The Hybrid’s Second Chance
Chapter 21

Marvin's POV

Cornelia disappeared right before my very eyes. I appreciated her coming and trying to save us, but I knew the risk she would be taking if anyone found out what she did.

"Are you going to tell me who you were talking to?"

"It was Julia's birth mother."

"What? Her... What?"

"Her birth mother, Cornelia Sullivan from the High Moon Coven."

"Her mother's a witch?"

"Yes, and her father is the Alpha of a werewolf pack. Their love was forbidden, but they still tried to make it work. Cornelia gave birth to Julianna, and they tried to hide her from Cornelia's coven for fear they would kill her. They realized it wouldn't be possible, so they left her by our pack and guided me to her. She's been watching over her for the last 15 years, and I promised her I would help Julia escape, which I have. She came here to get us out, but I told her no. If her coven finds out she's been lying to them and that she helped us, they could kill her. Then Julianna would truly have no one left to look after her." Sandra didn't say anything for several minutes. I think it was information overload.

"When did you find all this out?" she finally asked.

"The day Julia found out Logan was her mate." "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want anyone to know that didn't have to. Cornelia took a great risk coming to talk to me. I didn't think she would turn up again. I'm sorry, I didn't want to hurt you by not telling you. I only wanted to protect you." We didn't have time to continue the conversation any further because the door to the dungeon opened. Light spilled into the dimly lit room, and I couldn't make out who was descending the stairs. Logan came into view as he got closer to my cell. "Where's Julia?" He demanded.

"I don't know." He growled angerly.

"I know you had this planned for a while. Now where is she?" His Alpha aura was suffocating Ray and myself and I knew I wouldn't be able to lie to him.

"I swear I don't know. I planned for her to go to the human town, but since she got hit with the knife, I don't know what happened." He stopped and his eyes got wide.

"She got hit with a knife. Who hit her with a knife?"

"Keith did. I only planned to take her into the woods and let her escape, but your father sent warriors with us to make sure I killed her. I pulled out the knife but threw it at them and she ran. Keith picked it up and ran after her. I don't know what happened after that. Sandra followed them." Logan turned his attention to Sandra now.

"You know where she is, don't you?"

"No, Alpha. I attacked Keith, but Julia took off into the woods. I didn't see her again." He glared at her, and then turned back to me. "Why? Why did you do this?"

"Your father ordered me to kill her. I couldn't let that happen. I love her like a daughter." I had never told that to anyone, I certainly never planned to tell Logan, but his aura was making me and Ray submit. Then he asked me something I had hoped I would never have to tell him.

"Do you know anything about Julia's family? I know you found her; you have to know something we don't know." I tried to resist this question. I didn't want him to know the true power she came from. If he did, he might go after her. I think he sensed my hesitation to mean I did know something. "I said tell me now!" Resisting his command was painful, and finally I gave in.

"Her father is the Alpha of a werewolf pack, and her mother is the High Priestess of a coven," I said through gritted teeth.

"How do you know this?" he asked in surprise. Again, I tried to resist but couldn't.

"Her mother came to me and told me. She wanted me to get Julia out because she'd watch you torture her for years."

"She'd watch? How is that possible? How did she come to you?"

"I don't know. That's all she told me, and she teleported from her coven." It was so quiet in the dungeons you could hear a pindrop. Logan didn't say anything for a few seconds.

"I'm going to find her and bring her back. She belongs with me as her mate."

"No, let her be! She's finally free of you!"

"The two of you will stay here until after my ceremony tomorrow. After that, I'll be the one to decide what to do with you. For now, I'm keeping you alive in case I need more information." He walked out of the dungeons, leaving me to hang my head in shame at having told him everything he wanted to know. "Damm*t," I muttered.

"I'm sorry you had to tell him all of that. Did Julia's mother say where she was?" Sandra asked hopefully.

"No, she only said she's safe. And I'm glad she didn't tell me, or I would have been forced to tell Logan and he would have gone after her." Ray was whining in my mind. He hated having to submit to an Alpha's will. After I attacked the warriors and Gregory came running, he stripped me of my Beta title. It didn't matter so much to me, anyway, seeing as after tomorrow it was going to someone else. I slumped back against the wall, thinking about Julia. If she was hit with a silver knife, then it wasn't going to heal quickly. She needed help, but Cornelia said she was safe. I had to take comfort in the fact that she wouldn't have said that unless it was true.

"Marvin, what's going on? Are you okay?" Beth was frantic in my head.

"I'm okay as of right now. I'm in the dungeons with Sandra. My plan kind of blew up in my face. I think Gregory knew I could never hurt Julia, so he sent a bunch of warriors to make sure I did what he asked. I couldn't kill her, so I attacked the warriors and Sandra joined in."

"Oh sweetheart," her voice was crestfallen and disappointed.

"I'm sorry, my love."

"It's okay, I understand why you did what you did. How am I still able to mind link you? Don't they have you chained in silver?" she asked, puzzled.

"Not anymore. They took them off when we got down here. I'm sure they know we won't try to escape. You should be prepared for when Gregory comes to talk to you. I'm sure he's going to suspect you knew something."

"I'm sure he will, and we both know I won't be able to lie to him. It's only a matter of time before I'm right next to you."

"Let's hope that doesn't happen," I said reassuringly, even though I knew it wasn't true.

"I love you so much Marvin."

"I love you too, Beth. Try your best and avoid Gregory and Logan." I cut the link.

"Gregory is probably going to integrate Beth. She knew what I was planning. I never should have told her."

"Well, it's too late to think like that now. What's done is done." Sandra and I sat in silence for a while. I'm not sure there was anything left that could be said.

"You said Julia's birth mother would come and watch her?" Sandra asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes, apparently she's been doing it for fifteen years but never stepped in or anything like that. She would just check up to see how she was doing. She was very happy about the relationship the two of you had." I heard her sigh. "You mean the relationship we HAD, there's a 99% chance I'm never going to see her again. I'll either be killed or stuck in this cell the rest of my life."

"At least we know she's safe. I just hope Logan never manages to locate her. She's been through enough."

"Marvin," Sandra called, barely above a whisper.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for always looking out for Julia, and for risking your own life to save hers. After Richard died, you were the best father figure she had. Also, thank you for training her all those years." I jerked my head up when she said that. "Wait, you know? You knew I was training her and never said anything?"

"Of course, I knew, I'm her mother. I just figured why say anything? She tried so hard to hide it from me. I knew she didn't want me to know in case Gregory found out, but I did. I even watched a few sessions. She was very good." "She really was. Now knowing who her birth parents are, it makes sense."

"Well, I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for us."

"You're welcome. It's been an honor to keep her safe all these years, and if this is the end for me. I'll go out knowing I saved a beautiful young woman from a lifetime of misery."