His Hybrid Queen

Chapter 17

AN/ Disclaimer

The last paragraph contains mentions of sui**dal thoughts. Some people could be triggered, so be careful. I personally was on tearing as I wrote the second half. Every soul and human life is precious. No one should "unalive" themselves, or think of it at a solution to their problems. If you are struggling with mental health please seek help.

Victor

Call me an asshole for doing this to my mate. Challenging her for the title that she earned fair and square and taking away her birthright won’t earn me her favors. But, this was what I needed. What the Alpha in me wanted. I had to prove my worth to her, to my father, and everyone else. I was sick and tired of hiding my beast, and who I really was.

I had to admit that one good thing came out of my father's rigid discipline and tough training. I was confident in my fighting abilities and I had complete control over my beast when Claire wasn’t driving me mad, one way or another. She was the only one capable of such a thing, and the moment I challenged her was one of those moments. When she called me weak. To her defense, she didn’t say that exact word, but it was implied indirectly through other terms. It was like she flipped a switch and blind rage took over.

Even before I met her, I never wanted a weak Luna or a meek she-wolf to be my mate. Though it irritated me to ends, I admired her for standing up to me, for her having her own mind. Certainly, Claire acted shy or awkward at times, but it was during those intimate moments when she was bare and vulnerable.

I was worried about her when she put herself on the line to save Hannah from the King. And most of all, I was proud of her when she fought her uncle and made him pay for his crimes with his life.

However, pushing me to the sideline, like some kind of bench warmer, to protect me from the bear prince threats irked me beyond limits. It was time to show Claire what kind of creature she was mated to. Show her that I was much more powerful than she thought, that I am more than capable of protecting her in myself at the same time.

She was giving me a good fight until she decided to shift to her wolf. And what a beautiful wolf it was. She had a majestic, elegant form. Her white silky fur was swaying with the breeze and reflecting the orange glow of the setting sun. It was a magnificent sight to behold for the appreciating eyes.

This was the moment of truth. For the first time, I unleashed my beast and I released my aura to its full extent. The shift was seamless and painless, a natural, smooth process. Standing tall on two feet, I rolled my shoulders, to relax the knotted muscles on my back.

Without breaking eye contact with my opponent, I could see that everyone was backing away and cowering in fear. Except for my mate, of course. Through her tense posture, I could tell she was making an effort to keep her head high. Her eyes were wide. Was it in fear? Surprise? Hurt? That I kept this a secret from her? In other circumstances, I could sense her emotions. But, my own feelings were too overwhelming now to perceive hers.

I knew that showing her this side of me like this wasn’t the best way. It’s not like I was purposely keeping the truth hidden, but the right moment never came. It was useless to mull over the past, and I had to focus on the now. I was intending to show the same courtesy that she did earlier. I will give her the chance to end this fight peacefully.

“SUBMIT!” I growled with a deep guttural voice, strange even to my own ears.

Always the defiant one, my mate’s white wolf didn’t show a reaction, other than her eyes going wider, revealing her round blue irises. Those two deep ocean blue orbs manifested when her wolf came to the front. Which made me remember the time when both her eyes turned green, and I wondered what it could mean. It was a mystery for another time.

I dropped an all four, to get closer to my opponent’s level. We circled each other slowly, seizing each other up, looking for openings and who will make the first move. She let out a low warning growl, revealing her sharp fangs, and I replied with a louder one, showing my own.

I wasn’t planning on dragging this challenge longer than it should. She was a skilled fighter, but I was faster, stronger, and much more experienced than she was. I was intent on ending the fight quickly, as I had only one thing in my mind. I charged forward, and my mate mirrored my moves. Just as she was about to bite my side, I skid and jumped over, landing just behind her. Her mouth shut down on nothing but air, and I nipped at her tail.

As planned, she snapped back in reaction, putting her exposed neck right in front of me. In the fraction of a second it took Claire to realize her mistake, it was already too late to save herself.

My jaws clamped around her neck. Though I restrained myself from using my full strength, the taste of blood made me realize I had punctured the skin. I retracted my canines barely in time before making any irreversible damage.

I risked a down glance, and the look she gave would have broken my heart, if I wasn’t so livid at her actions and words. I could read the hurt and betrayal on her blue orbs. She was squirming and fighting back as she let a quiet whimper escape her throat. It was so low that only I could hear it. With the way I had her pinned beneath me, my claws digging at her, she couldn’t move much. Was that the sound of her submission? Her pupils narrowed and her eyelids drooped. After a minute, her movements ceased completely and her head lolled to the side.

I noticed that her breath was barely a whiz passing through her throat, and her heart was making a dull beat. Only then, I snapped out of my rage and released my mate’s neck from my jaw's deathly grip. The anger had left the place to fear. Fear that I have taken things too far. The white wolf, who stood proud moments ago, was now lying limp on the ground.

What have I done? My beast howled and whimpered in my head. Did I just murder my own mate? I would never forgive myself. I started licking her wounds frantically, hoping her healing would kick in sooner rather than later. My heart thumping in my chest and filling my ears with the sound of my hidden panic.

Long moments passed. It was longer than the time she had to recover from her uncle's attack. And her wounds were much deeper that time. I huffed a sigh of relief, when Claire shifted back to her human form. Though she was still unmoving, I could see the cuts heal slowly, and I kept licking them for good measure. Once satisfied that she wasn't dying on me, I shifted back as well.

I heard steps behind me, and I snapped my head around, growling. An old wolf was holding a velvet robe. I ripped the garment from his hands and used it to cover my mate’s naked form. I lifted her in my arms bridal style and started marching, only to be stopped by a bunch of guards. I recognized the one in the front as the bodyguard who escorted Claire earlier. He was twice my size and built like a ton of bricks, not that it mattered.

“You’re not taking her anywhere.” The large man dared to tell me what to do with my mate. However, she earned their loyalty in such a short time, and they were protecting her even after losing her title. For showing such an honor to their former Alpha, I opted not to rip their heads off.

“Out of my way!” I commanded, and they obeyed, parting from my path and bowing their heads.

*****

Claire

When I gained back my consciousness, I forced my eyes open, painfully. All I could see was black walls. I realized I was lying down, so I rolled my head to the other side. Through blurred vision, I could see a faint light at the end of the tunnel. A shadowy figure moved towards me. Is it the soul reaper coming to take me to the afterlife? Was I already dead?

The ache in my body told me otherwise. And the figure moving further inside the tunnel was another proof. I sat up and blinked slowly, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness. The air was hot and damp around me, but Victor’s scent filled my nostrils. I stood on shaky legs and ventured inside the tunnel.

As I took careful steps on the uneven ground, my vision was still a little foggy. I realized that it was because of the steam filling the cave. I followed the sound of the trickling water to what looked like a hot spring nestled in the heart of the mountain.

“Victor! Are you here?” I called weakly as I kneeled at the water’s edge.

Tentatively, I descended to the hot water, letting the warmth ease my aching muscles. As much as I dreaded the confrontation, I didn’t want to think he left me for dead and abandoned me in an unknown location. There was a small draft of air, and it cleared the steam off the surface of the water. A few rays of moonlight seeped through the cracks and I finally could see the outline of Victor’s figure. He was facing away from me and the water was above his waist.

“What are you going to do to me?” I asked with a low voice.

I recalled what Severin had told me about when a new Alpha took over. If I was merciful with my uncle's mistresses, I doubted that he would be kind. I remember how he killed those rogues without a hint of regret. I feared that he reserved for me a judgement far worse than death. He could have killed me earlier, but chose not to.

“Please say something!” I added when the silence lingered for too long.

“You’re free to run away wherever the hell you want to go.” He said through gritted teeth, still facing away from me.

“I have nowhere to go. Now that you took my pack away from me.” My voice cracked as I held back tears.

His silence spoke volumes. He clearly didn’t care about me beyond what the mate bond compelled him to do. There was no love left in his heart for me, or he wouldn’t have come to such lengths. The realization shook me to my core. I was such a fool to fall in love with him.

“Why are you doing this to me? What have I done for you to punish me in such a cruel way? Stripping me from my family’s heritage and pack? All I wanted to do was to protect you! And I won’t apologize for that! You’re the one with all the secrets!” I yelled with the last bit of strength I had left in me.

“If…” I sniffed. “If you trusted me... Maybe... Maybe it wouldn’t have come to this.”

Without saying a word, without sparing me a glance. Victor turned and climbed off the water. I followed after him, tears flowing freely down my cheeks. I have lost everything, my mate, my title, the closest thing resembling a family. My pride didn’t matter much at this point. If we’re over, I want closure at least.

Victor stood at the entrance of the cave, the moon highlighting the shape of his body. I hugged him from behind and enjoyed the warmth of his skin and the tingling that came with it for the last time. I was hanging by a thin thread.

“Victor, please. I…” He untangled himself from me before walking away. His action cut me short through my confession.

I took a few steps, not caring about the pebbles digging in the sole of my feet. Tiny snowflakes danced in the air, announcing the first snow and an early winter. When the freezing wind blew, stinging my damp skin like sharp knives, only then I realized that I was naked. But It didn’t matter anymore. I was standing on the edge of a cliff. It was so high that the moonlight didn’t reach the darkness in the bottom.

I looked at my mate to say out loud the words that I had kept inside for so long.

“I love you.” I whispered, to no one in particular. By the way the muscle in his back has tensed, I knew he had heard me. Still, he didn't turn. He didn’t speak. He wouldn’t even look at me. Him purposefully ignoring me, broke the last straw I was grasping at.

A desperate sob left my throat and my eyes clouded. I knew what was the last thing left for me to do. The strangest thing was that I wasn’t even scared of falling. A part of me was reassured that I was going to be free. No more pain. No more loneliness. I will be reunited with my beloved ones and I will be at peace.

With that thought, I took a step toward the void.