.6 ) Everything exploded into chaos as the three nobles prowled towards us . Daxon launched into a full shift mid air , fur ripping through his skin as Talon took over , snapping jaws clamping down on a vampire's arm and throwing him through a row of lockers . Rylen and Jace followed suit , shifting as claws slashed and magic lit up the air like fucking fireworks . Taya grabbed my wrist , dragging me behind a pillar , her dagger already out . The rogue vampire noble fought like a beast unchained . He was lethal , precise , and savage . Protecting me with a fury I didn't understand but couldn't deny . Lyssira whimpered in shock . " Mate . Another . Mine , " she whispered , and I nearly choked . I didn't have time to freak out . One of the vampires broke away and darted toward us . I raised my palm on instinct , and silver light erupted from it , blasting him down the hallway with enough force to crack the floor . Well . That happened . And then , howls . Dozens of them . The Strike Team had finally arrived . A wave of warriors surged down the hallway , massive wolves and armored fighters wielding silver lined weapons and spells . The air thickened with magic , growls , the scent of vampire blood . The three nobles snarled , clearly outnumbered now , and hissed with fury . " This isn't over , " the silver haired one spat , eyes locked on me . " You will be ours . " They vanished in a blur of shadows and smoke , gone just as fast as they arrived . Except the one who had claimed me . He stood in the wreckage , blood soaked and panting , still shielding me with his body . He turned slowly , and those dark , otherworldly eyes met mine again , so full of confusion , reverence ... and recognition . " My name , ' he said hoarsely , " is Ashrian Vale . " And then he dropped to one knee . " Elowen Skye , " he whispered , voice breaking , " I have walled for you ... for lifetimes . " Elowen POV I couldn't move at first . Couldn't breathe . 1/3 11:59 Mon , Sep 22 Chapter 20 Ashrian Vale . 64 A vampire . Noble . Deadly . My fucking mate ?! Lyssira was no help , practically vibrating with joy in my head like a puppy who just found an entire buffet of chew toys . " Ours ! Another ! I knew it ! He smells like smoke and cinnamon , he's perfect ! " Perfect ? My head was spinning , my heartbeat still jackhammering from the fight . But when he dropped to one knee , bloodied and breathing hard , eyes full of that gut wrenching awe I'd only ever seen in Daxon before ... something cracked wide open inside me . I stepped toward him . Every part of me ... wolf , woman , warrior , hybrid ... reached for him . My hand trembled as I touched his cheek . Cold . Smooth . But sparks ignited under my fingertips and the bond snapped to life like a whip of pure silver flame . Ashrian gasped as if branded , his eyes flooding with emotion he didn't try to hide . His arms wrapped around me , and I collapsed into him . We held each other like survivors clinging to shore . Mine . The word wasn't spoken . It didn't have to be . It pulsed in the air between us . Taya coughed . Loudly . I pulled back , blinking as reality crashed back in . Rylen and Jace looked like they'd just seen a ghost and wanted to punch it . Daxon ... gods bless him ... was fighting every single instinct he had not to rip Ashrian's head off and ask questions later . ' I didn't come to hurt her , " Ashrian said , standing now . " I came to protect her . I always have . " Daxon's jaw was clenched so hard I could hear his teeth grind . " Then start talking . " Before Ashrian could answer , heavy boots hit the floor . Alpha King Draven stormed in with a unit of enforcers behind him and Luna Queen Aelira at his side . His eyes locked on me , then Ashrian . His entire body went rigid . " The fuck is a Vale doing near my son's mate ? " " Dad , Daxon said sharply , stepping forward . " He protected her . He claimed her . " Alpha Draven blinked . Once . Then again . " You're telling me your mate has bonded with a vampire ? " 2/3 11:59 Mon , Sep 22 Chapter 20 I said , voice cracking . " Apparently . " 11:59 Mon , Sep 22 - Hunted Hybrid Aegis War Saga 1 Chapter 21 Draven stared at me . ' We're going to need the war room . " The walk back was chaos . No casualties , thank the gods . School was shut down until further notice . Warriors lined every hallway . We arrived at the Stormclaw Keep in less than fifteen minutes . The war room pulsed with magic , tension , and the lingering scent of blood . Ashrian stood beside me , Daxon on my other side , jaw still tight but no longer feral . Alpha Draven folded his arms and glared across the table . " Talk , bloodsucker . " Ashrian nodded . " My name is Ashrian Vale , third son of the Vale House . Centuries ago , I joined the Aegis Protocol under orders from my mother . But once I saw what they were doing , experimenting , killing , breeding hybrids..I began working against them . I've been sabotaging their operations ever since . " I felt like my stomach dropped to the floor . " You were with them ? You saw what they did to people like me ? " " I did , " he said , voice low . " I couldn't save everyone . But I tried . And when I found out about you ... " His eyes lifted to mine . " I stayed in the shadows . I made sure they didn't find you . " " Until now , " Draven growled . Ashrian nodded . " Now they know . And they'll come for me , too . " " They already did , " I whispered . The room fell silent . And for the first time in a long damn while ... I wasn't scared . Because I had not one , but two powerful , deadly , possessive mates . And Lyssira was ready to tear someone's throat out . Let them come . I cleared my throat , feeling like I'd just announced I was pregnant with Satan's triplets at a church potluck . The war room was dead silent . Daxon stood rigid beside me , still brooding and alpha as hell . Ashrian stood on the other side like a stone statue with fangs , unreadable but ... somehow steady . And across from us ? Alpha Draven . Luna Aelira . Rylen . Jace . Taya . Every single one of them waiting for me to explain what the actual fuck was going on . Cool . No pressure . 1/3 11:59 Mon , Sep 22 Chapter 21 ' Well , I said , glancing between them , looks like I'm collecting mates like Pokémon . " Taya snorted . Rylen choked on his own spit . Daxon growled . ' Not funny . " " A little funny , " I muttered . Ashtian arched a brow , amused . Smug bastard . I took a breath and straightened my spine . " The truth is ... I don't know how many mates I have . My dad's letter said mates , plural , and warned me I'd be hunted . I assumed that meant people like me , hybrids..were rare and valuable . " I paused , letting that sink in . " But now ? It's more than that . The Moon Goddess appeared to me . Told me I was chosen . That I had to awaken my fae side . That I'd need help ... protection , strength , love . " Daxon flinched at the word love . " So yeah , I went on , voice rougher now , " I've got a werewolf Alpha heir on one side , and a noble vampire spy on the other , and apparently the universe isn't done yet . So if anyone else wants to come out of the woodwork and say they're my fated soul bound ride or die , speak now or shut the hell up forever . " Silence . Then Alpha Draven rubbed his temples like he had a migraine the size of a pissed off bear . " Do you have any idea how many ? " I shook my head . " Nope . Could be three . Could be five . Could be enough to start a boy band . " Jace grinned . " Do we get jackets ? " " Shut up , Jace , ' Rylen muttered . Taya squeezed my arm and gave me a small smile . " Whatever happens , we've got you . But holy shit , babe . You better start a group chat of something . This is gonna get messy . " Daxon didn't speak . Just reached for my hand and laced our fingers together , his wolf humming quietly in my mind . Ashrian didn't speak either . But he stepped closer . Just enough to let me know he wasn't going anywhere . And me ? I wasn't just a hybrid anymore . I was the Moon Goddess's chosen . And my soul was apparently hot real estate . 2/3 11:59 Mon , Sep 22 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!