Chapter 28 64 Let me out , she growled . Let me RUN . When I hit the ward line , a flash of red fur burst from the other side , and out jumped Taya , shifting mid - sprint , her red wolf Zuki glowing like wildfire in the dark . I didn't stop . I dropped to my knees , shoved my clothes into a pile , and let the shift take me . Bones broke . Magic surged . My scream turned into a howl . And then I ran . Away from the boys . Away from the prophecy . Away from everything that wanted to cage me with love and protection and expectations I never agreed to . The trees blurred as we ran , paws pounding the forest floor in perfect rhythm . Wind in our fur . Moonlight on our backs . The tension in my chest finally cracked open with every thud of my claws against the dirt . Lyssira howled once , long and sharp , and Zuki answered without hesitation . Our wolves were fire and frost , silver and crimson , rage and release . We didn't stop until we reached the shallow creek deep within the wards , where the air felt cleaner , and the weight of everything pressing down on me didn't crush quite as hard . Lyssira slowed first , circling twice before shifting back . I collapsed into the moss , naked and muddy and emotionally hollow . Taya shifted beside me , red hair tangled , cheeks flushed , eyes glassy . We sat there in silence for a moment , panting like we'd outrun death itself . Then she said , voice soft , " So ... you met your mom through a photo and screamed at two of the hottest males in existence in the span of ten minutes ? I let out a choked laugh . " And cried while doing it . Don't forget the tears . " " You're a fucking icon . " ' No , I'm a goddamn mess . " ' You can be both , " I stared up at the stars . My body ached from the run , but my soul ? It still buzzed . With power . With fear . With everything . " So , " I said , glancing at her , " Zuki freaked out over Rylen again ? " Taya groaned , covering her face . " Yes . She practically purred when he handed me a towel after training . A towel , El . I think we're doomed . " 1/3 12:01 Mon , Sep 22 Chapter 28 " She really thinks he's your mate ? " : D 64 " She's convinced . And honestly ? I don't know . I always thought I'd just ... find someone the normal way . Not sniff a dude's hoodie and get feral . Lyssira purred in my mind . " You have to agree , it's efficient . " Zuki replied enthusiastically , " We don't waste time . What's the point ? Mate ! " I snorted . " So what does that make me ? I've got an alpha wolf shifter , and a vampire noble sniffing me like I'm their fave chew toy . " Taya wheezed . " Okay , but ... how are you mated to a vampire ? Like ... isn't that biologically impossible ? " " I thought so . But apparently , the Moon Goddess said ' fuck science ' and just started throwing soul bonds around like confetti . " We both fell silent again , staring into the dark . " Maybe ... " Taya began , picking at the moss , " Maybe that's why fated mates are so rare now . Like , what if they didn't disappear ... we just stopped finding them ? " I tilted my head . " Because the species are segregated ? " She nodded . " Think about it . Wolves stay with wolves . Vampires stay in their creepy old castles . Fae don't even look at us unless they're kidnapping someone . And humans ? Totally cut off . The bonds probably still exist ... they just can't activate if we're not meeting our damn mates . " A chill ran through me . " I don't even know how many species I could be tied to , " I whispered . " What if there's more ? What if I end up with someone from every damn bloodline ? " " Then I'll expect an invite to the most chaotic wedding in history , " Taya said , smiling . I let out a watery laugh . " Do you think the universe made a mistake with me ? " " No , " she said firmly . " I think the universe finally got fed up with everyone's bullshit and made you fix it . " Lyssira snorted . " Damn right . " Zuki chimed in , ' Our girl's the storm . " ' I'm not ready to fix anything , " I whispered . " You don't have to be ready , " she said . " You just have to be you . And let the rest of us show the fuck up for you when it all gets too heavy . ' I blinked back tears . And this time , I didn't try to stop them . We sat there , skin to skin , muddy and exhausted , watching the moon rise higher , two best friends carrying the weight of the world , one howl at a time . 2/3 Hunted Hybrid - Aegis War Saga 1 Chapter 29 Taya Quinn POV We were halfway back to the Keep when I caught it .... that damn scent . Smoke . And cardamom . 7 I skidded to a stop mid stride , my paws digging into the mossy earth as the scent wrapped around me like a warm damn blanket . Zuki's voice echoed in my head like a feral squeal . Zuki : " Mate . It's him . Rylen's close . " My heart stuttered . I turned , sniffed again . Yep . Definitely smoke . And cardamom . With just a hint of leather and something I could only describe as Alpha swagger with a side of danger . Me : " Calm down , it could just be a bonfire .. " Zuki : " With HIS BONES NEXT TO IT . Let's go ! " I howled once to Elowen ... short and sharp , and veered off the path , crashing through the underbrush like a heat seeking wolf missile . A few moments later , I burst into a clearing bathed in soft orange firelight . And there they were . Rylen Verric , all six foot five of muscled , tatted beta energy leaning back against a log with a half empty bottle of dark liquor in one hand , his eyes glowing in the firelight . Beside him sat Jace Ironpaw , the gamma's son , smirking like he knew secrets he shouldn't . A guitar rested next to his leg , fingers tapping against the strings like he was half drunk and half inspired . Elowen caught up just behind me , shifting as she stepped into the light , both of us scrambling to pull on the clothes she'd stashed earlier under a tree root . Basic leggings and oversized shirts , we looked feral chic , but whatever . Rylen turned as we stepped into view , and gods ... the way his gaze landed on me ? Like I was the fire . " Taya , " he said , voice rough and warm , like he'd been waiting to say my name all night . Zuki damn near purred . Zuki : " He knows . His wolf knows . Sit on his lap . Lick his jaw . Climb him like a damn tree ... " Me : " Zuki , holy shit . " 1/3 12:01 Mon , Sep 22 Chapter 29 Jace raised an eyebrow . " Y'all look like you ran through hell . " Elowen smirked . " Emotionally ? We did . " We sat down beside the fire , accepting the bottle Jace passed over like it was holy medicine . Whatever it was burned going down , but gods , it hit just right . Warmth bloomed in my chest . The tension bled out of my shoulders . Rylen didn't say much , but he moved just a little closer every time I looked away . And Zuki ? Zuki was vibrating . Zuki : " Touch him . Elbow graze . Accidental knee bump . FALL INTO HIS LAP . " Me : " You're embarrassing me . " Zuki : " Do it or I will . " 64 I finally let my knee brush his . The jolt that shot through my body was instant . Like lightning wrapped in velvet . He stiffened just slightly ... then leaned into it . His scent flared , Beta strength and home and gods , him ... and I knew Anton , his wolf , had just shoved his way to the front too . Rylen didn't speak , just handed me the bottle and watched me like I was the only thing he saw . We drank , and danced as Jace played the guitar , letting ourselves go and it felt amazing . I definitely had to much to drink . Elowen was chugging from the bottle like it was a lifeline . By the time we stood to leave , I was giggly , flushed , and lightheaded in the best way . Elowen was worse , tripping over roots , mumbling about cupcakes and sword dancing . " Okay , okay , " Jace laughed . " Time to get the moon witches back home , before Daxon has our asses . " Rylen stood next to me and offered his arm . My eyes glowed as I looked up at him . I'm 5'3 , he is 6'5 , no clue how this will work , but damned if I'll figure it out . I vibrated with happiness as the lightning coursed through my body again at his touch . Zuki just purred like a kitten . I was in deep shit . We stumbled through the trees , Elowen leaning into me like a drunk little sprite , until we reached the edge of the Keep grounds . And there they were . Daxon and Ash . Waiting . Both of them looked her over at once , the smudged makeup , the tangled hair , the red cheeks , and stepped forward without a word . Daxon scooped her up bridal style like it was nothing . Ash trailed close behind , murmuring something about hydration and a hot bath , his jaw tight but his eyes warm . 2/3 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!