The Hybrid (Alpha Trilogy #2)

Chapter 40

Skye

I stare at the pile of papers on the desk with dismay, not knowing what should I start with... I don't have the mind to deal with this. I just sit curled up in Hunter's armchair, greedily taking in his lingering scent. I've been dealing with the pack's business with my dad, trying to not let the pack see how the loss of my mate affects me, but it's really hard. So, in order to not let them see me in this state, I decided to deal with some paperwork instead.

"Leave it, Skye. It's Alpha's work. I'll take care of this." Dad sighs from the doorway. He looks tired, with disheveled hair and five o-clock shadow. He stares at me worriedly, frowning slightly.

"I know. I just wanted to... I don't know. Just sit here, in his chair... I miss him, dad." I confess.

"I can tell, baby. And no matter how terrible this situation is, it's actually heart-warming to know you love him even without the mate bond. Some mated couples stay together for years and they don't share such love, cause they only rely on the mate bond." He chuckles quietly, staring at me with adoration.

"How could I not love him... He's my whole life, dad." I feel tears gather in my eyes. "I miss him so bad! I want him back!" I cry out, running into my dad's arms, needing his comfort.

In front of the pack, I show my strong side, but when I'm home, I finally shed the calm mask and cry into my pillow every night. I feed my babies, talk to them, play with them, assure them that daddy's coming home soon, but no matter how hard I try, I just can't stay strong like I promised Luna Angel. I just... can't. It's too painful to pretend I'm fine when I'm not.

It's been 3 days since Luna Angel left to look for Hunter and there's still no news from her. The scar from my mark is still aching, but I no longer feel such unbearable pain. The spot on my neck where Hunter bit me looks like a patch of burnt skin, leaving no evidence of the mark even being here.

"My poor baby." Dad sighs, stroking my head as he lets me cry into his warm chest.

"I'm okay. – I wipe my face with my sleeve, giving dad a pained smile – I'm a Luna. I can't keep being a crybaby." I sniffle.

"You can be a crybaby all you want. No one will say anything, considering what you just went through. But I must say, you're really admirable, Skye. I'm so proud of you." Dad presses a kiss to my forehead then takes my hand and leads me to the kitchen. "Now that we settled that, you need to eat something. You can't starve yourself, Skye." I feel my cheeks redden in embarrassment. I thought he didn't notice.

"I'm sorry." I pout, knowing it's dad's weakness. He can't stand my puppy face.

"Don't pull that on me. You know I can't stay mad at you." Dad chortles, pulling out the food from the fridge.

I stare at my dad preparing my meal with a small sad smile on my face. Not too long ago it was Hunter that made me food. I would hug him and follow him around the kitchen like a lost puppy, until he got tired of my antics and sat me on the counter, kissing me every time he passed by me and using every chance he could to touch me.

I want him back!

Angel/Thea

I do my best to find the trail left by Hunter, but due to the rain, I'm stuck. I have no clues as to where to look for him and there are no rogues around I could possibly catch and interrogate.

With a heavy sigh, I hone in my senses to listen to my surroundings. I catch few animals, some pack's patrol and a bunch of kids playing. But no rogues or Hunter.

"Shit!" I punch the nearest tree then change my direction. It's been days and I still can't find my own son! I'm supposed to be the strongest Undead in existence yet I'm fucking hopeless when it comes to my own child!!!

I run for a few hours before I catch sight of blood on the ground. I stop for a moment to locate the body it could come from then follow the trail until I find it. Mutilated. Ripped to shreds.

Oh goddess.

There's another body lying few yards away, looking the same as the first one.

And another.

And another.

The whole area is filled with dead bodies, mauled beyond recognition.

Deciding to follow the lead, I use my nose to check the freshness of the blood. It'll help me recreate what happened here and where the trail leads to.

And when I finally reach the place... I can't believe my eyes. There are two caves dug into the hill, with a small clearing in front of them. But that's not what leaves me stunned.

It's the sign of the slaughter that took place here. Masses of body parts and blood. Not one body is left untouched or intact. There's also a weird scent in the air. It's like a combination of a rogue, a Dead and Hunter at the same time. Hunter was here. The scent is fading, so he's either already gone or... No! He's not dead!

Shaking off the disturbing thought, I walk around the clearing, not minding the blood pooling under my feet, and head straight to the cave where Hunter's scent is the strongest. It's really hard to pick it up from all the different smells around here, but thankfully my senses are stronger than most creatures.

I enter the cave slightly apprehensive, for the first time scared for my son. I know he's strong, but for his scent to be so strong around the area, an unbelievable amount of his blood must've been spilled.

My son's blood!

Hunter's scent, namely his blood's scent is overwhelming in the cave and it's almost making me nauseous. Not with disgust, cause I'm used to smell of blood, but with dread. This is my baby's blood! My little baby!

HOW DARE THEY!!!

A furious growl escapes me as I imagine what happened to my son in here. Using my fury as my fuel, I destroy everything in here, then break the supports in the cave and make it collapse onto Armstrong's dead body.

That fucking traitor! He hurt my son!

Going to the other cave, I do the exact same thing, getting it to collapse with a blast. I heave in anger, staring at the carnage in front of me with calculating eyes, analyzing the scene.

When all the clues finally connect, my whole body goes rigid.

The amount of bodies.

The trail they create.

The bloodshed.

The killing method.

The scent.

Hunter!

He's gone berserk.