Chapter 28: A new Hybrid.

The growl turned into a roar, it echoed through the whole room then a crash was heard. The front window shattered as a dark creature burst into the room, knocking over furniture and sending glass flying. It moved fast, too fast. Its eyes glowed red, and its fangs were sharp like a vampire’s, but its body was more human… twisted and unnatural. It looked more than a wolf than a vampire or both.

“What the hell is that?!” Jack yelled, he crept behind Maya.

“It’s not just a wolf,” Damien growled, stepping forward. “It’s something else. Half-human… maybe a hybrid.”

The creature lunged at Lyra, she screamed and ducked just in time. Damien tackled it mid-air, both of them crashing into the wall. He slashed at its chest with his claws, but it didn’t slow down.

“It’s too strong!” Maya shouted, throwing a silver knife that barely scratched it.

The creature spun, landing a brutal hit to Damien’s ribs. He hit the ground hard, groaning.

Suddenly, from the hallway there was a loud bang and the cage exploded open.

Peter stepped into the room with blood on his face, his eyes glowing bright.

“You let that thing in?” he snarled.

“No,” Damien hissed, coughing. “It found us.”

Peter didn’t waste time, he leapt into the fight, his claws extended out. He and the creature clashed violently, their fangs against fangs and claw against claw. The walls shook with every hit.

Maya and Lyra joined in. Jack kept throwing knives, aiming for its head but the knife kept falling down.

Peter took a hard hit to the jaw but recovered fast, grabbing the creature by the throat and slamming it into the floor.

Damien, now back on his feet, moved beside him.

“Together!” Damien shouted.

He and Peter attacked at once, Peter holding it down and Damien plunging his claws deep into its heart.

The creature shrieked in pain, thrashing wildly then went still.

Everyone froze as they tried to catch their breath, but the creature stood up, it swung it claw at peter and jumped out.

"What was that?" Jack asked, his voice cracked.

" I have no idea, "Maya said turning to peter.

Peter flinched." Don't look at me, I'm just as suprised as you. This thing isn't normal, it's a hybrid but it's not like any other hybrid."

Jack muttered." You think it couldn't choose which supernatural it wants to be."

" Maybe, maybe not."peter whispered.

Damien looked at him. “Why did you help us cause I know you would be happy if the hybrid had killed us?”

Peter gave a half smile. “Can’t let a freak kill you before I do.”

The school bell rang, echoing down the hallway as students walked out of classrooms and into the buzzing corridors. Damien leaned against his locker, his arms folded, trying to ignore the strange energy creeping up his spine.

Jack walked up beside him, tossing a water bottle between his hands. “You feel it again?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Damien muttered. “Something’s coming.”

Before Jack could answer, three figures walked up the hallway. It was the Alpha trio and they didn't look happy.

Damien straightened immediately. He didn’t forget the last time they’d met, especially when all three had jumped him and Peter on the field. Peter had saved his life that day… something Damien hadn’t expected.

“You’ve got nerve showing up,” Jack said coldly, stepping in front of Damien.

Bryce held up his hands. “Relax, we’re not here to fight, we need your help.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” Damien muttered.

Nate looked rough. His lip was split, and Neo had claw marks across his forearm.

“We were attacked,” Nate said. “Last night by some creature, it looked very weird I can't describe it, it's the same creature that went after you guys.”

“How do you know that?” Jack asked.

“Because it didn’t just want blood,” Neo said. “It wanted something else, it whispered your name, Damien. It knew you.”

Damien’s eyes narrowed. “You followed me the night Peter and I were ambushed, didn’t you?”

Bryce didn’t deny it. “We saw enough to know something bigger’s going on. That thing wasn’t normal and we heard about the other attacks.”

Jack shook his head. “So now you want help? After jumping us? After nearly getting Damien killed?”

“We didn’t know the truth then,” Bryce said. “Now we do.”

“Still not our problem,” Damien said flatly. “You made your choice.”

“Damien,” Nate said, stepping closer. “This isn’t about pride anymore. Whatever’s coming… it’s hunting Alphas. If we don’t work together, we’re all dead.”

Damien didn’t answer right away. Memories of Peter bleeding whole fighting beside him flashed through his mind. It still felt strange trusting the same person who once tried to kill him.

But now, three former enemies were asking for a truce and the enemy they faced was far worse than any of them.

Damien finally spoke. “We’re not friends. This isn’t some ‘pack up and bond’ moment but if we’re going to kill the master behind those monsters, we do it fast, clean, and on our terms.”

“Deal,” Bryce said, holding out his hand.

"What did you guys notice about this thing." Jack interrupted.

" Well...it looks like a hybrid but I don't think it's a hybrid. It looks more like a failed science project." Nate muttered.

" Really, it taught it was more of a vampwolf."Jack tilted his head.

" We don't work like that." Bryce smiled. " All supernaturals have a code of conduct and this creature just ruined it and it's going to take a toll on all of us." He said and they all walked away.

Damien stared at it but didn’t shake. “Just stay out of my way.”

As the three turned to leave, Jack whispered, “You sure this is smart?”

“No,” Damien said. “But we’ll need their strength to survive what’s coming.”

High above them, in the school’s rafters, a strange shadow clung to the ceiling, watching with glowing red eyes, it grinned.

They were already too late.