The Hybrid

4: Willow

"You are not taking my daughter anywhere." My mom says, grabbing my arm and pulling me next to her.

"We can't take her back with us," Beck says to Ben.

"Is all that really necessary?" Sophie, who I forgot was even in the room, questions.

Even though I do my best to try and hide my disappointment, I'm sure I'm doing a horrible job.

He doesn't want me to go back with him, of course. Having a mate was already too good to be true, expecting him to accept me immediately was just about the same as praying for a miracle.

Beck rubs at his chest again and this time I don't have to wonder if it is a coincidence. The pain I feel is undeniable and I know that if I am in this much pain he definitely feels it.

"Since when do you not obey Father's orders?" Bennett asks in slight disbelief.

"Since now. This is ridiculous. She can't come back with us." Beck seems almost desperate now.

"I agree," Christie says.

She probably doesn't want me to come back with them because she has something to do with Beck. She assumes I'd be a threat to their relationship.

I guess somebody should tell her that he's not very excited about this situation either.

"Look, I don't know what's up with either of you but she's coming back with us. End of story."

"Like hell she is," My mother says, grabbing my arm and pulling me behind her.

"With all due respect Ma'am I'd like things to go as smoothly and calmly as possible from here on out but if we do not follow my father's orders this will go the exact opposite of that. It wouldn't be wise to directly challenge the king's orders."

"Is that a threat?" She asks, carefully.

"More like a promise." One of the male vampires standing by the door says.

"You-"

"Mom," I say, stopping her from saying anything more.

I can't let my mom get into it with a gang of vampires because of me. None of this would be happening if I never told them what I was or if Beck wasn't my mate or if I had just never agreed to go the kingdom with my so-called friends in the first place. I messed everything up and now I have to fix it.

My mother looks at me and I glance around at everyone in the room before looking back at her, "Can we have the room, please?"

"Take all the time you need," Bennett says after a moment of silence.

My mom waits until the last person leaves the room to speak.

"They are not taking you anywhere. You are my daughter."

"And nothing will ever change that, but I think I'm going to have to go."

"You don't have to go anywhere with them."

"Yes, I do. If I don't we'll most likely get kicked out of the pack and we'll have major problems with the CK. Not to mention, the danger we would be putting the people of this pack in if we don't comply. This is the only way to keep everyone safe."

All my life my mom has done everything to protect me. She may be hard on me at times but I know it always comes from a place of love. She's sacrificed so much and missed out on a lot because she's made sure that she was my mother before anything. I refuse to let her do that anymore. This is my chance to protect her and that's exactly what I am going to do.

She shakes her head, "How do you know that you will be safe there? What if they plan to experiment on you? Or expose what you are to the world? What kind of mother would I be if I just let you go off with strangers with no knowledge of what is going to happen to you once you get there?"

"I don't know if I'll be safe there. You just have to trust that you raised a capable woman who can protect herself. I like to think that you did," I say with a small smile in an effort to lighten up the mood.

"I like to think so too, but you're still my daughter. I have to protect you before anybody."

"I know, but I'll be fine," I say, softly.

"Does your wanting to go have anything to do with that prince being your mate?" She says, her gaze is stern and unwavering.

"I wouldn't say that I necessarily want to go, I just-"

"Willow."

I sigh and bow my head, "Partly."

I know it's dumb, borderline insane to want to follow him back when he's made it absolutely clear he doesn't want that, but I don't know. This pull toward him overrides everything, all logic and sense goes out the window when it concerns him. I know if I feel this way, he has to feel something for me. I can change his mind, I think. We just need time.

And if it doesn't work and he does reject me, at least I will know I tried.

"Pick your head up. You know I hate when you do that," She says and I oblige, "I understand all of the reasons for feeling like you need to go I just...I don't know if I can let you go. I've dedicated my life to keeping you safe, and protecting you. If something happens to you or word spreads of there being a hybrid that exists all because I let you go with them, I'd never forgive myself, Willow. And if something were to happen to you...I wouldn't survive it. You're all I have left in this world that means anything to me."

She seems to be on the verge of tears so I do what she's done for me over the years whenever I am sad, I hug her. I wrap my arms around her as tight as I can and she does the same.

"I love you so much, Willow," She says, pulling away just enough to rest her hands on my shoulders.

I blink away the tears that have gathered in my eyes and tell her that I love her too.

"It's going to be okay. I will be fine, Mom. " I say.

"So that's it then? You're just gonna go even as I'm begging you not to?" She asks softly as she pulls away from me slowly.

"I have to, mom," I say, my voice thick with emotion.

She smacks her lips and tries to wipe away the ever-flowing tears, "But you're mine. They don't get to just come in here and take you from me."

"They're not taking me from you. It's my choice. Every pup has to grow up and step out on their own eventually, Ma. You're not always going to be here to protect me. I have to learn how to be on my own. If I spend the rest of my life scared to take a chance because of something that may happen, I'll never actually live my life. I'm an adult now, it's time. I have to know where following him will take me. It may not end well, but I have to know."

She gives me a sad smile and shakes her head, but doesn't say anything.

She grabs my hand and for a while we just sit like this, basking in each other's company as we let it settle in that this may the last time we get to sit like this together for a while.

"Okay." She says after minutes of silence. She nods her head as if she's only now letting the final decision settle in.

When she's ready she squeezes my hand tightly before pulling me to stand with her and we walk out of the room into the cool night air, hand in hand.