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Chapter 90

Author: lordiron21
last update Last Updated: 2023-08-23 00:02:42

It turned out that Victor and Bella had no reason to be concerned about Darian catching them. Not the least of all because he probably didn’t even give a shit. After all, Bella was “something else” now. Something he could never love. Darian didn't come home in the next few minutes or even the next few hours. In fact, by the time he did stagger into the hotel room smelling of however much alcohol it took to get a giant werewolf drunk, it was already officially the next day.

Bella had talked Victor out of going to look for his brother, partly out of selfish concern that he wouldn't come back to her at all and partly because something told her Darian was safe. There was still a cord weaving them together, however threadbare it had become. She knew as surely as she knew that the sun would rise that the cord hadn't been severed, which could only mean that Darian was still alive.

Victor had immediately launched into older brother mode as soon as Darian collapsed on t
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  • The Hybrid Mate    Chapter 92

    "No!" Bella pushed past him and started stalking towards the forest. Every beat of his heart was like a hammer on sheet metal. "Just leave me alone."Until recently, being direct had been all but impossible for Bella. Knowing that the choice was between hurting someone's feelings or ripping out his throat was helping her to overcome her shyness better than any of the self-help books she had read on the topic."Don't be like that," he said, far too close. He grabbed Bella's arm and spun her around, staggering back a step when he caught a glimpse of her expression. She was fixated on his neck. She could see his pulse throbbing just beneath the surface. The satisfaction of biting into Victor's flesh was fresh in her mind, only she knew that if she bit this stubborn kid, his wound wouldn't be healed the next day. There wouldn't be a next day for him at all. "Please," Bella begged through gritted teeth. "Just get away from me before I do something I regret.""What is she g

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  • The Hybrid Mate    Chapter 96

    Bella hesitated. “We were. I'm not sure about that now that he knows I'm a bloodsucking leech.”“I doubt he'll care. He's used to them,” Brendan said. He winced. “Sorry. You know what I meant.”Bella shrugged. “Just because I've accepted what I am doesn't mean she can't be realistic about it.”He sighed. “Thank you for being gentle with him.”“Of course. She cares about him,” Bella said pointedly, watching him. “Obviously, so does he.”He rolled his eyes. “I might not be in charge of the Lodge like her boyfriends, but I'm still a Dom. I care whenever I see a sub getting mistreated.”“Okay, A,” Bella said, giving him a look, “you don't look at him like he's just another sub you're worried about. Did you guys have a thing?”“I don't see how it's any of your business, but no, we've never had a 'thing,'” he replied. Either he was telling the truth or he was a complete psychopath who didn't show any of the telltale signs of lying. Bella was getting to know Brendan well enough to know

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  • The Hybrid Mate    Chapter 97

    Bella smiled to mask a twinge of something impossibly close to hurt. Leave it to Victor to be the one who could make her feel love and Darian to be the one who could make her feel pain. It was almost a welcome sensation.“She wouldn't worry about that, Darian,” Bella said, taking a swig of water. “Between your brother's bed and his dungeon, she's all tapped out.”His glare felt like the closest thing to a kiss she was ever going to get from him. His massive hand gripped the door frame and a loud crack was heard. He stepped away before he could break the entire thing.“You're not even putting in a half-assed effort to hide the fact that you're a psychopath now, are you?”She shrugged. “I'd say I'm putting about as much effort into that as you're putting into pretending like you didn't abandon me out of sheer disgust.”“I didn't abandon you,” he snapped. “I needed time, and you both jumped at the chance.”“See it however you want. I needed you and he was there. Do I have to rem

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  • The Hybrid Mate    Chapter 98

    “Yes, I do,” Bella insisted. “That's what you're getting at, right? You want me to volunteer before you do it.”“W-what?” he stammered. “Before I do what?”“Put me down for killing Maverick,” Bella said, growing impatient with all his obfuscating. Sometimes the dumb jock routine was more inconvenient than endearing. “You kill vampires all the time, it won't be hard. Especially not for you. Then you'll be free of the mark, and I won't be able to hurt anyone ever again.”“See what you've done?” Brendan growled. “Fucking asshole.”Darian kept his eyes on Bella, ignoring him. They were filled with concern for the first time since she could remember. “I’m not gonna do that, Bella. Brendan is right, this was a terrible idea, but I had to take the opportunity. Maverick isn't dead, he's fine. You didn't kill him.”Bella shook her head. “Don't lie to me, Darian. That's the only thing I've ever been able to count on you for, telling me the truth.”“I'm not lying,” he said, his voice so

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    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

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    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

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    “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

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    "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

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    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

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