The Werewolf and the Hybrid

CHAPTER 20

AFTER the dinner meeting, everyone was given a task by the Alpha King. They had a few drinks. Josiah wanted to get drunk until they couldn’t walk anymore, but Lawrence disagreed.

“You continue.” Ani Lawrence. He was already tipsy and could feel it.

Tumawa ng mahina si Josiah saka napailing. He knew why Lawrence didn’t want to get drunk. Lawrence had already found his mate, and he needed to be a responsible man. Hinayaan na lamang niya ang mahal na hari na umalis at nagpatuloy sa pag-inom.

Bago umalis si Lawrence sa kusina, nagbilin siya kay Cade. “Send them to the guest room when they have finished the last bottle.”

Yumukod si Cade. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lawrence left the room.

Ezra followed.

Inalalayan niya si King Lawrence patungo sa silid nito pero bago pa man sila makarating sa silid ng Alpha King tumigil si Ezra at nagtanong. “Your Majesty, saan ko po kayo dadalhin?” Alam niya kasing hindi natutulog si King Lawrence sa mismong silid nito. He knew that King Lawrence had been sleeping in his private office since Blythe arrived in the palace.

“In my room.”

Ezra nodded and took Lawrence to his room.

“You can leave me now.” Sabi ni Lawrence nang makaupo siya sa gilid ng kama. “I’ll wait for Blythe.”

Yumukod si Ezra saka umalis ng silid.

Meanwhile, Blythe was having a lesson with Ezralyn. Ezralyn was teaching her about werewolves. Their origin and those people who belong in a pack. Werewolves are led by the highest position – the crown, which was Lawrence – the werewolf king. And this King led all the Alphas around the world.

“But as for you, Your Highness, since you are His Majesty’s mate, you will be the queen. Though you are already considered as a queen because you are His Majesty’s mate, still, you need to go through a conferral ceremony. The Alpha King and Luna Queen will lead the Alphas and Lunas around the world,” Ezralyn said, and then she smiled. “A pack was led by an Alpha and a Luna. They are equal for each other. Then below them is the Beta, which was the second-in command of the Alpha King. Then the Gamma, which had the crucial role in the pack. He was in-charge of the peace of the whole pack and the Luna’s safety was his responsibility. If Luna is harmed, he will be punished by the Alpha. But His Majesty is the Alpha of all Alphas, then Beta Cade is the Beta of all Betas. The same as the Gamma, he is the Gamma of all Gammas. Then the Delta, Head Warrior, Pack Warrior and the pack members or what they call Omega.”

Napatango si Blythe.

“There are a set of rules and laws, but I won’t teach you that.” Umiling sis Ezralyn. “Beta Cade will teach you about the laws of werewolves and rules in the palace. Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa mga ‘yan.”

Natawa ng mahina si Blythe dahil sa ekspresyon ng mukha ni Ezralyn. Halata kasi na ayaw nito sa mga batas ng mga lobo at sa mga rules ng palasyo.

“Sige. But why do I even need to know about these things?” Blythe asked.

Ezralyn smiled. “Because you are the queen, Your Highness.”

Sumandal na lang si Blythe sa sofa na kinuupuan. Tumingin siya sa mga libro na nakalagay sa mga shelves. They were inside the library.

Ezra continued. “Mates,” she looked at Blythe. “I know that His Majesty already told you about mates, but he didn’t elaborate on it. So, I will tell you about it.”

“Okay. Tell me.”

Ngumiti si Ezra. “Soulmate is the half of our soul. You two can feel each other’s emotions, connections and bond, can share the same mind, and, of course, you will be together for the rest of your lives.” Hindi na niya sinabi ang tungkol sa rejection. That was a sly of her, but she didn’t want Blythe to reject Lawrence. She also likes Blythe to be the queen. “Mate was bestowed by the Moon Goddess. And those mates could feel each other the first time they meet.”

Blythe listened. But a question filled her mind. “Instantly.”

Ezra nodded. “Instantly.”

“Oh.” Napaisip si Blythe sa mga ginagawa ni Lawrence. Yes, Lawrence was tender and caring towards me and I noticed that he was cold and serious to others.

“That’s only for today.” Sabi ni Ezralyn saka ngumiti.

Napahinga ng malalim si Blythe. “Salamat naman. Hindi na yata kayang i-absorbed ng utak kapag may sasabihin ka pang iba.”

Mahinang natawa si Ezralyn. “I already taught you about werewolves. But the rules and laws, I can’t teach you. Si Beta Cade na lang.”

Tumango si Blythe.

Pagkaalis nila sa library, agad na pumunta si Blythe sa silid ni Lawrence. She wasn’t expecting Lawrence to be there, sitting on the edge of the bed. And looked like he was waiting for her.

Alam ni Blythe na nakipag-inuman ito sa mga kaibigan nito dahil nagpaalam pa ito sa kaniya kanina na iinom ito. Syempre pinayagan niya dahil wala naman siyang karapatan na pigilan ito. She wanted to tell Lawrence not to drink liquor because she knew that a drunk person could do something stupid when they are drunk. But she was hoping that Lawrence was a different case.

Ngumiti si Lawrence nang makita niya si Blythe. He gestured her to come closer to him.

Blythe was reluctant but still she walked towards Lawrence. “You’re drunk.”

Lawrence smiled. “No, I’m not drunk. Sit beside me.” Tinapik niya ang espasyo sa tabi nito.

Dahan-dahang umupo si Blythe sa tabi ni Lawrence. Indeed, Lawrence wasn’t drunk, but he was tipsy. Still, Blythe was wary of him.

“Baby.”

As if it was Blythe’s name, she immediately looked at Lawrence. Only to realized that Lawrence called her by his endearment to her again. Nasanay na yata siya na tinatawag siyang ganun ni Lawrence. Hindi na siya nito tinatawag sa pangalan niya minsan.

“Baby, I like you.”

Blythe stilled. She looked at Lawrence, and he was looking at her intently.

“I know that you are wary of me and I don’t blame you. It’s normal for you to guard yourself against me. You hate me, right?” Lawrence asked as pain crossed his eyes.

Hindi naman makapagsalita si Blythe dahil alam niya sa sarili niya na wala siyang galit kay Lawrence. He did not only save her, but also gave her shelter. He doesn’t force her to do anything. She had freedom to do whatever she wanted to do.

“I don’t hate you…” mahinang sabi ni Blythe.

Lumiwanag ang mukha ni Lawrence. “So, you like me?”

Umiling si Blythe.

Lawrence's face fell. “I knew it,” he muttered. Then, slowly, his head leaned on Blythe’s shoulder.

Blythe’s heart races.

“Ren, if you want to sleep, just sleep on the bed.”

Biglang umayos ng upo si Lawrence saka tinignan si Blythe. “But you don’t hate me? If you don’t like me, that’s okay. I have a lot of ways to make you like me, but please, don’t hate me. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko kapag nagalit ka sa akin.”

“I don’t hate you or be mad at you. Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa ‘yo pero sana maintindihan mo rin ako. For me, it takes time to like someone. Hindi ‘yon mangyayari sa loob ng isang araw lang.”

“It happened,” Lawrence said. “Love at first sight. It happened to me. I fell in love with you the first time I met you.” Then he sighed like he was depressed. “Don’t you like me a little bit? I’ll work hard to earn your trust and I will never defy or abandon you.”

They stared at each other.

Blythe could feel it. There was something pulling her towards Lawrence.

“Baby.” Umangat ang kamay ni Lawrence saka hinaplos ang pisngi ni Blythe. “I like you and I will wait until you like me. You have your freedom here in the palace. And I won’t take that away from you.”

“But if someday I wanted to leave, would you stop me?”

Ngumiti si Lawrence. “No, I won’t stop you. I will go with you.”

Hindi alam ni Blythe pero na-touch siya sa sagot ni Lawrence. “If you don’t want to live here, we can have a simple life outside the palace.”

Kusang gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Blythe. “Thank you.”

Lawrence smiled and leaned closer to Blythe.

Napahigpit naman ang hawak ni Blythe sa sariling damit at pabilis ng pabilis ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso.

Blythe’s eyes widened when she felt Lawrence’s lips pressed against her. Hindi naman niya magawang maitulak si Lawrence dahil siguradong masasaktan ito. Since when did I become indulgent?

But before Blythe couldn’t push Lawrence away, his body was dropped to her.

Napailing na lang si Blythe nang makita niyang nakatulog na si Lawrence. She chuckled and shook her head. “Hindi ko alam na cute rin pala ang isang Lawrence kapag nakainom ng alak.”

Unbeknownst to Blythe, herself, she had already started to let Lawrence in her life.