Page 41 of Beta Hybrid

For me.

To see what I decide.

It’s up to you, Cai says. He has a protective arm wrapped around my waist, neither holding me back nor pulling me. Just resting, to let me know he has me.

I look up. The triplet trees seem bound together, as though they began to grow that way centuries ago, and never stopped. The blue of Andrea’s dress mingles with the sky above.

Up there are answers. For all kinds of things. I look around at the group. ‘I don’t know what will happen. If you don’t want to come, don’t.’ Like a magnetic pull, my eyes move up again. ‘I have to go.’ This ladder could lead me to the answers I’ve been aching for all my life.

Finally, I’m not alone.

My mother.

She’s also a hybrid. Like me. She’s like me! I set a hand on the ladder, place my foot on the lowest rung, and start to climb.

The ladder seems to go on forever. Made of rope and planks of wood, I wonder how long it’s been here for. I haul myself up higher, higher, until I can see above some trees. See the sky begin to darken in the distance. Behind me, the ladder wobbles as Cai’s impressive weight follows me. The others agreed to remain on the ground.

As lookouts.

And because this just got personal.

I’m right behind you. And my, do I have a good view.

If my mind weren’t so possessed with my mother, my parents and everything else, I would have wiggled my butt for Cai. Instead, he nuzzles into me gently.

I want to pause. To stare out at the view. To give the muscles in my upper arms a break. To give myself a moment. To remember to keep my expectations low.

Afterall, this woman abandoned me.

I never spent a great deal of my time truly believing I would see my parents again. But now that I have, I push down the idea of a relationship. No. That’s not going to happen. A reconciliation is out of the question.

Answers. That’s what I want.

Cai sends a wave of comfort and reassurance down the bond, and I’m grateful. I take a deep breath and continue climbing, high into the branches of the triplet trees, until I see a landing, Andrea staring down over it.

‘Nearly there,’ she calls. Her own silvery hair dangles down around her face.

As soon as I read that my father was fae, I’d thought I must have gotten my looks from him. Perhaps I was wrong.

I reach the landing. My mother holds a hand out for me. It seems an important decision to make. To take her offering, or brush it aside. A heartbeat later, I lower my gaze, ignoring her hand, and climb up onto the wooden landing by myself. Cai climbs up behind me, immediately wrapping a protective arm around my waist.

‘Well, take us to the Origin, then,’ Cai snaps.

Andrea doesn’t even flinch. ‘Take care, alpha, for you are not in charge here. Your arrogance will cost you.’

I open my mouth to snarl at her, but Cai squeezes my side, warning me not to. He might be willing to mouth off to her, but he won’t risk something happening to me. Thoughts like that still surprise me. I stare Andrea down, hoping she can see how unhappy I am she would speak to my mate that way.

The hybrid—the other one—gives us a close once-over. ‘You mated with a wolf.’ It’s not a question.

‘Yes,’ my own voice comes out like a growl. ‘He’s my family.’

I’m rewarded with her sharp blink. Other than that, she doesn’t react. Simply turns and walks ahead, on a series of wooden platforms.

If a kid could dream up the most epic tree house, complete with different cabins, a main walkway, hammocks, and an amazing mountain view, that’s what this was.

The walkway is wide enough for Cai and me to comfortably walk side by side. To my relief, it doesn’t wobble as we move. In fact, it feels entirely part of the tree, not something made or built.

‘What is this place?’ I can’t contain the wonder in my voice.

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