The Hybrid Queen Unedited

It was an hour drive into the woods. It seemed like much longer than that. The forest was beautiful. It was vibrant with greens and browns. As we got closer to our destination, I could make out shapes of people and wolves in the woods. Amilia was tapping away on her phone and making calls the whole ride. She had been ordering meetings with a hair dresser, a tailor and trainer and a nutritionist saying that he would have his work cut out for him. “I’m sorry,” I said once she was off the phone. Amilia looked up at me. “For what?” she asked, baffled. I sighed and looked down at my hands. My nails were a bit short and still had some dirt under them from the prison. “I have a lot of work for you... I don’t mean to be,” I said, trying to hold back my tears. The tears were more because of the pain I was in not the guilt I was feeling. “Faye, you are a Yansa now- or at least you will be- and you have nothing to fear or feel guilty about. I am here to help because you need it. You are a packmember now,” she reminded me. I tried to smile. I would love to take her word for it but I couldn’t. It was not really up to her. It was up to Elijah. He would have final say on what would happen with me. She had said I was a Yansa now. The Vestele Pack had been obliterated. I was the last one left. If Elijah allowed me to stay, I would no longer be a Vestele. I would be a Yansa. I would become part of the strongest pack in northern america. Even if it were one of the lowest ranks possible. If I was made a pack slut... well I tried hard not to think about that. I would settle for anything but that. I did not think that Amilia’s vision of me and her brother would come true. I would never be Luna, queen to the Alpha. Why would he even want me? Once he saw how frail and weak I was, he would reject me. I sighed and wondered again what the Great Spirit had been thinking when he set these events into motion. “Anyway,” Amilia said, breaking my circling train of thought. “We are about to pull up. We do have a busy day tomorrow so after dinner I will have a maid come and help you with a bath and get you into bed. I want you well rested. We have the Kwatee offerings tomorrow, ” she said as the car rolled to a stop. I felt my heart jump a little.It had been so long that I had been to a Kwatee ceremony. Kwatee is the God of transformation and once a month we give thanks to him for giving us the ability to shift in offering him a kill we make in the woods. It can be anything. A rabbit. A chipmunk. Nothing special. The thought of shifting as soon as tomorrow made me smile. “That looks good on you,” Amilia noted. “Smile more often.”I laughed a little, my raven hair covering my face as I looked away from the house. “I will try,” I told her. Amilia nodded and was out of the car in a flash. I hesitated. Taking a deep breath I tried to calm myself. This was not really heard of. Alpha’s only sent for wolves at the pound when they needed some extra pack fighters. Most of the time, the wolves bought from the pound were killed in a fight. I was in no condition to fight right now. I needed time. I was just not sure how much time I would get here. I closed my eyes, nodding to myself. I was about to exit the car when I heard a female voice call out. “Did you get it?”Amilia was standing by the door of the limo and she put her hands on her hips. “Did I get what?” she asked. I looked out the tinted windows seeing another girl, perhaps in her early twenties, skinny, blond and blue eyed, her figure was model like. Perfect. Her face was like that of a goddess. I felt so ugly next to her. She was wearing a pair of mini shorts and a skin tight grey tank top. She leaned against the thick railing of the stairs.

“The new pack slut. The boys will want a turn with her when they get back from wherever it is they go,” she sneered. I could feel myself begin to shake. However I was surprised it was not from fear. It was out of anger. I had not shifted in so long that I was going to lose my control any moment. “First of all,” Amilia said, making me focus on her for a moment rather than the pain. “She is not a Pack slut. She will be much more than that. She is a member of this Pack, of this tribe! You will do well to remember that!” she snapped. I was able to press the pain back down, teas streaming my face and sweat dripping down the back of my neck. It was so humid here. I had forgotten how humid it was here. Amilia turned to face me now. “Oh my Goddess!” she gasped and reached for me. “You have to shift, Faye. You will wind up killing yourself if you don’t,” she hissed at me. She was staring at my hands. I didn’t understand why until I looked for myself and saw that sharp claws were digging their way through my skin. She was already reaching for me and I grabbed her outstretched hand, holding on for dear life. “Where?” I hissed at her as she helped out of the car. Before I could take a step, my knee cracked inward and made me fall to the gravel filled driveway. As my hands came down in the rocks both of my elbows snapped and I screamed as loud as I could. My scream echoed off the hills and trees around us and I could feel my teeth coming in fast. This was just like the first time I had ever shifted when I was fifteen. The pain had been unbearable. Before I could scream, my teeth flew from my mouth, clattering into the rocks at my feet, blood dripping from my mouth. I had never experienced this before. Was this due to the fact that I had not shifted in so long? Amilia had said it would kill me. Amilia pulled me up and tried to drag me to the side of the house where there was a small clearing and beyond that, there were trees.

I only had to make it that far. I had to make it through that clearing and into the trees. I had to get to the trees. I tried to let Amilia help me as much as I could but I was in so much pain I was afraid I might black out. “Will you get off your lazy ass and help us, Summer?” Amilia snapped. I heard the other girl, Summer, sigh and then she was at my side, pulling me to the trees. We were about ten feet away when I could feel the rest of the shift coming. I ripped away from them and dove head first into a bush. “Hey!” Summer complained. “Leave her be. You have no idea what she has been through,” she reminded her. I heard Summer scoff at her. “So? We have all had it rough in the past year. No one wanted these things to happen but they did. Now we have to deal with them. What did Elijah say when you told him?” she asked, her tone mocking. Amilia did not answer and Summer started laughing at her. “Oh, shit. You brought her here without consulting your King?” she demanded.“The King is my brother and he will hear me out!” Amilia assured her. “Oh I have got to see this. Just wait till he gets back tomorrow!”“Tomorrow?” Amilia demanded. “Yes, tomorrow. He said he can’t stay away from the Pack House that long so he will be back tomorrow,” she said. I could hear her walking away as she spoke. I already did not like her at all. I heard Amilia sigh and there was a rustling in the bushes nearby. I tried to be quiet but I felt threatened. Someone was here with me and it was not Amilia. She was behind me. This noise was coming from my left. I growl ripped up my chest and my white fur stood on end. “Faye?” Amilia demanded. And then two things happen at once. First , Amilia was beside me, her hand reaching for my head, trying to calm me.And the second was a giant auburn colored wolf stepped out into the small clearing of the wooded area I was in. He growled at me, standing tall and forcing himself out, his shoulders high and his teeth so sharp. Somewhere inside of me, I felt a spark. I was not sure what it was. I ignored it. I had to concentrate. This wolf might think I was a rouge. As much as I tried to concentrate on the threat before me, my wolf wanted to walk up to him and rub her head on him. Put her scent on him. Why? I growl, more at her then the male before me. She backed down, suddenly aware that we were in danger. I could feel her confusion. She felt... sad? Broken hearted? What in the hell was going on?“Elijah!” Amilia snapped at him. The wolf did not take his eyes off of me. He growled, a low warning at me and I could feel the pressure of the Alpha’s command crush over me. This was him. This was the King. Elijah. “Elijah!” Amilia snapped again. The wolf blew at me and turned to face Amilia. “Go inside and get cleaned up. I will be in to see you in a bit!” she told him. The large wolf growled at her now- it was more of a bark- before he turned to look back at me. He growled once more, towering over me before he turned and padded off towards the house. I could feel myself slipping, the change coming back and before I knew it, I was naked, on my hands and knees, gasping for air. My teeth were as they had been before and my body hurt. I looked up as Amilia wrapped a sheet around me. Summer was standing behind her, her face troubled. “What did he say was to become of her?” she asked. Amilia turned to face her. “He did not say anything. Have a bath draw for her I must speak with my brother,” Amilia said as she handed me off to Summer. Summer rolled her eyes and stepped away. “Have one of the servants do it. I am busy,” she said. Amilia watched her leave. “If you show me where to go, I can bath myself,” I told her. My jaw hurt so bad it hurt to speak. Amilia shook her head. “No, I will take you. It is safer that way,” she said wrapping an arm around me and pulling me towards the giant mansion.Once inside my jaw hit the floor. It was bright, everything was lit up. There were porcelain figures placed perfectly along with overflowing vases of flowers, some of which I had never seen before. The black and white marble floor gleamed in the sunlight coming from the giant french double doors to my left, to my right there was a staircase, leading to the floor above. Servants and maids were rushing here and there, arms full of fabrics, pushing carts full of china, dusting, sweeping, mopping and in the middle of all the chaos was a woman, in her mid forties at least. She was dressed in a pencil skirt, dark blue, her blond hair was in a long ponytail and she was snapping orders to the servants around her. There was a way about how she was ordering them around though. She was kind. I could tell that from just looking at her. Amilia gripped my hand and pulled toward her. I was in now shape to meet anyone of any importance yet. “Mother?” Amilia called out. The woman turned at the sound of her daughter’s voice. “Amilia!” she cooed as she walked to greet her daughter. “I thought you were not returning for at least another night!” she said and hugged her daughter close. Amilia nodded. “Yes, well I had some...ideas with this one,” she said as she turned to face me. “Faye, this is my mother, Sophie Yansa, Queen Mother to our King,” she declared. I bowed my head respectfully and tried to be as courtly as I could. “Your Grace,” I said, giving as best a bow as I could with my sore body. Sophie laughed at me. “My sweet girl,” she said and reached to place her hand on mine. I looked up at her and her face went blank. “A Tamit?” I felt the blood drain from my face. I knew there were people still out there looking for me. I knew they wanted me dead. I was the last one of my tribe. Sophie composed herself quickly. “My dear girl, I am so sorry,” she said. I did not need to ask her what she meant. I already knew. I just nodded my head and looked to Amilia for help. I was not ready to deal with this. I needed time to myself. I have been alone for months and have gotten used to it. There were too many people here. Amilia cleared her throat. “We should get you cleaned up and dressed for tonight’s feast,” she said. Sophie nodded quickly and I could have sworn there were tears in her eyes as she turned away. “Have the girl come see me when she is ready,” she called as she headed towards a group of men who were staring at me. Amilia warped her arm around me and guided me up the stairs, my legs shaking the whole time.

***

Amilia had dressed me in a floor length, beige based and black lace dress. My black, raven hair was spilling in loose curls down my back. The heavy jewels at my ears and neck felt out of place. I did not think I was ready for any of this. Amilia now having left me alone for a moment, gave me time to think. Elijah was indeed my mate. Whatever Amilia had seen was true. Had Elijah made the connection? Did he know we were fated? I was sure I had felt something before when I had seen him in his true form. Yet he had done nothing about it. Normally, a male wolf would claim his mate as soon as he saw her. Elijah had just glowered at me as if I was something he had to crush quickly. The fear of being rejected washed over me. I had not even come face to face with him. I could not for the life of me remember what he looked like. If he rejected me... I knew what that would mean. Automatic banishment. I would become a rogue and hunted down by wolves and bounty hunters alike.Staying would not be an option. I would have to run. I would not become a pack slut. I would kill myself. The Great Spirit would have to understand. I knew life was precious yet I could not bring myself enough to care about that. All I knew was that I would have to be free. I would be free. One way or another, I would be free. I sighed as Amilia led me down a long hallway. There was music coming from below us and I stopped. I was shaking and there was a bead of sweat working its way down the back of my neck. I had to impress the Alpha. I needed to see him again. I was not sure why, yet I had the most surprising urge to see him. Now. Without delay. Yet I could not bring myself to move. “Faye?” Amilia asked as she turned to face me. She was dressed in a long white dress, her sleek silver-blond hair pinned up held together by a single clasp. She stood before me now, reaching to take both of my hands in hers. “Faye? Do not be nervous,” she insisted. I sighed again. “Easy for you to say. You are not the one who has to impress Elijah. What did he say to you anyway?” I asked. Amilia cocked her head to the side. “How do you mean?” she asked me. I shrugged.“I was alone in my bathroom before and I figured you went to see him like you said you were going to,” I said, though it came out sounding more like a question. Amilia sighed and her expression became guarded. “He was not pleased that I brought you here without his consent,” she admitted. I felt the blood drain from my face. Had I misread the feeling I had felt for that brief second? Had I put all of my hopes into thinking we were fated? “Hey, hey” Amilia said quickly, grabbing my arms again. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Faye. I gave you my word, remember? And I always keep my word. Always!” she assured me again. I nodded, trying to calm myself. Again, I really wanted to trust her because she seemed like she was true to her word. She had provided for me. She had taken me away from that horrible place. What if she had taken me away from there only to bring me here, to a more vile place? I gritted my teeth together. I could do this. I was overthinking it all now. I took a deep breath to calm myself and nodded to Amilia who rubbed my arm. “Okay?” she asked me. I nodded again. “Okay,” I said as the big double doors at the end of the hall opened and Sophie walked in. She was dressed in a simple gown, black with a white curve flowing over her chest and down her side. She walked toward us, her face fixed on the both of us. “I came to see if you were alright,” she said. Amilia nodded and turned to face me. “Yes, just nerves is all,” she said.Sophie looked at me. “Dear, you do not have to attend, if you do not wish,” she told me. I looked back the way she had come, the doors were still open. I could see people inside the room, dancing, and moving about the room. If I had to be honest, in that moment it was not the people or the music that drew me to the room, it was the smell of the food. I had not had a proper meal in days. I tried to act like I belonged. Amilia had said she saw me as part of this pack. I was not someone you would think would fall into the roll of Luna. I was no leader. I was a follower. I was one of the trackers in my pack court before and I had the abilities some only wished they could possess. As we entered the room, Sophie looped her arm through mine and tugged me along. There was light music playing now. I could see two satin covered chairs at the other end of the room. There was a man sitting there. I could not see him well so I looked elsewhere. Or at least I tried. I knew that had to be Elijah. I was beginning to wonder at that spark I had felt this afternoon in the woods. Has it been the connection? Sophie guided me towards the man on the throne. He had his eyes on me the entire time. The feeling that awakened inside of me as we walked closer made my heart begin to race. I could feel a deep blush creeping up on my face. “Son, have you met our newest member?” Sophie asked him. So this was Elijah. He was tall, I could tell this even when he was sitting. His blond hair cropped short, just long enough in the front to hang in his eyes. His bright green eyes were like a forest that I wanted to lose myself in. And he was built. His suit hugged him in all the right places, making his muscles strain under his shirt. His face was troubled, his eyes locked on my face. As we looked at eachother, I wished I had gone into deeper conversation with him whenever he had been over. It was silly that all we had done was shake hands. I had never really spoken to him much, although he always seemed to be around. Always. He was always at my house and always in the same room as I when meetings were over. Had he known about our link then? Had he been waiting for me? Why had he never said anything? And if he knew why he was acting so indifferent to me now? Why not claim me and make me his?“Briefly... although I do not recall sending my sister to fetch her based on one of her visions,” he said. I gulped. Was this is? Would he send me back? I remembered the promise I had made to myself. I would kill myself if I had to. I would die before going back in that cell. He must have seen the panic on my face because otherwise his next words would not have made any sense to me at all. He stood as he spoke. “Welcome, shewolf, to the court of Yansa. It is nice to see you again,” he said as he walked away into the crowd. So he did remember. I watched him go, my heart sinking with each step he took. Shewolf? He knew my name. He knew who I was. Elijah stopped to speak to someone. It was a girl. Summer, I realized. He glanced back at me, his face troubled. Summer laughed and turned to face me. He muttered something at her that made the smile slip from her face and look up at him in shock. Amilia then stepped before me, blocking them from my vision. She handed me a glass of wine and I drank it eagerly. “I am sure you are starving. We should be eating right after the ritual,” she told me. I nodded and sipped some more at my glass. “So this must be the cause of all the fuss in the house,” a deep voice said. Amilia and I both turned to look at a tall man, tanned skinned, dark hair and blue eyes. It was quite unique to look at, the way his skin made his eyes glow the way they did. Amilia sighed and shook her head. “Faye, meet Collin, Beta to this tribe,” she introduced. I was not sure what to do so I just bowed my head. “Pleased to meet you,” I told him. Collin watched me with an amused look on her face. “No need to be so formal. Save that for Elijah,” he told me. Amilia was about to speak when Elijah clapped his hand loudly. Amilia took my hand and walked over to stand beside her brother. She leaned in as Elijah began speaking. “My brother can be a bit rough... like I said before, he is under a lot of political pressure at the moment. It has taken far too long to deal with the problems we have been having to face,” she whispered. “My fellow subjects,” Elijah began with a swift glance around the room. “Here we are, once again, to give thanks to our God Kwatee! As usual, we gather in the back gardens. We gather. We hunt!” He declared. There was a large applause and lots of whistling around the great room. Elijah nodded to one of the staff and they opened the double french doors behind him. Everyone in the room began to file out. Amilia smiled at me and headed to the gardens. Before I could follow her, Elijah was before me, blocking my path. He stood there, staring at me. It was not until after every person had left the room that he spoke. His voice was rough and husky. “What is your name?” he demanded, his eyes locked on my face.I gulped. Why was I so uneasy around him? “Faye Tamit, your Grace, of House Tamit!” I said. My voice came out as a small squeak. How embarrassing. “That is impossible!” he said. I looked up at him now. His face was perplexed. “The House Tamit is dead!” He reminded me. I nodded, looking down again. “Yes, your Grace, that is true. I am the last survivor!” I told him quickly. I waited for him to speak. The second ticked by. I did not dare look up at him. He was too intimidating. He sighed. He sounded impatient Then I felt his hand run the length of my jaw, making me look up at him. “Stop calling me that!” he said aggravated. “Do you not remember me at all, Faye?” he asked me, dropping his hands and shoving them into his pockets. It was almost as if he was forcing himself to keep his hands there. I swallowed hard. “Yes, of course, I do. Yet I know how your position of power has changed a great deal since I last saw you... I wasn’t sure how or if I should address you,” I admitted. I picked at my dress, biting my lip, looking back at my feet. Elijah sighed. “Look at me,” he commanded. I tried to make myself look at him but I could not do it. There was too much I did not want to see in his eyes. I could not take the rejection. I had not realized how much I had been counting on him since Amilia had spoken of the connection she had seen. Elijah sighed, impatiently, reaching for my face again, his hand gently pinching my chin, unlocking my lower lip from my teeth. “You have nothing to fear here, Faye. Now come hunt with me,” he said. I felt my heart jump as he folded my arm into his and guided me into the darkness of the night.