Hunter's POV
I sat in the middle of a private room inside the King's castle. My eyes bulged as I looked into space. I was dazed. My mind could not wrap around everything that had just been discussed here. How... how am I going to break all this information to Abbie? If she finds out I know the truth about her and didn't tell her... she's going to kill me.
"Nothing about what we talked about today can leave this room. Are we understood?" the king warns us, making me raise a brow, still feeling dumbfounded. My baby... my Abbie... my cardigan girl... the daughter of the notorious Alpha, Elora.
So, done smack me or pinch me, I think I'm dreaming.
Holy shits man... my girl is actually more powerful than I thought. I mean, don't get me wrong, my sassy diva is one strong woman. I never doubted that, but she's actually a hybrid.... A fucking hybrid! No wonder she was able to make Titus submit to her even before we marked her.
I sighed... blinking to make myself come back from my trance, and cleared my throat. "If that's all for today, Arturo... I think I will take my leave. I have a lot to think about."
"Hunter, son... I get you're troubled. But take in mind that Queen Elena's private jet is just minutes away. She will sense something if she hasn't already. We need to cooperate with her and let Abbie know what is happening. We need to stop this woman before she can cause any harm." the king added, making me purse my lips with a nod.
I understand. But I need to talk to Abigail first. I will not force her to partake in something g she is unaware of. I must warn her first and see... where this takes us."
"I don't think you understand the fragility of this situation, son."
"Believe me, I do." I cut him off, making him raise a brow.
"Please trust that I will do everything in my power to cooperate, but this is my mate you are talking about and my pack's Luna. I will not put her in any harm's way, even if she is the lost princess. My duty to her as her mate and alpha is to protect her. And I will do so against anyone that stands in my way." I said sternly, making him nod in approval.
King Arturo was a strong leader and a very respectable man. But that doesn't give him the right to give me orders against my people. Abbie is no ordinary member of my pack, and though everyone is equally important to our pack, Abbie is my mate and Luna. She's the girl I have loved all of my life.
I'd rather surrender my life before I put her in any danger.
(A few hours later)
I sat at a restaurant not too far away from the king's castle, having lunch with Brandon, Kaiden, Ricky, and our betas. I had no desire to eat. This entire situation had me in turmoil and thus, making me lose my appetite.
"I knew something was off with that girl, but damn... she's fucking coo-coo!" Kaiden says, making me scoff.
"Yeah, no kidding. Do you see why I keep having to keep an eye on her? And you guys were telling me I was overthinking things and overreacting. I knew... I knew something was off. Titus is never wrong. That fucking psycho pup knows shit!" I said as I grabbed a piece of bread in the middle of the table and harshly took a bite.
"Who you calling psycho pup? I'm not the one who was falling in love with a cardigan!" Titus taunts, making me grunt inwardly.
"Shut up, Titus. You know what I mean."
"Yeah, well, that bitch better not get anywhere near our Abbie. Hybrid or not, she's still our mate. If she dares hurt Abbie or my baby Merida, I will kill her." Titus roared, making me give a low growl. Everyone looked at me quietly, making me clear my throat. "Sorry. Force of habit."
Brandon and Ricky chuckled, making me feel a bit embarrassed. "Anyway. We need to work up a plan." Brandon suggested, making Henry and Vincent nod.
"Yeah, no kidding. This isn't going to be easy." Asher adds, making us look at him.
"It's just one girl; how hard can it be?" Brandon adds.
"She's a witch, Brandon. You cannot take a witch for granted. They're trickster. She could be disguising herself as anyone, not just the girl you're used to if she's a shifter, of course, which most witches can do. This woman... Matisa seems to be very powerful. I can talk to my mom and Aunt Emma... maybe they can give us some insight. See if they know more about this person."
"Do you think they'd be willing to help? What if they don't know about this crazy witch?"
"You forget my aunt is over 7 thousand years old. She's as old as all the elders in my pack. If anyone knows about Matisa and how to finish her, it is Aunt Emma." Asher says, giving us a gleam of hope.
"For our sake, I hope you're right, Asher." I felt so deflated, but I needed to mascarade my concerns and do what was necessary, not just for Abbie and her long-lost family. But if the king was right, all of our species in general could be at risk. Matisa obviously has a grudge against our kind, and it's only a matter of time before she starts killing us off.
"I won't let her hurt Abbie. If she even dares, I will personally rip her damn head off." I said, making Henry look at me worriedly.
We sat there for a long while, eating a bit and coming up with a plan. By the end, I was more worried and puzzled than before. Henry drove us home. An awkward silence filled the air. I had no desire to be bothered, so I asked him to keep the music off.
The gates quickly opened as we reached the gates, and an awful feeling of nostalgia filled my heart as we drove past the long road lined with Dad's olive trees on either side of the road.
Abbie loved olive trees. She had a special kind of liking for them. She saw them as a symbol of peace, harmony, and unity.
I couldn't help but fight back a knot caught in my throat as I pictured her popping a fresh olive in her mouth with a bright smile from the last time we cooked in our loft. It was just a few nights before we rescued Anthony. We had stayed up late watching movies, making dinner together, and falling asleep on the sofa.
That sofa... that damn fucking uncomfortable sofa. Abbie has asked me to get rid of it, and I have been stubbornly postponing it. The first thing I'm going to do inside that room is get rid of that sofa and get her that oversized couch she wanted, with the recliners and footrests.
I cleared my throat and got out of the car as soon as I felt it come to a halt, not wasting a minute. I was eager to see my Abbie. I sprinted past everyone, waving their way as they greeted me.
Hunter, honey, you're home." my mom called out with a smile, but I was too preoccupied with Abbie, wanting to see that she was ok.
"Hi, mom. Love you, Mom." I said as I sprinted past her and ran up the stairs in a rush.
"Abbie!"
"Ab-" I called out as I rushed inside, opened the door to our room, and gasped as I saw the event taking place in front of me.
"Hi, Hunter!" Anthony smiled as Abbie and he danced while making cookies. There were ingredients displayed, covering the entire kitchen island. Abbie had a little flour residue on her apron, and Anthony looked like he had gotten into a fight with the batter, which made me chuckle.
"Hi, baby!" Abbie calls out, running to me and launching her arms around my neck, claiming my lips with a kiss.
I kissed her back, hugging her tightly as if it was one of the last times I'd get to hold her this way. If I have to... I will die for her. But she will not be put in any harm's way.
I don't know how dangerous this Matisa is, and I'm doubting my abilities now... but I will fight with everything I have in me to keep Abbie away from her.