Betrayed By The Alpha, Desired By The Hybrid: Read Chapters 1-5

Emma's POV

The night started with heartbreak, but who would have thought it would turn into a nightmare? I never knew my life was about to be completely shattered.

There I was, standing in the middle of the Full Moon Pack's great hall, watching Alpha Damon—yes, my Alpha Damon—introduce Camila as his Luna. He held her like she was the greatest thing to ever happen to him. His arms wrapped around her like she was some delicate treasure he couldn’t bear to let go of. And the way he looked at her? Ugh. It was the kind of look that made you feel like you were in a cheesy romance movie—only it wasn’t me he was looking at.

It was her—Camila, the perfect, strong, and beautiful daughter of the Alpha of our neighboring pack, Red Moon Pack. And to top it all off, she had the audacity to smirk as the entire pack bowed in reverence. I swear, that girl’s ego was through the roof. Plus, whenever she visited our pack, she always made my life a living hell.

Now she's our pack’s Luna. My Luna!

"Don't worry, Emma. The Moon Goddess has someone better for you, someone who'll actually love you."

Andrea wrapped her arms around my shoulders. Andrea is my best friend, the only person who cared about me and treated me with respect in our pack. She didn’t care that I was a wolf less omega—no, not just any omega, but the lowest ranked omega.

She was wrong though. Damon wasn’t just the Alpha—he was The ALPHA, the kind of guy who didn’t just walk into a room; he owned it. Six-foot-four, broad shoulders, chiseled jaw, dark hair that looked like silk, and those intense brown eyes that could probably melt steel. He was a walking dream. My dream, to be exact.

Nothing and no one could top him!

I shot Andrea a look, but she just sighed like a disappointed mom. “Come on, Em. It’s only fair,” she added. “Alpha Damon’s mate was always going to be someone like Camila.”

And she was right. Camila was the daughter of an alpha—popular, beautiful, and strong. She had everything handed to her on a silver platter, while I was nothing but a poor, wolfless omega. A runt. Nobody cared about me.

My parents were slaves and had died when I was just a kid, leaving me with nothing but the weight of their debt to Alpha Damon’s family. They’d served the pack their whole lives, and when they were gone, that responsibility fell squarely on my shoulders. Cleaning, cooking, running errands—whatever needed to be done, I did it. And I knew I’d be stuck doing it until the day I died.

But none of that mattered whenever I looked at Damon. I couldn’t help it—I loved him. Every single thing about him. The way he spoke, that commanding tone that sent shivers down my spine. The way he smiled, rare but so devastating when it appeared. And his scent… it was intoxicating, like warm cedar and fresh rain. Just being near him made my knees weak.

If only—if only—I was his mate. He could’ve saved me. Saved me from this endless suffering. But no, the Moon Goddess had other plans. Alpha Damon wasn’t mine to love. And no matter how much my heart yearned for him, I’d always be invisible to him, just a shadow in the background of his perfect life.

And just when I thought I couldn’t feel more invisible, Alpha Damon leaned down, brushed a strand of hair from Camila’s face. “Come with me, my sunshine. I want the whole pack to see how much you mean to me,” he says.

I almost choked. Alpha Damon. Calling her sunshine. Alpha Damon, the guy who barked orders and never said a single word to me unless it was about cleaning something, was now Mr. Romantic. I couldn’t watch anymore.

“Why her?” I mumbled bitterly. “Why does she have to be his Luna? I wish she’d just disappear.”

“Emma…”

"I...I need some air," I mumbled, turning to leave. But Andrea grabbed my arm.

"Wait, Emma. Don’t—"

"I’ll be fine," I pulled away before she could stop me.

I made it to the bar area and ordered something strong enough to drown my pains and sorrows. The bartender raised an eyebrow but poured me a glass anyway. “Rough night?” he asked, sliding the drink over.

“You have no idea,” I muttered before downing it in one gulp. Three drinks later, my head was buzzing, and my heart still hurt like hell. So much for drowning my sorrows.

I stumbled outside, needing air or space—or maybe just a miracle—and ended up by the riverside. That’s when I saw her. Camila. She was on the phone, pacing and looking...nervous? Weird. Camila never looked nervous. Curious (and maybe a little tipsy), I walked over.

"Camila?" I called out.

She spun around so fast I thought she might fall over. Her eyes narrowed. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I just...you looked upset. I wanted to check on you," my voice wavered slightly.

"Don’t act all innocent, you low-life omega. Were you eavesdropping?"

"No! I swear, I wasn’t—"

Before I could finish, she shoved me hard. I stumbled, and my head spinned hard. I don’t know if it was the alcohol or something else, but suddenly, everything felt wrong. My legs turned to jelly, and black dots danced in my vision. The last thing I saw was her sneering face before everything went dark.

When I came to, I was soaked and freezing. I couldn’t make sense of what was happening at first. My head was pounding, and the crowd around me was yelling so loud it was like being caught in the middle of a thunderstorm. I blinked, trying to focus, and that’s when I saw her.

Camila.

She was lying on the ground dead. No, she wasn't just dead—she was butchered. Her throat was slit so deep it was like someone tried to decapitate her, and her chest...oh goddess, her chest. Her heart was gone. Just an empty, large hole where it should’ve been. I gagged, and my stomach twisted like it wanted to turn itself inside out.

And then I saw him. Alpha Damon.

He was angry….devastated. His knees were on the ground by her body, long fingers trembling as he brushed her blood-matted hair from her face. His jaw was tight, his chest heaving like he was barely keeping himself together. But his eyes...those beautiful brown eyes that I’d adored my whole life...they were filled with something I’d never seen before. Pain. Anguish. And then they locked onto me, and the pain turned into pure, blazing hatred.

“Why?” His voice was low, deadly, shaking with fury. “Why the fuck did you kill her?”

“I—I didn’t—” I stuttered, scrambling to sit up. “Alpha, please, I didn’t do this! I swear!”

“Liar!” His roar shook me to my core. He shot to his feet and stormed toward me. “You’re covered in her blood, Emma! Do you take me for a fool?”

I looked down, and sure enough, my hands were smeared with it. The sight made me dizzy, my breaths coming in short, panicked gasps. “I don’t know how—please, you have to believe me—I would never hurt her! I would never—”

“Shut the fuck up, you murderer!” His hand came out of nowhere, slamming against my cheek with such force that my head snapped to the side. I hit the ground, the sting burning through my skin. Tears blurred my vision as I cradled my face, but the pain was nothing compared to the crushing weight of his rage.

“Take her,” he snarled, turning to his warriors. “Throw the murderer in the dungeon. Now.”

“No, no, no!” I screamed as rough hands grabbed me and hauled me to my feet. “Alpha, I didn’t do it! I swear on the Moon Goddess, I didn’t kill her! Please, you have to believe me!” My voice cracked as I twisted and struggled, but they dragged me toward the dungeon like I was some rabid animal.

The crowd didn’t make it any better. Oh no, they were out for blood. People I’d served, cleaned for, cooked for—they all turned on me like I was some monster. They cursed me, calling me a murderer, a filthy omega, a disgrace. Rocks and spit flew at me, hitting my arms, my back, my face. Each word, each stone, felt like a dagger to my heart.

“Traitor!”

“Killer!”

“You don’t deserve to live!”

“Please!” I begged, looking around desperately for anyone—anyone—who might believe me. My eyes found Andrea, my one and only friend, but even she stood frozen with an unreadable expression. She didn’t step forward. She didn’t defend me. My heart broke all over again.

“Alpha, please,” I whimpered one last time, looking back at Alpha Damon. He stood over Camila’s body, sobbing. He didn’t even look at me.

“I didn’t do it!” I screamed again, even though my voice was hoarse. “I didn’t kill her!”

But no one listened.

Emma's POV

The dungeon had become my personal hell—a dark, damp hell where time crawled and every second bled into the next. A week of unrelenting torment, and I had no idea how I was still breathing. Maybe that was the cruelest part—the fact that death wouldn’t come no matter how much I begged for it.

They beat me, stabbed me, burned me, and filled me with wolfsbane and silver until my entire body felt like one big open wound. Every breath hurt, every movement was agony. My muscles screamed, my skin burned, and my mind raced with one desperate question: Why won’t anyone believe me?

I wasn’t a murderer.

But no one cared. Least of all Alpha Damon.

The door to the dungeon creaked open, and I flinched instinctively, pressing my broken body against the cold stone wall. My chains rattled, betraying my fear. When Alpha Damon stepped inside with his beta, John, trailing behind him, my pulse skyrocketed. My breath hitched. His presence radiated fury, and I already knew what he was here for.

“So,” Damon began, his voice cold enough to freeze my blood. “She’s still denying it.”

“Still denying it,” John confirmed, glaring at me with so much hatred.

I scrambled back, trembling. “Alpha, please... I’m telling you the truth. I didn’t do it. I didn’t—”

“Shut the fuck up!” Damon roared angrily. “Andrea told me everything. She said you were obsessed with me—jealous of Camila because you couldn’t stand to see her with me. You killed her because you’re a pathetic, crazy little runt.”

“No! I swear! I didn’t kill her!” My voice broke as I cried. “Yes, I loved you, and yes, I wanted to be your mate, but I didn’t kill Camila! Please, Alpha, believe me!”

Damon’s glare sharpened, and my heart shattered into a thousand pieces. I didn’t know what hurt more—the disgust in his eyes or the fact that he wouldn’t even try to believe me.

“Andrea!” Damon barked, and my breath caught when she walked in. My best friend—my only friend—stepped into the dungeon with an expression so cold, it was like I didn’t even know her.

“Tell her what you told me,” Alpha Damon demanded sharply.

Andrea’s gaze turned hard as she looked at me. “You told me you hated the idea of Camila as Luna,” she said without hesitation. “You said you wished she would disappear. And then you killed her.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Andrea…” My voice was barely a whisper. “How could you say that? You know I didn’t—”

“You’re a murderer, Emma!” She cut me off sharply. “I should’ve known better than to trust you. You’re nothing but a wolf-less omega runt.”

Her betrayal was like a dagger straight to my heart. I stared at her, speechless, as tears streamed down my face. Andrea—the one person I thought would stand by me—had turned her back on me.

“I regret ever being your friend,” she spat before walking out, leaving me shattered in her wake.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. Deep down, I knew I didn’t really know Andrea. She’d only been in the pack for a year, and she always avoided talking about her past. Still, I’d trusted her. I thought she cared. But now… now I was alone.

Damon crouched down in front of me, his intense gaze burning into mine. “You really thought someone like me would ever look at someone like you?” he sneered. “Is that why you killed her? Because you couldn’t handle the fact that I would never want you?”

“I didn’t…” My voice cracked. “I didn’t do it.”

His expression twisted in fury. “You were there, Emma! The knife had your DNA! Her blood was all over you! How fucking stupid do you think I am?” He lunged forward, grabbing the chain around my neck and yanking me closer. “You’re a murderer. A liar. A fucking disgrace.”

His words cut deeper than any wound, but when he let go, his beta took over, raining kicks down on me as I cried out in pain. “Confess!” John shouted. “Admit what you did!”

“I’m… innocent… Alpha…” I managed to choke out between sobs. “Please…”

Damon motioned for John to stop and pulled out a flaying knife from his pocket. He held it up, the blade gleaming in the dark. My heart stopped.

“Tell me the truth right now, or I swear I’ll make you regret every second you’ve lived.”

I couldn’t even find the words. All I could do was tremble as John held me in place.

“Please…” I whispered, barely able to breathe. “I didn’t…”

Damon’s face darkened. Without another word, he plunged the knife into my chest. The pain was unbearable—fire spreading through my body as he twisted the blade and dragged it down, splitting flesh and spilling blood. I screamed until my throat was raw, and tears streamed down my face.

“Just kill me already!” I cried out. “Please… just do it…”

Damon leaned closer. “Not until you confess, you worthless witch.”

I looked into his eyes, searching for even a sliver of the boy I used to know, but all I saw was hatred. My heart broke all over again. How could he do this to me? How could someone I loved so deeply be so cruel?

“You ruined everything,” Damon hissed. “You ruined my life. You ruined this pack.”

“I didn’t…” I tried to speak, but my voice failed me.

“Alpha!” Someone’s voice interrupted. “Alpha Lance is here.”

Damon hesitated, tension tightening his jaw. With a sharp hiss, he yanked the knife out, the motion tearing more of me apart. Blood gushed from the wound as I collapsed, barely conscious.

“I’ll deal with you later, you bitch,” he spat before storming out with John.

I lay on the cold, blood-soaked floor, trembling and choking on sobs. My body felt broken, but it was my heart that hurt the most. How could the moon goddess let this happen to me? Hadn’t I suffered enough? Why had she abandoned me?

I hated Damon. I hated the pack. I hated everything.

And for the first time in my life, I hated the moon goddess.

Tears blurred my vision as I whispered a final prayer, hoping this would be the end. Let me die. Let this nightmare be over.

But even that small mercy wouldn’t come. Darkness swallowed me whole, leaving me to wonder how much more I could endure.

Damon’s POV

You ever feel like the universe is just out to get you? That’s how I felt as I stormed out of the dungeon, slamming the door behind me so hard I thought the hinges would fly off. My chest was burning with rage. I didn’t even know what to do anymore. That runt, Emma, still refused to confess. A week of torture, a week of pain, and she still had the nerve to deny what she did to Camila.

The image of Camila’s body lying lifeless on the ground wouldn’t leave my head. Her throat slit, her chest torn open like some savage animal had gotten to her. It haunted me, day and night. She was supposed to be my Luna, my partner, my everything. And now? Gone. All because of that crazy omega who thought she had a shot with me.

Pathetic.

I stormed into my office, my mood blacker than the night sky. Alpha Lance was already there, standing stiff as a board. His face was carved from stone, but I could see the fury floating under the surface. He was barely holding it together. Honestly, I couldn’t blame him.

“Has she spoken yet?” he barked sharply. “Did she confess to killing my daughter?”

I shook my head slowly. “Not yet.”

His face twisted with rage, and for a moment, I thought he might launch himself at me. “I can’t believe this. I should’ve never let my daughter set foot in your pack!” he spat. “She loved you. She wanted to be your Luna, and this is what she got? Death? Because some delusional omega couldn’t handle the fact that you didn’t love her?”

“Alpha Lance, please calm down,” I begged, though I knew it was a pointless plea.

“No, I won’t calm down! This is on you, Alpha Damon. Your pack. Your failure. And I’ve made my decision.”

I straightened, my stomach knotting. “What decision?”

“There will be no alliance between the Full Moon Pack and the Red Moon Pack. It’s over. My daughter is dead. There’s nothing left to discuss.”

His words hit me like a blow to the chest. “Alpha Lance, think about this. Let’s not make hasty decisions.”

“Hasty?” he snarled with a bitter laugh. “My daughter is dead, and you’re asking me to think this through? There’s nothing to think about. The alliance is dead. Just like Camila.”

With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of my office, leaving me standing there in stunned silence.

“Fuck!” I roared, slamming my fist into the desk. The wood splintered under the force, but I didn’t care. Everything was falling apart. We needed that alliance. Without it, we were screwed.

“Alpha,” my beta John said cautiously.“What are we going to do? We can’t afford to lose this alliance. Not with the curse lurking around.”

I dragged a hand through my hair, pacing the room like a caged animal. “How much time do we have?” I demanded.

“Six months,” John said grimly. “Six months until the full moon, and the curse takes hold.”

Six months. Six goddamn months.

“She was supposed to break it,” I muttered. “Camila was supposed to break the curse. It took me three years to find my mate.But that bitch Emma had to ruin everything.”

What the hell do I do now? How do I tell my pack about this damn curse? They’ve been completely oblivious to it. Only the elders and the alpha family ever knew it existed.

“Maybe we could ask another pack for help,” John suggested. “Protection, maybe, when the curse hits.”

I stopped pacing and shot him a glare. “Which pack, John? Name one pack that doesn’t hate us. We’ve been on top for years. They’ve been waiting for this. They’d rather watch us burn than lift a finger to help.”

He didn’t have an answer for that.

“Why the hell did our ancestors have to piss off a witch?” I growled. “Do you even know what they did to deserve this curse? Because I sure as hell don’t.”

John shook his head. “No one knows, Alpha. It’s been a mystery for generations.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Some legacy, huh? Crowned alpha of the pack, only to face the clock ticking down. Three years to find and mark your mate—or the curse crashes down like a goddamn hammer. Death, famine, and the grand finale: a permanent shift into your wolf form. No coming back. Just endless, eternal darkness.”

“Maybe…” John hesitated, glancing at me nervously. “Maybe we could ask the vampires for help.”

I froze. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”

“Their coven was cursed once too,” his words tumbled over each other as he said hurriedly. “But they broke it. Maybe they can show us how.”

“The vampires hate us,” I snapped. “And we hate them. End of discussion.”

Before John could argue, the door to my office burst open, and my gamma, Alex stumbled in, panting like he’d just run a marathon.

“What is it?” I demanded sharply.

“She’s gone,” Alex gasped.

“What?”

“Emma,” he mumbled out fearfully. “She’s escaped.”

For a moment, I couldn’t even process what he was saying. “How the fuck did that happen?” I roared.

“I—I don’t know,” Alex stuttered. “One of the guards—she knocked them out, or maybe she had help, but she’s gone. She’s not in the dungeon.”

I slammed my fist into the desk again. “Find her!” I shouted. “Find her and drag her back here. I don’t care if you have to tear the forest apart to do it. Bring her back to me!”

“Yes, Alpha,” Alex said, scrambling out of the room.

I turned to John, fury blazing in my eyes. “This is on you. You were supposed to make sure she couldn’t escape.”

“She won’t get far,” he said quickly. “Not with the wolfsbane and silver still in her system. She’s weak. She won’t make it past the border.”

“She’d better not,” I growled. “Because when I get my hands on her, I’m going to make her wish she’d never been born.”

I could feel my wolf clawing at the surface, desperate to be let out, to hunt her down and end this. My mate was dead. My pack was on the brink of destruction. And it was all because of Emma.

She would pay.

I didn’t care what it took. I didn’t care how far she ran. I would find her. And when I did, I would make sure she never escaped again.

Emma's POV

My whole body ached. Not that dull ache you get after a hard day—no, this was bone-deep, skin-scorched, every-breath-is-a-punishment kind of pain. I cursed the Moon Goddess for waking me up to this hell again. Couldn’t she just let me die?

And then I felt it—fingers, rough and strong, around my wrist.

Panic shot through me. Who was touching me? My heart raced as I forced my swollen eyes to focus. A figure hovered over me, face hidden behind a mask. I froze. Was this it? Was today my execution day? My pulse was a drumbeat in my ears as I watched him unlock the chains.

The shackles fell with a dull clink, and the man pointed toward the door.

Run? Is that what he meant? My brain couldn’t keep up. Every instinct I had screamed not to trust him. But then again, what was I holding on to? The warm hospitality of the Full Moon Pack? I’d rather die running than live another day as their punching bag.

He motioned again, more frantic this time. My hesitation melted away when he hauled me up with one arm, his strength startling against my broken frame. The movement ripped a cry from my lips, my feet screaming in protest. They burned the soles of my feet yesterday. So walking wasn’t exactly in the cards.

Before I could protest, he scooped me up like I weighed nothing and moved like a shadow through the narrow hallways. The cold air hit my skin as we emerged outside. He didn’t stop, though—not until we were deep into the woods. Then he set me down like I was something fragile.

He pointed again, urging me to run.

"Thank you... thank you," I cried out in relief. "I'll pay you back one day, I swear.”

He didn’t answer. He didn’t even look back. I took off as fast as my mangled body would let me, his faint scent of pine and lavender lingering in the air.

I silently prayed to the Moon Goddess not to abandon me again. I’d rather die out here than go back to that wretched pack.

The pack’s border wasn’t far. I could feel it, the invisible wall that tethered me to them. If I didn’t cut ties now, they’d track me. I took a shaky breath and whispered, “I, Emma Nightingale, cut all ties with the Full Moon Pack.”

I felt the link snap before I crossed the border. It was like a cord inside me had been severed, leaving me hollow and free all at once. And that was it—I had nothing left tying me to that pack.

Good riddance. I wish them all pain and suffering. Alpha Damon, Andrea, and every single one of them. Well, all of them except for my savior. He was the only decent soul in that hellhole, and if it weren’t for him, I’d still be suffering there.

I kept walking. And walking. Hours passed, and the sun beat down hard. My body ached in ways I didn’t know it could, and the thirst—God, it was unbearable. Every step felt like it could be my last.

Eventually, my legs gave out. I collapsed onto this jagged rock, but I barely noticed the pain. My head was spinning, my vision blurry, and then everything went black.

When I came to, I wasn’t alone. I heard voices first, laughing like hyenas. I opened my eyes just enough to see them—a group of men standing over me with these hard, cruel faces.

“Who the fuck are you? Or better yet, what the fuck are you?” one of them sneered, waving a knife dangerously close to my face.

I panicked. But somehow, I managed to sit up, glaring at them like I wasn’t a terrified, half-dead mess.

“Bruce, you sure she’s not human?” one of them asked, glancing nervously at their leader.

The leader—Bruce, apparently—laughed, this deep, condescending sound that made my skin crawl. “What the fuck would a human be doing out here in the middle of the woods at night, you idiot?”

That’s when it hit me. It was nighttime. I’d been out there for hours, and I hadn’t even realized it.

“So,” Bruce said, crouching down to my level. His breath reeked of stale beer. “What are you? A witch? A vampire? A werewolf?”

My heart stopped. Hunters. They were hunters. I’ve heard of them. Humans who hate anything remotely supernatural.

“She’s probably one of them filthy rogue wolves,” Bruce guessed, smirking. “What happened? Did your pack toss you out? Commit a crime, did you?”

Then he kicked me. Hard. I yelped, curling up instinctively.

“Did you?” he taunted, swinging his knife at me. I barely managed to duck, crawling away as fast as my body would let me.

And they just laughed. Laughed like this was some kind of twisted game.

I didn’t even see it coming when I stumbled into a hole. One second, I was crawling; the next, I was falling. The landing wasn’t pretty.

Above me, the laughter only got louder.

“Well, look at that,” Bruce jeered, peering down at me. “What are you gonna do now, filthy wolf? Crawl out? Show us what you’ve got.”

I was shaking. I didn’t even have the strength to climb out, let alone fight them.

“Get the gasoline,” Bruce barked.

My blood ran cold. Gasoline? No. No, no, no.

One of his goons returned with a canister, and before I could even plead, they poured it around the edges of the hole.

“Please,” I begged. “Don’t do this.”

Bruce smirked, pulling out a lighter. He flicked it open, the flame dancing dangerously. “Relax, sweetheart. This’ll be over quickly.”

He dropped the lighter, and flames roared to life.

I backed into the corner of the hole, trembling. The heat was unbearable. This was it. After everything, this was how I was going to die—burned alive in some godforsaken hole in the middle of nowhere.

But then, something changed.

There was a scream. Not mine—a guttural, blood-curdling scream from above.

I looked up and saw Bruce stumble back, looking like he had just seen a ghost.

“You…” he stuttered, pointing at someone behind him. “You’re the fucking hybrid. Finally showed up, huh? I’ve been hunting you for months.”

“Well,” came a deep, commanding voice, “now I’m here.”

I couldn’t see him, not at first. But Bruce lunged, and in the blink of an eye—snap—his head was gone. Just gone. It landed in the hole with me, rolling to a stop near my feet.

I screamed, wiping at the blood splattered on my face.

And then I heard footsteps. Slow, deliberate.

When I looked up, I saw him.

He was stunning. Tall, muscular, with piercing green eyes and a face so perfect it didn’t seem real.

He looked at me, and I swear, for a second, the world stopped.

Then, just like that, he turned to leave.

“Wait!” I shouted, panic lacing my voice. The fire was creeping closer. “Please, help me! Don’t leave me here!”

He paused but didn’t turn around.

“Please!” I cried desperately.“I’ll die if you don’t help!”

Finally, he turned and then crouched at the edge of the hole with an unreadable expression.

“Why?” he asked nonchalantly as if the flames weren’t creeping closer with every second. “Why should I help you?”

“Because… I’m going to die if you don’t!” my voice shook as the fire licked dangerously close to me.

He didn’t budge. Instead, he smirked—this dark, infuriating smirk—and pulled a cigarette from his pocket. Calmly, he lit it, taking a slow drag as if we had all the time in the world. “Why should I care?”

I stared at him, incredulous. What the hell was wrong with this guy? He was maddening.

And then I noticed it—the flames didn’t hurt him, as it burned around his feet. He stood there, completely unaffected. What was he?

Yes, Bruce had called him a hybrid. That must be it. I’d heard whispers about them before—dangerous, powerful creatures. But seeing one in person was something else entirely.

“Please…” I begged, tears spilling freely now. “Help me, please!”

“Give me one good reason.

“Because I don't wanna die.”

“Not my problem.”

“Please, I beg you.”

He exhaled a long puff of smoke, tilting his head as if he were debating whether or not I was worth the trouble. “If I help you,” he drawled, “what’s in it for me?”

“Anything!” I choked out. “I’ll do anything!”

His eyes glinted with amusement. “Really?”

“Yes! Anything!”

He paused, letting the moment stretch unbearably long, before finally nodding. “Alright then. You’ll be my servant.”

“What?” I sputtered.

“You said you’d do anything,” he taunted.

I opened my mouth to protest but couldn’t find the words. The last thing I wanted was to trade one form of servitude for another. I’d just escaped the Full Moon Pack—I wasn’t about to sign myself over to someone else. But… I didn’t have a choice.

He watched me with a raised brow, clearly enjoying my internal struggle. “I guess you’ve made your decision,” he drew a sigh, standing as if ready to leave.

“Wait!” I screamed, my voice breaking as the flames caught the hem of my gown. “I accept! I accept! Just help me!”

Before I could say another word, he was in the hole with me, moving so fast I barely saw him. One moment I was staring at certain death, and the next, I was cradled in his arms, away from the fire.

He smirked down at me, his hold firm but oddly gentle. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

I blinked up at him, stunned. Up close, he was even more breathtaking. The most handsome man I’d ever seen, with piercing green eyes and a perfectly sculpted face that seemed unreal.

“Thank you,” I whispered softly.

“You’re welcome?”

“Emma. My name is Emma,” I said, still trying to process what just happened.

Under the weight of his stare, I felt small, vulnerable.

“Put me down,” I snapped, trying to muster some dignity.

He laughed—a dark, rich sound that sent shivers down my spine. “Not a chance. You’re mine now, Emma.”

My name on his lips felt like a brand.

“And who the hell are you?” I asked, glaring up at him.

“Leo,” his eyes locked onto

mine and then darkened. His smile faded as his gaze roamed over my body, something like anger and concern flickering in his expression.

“What happened to you?” His voice was low and harsh, almost a growl. “Who did this?” A rumble shot out of his chest, startling me.

Why did he care?

His words sent a chill down my spine, and I found myself frozen, unable to speak.

“Whoever did this to you will pay,” he added darkly.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. There was something about him that made me feel both small and protected at the same time. Something about the way he looked at me made my heart stutter. It wasn’t just fear or gratitude—it was something far more dangerous.

"Shh, it will be alright. Now sleep."

Immediately the words left his lips, my eyes began to droop. I tried to fight it, but I couldn't... I felt sleepy, and then finally, darkness.

Leo's POV

The look on her face was priceless—like she was some scared little puppy. Honestly, if it had been a vampire, or any of those other supernatural types attacking her, I would’ve just kept walking, like I always do. But nope, it had to be those damn hunters—the same ones who’ve been chasing me for months.

Yeah, they got exactly what was coming to them. No one—and I mean no one—comes after me and gets away with it, especially not some squishy little human with more guts than brains.

Who the hell did they think they were dealing with? I’m a hybrid, for crying out loud. I rule over the vampires.The apex of apex predators. The top of the supernatural food chain. And yeah, maybe a little pissed off.

Let me break it down for you. We hybrids are rare as hell, feared by every supernatural species you can think of. Why? Because we’ve got it all. Vampire speed and strength? Check.

Werewolf senses? Double check. And a whole list of extra perks they don’t have, like being able to chow down on whatever we want instead of just blood. Oh, and here’s the kicker—I can mind-link with both vampires and werewolves. Yeah, that’s right, I can crawl into their heads if I feel like it.

The other species? They think we’re freaks—an unholy mix that shouldn’t even exist. Whatever. Their opinions don’t mean a thing to me. What does matter is they’ve been hunting me for years.

Spoiler alert: it’s never worked. They can’t kill me—not with any of their little tricks. Fire? Nope. Decapitation? Nice try. Explosions big enough to level a city block? Please. I’m basically unkillable. Almost.

See, there’s one thing that can kill a hybrid. It’s called the Fountain Dagger. Ever heard of it? Yeah, didn’t think so. It’s this rare, blood-red blade that’s supposed to have some mystical anti-hybrid power. I always thought it was just a bedtime story to scare baby hybrids—until I saw it in action.

The day started like any other. I was in my office, bored out of my mind, when Master—my second-in-command—came bursting in. Now, Master isn’t the type to lose his cool. He’s ice-cold, fearless, the whole package. But that day? He looked like he’d seen a ghost.

“We’re under attack,” he said.

I laughed. Seriously, who’s dumb enough to attack us? But then he added, “It’s one guy.” That got my attention.

By the time I got to there, the intruder had already left a trail of vampire bodies in his wake. And then I saw it—the Fountain Dagger, gleaming like it had been dipped in fresh blood. I swear I could feel the damn thing humming with power, like it was alive... and hungry.

The guy holding it? He wasn’t human. Or maybe he was, but not the kind you’d run into at your local grocery store. He moved faster than anything I’d ever seen.

When he struck my sister with that dagger, it wasn’t just death—it was obliteration. My sister turned to dust. Poof. Gone, before I could even process what was happening.

I’ll admit it—I was scared. Me. The unshakable, unstoppable hybrid. But fear has a way of sharpening your instincts. I didn’t hesitate. I went at him with everything I had—claws, teeth, raw strength—it was an all-out brawl.

When I finally got the upper hand, I didn’t take any chances. I cut off his head, burned the body, and scattered the ashes. No way was I letting that bastard come back.

The thing is, I still don’t know what he was. Human? Supernatural? Something else entirely? All I know is that he was strong. Stronger than anything I’ve ever faced. And the fact that he had the Fountain Dagger? That’s got me wondering who—or what—sent him.

And just like that, the only sister I had—the only other hybrid I knew—was gone. You can’t even imagine the pain I felt during that time. Do you know what it’s like to lose the only family you’ve got? It was hell. I felt like crap. I couldn’t even protect my little sister from some guy—or whatever the hell he was.

I’ve been hunting down info on this fountain dagger for ages. I mean, it’s not every day you stumble across some cursed blade that can actually kill a hybrid, right? Like, who the hell made it and why? Turns out, some witch from centuries ago whipped it up. Figures. Witches are always up to some cryptic shit.

I tried everything to destroy it—fire, smashing it with rocks, you name it. But nah, the damn thing’s indestructible. Like, seriously? Not even a scratch. So, I hid it. Found the safest spot ever, and only me and Master know where it is. And trust me, I’m praying no one ever makes another one of those cursed things.

Anyway, back to Emma. I just saved her from these hunter bastards who almost roasted her alive. And let me tell you, when I saw her? Whew. I was pissed. She was all beat up, barely standing, covered in bruises. The kind of sight that makes your blood boil.

“What the hell happened to you?” I asked, my voice low, sharp—almost a growl. Couldn’t help it. My chest rumbled, and it even caught me off guard.

She didn’t need to say anything for me to know she’d been through hell. And whoever put her through that? Oh, they’re gonna regret it. Big time.

“Whoever did this will pay,” I promised, and I wasn’t just talking out of my ass. I meant every damn word. She’s mine now. My responsibility. No one’s gonna touch her again without going through me first.

“Shh, it’s okay. Sleep now.” As soon as I said it, she started to drift off. Tried to fight it, but nah, she was out cold in seconds. I threw her over my shoulder and bolted out of there, my vamp speed kicking in. Before you could even blink, we were at my estate.

The guards at the gate freaked out when they saw me. Well, more like they freaked out when they saw Emma. A werewolf. On my shoulder. Sleeping. Yeah, that’s not something you see every day.

Vampires and werewolves? We don’t exactly throw tea parties together, you know? But they knew better than to say anything. Unless I give the word, she’s untouchable.

Using the mind link, I called a meeting in the hall. When it’s something serious, that’s where we all gather. And this? Definitely serious. If I didn’t introduce Emma properly, she wouldn’t survive a single night here. Vampires can be real assholes when it comes to werewolves.

One by one, they filed in, looking pissed. Anger radiated off them like heat waves. Nobody liked this. I mean, they don’t even try to hide it. But no one dared to challenge me. Smart move.

I gently laid Emma down on the floor, leaned in, and whispered, “Wake up.” Her eyes flew open, and she immediately froze when she noticed all the angry stares. Poor girl even hiccupped. She’s tough, though, I’ll give her that.

I stood up, faced my vampires, and kept it short. “This is Emma, a wolfless omega and my new slave.”

The room went dead silent. Emma? Oh, she was not having it. Shot me this death glare like that was gonna change anything. Sorry, sweetheart, but I don't scare easily