” Derrick inquired.

I sighed and fell back in my chair. I rubbed my eyes, giving myself time to think. I knew looking at it from their perspective it made sense that I claimed her. She was my mate, and everyone wanted us to have a little hybrid pup or more if that was possible, so why not just give in?

It seemed so simple on the outside, but it wasn’t an easy choice for me, not when my heart still belonged to Adrianna. I had let the organ metaphorically burn on the pyre with her the night I had said my goodbyes. I didn’t want to love another because I didn’t need a second mate. I didn’t mind dying without having no one else to love.

Adrianna was enough for me, even when she was dead. However, what kept me going was thinking I would see her again one day, but if I fell in love with someone else, what then? I didn’t want to find out. Adrianna was the one. She always had been.

I decided that I couldn’t be with this little one, despite my wolf feeling ready to choose someone else. I had loved Adrianna for 500 years, and I would continue to love her for 500 more, until my last f*****g breath.

That was what these two fools didn’t get. They only saw what we would all gain if I chose to sleep with the little female hybrid. They didn’t see what it would do to me or her. It was clear she wanted nothing to do with me, and I didn’t blame her.

She knew what people desired when they looked at her. It was evident she didn’t want to be part of continuing the line, and I was not about to force her.

“You two idiots do not come close to her again,” I warned. “Not without my permission.”

They both sighed, knowing how deeply they had messed up. I understood their intentions weren’t bad, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t pissed.

“Now go home, and don’t let me see either of you for a while. One wrong move and you are both off the councils,” I told them harshly.

That seemed to get their attention. Yet they glared at each other instead of me. It was obvious they were blaming the other for getting them in trouble. I shook my head as I watched them leave, but I didn’t stay in my office for long.

Instead, I walked down the many hallways until I arrived at my room. I opened the door, only to see a glass coming my way. I ducked just in time and the glass hit the door behind me, smashing to pieces.

I gazed at it shocked, before turning to the chaos in front of me. The little hybrid was yelling at Enzo, Seth, and Grayson, throwing stuff at them and telling them to let her out.

It was obvious she was getting on their nerves, but I believed they were also a bit impressed that she wasn’t scared to stand up to three very powerful males. I certainly was. Two of them were vampires and much older than her.

Grayson was a werewolf and had alpha blood in his veins, but serving me ensured he could never be a leader to his father’s pack. Good thing he never wanted to be, and he had a younger brother.

“Okay, that’s enough,” I said.

The little hybrid had a small vase in her hands, ready to throw it at them, when I cut in. Everyone seemed to freeze, and I took a step back, gesturing with my hand that my men could leave.

“I got it from here,” I assured them.

They seemed almost relieved that they didn’t have to deal with the little female’s outbursts anymore, and I couldn’t say I was looking forward to dealing with her.

“Good luck,” I heard Grayson mumble as he walked past me.

Seth and Enzo followed right after, Seth patting me twice on the shoulder, probably thinking the same thing. I rolled my eyes and closed the door after them, but as soon as I closed it, I saw the vase come flying. I ducked again, but now I was feeling very annoyed.

“That was unnecessary, little one,” I told her, looking at her angrily.

“I think it was! Let me out!”

“No,” I replied and walked over to the small bar cart, where she had destroyed almost all of the glasses. Luckily, two still stood standing, and I filled one almost to the brim, knowing I needed this.

“You can’t keep me here! I won’t serve you!” she yelled.

I sighed, hoping to find some strength in the alcohol. It did help calm me a little, but I still had to deal with the little firecracker behind me.

“Okay, let’s get one thing straight,” I said and turned around, looking at her. “I. Did. Not. Have anything to do with your kidnapping! I can promise you that!”

“Really?” she inquired, crossing her arms. “You expect me to believe that?”

“I don’t want you!” I told her. “There is one woman for me, and she is gone now. I don’t want another queen.”

She looked at me a bit suspiciously, and I didn’t blame her for not trusting me. She had been chained up, and she had not been fed properly. She hadn’t even been allowed to shower. It was not so hard to see that she found it hard to trust me. I wouldn’t have trusted me either.

“Now, will you tell me your name?” I questioned, almost tiredly.

She didn’t seem to want to do that. Instead, she lifted her chin, looking away from me and huffing. What was she? A child? I groaned internally.

“Listen, I am telling you the truth. I do not want anything to do with you,” I promised.

“Then let me go,” she demanded, turning to face me.

I sighed. “I can’t do that.”

“Then you’re lying!” she shouted.

I shook my head.

“I really am not, but I cannot let you go,” I told her.

“Why not?”

“Because we are both hybrids. Even if we weren’t mates, I wouldn’t be able to let you go. My instincts simply wouldn’t allow it,” I explained.

I wasn’t sure how much she understood about herself or the hybrids, but her powerful stance seemed to relax a little, as if she understood what I was saying.

Among our species, the female hybrids were considered the most precious, always cherished and shielded. Since they were inherently weaker than males, ensuring their safety was our top priority, especially considering the natural imbalance with more males being born.

Back in the days when there were more of us, it was not uncommon for the females to have more partners. That changed over time as more and more of us died.

“Now, what is your name?” I tried again.

“Bite me,” she retorted.

I groaned tiredly. I knew I had a lot of work in front of me.