Chapter 36

"It has been a week already, wake up," I sighed as I poked Obsidian's face.

Cynthia raised an eyebrow at me, "I hope he wakes up while you're doing that and licks your finger."

"Oh hush, quit judging me." 

"I've been judging you since day one."

I stuck my tongue out before leaning back in my chair, blowing out a breath. The week has been filled with nothing but stress, more hybrids are showing up and slaughtering multiple warriors, leaving packs ripped apart with despair and heartbreak. My father is starting to consider attacking the one base and capturing a few hunters while killing the rest of them, to hinder anything else they have planned for a while. We were all beginning to lose our patience, we're losing pack members every single day, weakening our defenses and risking the vulnerable who are hidden within the pack. If a hybrid were to get into a village and murder pups, elders, the sick or pregnant women, it could knock out a pack from the future war. And with one of the strongest kings in a coma, it's difficult to try and navigate a plan to fight but also keep Obsidian's pack safe. 

Normally, if an alpha goes out and fights with his warriors, he'll leave the beta and a small group of warriors behind. The beta and warriors would oversee keeping those who can't fight, safe. But if Obsidian doesn't heal soon, we're not sure what we'll have Malachi do. We could have Luthias fight with their warriors, but he also must prepare his own pack for a battle. But then there's Cynthia; I suddenly froze as a thought forced its way through, my eyes instantly landing on her.

"If your brother doesn't wake up in time.... what if we had you lead his warriors?" I asked softly.

She paled a little as her eyes widened, "You mean...call the shots and everything?"

"Basically. They need a leader, someone who is good at laying out a battle plan and following through with it. Obsidian had you in charge of his female warriors, I'm sure you would do great." 

"I don't know...I mean, yeah I'm confident when training them and making sure they're following orders but to come up with an entire plan myself? I'm not sure if I have it in me. What if I stayed back and Malachi led them?"

I frowned, "You know he lacks talent in the planning department. He's losing his mind just needing to lead the pack right now in Obsidian's absence."

She bit her bottom lip as she fiddled her thumbs, her eyes staring at the ground, glazed over with thought. I got up and took a seat beside her and gently grabbed her hand, offering her an encouraging smile. She swallowed and nodded slowly, giving me a small, worried smile in return.

"You'll help me, right?" She asked.

I blinked in surprise, but nodded, "Of course." 

I silently sat in a tree as I read a book, deciding to take a break from the horrors of life's actuality. Taking a bite of my peach, I chuckled at a moment in the book, imagining the look on the female character's face as her man walked in with make up on. I began to imagine a life like that, a husband, two little girls that harass him with girl stuff all day, a little boy who loves his mother, just an overall happy family. But I know my trust issues will ruin any chances of having a healthy relationship, my insecurities, anxiety, basically my entire existence would just bring chaos. 

"What are you doing all the way up there?"

I glanced down to see Lin and Cynthia smiling at me, I waved back before marking my place in my book and jumped down. Lin eyed my half-eaten peach, causing me to roll my eyes as I gave her the rest of it, knowing she's absolutely obsessed with them. 

Cynthia chuckled, "So, is this what you do to get away from everything?"

"Normally I'll go deeper in the woods, but with the hybrids, I'd rather not. It works though, in the shade, away from people..." I sighed, looking around the beautiful area I had found. 

"It looks peaceful, at home I used to just sit by the river and draw."

"I sit in the kitchen and stuff my face," Lin voiced, causing us to laugh.

I shook my head at her, "Of course you do."

"Lin, I swear, you're in a whole mood," Cynthia chuckled.

Lin smiled proudly, "Damn straight." 

As they continued laughing and joking a strange scent wafted through the air, assaulting my nose. I turned around, studying each section of the small patch of woods, frowning when I saw nothing. However, the scent was becoming stronger, making me want to gag at the stench.

"We need to go," I stated, shoving the two in the direction of the pack house.

Lin frowned, "Why?"

"There's a hybrid or vampire around, I'm not sure. Considering it's day, I'd say hybrid."

Cynthia looked around, her expression morphing into one of horror as her eyes landed on something. Lin and I both followed her gaze, her own hearts skipping a beat at the beast staring back. Swallowing my fear, I gently nudged the two.

"Slowly, back away from it," I whispered.

Cynthia gulped, "If it attacks, we go for the throat, right?"

"Right. Two of us distract it while one of us breaks its neck." 

"You think if I throw the peach pit at it, it'll distract it so we can run?" Lin asked.

I shook my head, "I don't think so. Might piss it off though." 

We stood frozen, watching it as it sniffed the air, tilting its head in curiosity. Its eyes were shining a crimson red, its massive paw moving forward slowly as it crouched. Behind it, a larger one appeared, its ears flat against its head and its dark fur bristling. 

"Never mind backing up slowly, I don't think the second one is as calm," I mumbled. "Go!" 

We took off right as the second lunged forward, baring its fangs and snapping at our ankles. I grabbed a rock and threw it at its head before veering right, leading it further into the woods and away from the pack. I could hear Lin and Cynthia calling my name, but they soon stopped, realizing what I was doing. 

I could feel its thunderous steps vibrating on the soft earth, shaking the small bushes that we passed. Shifting quickly, I took off, forcing myself to run as hard as I could. I zig zagged through the trees, trying to confuse the creature, but nothing was working. Growing desperate, I headed towards the river, planning on jumping into its waters. I snapped my attention to my side as Cynthia's wolf ran up, her eyes mirroring concern as she looked at me. I gently snapped at her shoulder, telling her to leave and find safety, but she refused. She gave me a look, silently telling me that we're in this together. I nodded and motioned towards the river, she barked, telling me she understood. 

We tried our best to confuse him, but of course it wouldn't work, his eyes never left us. For something so vicious and terrifying, he was oddly graceful as he dodged the trees, barely stumbling or losing his footing at all. He was awfully quick as well, his warm breath heating up the tip of my tail as he attempted to grab it, wanting to drag me closer. 

Almost there.

I could hear and the smell river, hope blossomed within me as I ran even harder. Cynthia followed closely, not allowing herself to fall in a close distance to the hybrid, refusing to give him the chance to grab her. I could feel my heart hammering against my chest as my lungs screamed for a break, but there was no stopping, not until we were safe. We were a few feet away when he suddenly grabbed Cynthia by her back leg and threw her into a tree, causing her to yelp as a sickening crack echoed. 

Skidding to a halt, I spun around and jumped on his back, pulling away from her. He easily grabbed me by my thigh and pinned me on the ground, ripping into me with his teeth. Ignoring the blistering pain, I grabbed his front leg and tore into, causing blood to spray over my face. He howled in pain, giving me my chance to gain the upper hand. Twisting my body out of his grip, I latched onto his throat, my teeth plunging through his flesh. He growled loudly and tried shaking me off, but I wasn't letting go. 

To my side, I could see Cynthia struggling to sit up, whining every time she attempted to stand. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the small branch sticking out of her side, covered in her blood. Turning my attention back to the monster before me, I growled and tore flesh from his throat, slowing him down as he lost more blood. He snarled and slammed me against another tree, bruising my side as I lost my footing. 

I didn't have a chance to shake the lightheaded feeling away before his claws went through my stomach. I could feel my blood soaking my fur as a ringing sound through my ears and my vision blurred for a few moments. Forcing myself to continue fighting, I lunged at him, knocking him onto the ground as we rolled onto the river's banks. 

I looked up at the sound of an unfamiliar howl, my eyes widening when I saw the first hybrid barreling toward us. Shockingly, it didn't go after me, but after its partner. I watched as it grabbed him, peeling him off of me easily and throwing him into the waters. It stared at me for a second before motioning towards Cynthia, whining and warning me to go. I didn't waste any more time as I shifted and ran over to her, coaxing her into shifting back. 

"That hybrid....sh-she's saving us?" Cynthia gasped.

I nodded, "Seems like it. Come on, we don't have much time." 

I looked back at the creature once more as she tore the other's head clean off and threw it to the side. When we made eye contact, she wagged her tail slightly, seemingly lost as she began looking around. I stopped walking and sighed.

"Follow us. Are you able to shift?" I asked.

She trotted over and whined a little, giving me my answer. Cynthia moved towards her, "Take a deep breath and focus on your human half. Try remembering what you looked like, I know you have another form."

It took a few minutes, but the rogue hybrid eventually turned into a young girl. She shyly covered her shaking form, her eyes reflecting her fear. Offering a comforting smile, I motioned towards the pack house.

"How old are you?" I asked gently.

She frowned, "Eighteen...do...do you know what happened to me? Why was I a wolf? I...I'm so confused."

Cynthia and I stared at her in shock, so that's how they're doing, they're not using rogue werewolves. They're using young and vulnerable vampires.