THE SPOILED HYBRID.🧛 (MXM) - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Alessia’s eyes widened, his green irises shimmering with a mix of shock and disbelief. “You’re… you’re not angry?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He had braced himself for rejection, for ridicule, for *something*—but not this. Not Drake’s calm, almost amused demeanor.
Drake chuckled softly, the sound warm and low, like the rumble of distant thunder. “Nope,” he said, leaning back in his chair with an easy confidence that made Alessia’s stomach flutter. “It’s kind of obvious, you know. Maybe the whole class knows about your big crush on me.” He smirked, his piercing eyes glinting with playful teasing.
Alessia’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, and he quickly looked down at his hands, which were fidgeting nervously in his lap. He hadn’t realized he’d been that obvious. The thought made him want to crawl under the desk again and never come out.
“But is that the only thing you wanted to tell me?” Drake asked, his tone shifting slightly, becoming more serious. He tilted his head, studying Alessia with a curious intensity that made the smaller boy’s heart race.
Alessia hesitated. There were so many things he wanted to say, so many secrets he needed to share. But he couldn’t just blurt out, *Oh, by the way, I’m a vampire-wolf hybrid, and you’re my destined mate.* Not yet. He needed to build a connection first, to make Drake trust him. So, for now, he settled on the simplest truth.
“Yes, that’s all,” he said softly, his voice trembling slightly. He glanced up at Drake, his big green eyes filled with a mix of hope and fear.
Drake didn’t press further, though his gaze lingered on Alessia for a moment longer, as if he could sense there was more to the story. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, his expression softening. “So, can we hang out sometime?” he asked, his tone casual but genuine.
Alessia’s reaction was immediate and comical. His eyes widened, and his mouth fell open in surprise. “But… but… but you have a girlfriend!” he stammered, his voice rising an octave in his panic.
Drake laughed, a rich, full-bodied sound that made Alessia’s cheeks burn even hotter. “She’s not my girlfriend,” he said, shaking his head. “Jamie’s just a friend. We’ve never been more than that.”
Alessia’s heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, he felt like the ground had shifted beneath him. All this time, he had been torturing himself over Jamie, over the idea that Drake was already taken. And now… now he didn’t know what to think. He felt a pang of regret, wondering why he hadn’t approached Drake sooner.
“Oh,” was all he managed to say, his voice small and breathless.
Drake smiled, a soft, almost tender expression that made Alessia’s chest ache. “So, give me your number,” he said, pulling out his phone. “I’ll text you, and we can figure out a time to hang out.”
Alessia nodded quickly, his hands trembling as he fumbled to unlock his phone. He handed it to Drake, their fingers brushing briefly in the exchange. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through Alessia, and he quickly pulled his hand back, his face burning.
Drake typed in his number, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he were savoring the moment. When he handed the phone back, his fingers lingered for just a second longer than necessary, his gaze locking onto Alessia’s. “I’ll text you,” he said, his voice low and warm, sending a shiver down Alessia’s spine.
As Drake stood to leave, Alessia sat frozen in his seat, his mind racing. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. Drake had asked for his number. Drake wanted to hang out. It felt like a dream, one he was terrified of waking up from.
But as he clutched his phone tightly, the weight of it in his hand felt real. And for the first time in what felt like forever, Alessia allowed himself to hope.
After school, Alessia practically sprinted through the parking lot, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and disbelief. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement, and the cool breeze carried the faint scent of freshly cut grass. He scanned the rows of cars, his green eyes darting from one vehicle to the next until he finally spotted his sister’s sleek black car. Without slowing down, he yanked the door open and slid into the passenger seat, his breath coming in short, eager gasps.
“Alysa!” he exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement. “You won’t believe what happened!”
Alysa turned to him, her sharp amber eyes narrowing with curiosity. She had been scrolling through her phone, but the moment she saw her brother’s flushed face and wide smile, she set it aside. “What?” she asked, her tone a mix of amusement and impatience. “Did you finally talk to him?”
Alessia nodded vigorously, his hands flailing as he tried to find the words. “He—he asked for my number! He said we should hang out sometime! And guess what? Jamie’s not even his girlfriend! She’s just a friend!”
Alysa’s eyebrows shot up, and a slow, satisfied smile spread across her face. “Well, well,” she said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. “Looks like someone’s finally making progress. I told you it wasn’t that hard, didn’t I?”
Alessia ignored her teasing, too caught up in his own joy to care. He couldn’t stop smiling, his cheeks aching from the effort. For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt a flicker of hope. This was it. This was the start of something real.
When they reached home, Alessia bolted out of the car and up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He burst into his room, the soft blue walls and fluffy blue carpet greeting him like an old friend. His bed, with its oversized blue comforter, sat in the center of the room, inviting and comforting. The space was his sanctuary, a reflection of his calm, introspective nature. But today, it felt different. Today, it felt alive with possibility.
After a quick shower, Alessia changed into his favorite pajamas—a soft, oversized shirt and matching pants—and flopped onto his bed. He grabbed his phone, holding it tightly as he stared at the screen, waiting for Drake’s message. Drake had said he would text him, and Alessia wasn’t about to miss it.
The minutes ticked by slowly, each one feeling like an eternity. Alessia’s excitement began to wane, replaced by a gnawing sense of doubt. What if Drake had changed his mind? What if he had only asked for Alessia’s number out of pity? The thoughts swirled in his mind, threatening to drown out the earlier joy.
But then, just as he was about to give up hope, his phone buzzed. Alessia’s heart leapt into his throat as he unlocked the screen, his hands trembling slightly. It was a message from Drake.
*Hey. So, about that hangout…*
Alessia’s breath caught, and a wide smile spread across his face. This was really happening. He quickly typed out a reply, his fingers flying over the screen. As he hit send, he felt a surge of anticipation, his chest swelling with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
For the first time in a long time, Alessia felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.