Defiance: The Hybrid's Tale

Nathan Underhill.

After two months of arguing with my mom, having mini tantrums, and living under the veiled threats from the Alpha, I cracked under the pressure. I agreed to join the pack. It was a bitter pill to swallow. For most of my life, I enjoyed the freedom that came with being a rogue, not having to kiss and grovel beneath an alpha’s ass. Now it would be different. I’d have to follow orders, give up my Grayback powers, and become a team player. Yay for me! The idea of joining the pack sounded shitty. I was losing more than I was gaining from this compromise, but I had to take it for the sake of my family. Lilly and my mom needed to win back the reins of their tumultuous lives and begin enjoying living again. The pack and the coven would protect them, even if I still had my doubts.

I glanced around my spacious room. It wasn’t as terrible as I thought it would be. In front of a massive window overlooking a communal garden stood a queen-sized bed with pale blue bedding. The bed was comfortable, I might add; I tested it out earlier for quality purposes and such... moving on. There were several white bookcases loaded with books and a reading desk shoved against the room’s wall. On the opposite side of the room were two doors, one leading to an en-suite bathroom and the second to a walk-in closet.

Back then, if someone had told me I’d have to live in a pack house with potty-trained pack animals, I would have used them as a chew toy. But here I was. I shook my head as I plunged onto the edge of the bed.

“Do you think we’re doing the right thing?” I nudged Fenrus awake inside my head.

He grumbled awake. “I do. I will admit that saying goodbye to the ability to kick an alpha’s ass and being able to ignore their orders is going to be a major kick to the balls, but we’ll get through it. Remember that as long as Lilly and Mom are happy, it’s worth it.”

I stood up from the bed and walked up to the window. Lilly was running around the garden picking flowers with my mom while Nathaniel accompanied them. It was still weird after all this time, getting to know my biological father after all this time. For the first week, an awkward silence reigned over the dinners my mom had held. She had invited Nathaniel and my siblings over so that we could get to know each other.

With Maisie, it was easy. She was a cool sister, and we grew closer as the weeks ticked by. As for Riley, instead of being called an asshole, I became the “it” to him. He grew more resentful over the weeks, and now he doesn’t even acknowledge my existence. Not that I cared one bit. I made the effort several times to talk to him and got snapped at as a reward. Thanks, mom. If he wanted to act like a spoiled teenager with a small dick syndrome, he could as well shove off and go play with his small prick.

As for the man called my father, he was stoic most of the time. But he was gentle to those he loved, yet firm enough to crack down and step on your tail if you stepped out of line. Even I ran through one of his lectures when Maisie and I slipped out one evening and went to the lake with Adam and Tyson. Never again, I tell you. His lectures cut deep.

I walked over to my duffle bags and started unpacking. I had already lost the war, and now the pack had their claws into me for the rest of my life. Might as well settle in and get the packing done before my mom barged into the room and started lecturing me again. Just as I hung one of my t-shirts onto a railing in the closet, a knock called me out.

“Come in,” I said, picking up another hanger from the chair.

The bedroom doors slid open. “Hi.” Adam walked into the room, smiling up a storm.

A day after I decided to join the pack, Maisie texted me. Adam was wiggling his sexy ass to a victory dance. Well, at least I made him happy. Since then, he always had a smile plastered on his sexy face. Goddess, I hated it. How could one guy be so obnoxiously happy all the time?

“I don’t know... maybe he’s on Prozac?” Fenrus gave me his hint.

I chuckled. “Most likely. Or he got laid.”

Fenrus snarled, making me flinch. “Don’t even go there.”

“Touchy much?”

“Would you honestly be happy if some skank or douchebag touched an inch of his delicious body?”

I glanced over at Adam as he stared at me. His red Henley shirt strained over his bulging muscles that threatened to burst out of their confinement. His faded jeans highlighted the contours of his muscular and godly legs. Goddess, give me strength!

I grumbled internally. ”No, I wouldn’t. I’d castrate them.”

“Nathan, are you alright?” Adam asked, frowning at my lack of acknowledging his greeting.

I shook my head and smiled. “Oh, sorry. Lost in thought for a moment...” My eyes lingered on his visually stimulating bulge—

“Enjoying the view, aren’t we?” Fenrus snickered.

“Oh, shove off. Who’s the one currently drooling here?” I hit back.

“So... how do you like the room?” Adam rubbed the back of his head. “If there’s anything I can do, just ask.”

I chuckled. “Wow. An alpha as my personal butler.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get any funny ideas,” Adam countered. “I’m offering help, not my life as an indentured servant.”

“And why not?” Maisie asked as she strolled into the room carrying the last of my belongings. “I mean, over the last two months, you’ve practically thrown yourself at his feet.”

“Ahh!” I cried, faking a pout. “And here I thought I had scored a sex slave to cater to my every desire.”

Maisie broke out laughing while Adam’s jaw dropped an inch or two. His eyes nearly popped out of his head. I had to use every bit of willpower not to join Maisie as she rolled around the carpet, clutching her stomach.

“Don’t tease him, Nathan. You won’t like the result.” Fenrus warned me.

“Why?! He’s not the only teaser around here.”

“Don’t hunt something down if you’re not planning to eat it.”

“Meaning?”

“Don’t poke a sleeping bear!”

“Oh...”

“You should see the look on your face now, Adam,” Maisie said.

Just as Maisie’s words cooled down, Adam broke out of his stupor. He shook his head, mumbled a few words even I couldn’t hear, and then stormed out of the room without looking back.

“What just happened?” I asked Maisie.

She tsked and plunged her ass down onto the bed. Her face hardened as she stared at the door. “Don’t lead him on, Nathan. He really likes you. You should know it by now. He’s been asking you out for the last month, but you’ve been side-stepping him. Just tell him once and for all if you’re not interested in him.”

I groaned and sat down beside my sister. “It’s not like I enjoy avoiding him or ignoring his advances. Hell, I liked him too. But since my meltdown, I feel ashamed of myself.”

“Ashamed?”

“Bawling my eyes out on his shoulder and straddling him like a koala is so embarrassing...” I pinched the bridge of my nose while shaking my head. “I hated it when he saw me like that—he needs to find someone who has less baggage than me.”

She giggled and nudged me playfully. “You can’t be serious? Nathan, you’re not a stone. You had pent-up feelings that needed to be expressed. Nobody, no matter how strong a person is, can go on living forever without cracking at some point. I’m just glad you had someone like Adam close at hand. He’s a keeper.”

“Are you trying to pimp him out?”

She nudged me with her shoulder again. “No... maybe... come on! Just give him a chance. I know you have trust issues and you’re afraid of letting people get near you because of your grandfather wanting to kill you, but let him in. After everything that has happened, Adam is still trying to be there for you. He still wants to be with you.”

“It’s too dangerous. He’ll—”

“Ultimately, it’s up to him to decide what’s dangerous or not. If he’s willing to take the risk, let him. He’s not a fool. And he’s not running into this blindly. Give him a chance to prove himself. That’s all I’m asking.”

“She’s right,” Fenrus agreed. ”Give in and live a little. I’m sick of being lonely and you are too. Adam is the greatest thing that has happened to us up until now.”

“And if he gets hurt because of us?”

“You just heard Maisie. It’s his choice. Let him decide. We can’t live in fear forever over things we have no control over. We just need to have a bit of faith that the Goddess will bless us with a happy life and keep our loved ones safe. If not, it’s up to us to keep them safe.”

“Fine! I’ll go on a date with him—but just one!” I held my index finger in the air.

Maisie squealed, grabbed my finger, and then dragged me out of the room. Damn, she’s nuts. She was liable to break my finger if she continued dragging me down the hallway.

***

“Where are we?” I asked as we entered the building at the far end of the pack grounds.

All the way there, I felt like a freak show on a stage. A majority of the pack was staring at me and pointing. It made Fenrus growl at them. I had a tough time keeping him under my skin. If I had let him out, he would have gone on a rampage. Even I had an urge to fling a fireball or two at random onlookers. However, I reminded myself that they didn’t mean any harm; they were just curious. I mean, how many times has an ordinary werewolf come across a Grayback or even a hybrid? Zero times, I tell you.

“This is the pack’s gym,” Maisie said while waving at her mate, Tyson. She then grabbed my hand for the hundredth time and yanked me toward him.

I huffed and said, “What are we doing here?”

“Giving Adam the glorious news,” she sang out. “I’m sure he’ll forgive you for stringing him along for this long.”

Oh, goody. Emotional blackmail. I already felt like a dick for making Adam suffer.

“Then act accordingly and reward him for putting up with your crap.” Fenrus yawned.

“I’m already agreeing to a date. That should be rewarding enough.”

Maisie continued dragging me down an aisle lined with workout equipment until we reached the sparring arena where Adam and Tyson were currently fighting each other. Riley and his band of idiots sat on the benches, cheering for Tyson to kick Adam’s ass.

That dumb fucker!