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Aldeheid could still remember what happened next, the time the alpha declared a war. Sobrang bilis nang pangyayari na hindi niya man lang namalayang nakalabas na pala silang apat. Romeo in front them, leading and clearing the way, gestured them to move fast.

None of the girls knew how to fight against magic, kaya walang nagawa sina Jarriet na umilag nalang sa mga paparating na mahika mula sa maliliit na pigurang hindi kailanman ay naisip ni Aldeheid na totoo palang. They were little creatures with long hair and pointy hats. Aldeheid have once read about little people but she never believed they were real.

"How the hell did Cartenia get the gnomes to side with her?" Claudette cussed when a small crack of the ground consumed her foot. She got back up with a whip in her hand, cursing and throwing the gnomes with a powdered ball that turns into ashes once hit.

"Saan mo 'yan nakuha?," natutuwa na si Jarriet nang makaalis sila sa bakuran ng pinagtataguan nila.

"From the dead." Claudette casually answered as if what she said was not terrifying, "Oh—don't worry. These are ashes from criminals and animals, some were from the hybrids but I already got their permission to make use of their ashes as weapons. I actually have thousands of these in my lab." she added when she noticed the look on their faces.

"Just how the hell did you make them?," si Romeo na hindi makapaniwala.

Claudette could only shrug, "The moist and molder do all the work."

It was the first time ever that Claudette witnessed a fight, it wasn't even a normal fight between fists. All they did that time was run and hide—because it was only Romeo that did all the work and a little by Claudette and Jarriet—who was surprisingly good at one on one combat—her only con was that she had to use her fists against magic.

"Lady Jarriet—" pagtawag ni Romeo na may pag-aalala sa mukha.

The thing is, the alpha's wife is pregnant. And whatever happens to her and the baby, Romeo will have to take all the blame.

After a long run, they finally managed to encounter the alpha and Adelaide who was in her green coat and a mask that covers half of her face. They were in the middle of a fight when they found them. Jarriet immediately collapsed into the alpha's arm. Mabilis namang napatingin si Harrison kay Romeo na kanina pa'y nakataas ang dalawang kamay sa ere.

"I tried stopping her but she kept on blackmailing saying it's what the baby wanted." he defended and it was true, that's why Jarriet ended exhausted.

The alpha couldn't blame him, after all, it was him who declined when Romeo volunteered to also look after his wife. Napasuri siya ng tingin kay Aldeheid at nang makitang nasa kalagayan pa ito ay nakahinga siya ng maluwag. Now that everyone is here, the last person he needs to find was Callum, who happened to have separated from him after the explosion.

Napatingin ulit siya kay Aldeheid na kanina pa balisa, "Is there something wrong?" he asked.

She shook her head and said, "I'm just a little worried about Callum since he's the only one who's not here."

"Don't worry, he's not yet dead." he assured but only added Aldeheid's anxiety.

A minute passed before a loud bang got their attention. Mabilis nila itong puntahan para lamang masaksihan kung paano sirain ng dalawang uso ang isang lumang bahay na namukhaan ng alpha.

"It's their old house." he whispered and they immediately understood that it was Cartenia's old house, where her and her adopted kids lived before.

A loud cackle echoed through the forest and vibrated throughout the ground. As it grows louder and higher, there came the witch who started everything.

"Oh my! What a lovely surprise! Cedrick's friends and the little daughter of mine!"

Everyone heard Claudette's growls and they saw how she tried so hard to control her anger. "Fuck you, sick bitch."

One insult has then created a huge mess. Harrison saw how Malcolm, his people, and his friends suffered from Cartenia's mess. It wouldn't have to end like this, everything would have been better if only Cartenia knows how to listen as well. Napatingin si Callum sa mga kaibigan niyang nilipad sa pinakawalang mahika ni Cartenia. Only him, Claudette, and Adelaide remained on their foot. Mabuti nalang at karga niya ang asawa dahil kung hindi ay baka mawalan siya ng posisyon dahil sa pagpatay.

Mabilis niyang sinilip si Adelaide na ngayon ay karga na ni Romeo sa balikat niya. Kakatayo lang rin ng iba. Good thing that Aldeheid was still conscious when he glanced over. He couldn't really lose Aldeheid now that this has been started. He couldn't fail Malcolm, especially Callum.

"Are you happy?," asked Claudette.

"I am beyond happy!" she responded and let out a lot or large roots from the ground, knocking over trees.

The earthquake stopped in instant when Adelaide hurled rocks aiming at Cartenia's arms. All of them, not even one tried escaping, hit Cartenia. "I'll constrict pathways to avoid anyone getting in the area." paalam ni Adelaide sa kanila.

Mabilis na nagpaunahan naman sila Harrison at Claudette patungo sa ina nito. Harrison didn't have the plan to fight Cartenia, he only wanted to assist Claudette and stops her once she loses control.

Aldeheid, on the other hand, saw how her friends threw themselves to fight back. Pati si Rios na kanina'y wala ay biglang dumating. She saw Rios fought Cartenia with swords, which was new to Aldeheid. Claudette with her claws, Rios with swords, and Harrison whose eyes were around them, maintained their stance every time Cartenia unleashes her magics.

"As much as I want to protect the two of you, but I also need to protect them. Stay here with Lady Jarriet, and whatever happens, do not hesitate to call for help." Romeo didn't wait for Aldeheid's response. He just knew that Aldeheid wouldn't let any harm come to them.

Everything was a stranger to Aldeheid, especially how her friends fought against one person. She wanted to do something but she didn't know if she could. Every time one of them falls, all she could to was to flinch and pray for them to stay alive.

And then the time finally came where only their alpha the last one standing; while the others, coughing up blood and laying on the ground, struggling to get some air.

"You do know that you can't do anything to me, dear alpha." the smirk on Cartenia's face boiled the alpha's blood. "But do not worry, I never meant for you to fail as the alpha. So instead of coming for you—" her neck snapped at Aldeheid's, "I'm coming for her!" she screamed and like a ghost who suddenly appeared in front of Aldeheid, that even the alpha couldn't comprehend her speed.

And all of a sudden, a small grunt woke something inside Aldeheid. The burning sensation she felt was nothing like the feeling she had with the wild bear. It was something else; something dangerous and fatal.

It was just a split of second that she was staring at Jarriet's leg with blood dripping from it after being stabbed with Cartenia's fork which she believed was poisoned. Now, she is already standing at the middle of the ruined forest, holding Cartenia by her neck, choking her with all her satisfaction.

Cartenia tried escaping from Aldeheid's hands but her claws, burried deep in her neck, was already death to Cartenia. One wrong move and Cartenia's. dead.

Harrison and the others saw how Aldeheid's eyes flickered, how the color kept on turning red. And all of them knew that no one can stop a hybrid's awakening.

"Y-you—" said Cartenia which Aldeheid almost pitied.

"My heart is breaking watching you suffer from my own hands, should I just kill you this instant?" she asked with her lips grinning.

"I'm killing you!" Cartenia screamed, the cuts in her face swung open where blood came out running, "I'm killing you!" she said again but weaker.

"Do you really think you can get away from the alpha just because he's forbidden to kill?"

Cartenia tried spitting at Aldeheid, "You! How did you become this strong? I thought you were a human?"

"I am and you're not." she only said before she heard her friends at her back.

"Calm down, Aldeheid. You do not have to be the one to kill her." Claudette said, her wounds were already healed same with Romeo, but Rios? His got worsen.

Aldeheid listened but never intended to move away. "Tell me, where is Callum?" she asked.

Cartenia spitted and laughed, "That traitor? Oh! He's dead! I killed him already!" proudly that she announced.

Aldeheid couldn't take a grip with Cartenia's laugh so she grabbed her neck again to squirt some blood around it. She breathed the blood-filled air and began growing her claws again, one by one, each stabbed Cartenia like a little needles. She was all ready for killing her when all of a sudden, she smelled a familiar scent. It was coming near them so she decided to stop her hand midway.

Doon lang siya nakahinga ng maluwag nang mahagilap ang taong kanina pa niya gusto makita. "I knew you weren't dead." she fainted a smile at Callum who was confused by her form.

Suddenly, her body felt so weak but she remained standing. She felt cool wind surrounds her, making it enough for her to breathe. In her peripheral view, she saw Adelaide doing it, as if she knows what she was feeling inside. Aldeheid waited for everything to finish before she was slowly drifting off to sleep. And that was when she collapsed.

"Are you ready?"

Aldeheid with worried brows gazed up at Callum, "What if I'm turning into something else? or what if it's just another disease that grows inside me?"

Callum could only laugh at her, "Alam natin pareho na hindi. It's a hybrid blood test result after all. We just have to how much of a hybrid you are."

Callum handed her the folder and joined her in the couch. They were inside her hospital room when the result suddenly knocked on her door. It was nerve wrecking for both of them and they only hope for the best of the result.

Aldeheid slides her fingers down to the envelope that was stapled on the folder. Slowly that she traced the words that she read. The nearer they get, the faster both of their heart beats are.

And one word was enough for them to be able to jump from joy. "You're a hybrid! A full blooded hybrid!" Callum shouted.

Aldeheid smiled and nodded, "I am! Thank you!" and without any warning, kissed Callum in his lips, making him halt but later on responded.

"Thank you so much for coming into my life! You saved me from everything!" she said with so much gratitude and couldn't even imagine her life from the past months without him.

Another night came and they were already packed to leave tomorrow. After receiving the results, followed Aldeheid's immunizations. She was informed to go back after two weeks to get another vaccination again. The nurse also informed her what she can only eat for a week since being a hybrid takes a lot of patience.

"Alde, come here, there's a list of people who can possibly be related to you."

Aldeheid, who was not yet even done treating her bruise, got up and immediately slammed her whole into Callum's. Natawa nalang ang binata.

"Here." He pointed at the list of names under 'History' and under 'Names'.

Aldeheid saw a lot of names that was the same as her father's. Despite the ten people listed, no one really caught her eyes.

"What is this book?," she took a peek at the cover which was 'People of Malcolm'. She turned the pages to look for her mother's last name. When she arrived, a name immediately caught her attention.

"Macque Azor Hugh?" they both look at each other.

"Does that ring a bell to you?" Callum asked.

"No. How about you?"

He laughed in embarrassment, "I didn't even know someone named Macque Azor Hugh lived in this town."

Aldeheid could only shrug, "Well, maybe it's just another name in this book. After all, he's the only one who has my mother's name." Callum agreed and both of them went back to what they were doing.

The next day after Aldeheid's release, they had to stop by at the city hall first to take an oath. It was an oath everyone, who came from another town, took when they resided in Malcolm. Since Aldeheid finally decided to live in Malcolm for good, she personally requested the alpha.

"Congratulations on finally becoming one of us!," Claudette embraced her.

"She was already one of us. Humans who lives here are one of us, regardless their race." Romeo remarked.

Harrison could only sigh when the two are starting again. He turned to Aldeheid to give her the certificate and a button that has a golden bird with a bell carved on it. Napatitig si Aldeheid rito.

"Is this the same bird on the statue on Alpha Malcolm the 2nd's shoulder?"

Harrison nodded, "Phoenix. The bird that symbolizes rebirth, while the bell symbolizes freedom. And that's what Malcolm is."

Aldeheid smiled and couldn't be more grateful to what has been done. Despite the challenges she faced at Malcolm: the confusion, battle, and the loss, the luck never left her. She never thought that destiny would give her a chance she thought she'd never have, it even showed her a world that was once fictional. And now, to live inside fiction is something she will never regret.

The moment Aldeheid step a foot inside Malcolm, everything for her was uncertainty. But now that she met people and learned from them, she knew that there was nothing else meant for her but to live in Malcolm; to live with her family, her friends, and to be forever with someone who everyone in town calls beta.

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