POV Nero
The last fifty years had been… insightful.
After freeing Dante and Mekesa from that prison world, I had welcomed them into my family. They were my siblings now—Dante Tone, Mekesa Tone, and myself.
If I were being honest, it felt good.
For a long time, I had forgotten what it felt like to actually have family. People who stood beside you not out of fear or loyalty alone, but because they truly cared.
Dante and Mekesa were… interesting, to say the least. I had figured that out very quickly.
After the island, the first thing I decided to do was begin hunting down the seven original werewolf clans. I knew they would probably be the most difficult part of my plan, so it made sense to deal with them first.
The first clan we found was the Crescent pack.
Surprisingly, they weren't hiding in some distant wilderness. They were living openly as nobles in Mexica, in what would eventually become Mexico. They were Aztec, powerful and proud, though history would soon wipe most of them out anyway.
Finding them was actually the hardest part. Once we knew where they were, everyone in Mexica already knew what they were.
Their nature wasn't exactly a secret.
So once we located them…
It was simple.
Snatch and grab.
We captured three werewolves from their clan.
After that came the Deepwater clan. We tracked them down to what would eventually be known as the Grand Canyon.
Again—simple snatch and grab.
Then came the Barry clan, and that one was a bit more troublesome.
They were hiding in the Appalachian Mountains, and several of them had moonlight rings, which made things difficult.
One of them even managed to bite Mekesa.
She had been careless.
Still, she recovered quickly. Since werewolf venom is magical in nature, she simply siphoned the magic from the bite and healed herself.
After that, we split up.
Dante and Mekesa went after the Malraux clan, while I headed toward the Poldark clan.
I wasn't completely alone, though.
I had a witch with me.
Or technically, a warlock.
His name was Jamine Bennett.
He was Monna's son.
Monna herself was still alive, though she was now seventy-five years old and far too old to be traveling through jungles with me.
Jamine had volunteered instead.
The kid was about eighteen, maybe nineteen. He looked almost exactly like his mother, and he had that same stubborn Bennett attitude.
Over the years, I had become something like an uncle to him.
And honestly… the kid looked up to me.
The Poldark clan was rumored to be hiding deep within the Amazon rainforest.
Which was exactly where Jamine and I were now.
Thick jungle surrounded us in every direction. The air was humid and heavy, filled with the constant sound of insects and distant animals.
"So," I said casually as we walked. "What's going on with that village girl back in Salem?"
Jamine glanced at me.
I could see the small smile he tried to hide.
"Her name is Vail," he said.
"Oh?" I smirked. "We're already using names now."
He rolled his eyes.
"I'm going to marry her."
I stopped walking.
"Marry her?"
He nodded confidently.
"Yes."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Well now, that's a big commitment," I said in a mock serious tone. "And as your uncle, I feel obligated to tell you something."
He groaned.
"What?"
"You better make sure she's the one."
"Why?"
"Because girls," I said dramatically, "can break your heart into tiny little pieces."
Jamine snorted.
"And then," I continued, "they walk away while stepping on those pieces."
"Jesus," he muttered.
I pointed a finger at him.
"Hey. Don't use the Lord's name in vain, kid."
"My fault," he said, raising his hands with a grin.
We both laughed as we continued walking through the jungle.
Then—
Crack.
The sound was faint.
But I heard it.
My eyes widened.
In less than a second I grabbed Jamine and pulled him backward with vampire speed.
The ground beneath us collapsed.
A pit opened where we had been standing.
Wooden spikes waited at the bottom.
Jamine stared down into the trap.
"Holy—"
"Language," I reminded him.
He shook his head.
"That was close."
I whistled quietly.
"False ground. Sharp stakes."
I looked around the forest slowly.
"Yeah… I think it's best we set up camp."
Jamine nodded quickly.
"Yeah, I agree with that."
An hour later we had a small campsite set up.
A fire burned quietly in the center.
Jamine sat beside it, carefully drawing runes into the dirt while preparing a protection spell.
I leaned back against a large tree, staring into the jungle.
Everything seemed calm.
Too calm.
Then suddenly—
My chest tightened.
A strange pulling sensation gripped my heart.
I frowned.
"What the hell…"
I looked up.
My eyes widened.
A full moon hung high in the sky.
That was impossible.
"There isn't supposed to be a full moon for another three weeks," I muttered.
Jamine followed my gaze.
"Wait… that's not right."
"No," I said slowly.
"It's not."
I stood up.
"Jamine."
"Yeah?"
"Cast a barrier spell around the camp."
His expression changed instantly.
"Are you going out there" he said
"Yeah I gotta see what's going on" I said
He didn't argue.
"Alright."
He began chanting immediately, drawing symbols around the campsite.
A faint blue barrier shimmered to life around the clearing.
"I'll be safe inside no one can get through, not even some werewolves," He told me.
"Are you really going out there?" he asked nervously.
I smiled slightly.
"Don't worry little Bennet, I'm not so easy to kill"
I walked into the jungle alone.
The moonlight filtered through the trees.
The pull in my chest grew stronger.
As a hybrid, I didn't have to transform.
But tonight…
I wanted to.
My bones cracked.
Then shattered.
The pain exploded through my body as my spine twisted and stretched.
Muscles tore.
Skin split.
Every bone in my body broke and reshaped itself.
Years ago, that pain would have been unbearable.
Now?
It barely bothered me.
Seconds later—
A massive black wolf stood where I had been.
My fur was pitch black.
A single white spot surrounded my right eye.
And I was far larger than any normal werewolf.
Hybrid blood had seen to that.
I lifted my head and howled into the night.
The jungle answered.
Other wolves.
Five of them emerged from the trees.
They attacked immediately.
The first one lunged at me, and with my superior strength, I pinned him down mid. and bit into his throat.
Two of them tried to come from both sides. I moved back as soon as they were about to bite down on me.
They ended up biting into each other, and I used this to dig into their flesh with my claws killing them.
There were two more left.
This time I rushed them.
I pinned one to the ground and started clawing at its chest.
But his friend tackled me off him.
As soon as he did that I bit into his neck and tore out his throat. .
The other was already almost died so I put him out his misery.
I thought that was it.
But then—
Another wolf stepped into the clearing.
My eyes widened.
Her fur was snow white.
And kinda like me
She had a black spot over her right eye.
She growled.
I growled back.
And then we charged.
We fought the entire night.
I was clearly stronger than her, but she wasn't a push over.
But strangely…
I never tried to kill her.
And she never tried to kill me.
When the sun finally rose—
Darkness took me.
When I woke up…
I was lying in the grass.
Naked.
I blinked slowly.
Then I felt warmth beside me.
I turned my head.
A woman lay sleeping next to me.
Long white hair.
Perfect skin.
And the most beautiful face I had ever seen.
I stared at her in stunned silence.
POV Jamine
Nero had been gone all night.
I sat inside the barrier spell I had cast, watching the jungle around me. The rainforest was loud—too loud. Insects hummed, leaves rustled, and distant animals cried out in the darkness. Normally it would have put me on edge, but the barrier made me feel safe enough.
Still… Nero had told me to stay here.
And he had been gone far longer than I expected.
He isn't dead, I told myself for the hundredth time. He can't be.
If anything in this forest had tried to kill him, it would probably end up dead instead.
I rubbed the back of my neck and stared at the fire we had built earlier. The flames had burned low, glowing red beneath the ashes.
"Come on, Uncle," I muttered quietly. "You're making this real hard not to worry."
Then I heard it.
Footsteps.
Not one pair.
Many.
My head snapped up instantly.
Leaves shifted in the darkness beyond the barrier, and a moment later twelve figures stepped out of the forest.
They looked tribal—paint on their skin, bone necklaces, spears and blades clutched tightly in their hands. Their eyes locked onto me the second they saw me sitting there.
None of them looked friendly.
They spoke among themselves in a language I couldn't understand.
One of them stepped forward, pointing at me while saying something to the others.
"Uh… yeah," I said slowly, raising my hands a little. "I have no idea what you're saying."
They stared at me.
Then they started walking closer.
I frowned slightly but didn't move.
"Listen," I said, gesturing around me, "you guys can try all you want, but this barrier spell—"
Before I could finish, I heard a voice behind me.
A calm voice.
A woman's voice.
"What are you doing here, little one?"
I spun around so fast I nearly tripped over the log behind me.
Standing there was an old woman—at least fifty years old, maybe older. Her hair was long and white, tied together with small bones. She wore necklaces made of tiny skeletons and charms, and in her hand was a tall wooden staff carved with strange symbols.
Her eyes were sharp.
Very sharp.
I swallowed.
"Uh…" I said awkwardly.
The tribal warriors stopped moving the moment she appeared.
Clearly she was important.
"My uncle and I were just… exploring the rainforest," I said carefully.
The woman looked me up and down slowly, studying me like I was some kind of animal.
Then she lifted her staff.
SLAM.
The moment it hit the ground, my barrier spell vanished like it had never existed.
My eyes widened.
"Oh—oh shit."
The warriors rushed forward instantly.
I reacted without thinking.
"Impello!"
A wave of magic burst out from my body, blasting everyone around me backward like they had been hit by a shockwave.
Several warriors slammed into trees and rolled across the ground.
But the old woman…
She didn't move at all.
Not even an inch.
She stood there like the spell hadn't touched her.
"You are strong, little one," she said calmly.
Her hand lifted toward me.
"But not strong enough."
Suddenly I felt something grab me—an invisible force pulling me forward.
"Hey—wait—!"
Before I could react, I was yanked across the ground straight into her hand.
Her fingers wrapped around my neck and lifted me slightly off the ground.
And I realized something very concerning.
She was ridiculously strong.
I grabbed her wrist, trying to pry her hand off.
"Let—go—!"
She placed her other hand on my head.
Then her eyes rolled back.
Pain exploded through my skull.
"AHH—!"
It felt like someone was digging through my brain.
"Stop! Stop!" I shouted desperately.
My vision blurred as the pounding inside my head grew worse and worse.
Then suddenly—
It stopped.
Her eyes returned to normal.
She stared at me with a strange, almost excited look.
"So it is true," she whispered.
"He has come… the Hybrid has come."
"Yes," a familiar voice said calmly behind her.
"I have."
Everyone turned.
And my jaw dropped.
Standing there was Nero.
Completely naked.
And holding one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen in a headlock.
"Let my nephew go," Nero said casually.
"Or this pretty lady's neck is about to do a full three-sixty."
POV Nero
A few moments earlier…
When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the cold ground beneath me.
The second thing I noticed…
Was her.
She was lying beside me in the grass, asleep.
And I had to admit something.
She might have been the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
Her skin was flawless, pale like moonlight. Her hair was pure white, almost glowing in the sunlight that filtered through the jungle canopy. Her eyes were closed peacefully, long lashes resting against her cheeks.
For a moment I just stared.
Well… that's new.
I leaned down slightly, brushing a strand of her hair between my fingers.
Then suddenly—
Her eyes snapped open.
Blue.
Bright blue.
And before I could react she lunged at me with a growl.
"Whoa—hey—!"
She tackled me to the ground like a wild animal.
I laughed.
"Easy there, missy. I usually like to introduce myself before the foreplay."
In a blur of speed I flipped us over and pinned her against a nearby tree, my hand around her throat.
Her breathing was heavy, eyes locked onto mine.
"Alright," I said calmly. "Are you going to tell me who you are, or do I have to kill you?"
I flashed my hybrid eyes at her.
Gold.
With dark veins spreading from them.
Her expression changed instantly.
"You're him," she said.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Him who?"
"The Hybrid."
That made me pause.
My grip tightened slightly.
"How do you know that?"
For the last hundred years I had made sure very few people knew what I was.
She looked directly into my eyes.
"You came to me in a vision."
I frowned.
"My mother believes you are the one who will save us from ourselves."
"Oh yeah?" I said slowly. "And how exactly would your mother know that?"
"Because she is a witch."
That surprised me.
"What is a witch doing out here, Is she also a werewolf", I said in a joining manner.
"Yes."
Well that was something new.
I had never heard of a werewolf and witch hybrid
While I was thinking about that—
She suddenly bit down on my hand.
Hard.
My thumb tore clean off.
Then she kicked me back and jumped away.
I looked down at my hand.
My thumb was already growing back.
I smiled.
"Well… you're full of surprises, aren't you?"
She straightened slightly.
"My name is Diana."
I tilted my head.
"Pretty name, but I don't remember asking for it"
She looked at me like the answer was obvious.
"Well," she said casually.
"I'm pretty sure my husband should know my name."
That made me pause.
Mind you…
We were both still very naked.
And her body—
Well.
Let's just say it was heavenly.
"Husband?" I repeated slowly.
"Now don't get me wrong," I said, raising a hand, "you might actually be the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. But don't you think you're moving a little fast?"
She laughed softly, blushing.
"You won our battle last night."
I frowned.
"What do you mean I won?"
"In my clan," she explained, "when a male and female werewolf fight, it isn't just a fight. It is a challenge for dominance."
She stepped closer.
"If the woman wins, the man dies… or lives in shame."
"And if the man wins?" I asked.
She smiled slightly.
"The woman becomes his wife."
I blinked.
Well… that was new.
"So what… we're bonded for life now?" I asked slowly.
"Yes."
"And if I try to go and love someone else?"
"You will both be cursed."
I scratched the back of my head.
"Well… that's inconvenient."
But honestly?
I wasn't exactly complaining.
She was stunning.
And if she was the daughter of the clan's witch, that meant getting the werewolves I needed might actually be easy.
"Well," I started to say.
But suddenly—
I heard something.
Jamine.
He was in trouble.
Without thinking, I grabbed Diana and sped through the forest toward the sound.
A second later we arrived.
And there he was.
Being held by the throat by an old woman.
"So it is true," the woman whispered.
"The Hybrid has come."
"Yes," I said calmly.
"I have."
They both turned toward me.
I tightened my arm around Diana's neck.
"Now," I said evenly.
"Let my nephew go… or this pretty lady's neck is going to do a full three-sixty."
Diana sighed.
"It's fine, Mother."
She gestured toward me.
"We are mated now."
"He can kill me"
I blinked.
"Fucking bullshit," I muttered.
I was about snap her neck, but she was right, I couldn't.
It was like I couldn't bring myself to.
"Let him go," I warned.
"Or I will kill everyone here while your daughter watches me tear your throat out."
My eyes flashed.
The threat was very real.
The witch studied me quietly.
Then she bowed her head slightly.
"As you wish."
She released Jamine.
I rushed over to him immediately.
"Come on," I said, grabbing his arm.
But the moment I tried to leave—
I slammed into invisible magic.
A barrier.
The old woman smiled.
"To think my new son-in-law would try to leave without speaking to his wife's mother."
I sighed deeply and turned around.
The twelve warriors had recovered and stood behind her again.
Diana stood beside her mother calmly.
I folded my arms.
"Well," I said.
"How are we doing this?"
"A fight to the death?"
The witch chuckled softly.
"You misunderstand my tone, Mr. Nero."
I narrowed my eyes.
"How do you know my name?"
She smiled.
"I know many things about you."
Then she glanced at Diana.
"Or rather… my daughter has told me many things."
I looked at Diana.
She smiled sheepishly.
I rubbed my face.
"Okay, what the hell is going on"