THE SPOILED HYBRID.🧛 (MXM) - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

So, what’s your kind?” Drake asked, his voice calm but curious. He leaned back slightly on the couch, his piercing eyes fixed on Alessia, waiting for an answer. The room felt quieter now, the air thick with anticipation as Alessia hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest.
Alessia blinked, his cheeks flushing as he realized he had glossed over the main issue. He took a deep breath, his fingers nervously twisting the hem of his robe. “Crimson is a vampire kingdom,” he began, his voice soft but steady. “Except for me. I’m… I’m both a vampire and a wolf. I’m a hybrid. My mother is a wolf, and my father is the vampire king.”
Drake’s eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t interrupt, his expression a mix of surprise and fascination. He had always known there was something different about Alessia, something otherworldly, but hearing it confirmed was still a lot to process. “A hybrid,” he repeated slowly, as if testing the word on his tongue. “So, you’re like… both?”
Alessia nodded, his gaze dropping to his lap. “Yes,” he said quietly. “It’s rare. Most of our kind are either vampires or wolves, but I… I’m both. It’s why I’m different. Why my mate is different.”
Drake’s brow furrowed as he processed the information. “Is Alysa a hybrid too?” he asked, his tone careful but curious.
Alessia shook his head, his black hair swaying slightly with the motion. “No, she isn’t. Our mothers are different. Her mother died while giving birth to her, and my father married my mom after he rescued her from a pack that wanted to kill her.”
Drake listened intently, his expression thoughtful. He was human, and everything Alessia was saying should have terrified him. Vampires? Wolves? Hidden kingdoms? It was like something out of a fantasy novel. But the feelings he had for Alessia—the warmth, the protectiveness, the inexplicable pull—were stronger than any fear. He didn’t want to miss a single word, didn’t want to risk misunderstanding anything.
“So… you’re a prince,” Drake said slowly, his voice tinged with awe. “And I’m your… mate.”
Alessia nodded, his cheeks still flushed. “Yes,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “I know it’s a lot to take in. And I know it’s… strange. But it’s the truth.”
Drake was silent for a moment, his gaze drifting to the floor as he processed everything. Then, slowly, he reached out and took Alessia’s hand, his touch warm and reassuring. “It *is* a lot,” he admitted. “But… it doesn’t change how I feel about you. If anything, it makes me want to understand you even more.”
Alessia’s breath hitched, his green eyes widening as he looked up at Drake. “You’re not… scared?” he asked, his voice trembling with hope and fear.
Drake smiled faintly, his thumb brushing over Alessia’s knuckles. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared,” he admitted. “But not of you. Never of you. I’m scared of messing this up, of not being enough for you. But I want to try. I want to be here for you. If you’ll let me.”
Alessia’s eyes filled with tears, and for the first time in weeks, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this could work. Maybe Drake really was the mate he had been searching for all along.
Alessia’s breath hitched, his green eyes shimmering with unshed tears as he stared at Drake. The warmth of Drake’s hand in his was grounding, but the fear of rejection still lingered in the back of his mind. “You’re really not scared of me?” he asked again, his voice barely above a whisper, as if saying it louder would shatter the fragile hope building in his chest.
Drake’s expression softened, and he shifted closer on the couch, their knees brushing again. “Alessia,” he said, his voice steady and sincere, “the only thing that scares me is losing you. I don’t care if you’re a vampire, a wolf, or some kind of magical hybrid prince. You’re still *you*. And I… I really like you. More than I’ve liked anyone in a long time.”
Alessia’s heart swelled at Drake’s words, but the tears he had been holding back finally spilled over, trailing down his cheeks. He quickly wiped them away with the sleeve of his robe, embarrassed. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, his voice cracking. “I just… I thought you’d hate me. I thought you’d be disgusted by what I am.”
Drake reached out, gently cupping Alessia’s face in his hand. His thumb brushed away a stray tear, his touch so tender it made Alessia’s breath catch. “Look at me,” Drake said softly, his voice firm but kind. “I’m not disgusted. I’m not scared of you. I’m here because I want to be. Because I *choose* to be. Okay?”
Alessia nodded, his lower lip trembling as he tried to hold back another wave of tears. He leaned into Drake’s touch, his body instinctively seeking the comfort and reassurance Drake was offering. For the first time in weeks, he felt like he could breathe again.
Drake smiled faintly, his hand dropping to rest on Alessia’s shoulder. “So,” he said, his tone lighter now, “you’re a prince, huh? That explains a lot.”
Alessia blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”
Drake chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “You’ve got this… I don’t know, regal vibe. Like you’re too good for the rest of us mere mortals.”
Alessia’s cheeks flushed, and he looked down, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I don’t think I’m too good for anyone,” he said quietly. “Especially not you.”
Drake’s smile widened, and he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. “Good. Because I’m not letting you go, Your Highness.”
Alessia laughed softly, the sound shaky but genuine. It felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest, like he could finally breathe again. He looked up at Drake, his green eyes shining with a mix of gratitude and affection. “Thank you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “For not giving up on me.”
Drake’s expression softened, and he reached out to tuck a strand of Alessia’s black hair behind his ear. “I’ll never give up on you,” he said, his voice firm but gentle. “You’re stuck with me, Alessia. Whether you like it or not.”
Alessia’s smile widened, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this could work. Maybe Drake really was the mate he had been searching for all along.