His Hybrid Queen

Chapter 25

AN: Prepare your tissues, this is an emotional one

Victor

Make-up s*x was great. It was almost worth the fighting part. Though I wasn’t planning on fighting with my mate ever again. Our coupling was electrifying and explosive more than usual. Her pheromones were intoxicating and exciting both to the man and the beast inside of me.  One time wasn’t enough to satisfy my hunger for her. I came on her ass, on her t**s, and on her stomach, and I made sure she came twice as many. 

Incidentally, we did it in front of the mirror. Claire was shy at first, but once she let go, it was amazing. I loved seeing her surrender to pleasure and wished I could capture it. Maybe I could get a camera next time if she let me. 

With my mate in my arms, I drifted off to sleep peacefully. 

The grass was tickling my bare feet. I could feel the damp earth under my soles. I lifted my head and saw the stretch of a green meadow. The birds were chirping on the distant trees. The sky was blue and peppered with little fluffy clouds. It was the perfect place and time for a picnic. The sound of laughter made me turn on my heels. It was music to my ears. A sound I’ll never get tired of hearing.

There she was, the love of my life. She was as beautiful as ever. Dressed in a white flowy dress that didn't hide her round belly. I walked to her and hugged her from behind. She turned around to face me. The bump was gone but she was holding a bundled blanket in her arms. “Isn’t he beautiful?” She presented our son. I took him from her and looked at the newborn.

The tiny boy had my features on half of his face and my mate’s on the other. On the right side, he had one blue eye, pale skin, and dark brown curly hair. On the left side, he had a hazel eye with tan skin and black straight hair. It was the strangest thing I had ever seen, but he was our child and I would love him no matter what, as much as I loved his mother.

“It’s an abomination!” The sky turned dark with thunderous clouds in time with the voice that terrified me as a child. “Just like you.” He rasped at me with a gravelly voice. 

“You’re wrong!” I yelled at him and he started laughing maniacally.

“Look!” Was all he said pointing at the bundle in my arms.

I looked down and saw the boy shifting. Something was wrong. He couldn’t shift normally. White and black fur rippled on his skin, appearing and disappearing in waves. Bloody fangs were sticking out of his toothless gum. The baby was screaming his lungs out in obvious pain as his limbs were twisting and bending in impossible angles. I wanted to soothe him but I didn’t know what to do. I tried to rock him sideways to calm him, but he clawed at me with his razor-sharp claws and I dropped him.

My eyes followed down but all I could see was a blood-stained blanket.

“You killed it. Good.” My father said with an ominous whisper.

“NO!” I didn't want to believe him but my hands were tainted with crimson red.

My father disappeared but his laugh echoed around the darkness.

“NO!” I screamed again and this time I was awake. I was drenched in sweat and panting.

It was just a dream but my nose was filled with that coppery pungent smell. I was ready to shift and attack as I looked around the room for any intruders. I couldn’t see or hear anyone, but I couldn’t ignore the smell of blood. It triggered the beast in me. I couldn’t go back to sleep until I figured out where it came from.

As soon as I lifted the covers I froze in horror. I was lying in a pool of blood. I didn’t feel any pain but I ran my palms over my body to check for injuries. I had none. Which meant...No! I didn’t want to think of that possibility. I looked at my mate laying by my side. She was curled in a fetal position and shivering. With shaky fingers, I lifted her side of the covers. 

“GUARD!” I called and the one stationed at our door came running.

“Wake the doctor! Get the car!” I ordered.

I couldn’t afford to lose time. Every second counted when Claire was bleeding this profusely. I put a towel between her legs and I wrapped her with a warm blanket. I lifted her in my arms and she clenched her fist weakly at my shirt. Her eyes were shut and her breath was coming short and shallow. She was either half asleep or in too much pain to do anything.

“Faster!” I yelled at the driver. The ten minutes drive to the town felt longer than it should, and I all but ran as soon as we stopped in front of the local clinic. I laid Claire on the stretcher that the doctor brought to the entry hall. Reluctantly, I stood back as he rolled her to the operation room. My heart sank as the doors shut down behind them.

The waiting was unbearable. I was checking the time every two minutes as I paced up and down the hallway. I couldn’t sit still or think straight. All I could do was worry about my mate. Why was this happening to her? She was fine. She was healthy. 

After what felt like forever, the doctor came out, still wearing his scrubs. He had a blank expression on his face. I’ve met the man before, but I didn’t know him well enough to know what to expect. I knew that Claire was alive, beyond a reasonable doubt. Or else I wouldn’t be able to stand on my feet. However, how well she was doing was debatable.

“Arthur, how is she?” I asked with a knot forming in my throat.

“The Luna is stable. She lost a lot of blood, but she will make a full recovery in a few days.” He said and I let out a sigh of relief. I was about to go to Claire and check on her, but the Doctor was still standing there. As if he was about to drop the other shoe. 

“What’s wrong?” I asked, worry creeping back inside of me and I tensed up again for what he was about to say.

“I did my best, but I couldn’t save the baby.” His voice was eerily calm as if he was announcing the weather, not a life or death sentence.  I haven’t seen any infant around and I wondered whose baby he was talking about.

“What baby?” As soon as the words left my mouth, realization dawned on me.

“Oh, you didn’t know? Luna was pregnant.”

I inhaled sharply and I lifted my hands to hold my head. The remnants of my nightmare came racing to my mind. I’ve killed my baby. It was my fault that she had a miscarriage. I’ve killed before without an ounce of remorse or regret. Because all the lives I took were those of rogues or criminals who didn’t deserve mercy. But I never wanted to take the life of my unborn child. Now I was the same as the cruel King who killed her family. I was becoming a real monster.

“Alpha...” The doctor started and my fist silenced him.

CRACK

The sound should have eased some of the tension. The pain on my knuckles should have been satisfying. But I never felt this worse in my life. I never hated myself this much for being a monster.

“Alpha what’s wrong?”

“It’s all my fault.” I said as I pulled my fist from the wall. Pieces of plaster fell to the floor. “I was too rough on her. I didn’t know she was pregnant, or I would have been more gentle.” I explained.

“Did you hit her?” 

“Of course not!” How could he ask me that? I would never lay my hands on her. I was about to yell at him for assuming that, but Arthur’s face contorted in concern and anger. It was the first time I saw any kind of emotion on his face. Then I thought that my cryptic confession must have led him to think that.

“I was talking about...sex.” I said, rubbing my face. I wanted to choose better words, but there was no point in sugar-coating things, given the current situation.

Arthur’s shoulders slumped at my explanation. 

“I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you. Unless the case of a blunt force trauma, no amount of rough s*x would cause a she-wolf to miscarry.”

The doctor's words should have made me feel better. He was the expert and I didn’t know much about pregnancies, but I couldn’t shake the guilt out of my system. I looked at my hands. They were covered in blood, just like in my dream. I didn’t notice him coming close to me until he put his hand on my shoulder.

“She needs you now, more than ever. Your presence will help her heal faster.” He told me before walking away.

A few minutes later, I was cleaned of all the evidence and wearing a clean shirt. It was more for Claire’s sake than mine. I didn’t want her to see the blood so she could just focus on her recovery. I knocked on the door before pushing it open and making my way inside. Claire was laying on the hospital bed and looking away from me. 

I walked around the bed and took a seat on a chair by her side. Claire turned her face away from me. My heart constricted in my chest at her reaction. 

“Baby, please look at me.” I implored her as I held her free hand. She had an IV on the other one. “I’m sorry. I should have been more careful.” I said, expecting she would hold me responsible and I wouldn’t blame her for doing so.

“I’m the one who should apologize.” She looked at me with teary eyes and a pale face. “I should have known, and taken care of myself better. My period was irregular, so I didn’t think much of it when I was late. But, I didn't know…” She sobbed, and more tears came flowing on her face.

“No, it’s not your fault,” I reassured her as I cleared the strands of hair from her face. I couldn’t tell her out loud that I was the only one to blame. That was the reason we didn’t talk to each other for a whole week. If I was more reasonable and made precautions, she wouldn’t have gotten pregnant and wouldn’t have to go through this.

“It hurt so much…”

“I’ll call the doctor,” I said standing up but she held my hand tight.

“No, not that kind of pain.” She said and I sat back on the chair. “It hurts to lose something, or someone I didn’t even know I wanted.” Her voice sounded strangled as the tears kept falling on her beautiful face.

I climbed on the bed and laid next to my mate. Making sure I didn’t bump on her or cause her pain. I placed myself sideways, so she could lean her head on my arm. I stroked her cheek gently with my fingertips. Her skin felt so cold under my touch. I pulled the blanket on both of us and cuddled closer, hoping to share my body heat with her. 

Claire snuggled against me and nuzzled my chest. I knew how much she wanted a family her whole life. And I understood, rather late, that she wasn’t ready to be a mother yet. But that doesn’t make the loss any less difficult. I kissed the top of her head and I promised silently that I will never make her cry again. Or let her feel this kind of pain ever again.

*****

Two days later, Claire was ready to be discharged. She could have left one day before, but I listened to the doctor’s advice to let her stay one more day for observation. We sat in the doctor’s office to get the clear-out and leave the clinic. I looked at him as he was reading the test results.

“You know I don’t need you to sign to take my mate home.” I told the doctor hoping he would start talking and stop wasting our time. I hated hospitals and I didn’t want to stay longer than necessary.

“That is not why I called you here. I’ve got the test results and I might have a diagnosis for the reason of the miscarriage.” Arthur paused as if he was considering what to say next.

In the corner of my eye, I saw Claire wince when he said that last word. I squeezed her hand in support, to remind her that we were in this together.

“I’m not sure that you want to hear this if you knew of the implications it entails.”

“Whatever it is, please tell us. I want to know.” Claire told him.

“Promise you won’t hurt me?” The doctor requested looking between the two of us.

“I would if you don’t start talking.” I warned him, letting out a low growl as I was starting to lose my patience.

Arthur cleared his throat, being reminded that he wasn’t in a position to negotiate with his Alpha and Luna.

“I want to start by saying that, unlike humans, miscarriages are not common with werewolves. More often than not, it’s due to trauma in battle or domestic violence. I ruled that out since there was no sign or indication that it might be the case. I won’t be certain until I get the DNA test results, but.” He cleared his throat again and seemed to hesitate. “I estimated the gestation ended spontaneously at 4 to 6 weeks from the time of conception. That and the other symptoms are consistent with cases of hybrid pregnancy.” 

Arthur slowly rolled his chair away from the desk. He looked wary as he was expecting a blow or something. I let his words sink for a moment. A hybrid pregnancy meant that the parents were from two different species. Did he actually insinuate that Claire has cheated on me? The ball and therefore our mating was about five weeks ago. We have been inseparable since then, practically joined by the hip. Which would leave a window of a week where she could have been with another male.

I shook my head not wanting to even entertain that idea. She wasn’t that kind of woman. Besides, I would have smelled it on her if she was with someone else.

“I think it’s time, to tell the truth. To myself, to you and everyone else.” Claire said as she looked at me. 

My heart started racing and my wolf howled in my head. I didn’t want to hear it. But I needed the truth, even if it meant the end for us.

“I think I am a Hybrid.”