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Chapter 141
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The Hybrid Mate Chapter 142
Bella flinched at his scolding. It was probably deserved, but it still hurt. “Leave it to wolves to turn something fun into a big ordeal,” Sarah said, draping an arm around their shoulders. Normally, her inappropriate lightheartedness would have bothered Bella, but it was a welcome distraction under the circumstances. “Cheer up. None of this is completely out of your control, sweetie. If lover boy is the one, he'll come out strong in the end and neither of you will have any of those nasty, lingering doubts to spoil your happily ever after.”“She's right,” said Victor. He gave Bella what had to be the most pathetic attempt at a smile she'd ever seen. “I'm not giving up anytime soon. As far as I'm concerned, if that oaf is able to steal your heart, I was doing something horribly wrong anyway.” “Har-dee-har,” Elve grumbled. He grew serious as their eyes met. “He's right about one thing, though. I'm not gonna force you into anything. You know me better than that.” Bella
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 143
Bella watched. “We don't have to do this if you're uncomfortable.” Victor's reassurance was directed at Darian rather than her. His hand rested on Darian's shoulder, and she recognized the same shift in demeanor he had shown when taking care of her. There wasn't a hint of mockery or insincerity in his offer. They were in his dungeon room again, which they had both mystifyingly agreed upon. Bella was beginning to realize that the dungeon's sterile setting actually put the wolves at ease. It made things somehow less intimate, offered a boundary that ensured that whatever transpired within its walls wouldn't seep into reality. “I'm fine,” Darian growled, shrugging out from under his touch. “Let's just get on with it.” Victor left his side and grabbed a pair of cuffs off the wall. Darian eyed them like they might bite until Victor brought them over to Bella. “What are those for?” asked Darian. Victor gave him a look. “I know you ha
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 144
She dared to hold his gaze for a moment, but even though they weren't in session, the intensity in his gray eyes was enough to ensure that it was a short moment. Her eyes darted away instinctively. Something was different. Before, she could have gazed into Victor's eyes for hours and felt nothing but love and infatuation. Now she could understand why he made the other wolves so nervous. There was a force behind that stare that her inner wolf read as a challenge at best and menace at worst. “It's fine, kiddo.” There was doubt in Darian's voice, but his smile was genuine. She couldn't help but notice the droplets of moisture gleaming on his forehead or the fact that his heart was going at a steady clip, but his hand didn't waver as he offered her his wrist. “Gotta lose my V-card sometime.” She couldn't help but smile. Leave it to Darian to handle his biggest—and probably his only—fear by making bad jokes. “It won't hurt,” she promised, determined to mak
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 145
“No,” Bella said when Victor reached for her, forcing herself to hold his gaze. The wolf in her squirmed and whined in discomfort, but something else held fast. “I still don't agree with this courtship nonsense, but the last thing the pack needs is for it to be postponed because one of the candidates for alpha thinks he's going to kill his potential mate. Am I wrong?” Victor watched her in silence. He wasn't about to give her an. actual response. “Like you said, this is a liability we can't afford,” she pressed, turning back to Darian. “If there's really some part of you that's capable of killing me, then everything is lost anyway.” He hung his head in shame, and Bella took his face in her hands as Victor had done. “You won't,” she said softly. “You won't hurt me.” “You don't know that,” he growled. “I know you,” she said, sweeping her thumb over his stubble. “Better than anyone except Victor. My mind is filled with the same doubts as y
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 146
It was difficult for Bella to navigate the first few days in Darian's custody after what had happened in the dungeon. Luckily, she had managed to get the reins on her wolf and all the emotions it had dragged out from behind the wall with it, but that all went out the window whenever they were around the primary target of its obsession. As the weeks passed, she kept the talking to a minimum and always found reasons to keep busy and stay with the pack unless it was one of their feeding sessions under Victor's supervision. Hunter was up and about soon enough, so she found excuses to help him with one thing or another. Clarence was always by his side, so it was always easy to rope Darian into a double "date" with them or even with Brendan and Maverick. Anything to keep them from being alone. The truth was, it wasn't what Darian would do if they were alone. that scared her. It was what she—or rather, her furry co-pilot—would do or say that they'd both live to regret. Nigh
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 147
“Very,” Bella agreed. “You smell like the air after a good, hard rain, when the earth is clean and the grass and the flowers are all still soaked. It's pure and soft and crisp all at the same time,” he murmured, staring off into space. “It's the kind of scent you can never get enough of. I've always thought if that was the way all blood smelled to vampires, I could kind of understand why they're the way they are.” “Azar...”He leaned in a little closer, and, to her deep shame, she didn't move away. “It's the truth,” he said, stroking her hair. “It's not just your scent, it's everything. It's the way you move, the way your voice is always just a little bit hoarse like you're just getting over a cold, the way your left eyebrow twitches whenever I say something that pisses you off. Everything about you just draws me in.” His lips hovered so close to hers she could almost feel them. Something about the light friction before contact brought her
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 148
"Wait, so they're gone?" Bella asked hopefully. “Not permanently,” said Victor, “but I've already talked to Ulric. He's lifting the restriction on not letting anyone leave the Lodge. Everyone, with the obvious exception of Maverick, is free to leave in pairs.” “Why not Maverick?” Bella asked. “He's doing better, but he's still in a fragile state,” said Victor. “We are technically holding him against his will and short of mind control, there's no way I can be sure that he won't spill our secrets if he's allowed to leave. It is an option I intend to present him with later.”Bella breathed a sigh of relief. “I think he'll say yes. If anyone needs to get out, it's him.” “And you,” said Victor. “You've been cooped up longer than anyone. Getting out of the house will be good for you.” “Really?” Bella asked, stepping closer. “Of course. I'm sure even Darian can manage to come up with a more enjoyable date than takeout in the lounge.”Her heart sank when
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 149
"Yeah, I know," Bella said, feeling guilty for needling him. There was still part of her that couldn't understand how the obvious soulmate bond between Brendan and Mav hadn't put an immediate end to what was obviously a distant relationship to begin with. As far as she knew, there was no hard evidence of Maverick being marked, but from what Victor and Darian had told her about being a verndari wolf bonded to a fleur, resistance was damn near impossible. If there was one thing neither of them was lacking, it was will. It was shamefully shallow, but Bella would never understand how it was possible to live with someone like Maverick, who was as stunningly beautiful on the inside as he was on the outside, and not fall for him. Especially when the alternative was a guy who never even seemed to bother to call. She felt a pang of guilt for even thinking it and reminded herself that she had no room to talk. Not when Victor and Darian, of all people, loved someone like her.
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The Hybrid Mate Chapter 158
Bella froze when she realized what she was doing and tossed the pieces in the empty bread basket to hide the evidence. “Sorry,” she murmured, blushing. “You uh, get my blood boiling.”“I can tell,” he said, blinking. He looked down at his hands. “I'm sorry. I had no idea I was that intolerable.”“But you're not,” Bella said earnestly. “You make me angrier than anyone else, but you also make me laugh more than anyone else. You push me, sometimes to the brink of sanity, but she's a better person when she's with him. He's all of those annoying things, but he's also sweet and funny and protective and so compassionate toward the other members of the pack. He's a natural-born leader, and a good one. Whenever she sees the way he is with the other wolves, the way he cares for them and puts their needs above his own without even thinking, she falls a little more in love with him.” He stared at her in shock. “You love me? And you're admitting that freely?”Bella laughed, embarrassed. T
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 157
Bella reached across the table and rested her hand on his forearm. “You make it sound like I'm the one who's out of your league and not the other way around.” His eyebrows knit into a perplexed frown. He finally relaxed as if he'd given up trying to figure out whatever it was that was bothering him. “You are. Even aside from the fact that you're probably one of the mythological creatures our entire religion is based on, I don't deserve you. Neither does he, but I'm a big enough man to admit that Vic is a hell of a lot closer to being worthy of you than I am.” “Don't be so sure about that,” Bella said with a wry smile. “You both have your positive qualities.” “And negative ones, I'm sure.” Bella smiled wider.“Well, let's have it. Give me the side-by-side analysis,” he said, sitting back and folding his hands studiously on the table in front of him since he had already finished his meal.She laughed, but stopped abruptly when she realized he wasn't kidding. “You're
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 156
Bella reached across the table and rested her hand on his forearm. “You make it sound like I'm the one who's out of your league and not the other way around.” His eyebrows knit into a perplexed frown. He finally relaxed as if he'd given up trying to figure out whatever it was that was bothering him. “You are. Even aside from the fact that you're probably one of the mythological creatures our entire religion is based on, I don't deserve you. Neither does he, but I'm a big enough man to admit that Vic is a hell of a lot closer to being worthy of you than I am.” “Don't be so sure about that,” Bella said with a wry smile. “You both have your positive qualities.” “And negative ones, I'm sure.” Bella smiled wider.“Well, let's have it. Give me the side-by-side analysis,” he said, sitting back and folding his hands studiously on the table in front of him since he had already finished his meal.She laughed, but stopped abruptly when she realized he wasn't kidding. “You're
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 155
“Not sweet, innocent Clara,” Bella said doubtfully. “Oh, I've caught Jason coming out of her apartment once or twice.” “Jason and Clara?” Bella blanched. “But he's so... He chuckled at her reaction. “I know. Doubt he's her type, but the moon makes everyone go crazy, especially unmated fleurs. The rest of us try to stick to our subs, but what happens on a full moon stays on a full moon.”“Until now,” Bella reminded him. “You just told me.”“Hey, you didn't hear it from me.”Bella grinned mischievously. “Nope. I'm thinking now I own you.”“I don't go that way, kiddo. Not even for you,” he scoffed. “Now, if you ever decide you want a new master...”“My contract with Victor isn't exclusive. And don't try to change the subject.”“Sheesh. Okay, fine. It's probably already pretty obvious, but Brendan and Clarence don't just take care of Foster's emotional needs. They share him as a sub, but there's no relationship there otherwise. I'm pretty sure even that's tapered off since
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 154
"Are all the others out?" Bella asked, noting that the lot was almost empty. "Most of them," he said. "Clara and your dad are still around, as usual. Vic has been holed up in his office all day. Hunter and Clarence are still frolicking in the woods somewhere. Brendan was heading out with Maverick last I heard and uh, I think I saw Sarah with Jason." Anger started to boil inside Bella, but it couldn't take hold for some reason. "Oh, whatever," she muttered. "As long as she's leaving Dad alone." He glanced at her as he turned onto the road that led past campus. "That's a surprisingly zen attitude you got there." "I'm trying out a new approach to life," Bella said, admiring the heavily forested path. He shrugged. "Hey, I'm not complaining as long as you're okay.""I'm okay," Bella said. For the first time in a long time, she meant it.No one said a word for the rest of the ride. Darian took them into the city, or at least what passed for one in their little section o
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 153
A knock at the door jolted Bella awake from the most delightful nap. Despite the dull throbbing in her head, she woke feeling more refreshed and alive than she had in recent memory. “Be right there,” she called, yawning as she sat up. Her head spun a bit once she got to her feet, but it wasn't bad enough to make her stagger.On her way to the door, she noticed something strange about her room. All her stuff was there, but it looked like half of the room had been cleared out. Before the thought could trouble her too much, she remembered that Victor had probably just come for the remainder of his old things. She did have his old room, after all. Strange that he wouldn't have mentioned it, though.She shrugged it off and pulled the door open to find Darian waiting on the other side. At least, she thought it was Darian. The man before her had lightly slicked back hair, a stark contrast from his usual tousled brown locks. He wasn't wearing a suit or anything, but for Darian, a gray b
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 152
When Bella turned around, he was walking toward her calmly. She pressed herself against the door and struggled to slow her fluttering pulse as she looked around the room for escape. The window was too far to reach, and even if she did somehow manage to escape, she would only be prolonging the inevitable. Once Victor set his mind on something, no matter how horrible that something was, he got it. It briefly occurred to her that maybe that was why he was doing this. Maybe he thought his will had been strong enough to conquer her own and that removing all traces of it was the only way she would truly be free to choose. “I'm sorry, pup. I didn't want this to be a traumatic experience,” he murmured. “I was planning on waiting until tomorrow night, but it's just as well that I don't have time to talk myself out of this.” “Please don't do this,” she begged for what seemed like the hundredth time. “I don't want to forget you.” “You won't forget me,” he said softly. “J
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 151
“Of course,” Bella said, startled that he felt like he had to ask. “Well, I know you didn't like him so I just thought...” He trailed off, losing his enthusiasm for a moment. “Thank you. It would mean a lot to have you there. Victor is coming, and he said your dad would probably want to come, too.” He glanced toward the stairs. “I'll let you go; I have to find Brendan.” “He's probably still out with the others celebrating, but I know he was planning on seeing if you wanted to go out later,” Bella said carefully. “Oh, darn. I wanted to invite him, but I'll just have to wait until later. Bye, Bella!” he waved, already halfway down the hall. “Bye, Mav.” Bella waved back, mystified. Barely recovered from the macabre interaction, she knocked on Victor's office door and waited for permission before she entered. “Aren't you supposed to be with him?” was his immediate response. “Hi to you, too,” Bella muttered, walking over to his desk.He gave her an apologetic sm
The Hybrid Mate Chapter 150
“I'm fine,” Bella lied, brushing past her. She grabbed Bella's arm before she could head up the stairs. “You're a terrible liar,” she said, sounding a bit disappointed. “You get that from your father, obviously. Tell me what's wrong, maybe I can help.” “I went out to watch the others shift,” Bella said, leaning on the railing. “Now there's an all-American pastime,” she said, casting a lustful glance in the direction of the forest. “Honey, trust me, if your boy toys are upset about you sneaking a little peek at the competition, they probably don't have the equipment for the job in the first place.” “That's not it!” Bella snapped. “And they both have plenty of equipment for the—they're both well equipped, okay?” Bella stammered. “That's not what this is about.” “No?” She blinked. “Then what?” “I left the Lodge by myself. Months ago, Victor put a mental block up that would keep me from leaving the Lodge without permission,” Bella said. “It was our trade
