THE SPOILED HYBRID.🧛 (MXM) - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

The next morning at school, Alessia’s heart raced as he rehearsed his plan over and over in his head. He stood in front of the mirror in the locker room, his reflection staring back at him with wide, nervous green eyes. His black hair was neatly combed, and he had even tucked in his shirt, hoping to make a good impression. He muttered to himself, practicing the words he had spent all night preparing.
“Hi, Drake. I’m Alessia. I just wanted to say… no, no, that sounds stupid. Hi, Drake. I’ve noticed you around, and I—ugh, no, that’s worse.” He groaned, running a hand through his hair and messing up the careful combing. Why was this so hard? It was just a conversation. Just a few words. But the thought of actually saying them to Drake, of standing in front of him and risking rejection, made his stomach churn.
After what felt like an eternity of pacing and muttering, Alessia finally gathered the courage to leave the locker room. He lingered in the hallway, his books clutched tightly to his chest, as he waited for the right moment. And then he saw him—Drake, standing by his locker, his tall frame leaning casually against the metal door. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his sharp jawline was set in a relaxed expression as he scrolled through his phone. Alessia’s breath hitched, and for a moment, he considered turning around and running. But he couldn’t. Not this time.
With trembling legs, Alessia approached, his footsteps soft against the tiled floor. Drake noticed him almost immediately, his piercing eyes lifting from his phone to lock onto Alessia’s. A slow, knowing smirk spread across Drake’s face, and Alessia felt his cheeks burn. Drake had always noticed the shy boy who seemed to linger in the background, his big green eyes watching him with a mix of longing and jealousy whenever he was with Jamie. Drake didn’t understand why Alessia behaved the way he did, but he couldn’t deny the strange pull he felt toward him. There was something about the way Alessia watched him—secretly, almost reverently—that Drake found oddly endearing. It was a mystery, one he hadn’t bothered to solve until now.
“Hi… hi,” Alessia stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. He blushed furiously when Drake’s smirk softened into a genuine smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Alessia’s heart pounded so loudly he was sure Drake could hear it. “I’m… I’m A...,” he managed to say, though his voice trembled with nerves.
Before he could finish, Drake interrupted, his deep, smooth voice sending an involuntary shiver down Alessia’s spine. “Alessia,” Drake said, his tone warm but teasing, as if he already knew exactly how much power he held over the smaller boy. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over Alessia with a curiosity that made the vampire-wolf hybrid feel both exposed and exhilarated. “I know who you are.”
Alessia’s breath caught in his throat, his mind racing. Drake knew his name? How? Had he been watching him too? The thought made his stomach flip, but before he could respond, Drake took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. Alessia’s instincts screamed at him to run, to hide, but he couldn’t move. He was rooted to the spot, his green eyes locked onto Drake’s as the taller boy leaned in slightly, his smirk returning.
“You’re always watching me, aren’t you?” Drake said, his voice low and playful. “What’s that about, huh?”
Alessia’s mouth went dry, his carefully rehearsed speech completely forgotten. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. All he could do was stare up at Drake, his heart pounding in his chest as the world around them seemed to fade away. If he had one
Alessia’s mind went blank. Drake’s words echoed in his ears, each one sending a fresh wave of panic through him. *“You’re always watching me, aren’t you? What’s that about, huh?”* How could he possibly answer that? *Oh, I’ve been watching you because I’m your mate, and I’m a vampire-wolf hybrid, and we’re destined to be together.* Yeah, right. That would go over well.
His cheeks burned so hot he thought they might catch fire. Without thinking, he turned on his heel and bolted, his books clutched tightly to his chest as he practically sprinted down the hallway. The sound of Drake’s laughter followed him, a deep, amused rumble that only made him run faster. His heart pounded in his ears, drowning out the noise of the bustling students around him. He didn’t stop until he reached his classroom, slamming the door shut behind him with more force than he intended.
The room was mostly empty, save for a few early arrivals who glanced up at him curiously. Alessia ignored them, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps as he hurried to the very back of the room. He slid into the last seat, his hands trembling as he pulled his hoodie over his head, the fabric swallowing him whole. He tugged the strings tight, creating a small, dark cocoon where he could hide from the world—and from Drake.
His mind raced, replaying the encounter over and over. Why had he run? Why couldn’t he have just said *something*? Anything would have been better than fleeing like a scared rabbit. But the truth was too dangerous, too impossible to explain. And the way Drake had looked at him, with that knowing smirk and those piercing eyes… it had been too much. Alessia had felt exposed, as if Drake could see right through him, straight into his soul.
He buried his face in his arms, his chest tight with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. He had been so close, so close to finally talking to Drake, and he had ruined it. Now Drake probably thought he was some kind of weirdo. Maybe he was. After all, what kind of person ran away like that?
The sound of the classroom door opening made Alessia tense, his body going rigid under the hoodie. He didn’t dare look up, but he could feel the shift in the room as more students began to file in. His stomach churned at the thought of Drake walking in, of those piercing eyes finding him even in the back of the room. What if he came over? What if he wanted to finish their conversation? Alessia wasn’t sure he could handle that. Not now. Maybe not ever.
He stayed like that, curled up in his hoodie, until the teacher arrived and the class began. Even then, he couldn’t bring himself to focus. His mind kept drifting back to Drake, to the way his voice had sent shivers down his spine, to the way his smirk had made Alessia’s heart race. He hated how much power Drake had over him, how just the thought of him could make Alessia’s entire world tilt on its axis.
But more than anything, he hated how hopeless it all felt. Drake had a girlfriend. He was happy. And Alessia… Alessia was just the weird kid who ran away.