THE HYBRID WOLF

Leila.

Mom and I walk into the castle and my breath catches at the beauty of the inside. The entire wall is painted in creamy white, with long golden curtains hanging down large glass windows.

The four-level castle is sumptuous. The design is a mixture of contemporary and modern furniture and decoration.

It was built in such a way that you could see the ceiling from the grand foyer. And a big dazzling crystal chandelier was dangling down. The soft yellow light from the bulbs around gave the place a warm and welcoming glow.

Mom... My thoughts snap back at that word when I feel Diana next to me. I, who didn't have anything and had as only people who loved me, Alpha Jacob and Luna Katie, now have a whole Pack of over five hundred werewolves who loved me and would do anything for me, and now... A family of Lycans who accept me at first sight. I have another mom and dad now.

Since knowing Clayton, my life has changed from barely there to amazing.

"I know that look on your face. I had the same when I first stepped foot in here," Mom says and I turn to her in surprise.

She laughs seeing my face.

"You mean, this place hasn't changed since you stepped here?" I asked confused because some things here looked so modern. You'd think that old creatures like these would only know ancient things.

She laughs when she sees the wheels in my head turning, my expression giving every one of my thoughts away.

"No silly. Not the decorations, I mean the intrinsic beauty of the house. It's character... If you know what I mean," she says sobering up a little bit from her laughter.

I double down when my mind comes back to the phrase 'when I first stepped foot here' and I turn to her with a gasp.

"You weren't born a Lycan?" I ask tentatively, but am highly intrigued. She smiles at me softly at my surprised expression.

"Nope... I'm just like you. But I was human though," she says and I frown. Human?

"Lycans too can find their mates in any other creature, but as soon as they mate and mark, the other creature will transform into a Lycan too," she says and I nod my head giving an understanding/embarrassed look.

We are interrupted by the others as they join us chatting. Clayton wraps his arms around my waist and I lean on his solid build when he stands behind me.

We all turn our heads towards the staircase when we hear footsteps and see an incredibly handsome man with a dark side to him coming down, holding a stunningly looking woman in his arms.

They must be the king and queen, from the power radiating from them. It's impressive.

The woman let go of her mate's hand and rushed to me when she saw me and covered me in her embrace.

"Omg she is real, and beautiful," she cries out and Clayton groans.

"Why would all of you think she wasn't real?" He grumbles.

"Because you wouldn't bring her to meet us," the man from the stairs which I presume to be the king says with a mischievous smile on his face.

On close look, he looks just like Dad. He too gives me a bear hug, welcoming me into the family and I smile feeling wonderful.

"I hope you are famished because these two made a feast for you," Dad says pointing to the queen and mom. Stepping away from us, he clasps his brother on the shoulder as they head toward a room laughing hard.

I follow them with a confused look on my face.

"Please Mom, Aunt, you guys didn't step foot in the kitchen while the cooks were making our dinner did you?" Cassie ask with a horrified expression.

"Cassandra Isabella Hall, now choose your next word carefully," Mom says as the air around us suddenly becomes charged and suffocating. I mean, I can feel the energy intensifying, not that it changed anything for me.

Everybody in our proximity flinched except for Clayton and me. A surprised look crosses their eyes as they all gaze at me and I freeze. Did I do something?

I see everyone's face contorting into a pained expression including Mom. Even Clayton flinched a little, but I only stood there not knowing what was going on. I looked around to see if there was anything danger and the source of the energy I felt around and noticed it was coming from the queen.

The air cooled down a moment later and the queen approached me with a wonder-filled face.

"Leila, sweetie, did you feel anything just now?" She asks me looking at me intently. I didn't know how to answer that. I didn't know if it was a tricky question and if I was going to get into trouble or not.

Her expectant look forced the words out of my mouth though.

"I felt the energy in the air?" I answer dragging it into a somewhat question.

"That's all you felt?" Mom asks me in awe and I nod. Looking at them not knowing if I should have felt something different. The look they give me except for Clayton is worrying me.

I am all tensed and about to cry when I feel Clayton tighten his arms around me relaxing me almost instantly.

"You have done nothing, baby, relax. They are looking at you weirdly because you didn't respond to Aunt's aura," he says and I gasp covering my mouth. The queen's aura hadn't affected me?

The others realized by Clayton's words that they were freaking me out so they all snapped out of their shock.

"Don't mind us little one. Come with me. I hope you have a healthy appetite," the queen finally breaks the silence and pulls me out of Clayton's arms and he readily lets go.

We are walking to where Dad and the king had disappeared with Cassie grumbling the whole time.

I try so hard not to spit out the food in my mouth. That is how awful it is. Now I understand what the fuse was all about.

The king and dad watched me amusedly as my face turned from pale to red as I chewed on the food in my mouth. The moment I swallowed, they burst out laughing and their mates joined in.

Their sudden laugh had me jerking back a little. I turn to see the king wiping a stray tear from his eyes still laughing. I'm extremely confused. I hadn't imagined the king of Lycans to be like this. I don't know what I imagined but it wasn't this. And to think that he could slaughter a whole Pack of werewolves without even breaking a sweat was terrifying.

"I like her. Oh, how I like you, Leila. Someone who can eat a mouthful of my mate's and her sister's food and swallow is a keeper," he says doubling down again in laughter clapping his hands and Dad is not any different.

Wait a fucking minute... Their mates are sisters?

I turn to look at the queen and mom and sure enough, they look very much alike. So two brothers were mated to two sisters. What a family.

I start coughing uncontrollably from the burn in my throat and the laughter around the table only intensifies. I swallow in one gulp the water Clayton passed out to me feeling the cool liquid calming the heat in me.

What the fuck did they put in there? I'm not sure I want to know. Nope, I certainly don't. The only thing I take from here is to never eat anything cooked by Mom or Aunt Melody ever again. No, thank you.

I smile as these thoughts pass through my mind. I hear Dad say pointing at me...

"That's it. That's that look. Melody, Diana you have just lost another candidate for your superb cuisine," he says and everyone renews in on the laughter and I join. I see Aunt Melody and Mom huff in annoyance but smile.

They are so funny and relaxed. I love them already.