The Hybrid Curse [MM]

Chapter: 12

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Liam's POV

The moment my body hit the ground, my senses blurred. Roman's voice rang in the distance, muffled, as though I were submerged in deep water. I tried to fight it, to stay conscious, but the weight pressing down on me was unbearable. My eyelids grew heavier, forcing me to succumb to the darkness pulling me under.

Then the pain struck again. A force ripped through my chest like claws tearing at my very soul. I wanted to scream, to fight against it, but I was helpless. The agony swallowed me whole, dragging me deeper into an abyss where I had no control.

Everything went silent. The air was fresh—too fresh. It smelled clean, untainted, unlike anything I had known before. Confusion swirled inside me. Was I dead? If so, why did I feel like I was still somewhere between the realms of the living and the unknown?

"What is happening?" I muttered, though my voice barely carried. The space around me was cloaked in thick fog, its tendrils curling and shifting. Despite the obscurity, the air remained crisp and cool, a stark contrast to the turmoil I had just endured.

The silence didn't last. Soon, whispers curled through the air, repeating my name over and over again. The voice was mine, yet… twisted, as if warped by something unnatural. A shiver crept down my spine.

Then, out of the thick fog, a shadow slithered forward, coiling around me. It was dark, yet alluring, exuding a presence that sent both fear and intrigue racing through me. The moment it neared, the fresh air soured, turning heavy and suffocating. I should have been repulsed, but instead, a deep, unexplainable pull rooted me in place.

The shadow started to shift, morphing into a shape eerily familiar. My breath hitched as I recognized it—it was me. Or rather, a distorted version of me. Its figure was vague, shifting between solidity and mist, but its glowing red eyes burned through the fog. And then I noticed something even more disturbing—a third eye, centered on its forehead, its gaze piercing into me like a brand.

The figure opened its mouth, but instead of words, a rush of cold air escaped, chilling me to my core. Then, finally, a voice—sharp, crisp, laced with something ancient.

"You were never meant to belong to them."

Before I could process the words, pain surged through my chest once more, searing and unrelenting. I gasped, my lungs burning as though I had been suffocating and suddenly brought back to life. My body convulsed, and then—

I bolted upright with a strangled gasp.

Roman's hands were pressing me down, his weight keeping me grounded. My eyes darted around, struggling to adjust to the bright lighting of the familiar space. Every sound around me felt too sharp, too amplified, as if my senses had been cranked to their highest capacity.

Something was wrong.

A deep unease settled within me, my wolf—Tal—felt distant, quieter than ever before, as if he were cowering. It was unnatural. Tal had always been strong, a part of me that never faltered. But now? Now he felt... different.

"Liam," Roman's voice cut through my daze, but something was off. His grip on my shoulders didn't loosen. If anything, it tightened. That's when I saw it.

Fear.

Roman was afraid of me.

Why?

My throat was dry, the words caught somewhere between my mind and my mouth. I motioned weakly for water, and within seconds, Roman retrieved a bottle, handing it to me. Yet, he made sure not to touch me, keeping his distance.

That confirmed it.

Something was definitely wrong.

"What's the matter, Roman?" My voice came out hoarse, raw from the dryness. But he didn't answer. He just stared.

He finally moved, reaching for his phone on the couch. Without another word, he stepped outside. I knew he was making a call, and that realization sent a strange pang through me. He didn't trust me right now. That hurt more than I wanted to admit.

Minutes passed before he returned. His expression had calmed slightly, but wariness still lingered in his gaze.

"Dr. Elias Vaughn will be here any moment," he said, placing his phone back down before walking to the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water for himself.

"And why him of all people?" I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice.

"You don't look well, Liam. You literally just came back to life, and I need to make sure you're okay." He took a long drink from his bottle, his eyes never leaving me.

Dr. Elias Vaughn was no ordinary healer. He was a respected werewolf doctor, blending modern medicine with ancient healing practices, making him one of the most sought-after healers in the pack. If Roman had called him, then he truly believed something was seriously wrong with me.

Barely five minutes passed before the door swung open. Dr. Vaughn entered, his nose flaring as he took a deep breath of the air. The moment he did, his body went rigid.

"I suggest you step back, Beta Roman," he said, his tone grave. "There's something in him."

My stomach twisted at his words.

"What do you mean step back? I'm totally fine," I argued, forcing myself to stand. The moment I did, my legs buckled. A sharp pain laced through my body, tearing through my bones as if something inside me was rejecting my own form. My strength vanished in an instant, forcing me back onto the couch.

Roman and Dr. Vaughn exchanged grim looks. They knew something. And I wasn't sure I wanted to hear what it was.

"What the hell is going on?" I demanded, frustration bubbling beneath my skin. "Why are you both looking at me like that?"

Dr. Vaughn hesitated before speaking, his voice measured. "Liam, tell me—have you been feeling any… disturbances within yourself? Anything that feels different from your usual self?"

I swallowed hard, my mind flashing back to the shadow, the voice, the sensation of something clawing at my chest.

"I—" I hesitated. "I don't know."

Dr. Vaughn took a step closer, studying me carefully. Then, almost in a whisper, he muttered, "This… this isn't normal."

A heavy silence filled the room. The weight of uncertainty pressed down on my chest, suffocating.

And then, just as I opened my mouth to demand more answers, a sudden sharp pain shot through me once more. But this time, it wasn't just pain.

It was something waking up inside me.

Something that didn't belong.

And for the first time in my life, I was truly afraid of what I might become.