Hybrid

The sun was rising over the city when Alannah came back to the abandoned house we holed up in. Birds chirped and someone was doing early morning work on their lawn in the distance.

Apollo had fulfilled his promise in showing me what an Alpha was capable of, and for the first time, it amazed me at how sore my body was from his fantastically rough treatment.

Consider my mind blown.

And the damn wolf was exceedingly proud of himself when I had a hard time walking when I first attempted to get out of bed. Even now that we were dressed and presentable to speak with the witch again, his proud smirk never left the corner of his handsome mouth.

"So, what's going to happen to the wolves from your pack in the city?" Alannah asked as we settled at the too large table in the dining room. She sat across from us, and Apollo took my hand in his as we sat down.

"I've been in contact with my second to let him know there was an emergency regarding their Luna since he knew I found her and had been searching. Without knowing who all in the city is involved with Myst, I didn't want to take any chances." I felt the tension in his hand as he spoke. "The Alpha meetings are going to be ending, so something needs to be done before anything else happens."

"We can't let them attempt the coup and kill you or risk them taking Myst back to the rest of your pack." I ran my thumb over the back of his hand and watched him release a breath from the corner of my gaze.

"The Matriarch of New York is investigating the witches they deem responsible for helping to create Myst, so you have the support of the local Coven if you need it." Her violet, glowing eyes slid over to me. I could see the questions dancing in those purple depths, hesitating to ask.

"And I still have my organization to deal with," I sighed. "They'll want me dead if they sent another agent after me. Apollo is still a target for them as well. There's only so much we can do about them, but I know I'm not going down without a fight." Lifting my palm, I watched as claws grew from my nails and the golden fur spread up my arm. "I'm not one of them anymore."

"You're unlike anything else that has ever existed." Alannah ran her hand through her hair, looking out the window at the light of the morning. "You know, my best friend is the Pureblood Queen of this continent. She's something else too."

"The vampire with magic." I nodded, remembering the little bit of news I had heard of the queen when she took the throne. Wolves had attempted to kill her and cannibalize her to steal her power in the same way a witch would eat another to gain their power and use necromancy. Her rare ability as a Pureblood with magic kept her alive and saved her life.

"Morana couldn't control her powers when I met her. It's taken a lot of time and practice to get where she is now. I wonder what it will be like for you, a hybrid that can partially transform."

"Whatever happens, I'll be there to help her." Apollo caught my eyes, and I smiled at him, squeezing his fingers in mine. "The first Hybrid Luna, and a former assassin on top. The pack won't know what to do with themselves." His soft chuckle made me want to laugh with him.

"Surprisingly, the transforming comes easily. What overwhelms me the most is these awakened animal instincts. Sometimes I worry I won't be able to control those primal impulses," I admitted. "Like the night I went into heat I couldn't stop myself from going to find you, but I was in so much pain."

"Pain?" Apollo and Alannah both questioned. That caught my attention.

"Yes?" I angled my head to look over their confusion. "Even the night before the full moon. I was feverish and cramping and hurt the whole day after."

"Going into heat can be intense, but it's not supposed to be painful. I wish I had known sooner." Apollo's shoulders dropped, and I took my hand from his to hold his shoulder.

"No, Apollo it's not your fault."

"It must have been what started unlocking your dormant DNA. Meeting your soulmate can be a powerful experience." Alannah studied me again. I got the impression she was remembering what she had seen while we were in that shadow realm watching my past. "There's magic in blood."

"So, you think meeting my mate woke it all up?" I looked from the witch to the Alpha, trying to give him I-told-you-so look as I did. Apollo playfully rolled his eyes at me, but I could see the dimple on his cheek from trying to hide his smile.

"My best guess," Alannah said. "That must have been why it was so painful. You had all this wolf locked up inside of you and she ripped you apart to get free. And it was Alpha DNA." She shook her head and released a heavy exhale.

"So," Apollo started, "it is my fault."

I smacked his shoulder.

"Ow!" He rubbed his arm. "You were strong before, but damn, are you strong now. Bet we could get your time in a room with a dozen vampires to half what it was."

"Uh?" Alannah scrunched her face up with the question.

"You don't want to know." I slumped back into my seat at that. Killing Lucky had been easy. Losing an informant in the city had been unfortunate. Although I knew now, at the time I killed them, it had been my newly awakening beastly instincts pushing me to kill him when I remembered the ways I gave myself to him for information.

There was no way I could do that now. Not after meeting Apollo and realizing I had a soul. We belonged to each other in a way that just made sense at the center of who I was, or who I was truly discovering I was.

A Hybrid. Half wolf and half human.

"So, what are we going to do?" She asked.