The Werewolf and the Hybrid

CHAPTER 11

MAGKAHAWAK KAMAY na pumasok si Caleb at Cassian sa loob ng compound ng bahay ng magkapatid. Naging abala sila sa kanilang bakasyon at matagal na mula ng huli silang nagkasama-samang kumain. They missed their sons, so they came to visit. Sana lang makauwi ang isang anak nila rito.

Napatigil si Caleb. “Rogue…” he whispered. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa ng kapareha saka nagmamadali silang pumasok sa kabahayan.

Dumeretso sila sa kusina at pareho silang natigilan nang makita ang isang babae na nasa harapan ng kalan at nagluluto habang ang kanilang anak ay prenteng nakaupo at nagbabasa.

“Dad! Papa!” Mabilis na tumayo si Cole nang makita niya ang kaniyang dalawang ama. Hindi niya inaasahan ang pagdating ng mga ito. Nilapitan niya ang kaniyang mga ama at niyakap. “Hi, Dad. Hi, Pa.” He greeted them.

Ginulo ni Caleb ang buhok ni Cole. “Hey to you too, son.” But he became wary of the woman who was with his son inside the kitchen.

“Who’s she?” tanong ni Cassian habang nakatingin sa babae na kasama ni Cole sa kusina, pagkatapos niya itong halikan sa nuo. Yep, even if Cole is already a grown-up man, he still loves to be kissed by him on the forehead.

Nakaramdam naman ng kaba si Brianna dahil matiim siyang tinignan ng mga bagong dating na para bang gusto siyang patayin ng mga ito.

Cole smiled. “Dad, Pa, relax. Brianna is a friend. Dito ko muna siya pinatira kasi delikado ang buhay niya. She was being hunted by bad hunters.”

Bahagyang yumukod si Brianna.

“She’s a rogue,” Caleb pointed out.

Tumango si Cole. “Yeah, she is. But she is different from those evil rogues out there.” He smiled. “She’s nice.”

Nagkatinginan muli ang Caleb at Cassian. They saw how their son smiled differently while looking at Brianna.

Caleb is the Former Beta of the Night Moon Pack, and he has been on the Former King’s side. He was taught how to observe and read people’s emotions. Looking at Brianna right now, he can say that she is indeed a nice woman. He couldn’t see any aggressiveness within her.

Tumaas na lang ang kilay ni Caleb nang makita ang kapareha na lumapit kay Brianna at nagpakilala. “Hi, I’m Cassian Asteria and that handsome man there is my husband,” Cassian pointed her husband, “Caleb Montero.”

Caleb beamed.

Brianna slightly bowed her head.

“They are my parents.” Proud na sabi ni Cole at pinagmasdan ang expression ni Brianna. Hindi nagbago ang emosyon sa mukha nito. And he didn’t see any judgement in Brianna’s eyes, which made his heart happy.

“Hija, my son didn’t bully you or trick you to come here, right? Because if he did, tell me and I will castrate him right now.” Seryosong sabi ni Caleb.

“Dad!” Naghihilakbot na sabi ni Cole. “How could you do this to me? I’m your son!” he whined.

Nagkibit lang naman ng balikat si Caleb sa pagmamaktol ng anak.

Natawa naman ng mahina si Brianna. She felt the tension and awkwardness was gone.

“Don’t feel awkward, Brianna.” Sabi ni Cassian. “Let me help you cook.” He wore an apron. Then he pointed to his husband and their son, “You two, help us cut the vegetables. Tumulong kayo para naman may pakinabang naman kayo.” Aniya.

Caleb sighed and walked towards the table. “Cole, help me.”

Cole pouted but he helped anyway. Baka hindi siya bigyan ng Papa Cassian niya ng pagkain mamaya.

While cooking, Cassian and Brianna were talking. Cassian was asking about Brianna’s life and why she was being hunted by the bad hunters. And Brianna answered honestly. Hindi niya alam pero komportable siya sa Papa ni Cole. Maybe because she didn’t feel she was being threatened. Magaan ang loob niya rito.

After hearing Brianna’s story, he was determined to talk to his son to protect Brianna from those scumbag hunters. Isa siyang hunter at layunin nila na protektahan ang mga tao at mga taong-lobo laban sa mga nilalang na gustong manakit sa mga ito. Brianna is a rogue. Pero hindi rin lahat ng rogue ay masasama. May mga mabubuti rin kagaya ni Brianna.

But… Cassian looked at his son, he saw how Cole looked at Brianna. And those eyes, those eyes held something that he had already seen in Caleb before. The eyes are held with adoration and interest in one person.

“Brianna, I know that werewolves can only love one person in their life unless they reject their mate. Hija, have you already found your mate?” he asked. Then he added, “Pwedeng mong huwag sagutin ang tanong ko.”

Brianna glanced at Cole. “I found him.”

Cassian’s eyes widen. “My son?” tanong niya sa mahinang boses. He didn’t expect that his son, Cole, would be like him. He was tied to a werewolf and the same thing happened to Cole.

Kinagat ni Brianna ang pang-ibabang labi saka tumango. “Yes po.”

“You didn’t reject him?” Cassian asked.

Brianna sighed. Lumingon siya kay Cole at nang nagtama ang mata nilang dalawa, nginitian siya ng binata. Kaagad naman siyang nag-iwas ng tingin. Ibinalik niya ang atensiyon sa kaniyang niluluto. “I wanted to reject him at first, but my heart ached, so I didn’t.”

Nakahinga ng maluwang si Cassian. “So…”

Ngumiti si Brianna saka tumango.

Cassian smiled. “That’s good to know, hija. Take care of him.”

Brianna transferred the cooked dish to the plate. “I can’t promise to take care of him, Sir. I have to find my sister and must go back to my job.”

“Just Tito Cassian.”

Tumango si Brianna.

“But are you willing that your mate will be taken away from others?” Cassian asked.

Brianna’s face darkened, and her eyes became sharp. Iniisip niya pa lang na may ibang hinahawakang babae si Cole, nagdidilim na ang paningin niya. “I will kill that woman!” Napalakas ang pagkasabi niya kaya naman napatingin rito si Cole maliban kay Caleb na naririnig ang pinag-uusapan ng asawa at ni Brianna kaya natawa na lamang siya ng mahina.

“Sinong papatayin mo?” tanong ni Cole kay Brianna na kakatapos lang hiwain ang bawang.

Tumingin si Brianna kay Cole. It’s not about looking, it’s more about glaring.

Nawalan ng imik si Cole saka mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin dahil sa talim ng tingin sa kaniya ni Brianna.

Caleb and Cassian chuckled. Mukhang nakikita na nila kung saan ang patutunguhan ng dalawa. Well, that’s good. At least they knew that Cole had someone to take care of him.

Habang nagluluto si Brianna, natahimik siya at napaisip. Si Blythe agad ang pumasok sa kaniyang isipan. Kumusta kaya ang kapatid niya. Napatingin siya sa kaniyang pulsuhan. The vine that was only visible to her was still glowing. Ibig sabihin buhay pa ang kapatid niya.

While they were eating, Cassian and Brianna were the only ones whose voices could be heard in the kitchen. Then Caleb and Cole kept their silence. Unang beses pa lang na magkita si Brianna at Cassian pero parang matagal ng magkakilala ang dalawa sa dami ng pinag-uusapan ng mga ito.

And in the middle of their conversation, a presence of a man came in.

“What is a rogue doing here?” Cade asked, who had just entered the kitchen door.

Biglang binato ni Cassian ng kamatis ang anak na bagong dating. “Watch your tone, Cade!” he hissed.

Tumikhim naman si Caleb. ‘Don’t say the word ‘Rogue’ casually, son.’ Sabi niya sa mindlink nilang magkapatid.

Kumunot ang nuo ni Cade at nagtataka. He looked at the rogue and saw her familiar.

“Kuya, come and sit beside me.” Aya sa kaniya ni Cole.

Looking at the rogue, he went to sit beside his brother. Then Caleb put a plate in front of Cade. Cassian put food on Cade’s plate.

Meanwhile, Brianna could feel the man’s strong presence. She took a deep breath and didn’t dare to look up.

“Kuya, this is Brianna. She’s a rogue I saved one week ago.” Ani Cole. “And she’s not an evil rogue, Kuya. So, stop looking at her like that. You’re scaring her.”

Gustong umismid ni Brianna. Yes, she was scared, but she could do anything to save herself.

“Oh.” Nawala ang masamang tingin si Cade saka ngumiti. “Sorry, about that. I’m Cade.” Pakilala niya sa kaniyang sarili at inilahad niya ang kamay kay Brianna pero si Cole ang tumanggap sa kamay ni Cade.

“No touching, Kuya.” Cole glared at his brother.

Natigilan si Cade. He looked at his fathers, and they just shrugged with a smile on their faces. Nakakaintinding tumango si Cade saka nakakalokong nginitian ang kapatid saka nagsimula na ring kumain.

Pagdating ni Cade, naging tahimik si Brianna. She became wary of Cade. She’s not comfortable around him. After all, Cade belonged to a pack. And according to Cole, Cade is a Beta. Beta is a high rank in a pack, second powerful position next to the Alpha position. Brianna took a deep breath and continued eating.

Habang nag-uusap ang pamilya, biglang tumayo si Cole saka lumipat sa tabi ni Brianna. Kinausap niya ito.

“We really couldn’t find your sister. I’m sorry.”

Tumango si Brianna. “It’s okay. I know she’s still alive. Nararamdaman ko pa siya.”

“Don’t worry, hindi kami tumitigil sa paghahanap sa kaniya.” Sabi ni Cole. “You two will reunite one day.” Then he didn’t notice himself, he affectionately pats Brianna’s head.

Nagkatinginan naman si Caleb at Cassian. Alam nilang hindi alam ng anak nila na nagiging affectionate na ito kay Brianna. Well, for Cassian, that was normal, because before he knew that he was Caleb’s mate, he could feel the feeling of attachment, and later he found out it was a bond. At ganun ang nararanasan ni Cole ngayon.

Cade, who heard Cole and Brianna’s talk, looked at the two. He knew Brianna. He and Ezra investigated her and her younger sister. The younger sister they were looking for is in the palace right now, and she is now being pampered by the Alpha King. Ngayon, napipilian si Cade kung sasabihin ba niya ang tungkol sa kapatid ni Brianna o hindi. Malalim na napabuntong hininga si Cade. And a decision was made up in his mind.

After eating and tidying up the kitchen, Brianna excused herself and went outside. Umupo siya sa bench na naroon. She wanted to give the family privacy. After all, she is an outsider. Maya maya ay naramdaman niya ang presensiya ng kapatid ni Cole.

“May I talk with you?” Cade asked.

Tumango si Brianna saka iminuwestra ang kamay sa bench.

Umupo naman si Cade. “About your sister, she’s in the palace.”

Napaangat ng tingin si Brianna. “Really? Can I see her? But wait…did you say ‘palace’?” gulat niyang saad.

Tumango si Cade. “The Alpha King found her. And now, your sister is being pampered by His Majesty. Huwag kang mag-alala sa kaniya. His Majesty cares for her.”

Nagtaka si Brianna. “Hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi mo.”

Ngumiti si Cade. “Lady Blythe is His Majesty’s mate.”

Lumaki ang mata ni Brianna. It’s him. Ang tinutukoy sa akin noon ni Blythe.

“Nang dumating kayo sa pack namin, pinaimbestigahan kayo ng Alpha King and we are monitoring you. On the day of the accident, we followed you. We found your younger sister, but we didn’t find you. Luckily, my brother found you.”

“Thank you. But can I see my sister?”

“You can, but not now. His Majesty didn’t allow any rogue to enter the pack. Even if you are Her Highness’s sister, you must join the pack first. Well, His Majesty was kind to Rogue but was vigilant to Rogue. Pero pwede ko siyang kausapin.” Sabi ni Cade.

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Brianna. “Don’t tell my sister yet. Mas maganda na ‘to na hindi kami magkikita. I have many things to do. If she’s safe there, then let her be.”

Tumango si Cade. “But let me inform His Majesty about your well-being. Pinapahanap ka rin niya sa amin para kay Lady Blythe.”

“Thank you.”

“So, is my brother your mate?” Cade asked.

Tumango si Brianna.

“Take care of him.”

Brianna was about to say something more when they both heard someone clear his throat.

Parehong lumingon si Cade at Brianna sa pinanggalingan ng tikhim. They saw Cole looking at them, and it's more about glaring at his brother.

Napailing na lang si Cade. Though his brother was a human, he could still feel the bond. He wanted to tease his brother, but he didn’t want to add fuel to the fire. Kaya naman tumayo na lang siya saka namulsa. “Wala akong balak na agawin siya sa ‘yo.” Sabi niya sa kapatid nang malagpasan niya ito saka niya ito tinapik sa balikat.

“What?” Cole asked in confusion.

Cade just sighed and shook his head. “Wala. But rest assured that Brianna isn’t my type.” Aniya saka umalis na.

Naguluhan naman si Cole sa sinabi ng kapatid saka tumingin kay Brianna. He saw Brianna looking at him also. Nang makita niya kanina ang kapatid niya at si Brianna na nag-uusap, may naramdaman siyang hindi niya naintindihan. It didn’t sit him well seeing his brother and Brianna talking.

Napailing si Cole saka naglakad palapit kay Brianna. Nginitian niya ang dalaga saka umupo sa tabi nito. “My two fathers said that I should protect you. Pero hindi ko alam kahit hindi nila sabihin sa akin na protektahan kita gagawin ko pa rin. I will protect you,” he said, not knowing that he was saying those words with affection.

Brianna smiled inwardly. “Thanks…” mate.

Ngumiti si Cole. Unbeknownst to himself, he was already attached to Brianna Davis.