UNEDITED

Prince Markus' POV:

The atmosphere in the room was tense. The coven leader's mate had me sitting in an armchair next to the fireplace. My hands clutched the edge of the armrests. I had sent Anthony to return to the castle to update my father on our new findings. He should have been back by now. The coven leader and his mate have been quiet since our previous discussion. They sense my inner turmoil as I sit rigidly. I could feel their glances thrown my way. Enough is enough. I refuse to sit around when there can be something done.

The door to the office is thrown open, loudly hitting the wall. The alarmed wide-eyed vampire swivels his head around the room not knowing who to speak to first.

"Out with it!"

"The King and his men are here!"

I knew instantly something was wrong. My father sent me on this trip. He wouldn't have followed me without letting me know first. From the look of the frazzled messenger, something was wrong.

Everyone is out the door in seconds, meeting the King's party as they walk out of the forest. I'm at my father's side in seconds.

"What happened?!"

The men bow at my sudden arrival. I scan the group and their haggard appearance. I sense Coven Leader Lukas and his mate nearby.

"Someone start talking. Now."

"The King needs to be looked at Sir. We were attacked by hunters."

The doctor arrives promptly. We have a doctor, but we rarely need one. Vampires don't get sick. He glances over my father, mumbling to himself. I begin pacing with impatience. He stands up and signals for the men to carry the King inside.

As my father is carried away, I hear someone grumble from the group.

"What was that, boy?"

His eyes widen at my approach. Quickly ducking his head, he refuses to meet my eyes.

Good. I knew they were turning red. My vampire would only see it as disrespectful. My chest rumbles.

"I was just saying that- that it was all because of that woman!"

The group stills and the men begin to look nervous.

'What.Woman.' I bite out each word through my elongating fangs.

My vampire was fighting for control. Before I can answer the Coven Leader jumps in. His eyes are calculating as he asks for them to explain what happened with the woman.

After the men fumble to describe what happened, he turns to his mate with a grin.

"That's her!" His mate nods with tears in her eyes. She clutches her necklace to her chest and softly murmurs to herself. Tearing my eyes away, I finally gain some control.

"Her? As in the hybrid?"

The couple look to me finally remembering my presence.

"Yes Sire."

Turning to my father's men, I thank them for bringing my father home and instruct them to go inside and rest. The Coven Leader's mate bustles around them, leading them into her home.

When everyone is gone, I turn to Lukas who is the only one left standing. He watches me silently.

"Tell me everything you know about the hybrid."

Erin POV:

The forest was quiet. Birds called to each other from above while small creatures scurried below on the forest floor. My presence scared any remaining forest animals as they all took cover. They could feel a predator nearby. My beasts purred at the thought. I couldn't help the feeling of power it gave me. Having someone terrified of you. Like those hunters.

All that blood.

My feet still and I inhale deeply. I could feel my beasts yearning for the hunt.

They had been relatively silent since the whole hunter fiasco. But now they only had one thing on their mind. And a small forest animal was not going to do.

My beasts pushed and fought for control but I resisted.

*"Let us in." My vamp hisses. My wolf growls her annoyance.

Shaking my head, I try to ignore their angry snarls and hissing. No. No. No more killing. They fight more aggressively in response. Clutching my head, a wave of dizziness causes me to lose my balance. I try to steady myself but my foot catches on the uneven ground, sending me sprawling to the forest floor. My head throbs from the fall and from my beasts within.

Tears of frustration were welling in my eyes. I quietly beg for them to stop. I didn't want to kill anymore.

*"But the power!"

"I don't want it!!" My scream fills the woods as everything finally goes silent.

The wind. The animals. The trees. My beasts.

I lay still for a few minutes on the forest floor. My breath comes out in small puffs. I suddenly feel exhausted.

I didn't want this. I would never want it.

*"You will." My beasts speak in unison.

Not if I can help it.

"Hey, are you okay?" An unknown voice calls out from a few metres away. Lifting my head from the ground I make eye contact with a vampire.

Fantastic.

My beasts again fight for control. Pushing myself off the ground, I turn in the direction of the stranger. I knew by his tense posture, he was looking at my eyes sporadically changing from red to gold as both beasts pushed forward.

"I said...are you okay?"

I remain silent on the outside. On the inside, there was chaos. My beasts wanted to show the stranger who was stronger. They wanted him to submit.

No. I told you. No!

Clenching my hands, I try to concentrate on pushing back my wolf and vampire. I need control. I am in control.

My eyes snap open and see the alarmed man had shuffled forward. Why wasn't he running?

"Please leave." My voice was soft but I knew he heard me.

He frowns in confusion. He takes two more steps forward. His hands are out in front of him as if he is coaxing a skittish animal.

I feel myself losing the fight. Please leave. Please.

"Leave. They're going to hurt you."

A flicker of fear passed across his face and my beasts loved it.

I feel the change. The next time I open my eyes I knew my vampire had taken full control.

We lock eyes with the stranger.

"You really should have listened." This time when my voice came out, it was a guttural rumble.

She didn't give him time to move. He didn't stand a chance. Claws extended, fangs flashing, she went for the kill.

Lukas' POV:

The King laid resting in one of our guest rooms. Arabella was the ever gracious host and tended to the King and his men's needs. By the sounds of their story, they had a rough encounter with our dear Erin.

The prince hasn't moved from his father's side in a few hours but I knew he was conflicted. One of his men had yet to return, even after the unexpected arrival of his father. I believe him to be his right hand if I am not mistaken.

A rustle comes from the bed where the King lies. His son jumps up, hovering over his father's slowly awakening form. His grip on his father's hand is tight, knuckles white. My eyes dart to my King. His eyes flutter open as they scan the room. He finally locks eyes with his son. He lifts his hand to rest against the prince's cheek as he smiles warmly.

"Father, what happened?" The King closes his eyes with a sigh as if in pain. He waves away his son's hands as the prince reaches to check him.

"Stop worrying boy. I am fine."

The prince responds with a roll of his eyes.

"Says the man who just woke up. Father, you have been asleep for 3 days."

The King looks thoughtful before an indescribable look crosses his face before its gone. His face returns stoic once again.

"My men?"

"They've all returned, Your Majesty. They are currently resting."

I bow as the King turns towards me. He visibly relaxes at the news.

The prince claims his attention once again.

"Father, what happened?"

The King remains silent for an agonising four minutes. The only sound in the room is the ticking of the clock.

"I left the castle with my men not long after you left. I can't explain it. Something didn't feel right. We were ambushed by hunters on our journey. They had stopped to make camp for the night when...a woman..."

He trails off, a look of bewilderment on his face. Glancing at the prince, I find his eyes already trained on me. I nod in confirmation.

It was her.

"She...She was so strong. She killed them all. We could feel the power rolling off of her. Even I did. But my vampire didn't feel threatened. She killed the hunters. And freed one of my men. That was it, she was going to leave. I don't remember much after that."

"Father, your men filled us in on what happened after you collapsed. She stayed. The men that she freed first, said she was not harmed by the chains. She sent the men here. To Coven Leader Lukas' house."

The King once again acknowledges my presence. I bow graciously.

"Thank you for your hospitality. Please extend my gratitude to your mate."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. She was only overjoyed at having Royalty in her home." I chuckle at the thought of my sweet Bella. She had gone a bit overboard the last few days. Rambling on about how much of an honour it is to house the King and Prince for a few days.

Another round of silence falls on the room.

"Did you meet Anthony on your way?" The prince tone is hopeful.

The King shakes his head, brows furrowed in confusion.

"No son. Why do you ask?" The Prince sighs heavily. Now that his father was safe, he could concentrate on finding his best friend.

"I sent him out days ago to return to the castle and relay the news to you about the hybrid. But he has yet to return."

"The hybrid?"

Another sigh.

"Yes father. The woman you met...she was a hybrid. First of her kind. A werewolf and vampire hybrid."

The King looks thoughtful before finally breaking the silence.

"Well then, that settles it." The King is at the door of the room in seconds.

"Father! You must rest!" The Prince rushes to the King but is met with a stern look.

"Gather the men."

"Your Majesty?"

He opens the door but stops to turn and utter a few words.

Words that have me frozen in place and the Prince running after his father.

"We are going on a hunt."

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I know it's been awhile.

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Sinead xx