“And you know this how? Have you had a conversation with him?”
She shook her head. “No, but I’m not blind. I see the way he looks at you and Ilsa. You guys are important to him. Blood doesn’t matter.”
We paused as we heard a couple of guys walking toward us. I knew instantly that it was Nick and Ryan. Two of the biggest assholes in Belrose. Ryan was a year older than I, and Nick was two years younger than I.
“Well, if it isn’t the two weakest members of the pack.”
Nora stiffened next to me, and I scowled. “What do you guys want?”
Ryan smirked, smug. “Still trying to fool the Alpha into being with you? As if your blood mixed child wasn’t bad enough.”
My hands curled into fists. “Watch your mouth.”
Nick stepped closer to me, his shadow draping over me. “You think because you took a couple of training courses, you're part of the pack now, Jade?”
“No, but I think the Alpha wouldn’t like to hear you speaking of his child like that.”
Nick hovered closer, her teeth bared at me. “What are you going to do, Jade? You can’t shift. You’re a witch, and that didn’t even give you powers. You’re just a nobody that’s taking up space. Why don’t you do us all a favor, find a hybrid and become its next meal?”
“Back off, Nick,” Nora growled, but it did nothing. He still stood there smug like he won. There was nothing I could do because he was right. I had no powers, and I couldn’t shift.
Suddenly, a loud alarm went off, and we all looked up at the sky, confused. “Is that the tornado sirens?” Nora asked, looking at me.
I nodded, but it was a clear day with no clouds in the sky. Ryan looked at Nick. “What is that for?”
But before we could even fully understand what the noise was, there was the sound of screaming to our left. We all turned, and my eyes widened as I spotted a hybrid coming right at us. It was about the same size as the one that Brandon and I had encountered. Its mouth hung open with blood running down it. Blood was splattered all over its body, telling me it’s already taken a victim or two.
“Oh god,” Nora said next to me, her hands instantly grabbing mine, ready to move us. But it was too late. It was going to be on us in seconds.. It was fast, and Nora and I fumbled backward as it charged at the guys. I screamed as it shoved Nick hard onto the ground. He didn’t even have a moment to shift before its mouth opened, and it screamed. The noise was like a wild animal, and a second later, its mouth snapped around Nick’s neck and shoulder. He ripped his throat apart, and Ryan yelled next to me.
“Jade!” Nora screamed, tugging at me to move, but I couldn’t look away. Nick was still screaming, but his voice suddenly stopped. The hybrid ripped him apart, and blood and organs splattered the pavement. Just one moment ago, he was whole, and in a blink, he was shredded.
The hybrid turned its head toward us, its dark black eyes narrowing on us. Ryan and Jade were now both yelling at me. “We need to run!”
I knew we wouldn’t get far. I’d seen how fast they were. We couldn’t fight either.
I felt fear grip me, suddenly aware that I was going to die. Brandon was going to be at home, and someone would call him to report what had happened. He wouldn’t even be able to see me because of how messy the scene was going to look.
“Jade! Snap out of it!” Nora yanked hard on my shoulder, and I felt a tingling sensation in my fingers. The hybrid moved, standing at its full height. It screeched loudly before it charged at us.
“Jade!”
I felt like I suddenly couldn’t breathe. My entire hand felt like it was falling asleep as I stared at the monster running at us. I felt the sensation travel through my entire body, and a voice spoke softly to me.
Raise your hands and let it go free.
I raised my hands, and suddenly, I watched as flames shot out of my hands straight at the hybrid. It screamed as the fire aimed right at it. It jumped back and roared even louder, but I shot more fire at it, taking a few steps toward it.
I felt another surge hit me, and I moved forward, pushing the monster back. I kept forcing my power forward, needing to protect.
Chapter 17 - Brandon
I sat at my desk, and Ilsa sat across from me. She had some crayons to color in her coloring book, and she looked comfortable. I wasn’t planning on staying here long, as I only had a few papers to read over and sign.
“What are you coloring?” I asked, glancing away from my papers.
“A butterfly,” she said, her eyes not leaving the page. I watched her for a moment. Every day, I saw more and more of her in me. Yet, I saw so much of Jade in her as well.
I looked at her book. “It’s pretty.”
