Hybrid's Eclipse

Chapter: 45

N A T A L I A

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We stood at the border of our territory, our men on standby, preparing for the imminent arrival of intruders. Someone had warned us, not only was another attack inevitable, but it was happening soon.

As we waited, Callum remained silent by my side, lost in thoughts. I could tell from our connection that he had his every move calculated, completely in his alpha mode. And despite my eagerness to question what was happening, I restrained myself. I didn't want to disturb him with queries, grateful enough already that he allowed me to stand by his side without resistance.

Soon enough, wolves appeared in the distance, approaching us as the late afternoon light bathed the scene.

Among them, I spotted a middle-aged couple, accompanied by a few other male wolves. Callum tensed beside me, and I instinctively intertwined my fingers with his, offering silent support.

Feeling him relax at my touch, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment radiate through our bond, my wolf purring.

Despite the turmoil surfing through us both, my wolf and I felt completely at ease with Callum by our side.

Turning my attention back to the newcomers, I glanced at the woman. Her dark blonde hair and fiery green eyes unfamiliar to me. Her focus remained on my mate, and in that moment, I realised she was his mother.

She was beautiful, to say the least. But the way she glared at Callum told me she probably wasn't as nice as she looked.

I didn't get the chance to ponder on the thought when my focus shifted swiftly to the man beside her, his intense blue gaze meeting mine with palpable hostility. My wolf growled lowly and I found myself squirming uncomfortably. It didn't take long before it dawned on me that he was my father.

Refusing to be intimidated by his gaze, I couldn't help but frown as I concluded he was the reason behind my fractured family. He was the source of Glenda's animosity towards me, the one responsible for my tumultuous upbringing. His abandonment of us had left me questioning many things, particularly the reason behind it.

"I see you have finally mustered the courage to come here yourself instead of hiding behind rogues," Callum declared, his voice tinged with anger and determination.

A growl rippled through the air in response, followed by the man's voice retorting, "Watch your tongue, pup. Committing patricide doesn't grant you any right to the title."

Despite my apprehension and confusion over their exchange, Callum erupted into laughter, catching me off guard. There was no humour behind the sound emanating from him, frankly, I was nervous.

A few members of our pack exchanged puzzled glances, clearly unaware of what had amused my mate.

"Quite a feebly strategy, isn't it, Croft?" my mate spoke up, regaining his composure. "To come here and assert such absurd claims."

His words were directed at the man who supposedly was my father.

A sense of emptiness washed over me as I stared at the man, my inner wolf yearning to unleash its fury for the years of suffering I had endured at the cost of him.

"Callum," the woman beside the man interjected, causing all of us to frown in her direction. "Drop the act."

If indeed she was Callum's mother, her choice to align herself with my father and abandon her own pack suggested a questionable sense of judgement.