The Werewolf and the Hybrid

CHAPTER 16

LAWRENCE had already been getting used to other people’s stares but not his mate’s stare. He took a deep breath and looked at his mate who was staring at him as if he was a male lead in a movie. They were eating dinner and Blythe kept on staring at him, and he didn’t know why.

“Baby,” Lawrence called his mate.

As if it was a normal name, Blythe subconsciously responded. “Hmm?”

“Stop staring, please.”

“Why?” Blythe asked.

Napabuga ng hangin si Lawrence. “I’m not used to it.”

“But you’re the king. Sanay ka na sa atensiyon ng iba. So, my eyes on you were nothing.” Rason ni Blythe.

“You are my mate. Your stare was not anything. It’s a big thing.” Sabi ni Lawrence.

“Oh.” Blythe nonchalantly said but she continued staring at Lawrence.

“Blythe, I said stop staring.” Lawrence complaint. Though he liked the idea of his mate staring at him, he was becoming uncomfortable. Para kasing pakiramdam niya na kapag nagtagal pa na titigan siya ni Blythe ay malulusaw na siya sa kinauupuan niya.

Blythe pouted. “Tinitignan lang naman kita. You are handsome.”

Napatikhim si Lawrence. ­I know I’m handsome. Pero bakit parang iba kapag sa mate ko mismo nanggaling?

‘Someone’s feeling cocky’. Lucas said.

‘Of course, I am.’ Tugon ni Lawrence sa wolf niya.

“Ren.” The name rolled into Blythe’s tongue smoothly.

Lawrence stilled and was stunned as he looked at his mate. “What did you call me?” tanong niya. His heart raced and felt happy.

“Ren.” Ulit ni Blythe. “Shorten version of your name. Ang haba kasi ng pangalan mo, eh. Nakakatamad banggitin.”

Natawa si Lawrence saka napailing. “Baby, eat your food. Don’t keep on staring at me. Why are you staring at me, by the way?”

Umiling si Blythe saka umikot ang kaniyang mata. “Nothing.” I just have this weird feeling. Parang nararamdaman niya kasi na parang may humihila sa kaniya patungo kay Lawrence. Though she didn’t know what it was, she felt that feeling was not good for her health.

Nagpatuloy silang dalawa sa pagkain hanggang sa matapos sila.

Blythe went to Lawrence's room, took a shower and wore her satin pajama. Tinuyo niya ang buhok at nahiga sa kama. Nang hindi siya makatulog bumangon siya at pumunta sa terasa ng silid. Tumingin siya sa kalangitan at nakitang medyo malaki na ang buwan. Ilang gabi lang ang lilipas, full moon na.

Kusang gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Blythe. Minsan kapag wala siyang ginagawa lalo na sa gabi, hilig niyang panuorin ang buwan kasama ang Ate Brianna niya. Pumupunta sila sa rooftop ng kanilang bahay at doon papanuorin ang buwan.

But how does it feel if I watched the moon from the rooftop of the palace? Blythe asked herself. Ano kaya kung subukan ko?

Pero bago pa man magawa ni Blythe na pumunta sa rooftop ng palasyo, naramdaman niya ang presensiya ni Lawrence sa labas ng silid. Then she heard him knocking at the door. Tinatamad na siyang maglakad patungo sa pinto upang buksan ito kaya naman ginamit niya ang kapangyarihan niya upang buksan ang pinto. Using her power, she pulled open the door.

Nagtaka naman si Lawrence nang bumukas ang pinto ng silid pero walang nagbukas. He could feel Blythe’s presence inside the room but didn’t see her.

“On the terrace.” A voice passed through his ear. Sa pagkakarinig niya ng boses na ‘yon parang malapit lang pero wala namang tao sa malapit. Napailing na lang siya nang makita si Blythe sa may terasa. It was Blythe’s favorite thing to do to stay on the terrace if she wasn’t doing anything. Kaya naman nagpalagay siya doon ng lamesa at upuan para kay Blythe.

Lawrence walked towards the terrace. “Can’t sleep?”

Tumango si Blythe. “Yeah. How about you?”

“I want to see you before I sleep. But I don’t have time to sleep. Kailangan kong lumabas mamaya. I need to patrol together with the pack warriors.” Sabi ni Lawrence saka tumabi kay Blythe sa may sementadong railing ng terasa. Pero binigyan niya ng distansiya ang katawan nila para hind imaging komportable ang mate niya.

Napatango si Blythe habang nakatitig sa buwan.

Lawrence also looked at the moon. “Do you love watching it?”

Tumango si Blythe.

“With whom?”

Ngumiti si Blythe. “With my sister, of course.” Sagot niya. Then she looked at Lawrence. “You have already seen me. You can leave now. I’m not stopping you.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Lawrence. “Why do I feel like you don’t want me here?” tanong niya.

I just don’t want you near me. Para akong napapaso at may humihila sa akin palapit sa ‘yo. Blythe thought. But to cover up her thoughts, she clicked her tongue. “You have responsibility, Your Majesty,” she said in sarcasm.

Napailing na lang si Lawrence. He contacted Cade through the pack link. ‘I’m not joining the patrol. Ikaw na muna ang bahala, Cade.’

‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

Lawrence closed the mindlink and looked at Blythe. “I’m not going. I will stay with you.” Umupo siya sa upuan. “Do you want to hear a story?” he asked.

That pique Blythe’s interest. Tumingin siya kay Lawrence. “What story?”

“About me.”

Nagtaka si Blythe. “You? What about you?”

“Ayaw mo ba malaman kung sino ako at kung ano ang pagkatao ko?” Lawrence asked.

Napaisip naman si Blythe. Naging mabait sa kaniya si Lawrence at nasubukan na niya ang pasensiya nito. Mahaba ang pasensiya ni Lawrence lalo na sinasadya niya minsan na sagarin ang pasensiya nito. But Lawrence never raised his voice at her, and he let her be.

Kaya siguro bilang kabayaran sa kabaitan nito sa kaniya, hahayaan niyang magkwento ito tungkol sa buhay nito.

“Okay. Let me hear it.” Umupo si Blythe sa upuan na nasa tapat ni Lawrence.

Ngumiti si Lawrence. “I am the only son of my parents. My father passed away before I was born – well that’s everyone’s thought. He was alive and now living in seclusion with my mother. My mother was a Wolf Goddess, but she gave up her power to save my father’s life. Then my father refused to come back, so my mother took over the throne. I was twenty-one when my mother passed the throne to me.” He leaned on his chair. “I am a demigod. Half-god and half-werewolf. I can read minds and I have a magic power, but I rarely use those – only when needed.”

Napatango naman si Blythe. “That’s nice,” she commented.

Umiling si Lawrence. “Yeah, it’s nice. But it’s not.” Sabi niya.

“What do you mean?”

“Being a demigod is my advantage, but being an Alpha King is my disadvantage. I am the highest head of werewolves – the Alpha King. Everyone submits to me. But even I hold the highest position, the Council of werewolves is against my decisions. Kaya mahirap rin ang sitwasyon na mayroon ang isang Alpha King. Hindi ko nagagawa ang lahat ng gusto ko.” Napabuntong hininga si Lawrence.

“You can control them,” Blythe suggested.

“They will turn their backs against me. And they will encourage other packs to rebel against me. If that happens, even though I am the Alpha King and I inherited this title by bloodline, I can still be replaced by someone the Council wants.”

Sumama ang mukha ni Blythe. “It’s unfair.”

Umiling si Lawrence. “It’s not unfair, Baby. May karapatan ang Council na palitan ang hari kung gugustuhin nila lalo na kapag ang hari na ‘yon ay hindi ginagawa ng mabuti ang kaniyang trabaho.”

“But you’re a good king,” Blythe pointed out. “Naririnig ko sa mga pack members mo. They were praising you because of your kindness to them. They were comfortable working in the palace and serving you because you’re not cruel. Kung may papalitan man, ang Council ‘yon.”

Natawa ng mahina si Lawrence. “We share the same idea.”

Blythe just smiled.

“How about you?” Lawrence asked.

Itinuro ni Blythe ang sarili. “Ako?”

Tumango si Lawrence. “Can you tell me about yourself too? But if you’re uncomfortable, it’s okay. No need to tell me. It’s just that I wanted to know more about you.”

Nagbaba ng tingin si Blythe at pinaglaruan ang kaniyang mga daliri. She took a deep breath before looking at Lawrence. “I am not a human.”