Knock knock

My eyes jolted open at the sound of footsteps coming closer to the bedroom door. A loud knock soon followed springing me up from the bed. I stood there on edge not realizing where I was until a man barged in screaming Saline's name. How could I forget. I wasn't with the Council anymore.

"Alpha Saline! There are rogues on our land with hunters not far behind them. We must hurry before they lead them here." The man yelled. His voice echoing through the room.

He was dressed in dark clothing. A suit that was a little more laid back, yet still just as professional. I watched as his worried expression turned to shock as he saw Saline in bed half naked and an unknown woman standing in her room. Wasn't the best first impression. I could tell by the way his posture tensed up. He quickly turned away waiting for Saline's response. 

"Beta Daniel." Saline gasped out a bit surprised. 

"There's no time for explanations on what you've just seen. You're my right hand and I trust that you'll keep this to yourself for now." She went on to say as she rushed herself out of bed going to her closet to get dressed. 

He nodded. Looking me up and down with a questionable look before turning his attention back to our Alpha. 

"If you don't mind me asking. Who is she? Her scent, It's different." 

"She's the new Hybrid sent to us from the council and apparently my mate. I hope you can understand my frustration on my reasons to keep it behind closed doors until I tell the Council myself."

I sighed. Knowing where this conversation was going from a simple question. I thought she didn't care much for others opinions. I guess I can't put trust in things just yet. I ignored their conversation. Sitting myself back onto the bed to get dressed. I had a mission and I needed to be ready. Prepared to do what I was trained for. The Alpha's mate or not, I was born to handle things like this.

"Alvira? That's your name right?"

I slid my knives into place on my hips. Shoving my gun where it needed to be as I looked up. Seeing Daniel's hand out waiting for a shake. The surprise in my face must've been pretty noticeable because he laughed. 

"I won't bite. Us Wolves have high respect for mates. No matter who they are we can't change that, so are you gonna shake my hand or not? We have a big problem to deal with outside."

I stood up. Taking his hand into a firm shake. Seeing a fully dressed and smirking Saline standing next to him. I couldn't help the smile that came onto my face. I was getting respect and that to me was a bit life changing. 

A cough came out of Daniel's throat. He scratched his head nervously waiting for us to realize that time wasn't on our sides. We had a problem and it was time to deal with it. 

Saline got the clue. Making everything about her turn serious. She said nothing as she walked out the bedroom door with Daniel by her side and me trailing behind. I kept up the pace following them down the stairs and out of the mansion to the front steps where we first met just the other day. We all stood there looking out into the distance. I could hear gunshots and the faint smell of blood. And humans. The scents were growing stronger which only meant we had to do something now. 

I picked up my pace, gliding down the stairs with speed. I was ready to fight. Hell, I was excited to fight. It felt like I was finally living even though I was going to be heading towards danger. 

"Alvira! Stop!" 

Her voice stopped me in my tracks. I felt frozen for a few seconds from the unknown feeling of dominance that came out of her mouth. What in the hell is she thinking. There's a threat to her pack and she's telling me to stop? I turned myself around on my heals looking over to her with confusion.

"Where do you think you're going? Daniel is heading over there with the rest of my guards as soon as they meet us up here. You will stay here with me." 

I furrowed my eyebrows. I didn't think my Alpha was dumb enough to risk her pack guards on a threat as high as some hunters and rogues. Combined they could take out some of her wolves. Was she not thinking. Or was it that she didn't want me to go out there alone.

Grinding me teeth I responded. "With all due respect Alpha. We've wasted enough time already and I say they're about five minutes out before they run into one of your houses. You send me out and I'll hold them back until you guys get there." 

She didn't like my response anymore than her ego did when she realized I was right. Her eyes started to turn a deep red. I knew she was being overcome with anger. She didn't want to send her mate out. I get it. 

"Right now. I'm not your mate. I'm your hybrid. Send me out or I will go on my own." 

Daniel stepped in before Saline could respond. He sighed, grabbing her shoulder before nodding his head in agreement.

"She's right you know. Let her go."

Maybe her wolf got the best of her. Or the anger became too much to control when mixed with the emotions of the new mate bond. It could've been many things, yet that didn't excuse her from what she said next.

"Maybe I'd be okay with letting any other Hybrid head off to its death whenever I pleased, but this is not just any disposable pawn from the council. Now is it?" 

My eyes squinted at her in disgust. And I knew she regretted every word that was said as soon as she locked eyes with me. I let out a breath, glancing at the floor beneath me before turning to walk away. I heard her start to call out my name. Trying to plead with me as her beta tried to get me to come back for his Alpha's sake.

I didn't listen. I had a job to do.

Without hesitation I bolted. Running into the forest with everything I had. Letting the smell of lead fill my senses as I jumped through the trees. The dead leaves crunching under my feet with every step I took. The air gliding past me leading me closer and closer to my targets. The wind whistled through the trees, shaking the branches above me. In this moment, I didn't care about mates or what future would hold. All I could focus on was everything around me and that urge to hunt. The conditioning from the Council to become a beast focused on the kill.

I was a machine. Alive with a beating heart. But in the end I still had a program in my mind to follow just like a computer.