The Hybrid's Revenge

A Trap?

SERENE

"There is an attack on the Pack and you are the only one capable of bringing victory to Silver Crest," Fallon Blython, one of the council elders said to me as I slipped my sword into its sheath. "Go out there and do the needful."

Of course, I was. The senior warriors were out in the wilderness, keeping peace and protecting the borders and according to the commander, this wasn't a serious case.

It was something the junior warriors could handle, and of course, I had been called up, being the best fighter to come out of training.

It was already midnight and we could hear the growls from where we stood at the perimeter. I could feel adrenaline slowly trickle to different parts of my mobile muscles as it got activated by my brain.

Nodding, I stepped forward and turned to the group of warriors I had gathered with me. They were the best, too. But they had no regard for me.

Why exactly had Fallon picked me again? An avenue to punish me accordingly if things didn't go as planned.

Of course, I was always the scapegoat they threw into terrible situations and I was the only one who got severely punished each time things went south.

Being a hybrid; a half vampire and half Werewolf, had never been a perk for me. I was seen as the cursed child and each time bad things happened, it was always pinned on me.

I mean, I was cursed, wasn't I? Only cursed things brought bad luck.

But I was already used to it, its advantage being the fact that it made me stronger than the others.

I marched everyone out of the gates and divided the warriors into three groups, asking them to fall in different directions as we had no idea where these raiders were coming from.

Today was my eighteenth birthday and I had totally forgotten until one of the guards had passed me a scroll to sign.

It was a freedom certificate issued to every warrior on their eighteenth birthday. Well, no one else has wished me a happy birthday. It wasn't usual.

Brushing it off, I focused on finding these raiders and bringing each and everyone of them down.

I walked with a group of five warriors. Twigs snapped and leaves crunched underneath our feet as we ventured into the woods. My ears were perked up in alert and so were my nostrils. My senses were honed on finding these men.

We finally got to a clearing and I stopped the men. "That's the sound of water, isn't it?"

"Yes," Liam came to stand behind me. "We have a stream running through our borders in case you have forgotten."

My lips pressed into a thin line at his jab and I turned to him. "I am in charge here so sit tight."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"Cross the stream. We have to follow their scent. They're probably camped somewhere. They need to be caught off guard."

"Well, go first." Liam urged. "You're our leader, aren't you?"

I nodded and pulled the sheath from around my waist. My boots followed and soon, I was wading into the water.

I stopped when I got knee deep into the water and turned to see that they were still standing and watching me.

"Why aren't you joining me? This is not a training session! It's real life..."

My voice faded when I felt currents pushing my knees. My senses heightened and the hairs at the back of my neck stood at attention and I knew I was in danger.

Slowly, I drew my sword out of my sheath, hiding it in the water as I slowly turned with the intent of striking our enemies. 

In one swift movement, I lifted my sword at the same time I turned but I was met with the shock of my life when three large Lycan beasts stood before me.

They were about seven feet tall, with thick manes of dark hair. Their teeth were bared in a snarl, showing off saber toothed canines and their growls rented the air, causing shivers to run down my spine. My sword scraped long sharp claws, causing sparks to fly in the air.

The impact it had on me was intense. I stumbled backwards and fell into the water, swimming back up immediately but I was pulled out of the water with ease and tossed out of it.

I tumbled, hitting tree trunks till my back finally connected with one. I slid to the floor, groaning in pain. My sword was gone and my only source of protection were my skills.

"Liam!" I cried at the top of my voice as I pushed to my feet. I turned in their direction but they were gone. Confusion flooded my being.

Where the hell had they gone?

A growl tore my attention. The beasts were moving towards me menacingly. These were rogues. I could tell from the color of their irises.

I could hear the wild thump of my heart against my ribcage as I retreated from them. I had two options here. Flight or fight.

Any decision I made was going to bring me closer to my death. These beasts were fast on their feet and they were as brutal as they looked.

Spreading my feet apart, I fell into a stance, ready for combat. The first wolf advanced at me, breaking into superhuman speed and I felt my feet leave the ground as I flew into the air in my attempt to mount the beast.

My feet wrapped around its neck and just as I was about to snap its neck, claws dug into my skin and I was pulled off from around its shoulders. A sharp pain shot up my head as I fought for my life.

All the skills I had acquired from intense training went down the drain and I became a victim of their assaults.

Claws dug into my skin, I was yanked from one beast to the other as they took turns, beating the shit out of me and giving me wounds that were going to leave scars for me to remember.

The last blow came, fists sinking into my guts in a pummel and sending me tumbling into the water and creating a loud splash. My vision blurred. I couldn't move a limb. I was terribly bloodied and very close to my death.

I felt cold water rush over half of my body, along with the blood that oozed out of my body as I fought with pain and my consciousness. I was slowly slipping out of reality.

My eyes caught three figures retreating. Something didn't feel right. Not even why I had been left by my group or why I had been attacked intently.

Spluttering a laugh, I stared at the night skies, watching it blur till I blanked into oblivion.