The Hybrid’s Second Chance
Chapter 27

Julianna's POV

I went into the kitchen and saw Alex taking something out of the oven. He turned to look at me before I even had time to say anything. Mate smell combined with his Lycan senses, I guess. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and a huge smile spread across his face. "You look amazing," he commented.

"Thank you. The people who picked this out have good taste." I took a seat at the island, and I noticed he had already setup with glasses, silverware, and napkins.

"I'll tell them you said that."

"What are you making?" I asked.

"Steaks and parmesan couscous. I hope you like that. I should have asked beforehand."

"No, that sounds amazing." I smiled, letting him know I appreciated his gesture.

"How do you like your steak cooked?" he asked.

"Medium rare is perfect."

"Great, if you said well done, we would have to rethink this whole mate thing," he winked and I rolled my eyes. I was enjoying these interactions with him, it felt so normal and right. Like I had known him my entire life. He put the steaks on a cutting board and turned back to the stove.

"Who taught you how to cook?" I asked him.

"My grandmother and mother actually. When my sister and I were younger, my mom was very hands-on. My grandmother took over raising us when my mother was busy."

"That's nice. My mom taught me a couple of things in the kitchen, but we mostly ate in the pack dining hall. Do you normally eat here, or do you guys have a dining hall?"

"We do have a dining hall, and everyone eats there most days. With so many pack members, the kitchen is more like a restaurant. We have a set menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that changes weekly."

"That's nice, I like that idea. We did more of a buffet style breakfast, lunch, and dinner so people could come and go during that time period."

"That's a smart way to do it too," he added.

"That was about the only thing that made sense about my old pack."

"Your old pack?" he asked, emphasizing the word 'old'.

"Oh, I didn't mean. It just came out..."

"It's okay sweets, I love that you consider them your 'old' pack." He turned around to face me now. "I told you before, I want you here with me, and I'm not talking just for a few days, I'm talking for the rest of your life." I smiled at him, and he turned back to his work on the stove. "Do you want something to drink?" He asked, indicating to the bottle of alcohol on the counter.

"Oh no, I can't."

"You don't like to drink or?"

"No, I'm only 18. Wait, how old are you?

"27," he said, flashing me a sly dimpled smile.

"I believe they call that robbing the cradle," I joked.

"Nah, when you get into the 15-year age gap then you can say that." Alex cut up the steaks and placed them on the waiting plates, followed by a red sauce. He spooned the couscous last before placing one of the plates in front of me. "Thank you," I told him. "This is the first time a man has ever cooked for me."

"An error of the highest order," he laughed, sitting down next to me. "How are you feeling?"

"Good, I haven't had any pain since last time."

"That's great, Dr. Williams will be happy to hear that. I figured we could go back tomorrow so he can check you out again."

"Sounds good," I told him, placing a piece of steak in my mouth. It was probably the best steak I have ever tasted. "This is fantastic," I praised him.

"I'm glad you like it. It's the fastest thing I can make. How did you make out upstairs? Is there anything else I can pick up for you?"

"No, I think I have more than enough to get me through the night."

"I am taking you into the city tomorrow to go shopping for clothes. I'm sorry you don't have anything from your old pack."

"Well, I have my purse and a bag Marvin left for me, and that's really all I need." I had put the bags on the bedside table in my bedroom when Alex had showed it to me.

"Why did Marvin leave you a bag?"

"Okay, I guess there's no time like the present. I'll tell you about the events that led me into the woods the other day."

"I'll give you my undivided attention," Alex said, looking into my eyes.

"I guess the first place to start is when Marvin found me outside our pack at three years old. I don't know how I got there, but my parents had to give me up for some reason. Marvin quickly realized I was a hybrid, which wasn't allowed in my old pack. The Alpha, Gregory, hates hybrids or anyone that isn't a pure wolf. For some reason, I'll never understand, he let me stay. The Gamma female, Sandra, took me in as her own along with her mate.

He died not long after and my mom was demoted from her position. We were forced out of the pack house and to the outskirts of the pack. As I grew up, I was the object of Gregory's son, Logan's torture. He made my life a living hell and so did his friends." That is when I noticed Alex's eyes flash black. He blinked a few times, taking a deep breath, until his eyes returned to their normal blue.

"Sorry, my Lycan doesn't like the idea of anyone laying a hand on you." I reached down and took his hand in mine. "I understand."

"Please continue, he knows to control himself."

"So, I got older and was allowed to attend school but was forbidden from doing pretty much anything else. I wasn't allowed to train; I wasn't allowed to use my powers or even talk about them. I couldn't go to pack functions, no one wanted to talk to me besides my mom and my best friend Naomi. They did let me work in the pack house. I worked in the daycare there, looking after the pups of the ranking members.

Marvin tried his best to protect me when he could. He also decided to train me on the weekends without anyone knowing. He wanted me to be able to defend myself. I was getting along fine for the most part, but then my 18th birthday came along, and everything went to sh*t. That's the day I found out Logan was my mate. The man who hated me most in this world. I tried to reject him, but he wouldn't let me. He slapped me just for trying, and told me, being an omega, I didn't have the power to reject him." Alex went rigid on his stool, and I squeezed his hand reassuringly. His eyes didn't go black, but it looked like he was struggling internally.

"Well, after that, I tried to go home but Gregory ordered me to be brought to Logan's apartment. He locked me in and posted a guard at the door to make sure I didn't try and escape. Then Logan went to my house and brought back a bunch of my things, stating I would be staying with him until they figured out what to do with me. He didn't want me as his Luna, but he couldn't reject me either, his wolf wouldn't let him. So, I stayed up there for what felt like an eternity, but really it was only about 24 hours or so. It might have been longer, but I was only there for one night. Marvin told me he was trying to figure out a way to get me out.Posted by FindNovel.net

I'm not sure what time it was, but the next day I was drawing out on the balcony trying to have a little minute of feeling normal, when Marvin came in and told me to get up. He walked me to the elevator. Once we were inside alone, he told me he was taking me to the woods to let me go. He left the bag in our training area, which was near the border, with some money and things to help me get to the human town. That's when he also told me I was the daughter of an Alpha and High Priestess, so I was able to reject Logan and he didn't have to accept it.

Unfortunately, when the elevator doors opened there were five warriors waiting for us. Gregory had sent them to make sure Marvin killed me like he ordered. I guess he knew Marvin would never be able to hurt me. Marvin took us as close to our training area as he could, which is where he planned to let me go, and my mom was waiting for us. She had come to say goodbye because Marvin told her the plan. He pulled out a silver knife, while the warriors watched. Instead of attacking me, he threw the knife at the warriors and turned on them.

My mom also joined in the fight. I don't know what happened to them because I ran. I ran to the training area, got the bag, rejected Logan, and cut my ties to the pack. One of the warriors had broken free and came after me. He had the knife and that's when he hit me with it, as I was running away. My mom came running and attacked him, which is how I got away. I ran for a while and tried to stop the bleeding with my shirt. Eventually, I collapsed under a tree, but knew I had to keep going, so I crawled. I don't remember anything after that, until I woke up in the hospital."

Alex was quiet for a minute; I think he was trying to process everything I had just dumped on him. Finally, he spoke.

"Julia, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry you had to experience all those years of torment. You've experienced things no one should have to go through. Thank you for telling me everything. I want you to know, you will never experience anything like that again. Fu*k those people for treating you the way they did. I hope your family is okay. I can't believe you managed to get away from all of that the day after you turned 18."

"I didn't even get to shift for the first time," I said, just now coming to that realization.

"You haven't?" he asked.

"No, I wasn't allowed to go to the shifting ceremony like everyone else, and then I was locked in Logan's room." A deep growl came from Alex, which surprised me.

"I'm sorry, my Lycan wants to go to your old pack and rip the Alpha and his son's heads off."

"I wouldn't be mad if he did," I laughed.

"I really don't know what else to say except, thank you for opening up to me. I still don't know what led me to you in the woods, but I'm glad it happened."

"Me too, there's a reason for everything that's happened to me. I know that. Maybe the reason was all leading me here to you."

"So, back to the whole, you haven't shifted yet. Should we change that?" He asked.

"You mean right now?"

"Why not right now?"

"Um," I looked around nervously.

"We can go outside into the woods, just me and you."

"Come on Julia, I've been waiting long enough!"

"You've been waiting two days."

"Two days too long. Come on..." She whined.

"I think Sofia would take over and shift right here if I said no." Alex's face lit up.

"Come on, I know the perfect spot." He took my hand and started leading me out of his apartment.

"Where are we going?" I asked as we crossed the lawn and headed into the forest.

"There's this beautiful place that I think you'll appreciate more than the last person I showed." We walked for a while, until Alex led me into a clearing with a beautiful lake.

"Wow, it's amazing." There were wildflowers growing everywhere, and I could see a few bunnies and squirrels running about.

"I thought you'd like it. This is where I was when I caught your scent for the first time." He smiled down at me and wrapped his arm around my waist, bringing me close to him. I leaned my head against his chest, as it was the highest, I could reach, and relaxed into his arm. I could stand here with him like this, in this special place for the rest of my life.