Alpha’s Hybrid Cinderella
Chapter 10

"Claudia."

Evan's voice. But I couldn't open my eyes. So tired.

"You're a little white wolf, Claudia," he said softly.

So it was true. I'd shifted... I had really shifted. Cassiel had found me in my dreams the other night, and now she had even come out into the world. But the thought had only just formed in my sluggish mind when my body twitched, the shifting energy dissipating within it like smoke. Wait, not yet... I didn't want to turn back yet. I was stronger in this form, and I wanted to keep it. I wanted to stay.

But it was impossible. My body was already changing back. Claws became soft fingertips; paws turned to bare hands and feet. The warmth of my fur faded bit by bit, and the chill of the air came over bare skin.

I was turning human again. And I couldn't stop it.

Strong arms lifted my upper half from the ground and cradled me within them. Something wrapped around me. Soft. Warm. But borrowed warmth, like something that had been placed against heat for a while but wasn't hot itself. I cracked open one eye long enough to look down and identify it. Evan's jacket? It was. That would explain why it was so warm.

He raised me from the ground and held me tight to his chest. Almost hurt. Too tight. Squeezing.

But I couldn't say a word. So tired. Too tired.

And then he took me away.

***

I woke up in pajamas. Someone had changed me into them; I had no recollection of the day before except waking up in Evan's arms. The bed was so warm that I wanted to stay in it forever though. The plush pillows and the thick covers, it almost felt like fur. So, so warm and comfortable-

Wait.

I had shifted yesterday. Right? It wasn't a dream, was it?

I had shifted!

Cassiel, you're here! Are you still...

But there was no answer. If it hadn't been for the memory of Evan remarking on my wolf's appearance, I would have been certain it was all a dream after all.

Only a moment later, the door opened, and Evan walked in. I pulled the covers up to my chest, startled that he had entered without knocking. "You're awake."

I nodded, still reeling. How long had it been? A whole day?

"Claudia, can you tell me what happened?"

I must have been keeping all of the memories back, but when he asked, the dam broke. Exhaustion flooded me, and I suddenly couldn't bear to look at him anymore. Flicka... I had always fought my own battles and I was no i***t to think that violence solved everything, but she had managed to push me over the edge with mere words. What was I thinking? When had my mind become so weak? Elly and Maria had always flown into a rage over the stupidest, shallowing things, but I was better than that. And yet, yesterday...

"One of your devoted suitors started something with me," I said after a long moment. "But I didn't give her what she wanted. She'll have to try harder than that to push me."

I was speaking with a lot more composed satisfaction than I truly felt. But at least that part was true. I hadn't let Flicka get to me so badly I'd hurt her. What would they all say about me, about half-breeds and their barbaric stupidity, if I gave in to my urges? "You shifted, did you know that? Hybrids usually can't shift."

I nodded again. But it was disappointment I sensed from him, not congratulatory happiness.

(Even when she shifted, I couldn't sense it), he thought. (She's really not my mate.)

Of course I wasn't. I had told him over and over again he had the wrong person. It was his fault for not believing me. Frustration welled up in my stomach and filled my chest until I couldn't breathe.

"Why are you trying so hard to replace your mate?" I asked. "You'll replace her eventually no matter what you do anyway. That's how it happens."

"I need the power. I need to be stronger." He stood up before I could demand to know what he needed to be stronger for so urgently. "You should get back to resting."

He was at the door in a flash, but I managed to get in one last thing.

"Alpha Evan. I don't want to be mistaken for your mate anymore. It's making things too difficult for me."

He closed the door.

***

I slept terribly, waking up every time I so much as dozed off for longer than a few minutes. Breakfast was little better. I had no appetite, and looking at the platters of expensive food only made my stomach churn. All I could get down was half a cup of coffee to keep me running for the day, and I drove myself to campus once again.

But I had no classes this morning. I'd left early because I couldn't bear to stay at the manor any longer. I left my backpack in the car and found the trail I'd taken yesterday in my shifting daze, but this time fully alert and coherent. I followed it all the way past the university grounds until the sounds of traffic died away, and finally I found the woods again. Peaceful. Beautiful. Alone.

I took off my clothes and left them neatly on a boulder. Would it work this time? I didn't give myself room to doubt. I closed my eyes and focused.

And the wolf appeared. I marveled at my new form, this other half of myself that I'd never known existed until now. And I ran and ran like I had yesterday, testing my strength.

I liked it. I liked being in this shape. I liked running and running and never feeling like I had to stop.

Of course, I did have to rest, and when I did, I took the chance to examine myself. I was a white wolf, like Evan had said. But I was tiny, only the size of a natural wolf, not bigger like pure werewolves. If anyone saw me, they would never guess I had a human form. But even so, I was proud of it. I was proud of me. I had been so ashamed to let Flicka get to me with stupid words and insults like I was some i***t who didn't know how to do anything except ball my fists and flail them around. But at least from that, Cassiel had finally appeared long enough to let me shift. And I had a wolf form! I was a real werewolf, even if I was a hybrid. I could shift!

I was like a child that had learned to run. I couldn't stop. As soon as I caught my breath, I was off again, racing through the forested terrain and following the streams one after the other, reveling in my new speed and strength.

Later, I stopped again, but I wasn't alone. A gray wolf came near me, tall and silvery. He howled at me, low and quiet, but I didn't know how to communicate. It was clear this was a werewolf; he was too large to be a normal wolf of the woods. But I couldn't mind-link with him at all. That skill came naturally to full werewolves, but it must be a drawback of my hybrid heritage. I couldn't communicate even in this form, at all.

I left the wolf and fled as fast as I could, willing myself to leave all my shortcomings behind. There was nothing to linger for anyway.

Moments later, I found my clothes on the boulder and shifted back to put them on. If I was quick, I would make it to my noon class with a few minutes to spare. I was gone in the next minute, running down the trail.

***

I wasn't expecting to see Ken's face in my botany class. I blinked at him as he approached, too taken aback to greet him until he was standing right in front of me.

"You're in this class?" I asked. "For your business major? But it's an herbology course."

"Claudia. That was you earlier."

He didn't have to explain. I realized in a flash what he was talking about. Back in the forest - he had seen me. Him? Ken? He was the gray wolf who had tried to mind-link with me back there? And I had left him, not knowing. "That was me, yes."

(She's beautiful in both forms), he remarked, but I pretended not to hear it. Compliments were nice to hear, but it was an invasion of privacy, even if I couldn't help it. And better not to let it get to me.

But he didn't leave me with that.

"Claudia. I'd like you to come with me to a party Friday night."