Chapter 29: I warned you
Jack leaned against Lydia’s locker, spinning a pen between his fingers as she approached. Her auburn hair was tied up, and her expression soft, cool and composed, exactly what made her even more interesting to him.
“Morning, deadly,” he said with a smirk.
Lydia raised an eyebrow. “Deadly?”
“Well, you always catch my attention anytime you're here, you never go easy on me. "
She chuckled, shutting her locker. “Hmm... And how do I do that.”
“I don't know.” Jack said quickly, then softened. “You’re just… good.”
She looked at him, tilting her head slightly. “What do you want, Jack?”
He grinned. “You always assume I want something.”
“Because you usually do.”
“Fine,” he said, stepping in a little closer. “I want a date with you, no monster attacks, no werewolves just us. Food, maybe some awkward flirting… sound good?”
She rolled her eyes."I'm a werewolf Jack.
He smirked." Yes I know, so I want it to be only you."
Lydia blinked, surprised. “You’re asking me out?”
“Yeah. Look, I know I joke a lot, but I actually like you, Lydia. More than I probably should.”
Her lips curved slightly. “Is this your way of being romantic?”
“I’m trying here,” Jack said, hand on his heart. “Don’t make me beg, it’d ruin my reputation.”
Lydia studied him for a moment, then smiled. “Alright, one date.”
Jack’s grin widened. “Yes! Prepare to be swept off your feet.”
“You better not take me to that greasy burger shack again.”
He pointed at her. “Too late, plans are already made.”
Lydia shook her head, laughing softly. “You’re impossible.”
“But charming,” Jack added, winking.
Lydia rolled her eyes. “We’ll see about that.”
Jack knocked twice before pushing Damien’s door open. The place was quiet except for the faint sound of music playing from a speaker. Damien was at his desk, flipping through an old book filled with markings and worn pages.
“You busy?” Jack asked, stepping in.
Damien looked up, already frowning. “What is it?”
Jack grinned. “Just wanted to give you a heads-up, i’ve got a date tonight with Lydia.”
Damien closed the book. “A date?”
“Yeah,” Jack said, dropping onto the couch. “You know, food, charm, awkward eye contact, just normal people stuff.”
Damien stood, his arms crossed. “Jack, this isn’t the time.”
Jack rolled his eyes. “Come on, man. We’ve been dealing with nonstop chaos, one night won’t kill us.”
“It might,” Damien said sharply. “That hybrid is still out there. It already attacked us once, you’re both targets now.”
Jack’s smirk faded a little. “We’ll be careful.”
“You can’t predict what that thing will do,” Damien warned. “It’s not random, it’s calculated. Going out in the open, just the two of you it’s reckless.”
Jack stood. “She needs this, Damien. We both do, we’ve barely had time to breathe.”
"You guys aren't even dating." Damien rolled his eyes.
" Well...I'm about to change that, I know you love me Damien but let your big boy go, I'm going to be alright."jack muttered.
Damien let out a sigh, he didn't know what to say next.
"And Lydia is a wolf, she can fight." Jack sat up.
" But you can't."Damien cut him off.
"Well...you'll be shocked about what I can do." Jack smiled.
The warm glow of the restaurant lit Lydia’s face in and her smile radiated more, Jack couldn’t help but stare.
“You’re doing it again,” she said, smirking as she sipped her drink.
“Doing what?” Jack leaned in, with a grin playful.
“Looking at me like I’m your favorite meal.”
Jack laughed. “That’s because you are. I mean, no offense to the burger, but you’re stealing the spotlight.”
Lydia rolled her eyes but her smile didn’t fade. “You’re ridiculously cheesy.”
“And yet, you’re still here.”
She shook her head. “One date doesn’t mean I’ve fallen for your charm.”
“Yet.”
"You're faster than most of the guys in our school." Lydia leaned in closer.
" I just want to make you mine." Jack whispered In her ear.
" Don't you think it's strange if we have two couples in the pack, first Damien and Lydia then us...."
Jack cuts in." How do you know I'm good to ask you out.
Lydia scoffed." It's clearly written on your face."
Before she could reply, a low, guttural growl echoed from somewhere outside. It cut through the chatter and music, it echoed through the whole room. Everyone froze, turning to where the sound came from.
Jack’s body became tensed. “Did you hear that?”
The growl came again, louder and closer.
People began to scream, glass shattered, chairs scraped against the floor as customers rushed for the exit, panic setting in fast.
“Go,” Jack said urgently, standing up. “We need to get out of here.”
But Lydia didn’t move. Her eyes had already shifted gold, and her posture shifted, she was ready to fight.
“I’m not running,” she said firmly. “If it’s that thing again, I’m not letting it hurt anyone else.”
Jack reached for her arm. “Lyds....”
“I can handle it,” she said, her eyes locked on the darkened window.
Another crash was heard and this time, the glass exploded inward. A hulking figure lunged into the restaurant, snarling, its form twisted between wolf and vampire , it's eyes burning red.
"It's the hybrid." Lydia muttered and charged without hesitation.
Jack shouted after her, but she was already in motion, her claws extended. She slammed into the creature, both of them crashing into overturned tables.
They fought, teeth and claws clashing, but the hybrid was fast, it was faster than before.
Jack tried to reach her, but the monster landed a brutal swipe across Lydia’s shoulder, sending her flying.
She rolled to her feet, panting then the creature sank its fangs into her side.
“No!” Jack roared.
Lydia screamed as the venom surged through her, her knees gave up, she fell to the group.
The hybrid lifted its head, blood dripping from its jaws and vanished into the darkness.
Jack rushed to Lydia’s side as her eyes fluttered, her body trembling.
“Lyds, stay with me...please."
Her breathing grew shallow, her eyes fluttered shut