The Hybrid’s Second Chance
Chapter 48

Julianna's

POV

After everything that had happened to us today, we were finally on our way home. Alex had let all our warriors go back to the pack already, so it was just him, me, Elijah, and Hannah running together in the woods. I was enjoying the run back to the pack, even though I knew what we had to do once we got there. We had to figure out what to do with Alex's mom. We all stopped and shifted back when we got inside our borders. Cornelia had conjured clothes for all of us, and when we left, we had made sure to tie them to our legs so we could put them back on. Alex took me by the hand and led the way into the pack house and up to his office.

Hannah and Elijah were following close behind us. No one was saying anything, and the tension was hanging in the air around us like a blanket. I couldn't imagine how we were going to talk about their mother and her punishment. She had betrayed Alex, me, and Hannah in the worst way. Plotting to kidnap me and make Alex forget about our bond, forcing him to mate and mark another Lycan. Entering Alex's office, I looked around, this was the first time I had been here. It wasn't nearly as large as I thought the Lycan King would have. It was modestly furnished with a large desk sitting in front of large French doors that opened to a balcony. The light hardwood contrasted nicely with the light gray walls.

At one end of the room was a sitting area with built-in bookshelves on three walls, making it look like a library. At the other end of the room housed a wood burning fireplace with a couch in front and a large TV over top of the mantel. All the furniture was light and modern, as if it had been updated within the last couple of years. It was very beautiful, in my opinion, and it felt like it fit Alex's personality well. In front of his desk were two high back chairs. I took a seat in one, and Hannah took a seat in the other, while Elijah stood beside her.

"I know this discussion is going to be hard, but it's something we have to do," Alex said, taking a seat in his chair. "Right now, our mother is in the dungeons for her involvement in this heinous crime. Julia, I need you to tell us everything that happened to you after you left breakfast with Hannah this morning. We need every detail so we can all decide her punishment together."

"Okay, I can do that. Will you tell me what happened to you?" I asked.

"Of course." I took a deep breath and began my story.

"So, after I got done breakfast with Hannah, I went back to our apartment to start organizing everything. After a couple of hours, the doorbell rang, and it was your mom. I let her in, and she said she was there to help me organize. She and I were in the closet talking, and she was hinting I wasn't fit to be your Luna, when I remembered, I was supposed to get my stitches taken out. I told her and she insisted on coming with me. After we got there, she disappeared while I was with Dr. Williams, I have no idea what she was doing. It took longer than I was expecting, and when I finally caught up with her, she seemed annoyed.

That's when she insisted on showing me the borders of the pack, because it was vital to my Luna knowledge. We walked for a while, and she continued to tell me how terrible of a Luna and Queen I would be. We finally stopped near the lake, the same border where you found me. That's when she came up behind me and injected me with wolfsbane. I knew it was wolfsbane because I could feel it in my veins and Sofia was gone instantly. She said something about working too hard to have me ruin the pack? The next thing I remember was waking up in that basement alone."

"Okay, so she must have gotten the wolfsbane from the hospital. I'm sure no one questioned her walking around, and I'm sure she just said she was waiting for you," Hannah said.

"I agree," added Alexander.

"I knew she wasn't happy with the two of you, but I never thought she'd take it this far." Hannah slumped back in her seat, while Elijah just hung his head.

"Do you want me to keep going?" I asked.

"Yes, I want every detail. This might be something we need to take to the elder's council."

"Well, after I woke up, I didn't know where I was, how I got there, or what was going to happen. Eventually, Logan's Beta and Gamma came down the stairs. They took a picture of me to send to Logan, letting him know I was awake. Then they...." I stopped here. I knew Alex was going to be angry about them hurting me the way they did. I had healed by the time he saw me, so I don't think he even realized it had happened, but I wasn't sure.

"What happened next?" Alex asked.

"After lan and Tyler came downstairs, Tyler held me down while lan...... beat the sh*t out of me." Alex's nostrils flared as he sucked in a breath. His hands, which were resting on the table, started to sprout hair as his Lycan pushed to the surface. I did the only thing I could think of doing. I got up, walked over to him, and placed my arms around his neck, resting my head on his shoulder. His arms snaked around my waist, pulling me down onto his lap. Nuzzling his face into my neck and inhaling deeply. "It's okay, I'm okay now." "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you," he mumbled, half in his voice and half in his Lycan's feral one.

"It's okay, it's not your fault." I let him hold me for a minute or two while he calmed down. Leaning up, I cupped his face in my hands and gave him a soft kiss. When I tried to get up, he held me firm on his lap, and I smiled at him. "I guess the point of hurting me was so my birth mother felt it and came to help."

"She told me the same thing," Alex added. "She just didn't tell me the extent to which they hurt you."

"Right, so I woke up back in the bed and Logan was there. He talked to me about wanting me back as his mate, but I refused. That's when he called Tyler and lan down; they held me down while he poured the potion into my mouth. Next thing I knew, I woke up in complete darkness, and my birth mom was there. She told me that you were coming for me and that I had to play along with Logan's plan. So, that's what I did when I came out of the dream state. I pretended not to remember you or our bond. I even pretended not to remember all the horrible things he had done to me. That's how I got out of the house, and to the border where I knew you would be waiting. You guys know the rest of the story from there." Hannah and Elijah were just looking at me, their mouths slightly agape. "Girl, you have some major acting skills to pull that off. I would never have been able to fake it that well," Hannah said.

"I don't think I did; I just think Logan wanted me as his mate so badly he'd believe anything."

"That still doesn't solve the problem about what to do with your mom," added Elijah. "What did she do to you?" I asked.

"I was working and noticed you hadn't come to see me. This overwhelming feeling like you needed me took over, so I canceled the last of my meetings for the day, and mind linked Hannah asking if she'd seen you. She told me not since breakfast, and that's when I remembered you were supposed to get your stitches out today. I mind linked Dr. Williams, and he's the one who told me you were with my mom. There was no good that could come of that, so when I came home and found you gone, I asked her to meet me. I also found a letter from you saying you no longer wanted to be my mate."

"What?"

"Yes, I guess my mom must have written it trying to make it look like you had run away. When I talked to her, she lied right to my face, saying she had no idea what happened. After I saw your two bags still in the closet, I knew something must have happened. I called Elijah and Hannah, telling them what had happened. I asked them to send patrol groups into the woods to look for you. Once I came back inside, my mother had made tea which she insisted I drink. I took one sip and that's when the potion took hold of me. I woke up in total blackness and your mother was there. She told me where you were and that you would be playing along with his plan. She's the reason I was able to come for you."

"I've lost track of how many laws your mother has broken," Elijah huffed.

"I know, I think a matter this big should be turned over to the elder's council," Alex told us.

"I think you're right," Elijah said.

"Hannah, what do you think?" Alex asked her.

"I think you're both right. She has to be punished for what she did. She had the Luna kidnaped and almost killed, which could have killed you in turn. Whatever they decide, I think she'll deserve it."

"Alright, I'll send word to the elders council in the morning they need to have a meeting. Now, I think it's late and we've all earned a good night's rest." Alex looked at me and I nodded. Everyone stood up, exchanged hugs and goodnights, before going our separate ways. Hannah and Elijah went up to their floor, while Alex and I walked back to our apartment. When we got to the door, Alex opened it but stopped before we walked through.

"I don't know about you, but I have no intention of a full night's sleep." His eyes flashed black with lust, and he scooped me up in his arms. "We haven't talked about marking each other yet, but after almost losing you, I don't want to wait."

"I don't either. I want to be your Luna, your Queen, and your everything. I'm yours," I told him, reaching a hand behind his neck and pulling him in for a kiss.