Chapter 1 #3
I rocked him gently. My heart filled with something soft. The baby seemed to sense something and quieted. Then he opened his eyes.
Gray with a ring of gold, like fire smoldering beneath the surface.
"Elena." Jenny suddenly spoke, staring at me, expression grave. "Tell me the truth. Is this pup's father human or not?"
My hand froze. Jenny phrased it as a question, but she already knew the answer—"pup". Only werewolves called their young that.
Seeing my expression, Jenny sucked in a sharp breath. "Oh, Elena."
"You have to give him up."
My grip tightened. "No. I'm keeping him."
Jenny's eyes widened. "Are you out of your mind, Elena?" She pointed at the baby's eyes. "Do you see how obvious his werewolf traits are? You don't even have to guess. What human has pupils like that?"
Jenny lowered her voice. "Did you forget what happens in Silver pine when they find out you gave birth to a half-blood?"
I knew. Of course I knew.
Reserpine's noble werewolves were violently opposed to mixed-bloods. Thought they tainted their precious bloodlines. At best, they'd spare them because of their half-werewolf heritage. But the women who bore them were the worst sinners of all. Hunted relentlessly.
"Elena!" Jenny grabbed my hand. She glanced at the baby. He was even smiling. "You have to give this child away." Her voice shook. "I won't tell. But you have to—" She paused. "Elena, maybe in the werewolf world, he'll live more freely?"
The baby gripped my finger. He looked at me curiously. So small. So soft. So dependent on me. My vision blurred. But I knew Jenny was right. Without me, he'd have a better life.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, voice hoarse. "I'm sorry, baby..."
"You'll have a better life." I looked at him, trying to memorize every detail. "Someone will love you, take care of you... so much better than Mommy could..."
Jenny kept holding my hand.
A few days later, I'd recovered some strength. I wrapped the baby in a blanket. He slept peacefully, tiny hands occasionally clenching into fists. I stared at his face. My heart felt like someone was squeezing it.
I changed into my neatest clothes—a faded T-shirt and jeans. Put on a hat and mask. Carried the baby out. I didn't let Jenny come. She was working at the cafe today.
The Werewolf Guard Station was on the other side of the city. I rode for a long time, transferred twice.
When I finally arrived, it was almost noon.
The station was an imposing building. Gray-white stone, massive columns, uniformed werewolf guards at the entrance. I took a deep breath, held the baby close, and climbed the steps.
The lobby was spacious, marble floors polished to a shine. Two young female wolves staffed the front desk. One on the phone, the other sorting files.
"...yeah, East City again." The one on the phone lowered her voice. "Fifth one, right? This time, it was a pure-blood noble. Scene was apparently horrific... organs ripped out..."
"Oh, God." The other gasped. "Is the Butcher Squad insane? They're getting bolder."
"Who knows? They say they're increasing patrols, but does it help?" The first one hung up and sighed. "I heard they're not just killing pure-blood wolves anymore. Now they're going after humans, too. Something about purifying bloodlines... bunch of lunatics."
I held the baby tighter, pulse racing.
The Butcher Squad.
I'd heard of them. They hunted werewolves. Brutally. Supposedly, they hated everything connected to werewolves, thinking they contaminated the world. But now they were killing humans, too?
"Hello." I approached the desk. "I... I found this baby on the street."
I couldn't say he was mine.
"You're looking for help?" one girl asked gently, looking up at me. "We offer long-term or short-term childcare services—"
"No." I cut her off, voice shaking. "I'm not keeping this child."
There. I said it.
The two girls exchanged a glance. No surprise or shock on their faces—clearly they'd seen this plenty.
"I understand." One stood. "Please come with me."
"No, no." I set the baby on the counter. "I'm leaving. Please, you have to take good care of him—"
I turned and ran out. I was afraid that if I stayed one more second, I'd completely fall apart.
My vision blurred. Tears streamed uncontrollably.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I rushed out of the building, down the steps. Sunlight stabbed my eyes. I kept my head down, walking forward, wiping tears with the back of my hand.
A black Lincoln drove past.
My steps suddenly stopped.
That scent.
Cedar and amber.
Even though the car had already passed, that familiar scent pierced the air, drilled precisely into my nose. My sense of smell—always freakishly sensitive—kicked into overdrive.
It was him.
The man from that night.
My body instantly stiffened, all my senses focused on that retreating car.
My heart started racing wildly. That scent awakened bodily memory—his touch, his kiss, every mark he'd left on me.
Maybe... maybe I should give the baby to him? He was his biological father. Better than strangers adopting him, right? And he drove a car like that—surely he could provide material comfort and education—
What if he remembered me? Maybe we could build a family?
I tried to turn and chase after him. But postpartum weakness made me nearly collapse after one step. I could only watch helplessly as the car grew more distant.
A violent dizziness hit. My steps stumbled. I had to grab a nearby lamppost. This feeling... strange. Not ordinary dizziness. Something deeper, pulling from inside. Like an invisible thread tugging at my soul.
The voice in my head suddenly shrieked. That resonance, like finding home. I gripped the railing. The shriek gradually faded, replaced by a woman's murmur.
"Come back."
"Child of Gray. Daughter of wolves. Your mother needs you."
My legs gave out. I collapsed to the ground.
"Come back."
The voice grew stronger, commanding, undeniable. I felt some power flowing through my blood, calling me, pulling me.
My vision started blurring.
Daughter of wolves.
I was... also a hybrid.