The Hybrid’s Second Chance
Chapter 42

Alexander's

POV

I had been in meetings for most of the day. Looking at my watch, I realized how late it was and that Julia had not come to see me. I wondered if she'd gotten tied up with Hannah or Elijah, but it seemed weird to me that neither of them would have said anything to me. This feeling like she needed me seemed to wash over me suddenly.

"Hannah, are you with Julia?"

"No, I took her to breakfast and then she went back to your apartment to organize everything we bought yesterday. She was supposed to come train with us, but I haven't seen her yet."

"You know what, I just remembered she was supposed to go to Dr. Williams today to have her stitches removed. That's probably where she is."

"Okay, let me know if you need help finding her." I cut the link with Hannah and opened one with Dr. Williams.

"Dr. Williams, is Julia with you?"

"Good afternoon, Alpha. Not currently. She was here a little while ago getting her stitches taken out, but she left with your mother." "My mother?"

"Yes, Luna Margaret came with her to the hospital, and then they left together. I'm not sure what they were doing but she's probably with her."

"Thank you, Dr. Williams." Sh*t, if she was with my mother alone there was no telling what lies she was filling her head with. I decided to cancel the last two meetings I had for the day and go find Julia.

"Mother, are you with Julia?" There was no answer from her. That wasn't a good sign. Packing up all my things quickly, I started towards my apartment. That was the first place I would look, seeing as Julia had so many things to go through, it would probably take a while. Walking through the door, I called out to her.

"Julia!" There was no answer. I went upstairs and into our bedroom, thinking maybe she was in the shower. "Julia are you in here?" Still, I was only met with silence. I searched the closet, bathroom, and the bedroom Julia had spent half her first night in. She was nowhere to be found. My Lycan was starting to panic.

"Mate!" he whined.

"We'll find her," I reassured him. Heading back into the kitchen, I saw a folded piece of paper on the island I had missed when I first came in. Opening it up, I saw a note in handwriting I didn't recognize. Dear Alexander,

I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, but after hearing all the things I'm going to be responsible for, it just all seems like too much for a she-wolf like me. I don't think I can do this anymore. Please don't be mad at me and please don't come looking for me. I've done what I should have done when I felt October Moon, I'm going to become a rogue. I hope you find a strong Lycan to be your mate. Please reject me so we can both find who we're supposed to be with. You should be with someone strong, who can be Queen. Julianna

Reading the letter, my heart sank. This didn't make any sense; she was just beginning to seem comfortable here with me. She seemed like she was ready to become my Luna. This had to be my mother's doing, she must have said something to Julia about how she shouldn't be here. But why wouldn't she just have rejected me? Why did I have to be the one to reject her? I had to get to the bottom of this.

"Mother! I need to talk to you now!" It took a second for her to reply again.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"Come to my apartment, NOW!"

"I'm on my way." I began pacing around my kitchen thinking about what was happening. There was no way Julia would leave me like this without saying anything. It didn't seem like something she would do. I took off my white suit jacket and poured myself a glass of whiskey. My mother finally came in about ten minutes later.

"Where have you been?"

"Just in the pack house."

"Care to explain this to me?" I said, pushing the letter towards her. She took it and read it slowly.

"I have no idea."

"Really? Because according to Dr. Williams, you were the last one with her. What did you say to her?"

"Nothing, I simply told her what her responsibilities would be as the Luna and Queen. She seemed a bit overwhelmed, but when I left her, she seemed in good spirits."

"Then how do you explain this? She wouldn't have just left without talking to me, there's no way."

"Well, in all honesty, you've only known her for a couple of days. How do you really know what she would and wouldn't do?"

"She's my mate!"

"I know that, but it doesn't seem like she wants to be anymore."

"We have to find her. She could be hurt. What if October Moon has found her?"

"Do you really think October Moon could get inside our borders and take her?"

"Possibly, I wouldn't put it past them."

"And they left this note? Is that what you're saying? Alexander, listen to yourself, what you're saying is impossible." I took another sip of my whiskey. "I'll make some tea for us; you need something better than whiskey." She started moving around the kitchen getting cups and the kettle. I went back upstairs to see if I could find anything else. Going back into the closet, I saw most of her new clothes hung up nicely. Then something caught my eye. It was the bags Julia had with her when I found her. If she took the time to take these with her when she escaped October Moon, there was no way she would leave them behind now. Running back down the stairs, and into the kitchen.

"I'm going to go talk to Elijah." I told my mom. I stepped outside into the fresh air.

"Elijah, I need to talk to you and Hannah immediately."

"Of course, Alpha, where are you?"

"Meet me outside my apartment."

"On our way." It only took a minute before I saw them running full speed towards me.

"Alex, what's wrong?" Hannah blurted out.

"It's Julia, she's gone."

"What?!" they said together.

"I came home and found a note that says she can't be my mate with all the responsibility it requires."

"That's insane, she wouldn't do something like that. What did mom say to her?" Hannah said.

"I don't know, but I don't think she really just left. I think something happened to her. I just don't know what. The bags she had when I first found her are still in the closet. She would never have left those, especially after taking them with her from October Moon. I want you two to get patrol groups together and send them into the woods. Search every corner of these woods, look for any sign of her." "Absolutely, we'll look all night if that's what it takes. Don't worry, we'll find her." Elijah clapped me on the back, while Hannah gave me a hug, before taking off. I went back into the kitchen, determined to get more information from my mother. She knew more than she was letting on. I could feel it.

"Here's your tea," she said, handing me a cup.

"Tell me what else you know. There has to be more to this story."

"I don't know anything. I told you everything I know."

"I don't believe you. Julia would never have left without the bags she came in with." She looked at me surprised.

"Drink your tea before it gets cold, it'll help calm you down." Just wanting to appease her, I rolled my eyes and took a quick sip.

"Now, I won't ask again......" Something was wrong, my vision was closing in, and I felt dizzy. I stumbled, knocking one of the stools over as I followed it to the ground.

Opening my eyes, there was nothing but blackness around me. I stood up and looked around, but there was nothing. No sound or light. "Hello!" Where the he** was I? What had been in that tea my mother had given me?

"Don't be afraid Alexander." There was a voice behind me, and I spun around quickly, to see a woman standing there, in long robes of dark blue. I had never seen her before, but she looked very familiar. The features of her face, and the dark wavy nature of her hair.

"Who are you? Where am I?"

"First, just know that you're safe. Second, I'm Cornelia Sullivan, Julia's birth mother."

"What? That doesn't make any sense. How, how are you here? Wherever here is."

"Here is inside your mind. I have a lot to tell you if you want to save your mate and my daughter." "What are you talking about?"

"We don't have a lot of time. Logan has Julia and plans to take her back as his mate."

"WHAT! How in the name of the Moon Goddess did he get her? She was here, I just saw her this morning!"

"I have no idea how he got her, but he did. She's currently being held in a house outside the October Moon's borders to the north. I can sense her, but I can't go to her. Logan says he'll kill her if I do." A loud growl ripped through me, as I wasn't able to control my Lycan's anger.

"I know you're angry, and please don't rip my head off when I tell you the next few pieces of information."

"What's that?"

"Logan hurt her, he hurt her so that I would feel it and come running to save her. He wanted me to make a potion that could be given to both of you to make you forget your mate bond with each other."

"HE DID WHAT?! You helped him!"

"I didn't have a choice. I made him the potion, but I didn't make it the way he wanted. I made it so it would put both of you in a dream-like state so I could talk to you. I'm going to tell Julia to play along with his plan, make him think she's forgotten about you. It's the only way he'll let her out of that house. Once he does, he'll take her back to October Moon, where he thinks he'll be able to mate and mark her."

"MINE!" My Lycan's angry claim came from my lips before I could stop it.

"It's okay, he won't get the chance because you'll be waiting for him. You know where he'll be and when to attack."

"Has he given the potion to Julia yet?"

"No, but he will soon. I'll go to her and tell her everything."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why did you abandon her all those years ago?"

"I had to; it was forbidden in my coven to be mated to a wolf. But you know what a mate bond is like. Her father and I couldn't stay away from each other. After she was born, we tried to hide her, but realized she needed more protection. I left her outside October Moon and led Marvin to her. I didn't know about the views of the pack, or I would have picked somewhere else."

"I'm sorry, I'm sure that must have been a difficult decision."

"It was the hardest thing I've ever done. Almost as hard as watching her get abused for fifteen years. I'm very happy she's found you, Alexander."

"Wait, if mating to a wolf is forbidden, isn't helping them also against the law?"

"Yes, it is. I'm breaking a lot of rules by doing this and my sister is very angry with me because I saved Marvin and Sandra from the dungeons after I made the potion. If the elders find out what I've done, they'll either kill me or strip me of my powers and banish me. But the safety of my daughter is much more important than anything. Now remember, she's in a safe house on the northernmost border. Wait for them near October Moon, and you'll be able to get her back." "So, if I'm in this dream-like state, it must have been the.... tea...." My mother was in on this entire thing!

"I have to go. If I can help in any other way, I will. Save Julia, please." Cornelia started to fade away, as the blackness around me started to diminish. Light was engulfing me, as I was coming out of this state. When I woke up, my mother was in for a rude awakening.