Alpha’s Hybrid Cinderella – Chapter 73

Nine years before Claudia and Evan reunited on Dark Moon territory, they met once before in a dark forest not too far away. Freezing rain pelted the trees, and winds battered the branches so hard that with each gust, needles and twigs and stray leaves ripped off to fly about. In the dark of that winter night, a young boy staggered through the heart of the forest, bleeding and bruised everywhere from head to toe.

Something was strange about this forest. Evan had never seen such thick fog before, especially when this was no ordinary rainfall. Was it even possible for a mist this thick to roll in with freezing rain?

He groped forward blindly, unable to see anything past the thick curtain. Even if the way forward was concealed from his sight, he had to keep moving. He had run far and fast to get away from the older and stronger werewolves pursuing him, and although this mist made it impossible to know where he was going, it helped him avoid capture at the same time. Those werewolves would have just as hard a time trying to find him, after all.

only Evan had enough room in his tormented, torn soul for relief. But after everything he had seen, after everything those monsters had made him watch as one sat on his back, forcing him to the ground, he didn’t know if he could feel anything ever again. Numb horror, yes, for the rest of his life, dark fury that sat impotent in his chest — but nothing

they laughed over his dying body, taunting him about how they

he looked.

s bones. If he could shift into his wolf, he would survive longer, but he was too weak to do even that. He had no choice but to drag himself fo

im to fight on and live. He had to make it…

ripped over a large, gnarled root sticking out of the ground. Only when he collapsed did he realize he had fallen at the base of a towering tree, somehow perfectly cradled between its curved roots. It wasn’t even cold anymore. Warm… Comfortable. The freezing touch of the rain sapping his body heat no longer bothered him. And he was so sleepy — he should sleep right here since he wasn’t going to find shelter anyway.

up.”

what was that?

d lovely brown hair with little waves in it, and her eyes were an enchanting hazel — no, was that a little green in there? He couldn’t tell. Everything about her was so bright, so pretty, so soft and comforting. It was a different kind of comfort than the false one he had slipped into moments ago, not the hypothermia dragging him into eternal sleep. This was… real warmth.

nd, and when she stumbled back in surprise, he refu

ged at his wrist. “Ouch.”

wn. She even crept a little closer before kneeling next to him on the verdant grass, not minding the wetness soaking through her dress. Then again, she was soaked anyway, just like him.

he couldn’t lose her, no matter what. She had to stay by his side. He had to keep her in his sight.

tongue and danced like sugar. He almost closed his eyes again. How could anything smell so good?

can share our body heat, okay? We’ll be fine until the rain stops.”

osed his eyes, but it wasn’t because he was about to fall asleep like the girl thought. It was simply because her scent was so captivating, he couldn’t believe it was real — couldn’t believe he was awake and

Oh, no! You’re hurt!”

Well, the mist was thick, so maybe she had missed them the first time. But the coppery scent of his blood caking his skin and clothes should have tipped her off. How could she hav

iticizing her was the last thing on his mind. If anything, her obliviousness only made him grow warmer inside, and he took a steadying breath to catch himself before he threw his arms around her. He wanted her to stay close. He wanted her to stay right next to him — not just now, but forever. What was this feeling? So confusing, so intense, so–

y?”

ous weather? Didn’t she know there were dangerous men about?

ed him, ever so soft and bewitching. It wasn’t safe here. He needed to protect her… He needed to m

e end of his strength, it was the most he could do to try to mind-link with her, despite them being stranger children from different packs. But she never answered. It was as if she couldn’t hear him.

ashes, all of the wounds he had earned in his desperate escape from his parents’ murderers, and one by one… they faded.

tayed, would the wounds inside him fade, too?

hurt so much less.

o the girl’s gentle song.