Defiance: The Hybrid's Tale

Nathan Underhill.

And so it ended with a blood-curdling scream and a pyre of enchanted fire. That was how my grandfather, the madman, met his end. The Supreme had made sure that there was no way he could worm his way out of the grave. Finally, my nightmare had ended. I could open my eyes to a bright future without watching my back for a poisoned dagger.

But my freedom came at a terrible price.

Sixty-eight people were buried in the pack’s cemetery. Some were werewolves and the others witches and warlocks. All innocent. Their only crime was protecting those they loved. It was harsh; however, life was an ass with a flamethrower, eager to burn your ass at any moment it saw fit. And it used me as the trigger.

For the last two weeks, my mom tried to console me, saying that it wasn’t my fault. I desperately wanted to believe her kind words, but I couldn’t. I still played a part in my grandfather’s twisted game of thrones. If it wasn’t for me, he would have never targeted the pack. I wanted to walk out into the middle of the pack grounds. I wanted to invite all the families who lost a loved one and tell them to exact their revenge by pummeling me into the dirt. Bury me in the same hole they threw my grandfather’s ass in.

Before I could sink deeper into the pit of misery and self-loathing, my sister tapped me on the shoulder. I finally became aware of the Elder’s preaching after ignoring it for a while.

“Do not pity those who have fallen, for they sit at the heels of our goddess watching over us—” My eyes scanned the crowd of mourners draped in black. Most of the mothers were crying, while their fathers, sons, or brothers offered them a shoulder to cry on. “—for one day we will surely meet them again. And what a joyous day that will be.”

The names of all the fallen pack and coven members rose into the sky. Their names were engraved on a black marbled obelisk. I sighed, interrupting the path of the falling tear that ran down my cheek with my thumb.

“I wish Adam was here.”

“Me too.” Fenrus whimpered in agreement with me. I missed him. He’d know just what to say to pull me through this gloomy day. But he wasn’t, no matter how I longed for him to be with me. His hugs were what I missed the most, strong, warm, and comforting.

Another tap on my shoulder alerted me that the ceremony had run its course. Most of the mourners had already fled, seeking the comforts of their homes to mourn their fallen loved ones without restraints. I also wanted to bawl my eyes out and scream the pain out into the world. Life was too cruel.

I made my way toward the pack house, ignoring my family as I entered the only place I wanted to be. Once I stepped into the spacious living room, I took a long corridor toward the medical wing. Pushing open the door, I walked through the ward until I reached Adam’s hospital bed. He hadn’t moved. He lay on the bed, rigid as a statue. Even though his wounds were healed, he still hadn’t woken up.

Two fucking weeks... I rubbed my tired face and took a seat next to him. I then held his hand, rubbing warmth into his pale, icy hands.

Tears slipped from my cheeks and landed on my black trousers, watching as they soaked into the fabric. “Come back to me, Adam. I need you,” I whispered while kissing his hand.

I glanced at his sullen face. Dark rings marred his handsome face. His chapped lips, unmoving. The heart monitor beeped on lazily. Annoying piece of junk. I sighed again, shaking my head.

I gripped his hand tighter. “Please, don’t leave me alone here. I can’t live without you.” I chuckled at my confession, sniffing occasionally. It was getting too sappy in here.

“Don’t lose hope, Nathan. He’ll come back to us.” Fenrus tried to console me for the umpteenth time. “He’s too stubborn to die on us and he made us a promise.”

“And that promise is?”

“Don’t you remember?” Fenrus asked. I tried to rummage through my haggard mind for the so-called promise but came up dry as his lips. ”Come on! He promised that he’d never leave us until he had a taste of our sweet ass.”

I choked, nearly falling off my chair. ”Fen! How can you think of sex at a time like this?” My cheeks warmed at the thought.

“I’m always thinking of sex.” Fenrus deadpanned while chuckling at my humiliation. ”Don’t be a prune. We nearly died a virgin.”

“Just keep your dirty thoughts to yourself.” I huffed out while reaching for a cup of iced cubes the nurse had left earlier.

I took one and coated Adam’s dry lips. Licking my own lips, I closed the space between us and kissed him softly. Nothing. The heart monitor didn’t react. Was he that far gone that I couldn’t even get a response out of him?

“Don’t take it personally.”

“I know... But it stings. He’s right in front of me, but he seems so far away.”

Placing the cup back onto the nightstand, I took up his hand again. I leaned in and whispered into his ear. I did not know if he could even hear me, but I had to open my heart to him. He was the most important person in my life except for my family. I loved him with everything in me. For a while, I was scared that if I told him I loved him, my grandfather would rip him from me like he did to my stepfather. I was still scared shitless that it might happen. Adam could never wake up.

I cupped my face with his icy hand, mustering up the courage to say those three simple words. My heart hammered away while my legs struggled to keep my body upright. My throat was sore from swallowing the lump down my throat.

“Just do it.” Fenrus encouraged me from the sideline. ”We might never get another chance to do it. So shove your fear where it doesn’t shine and grow a pair.”

“Geez! Ok! I’ll—”

“I shouldn’t have to press your balls on this,” Fenrus growled out, annoyedly. ”Do you love him like I do?”

I scoffed at his ridiculous question. ”Of course I do. How can you even ask that?”

“Then it’s simple. Say the words. I. Love. You. See? It’s easy.”

“Oh shut up, butt-breath!” I rubbed my forehead, returning to the one who deserved it more. ”Here goes nothing.” I licked my lips for a last time and whispered into his ear. “Adam... I love you.”

My heart nearly flew out of my mouth when the heart monitor went berserk; the green line threw a fit, jumping up and down. A bolt of electricity shot out of Adam’s hand and pierced my thumping heart, grinding the world to a halt. No one existed at that moment, except for me and Adam. A wave of warmth rippled up my arm and throughout my body, awakening a deep-seated hunger to jump his bones and mark him as mine. My friend downstairs painfully agreed as it tried to escape the confines of my pants.

Before my weather-worn mind could trudge through the mess of brand-new emotions hitting me all at once, one word escaped my mouth. “Mate.”

I froze, staring at the smoldering brown eyes I longed to see for two weeks. Adam stared up at me, uttering the same word. ”Mate.”

***

And here we were. After I found the courage to admit my feelings to Adam, the Goddess blessed us with a mating bond. I couldn’t be happier. I thought I had lost him, but the mating bond pulled him out of his coma. How? Show me the fuck who actually knew, and I would have kissed their ass if they wanted me to. I never thought that my life would end up like this. My grandfather always stood in the way of my happiness, but not anymore.

It has been a week since the doctors discharged Adam from the hospital, much to everyone’s relief. We even threw a party to celebrate his recovery. Since we became mates, we’ve been inseparable, spending every moment together. I didn’t want it any other way. If anyone dared to tear us apart, I’d rip off their limbs and beat them to death. Cruel? Who gives a shit?

I was enjoying the flicker of sunrays that bled through the forest’s canopy as we made our way toward a cliff at the edge of the lake. Adam dragged us away from the pack to get some alone time. Adam’s father had finally given the title of Alpha to him. I was proud of Adam. He always wanted to lead the pack, and now it was his turn. Not that Adam was power hungry, but he loved his people and wanted to protect them. As for me, being the Luna of the pack scared the shit out of me. I had no idea what I was doing, but Adam assured me he’d guide me and show me the ropes. Although, being called Luna still shaved my ass. I needed to nib it in the butt before the title stuck. I was a beta and wanted to be addressed as such.

As for the rest of my family, they were settling into their new lives. My mom and dad were planning a getaway with Lilly. The adorable minx had convinced them to take her to Disney World. I didn’t mind; they deserved it after the hell my grandfather put us through. Riley and Kayla had moved into an apartment in town. Tyson and Maisie were already on a plane to Paris. She always wanted to travel. My aunts, however, returned to the Blackwater coven. They needed to mop up the mess left behind by the old fool; and at the same time, deal with the Von Drakes. I wanted to tag along and trample the Victor dude’s dick into a pile of mush. However, my aunt Cassy convinced me she was more than prepared to do it herself. As for my friend Joshua, he and Denis had become really close and announced that they were boyfriends. Joshua was still hanging around the pack, pissing off his future stepfather. Poor Alpha...

Adam squeezed my hand gently and said, “What’s got your tongue in a twist all of a sudden?” His brown eyes scanned my face. “You’ve been quiet for a while now. Not that I’ve been enjoying the peaceful walk with you.”

“Nothing... Just processing all that has happened,” I replied, smiling back at him.

He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. “Don’t worry. Things will only get better from now on.”

“I know.” I squeezed his hand back.

***

After another ten minutes, we reached our destination. Luckily, it wasn’t too windy. I really didn’t want the wind to blow my ass off the cliff. The sun peaked out of a streak of clouds, bathing us in its warmth. For the first time in a week, it hasn’t rained. So, we had to take advantage of the sun’s blessings. Adam laid down a blanket on a massive, flat boulder that reminded me of the Lion King. I peaked over the edge and nearly lost my shit. So freakin high! You could write your own eulogy before you actually hit the ground. I quickly dashed away from the edge and planted my ass on Adam’s lap.

With a growl, Adam wrapped his muscular arms around my waist and pulled me closer to his chest. “So? Do you want to get freaky and show me how much you missed me?” He whispered into my ear, sending shivers down my neck.

I tried wiggling my ass out of his grip, but that only aggravated the problem he had. If you catch my drift. “Not a chance. We might be werewolves, but I’m not beastly enough to get fucked in the forest,” I protested. “And besides... Who knows who’s watching us?”

Adam’s chuckle rumbled through his chest. “That wouldn’t be—”

My throat slammed shut when out of the corner of my left eye, a flash of white emerged out of the tree line. I jumped up from Adam’s lap and scurried to the side as the Spirit of the Forest strutted up to us. I threw Adam a glare.

“You crazy ass! I told you someone was watching us!”

Adam burst out laughing. ”Just chill. We still have our clothing on.” He winked at me. At that moment, I wanted to push Adam off the cliff for embarrassing us in front of the spirit.

I shook my head and addressed the stag. “How may we be of help to you?”

“At ease, young one.” The white stag kneeled down and sat on the blanket beside us while staring out into the forest below. It huffed before talking again. ”I’ve come to greet you. I have tended my duties, and I’m ready to join my beloved side again.”

“We won’t see you again?” I blurted out.

“No. Not until you’re ready to shed your mortal coil. The danger has passed, and I have shepherded the souls of the fallen to the afterlife. There’s no need for me to remain in the realm of the mortals.” The stag shook its head while flicking its ears. ”I wish the both of you a wondrous life filled with happiness and unconditional love. You’ve done me proud, little one.” The Spirit reached over and bumped me on the shoulder. “Until we meet again.”

In a moment of blinding light, the Spirit of the Forest dissolved into a thousand luminescent butterflies that soared into the sky. I watched in wonder as they scattered to the wind.

“Good bye, Spirit.”

I shrieked when Adam pulled me back into his embrace. “See... Now we’re alone.” He nibbled me on the neck.

“No, you don’t,” I said, pouncing on him. We fell backward, allowing me to straddle Adam while he lay on his back. He grabbed the back of my neck and pressed his lips against mine. I quickly melted into the kiss, moaning shamelessly. I pushed away, catching my breath while saying, “You dirty cheat.”

He twisted us around. I found myself trapped under the big bad Alpha who wanted to scare the woodland creatures into a life of celibacy by having his wicked way with me. He kissed me again, rubbing his crotch against mine. I groaned, fighting against the urge to buckle my hips to the rhythm of his.

“Adam!” I gasped out as he bit my earlobe. “If you don’t stop, you won’t get near my ass for a long time.” I stretched out the long part until he stilled and quickly pulled away.

Adam pouted and said, “Spoil sport.”

“Hey!” I slapped him on the chest. “I’m just protecting myself from getting more than just a dick up the ass. Who knows what crawls around in the dirt around here?”

Adam chuckled and said, “My pampered sexy mate.” He pecked me on the lips. “Are you ready for this?”

My eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean?” Wow... This session of hanky-panky just fizzled out a bit.

“Now that your grandfather’s no longer a threat, will you stay? I mean... we are mates, but I don’t want to hold you b—”

I placed my thumb on his lips, preventing him from running his sexy lips off any further. What? Did he really think I was about to leave him—after all the shit we had been through? There was nowhere else I wanted to be other than by his side, through thick and thin. I couldn’t see a life without him within it. Yeah, I was still anxious about the Luna position, but as long as I had Adam at my side, I could accomplish anything. I would be the happiest ass in the universe.

Smiling up at him, I pecked him on the lips. “Never. Never again do I want to hear you talk like that again. I’m chained to you for life and there’s nowhere I’d rather be. I love you, dumbass,” I said while rubbing his dimples. “Forever and always.”

The biggest smile broke out on his face and then he repeated, “I love you too, smartass... Forever and always.”

*** The End***