Hybrid Aria by Jessica Hall

The knock on the door alerted us that someone was outside his office door. I managed to throw my clothes on with speed that would have put The Flash to shame. I could hear Reid chuckle at my embarrassment. Any werewolf walking in could easily smell what we had been doing. My dishevelled appearance would only be verifying it. I tried to flatten down my hair and smooth out my clothes. Reid was slowly buttoning up his pants, not even fazed in the slightest. I groaned with annoyance at his leisurely pace.

Without warning, Zane waltzed on in, taking in the room, a sly smile spread across his face as he leaned on the doorframe. Reid chuckled at my mortified expression. Before slipping his belt on. Zane cleared his throat. “Sorry about that, but by the sounds of it, you two were done. I couldn’t very well wait in the hall all day, some of us have work to do,” he stated.

My face flushed red. I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. Zane laughed at me. Reid eyed me like he wasn’t the least bit embarrassed, it actually made me wonder had Zane walked in on Reid with some random bent over his desk before. The thought churned in my stomach jealousy, consuming me at the thought.

“Calm down, Aria, Zane is just playing. And no, he hasn’t walked in on me before,” he said, answering the question that was lingering in my mind. I hated when he did that, I can’t even keep my thoughts private. “No, you can’t so I don’t know why you bother trying.” Reid answered. Invading my mind again. Zane just watched our lover’s quarrels. I sat on the edge of the desk and folded my arms across my chest. I know it was childish, but it really irritated me that invading my thoughts was becoming easier and easier for him and yet I could feel what he was feeling but still not see into that head of his.

Reid, ignoring my ranting turned to Zane. “What do you need?”

Zane smirked at me before turning back to Reid. “Nothing Alpha, I just came to see you about a breach in security,” Reid’s head popped up at that, all joking pushed aside while he listened intently on what Zane had to say. I unfolded my arms and leant forward on his desk to listen too. “Hunters were spotted sneaking around the territory, and they managed to breach the computer database, they stole some footage.”

“Footage? Of what? And are you sure they were Hunters; we haven’t had Hunters around in years.”

“Positive Alpha, they left something behind. When we scoured the footage, we saw they left a note in the foyer downstairs. I’m not sure what they were looking for, but they stole the footage from the night Lily and Ari came to our territory. They didn’t take the footage of inside the building but of the cameras on the streets,” Reid looked back at me, panic on his face and leaking through the bond. I could tell he was trying to mask it. Zane’s eyes darted to me quickly before his eyes glazed over. I could tell he was mind linking Reid as Reid’s eyes lost focus before going to me. He growled lowly from the back of his throat, it sent chills down my spine and paralysed me on the spot.

so riled up. Zane looked back at Reid, who put his hand up before pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. I could tell he was

mercy,” I gasped in shock. There is no doubt in my mind the Hybrid they are referring to is me. My throat suddenly felt dry. If they know I exist,

have stayed in town; I should have left when we had the chance. Now I have put everyone at risk and why now after years have the Hunters come out of

sight.” I shook my head that wasn’t even an option in my head for the sake of Lily and my Pack, I may just have to hand myself over. No one is

Zane seemed to get the message that I apparently missed because he left the room in a hurry, the door slamming behind

his anger radiating off him, the heat of his skin suddenly feeling like it was burning into me. “You will not be leaving my sight, Ari. Do you understand?” I looked up at him, my own anger bubbling to the surface. How dare he tell me to sit on the sidelines while everyone risked their lives for me. Over my dead body would I allow that. Reid’s nails dug into the skin on the inside of my arm. I hissed at the sting and looked up at him. His eyes were no longer his own, Ryder’s eyes peering back at me

my head, Reid, or is it just you now, Ryder?”

isn’t willing to do what needs to be done if you refuse.” Ryder’s voice was low daring me to defy him. I could hear the challenge in his voice like he really wanted me to try. I knew better, the memory of his bite still fresh in my mind. I hated that, but that didn’t mean I

Reid back now, Ryder.” Ryder growled his nails digging deeper as he pulled me even closer, which I didn’t think was even possible. His lips at my ear. “You won’t be leaving Ari, will you?” I felt the blood leave my body, and my heart felt like it had moved into my throat. His voice was so menacing, I tried to swallow the lump that was caught

voice trembled and didn’t come out as strong

a second, my back now pressed tightly to his front. Ryder's arm wrapped tightly around my waist, holding me in place. When I felt his canines brush my neck, I screamed and placed my hand just in time, so he bit into the back of my hand instead of my neck. I shrieked at the sudden pain and

I watched him crack his neck, accepting the challenge. I didn’t want to hurt him, and I

to his terms. I used that to my advantage. Using my Alpha voice. “I said bring Reid back NOW!” I screamed. Ryder fought off my command easily. “Shit,” I really hoped it would work with him being distracted. It didn’t, why for once, couldn’t I get the upper hand over him just once. Ryder seemed to think it was funny that my Alpha voice didn’t work on him, because he was my mate. The look on his face was disturbing, primal, in this moment he truly looked like a predator and unfortunately for me, I

take a very painful nap for god knows how many days or give in to his commands. I chose the latter. “Fine,