The Hybrid (Alpha Trilogy #2)

Chapter 10

Skye

Red takes me back to the house, still in wolf form. I haven't really paid much attention to him back at the mine, but he's actually beautiful. The dark fur is silky soft and feels amazing in my hands. He's really big, too. I couldn't even get my arms around his neck when he was standing.

Red walks inside the house and goes straight to his bedroom, where he lets me get off his back before shifting into human. I cover my eyes, getting a chuckle from him in response.

"You can look, little mate. It's all yours." He leaves a kiss on the top of my head and I hear his footsteps as he goes to his closet. When he sits on the edge of the bed next to me, I finally take my hand off my eyes and look at him.

Only to find him shirtless. Is this a werewolf thing? His father doesn't wear shirt either!

"Come here, little mate. I need you close." He opens his arms to me, leaving the choice of sitting in his lap to me. I don't even hesitate, the choice is obvious.

Red starts purring the second I settle on his lap, engulfing me in his arms. I feel so small when he does that, but it doesn't invoke fear in me, only happiness. He's so big, warm and gentle. Both him and Hunter are.

I wish my wolf could come out and experience this, too. After learning that she's actually there, I need her so much. She would help me become a real werewolf, since right now I'm nothing more than a weak human.

All of a sudden I feel myself getting picked up. I look up at Red in question, only to see him already gazing at me lovingly.

"I could hear your stomach rumbling, so I'm going to feed you." I feel my cheeks redden furiously at this. So embarrassing!

"Adorable." He trails his knuckles over my red skin before rubbing his cheek against mine, holding me with only one arm. He's so strong!

"Why don't you let me walk?" I decide to ask him. It's been on my mind since yesterday.

"I like carrying you." He answers, his tone final. As if that's supposed to explain why he's treating me like a toddler.

I just huff in frustration, but inside I'm ecstatic. I love being close to him. He's my anchor to reality, my only source of happiness after years of abuse at the hands of my father.

"Oh, you're here. Sit down, the food will be ready soon." I hear Alpha's voice as Red enters the kitchen. There is a bunch of boys at the table and two older guys are cooking with the Alpha. I feel redness cover my cheeks at the teasing looks everyone gives us, but Red doesn't let go of me as he takes a seat.

"Is this your mate?" One of the twins asks with a curious look. I have no idea whether it's Aaron or Jax, they're identical.

"Yes, she is." Red answers, nuzzling his face in my hair, getting amused and slightly jealous looks from everyone around the table. I don't miss the fact that Luna is not here.

"She's so tiny!" The other twin exclaims and I feel my cheeks redden further, while Red only laughs. It's so strange to hear an 8-year-old boy say you're tiny. I know I'm not the tallest person around, but still...

"Where's mom?" Red successfully diverts his brother's attention from me.

"She went to Lucas' pack to check if there were more people involved with the boss." Alpha answers casually, not at all bothered.

"And you let her go there alone?" Red is clearly surprised at his father's casual tone.

Alpha just chuckles amusedly. "Your mother can tear that whole pack apart if she wants. She took Aiden and Asher with her. That's three Undeads in one place."

"Why did she suddenly go there?"

"Lucas wanted to know who else betrayed his pack by working with the enemy. He called once he arrived at his pack, asking for assistance." Alpha sets the plates filled with food and the guys don't waste a second to dig in.

"Boys, manners! We have a lady here." I feel as if my eyes are going to pop out of my sockets as Alpha admonishes seriously. Red seems to feel my discomfort at being put on the spot, burying his nose in my hair and rubbing my back.

"Sorry, dad." The boys chorus before looking at me expectantly.

It's actually my first time eating with all of them, since I mostly go out at night to hide from the harsh light that hurts my eyes, so to say I'm uncomfortable would be an understatement of the century.

"Get what you want, little mate." Red quietly tells me as everyone waits for me to eat.

I am so used to eating leftovers of whatever my father had to eat that being able to choose what I want to eat proves to be a difficult task. "Can you choose for me?" I turn to Red, staring at him desperately. Everyone waits for me to start eating and here I am, unable to decide.

"Of course." He kisses my head before filling my plate to the brim, making me stare at him in shock. I can't possibly eat all this!!!

"This is delicious. Thank you, Alpha." I say after taking a bite of the pancake.

"None of that Alpha stuff, you can call me Dad. You're family, after all." I almost choke on air as my eyes brim with tears at the soft tone in his voice. Family. He called me family.

"Boys, stop staring and finish up. You have training with Delta in an hour." Alpha's command makes everyone snap out of their shock and start eating.

Red just laughs mischievously as he watches his brothers and I look up at him in question.

"You haven't seen Delta's training, since you mostly sleep during the day, but trust me, there's a reason why they're so afraid." He explains, making me even more confused before an idea strikes me.

"Could he train me?" I tentatively ask, making everyone turn to me in shock. I look into Red's eyes, only to see clear refusal in those scarlet orbs. I huff defiantly and turn my back to him, which of course does nothing but amuse him, since I'm still in his lap.

"Why do you want to train?" Alpha implores curiously.

I hesitate before answering. "I want my wolf to get stronger." I shamefully admit.

"Aaah, yeah. Angel told me about this. But I have to say, had she not told me about you being a werewolf, I wouldn't have guessed, even though I'm an Alpha. How about this, I'll talk to Angel about your training and see if she can spare a Dead to work with you at nights until you get used to functioning during the day. I'm sure Hunter or Red will stay with you, so you won't have to worry."

"You would do that?" My voice breaks from emotion.

"Of course. But I'm not going to force you into anything. It's up to you." Red squeezes me after hearing his father's words.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it." It's so weird to see a powerful Alpha smile at me so softly, but I don't show the surprise on my face.

After everyone's done with their food, the guys leave for their training and Red takes care of the dishes. I almost laughed when his father told him to do that, but Red didn't even try to protest. He put me on the counter next to him, so I wouldn't leave his side while he worked. I heard him mutter something that sounded like: 'now I know why dad does this all the time', but I didn't question it.

"I've never seen an Alpha do the dishes." I decide to tease him a little. Seeing him in bright yellow rubber gloves as he wipes the plates clean is quite funny.

"My mom always made us help with the chores, whether it's our humans or us wolves. Being an Alpha doesn't mean we're above our pack members, so my parents never hired any help, insisting on taking care of the house themselves." Red explains patiently.

I feel a smile show up on my face when I hear this. Luna is really an amazing woman. An Alpha mate, 9 sons and she still manages to take care of the pack. I can see the Alpha pair raised their children well, as even now, with Luna absent, nothing's out of order.

I wish I could be like her in the future.