It was quiet inside the truck. Noah is unconscious at the backseat and Alex has her eyes focused on the road driving. Currently they’re heading to the nearest motel to rest and treat their wounds. For now, they made do with a couple of bandages Alex kept in the car for first aid. The dagger sat in the cupholder inside a pouch, Ryan couldn’t help but feel aware of its presence. It’s useless to keep thinking about the thing so he tries to take his mind somewhere else.

“I’m a witch.”

Alex said it seriously and no matter how much Ryan looked at her in the eyes, he couldn’t tell if she lied although he had stopped growling. But he didn’t move away and remained shielding Noah.

They’re going to need to have a proper conversation so Alex walked back to the path to pick up Ryan’s clothes. It’s still unbelievable how he confidently stripped in public without an ounce of embarrassment, like it was something natural. Though thinking about it, he would’ve ripped his clothes when shifting to his wolf form.

“Get changed.” She dropped his clothes by his paws.

He still didn’t budge. If there’s one thing you have to keep in mind when someone suspicious is near, it’s to not let your guard down. He’s afraid that if he so much as turned his back from her, she’ll knock him out and who knows what he’ll wake up to. With his muzzle, he points at the dead Rogue nearby and looks back at her.

Alex rolled her eyes, annoyed by his stubbornness but decided to explain anyway.

“The Rogues want Noah. They’re after him and I couldn’t let them do that.”

She said it so fast with a blank face that he didn’t get it for second. There’s nothing he could respond to her. Even more questions were arising and it felt overwhelming. Especially with the detail of Noah being targeted by Rogues. For what reason?

He was looking down at the grass by her foot. Alex could tell he has a lot going on his mind now.

“Please can you shift back so we can properly discuss this.”

The additional word wasn’t much but it was kind enough compared to everything she has said to him so far. Ryan decided to take her word for it, thinking if she wanted to knock him out then she would’ve done so from the beginning. She wants to talk which is reasonable enough.

He nods and agrees to shift back and get changed. Alex turns her back from him and gives him some privacy.

“We’ll talk in the truck. More will come when they find out these two are dead.”

Together they carry Noah back to the truck and hurriedly drive off. That’s when Alex elaborated more about the situation.

“I’ve been observing Rogue activities for many years now. Recently a number of them have been migrating towards Fortbeck and I found out that they’re after Noah. I suspected they were planning to ambush your pack just to get to him so I had to take the bait out of there.” And unexpectedly she did managed to convince him to run away with her, though with a little help of some personal problems.

“We should’ve stayed then! We’re a pretty big pack, we can handle a dozen Rogues.” He reasoned.

“You’re lucky that one didn’t behead before I managed to intervene. Even if they’re outnumbered, you and I both know how strong they are. It’s not a battle worth fighting for when you’ll lose more than half of your pack. Better to avoid so much casualty when there’s other options.”

That’s true. Ryan could imagine how dangerous they are. A few years ago, a group of Rogues suddenly appeared on the outskirts of town. Their pack had to fight them off. He saw firsthand how Rogues killed. They go straight for the neck and snap it with their powerful jaws. At most it’ll take two wolves to kill one. A few of their own had died fighting.

Looking back at it, the two incidents had something in common. She was right, the Rogues were going after Noah. Is there a connection somehow?

“Why does it have to be him?” He curiously turned to her. It was a question that stuck to him ever since it happened. Something is in the works and she seems to know it.

Alex paused and took one look at him.

“They want to eat him.”

“But what’s the difference? We already know Rogues are cannibals.”

“Well, he’s special.” She said. “He’s a Hybrid.”

Hybrids are the mix of two different non-human species. They’re rarely successfully born and at most there’s only three in every generation. Alex could tell he was confused. He doesn’t know the truth. Noah must’ve not told him about it. She figured it’s better she explain it to him instead since they already have so much unresolved arguments. He and Noah will need to talk about this privately.

“Do you know the myth about Hybrids? When you consume enough of their flesh and blood, you’ll become immortal. Only Rogues would go through so much lengths to search one and even dedicate their whole lives. Generally everyone doesn’t believe the myth or the existence of Hybrids at all, but some of us have been trying to stop them from succeeding—”

“I didn’t know.”

“What?”

She glanced at him. Ryan couldn’t believe what she said. At first she thought he meant the immortal stuff since at some point someone must’ve told them about the myth. It’s quite a popular story among every kind except humans.

“That can’t be true. He never mentioned about being a Hybrid.” He turned to the backseat, at Noah who is still unconscious. “He never told me.”

“Oh…” Alex didn’t know what else to say. “I don’t know how else to convince you kid. But it’s true.”

—

Noah wakes with a mild headache and stares at an unfamiliar ceiling. Every part of him felt heavy and it was difficult to sit up without the urge of going back to sleep. After inspecting his surroundings it looked like an average four-walled room with three beds, one of which he was laying on. Everything was a shade of brown from the walls to the carpet and even the lamps. Across from him was Ryan sitting in a chair, eyes trained to his fidgeting fingers.

“Ryan?” He asked. “Where are we?” And where’s Alex?

“We’re at a motel right now.” Ryan looked up in surprise and stood to seat beside Noah at the foot of the bed. “How’re you feeling?”

“Tired. The last thing I remember was…we were at the gas station and I went to the bathroom. And then I blacked out?” He wasn’t too sure what followed after that, then his eyes glanced at the bandage on Ryan’s neck. “What happened?!”

“We were attacked by Rogues earlier. But it’s fine now.” He brushed his fingers at the cotton.

Noah really wanted to know the whole incident and ask where he was when it all came about. He didn’t think that there would be Rogues attacking them as soon as they were outside pack territory. The thought that they were so close to danger terrified him. Ryan had something else to say and he seemed to have contemplated this for quite awhile now. Noah decided to hold back and listen to what he has to say.

“Alex said the Rogues are hunting you because you’re a Hybrid.”

Just like how Ryan reacted when Alex told him, Noah didn’t think his words made sense. Rogues are well-known cannibals and it just so happens one of them was wandering nearby their stop and saw him. Where did the idea of him being a Hybrid come from?

Ryan looked betrayed that he kept this secret from him.

“I’m not a Hybrid.” He tried to convince him. “There’s no way that’s true. I’m the most recessive werewolf in the whole world. In fact I’m more of a coyote than a Hybrid.”

Coyotes are half-human and half-werewolf. Unlike the average werewolf, they’re weaker and have smaller wolf statures. Growing up, he was convinced he was a coyote. His canine traits never developed and he mostly fit the description of a human. He only knew that his mother was a wolf. Anything about his father was mystery but it wouldn’t be inaccurate to believe he’s a human since it would explain everything. He really didn’t have any idea and it relieved Ryan.

“She said it so seriously it seemed convincing.”

“Wait, I thought you didn’t trust her.” Noah raised a brow at him. Ever since the two of them met, he always had a guarded front towards her. Outwardly showing that he didn’t like the stranger and to be fair, they didn’t know that much about the woman. Suddenly being on her side made it suspicious, he thought Ryan’s persistence would last longer.

“I don’t think she was lying because the same thing happened seven years ago.” As much as Ryan didn’t want to mention the past, it was the only way he could explain it. It would’ve been better if Alex was the one who told him about this. “Remember? Those Rogues were only chasing you when we ran away. You’re the one they want.”

He had no response. Mentioning it made him unconsciously remember bits and pieces of that memory, the ones he tried to bury down. Ryan was right. Strangely it was always him that they were after. While Alex claiming that he was a Hybrid made sense of everything, he didn’t want to believe all that’s happened was because of him. It would mean Lucas was right.

“Why does she know all about this? That I’m a Hybrid and about the Rogues.”

This idea came out of nowhere but it must mean she knows more than she lets on. She’s not just a stranger who allowed them to hitch a ride, which was Noah’s initial impression. Maybe them meeting at the party wasn’t a coincidence.

“She told me that she’ll explain everything when we arrive in Doveport Beach. Something about a secret plan to protect you from the Rogues.”

“What is this? The secret service?” Noah joked.

“Oh she’s actually a witch.”

“What?!” He bursted in surprise. Werewolves stayed in packs and avoided other non-human species. Aside from their own kind, they only ever lived with humans. He never thought he’d get to meet someone who’s able to control magic. “If she is a witch, I wonder why we never realized it.” That night at the party, she had been there early and even had a table assigned for her. Since they had guests from the Pineworth pack, he had assumed she was one of them.

A witch had been among them but none of the pack sensed it. How did she even get into the party?

—

The motel is in a little area that’s close by a trailer park. It’s quite secluded and the most interesting place to be was a barbecue restaurant a few minutes away by car. Alex arrives at the parking lot and on the passenger’s seat was their dinner for tonight, takeout. Before she left she had placed a scent cloaking spell on their room as precaution when she isn’t there and to herself as well in case she’d encounter another Rogue.

Alex didn’t get out of the car yet. From the glove compartment, she rummages for a cigarette. The stress from earlier’s incident had terrified her, they were so close to getting Noah all because she let her guard down for a moment. She thought they had a head start by slipping out of town right under their noses but now it’s confirmed that they’re aware that he’s outside the pack territory and that he’s more vulnerable than ever. But as long as they get to Doveport before they can get to them, Noah is safe.

There’s also the fact that they now knew what she had been planning all along. She didn’t mean to take advantage of Noah’s emotional state after being rejected by his mate but it was a way she could use to persuade him. Initially she planned to make a move when a Rogue would attack him and use that as a segway on getting him to come with her. Hopefully Ryan would do a good job in explaining everything to him. Though she still hasn’t told them the whole story and will eventually need to disclose it to them. Knowing how skeptical Ryan can get.

Her phone rings from the cup holder and she glances at the caller ID, immediately picking it up.

“Cassian.” She greets him.

“Is he safe?” The person on the other line asks.

“Yes, for now.”

“Be careful. We noticed that the Rogues have been dwindling outside. They could be on to you.”

“You think I don’t know that? We came across two Rogues earlier but I already took care of it. We’ll arrive at Doveport by tomorrow midnight.”

“Alright. It’s only a matter of time before they realize a witch is involved.”

“Thank you for worrying. But that’s not necessary.” She rolled her eyes. “I gotta get back to them now.”

She ends the call and takes the takeout to their motel room.