The Hybrid's Assassin

Thirteen

I had been running for two days, narrowly avoiding patrols and the people who worked so desperately to find my scent. I had not come across Domitius again, it was probably for the best.

It was the best for my logic to stay intact, and for my heart to not betray me. I couldn't let my entire life, everything I had worked for, go to waste for something as stupid as an apparent bond.

It was on the third day that I broke the tree line, stumbling onto green, well manicured grass. Right into a game of football.

A whistle was blown and everyone froze. "What are you doing on the field? Get off the field!" I looked up, the man was in his fifties with a thick Boston accent. "What do you think this is? Cheerleading?"

Everyone laughed and my hands tightened into fists.

I felt a hand on my back, someone directing me off the field. "Look, cut her some slack, I mean it's kind of stupid that the football field is right next to the tree line, a bear or a wolf or anything could come onto the field."

The man with the thick Boston accent glared. "Cato, get off the field as well. You're both interfering with the game." Cato laughed, pushing me towards the sideline where a seat was set up. He gestured for me to sit down and I didn't refuse. My legs cried out in relief as I collapsed onto the seat.

The game continued and Cato sat next to me. "Rough night?"

I laughed, my mind going to the situation I still had to run from. "You wouldn't believe it if I told you."

I turned to look at him, my eyes grazing over his face. Blonde hair, styled neatly into a fohawk, dark brown eyes and a wide smile. Arrogance came off of him in waves, and it was in that moment that I realized he would be regarded as attractive in human standards. But I had seen so much better it was incomparable.

Goddamnit, even attractive men had been ruined for me.

"So, Cato," I drawled, "why aren't you out on the field?"

His smile appeared to falter. "Ankle injury, I'm supposed to be on that field, but I've been temporarily replaced." He motioned to the field and we both turned to watch as a guy caught the ball, turned to run and then was tackled from the side. We both cringed.

"How long are you out for?"

"Another week, I've been able to practice but not play for the past month."

I nodded, my gaze setting on the forest line on the other side of the field. "I should get going." My hand went to my remaining earring. I'm certain that seven already knew where I was. I just needed to get onto a main road.

Cato looked back at me, sighing. "Do you need help to anywhere, because this game is kind of depressing to watch so any excuse to leave is a good excuse in my books."

I stood up. "Fine, where is the main carpark?"

He stood up, putting his arm around my shoulders. "Let me lead the way."

I did not trust this person in the slightest, for all I knew, he could be leading me to his dormitory. We had moved out of earshot from the crowd when Cato's arm was pushed from my shoulders and replaced with a new one. "How have you been, Megan?" His voice was dripping with amusement.

I froze, it was seven. My brother was already here.

Cato looked confused and moved to grab my hand. "Who's this?"

I turned to look at seven, he was identical to our father, we shared the same hazel eyes but his face structure and hair took it one step further. The only reminder of his mother was his too-tan skin.