The Werewolf and the Hybrid

CHAPTER 8

NAPAHAWAK si Lawrence sa suot na kwintas. The Red Crystal Moon Necklace suddenly became warm. Nagtataka siya kung bakit umiinit ang kwintas. He looked at the necklace and saw it was glowing.

While staring at the necklace, he remembered the girl who gave it to him. Her smiles were engraved into his mind, then his mate whom he met but didn’t get the chance to speak with her. That little girl resembles his mate so much. Are they the same person? Ngayon rin lang niya narealize na ang naramdaman niya noong una niyang makita ang batang babae ay kapareho ng naramdaman niya noong nakita niya ang mate niya.

Napabuga ng hangin si Lawrence. He’s an idiot to only realized it now.

‘You’re really an idiot!’ Lucas scolded Lawrence.

“Shut up, Lucas. I’m not talking with you.”

‘Then find her, so I won’t call you an idiot.’

“Can we really find her? She’s not ordinary after all. She popped out of nowhere and disappeared like a smoke,” he said. He wasn’t anxious to find his mate because he knew that he would see her again.

‘You’re the Alpha King. And you’re brilliant. Of course, you can come up with many ways to find your mate. You’re also a Demigod. So…’

“Okay. Okay. Fine. I will do everything I can to find her, okay?” Sabi ni Lawrence para tigilan siya ng wolf niya. Talagang hahanapin niya ang mate niya pero kung mahanap niya ito ngayon at dalhin sa palasyo, siguradong gagamitin ito ng Council laban sa kaniya. It will only cause trouble, and he doesn't want his mate to be in that kind of trouble.

He wanted to find his mate, but he needed to do it secretly. He needs to make an excuse to the Council. Tumayo si Lawrence mula sa kinauupuang swivel chair nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng opisina niya at humahangos na pumasok si Ezra.

“Your Majesty, something happened.”

“What is it?” As always. Something happened every day.

“The hunters and vampires attack the siblings, and they run into the woods.”

Sandaling napatitig si Lawrence at nakaramdam ng kakaibang emosyon. Kasabay nito na parang naramdaman niyang sumakit ang kaniyang puso. He felt like something pierced his heart. Hindi siya nagsalita at kusa na lamang siyang nagmadaling lumabas sa kaniyang opisina.

Sumunod naman si Ezra sa Alpha King.

While walking to the hallway, Lawrence mindlinks the pack warriors for them to assemble outside the palace. He feels something is odd. Something didn’t feel right about the siblings.

Pagkalabas niya ng palasyo, nasa labas na ang mga pack warriors at nasa unahan si Cade. Tumayo naman si Ezra sa tabi ni Cade. Kaagad na nagbigay ng utos si Lawrence. So, the pack warriors were divided into three teams. One team each for Cade and Ezra, while the rest followed the Alpha King. Also, Lawrence ordered his Beta to call the hunter’s leader, Cole, Cade’s brother, to look over the situation. Hunters were involved, so he needed to inform the hunter’s leader.

Cade will patrol the whole pack to clear the hunters and vampires if there are any of them still inside the Night Moon Pack. While Ezra and Lawrence followed the trail of the siblings. Nagkahiwalay lang sila sa lugar kung saan sa tingin rin nila ay nagkahiwalay ang magkapatid.

Ezra followed the trail of the Elder Sister while the Alpha King followed the trail of the Younger Sister.

At habang sinusundan ni Lawrence ang pinuntahan ng isa sa magkapatid, nalalanghap niya ang amoy ng mate niya. The scent of jasmine. Hindi niya makalimutan ‘yon. There was an eagerness and excitement he felt in his heart, hoping that it was really his mate.

Then Lawrence sniffed the scent of blood. Worry immediately consumed him. He ran to follow the trail until he reached the cliff. There were signs of fight and blood spilled onto the grass and the ground. Nakita niya ang isang espada na nakakalat sa lupa kaya nilapitan niya ito. The blade was covered with blood.

“Ezra, take the sword,” Lawrence ordered.

“Yes, Alpha King.”

“And scout the whole place. Make sure that there are no enemies. If there are any, kill them on the spot.”

Yumukod ang mga pack warriors pati na ang Gamma. “Yes, Your Majesty!”

Where is she?

Tinignan ni Lawrence ang buong paligid at hindi niya makita ang hinahanap niya. Then he saw the cliff, his feet walked towards the cliff and he looked down. With his sharp vision, he saw a girl floating on the water. His heart races and he jumps into the water.

Nagulat naman si Ezra saka mabilis na tumakbo patungo sa bangin. Tumingin siya sa ibaba at nakita niya ang Alpha King na lumalangoy patungo sa katawan ng isang babae na lumulutang.

“Let’s help His Majesty!” Utos ni Ezra.

Ezra, together with the pack warriors, went down to help their Alpha King.

Meanwhile, Lawrence carefully lay down his mate on the ground. Habang ang kalahati ng katawan nito ay nakasandal sa kaniya. He could see the bruises on his mate’s arms, and he wanted to kill those people who hurt her. When he smelled his mate’s scent earlier, he was expecting it to be her, but he didn’t expect that it was her.

“Mate… baby… wake up…” Hinawakan niya ang mukha ng mate niya at hinawi ang buhok na tumatabing sa mukha nito.

When his mate didn’t wake up, he transferred some of his powers to her. At ‘yon ang naabutan nila Ezra.

“Your Majesty, are you okay?” Ezra asked.

Hindi sumagot si Lawrence. He was focused on his mate. His mate was pale, and he focused on transferring powers to her. Nang medyo bumalik na sa dati ang kutis nito at nawala ang mga sugat at galos nito sa braso. Then he gently carried his mate in his arms.

Ezra and the pack warriors were stunned to see their Alpha King looking at someone softly and with care in his eyes. Ezra already had an idea in mind when he saw the Alpha King gently carry the girl in his arms. It was the first time that His Majesty looked at someone with tenderness and gentle care. He inwardly smiles, and they all give way to their Alpha King.

While Lawrence was on the way to the pace with his mate in his arms, he contacted the pack doctor. When he arrives at the palace, he uses the back door to enter the palace to avoid getting attention. Hindi sa ayaw niyang malaman ng mga pack members niya na nahanap na niya ang mate niya. He knew that his pack members would be happy once they knew that he had found his mate, and they would have a queen. Iniiwasan niya lang kasi ang Council. Ayaw niyang malaman ng Council na nahanap na niya ang mate niya. He just wanted to protect his mate.

Dumeretso si Lawrence sa kaniyang kwarto at maingat na hiniga ang mate niya sa kama. Then Dr. Elijah Mendez, the pack doctor, arrived. Kasama nito ang assistant nitong nurse na babae.

Dr. Elijah was stunned to see a woman brought by the Alpha King, but judging by the woman’s appearance, she might be a… “Minor.”

“I know.” Sabi ni Lawrence. “And she is my mate.” Alam niya kung ano ang iniisip ni Dr. Elijah sa mga oras na ‘yon pero sa totoo lang wala siyang pakialam kahit pa anong isipin nito. “Can you just check her?” he asked impatiently.

Nagulat naman ni Dr. Elijah. “Your mate, Your Majesty?” he asked in disbelief. Pero agad din siyang nakabawi. He immediately checked the Alpha King’s mate and after a few minutes, he looked at the Alpha King. “Did you transfer some of your powers to her, Your Majesty?”

Lawrence nodded.

Dr. Elijah smiled. “No wonder,” he said, then added, “you don’t have to worry, Your Majesty. The Queen is fine. She just needs to rest, and her clothes need to be changed or else she will catch a cold.” Kapagkuwan kumunot ang nuo niya nang maamoy niyang hindi tao ang mate ng Alpha King. “Alpha King, your mate is not a human.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.

Ngumiti lang si Lawrence dahil maski siya ay hindi alam kung ano ba talaga ang mate niya.

Tumingin naman si Dr. Elijah sa nurse na kasama niya. “Change the Queen’s clothes.”

“Yes, doc.”

Lawrence went inside the walk-in closet and took a pair of sweatpants and a shirt. “Here.” Ibinigay niya ito sa nurse saka sila lumabas ni Dr. Elijah. Then he called Ezralyn, Ezra’s younger sister, to buy some undergarments and a personal hygiene kit for his mate.

Ezralyn gasped. “Kuya, have you already become gay?”

Natawa si Dr. Elijah na nakarinig sa sinabi ng kausap ng Alpha King.

Napailing naman si Lawrence. “It’s not for me.”

“Then who?” Nanlaki ang mata ni Ezralyn. “For your mate?”

“Just buy it, okay?” Then Lawrence ended the call.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.” Bati ni Dr. Elijah. He chuckled. “Parang bumalik lang ‘yong dati. Before, I also congratulated your father when he found his mate. I didn’t expect that I would also do the same to his son.” Aniya.

Ngumiti si Lawrence. “Well, I’m Lucian Everson’s son,” he said proudly.

Tumawa ng mahina si Dr. Elijah. “Indeed. How wonder it would be if the Former King was still here.”

Hearing what Dr. Elijah said, Lawrence just smiled.

Pagkalabas ng nurse kaagad na pumasok sa loob ng kwarto si Lawrence upang tignan ang mate niya. Inayos niya ang kumot nito saka siya umupo sa gilid ng kama at pinagkatitigan ang mate niya. His mate looked so innocent and beautiful. She was like a little porcelain doll. Ngumiti siya. Kapag nalaman ng mga magulang niya na nahanap na niya ang mate niya, siguradong magiging masaya ang mga ito para sa kaniya.

‘Your Majesty.’

Mabilis na tumayo si Lawrence. He kissed his mate on her forehead before he left the room. Cade and Ezra were outside his room. They bowed to him.

“Report.”

“Your Majesty, we couldn’t find the Elder Sister. But there were traces of a fight on the other cliff. We assumed they jumped off the cliff.” Imporma ni Cade.

“It’s the Elder Sister.” Ani Lawrence. “We have the Young Sister, and she is my mate.”

Cade’s eyes widened. “Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“Congrats, Your Majesty.” Ezra congratulated the Alpha King.

Tumango si Lawrence. “Continue to look for the brother.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Cade answered.

Then Ezra reports, “We found traces of vampires and hunters inside the border, Your Majesty. Pero huwag kayong mag-alala, wala na sila rito sa loob ng pack natin. Everything was clear.”

“Good. Make sure that no hunters, rogues, or vampires trespassed our pack border. Especially now, I found my queen.” Lawrence’s voice held with authority.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Bumalik si Lawrence sa loob ng silid at personal niyang binatayan ang mate niya. But one week had passed, and his mate hadn’t woken up yet.

MEANWHILE, at the hunter’s headquarters, Cole, the hunter’s leader, was informed that the woman they found on shore had awakened.

“Finally…” Cole mumbled his breath and stood in his chair.

Pumunta siya sa infirmary ng HQ nila at pinuntahan ang babaeng nasagip nila malapit sa may Night Moon Pack. She had many wounds and bruises, so they brought her here. They were scouting the place to hunt those bad hunters, but they weren’t lucky to meet them. Instead, they meet a dying woman at the shore.

Pagdating ni Cole sa HQ, nakita niya ang babae na gising na at nakaupo. Nakasandal ito sa may ulunan ng hospital bed ng infirmary. Bahagya pa siyang natigilan nang makita ang babae. The woman was beautiful. Then the beautiful woman looked at him.

Nagtaka si Cole nang makita niyang napatitig sa kaniya ang babae. He saw an unreadable emotion in the woman’s eyes before she withdrew her gaze.

“I’m Cole Montero-Asteria. We saw you at the…”

“Hunters…” Brianna mumbled under her breath.

“What?” Cole asked. Hindi niya masyadong narinig ang sinabi nito kahit pa matalas ang pandinig niya.

“Y-you are a hunter.” Brianna pointed out with a weak voice. She wanted to use her power of invisibility – Nymph had that kind of power – to leave this place, but her power didn’t cooperate with her. Dahil siguro sa mahina siya. Alam niyang may tama siya ng bala sa kaniyang dibdib pero wala na ito. Siguro naghilom ang sugat niya nang matanggal ang bala sa katawan niya.

“You know about us?” Nagtatakang tanong ni Cole. Well, he is a hunter. Unlike his brother, Cade, who is a werewolf, he is not a werewolf but a hunter. He couldn’t distinguish a werewolf. Though his senses are heightened, it is different from the werewolf's sense of smell. Werewolf noses are sensitive.

Tumango si Brianna. “You have been hunting me for a long time.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Cole. “There must be a misunderstanding.” Sabi niya. “I don’t know you and I never saw you before. Why would I want to hunt you? Except if you’re…”

“I am,” Brianna said. “I am a werewolf and you, hunters, have been hunting me for over a decade now. Hindi ba kayo napapagod?”

“Oh,” Cole chuckled. “I’m sorry, but we did have a misunderstanding.” Aniya. Then he explained, “Yes, we are hunters, but we never hunt werewolves except those werewolves who hurt humans – Rogue, to be exact. I am the leader of the Hunter’s Organization, which was founded by my forefathers. I think you were talking about bad hunters. Well, they are our nemesis, and we’ve been tracking their hideouts to take them down.”

Brianna raised her hand. “Stop. That’s enough. My head hurts.” Aniya.

Cole sighed and looked at the doctor. “How is he?”

“He’s okay, Chief. Isa siyang taong-lobo kaya naman mabilis ang pagrekober niya.” Anang doctor.

Ngumiti si Cole. “That’s good to hear.” Then he looked at the woman he saved. “May I know your name, Miss?”

Brianna stared at the man in front of him – her mate. Yes, her soulmate. Sa dinami-dami ng tao sa mundo bakit ito pa ang naging mate niya? And he is the hunter’s leader.

‘But he is our mate, Brianna.’ Her wolf said.

Brianna fisted. Should I reject him? He won’t feel the pain of being rejected because he is a human. Aniya habang nakatingin sa mate niya. Should I?

Naramdaman ni Brianna ang paglunkot ng lobo niya at ramdam niya rin ang sakit sa puso niya habang sinasabi niya na i-reject niya ito. Napabuga siya ng hangin saka sinabi ang kaniyang pangalan. “Brianna… Brianna Davis.”

Ngumiti si Cole. “A beautiful name for a beautiful lady like you.”

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Brianna dahil pakiramdam niya ay uminit ang kaniyang pisngi dahil sa papuri ng kaniyang mate. Pumasok bigla sa isipan niya ang kapatid niya. “My sister… I have to find her.” Sinubukan niya tumayo pero mabilis na nakalapit sa kaniya si Cole at pinigilan siya nito.

“I know that you are strong because you are a werewolf, but it’s not safe for you out there. Please, stay here and recuperate. If you need anything, just tell me. Do you belong to a pack? Tell me and I will contact your Alpha for you.” Sabi ni Cole habang nakahawak sa braso ni Brianna.

Brianna felt the sparks emitted when their skin touched. Cole also felt it, but he ignored it because he was worried about the woman. Though he finds it weird. Why would he worry about the woman when it was only the first time he met her?

“I don’t belong to any pack. Let me go. I need to find my sister.”

“Your sister?”

Tumango si Brianna. “Nagkahiwalay kami nang habulin kami ng mga kalaban. I’m worried about her.”

“I’ll tell my men to find her. Don’t worry. Just stay here. Magpagaling ka. You’re still weak.” Seryosong sabi ni Cole saka tumingin sa doktor.

The doctor got the Chief’s look and he nodded his head. Lumapit siya sa babae at saka tinurukan ito ng sedative.

Brianna looked at the doctor, but the sedative immediately took its effect and she lost consciousness. Agad namang inalalayan ni Cole ang babae at pinahiga ito sa kama. Kinumutan niya ito saka siya lumabas ng infirmary. He ordered his men to look for Brianna’s sister. While instructing, he looked inside the infirmary through the glass wall. He didn’t know, but something was pulling him towards the woman.

Well, that’s weird. Cole thought.