Hybrid

DOMINIC

The next morning, I’m roused by a knock at my door.

Blinking my eyes open, I find my gorgeous mate nestled in my arms, deep in slumber. I gently push a lock of her fiery hair behind her ear, my gaze lingering on her mark.

It’s a flower, inked in black against the backdrop of a moon, and it’s simply stunning. I trace my fingers over it, feeling a jolt of electricity as our skin connects. She stirs slightly beneath me.

I plant a soft kiss on her forehead before inhaling deeply and rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

Another knock interrupts my thoughts, reminding me of the reason I’m awake. As I move to answer the door, I realize we’re both stark naked. I quickly return to cover Ava.

Her beautiful body is on full display, her hand tucked under the pillow as she lies on her side. One curvaceous thigh is draped over the other, revealing her breasts and backside. I can’t help but lick my lips before grabbing a towel to wrap around my waist.

A third knock sounds as I approach the door. I pull it open to find Abel and Carly standing there. “What do you want?” I ask, my tone sharp as I run a hand down my face.

Abel’s gaze drops to my barely covered body, his eyes darkening.

Carly folds her arms across her chest, clearly irritated. “Are either of you going to say something? If not, I’d rather be in bed.”

Abel shoots me a nasty look. “If you’re going to sleep with my girl, at least have the decency to make sure I don’t find out! Or man up and tell me yourself. I thought you were better than this, that you wouldn’t touch her!”

I consider whether to let him have it. He’s not only disturbed my sleep by showing up at my door, but he’s also trying to claim my mate as his own. He may have had a taste of her before, but she’s mine now—and she knows it.

The realization hits Abel—I didn’t just do what he did. I had all of her. I felt every inch of her. I had her moaning my name all night.

I’m growing tired of their presence. “Is this why you’re here? To see if I slept with Ava? You can both smell that I did. I don’t have time for this, and I don’t owe either of you an explanation.”

I hear Ava stirring in the bed and turn to see her eyes flutter open. She looks incredible, even just waking up.

She gives me a loving smile, and I notice her eyes have changed to a mix of red and purple. The outer part is purple, while the center is red.

Suddenly, Ava’s expression goes blank, as if she’s communicating with her wolf.

I turn back to Abel and Carly, noticing Abel’s face fall. He can’t see the bed from where he’s standing, so he must be picking up on Ava’s arousal.

I shoot him a deadly glare, the urge to kill him on the spot overwhelming me for even thinking about her while I’m around.

“Why?” he asks. “Why did you have to take her? You knew how I felt about her! Was it just to prove a point?”

His tone is only fueling my anger. I can’t believe he thinks he can talk to me like this. Sensing my growing rage, Ava comes up behind me, staying hidden behind the door.

I feel her soothing touch on my back, her lips pressing against my shoulder blade. She moves silently, without hesitation. Her touch calms me.

“One more word,” I warn, asserting my dominance, “and you’ll spend a week in the dungeon. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but you don’t command me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to calm down.”

Both Carly and Abel look taken aback and angry.

“You’re really choosing that little wolf over your best friend?” Carly snaps. “What happened to wanting to kill her? Or is she just your plaything now? First Abel, now you… Who’s next?”

Before I can even think of a response, Ava detaches herself from my back and appears at my side, wearing a dress that leaves little to the imagination. The dress is cut like a tank top, low enough to show off her breasts, and ends just below her backside.

Her eyes are filled with fury, but also confidence. Her hair falls over her mark, hiding it from view. Without uttering a word, she strides over to Carly and slaps her hard across the face.

Ava’s words leave Carly speechless, while Abel squirms uncomfortably, his gaze filled with longing. I can feel my anxiety rising as his desire for Ava intensifies. Ava glances at me, then leans her head against my side, her demeanor calm.

“So, Carly, right?” she begins. “Why does it bother you who I share my bed with? From what I’ve seen, you’ve had your fair share of partners since you’ve been here. Abel, the guard outside, a warrior, even one of the maids…”

Ava’s eyes remain fixed on Carly, gauging her reaction. “Not that it’s any of my business who you sleep with. That’s your choice.”

I can’t help but feel a surge of pride as Ava stands up for herself.

“Well, at least I stick to my own kind, wolf whore. Your own kind doesn’t even want you. Isn’t that why you went rogue?” Carly retorts, smirking at Ava as if she’s won some sort of victory.

I’m ready to rip Carly apart for disrespecting Ava, but before I can react, Ava looks up at me, a smirk playing on her lips, unfazed by Carly’s words.

She runs her fingers through her hair, filling the air with her intoxicating scent.

She turns to face me, her eyes sparkling with a new intensity, her hand gently caressing my cheek. Her back is to Carly and Abel, her body pressed against mine, causing me to pull her into a passionate kiss. The sound of Abel’s fist hitting the wall echoes through the room, followed by Carly’s loud cough.

Ava pulls away, her eyes still shimmering with a mix of colors, and turns to face them.

“Seriously, Dominic? You turned her?” Carly scoffs. “What for? To keep her as a pet?” I move to put Ava behind me and lunge at Carly, but Ava grabs my hand, pulling me back. She’s not angry, just smiling.

“Well, I ~am~ a bitch, after all. A dog.” She chuckles at her own joke, and I shake my head, trying to join in her laughter.

“This has been a delightful conversation,” she continues, still smiling, “but as you can probably tell, and I’m sure ~heard~, we had a long night. We’d like to get back to bed.”

“You heard her. I’m needed in bed.” I chuckle as Carly storms off, Ava jumping into my arms, her legs wrapped around my waist and her arms around my neck.

I move to close the door, but Abel blocks it, glaring at Ava as she kisses my neck. “Do you really think he wants you? He’s just going to use you—like everyone else has.”

His gaze is locked on mine as Ava drops down and faces him. She slowly removes her clothes, using her hair to cover her chest, and approaches Abel. With each step she takes, my anger grows, her body exposed to someone other than me.

His eyes follow her every move, desire written all over his face. Her arousal fills the air. Once she’s standing in front of him, she reaches up to touch his face, her fingers tracing his chin.

“I know you can smell my arousal. You miss how it tastes, how easily I can make you climax.”

I’m consumed by her, wanting to take her right there in front of him, to show him that she’s mine and only mine, but I know she’s playing a game.

Abel is losing control, his gaze locked with Ava’s. Her scent is so strong now that anyone on the grounds could smell it.

“Do you remember how much I wanted you?” She feigns a pout, running her fingers through his hair. “You kept telling me you were too busy to come home, that you had other things to do.

“I know why you were busy. You were sleeping with Carly. I begged you to come to me, but you chose her instead.”

He watches her, clearly upset. I come up behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist, moving her hair aside to kiss her shoulder, drawing Abel’s attention to her mark.

She releases Abel and presses herself against me. Abel looks from her to me, shock written all over his face.

“I want you, baby,” she purrs, her voice playful and seductive. I kiss her mark and she lets out a soft moan, immediately turning to me and jumping back into my arms, pulling me into a kiss.

Abel watches in shock and disbelief as he realizes not only did Ava know about his affair with Carly, but that I’ve claimed Ava. She’s mine now, and he knows it. She’s his queen.

Ava eagerly licks my mark, causing me to nearly lose control. I throw my head back in ecstasy, a feeling only Ava can give me. Ava doesn’t slow down, not caring that Abel’s still in the room.

“Clearly, we’re a bit occupied. So, if you wouldn’t mind,” I suggest, my voice thick with desire.

Abel shuts the door with a bang, and I guide Ava to the bed, positioning myself above her. But in a flash, she wriggles free and my towel falls to the floor. She takes me in her mouth, slowly, completely.

I grip the bedpost, moving my hips in rhythm with her. She takes all of me, a moan escaping her lips. I can feel myself sliding down her throat, her eyes watering as she gazes up at me.

I slow my movements, not wanting to cause her discomfort. But she pulls me deeper, nearly choking, holding me there. When she finally releases me, her eyes are ablaze with desire.

She strokes me while her lips and tongue tease my tip, sending waves of pleasure through me.

“Damn, baby girl. Just like that. Open up for me,” I instruct her, feeling the edge approaching. She complies, her tongue teasing my tip, ready for me to release as her hand continues its rhythm.

A deep groan escapes me, loud enough to echo in the nearby silence, as I climax in her mouth and across her face. She swallows, then cleans the rest from her face before sucking it from her fingers.

She remains on her knees as I lift her and toss her onto the bed, pulling her to the edge so I can explore her with my hand. Her wetness quickly coats my fingers.

I draw one of her nipples into my mouth, sucking as my fingers continue their exploration. Her back arches and she moans, breathless.

“Harder, Dom, please,” she pleads. I comply, my fingers pressing harder, feeling her tighten as she nears climax. Her moans grow louder, more desperate as she reaches her peak.

“God, Dom, don’t stop. Just like that.” She cries out as her climax washes over her, my fingers soaked. I release her nipple and taste her, not slowing my pace, pushing her to ride out her orgasm.

“Please, Dom. Fuck me.” Eager to fulfill her request, I thrust into her, pounding her relentlessly. If she were human, the force would have injured her.

Her moans escalate into screams of pleasure. I continue, harder and harder, feeling her tighten around me with each stroke. I pull out, denying her release, and flip her over, spanking her hard enough to leave a mark.

I enter her again, deeper this time. Her body struggles to accommodate me, and her wetness coating me only fuels my desire. This woman is perfection, as if we were made for each other.

I spank her again, pulling her head back by her hair as I whisper in her ear, rough with her as she gasps for breath. I feel her climax building again and thrust into her with all my strength.

She screams my name, climaxing around me. My own release follows quickly, and I thrust a few more times until I’m spent. I pull out and plant a kiss on her cheek.

Ava’s body is slick with sweat, her sex swollen and coated in our shared climax. I kiss her passionately and collapse onto the bed as she slowly crawls beside me, sore from our intense coupling.

She glances at me, biting her lip before leaning in to kiss me. I taste blood in my mouth and drink slowly from her wound. I nick my tongue on my fang and we share a deep kiss, our blood mingling.

After a few moments, the bleeding stops. She nestles her head into my neck and falls asleep almost immediately.

It takes me a moment to realize that she’s begun to turn, that she fed me her blood to complete her transformation.

I gaze down in awe at my petite but now healthy mate.

When I first learned of her and saw her picture, she was skeletal and ill. But now, her body is filled out, her stomach rounded, thighs thick, and an ass that women would envy.

And her color has returned—slightly tan, but perhaps more of a pale peach. She snores lightly, completely exhausted.

I can’t help but feel proud of her, and I can’t wait to announce that we have a queen. But I need to consider her feelings. She’s an abused alpha wolf who, despite her strength, is easily anxious.

I need her to be ready before I make the announcement.

^A FEW HOURS LATER^

“Ava! Wake up! I smell our pack nearby!” I hear her wolf cry. I watch as Ava slowly stirs before I hear her link in reply.

“Lyra, it’s okay. They’re just trying to intimidate us. They won’t lay a hand on you,” she reassures her wolf, attempting to soothe her.

“How long have you been aware of their presence?” I question her wolf.

Ava gives me a puzzled look, then rises and heads to the bathroom.

I make my way to the closet and select our outfits for the day. For Ava, I choose a black sports bra, a loose white shirt, and a pair of black jean shorts that barely provide any coverage these days.

I set her clothes on her dresser and pick out a pair of shoes from the collection I’ve bought for her. I then join her in the shower, assisting her in washing up since she’s still tender.

“Mate, can you hear me?” her wolf inquires as I rinse Ava under the warm water, supporting her against my body to prevent her from slipping.

“Yes, I can hear you. How are you coping, being cooped up for the past week?” I ask, my concern genuine. A more relaxed Ava turns to help me rinse off.

“I long to run. I miss the open air…but I don’t mind being confined to bed with you. You’re welcome to do that anytime.” It seems her wolf is more forthright than Ava.

I chuckle and plant a gentle kiss on Ava, then hop out of the shower and wrap her in a towel.

“May I ask you something? Please be truthful with me,” I request of Lyra.

Ava rolls her eyes, clearly irritated by her wolf’s antics, then exits the bathroom. After dressing, she braids her hair, leaving her mark exposed, and perches on the bed, observing my every move.

“How long has your pack been surveilling you?” I ask Lyra, but she whimpers in fear and severs the link. I glance at Ava, and she averts her gaze to the floor.

“They’ve been here the entire time.” Her voice trembles with anxiety. “They never left. I can detect at least one of them monitoring the house constantly. They want to ensure that if I venture out, they can snatch me.

“My former mate is lurking around somewhere too. I caught his scent the day after our confrontation in your office.”

I dress and comb my hair, remaining silent. Just pondering.

“I apologize for not informing you,” she admits. “I feared you’d deem me more trouble than I’m worth and hand me back to them.”

I approach her and pull her into a tight embrace. “I love you, Ava. No one will take you away from me.” I plant a kiss on her head and rise to kickstart our day.