Awakening: Book 1

by L. T. Marshall

  I’m instantly nauseous, my skin prickling with goosebumps and my breathing gets shallow as I try and swallow this all down. Even for Juan, it seems insane, but then he did cull an entire blood line for his chance at taking a crown. The doctor nods his head, looking up as our freedom comes into view with an increase in grinding and crunching in the mechanics and he starts the engine with the turn of a key. The truck roaring into life and vibrating through the seat under me as I reach around and pull on my seat belt, so eager to get out of here I’m almost bouncing in my seat with nerves.

  “He sedated his mate and left her to rot … you tell me if killing his son to maneuver an outcome is something he would do?”

  “He went to war against them and lost so many of his people. He hates the vampires with a passion.” It doesn’t make sense. He wouldn’t willingly negotiate with them, but it does make sense that he didn’t care who he sold the research to and maybe it came by their way in another avenue. Maybe the vampires took it or bought from whomever Juan sold it to. There’s something just not there that I feel I should see, and it’s leaving a hole big enough to cast serious doubt, as much as I want to tar him with that brush.

  “A war against a people that should never have happened. Lycans and Vampires used to dwell in peace… not so long ago.” The doctor side-tracks me with a ludicrous statement and I frown his way, half snorting at his gross misinformation.

  “No, they didn’t. I don’t know who told you that story, but I can assure you, we’ve been mortal enemies since the dawn of creation. We were never peaceful allies.” They taught us that in school and for the life of me, I have never heard any other version. It’s ludicrous to imagine our two species living on the same lands and not tearing each other’s throats out.

  “No, my dear, that’s not true. Sierra was very good at her history and very vivid in her telling’s. Her people, the witches …. as her mother was, predate the first of either of your kinds. They tell the stories among their own.” The doctor lifts his brows in a paternal manner, nodding towards me as though in this he is one hundred percent certain, and I can’t grasp it. It’s all we were ever taught, that the vampires are the enemy and always have been.

  “So, what are you telling me? We used to be friends? Had morning coffee and bake sales together?“ I almost laugh at that, sarcasm kicking in and as we finally hit the upper ground, he throws the truck in gear and reverses at speed right off of the platform and then backs us into a clearing in the middle of the dusky forest we find ourselves back in. We’re already outside the compound, further than the dirt road that came up to the fence and I realize we are a fair bit from that completely. Underground must spread wider than I figured it did and he hits the makeshift road and puts his foot to the gas, heading out and switching on headlights to illuminate where we’re going. The sun has not yet set, but the forest is grey, and shadowy, and I have to cling onto my seat as I bounce around on the rough terrain, trees hitting the windshield and roof as we skim under low branches.

  I cast a glance behind us to check on Sierra and although the insides of the truck are rocking and bouncing around like mad, she is secured and her machines are still beeping away, all the tubes swinging wildly. She seems okay.

  “The Lycans were the daylight guardians of the vampires and in turn the vampires protected wolf lairs in the darkest hours. They were created to complement and protect each other, not war and fight, it’s why you’re almost matched in power and gift. Each with a special unique gift of course, but neither meant to be used against one another. A peaceable arrangement born at conception, between light walkers and dark, both with different needs and not even a shared food source, so no reason to feud…. Your kinds were from the same lands and some even procreated. A bite from either side can kill the other, so it’s not exactly smart to start raging fights with an enemy who only hints at your demise every time.”

  I return to facing his side profile as he watches the road closely and maneuvers around falls logs and debris, focusing all my disbelief on the side of his head.

  “Procreate… now I know you’re insane, and you need to up your meds, Doc. A vampire and a wolf… had babies? Nahh, Now I know you’re high. That’s definitely not a thing, there is no such thing. We’re enemies, and always were.” It’s a half laugh, shaking my head in humor, disbelief, as I turn in my seat to face the fast flyby of the forest, completely convinced he has a screw loose somewhere.

  The doctor throws me an alarmed look that I catch from the corner of my eye, frowning, and screwing up his face like I’m the crazy one, and almost swerves us into a tree before looking back and saving us the near-death impact. That makes me jump, fiercely snapping my eyes to him in a bid of ‘watch where you’re driving’ gasping and panting for breath after that near miss. My stomach is now lodged in my throat, and I brace my legs against the dash and push myself back in the seat to attempt to calm down. My wolf hasn’t yet figured out she can come out to play now we are free of the facility, but another fright like that and she won’t hesitate. So tired of shredding and losing clothes and it would be awkward sitting nakedly with this man.

  “Alora … yes, it’s hard to digest and like I pointed out in the case of Colton, cross breeding is not always successful given your masterful DNA and its ability to heal, much like the vampires can, but how can you disbelieve when you are sat here, the very proof of that union. Your own genetics are waving their hands at you and saying, ‘here I am’.” He blanches at me as though I’m being completely preposterous, and his words are like a punch in the gut. Spinning me to him, eyes gawping wide at what he said.

  “What?!?!” that’s not the response I expected from him at all and I blink at him, my mouth open and frown intensely. “I thought you said I was witch and wolf.” I let it out slowly, precisely, as I remind him of how stupid what he’s saying, actually is.

  “No, my dear, I said you were a hybrid…. assuming your mother was a perfect half and half without knowing her history of course, but it was very clear from your turning what you are. You’re white… witches generally make black wolves, like a kind of racial thing, I guess. You know like humans, where Latino and white makes semi Latino, and then a white and white human makes white …. add in a splash of color, and their baby’s shades are wonderfully diverse. Vampires however… lack of sun and being the undead, fascinating in biology by the way, they make white. Interestingly though, in all hybrids where wolf DNA is present, they’re always the prominent characteristic. Amazing… strong genetics the wolves. And in some rare, rare instances, where the vampire gene is equally strong, but yet, still of no match to that powerful beast…. the babies are lucky enough, gifted enough, down the generational tree, to have red eyes. Remarkable.” He’s way too pleased with his story telling, and the utter joy on his face only heightens the horror on mine.

  I don’t know if my mind leaves my body completely, or if shock and a sense of numb knocks me for six, but I swear, I have an outer body experience and get so close to passing out as I just stare at him, blankly, dead pan, not even remotely able to react to that little titbit of information, that I say nothing at all.

  I’m a vampire hybrid. No!!! Just, NO!

  Colton

  “Are you okay, my dear?” The doctors voice waves at me from what seems like a very distant distance away and I realize how in my own head I’ve drifted in my state of numb. We’re still rumbling along this dark makeshift path, carved through the dense forest, and I was so zoned out in my own mind I completely faded to dark. My cheeks are damp with the tears that sprung out of me and I’m staring blankly ahead, in a state of disconnect, ahead, like everyone I know suddenly died a horrible death, again, and I had to watch.

  “I can’t be one of those…. those…. creatures. They killed everyone in the orphanage.” It’s a soft, pitiful whispering tone, and I can’t bring myself to look at him. My head so full of confusion, pain, and questions, and I keep picturing Colton’s face, his dimpled smile, and those deep dark sexy eyes, and
what he’s going to think when he finds out… Meadow, the sub pack. How will they look at me now?

  I’m the enemy, and I’ve been among them this whole time.

  “Alora. Those beings were not always the blood thirsty wolf murderers you view them as now. Vampires serve a purpose in the grand scheme of things too, and their kind has as much validity as the wolves. There are those among them, much like your kind, who are peaceful and land loving as some of the wolves are, they don’t even hunt humans and very much never wanted for the battles and wars to happen. A feud so ridiculous the history books fail to record it properly, and no one really knows why the species raged a war against one another in the first place. It’s a forgotten cause. You are not a creature, and this does not change who you are inside. You are the same fearless girl sat before me that you were ten minutes ago.”

  I break down and sob, falling forward to cradle my face in my palms and try so desperately to catch my breath, to calm the storm of feelings hitting me hard and twisting me up inside. It isn’t fair, and why do I get to be so lumbered with every kind of bullshit the fates can throw at me. What did I do to deserve any of this?

  “They won’t see it that way. Don’t you understand?” I sit up snapping to face him with fresh tears rolling down my face, dripping from my chin as my heart breaks all over again. Soul ripped wide open. “The pack can’t ever accept me if they know, and Colton …. He’ll be disgusted with what I am. He fought them, he killed, and survived that war too…. He hates them with a passion that’s unmatched.” That much was obvious when he ripped the head off the one who had me in its clutches and threw it high over the orphanage wall. I feel nauseous even trying to conjure up how he’s going to react, or even how he’s going to look at me. I can’t bear to pull him into my head and see his face change from that cute boy, cheeky happy, into something hateful and Deacon-like. Seeing me as some crude mash up of vile parts. Disgusted by my existence.

  “Dear girl, you said the boy imprinted on you. That means you share the purest kind of love there is, so special, and I’m sure that means he’ll accept it as part of who you are., especially if he takes after Sierra. It doesn’t define you… you are that same girl. Besides, he has to figure out he’s half witch and I know from wolf lore that’s as bad and he might have to get over that with a little more effort than your news.” The doctor shrugs at that as if to point out Colton will probably have bigger issues, and I shake my head at him.

  “Why me?” It’s not really a real question, more of a verbal despair and I sink back against my seat, lifting my head to stare at the ceiling above us, and try so hard to pull myself together. Sniffing back the emotional break down to stop crying like a vulnerable idiot. None of this is going to help our current situation, and as much as I want to scream and rip that part out of me, I need to put it aside and focus on the now and our bigger issue.

  We’re in need of protection and I need to link Colton to get it. I don’t even know what to say to him, or how, especially now with this foremost in my head. Scared about how that’s going to go, and I don’t even know if the link will work. Or that he hasn’t blocked me on his end too.

  “Maybe because you’re important and being part vampire gives you something that adds to the prophecy. Your fates always have a reason, isn’t that what your kind say… maybe there’s a reason you are that, and Colton is half witch. Imagine the tribrids to come from your union. Your children will be three strong species, combined, if your body allows them to come to fruition. That’s simply mind blowing. I don’t think there’s ever been such a breed.” The tinge of excitement in his voice inevitably pushes that knife he’s stabbing me in the heart with a whole lot deeper.

  “There’s going to be no children and no god damn union! Colton marked another, so that part is over!” I snap it, alarmingly hostile, sitting up poker straight to glare at him as that extra searing pain rips through my chest at a speed of noughts. Reminding me of all the reasons I was mad as hell at that asshole in the first place, and why I haven’t reached out to him since I left.

  Screw you Colton. You weak ass daddy’s boy who should have just manned the fuck up and realized this was bigger than us! I was the one, not her. How could you?

  I don’t really mean it, well almost not fully, but I’m still completely devastated that he betrayed our bond. No matter the reason. Even if it was justified in the grand scheme of things. I don’t think I can ever forgive him for wounding me in this way and destroying what was meant to be a perfect union.

  “Oh dear. Are you quite sure he ma….”

  “Yes, quite sure!” I snap, mimicking his English accent haughtily and cutting him off. Like I wouldn’t know that pain hitting me in the chest and almost killing me that day and what it was. Have still not recovered fully and carry that weight constantly like a heavy shroud to eternally remind me I’ll love someone I can never have. He’s riling a very tender and open wound and it’s doing nothing for my mood.

  “I see. So, if he has another, how do you know you can…?” he gestures at his temple, locking eyes on mine, making circular motions and implying mind link. I roll my eyes. Exhaling to curb this sudden need to punch things and getting rattier by the second, tension rising, making me all sorts of stiff and uptight.

  “I don’t, I have to hope.” Snarking at him, gritting my teeth, mood getting sensitive with the current topic of conversation. I know it’s a genuine concern, given that Colton is key to us getting out of this and surviving, it’s just, I’m scared to try now, while everything is so new and raw. I’m out here and all of this has smacked me in the face at once. Add that to the gaping gash of heartbreak he rubbed salt into, and you have one completely irate girl who isn’t pulling herself together as quickly as her life is unravelling.

  “Then maybe you should, you know….?” Again, with the rotating finger at his temple and I huff loudly in exasperation, willing him to stop pushing and give me an ever-loving, god damn, breathing space, of a minute. This is hard for me. I erupt, breaking under the pressure. Spectacularly.

  “YES! I KNOW!! I’m going to do it! … Excuse me for having a little bit of a mental breakdown with everything I’ve learned in the last six hours and a reminder my fated mate is a cheating asshole. It’s a lot…. A LOT!!! And I’m an eighteen-year-old girl who hasn’t linked her cheating, asshole ex, so called mate, in weeks, since she ran from him. Give me a fucking break already.” I push my fingers and nails through my scalp, pushing my wild hair off my face and gripping it with force at my temples, trying so hard not to self-combust under the extra weight of everything hitting me at once.

  “I do say.” The doctor raises his brows at me in a completely ridiculous British way, and then softens his expression and holds out his handkerchief to me in a sort of white flag apology, as more tears roll down my cheeks against my will. Colton always ruins me. I hate that I’m so hopelessly connected to him, that this rules everything I think or feel.

  “I’m sorry…. I need to breathe for a few minutes. Colton he’s……. it’s really hard. He hurt me… this, all of this, just hurts.”

  Colton is the one thing in my life that has the power over everything else to screw me up with minimal effort. Even finding out I’m some sort of half creature, and my first thought was ‘how will he look at me?’ He’s right in there, deep inside of me, and he can make everything feel so good, or everything worse than bad, that I can barely breathe. Without him I survive, but I wouldn’t exactly call it successful. There’s a need that never leaves me, a longing that never stops calling to him. I miss him, of course I do, and I dream about him, I see, or hear him at stupid points of my day, even when it’s not even related. Reaching out and physically connecting is a whole other kind of torture, especially knowing he’s not mine and never will be now. It was easier to have no contact at all.

  I never knew you could both love a person beyond a shadow of a doubt and crave them constantly, while at the same time hating the ground he walks on and wishing I never had to se
e him ever again. Such is my dilemma.

  I need him, yet I don’t want to, and currently I actually physically need him to come and save our asses from this situation. The doc was right, I can’t take on a pack of Santo wolves, especially ones who don’t play fair and use dart guns to subdue my kind. My gifts are worth shit without having the complete control of them. Colton needs to be in this, no matter how I feel, as Sierra is his mother, and I owe him to give her back to him, where she belongs. He can protect her in ways her own pack failed. Her son will never let her down in that way.

  “You can have some time; this road is a good long drive to get out of the undergrowth and by my calculations we have three hours minimum, depending on the metabolism of the wolves before they come around in any kind of way. I’m hoping for six, which is probably a human response to the drug, but your kind are always a little more geared to outdoing us, even in an isolation tank. You can take a little head space before you contact him. Just, you know, not too long, as we don’t want to be driving in the wrong direction, or anything.”

  The doctor isn’t helping and I turn and stare out the window, watching the trees flash by in the hopes it will numb my brain out with mindless mesmerizing images flashing on by, the light fading with every minute we drive and Sierra is still as immobile and silent as she was.

  I need to swallow this, bite the bullet and do it. Like ripping off a band aid, and not sitting pondering and building the moment into something worse. He’s out there, doing god knows what, and the sooner I link him, or even see if I can, the sooner we can figure this out and head for a safe place and all of this no longer rests on my shoulders alone. Some control of this situation, someone else to make the decisions, and I hope to god I’m not being a fool and putting my faith in Colton, only to have him deliver us back to Juan’s hands. I truly believe in my heart, despite everything that’s happened between us, Colton will come through for me. For us.