Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Hybrid Mate : Kabanata 131 - Kabanata 140

Bella smiled a little. “That's what I called Darian the first time I saw his wolf form, you know.” “Yeah, and we all know how well that relationship turned out.” “Maybe, but Darian's wolf form looks like a stuffed animal compared to Victor's,” Bella admitted. “He just needs some time to adjust to you.” “Why can't you sedate him?” Brendan asked, changing the subject. “You were there when Victor blocked me from being able to use mind control without his permission,” Bella reminded him. “Calming is a form of mind control.” “Huh. Mind-control-ception.” “Tell me about it.” “Where is Victor, anyway? Can't he just calm Maverick down himself?” “He's in meetings all day and Clara is taking a much-needed nap. She's not getting woken up for anything short of a mortal wound if I can help it.” “So what can we do? He's already been stressed out enough.” “I had an idea. Make all the jokes you want, but I've had two wolf mates and both times their scents were enough to comfort me no matter w

"Why?" Bella's voice sounded hoarse and her lips tingled in disappointment. "Because I think I know a way to bring you back. I just wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do, or if I should just let you move on," he said quietly. "Now I know." "I still love Victor," she told him gently. "That won't ever change, Darian. I bear his mark." She held up her right hand, and Victor's blood-red crescent seal was fully visible, unlike in the real world. "Maybe so, but you still bear mine, too," he said confidently. "No. Not anymore." Her traitorous, conflicted emotions seemed to have returned in the dream world. He took her left wrist and held it up. To her amazement, there it was—the royal blue wolf's head surrounded by a perfect circle was emblazoned on the back of her hand every bit as clearly as Victor's mark. It was the first time she had ever seen it in its true form. "How?" she whispered. "This is just a dream." "It's not just a dream," he said. "I saw it again before I left. It

Bella let out an exasperated sigh. “I am not still in love with Darian. Victor is the one. The only one.” “I'm sorry to tell you, but the mark can't exist without love,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I don't make the rules, but if she can figure out who did, go ahead and take it up with them, by all means. Throw in a few cross words for me while you're at it.” “I'm glad you find this so funny.” “I don't find it funny at all,” he admitted. “This mess happens to involve three people I love more than anything and, by blood or by fate, they're all my children. I knew from the moment Darian brought you into my study that night that there was no way for this to turn out that wouldn't hurt all of you, no matter who she ends up choosing.” Bella said nothing, so he continued. “Their souls are intertwined and they always have been. Not just hers and theirs, but Darian's and Victor's as well. Some say twins are two halves of the same soul, so what do you think happens when one of those

Bella and Victor walked downstairs hand-in-hand to find that the ritual stage had already been set. Hunter was holding the red book they'd taken from Arthur's room in one hand and using it as a reference for the chalk diagram he was drawing on the hardwood floor in front of the main entrance. It looked like the rudimentary figure of a man surrounded by some sort of star polygon. In the upper right corner, a sun with a weeping face shone down on the figure. Afraid to break his concentration, they stayed silent. Ulric wasn't there yet, and it didn't seem like anyone else had been invited. An intimate gathering, to be sure. He finally finished drawing and turned to face them. “Hey,” he said with a tired smile. The dark circles ringing his eyes were even heavier than they had been the night Bella had met him. “Glad you could make it.” He spoke in that tone that made it hard to tell if he was joking or not. “Your dad will be down in a second, he's just dealing with a little p

Her heart bottomed out when Bella realized who it was. That face was unmistakable. She had spent long enough looking into his eyes while he used and tormented her. It was the vampire she had pardoned in Austin and the one Darian had released. Apparently, Victor recognized him, too, because he was by Bella's side in an instant. “What the fuck are you doing?” “I thought you'd be happy, brother,” Darian growled. “We both know I never would have let this son of a bitch go if I'd known who he was at the time. Then again, you didn't exactly jump at the chance to tell me.” “I was respecting her wishes,” Victor said, ignoring the implication. “Yeah,” said Darian, glancing around the ritual stage. “You take that a little too far, if you ask me.” “Fortunately you're no longer her mate, so no, I won't ask you,” Victor said, taking an aggressive step forward. “We'll see.” They were toe-to-toe and clearly ready to go fist-to-fist. “Stop it,” Bella said, getting between them once again. “We d