The Lycan King & His Hybrid

Ch 03

Through the small clearing, I made my way towards the Dark woods. The woods were the reason our pack was called the Dark Wood Pack. My family was ranked among the omegas of the pack and that contributed towards the hatred I held for my pack. Here, the wolves were ranked based on wealth and power. The poor ones were made the omegas because of which we were demoted to the rank when Dad passed away and we slowly ran out of resources.

Aunt Maya’s small hut was located by the edge of the woods, a location she had chosen strategically because of her profession as a trainer. It was the best place to train a newly matured wolf since they tend to get out of control like an untamed beast. My father and Aunt Maya used to train the pack’s wolves together in the clearing. Some days, I used to tag along to learn to hunt in the woods with the trainees. It did come in handy when we began to run out of our savings and hunting was the only means of food.

“Ah, you’re here.” Came to her voice as I neared her hut to find her peeking through the window. Seconds later, the main door opened and she reappeared but this time with open arms. I ran right into her embrace, dropping the bag on the ground before hugging her back tightly.

“I have missed you, girl.” She murmured into my hair, placing a soft kiss. I only hummed in response, taking in the scent of hers. She still smelled like the Dark woods and it was calming yet overwhelming if one gets carried away enjoying it.

“Happy Birthday.” She said and I pulled back with a small smile.

“Thanks.”

“Come in.” With that, I followed her inside. The last I had come here was right after Dad had passed away. I had begged her to train me and force transform into my wolf so that I could protect and provide for my family. Of course, she had denied it since force transformation was a life-threatening process but she taught me all the tricks to surviving if it was to come to that.

“What’s with the long face? You’ve been eagerly waiting for this day for years.” She asked, wrapping her black and grey hair in a bun.

I opened my mouth to speak but a sigh came out. Her face turned serious as she approached me.

“I don’t think I will be able to do this.”

Her hand came to rest on my arm as she rubbed lightly. “I know it has been hard for you but the Vivian I know doesn’t give up that easily.”

I shook my head. “It's not about losing hope. I fainted last night, maybe I am not strong enough for this.”

Her hand paused. “You fainted? How?”

I shrugged. “It was odd. One second we were laughing and running around, the other I felt a rush through me until it became too much to bear and I passed out.”

Aunt Maya was quiet for some time but I could feel the weight of unsaid words hanging in the air. Her expressions were calculative as she inhaled deeply and for a moment her face went pale.

“What is it?” I asked her.

Her eyes snapped back to me, something tensed lurking in there. What was wrong? Why was she behaving like this suddenly?

“Change and get to the field.” Was all she said before storming out of the door in a hurry. I couldn’t help but stare at her, baffled. Maybe that was her way of training but I had never seen her act this way before. Though, I knew better than to object to her ways when I was here to learn from her.

I quickly took my hoodie and trousers as a shiver travelled down my spine. During the training, the students are supposed to wear fewer clothes as they end up being torn apart the moment they transform. Shivering, I stepped out in nothing but my undergarments.

“Get in form.” She commanded and I obeyed. Though the shivering made it hard to maintain it, I still managed.

“I want you to channel the energy you felt earlier.”

My brows furrowed as I gulped. “I-I don’t know if I can. What if I pass out again? Besides what does this have to do with the training?” Well, I ended up being the annoying student nevertheless.

Aunt Maya stepped closer to me. “Listen Vivian.” Her voice is gravely serious. “This has everything to do with the training. You wanna know why you fainted? I have a guess.”

My eyebrows shot up. Despite the cold air sending thrills down my spine, my focus was renewed. “Yeah because I am too weak.”

“No.” She snapped. I could sense the urgency mixed with uncertainty in her voice. “Weak wolves don’t feel a thing. You, on the other hand, not only felt your abilities, it consumed you.”

She stepped closer, “Do you know how strong you might be?”

Another shiver ran down my spine, this once not because of the cold. I gulped nervously, taking in everything.

“But we can only be sure of that if you channel the energy again.”

I inhaled deeply, nodding. I had come here to train and become stronger. It was time to do it.

Stepping away, I take in a few breaths. I had seen Dad train others and I knew a thing or two about preparing oneself to transform. But that was the problem, I was aware of all the physical aspects of the training yet the mental ones were something I would have to discover on my own. Closing my eyes, I thought of last night, when I had felt the surge through myself. Whatever it was, I could still feel it in me burning and breathing.

All I had to do was tap into it and I did.

The flame inside of me, like a small ball of power and energy burning deep within me, surged at me once again. The familiar feeling from earlier returned as I felt it explode and before I could register it was running through me.

“Viv? Can you still hear me?” came a voice from somewhere far away. It took me a while but I recognized Aunt Maya. The overwhelming effect was making it hard to hear and I managed to nod in reply.

“Good. Now hold onto my voice, use it as a tether. Don’t let it consume you. You must take charge of it by gaining control.” Her voice began to become clearer as I refocused myself. I couldn’t feel the cold or even feel myself breathing. So I used her instructions as a tether and held onto it tightly, feeling the storm of power flowing around me.

“Goddess-” a low gasp came from her. “Vivian, you are-”

“THE HYBRID! Cease her.” A heavy voice boomed in the air, cutting her off. In a split second, the words set in and my focus broke. The next thing I knew, I was falling on my knees as I looked up to find us surrounded.

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