The Three Hybrid's

Chapter 2: The Hunt Begins

The village was still burning.

Smoke rose into the Blood Moon as frightened werewolves and vampires carried away the wounded. The square where the Shadow Wolf had died was silent, but no one could erase the image of the three brothers standing in the middle of the battlefield.

Max Draven.

Alex Draven.

Dave Draven.

The Three Hybrids had returned.

High above Blackwood Village, Max stood on the roof of an abandoned watchtower, watching the village through cold blue eyes.

"They're afraid," Dave said with a laugh.

"They should be."

Alex crossed his arms.

"Fear isn't what worries me."

Max didn't answer.

His eyes were fixed on the village.

"I felt it again."

"The Fourth Blood."

---

Inside Blackwood Castle, Alpha Ronan gathered every clan leader.

"No one leaves the village alone."

Selene slammed her hand onto the table.

"We should attack the hybrids before they attack us."

Mira shook her head.

"You saw what happened. We cannot defeat them in a direct fight."

James stood near the window, thinking about the battle.

"He saved us."

Selene looked at him sharply.

"He saved the village because he wanted something."

James didn't argue.

Deep inside, he wasn't sure anymore.

---

Ella couldn't sleep.

She sat alone in her room, staring at the golden mark on her palm.

Every few seconds it glowed.

A whisper filled her mind.

"Run."

She stood immediately.

"Who's there?"

Silence.

Then another whisper.

"They're coming."

A loud crash came from outside.

Ella rushed to the window.

Black smoke surrounded the village walls.

Shadow creatures had returned.

The warning bells rang again.

---

Max jumped from the tower.

"They're here."

Alex drew his sword.

"Lucian found the village."

Dave smiled.

"Let's hunt."

The three brothers disappeared into the darkness.

---

Shadow creatures flooded through the eastern gate.

Werewolf warriors fought desperately, but every monster they killed seemed to be replaced by another.

James transformed and leaped into battle.

Zake fought beside him.

Ronan roared as he cut through three creatures at once.

Selene's vampires attacked from rooftops, raining silver arrows into the enemy.

Still, the monsters kept coming.

A giant Shadow Beast smashed through the gate.

Its body was covered in black armor.

Its eyes burned crimson.

It looked directly at Ella.

"There..."

"The Fourth Blood."

It charged.

James ran toward Ella, but the beast was faster.

A blue flash crossed the battlefield.

Max appeared between Ella and the creature.

The beast's claws struck Max's arm.

The impact cracked the ground.

Max didn't move.

He grabbed the creature's throat.

"You answer to Lucian?"

The beast laughed.

"We answer to the First Hybrid."

Blue energy exploded.

The creature turned into ash.

Everyone stared.

---

Dave landed beside Max.

"I was going to kill that."

"You'll get another chance."

Alex suddenly looked toward the forest.

"We're surrounded."

More glowing eyes appeared between the trees.

Hundreds.

Max's expression darkened.

"This isn't an attack."

"It's a hunt."

---

The forest echoed with laughter.

A hooded man stepped into the moonlight.

His face was hidden.

"My king sends greetings."

Max recognized the voice.

"Kieran."

The hooded man smiled.

"You remember me."

Dave cracked his neck.

"I remember breaking your ribs."

Kieran laughed.

"They healed."

Alex raised his blade.

"What does Lucian want?"

Kieran pointed toward Ella.

"The Fourth Blood."

"Hand her over."

"No," Max answered immediately.

Kieran tilted his head.

"You've chosen a side already."

"I chose long ago."

Darkness spread around Kieran's feet.

Shadow warriors climbed from the ground.

The battle began again.

---

Max attacked Kieran first.

Blue energy and black magic collided.

Alex fought through shadow warriors to reach his brother.

Dave laughed as he tore through enemies with terrifying strength.

The three brothers moved like they had never been separated.

James watched in disbelief.

"They're fighting for us."

Ronan answered quietly.

"They're fighting for her."

---

Ella hid behind a broken wall with Mira.

"Why do they keep calling me the Fourth Blood?"

Mira looked into Ella's eyes.

"Because your blood carries an ancient power."

"What power?"

"The power the witches hid from Lucian."

Ella's heart raced.

"Tell me everything."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because if you learn too soon..."

"The mark will awaken."

Before Ella could ask another question, the mark burned again.

Golden light burst from her hand.

The light spread across the battlefield.

Every shadow creature screamed.

Kieran stepped backward.

"So it's true."

"The Heart Crystal chose her."

Max turned toward Ella.

His face showed something she hadn't expected.

Relief.

---

Kieran roared with anger.

"Kill everyone except the girl!"

The Shadow Army rushed forward.

James stood beside Max.

Ronan stood beside Selene.

For the first time, vampires and werewolves fought shoulder to shoulder.

The village became a battlefield.

Max punched through a line of shadow warriors.

Alex protected the witches while they healed the wounded.

Dave stood alone at the village gate, refusing to let a single creature enter.

"Come on!"

He laughed.

"I've been asleep for five hundred years."

The monsters charged.

Dave destroyed them one after another.

---

Suddenly...

The ground trembled.

A black spear flew through the battlefield.

Max caught it inches from Ella's face.

The spear dissolved into smoke.

Kieran smiled.

"Lucian is awake."

The Blood Moon grew brighter.

A powerful roar echoed from the mountains beyond Hollow Valley.

Every shadow creature dropped to one knee.

Even Kieran lowered his head.

Max's blue eyes widened.

"No..."

Alex whispered,

"He's coming."

Dark clouds swallowed the moon.

A giant shadow appeared above the mountains.

Its silver eyes opened.

A voice echoed across the entire supernatural world.

"Find my sons... and bring me the Fourth Blood."

The voice disappeared.

The shadow creatures retreated into the forest.

Silence returned.

James looked toward Max.

"Who was that?"

Max answered without looking away from the mountains.

"Lucian."

"The First Hybrid."

"And this war has only just begun."