His Hybrid Queen

Chapter 26

Claire

Victor was more nervous than me as we listened to the doctor’s diagnosis. The tension was rolling off of him in waves. The way he gripped the chair's arms and his neck muscles were corded, he looked about to pounce on the poor doctor. The man was just doing his job. It wasn’t his fault that we lost the baby. But what he said made sense in a way.

I don’t know why I couldn’t put the pieces together until now. Saying the words out loud made them real. I looked at Victor, fearing how he would react. Would he accept this other side of me or would he reject me? Surprisingly, his expression softened and transformed to that of relief.

Even if I hadn’t read my mom’s journal, I would have come to the same conclusion eventually. My heat alone was unlike any other. I know because I searched about it and asked other she-wolves about theirs. None of them experienced body changes like I had or came to the verge of bursting into flame. If it wasn’t for Hannah, I would have lost my life that day. 

The mark her intervention left was still on my chest. It wasn’t a simple white circle but the sign of a barrier to seal the magic of shifters and limited how much or how long I could shift. I didn't know better before, but now I was more connected with my powers and I had access to valuable knowledge.

The seal I had before was like a dam built to block all my powers and keep the creatures inside of me at bay. It started cracking down when I came in contact with a pack. I read that's what happens to werewolves raised among humans. Wolves call to each other from within. The effect is much stronger when in close proximity with an alpha or a destined mate. For me, it was all the above. Add to it an intense bout of emotions to let my wolf slip through the cracks, and that's why I could only shift that time. 

The barrier stood strong for a while until I turned eighteen and had my heat.  That's when it came crumbling down to pieces, like a wall of bricks, allowing the other creature to come to the surface. The seal Hannah placed on me, however, was different. I could tell it was driving energy from the moon. The round mark turned lighter, almost glowing when it was a full moon. And it fainted as the moon waned and became indiscernible to the human eye like a new moon on the night sky.

That creature, other than my wolf, has been dormant since then. But I could still feel it in the depths of my soul. Lurking. Waiting for the day it would be released.

“Marvellous!” Arthur exclaimed. He was looking at me with wide eyes as if he was seeing me for the first time. “I have never seen one before. I mean I traveled the world looking for hybrids, but all I could find was stories and old-wives tales.” He said.

“I thought you already knew. You examined me before. Didn’t you notice anything strange?” I asked him, hoping he would give me some answers.

“That’s the most curious thing! The regular tests don’t show any abnormalities. I wonder what mysteries lie in your DNA. Unless you know what you’re looking for, it’s difficult to differentiate between a human and a shifter. Or else we wouldn’t have been able to keep our existence a secret.” 

Arthur kept blabbering about how lucky he was to meet a hybrid in his lifetime. I tuned him down because I was starting to feel like a science experiment more than a patient by now. 

“Should we worry she will have other health problems?” Victor spoke up, interrupting Arthur’s monologue about hybrids and why he found them fascinating. It didn’t escape my attention that he avoided using the word miscarriage to not hurt my feelings.

“In the animal kingdom hybrids are sterile. Even if the species are of the same family.” The excitement vanished from the doctor's face and I felt my heart sink. 

After the procedure, I was devastated. It was a shock that I wasn't prepared for. Finding out about the pregnancy and then losing it right away. It was too much to take in. All I could do was cry myself to sleep. I was grateful for Victor’s presence to support me through the ordeal.

Like many girls, I dreamed of getting married, of the white fenced house, and a happy family. I wanted to have children when I am a bit mature. When I have figured out my life and myself a little better. It was never a matter of if, but of when. That's why I got angry at Victor. I felt like he made the choice for me, instead of together. I forgave him the second the word sorry left his mouth. Because I was sure he wanted the same things as me, though he wanted them earlier. But not having the choice at all, never crossed my mind.

“Since you conceived once, even if you didn’t carry to term, I believe there is a chance for you to do it again. However, it won’t be natural or simple. The best course of action I’d recommend would be to go through IVF.” 

****

Arthur estimated it would be too much to take on if we decided about the IVF right away. After he gave us a couple of brochures, he let us go home. I wasn’t excited to go back to the palace, but it was the only “home” I had. I tried to get back to my usual routine as best as I could, or as much as my overprotective mate would let me.

It’s been more than a week that he wouldn’t let me leave our chambers. Despite my protests, he insisted that I rest and keep work to the absolute minimum. When he didn’t have a meeting somewhere he worked in my office, where he could watch me. I spent most of my time between books and my laptop. I was either studying and reading or doing research in regards to the school.

I shut the book that I had with a humph and I threw it on the sofa behind me as I got up. I had enough of being trapped between four walls. I stomped to the closet where I put on a warm coat and snow boots. It was the first sunny day after so long and I wasn’t intending on spending it inside. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” Victor asked, standing tall and handsome, and in my way.

“Outside,” I said pointedly.

“You’re not going anywhere. You’re still sick.”

“I’m not sick or disabled.” I corrected him, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re still bleeding.” Victor looked distraught about that fact.

“Which is normal,” I told him as I rested my palms on his chest. “The doctor said it could last up to two weeks. It’s not worse than a period, so there is nothing to worry about.” I reassured him. I surprised myself with how calm I was. I would’ve been embarrassed to discuss something like this with him. But after everything we’ve been through, that was the last of my worries.

“It’s better if you stay on the palace grounds then.”

“I’m just going to town for a walk and a little bit of fresh air. ” I told Victor as a statement, not a question.

“Fine.” He said, scrunching his eyebrows in distaste. “I don’t want you to go alone. I still have work, or I would have gone with you.” He said as he took my hand in his and kissed my knuckles. There was so much care and affection in the gesture that it warmed my heart. I felt so lucky to have him.

“The whole pack would be there.” I said.

“That bear prince could still show up any time.”

“He stopped sending threats for a while. Maybe he has forgotten about me.”

“Or maybe he is planning on acting on those threats.”

He made a point, and I didn’t see any harm in having an escort as long as I kept it to a minimum. I wasn’t some damsel in distress that always needed to be rescued.

“Fine,” I conceded. “I’ll take Oliver and the driver. That’s it!”

“Okay.” Victor said before pecking my lips. “Be careful, love.”

“I will, baby.” I said before giving him a hug.

The moment the car crossed the threshold of the outer gates, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. When we were close to the center of town, I told the driver to stop and I continued on foot. The town had a homey and cozy feeling around it, despite the cold. The piles of snow on the corners and lining the roadsides only added to its charm. I didn’t know if werewolves celebrated Christmas, but the streets would look great with some illuminations.

As I walked down the main avenue, pack members greeted me cordially. I made my way to the little park near the center of town. There was a playground and kids were playing merrily. I found a free bench to sit on, but the moment my bum touched the freezing wood I jumped with a gasp. I pulled my coat down and barely sat on the edge. I didn’t want to freeze my ass off.

It didn’t take long for the little kids to notice my presence and flock towards me. It was nice to just sit and watch them play from a distance, but their laughter was a welcomed interruption to my quiet time. They stopped a few feet away, their eyes fixated on something behind me. I turned around to see Olly standing menacingly behind me. I waved him off to make himself invisible behind some bush or tree. He can still protect me without scaring the little ones.

The pups were so eager to play with me and I tagged along with their games and harmless shenanigans. They made me stand in the middle and were running around me in a circle, singing some silly song. I looked at their little heads as they were skipping by. Some had brown hair, others had black hair. There were a couple of blondes that looked like siblings and one girl with fiery curls bouncing as she moved. 

I wondered what our children would look like. The color of their eyes, their nose, their hair. Would they take after me or Victor? What our lost child would’ve looked like? Would it have been a boy or girl? I felt the smile slip off my face and immense sadness took over. The children stopped in their tracks and started looking at me before most of them broke into tears.

It looked like it came out of nowhere. I walked to them to see what they were crying about, but their mothers rushed to them and pulled them away from me.

“I didn’t do anything! I promise!” I defended myself, but it seemed no one was listening to me. I felt the tears burn the corner of my eyes. This was not how I imagined my day would turn. I felt a hand grip my arm and pull me tight. I tensed and I prepared myself to attack.

“They can feel your grief.” The familiar voice made me relax my stance and I blinked the tears away.

“Molly!” I cried and hugged her. “Where have you been when I needed you so much?”