THE SPOILED HYBRID.🧛 (MXM) - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Although Alessia wanted to follow his sister’s advice and talk to Drake, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. The fear of rejection, of seeing disgust or hatred in Drake’s eyes, was too overwhelming. It was easier to assume the worst, to convince himself that Drake hated him, than to face the possibility of confirmation. So, he did what he did best—he ran. He hid. He avoided.
It wasn’t hard, at first. Alessia’s heightened senses allowed him to detect Drake’s scent from a distance, and he would immediately change his route, ducking into empty classrooms or hallways to avoid him. He stopped attending the classes they shared, opting to study from home instead. The campus, once a place of excitement and possibility, now felt like a minefield, every corner a potential encounter he wasn’t ready for.
Drake, on the other hand, was growing increasingly frustrated. At first, he had assumed Alessia just needed some space. The shock of what had happened that night was a lot to process, and Drake had wanted to give him time. But as the days turned into a week, and then two, he began to realize that Alessia wasn’t just avoiding him—he was actively hiding.
The first time Drake caught a glimpse of Alessia on campus, his heart had leapt with relief. He had been walking to class when he spotted the smaller boy across the quad, his black hair and oversized sweater unmistakable. But before Drake could even call out to him, Alessia had bolted, disappearing into the crowd with a speed that left Drake stunned.
“Alessia!” Drake had called after him, his voice tinged with desperation. But it was no use. Alessia was gone, leaving Drake standing there, his chest tight with a mix of confusion and hurt.
This pattern continued for two full weeks. Drake would catch a fleeting glimpse of Alessia, only for the boy to vanish before he could get close. It was maddening. Drake had so many questions, so many things he wanted to say, but Alessia wasn’t giving him the chance. The more Alessia avoided him, the more determined Drake became to find him.
Finally, after two weeks of being ghosted, Drake had had enough. He cornered Alysa after class one day, his frustration evident in the tight set of his jaw and the intensity of his gaze. “Where is he?” Drake demanded, his voice low but firm. “Why is he avoiding me?”
Alysa crossed her arms, her amber eyes narrowing as she studied him. “Maybe because he thinks you hate him,” she said bluntly. “He’s convinced you’re disgusted by him, and he’s too scared to face you.”
Drake’s expression softened, the anger in his eyes replaced by something closer to concern. “I don’t hate him,” he said, his voice quieter now. “I just… I need to talk to him. I need to understand.”
Alysa sighed, her gaze flickering to the side as if debating how much to say. “Look,” she said finally, “Alessia’s not going to come to you. If you want to talk to him, you’re going to have to corner him. And trust me, that’s not going to be easy.”
Drake nodded, his resolve hardening. He didn’t know what he would say to Alessia, but he knew one thing for sure—he wasn’t going to let him disappear again.
So, are you guys playing hide and seek with your boyfriend, or what?” Jamie asked, her tone light and teasing as she placed her tray on the table and slid into the seat across from Drake. She took a sip of her soda, her sharp eyes studying him with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
Drake sighed, running a hand through his dark hair as he leaned back in his chair. He had been quiet all through lunch, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Alessia. His friends had noticed, of course. They always did.
“Yeah, talk about it,” Dylan chimed in, one of Drake’s closest friends. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table as he smirked at Drake. “One is always hunting, the other running. It’s like some weird romantic chase.”
Drake shot him a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. “We got into a little disagreement,” he said vaguely, his voice tight. He didn’t want to tell them what he had actually seen that night—Alessia’s glowing red eyes, his sharp fangs, the way he had moved with inhuman speed. It sounded crazy, even to him. “Now he’s avoiding me.”
“Corner the boy, Drake,” Ryan said, another one of Drake’s friends. He leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest. “You’re, like, twice his size. Just grab him and make him talk.”
Drake groaned, his hand dropping to the table with a soft thud. “It’s not that easy,” he said, frustration creeping into his voice. “You know how small things easily hide. He’s like a damn ghost. I can’t even get close to him before he bolts.”
Jamie tilted her head, her expression thoughtful as she twirled a strand of her hair around her finger. “Why don’t you just ask his sister for their address?” she suggested, her tone casual. “Surprise him by showing up at his place. He can’t run if you’re in his space.”
Drake froze, his eyes widening slightly as he processed her words. Why hadn’t he thought of that? It was so simple, yet it hadn’t even crossed his mind. He had been so focused on trying to catch Alessia on campus that he hadn’t considered going straight to the source.
“That’s… not a bad idea,” Drake admitted, a slow smile spreading across his face. He felt a flicker of hope for the first time in weeks. If he could just get Alessia to listen, to really talk to him, maybe they could figure this out.
“See? I’m full of good ideas,” Jamie said with a grin, popping a fry into her mouth. “Just don’t mess it up, okay? I kind of like Alessia. He’s cute.”
Drake rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips. “Thanks, Jamie,” he said, his tone sincere. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”
As the conversation shifted to other topics, Drake’s mind was already racing with plans. He would talk to Alysa, get their address, and finally confront Alessia. No more running. No more hiding. It was time to face this head-on.