AVA’s POVI felt my mouth opening and closing like a fish at the revelation of what she is; a hybrid. I could tell she was a wolf, but mixed with vampire blood? It’s rarely heard of. Moreover, she’s pregnant. Yet it seems the Alpha King wants her dead.It is common knowledge that hybrids are a curse, an omen to the pack they reside in and for the pack to avoid misfortunes, the hybrid must be exiled or worse, put to death.The royal guard was after Cora, saying that he was supposed to kill her; his own mate for being a vampire hybrid with wolf blood. It doesn’t make any sense. It is not their fault for being born a hybrid. Yet why should they die just because of something out of their control? What did they do to deserve death?All these questions drilled into me as I stood watching them from a distance.Is it really too bad, being a hybrid? No wonder hybrids are constantly on the run. Constantly searching for a place where they belong. Constantly surviving.To think that I would be on

49 AVA’s POV When my wounds were all tended to and healed, the maids dragged me out of the room. I was shoved inside the room across mine where I saw a big steaming hot tub, making my skin itch at the sight. I have not taken a bath in days since getting here. They immediately stripped me off my undergarments, pulling me out of trance. Hopping in, I let the maids wash my body despite the dirty, jealous looks being thrown at me. The woman named Vera sneered and smirked. “Enjoy this while it lasts, bitch. I’m sure our master have something in store for you, and then you won’t even have to worry about bathing at all,” she chuckled darkly, sliding the sponge down my arms. Her hands were gentle, but her words revealed how she truly feels inside. Remembering the memories that he showed me, I know for sure I am the reincarnation of his mate. But the maids seem unaware of this, explaining her behavior. “No, I’m sure your master do have plans for me, but I hope it won’t disappoint you if

51 HUNTER’s POV “Let her go,” he threatened and there’s a promise of murder in his voice as his eyes went to my hand around his mate’s neck. “No,” I growled. “Not until she explains why she’s hiding it from me,” Brock furrowed his brows, looking over at Syria squirming beneath my tight grip. Syria’s grip on my hand tightened, her eyes darting to her mate in desperation and visible guilt. My wolf snarled, rage passing through every nerve in my body as he threatened to take charge before I unleash hell, knowing I can’t and won’t be able to control myself if that happened. “I said let her go,” Brock pushed, ignoring my last words which only irritated me more. Suddenly, a wave of something weighed down on me like a ten-wheeler truck, crushing every inch of me but it would take twice as much willpower for him to take me down. My eyes go over to Brock, who’s looking at me challengingly. I growled at him. Turning, I look down at Syria, her eyes were red and wet with tears. Tears I

AVA’s POV:I narrowed my eyes at him, who stares back at me, unfazed.“No,” I snapped.“Excuse me?”“No, I know well enough that you didn’t,” I snarled.“You did it because you were jealous and selfish. You saw my parents and the love they had for each other, and wanted everyone to be miserable like the man you are,” every word dripped with venom as deadly as the hatred I have towards him.His playfulness faded, and his eyes swirled black as he set his gaze on me, pinning me where I sat. My ass perked as I straightened myself and stared back right at him, determined.I know he is not a person to be messed around with, but he messed with my family. He ruined mine, all because his was taken apart and stripped off him before he had a chance to save them. But that didn’t mean he gets to do the same to people who are innocent. People like my parents, who apparently caught his attention because one was a hybrid. And goddess knows, he was envious. Deeply, intensely, sorrowfully envious that

ZANE’s POVMy head was pounding. Furious that dealing with Vera cost me that amount of magic and energy. This was her fault. If she hadn’t intervened with my meeting with Cora’s reincarnation, I wouldn’t have yelled at her and locked her in her room.If you’re talking about looks and sexual appeal, she was a goddess. It was fun messing around with her when I had nothing to do or no progress in my search for Cora, but that was it. She’s wild and a fucking pleaser in bed, that is why I must have pampered her too much to think that she had me hellbent on my knees, wrapped around her little finger. But no, I was far from it. I never looked at her more than a mere plaything.So why did it hurt me when she looked at me in so much pain?Right now, I don’t have the time to deal with that. I have a mission, and that is to bring Cora back, and we can live the way we always wanted. I can have my family back.Storming down the hallway, I grumbled to myself while trying to reach Damian through min