Awakening (2 book series)
Awakening – Rejected Mate Chapter 96

"You think he enabled the vampires and prompted them to hit the orphanage in the hopes Colton would die when I did? As a catalyst to get the people under control and mounting an arsenal."

I'm instantly nauseous, my skin prickling with goosebumps and my breathing gets shallow as I try and swallow this all down. Even for Juan, it seems insane, but then he did cull an entire blood line for his chance at taking a crown. The doctor nods his head, looking up as our freedom comes into view with an increase in grinding and crunching in the mechanics and he starts the engine with the turn of a key. The truck roaring into life and vibrating through the seat under me as I reach around and pull on my seat belt, so eager to get out of here I'm almost bouncing in my seat with nerves. "He sedated his mate and left her to rot ... you tell me if killing his son to maneuver an outcome is something he would do?"

"He went to war against them and lost so many of his people. He hates the vampires with a passion." It doesn't make sense. He wouldn't willingly negotiate with them, but it does make sense that he didn't care who he sold the research to and maybe it came by their way in another avenue. Maybe the vampires took it or bought from whomever Juan sold it to. There's something just not there that I feel I should see, and it's leaving a hole big enough to cast serious doubt, as much as I want to tar him with that brush. "A war against a people that should never have happened. Lycans and Vampires used to dwell in peace... not so long ago." The doctor side-tracks me with a ludicrous statement and I frown his way, half snorting at his gross misinformation.

"No, they didn't. I don't know who told you that story, but I can assure you, we've been mortal enemies since the dawn of creation. We were never peaceful allies." They taught us that in school and for the life of me, I have never heard any other version. It's ludicrous to imagine our two species living on the same lands and not tearing each other's throats out.

"No, my dear, that's not true. Sierra was very good at her history and very vivid in her telling's. Her people, the witches.... as her mother was, predate the first of either of your kinds. They tell the stories among their own." The doctor lifts his brows in a paternal manner, nodding towards me as though in this he is one hundred percent certain, and I can't grasp it. It's all we were ever taught, that the vampires are the enemy and always have been.

"So, what are you telling me? We used to be friends? Had morning coffee and bake sales together?" I almost laugh at that, sarcasm kicking in and as we finally hit the upper ground, he throws the truck in gear and reverses at speed right off of the platform and then backs us into a clearing in the middle of the dusky forest we replace ourselves back in. We're already outside the compound, further than the dirt road that came up to the fence and I realize we are a fair bit from that completely. Underground must spread wider than I figured it did and he hits the makeshift road and puts his foot to the gas, heading out and switching on headlights to illuminate where we're going. The sun has not yet set, but the forest is grey, and shadowy, and I have to cling onto my seat as I bounce around on the rough terrain, trees hitting the windshield and roof as we skim under low branches.

I cast a glance behind us to check on Sierra and although the insides of the truck are rocking and bouncing around like mad, she is secured and her machines are still beeping away, all the tubes swinging wildly. She seems okay.

"The Lycans were the daylight guardians of the vampires and in turn the vampires protected wolf lairs in the darkest hours. They were created to complement and protect each other, not war and fight, it's why you're almost matched in power and gift. Each with a special unique gift of course, but neither meant to be used against one another. A peaceable arrangement born at conception, between light walkers and dark, both with different needs and not even a shared food source, so no reason to feud.... Your kinds were from the same lands and some even procreated. A bite from either side can kill the other, so it's not exactly smart to start raging fights with an enemy who only hints at your demise every time."

I return to facing his side profile as he watches the road closely and maneuvers around falls logs and debris, focusing all my disbelief on the side of his head.

"Procreate... now I know you're insane, and you need to up your meds, Doc. A vampire and a wolf... had babies? Nahh, Now I know you're high. That's definitely not a thing, there is no such thing. We're enemies, and always were." It's a half laugh, shaking my head in humor, disbelief, as I turn in my seat to face the fast flyby of the forest, completely convinced he has a screw loose somewhere.

The doctor throws me an alarmed look that I catch from the corner of my eye, frowning, and screwing up his face like I'm the crazy one, and almost swerves us into a tree before looking back and saving us the near-death impact. That makes me jump, fiercely snapping my eyes to him in a bid of 'watch where you're driving' gasping and panting for breath after that near miss. My stomach is now lodged in my throat, and I brace my legs against the dash and push myself back in the seat to attempt to calm down. My wolf hasn't yet figured out she can come out to play now we are free of the facility, but another fright like that and she won't hesitate. So tired of shredding and losing clothes and it would be awkward sitting nakedly with this man. "Alora ... yes, it's hard to digest and like I pointed out in the case of Colton, cross breeding is not always successful given your masterful DNA and its ability to heal, much like the vampires can, but how can you disbelieve when you are sat here, the very proof of that union. Your own genetics are waving their hands at you and saying, 'here I am." He blanches at me as though I'm being completely preposterous, and his words are like a punch in the gut. Spinning me to him, eyes gawping wide at what he said. "What?!?!" that's not the response I expected from him at all and I blink at him, my mouth open and frown intensely. "I thought you said I was witch and wolf." I let it out slowly, precisely, as I remind him of how stupid what he's saying, actually is. "No, my dear, I said you were a hybrid.... assuming your mother was a perfect half and half without knowing her history of course, but it was very clear from your turning what you are. You're white... witches generally make black wolves, like a kind of racial thing, I guess. You know like humans, where Latino and white makes semi Latino, and then a white and white human makes white .... add in a splash of color, and their baby's shades are wonderfully diverse. Vampires however... lack of sun and being the undead, fascinating in biology by the way, they make white. Interestingly though, in all hybrids where wolf DNA is present, they're always the prominent characteristic. Amazing... strong genetics the wolves. And in some rare, rare instances, where the vampire gene is equally strong, but yet, still of no match to that powerful beast.... the babies are lucky enough, gifted enough, down the generational tree, to have red eyes. Remarkable." He's way too pleased with his story telling, and the utter joy on his face only heightens the horror on mine. I don't know if my mind leaves my body completely, or if shock and a sense of numb knocks me for six, but I swear, I have an outer body experience and get so close to passing out as I just stare at him, blankly, dead pan, not even remotely able to react to that little titbit of information, that I say nothing at all.

I'm a vampire hybrid. No!!! Just, NO!