Page 1 of Captive Hybrid

Chapter One

Mordecai

A low rumble sends reverberations through the ground, my truck, through my body. The earth breaks apart, splitting and tearing, as an explosion rips through my ears. Vale’s gaze snaps to mine, eyes wide. He throws the door open as I slam my foot on the breaks. We shift at the same time, landing on all fours, as the force hits the convoy. My pack and coven.

The handful of cars, utes and trucks are blown sideways. Any howls are lost in the sounds of earth breaking apart, the steel of the vehicles screeching, glass breaking. And cries, screams. The sounds of pain, people calling out.

As smoke wafts into the sky, I blink around, hovering on my haunches, lost in the moment of fear and panic, what to do first. Where to go. My heart thuds, pounding in my ears.

Was that a bomb? The human. The one Divina killed while I was out hunting with the pack, he must have set it. Vale and I paw through the debris, looking for survivors.

Zenna.She was here.

The thought of her wounded, or worse, stops my heart cold. In pure panic, I send an alpha command to my pack. Whoever is alive, find Zenna. Bring her to me. Wolves and witches stumble out of vehicles on the grass littered with broken glass.

I focus on the bond I share with my fated mate, ignoring the sharp pang of guilt that always comes with it. She’s alive. I launch forward, my powerful haunches sending me into the fray of the metal-packed obstacle course of toppled cars.

I can’t call out in wolf form, but I can do one better. I can smell her. The scent of Zenna is unique to me; a combination of magic, spiced and powerful and the smell of earth just after rain. My paws tread the difficult path. Why had I let her travel in a different vehicle?

I leap over an upended truck, pushing with my rear legs. I pause, nose raised. Something cold touches the air. Not the hint of rain to come, or any natural weather. As the sun rises, spilling golden light onto the chaotic scene, a growl reverberates through my chest.

Vampire. This one is old. The scent deep and strong. I follow it until a startled yelp catches my ear. Zenna.

I whip my head back and forth, but every trace of her is gone. What the hell? I paw angrily at the ground, trying catch a scent. Vampire speed can match that of a werewolf, but I turn, lost. I shift back into human form, my heart racing. I climb up onto a toppled car to shout at my people. ‘I must find my fate.’

I won’t leave her again. Not this time.

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