The Hybrid’s Second Chance
Chapter 11

Cornelia's

POV

I watched in horror as that sorry excuse for a wolf slapped my daughter across the face. My blood began to boil and I wanted nothing more than to turn him into the slimmest salamander there had ever been. It took every ounce of self control I had not to go back to my body and teleport there to show him who he was messing with. I took a deep breath to steady myself. This was not how I had hoped her eighteenth birthday would go.

This was not supposed to be happening. Everyone was minding their own business just letting him hit her. I knew with their wolf hearing, each one of them could hear every word. He finally let go of her hair and walked away, followed by his two shadows. Julia ran for it, and all I could do was stare after her. It became too much for me and I had to pull myself back into my body. Dianna was waiting for me, because she thought I was going to come back with happy news. "How is she? Is she having a good birthday?"

"It's horrible, she's been mated to that pompous Alpha's son, Logan. She tried to reject him but he slapped her and wouldn't let her finish. He told her she wasn't able to reject him because she was just a hybrid." "But that's not true, she's the daughter of an Alpha and a High Priestess, she can reject him."

"I know that, but she doesn't."

"If he hates her so much, why won't he let her reject him?" Dianna asked.

"I have no idea, probably some weird power move. You know he likes the feeling of being able to tell everyone what to do."

"We have to help her."

"I know, I'm just trying to think how." We were both silent for a minute, lost in thought. Then, Dianna spoke. "The Beta!"

"What?"

"The Beta, the one who found her. He's kind, he would help her. Teleport to him, explain the situation. He might be able to get her out."

"That's perfect! He'll be able to do something about it! Should I go now or wait? I'm expected in 5 minutes to teach a lesson on talismans."

"Go right after. I'll wait for you here. Once you're done, come back and we'll figure it out."

The lesson on talismans I was teaching seemed to drag on forever. After about 45 minutes, I ended the lesson early because I couldn't focus anymore. I made my way back to my room once the classroom had cleared. Dianna was sitting on my bed waiting for me. "Are you ready?" She asked after I burst through the door.

"Yes," I replied.

"I'll keep watch. If anyone tries to come in while you're gone, I'll tell them you're busy in a trance or working on a complicated spell." "Okay, thank you Dianna."

"Of course, this is my niece we're talking about. You know I'd do anything for her." With that she was up and out the door. I stood up, focusing all my energy on Marvin and where he was in the pack. The next second, I was standing in a bedroom, there was a man sitting on the bed. Although fifteen years had passed, I knew it was the same man I had led to Julianna in the woods. His hair was now peppered with gray, his face starting to look worn and tired for his age.

"What the he**!" He yelled, jumping to his feet. He took a defensive stance, ready to attack.

"Wait!" I shouted, putting up my hands. "I can explain."

"Explain? Who the he** are you? And where did you come from?"

"Just give me a second and it'll make sense. I know how you are, Marvin Lee, and I know what's happening here."

"Oh, I would love to hear this. You have two minutes before I alert the other warriors."

"Okay, first of all, my name is Cornelia Sullivan, I'm the High Priestess of the High Moon Coven. I'm also Julianna's mother." He looked taken aback by that information.

"How am I supposed to believe that?"

"Well, it's clear that I'm a witch. I just teleported here."

"True, but how do I know you're Julianna's mother?"

"Because I know exactly what's been happening to her these last fifteen years, because I've been watching. I know she's been mated to the Alpha's son and I know he's a horrible person who's abused her since she arrived." He relaxed slightly, lowering his hands to his side.

"What do you mean you've been watching?"

"I've been astral projecting myself here since she was little, looking in to see how she was doing."

"I don't understand, I found her alone in the woods."

"Who do you think led you to her? That was me."

"But I don't understand. Why did you abandon her? It seems like you're a perfectly fit mother."

"Her father and I didn't have a choice. In my coven, we are forbidden from mating with wolves, especially me as the High Priestess. We tried to resist the mate bond but we couldn't. Julianna is a result of that, and we tried to hide her for years because we knew if the elders of my coven discovered her, they would kill her. Finally, we realized it was going to be too hard, so we needed to find someone else to raise her. Had I known who this Alpha was, I would have picked a different pack. But I've seen how kind you have been to her, trying your best to protect her. Train her to learn to fight. So when I heard what happened, I knew you were her only hope to escape."

"Wait, you were in the woods that day?"

"Yes, and I led you to Julianna to make sure she was found safely. That doesn't matter now, we need to find a way to save her. This isn't the path she's supposed to be on."

"Who was your mate?" He asked me.

"His name was Joshua, he's the Alpha of the Evergreen Pack."

"So, Julianna is the daughter of an Alpha and High Priestess?"

"Yes!" Was this man actually listening to me? "She thinks she can't just reject Logan, but she can. He doesn't need to accept it since she's a higher-ranking wolf like he is. You need to tell her this, you need to help her get out."

"Okay, I understand, but right now the bond is the only thing keeping her alive. I have to wait until we're right on the border of the territory before she breaks it."

"When will that happen?"

"I don't know. She's safe until his Alpha ceremony in two days. The Alpha said once that's over they'll figure out what to do with her, and I have a feeling I know what direction he's gonna take."

"Then you have to take her right after!"

"Okay, okay... Wait a second, if you're so high and magical, why can't you just take her away?"

"I can't, I'm under constant surveillance from the elders. If they see her with me, they'll know she's my daughter immediately. She's still the product of forbidden love, they'll kill her."

་་།

I get it, and I'll do what I can."

"I have to go. I don't want anyone to realize I'm gone, or get my sister in trouble who's keeping watch. I'll check in from time to time and teleport to you if I can. Thank you, thank you Marvin for doing this." I reached out and shook his hand, before stepping back and focusing on my coven and my bedroom. I was back in the blink of an eye. I had two days to keep watch over her and hope that Marvin would be true to his word and get her out. I opened my door, to see the back of Dianna's head.

"What happened?" She asked, shoving me back into my room.

"I talked to Marvin. He's gonna try and get her out. She's safe for the next two days, but after Logan's Alpha ceremony, her fate is up in the air. There's no way his father is going to let her stay, and there's no way he'll just send her away if there's a chance Logan could go after her."

"He's gonna have her killed, I know he is," Dianna said forcefully. "It's the only way to break their bond and make sure Logan can't change his mind and take her as his mate."

"I won't let that happen. I'll intervene if I have to."

"You're willing to risk that?"

"I have to, she's my daughter. I'm not going to let that man kill her."

"What about Joshua? Do you think he could do anything?"

"Not from so far away. I'll tell him what's happening, but he can't go into the pack and demand the Alpha's mate for no reason."

"You're right, Marvin better figure out what to do fast." Dianna remarked.

"I know, he'll have to take her and try to help her escape. I don't know how that will go, but it's the only option available, it seems." There was a loud knock on my door. "Come in," I said, trying to gain back my composure.

"Madam," it was Gwendolyn, one of our training witches.

"Yes Gwen?"

"I'm sorry to disturb you, but the elders have requested your precense."

"Thank you Gwen. I'll be right there." She backed out of my room and closed the door.

"You don't think they know?" Dianna began.

"No, they can't have any idea. How could they? I'm sure it's for something insignificant." I was trying to convince us both that they had no idea about what was happening.

"I'll walk with you," Dianna said, opening the door. My heart was racing as I walked out of my room, and began making my way to the meeting room. I knocked three times, before placing my hand on the knob and turning it. If they did know what was happening, I would make damn sure to keep Julia alive while I could.