Alpha King's Hybrid Mate: Mated to the Afterlife 2

As I caught sight of my breathtakingly beautiful blonde best friend standing in the doorway, a wave of emotion washed over me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I hurried across the room to envelop her in a warm, heartfelt hug.

“Ellie, what are you doing here?! When did you get here? How?”

“Dude, chill. Take a break. I can literally feel you panicking. By the way, you’re going to squeeze me to death,” Ellie says in her typical sarcastic, calm tone.

I realize I am, in fact, hugging her way too tightly. I loosen my grip before letting go and allowing her to pull back from me. In the moment of her surprise, I hadn’t noticed her condition.

Ellie stood before me with a black goo-like liquid splattered across her and what looked like blood staining her clothes. “OH MY GOD, ARE YOU OKAY?!!” I practically scream. I feel more tears escape as I realize she must have been hurt.

Ellie softly comforted me, allowing my tears to flow for a moment longer. She then gently pulled away, capturing my hand in hers. Completely ignoring the obvious, she looks around the room and scoffs.

“I have been couch surfing forever and look at you! You have been over here with hunky men and living your best life in luxury.”

With a sweeping motion, she throws her hands up, showcasing the lavish bedroom surroundings, and then does a running jump onto the expansive bed by the floor-to-ceiling windows. A small chuckle escapes my lips as I watch my friend bounce up and down on the bed, her blonde hair bouncing with each movement.

She seems to be completely unfazed by the fact that we are upstairs in a house full of demonic beings. Her carefree attitude makes me forget the possible danger lurking below us, yet she acts as if this is all completely normal, giggling and twirling around like a child.

As much as I want to join her carefree demeanor, I can’t help but feel a sense of unease about this whole situation. “Ellie…”

Ellie throws herself down onto the bed, making the blankets ‘poof’ as she lands, then lets out a loud, exaggerated sigh. “Okay, so long story short…” she pauses.

“Two weeks ago, Mr. Tall Dark, and please fuck me, found me at a bar I was working at… By the way, you so better give me the dirty details on that,” She pauses for a moment to wink at me. “ANYWHO, he told me who he was and how you lived here with him, his sister, Eli, and Derrick, and said he thought you would probably do better if I came and stayed or visited with you for a while. Of course, you know I can’t say no to a sex God like that, and it was about you, so I didn’t think twice. He bought me a ticket. I came today-”

“I thought you said you had a business trip.”

“Bitch, what kind of business trip does a bartender need to go on… seriously, you really are so dense sometimes,” she teases. “Anyways, I came, and when I arrived at the bus station, some big ugly looking fucker started some shit, and next thing I know, that sexy monkey man was shredding that nasty fucker to shreds, then, of course, Sir Fuck Me, showed up, explained the whole demon thing to me and Sex monkey brought me here.”

“Sex monkey?” I question, as if that were the most crazy part of her story.

“Yeah, Derrick. Girl, please tell me you guys don’t have some sort of throuple going on because if you don’t, I wanna teach that monkey man the meaning of how to climb.” Ellie winks at me while licking her lips.

“Okay, first, eww. Second, no throuples. Third, how are you not horrified by all of this?!” I finally verbalize.

“Lea. I mean, you know I love my conspiracies, and I told you years ago that I thought all these movies and books, like the one about the sparkly vampires, were just a way to normalize creatures we never thought were real. And I mean… he is sooooooo hot!”

“Also, watching him shred that demon was a total turn-on, too, if I’m being honest. I wonder if he can use some of that angry strength on me, too.”

“Lea, I really don’t get what the big deal is. You like your guy, right? You like this family, right? Then why are you acting like they are a bunch of monsters?”

Ellie looks contemplative before rephrasing her statement. “Okay, that was a bad turn of phrase, but seriously. You can’t tell me you haven’t read one of your little fantasy porn books and thought, ‘~I wish a demon would fuck me with his third dick’ “

I don’t know whose eyes widened the most. “Wait a second! Does Sir Pin Me Down have three dicks? Have you sucked them all?!” Ellie blurts out.

A combined burst of laughter fills the room. It was nice, considering everything going on. “Seriously, what is wrong with you? Ell, I swear to God, your mom dropped you on your head too many times as a child,” I tease.

“But for real, Lea, what do I get to look forward to with Sex Gorilla in the other room, in the dick department?”

“YOU JUST MET HIM, ELL!” I scold, knowing damn well that has never stopped her from jumping in bed with a guy before.

Ellie and I spot a brunette, tanned head peeking in sync toward the door.

“Uhh, sorry to interrupt whatever you women are doing, but Jessa said to let you guys know that she made food,” Derrick states, his eyes never leaving Ellie.

Part of me smiles internally because I know Jessa is using food to try to cut the tension.

“I don’t know about you, but hot men and good food? He doesn’t have to tell me twice,” Ellie says as she bounces off the bed.

A low growl escapes Derrick’s chest at her statement.

“Oooh, I like them possessive,” she says playfully.

She saunters over to Derrick, grabbing his elbow and letting him lead the way downstairs.

I walk to the mirror over the dresser and look at myself, steadying my breaths.

I argue with my reflection, creating an entire internal dialogue with myself, arguing my points when I smell that oh-so-familiar scent.

I hear a soft tap at the door before it creaks open.

“Doll- I mean Lea. Can I come in?” He stammers.

I didn’t want to admit it, but the correction of his pet name for me sent a pang of pain in my chest.

“Yeah, it’s your room, remember,” I respond softly.

My heart races with fear and confusion as Derrel enters the bedroom with a solemn expression on his face.

His eyes no longer hold the crimson appearance they had before. I look away, unable to meet his gaze as he searches for my reaction.

My mind swirls with a mix of betrayal and longing, not truly knowing what to think or feel.

“Lea, I understand if you’re afraid. But please know I would never hurt you, despite what I am. You mean so much to me, and I never wanted to hide this from you. I just didn’t know how to tell you in a way that wouldn’t make you run,” he says gently as he slowly approaches me.

Derrel reaches out his hand towards me, barely touching the side of my face as if he is afraid I’ll run.

His touch sends a surge of conflicting emotions through my body.

I should fear him, but everything inside of me wants him.

I catch myself closing my eyes and leaning into his palm, my hand coming up and cupping the back of his large hand as my body leans into his.

“I know,” I whisper.

Every rational part of my mind is screaming at me that everything is wrong, but I can’t fight that tug I feel deep inside my chest.

My eyes open, and I look up into his gaze, the fear evidently written all over it.

“Please forgive me, Doll. I never meant to put you in danger or ever make you feel like you should fear me.”

“I don’t fear you, Rel. I fear the situation; yes, I am beyond confused and honestly a little pissed that this was hidden from me.”

My eyes squeeze shut, and my head falls, facing the floor, “You should have just told me, not snuck behind my back doing God knows what so that you could keep it hidden.”

I feel the growl build deep in his chest, never escaping his mouth.

My eyes shoot open.

Derrel’s hand moves from my cheek under my chin, and he lifts my head up to look him in the eyes.

“Never look down in front of me. You are too beautiful to do that.”

I open my mouth to apologize, but his mouth crashes down onto mine before I get the chance.

It wasn’t like before, though. There was no aggression behind this kiss; it was soft and gentle and full of emotion. I felt this kiss deep inside my chest, and tears began to well up in my eyes. He continued.

All of the emotions of today’s stress and traumas explode through this kiss.

I push harder against his lips, trying to deepen it, trying to erase my thoughts, but Rel doesn’t let me. He pulls away slowly, my face still in his palm, and he takes his thumb to wipe away the river of tears pouring from my eyes.

Derrel pulls me in tighter against his chest and just holds me as I cry.

“I am so sorry, Doll.”