Hybrid

Chapter 24

"Max," I whisper, sitting up on the bed and turning my body to face him. My knees are touching his shins, and even the simple contact of that is enough to keep me calm.

"B," he breathes, holding a hand to my face and stroking his thumb across my cheek bone. I lightly hold onto his wrist, wanting to touch his skin and not wanting him to stop. His eyes are wide with questioning and concern.

"The North Bound pack," I say quietly, hearing the way my voice cracks. I don't want to believe that the hybrids took down another pack, but I would be lying if I said I thought it was anybody else. Only the hybrids have enough strength to take down an entire pack in one night. "They were destroyed. My dad thinks it was the hybrids. I do too."

"It has to be them. We need to go check it out." He brings his other hand up to my other cheek, and I once again grab his wrist in my own hand. I smile at him, but it's not like my other smiles. I can feel the sadness I'm portraying through it.

I nod in response to his words, glad that we're on the same page. I turn my head slightly to press my lips into his palm. "Let's go," I whisper against his skin, closing my eyes to just enjoy his hands holding my face before we part.

The two of us head outside into the backyard. "B," Max says, pulling me close to him before we shift. "Please be careful." I've never heard him sound this fragile before. One of his hands moves to my stomach to show exactly what he means, and I start sobbing. The love he already has for our baby is too much for my hormones.

Max doesn't hesitate in wrapping his arms around me and pulling me in. 

He doesn't say anything as I bury my face in his shoulder, but his hand running up and down my back is enough to calm me down within minutes.

I pull away with a laugh, wiping away the remaining tears. "I'm sorry," I giggle. "It's the hormones. I just want us to have our baby. I can't wait to see you be a dad. You're going to be a really, really good dad." 

I almost start crying all over again as in image of him rocking our baby to sleep pops into my head. 

Max grins, kissing the tip of my nose. "You're going to be an even better mom." I smile.

I let the moment last for a few more seconds before breaking the silence. I didn't want to ruin it, but I know we have more important things to figure out than what great parents we'll make.

"I'll be careful. I promise," I say, my serious tone changing the mood around us. "It's not just my life on the line now."

Max grins again at the mere mention of our baby. I do too. Everything about this baby makes me smile.

"Come on, let's go," I say, and I shift without another word. I take off into the woods, my internal compass guiding me to the North Bound pack lands.  It's farther north than the Firewoods pack. What used to be their pack. 

It makes me sick to my stomach to think about another pack being wiped out. It's almost worse to think that the people doing it are exactly like Max and I, and they tried to recruit us.

Max is at my shoulder the entire time, running at the same speed as I am. The trees are a blur around us, obstacles only lasting a second while we pass them. The sky gets darker and cloudier as we run, and I worry that it'll start storming.

I can smell the remains of a fire as we near the North Bound lands, but we're still miles away. I don't want to think about how big the fire was this time. As we get closer, the woods become hazier, the smoke from the fires drifting in between the trees. It's stronger than last time. The smoke burns my nostrils as it becomes thicker, and I slow down.

I don't want to go any further out of fear of the smoke hurting my baby, but I need to see what what's left of the pack. I need to know what the hybrids did. I tell myself it'll be over fast. I'll go, look around, and leave the smoke.

Not at full speed, but faster than a jog, Max and I run further into the smoke. I don't realize we've reached the center of the pack lands for a moment.

There's nothing left of the pack. Max and I shift back into our human forms to look around. I hold my shirt up around my mouth and nose, and quickly start my hunt. I want to get out of here as soon as possible. One, it's heartbreaking to see something like. Two, I cannot, under any circumstances, inhale the smoke.

I jog between what's left of the buildings, but even that's not distinct. The only hint that buildings and houses used to stand here is scorched foundations and burnt rubble piled on top of them.

After a few minutes, I know I can't do it any longer. My throat is starting to feel the effects of the smoke. I can't be in this hazy air. I can't risk it affecting my baby. I've already been careless enough. I shouldn't have done it.

Max, I'm getting out of the smoke, you keep looking around, I mind link, and I shift back into my wolf. I bolt, trying to put as much distance between me and the smoke as possible. I shouldn't have gone into at all. I should have let Max go by himself. I had to see what was left. I couldn't wait and wonder what had happened.

I find a little creek, and I lap up as much water as I can. It soothes the burning of my throat, and when I feel much better, I lay down and wait for Max. The sound of birds chirping and the leaves rustling in the wind is a lullaby, and my eyes are slowly shutting on their own accord. The smell of a brewing storm doesn't help the matter. I'm half asleep when Max finally mind links me.

B, you're not going to like this.

My eyes fly open and I shoot up to stand on all four paws, staring in the direction he's coming from. If I focus on just what I hear, the sound of his paws hitting the forest floor reaches my ears. It's faint but becoming louder. He's still a few minutes away from me. 

What did you find? I ask, pacing in my wolf form. Moving around stops me from freaking out about what he possibly could have found.

A list of the packs they're planning to take down. And then, B, your pack is next.

I don't think about my next move. The rational part of mind is taken over by adrenaline. 

I take off towards home. I don't wait for Max to catch up. He's only a few minutes behind me, but we don't have a few minutes to waste.

The only thing running through my mind is to protect my family.

I have to get to my family.