The Omega Hybrid

by J. L. Wilder

  "—Us," said Mace.

  "Fuck," said Jack. "Fuck, fuck, fuck."

  "Stop standing around!" shouted Cutter "Shift and kill those fuckers!"

  Mace didn't need to hear another word. He closed his eyes and shifted into his wolf form, his senses sharpening, his eyes allowing him to see the patrol in perfect clarity.

  The three men broke off into a full sprint, making a beeline for the patrol. The wolves in pursuit seemed to realize what was happening and turned in the opposite direction and ran.

  Fuck, thought Mace. They're not sticking around to fight—they're going to let the entire army, Stone included, that we're on the way. Can't let them do it.

  His muscles burned as he tore through the woods, Cutter and Jack at his flanks as the three of them weaved through the trees. The wolves ahead were fast, but Mace and the men were faster. Slowly, gradually, they cut the distance down between them.

  The running backside of the wolf he was locked onto grew larger and larger, and all Mace could think about was sinking his teeth into his flesh and dragging him down to the ground. All that stood between them and Echo was the patrol—and their lives depending on their success.

  Now! thought Mace as he lunged forward and bit down onto the furry haunch of the wolf.

  The two wolves tumbled to the ground in a heap, the skidding of the earth against his fur causing Mace's body to light up with pain.

  But he knew he had no time to waste. He scrambled back up to his feet just in time to see the wolf pounce, his knife-sharp teeth flashing against the light of the moon.

  Mace dodged, the wolf slamming into the ground and letting out a grunt of pain as all the energy he'd put into the pounce was discharged into the solid dirt.

  Mace flipped around and backed up, his eyes locked onto the wolf. The beast was dazed, its head having hit the ground hard.

  Your fuck-up is my advantage, thought Mace as he reared back and lunged.

  He sailed through the air, landing on the wolf and digging his claws and teeth into his fur. Once he had a grip, he ripped and tore, cutting through the shifter's skin and drawing blood, the wolf letting out yelps of pain.

  Then, with one last bite down, Mace sank his teeth into the soft, neck flesh of the wolf and closed his jaws.

  The body went limp with one last whimper.

  Done, thought Mace as he stepped back from the body of the wolf. Another pair of snaps sounded out, and Mace looked around to see that both Cutter and Jack had gotten their men. The three shifted back to their human forms and joined up.

  "Damn," Jack said, a smirk on his face. "Not bad for a guy who was half-dead in a ditch earlier today."

  "Don't get cocky," said Cutter. "We've still got a shitload of work to do. And those wolves should've never seen us to begin with. We got sloppy."

  "Yeah, yeah," said Jack.

  Mace didn't participate. Instead, his attention was fixed ahead at lights off in the distance.

  "Guys," he said, pointing towards them.

  "Shit," said Jack. "That looks like where we're headed."

  "Yeah," said Cutter. "Makes sense that the patrol would be on their way to Stone. Let's move."

  They shifted and took off, running the last few miles until they reached the border of the mansion. Sure enough, the windows were lit up, a patrol of a half-dozen or so men making slow circles around the property.

  "There it is," said Mace. "Just need to make our way through those pricks outside."

  Jack glanced over to Cutter and Mace, a smirk on his lips.

  "I think we can handle ‘em," he said. "What do you boys think?"

  "Ready," said Cutter.

  "Ready as fuck," said Mace.

  They shifted and moved. Not a thing was on Mace's mind other than the women he—they—loved.

  CHAPTER 31

  ECHO

  "What the hell?"

  The shocked voice of Stone from the other room snapped Echo out of her daze. She looked up and around, her eyes flicking to the guards, all of them trying to act like they hadn't seen or heard anything.

  "What's going on?" asked Echo.

  None of the guards said a word, or even acknowledged her presence.

  There were some familiar faces among them, and Echo hoped that at least one of them might have some sympathy for her.

  "Oh, Echo? Where are you?"

  It wasn't Stone, far from it—it was a woman's voice.

  Echo's ears perked up as she listened to the sound of three sets of footsteps enter from the other room. Then, out of the shadows stepped the last three people she wanted to see.

  It was June, Marlene, and Charity, smirking smiles on all of their faces.

  "Look at you," said June. "As pretty as ever."

  They stepped up to Echo and formed a half-circle around her, their hips cocked to the side.

  "What...what do you three want?"

  "Well," said Charity. "We heard you were here, and thought we'd be remiss if we didn't stop by and say hello."

  "Right," said Marlene. "And we just came by from a little chat with Stone."

  "A very important chat," said June.

  "What?" asked Echo.

  "He told us what he's decided to do with those little brats in your belly," said June.

  Echo's stomach tightened, but she said nothing.

  "You ready?" asked Marlene with a smile. "One for me."

  "One for me," said June.

  "And one for me," said Charity.

  "No," said Echo. "He wouldn't."

  "Wants us to raise those kids as our own, make them nice and loyal to the clan," said Marlene.

  "We're going to be very nicely rewarded for it, too," said June.

  "And it's not like you're going to be able to stop it," said Charity. "Stone's going to keep you penned up in that bedroom pumping out babies until the sun explodes."

  "All because you couldn't just be a good little freak," said June, shaking her head.

  "Never," said Echo. "I'll never let you touch them."

  "Big words from the half-breed," said June.

  "None of you have to do this," said Echo.

  The women all flashed the same confused expression on their faces.

  "And why wouldn't we?" asked June.

  "Because I know what Stone's doing, how he's taking all the women for himself, keeping you away from your men until he gets bored."

  The women said nothing, glancing at one another.

  "Has he had his fun with you three yet?" asked Echo. "Has he gotten the chance to make you all his temporary fuck-toys?"

  "You don't know what you're talking about," hissed June.

  "And you guys," said Echo, speaking to the guards. "You're really going to serve an alpha who thinks he can take your women whenever he wants? You don't have to live like this—it doesn't have to be this way."

  Echo could tell by the way the men looked at one another that her words were getting through. But they stayed still, not moving.

  "What the fuck!"

  Stone's voice from the other room caught everyone's attention.

  Footsteps banged on the floor as Stone returned to the room, a look of panic on his face.

  "We're...we're under attack!" he shouted.

  "What?" screamed June. "How?"

  "Don't you have a whole army out there?" asked Marlene.

  "Someone broke onto the property and took out the guards!" shouted Stone.

  Excitement ran through Echo's body, part of her knowing deep down what this meant.

  They were here for her.

  "Then give the order to attack!" shouted June, her eyes wide with fear.

  "Too late for that," spoke a familiar voice.

  Echo whipped around on her seat and was greeted with the sweetest sight she could've imagined. Strolling into the mansion like conquering heroes were her men, Cutter and Jake and Mace. They walked with easy strides, their faces fixed in expressions of total confidence.

  "Men!" shouted Stone. "Get your asses in here!"


  A half-dozen more members of the Hearteaters rushed into the room, more than enough to take on Echo and her three men.

  She knew what she had to do.

  "Listen!" she shouted. "This can end now! We can put an end to Stone's rule over the clan if we just work together!"

  "What the hell are you talking about, bitch?" asked Stone.

  "You don't have to let him take your mates any longer," said Echo. "We can elect a new alpha, one who respects the rights of each member of the tribe. No more cruelty, no more being helpless while he treats the women of the tribe like his property. Fight with us, and we can end it all now!"

  "You little cunt!" shouted Stone, lunging forward and bringing his hand down hard on Echo's face.

  "Fucker!" shouted out Cutter as rushed towards Stone and grabbed his wrist.

  "You'd better let go of that right fucking now," said Stone. "Else I rip it off and shove it straight into your ass."

  But Cutter was fearless. Instead, Stone's wrist in his hand, he turned his attention to the men in the room.

  "You heard the woman!" he shouted. "Fight with us and end this pointless war before it has a chance to start! And win your dignity!"

  Echo watched the faces of the Hearteaters change, going from stoic to confused then finally to determined.

  "We're sick of this shit, Stone!" shouted one of them.

  "Yeah!" said another. "Taking our women, making us fight your battles—it's enough!"

  More sounds of agreement came from the men.

  "If any of you are even thinking about stabbing me in the back you'd better think long and hard about it," said Stone, yanking his hand free from Cutter's grasp. "Because I got a whole army out there, and I won't think twice about stringing up any traitor!"

  Some of the men appeared to be convinced by this, not wanting to fight against Stone either out of loyalty or fear of the consequences. Even the women were split, June and Charity wanting to break away, and Marlene siding with Stone.

  "Enough screwing around," shouted Stone. "Kill these fuckers!"

  And with that, the fight was on. Everyone in the room shifted, the massive, open space filling with bears and wolves, each of them at each other's throats.

  But Echo couldn't shift—she was still stuck to the chair. After some struggling, the sounds of battle raging all around her, a hand fell onto the back of her chair and yanked her to the ground. She panicked at first before realizing that the person who'd pulled her down was Mace, still in his human form.

  "You're not doing us any good strapped that, little lady," he said with a smile and a wink before using his shifter strength to rip the steel from the chair and free her hands and feet.

  "Thanks," said Echo before jumping to her feet and changing.

  She shifted into her hybrid form as fast as she could, rushing through the crowd and fighting off Stone's men. Bodies dropped left and right, roars blasting through the air. Echo evading the claws arcing, nearly having her flesh cut more than once.

  A roar burst behind her as she reached the back of the room. She turned and was face-to-face with a bear she instantly recognized—the massive black form of Stone. He slashed at her with his claw, and she sensed that he wasn't screwing around, he wanted to kill.

  Do or die, thought Echo.

  She squared up and prepared to fight. Stone lunged at her and she dodged, his massive body slamming into a couch and smashing it to splinters. Once he recovered, he was back at it, rushing towards her, his eyes wide with rage.

  But this time Echo held her ground. She leaned back on her rear paws and lifted her body into the air, bringing her full weight down on top of him.

  Stone pressed against her, trying to wrap his arms around his body and bring her down.

  Echo didn't allow it. In her arms was the man who'd caused her so much pain, who'd threatened the men she loved and the babies inside of her. She brought the full power of her hybrid abilities to bear as she lifted him up and slammed his body onto the ground.

  She looked around after he hit, realizing that the fight was over. Her men and Stone's former soldiers had prevailed, bodies lying on the floor here and there. Cutter and Jack and Mace shifted back, and Echo followed suit.

  All those in the room formed a circle around Stone, watching as he shifted back into his now battered human form.

  "You...you fucking bitch," he said between pained breaths. "You've made...a big fucking mistake."

  Echo glanced over at her men.

  "You can end it now," said Cutter.

  "Yeah," said Mace. "Once the Stone's dead, the war's over."

  "All those lives can be saved right now," said Jack.

  "Yeah," said Echo. "You're all right. But as much as I'd like to be the one to finish the job, I think the ones he's been making suffer under his rule would rather do it."

  She glanced around at the Hearteaters, all of them wearing sinister smirks on their faces.

  "Right now, I'd prefer to never see this prick again."

  The men nodded.

  "Then let's get the fuck out of here," said Cutter.

  Echo looked one last time at Stone before stepping away from the circle.

  "Echo!" shouted Stone as she turned her back and left. "Get back here you bitch! You fucking cu—"

  A gurgling scream cut through his words, and that was that. Echo, the men at her sides, left through the front doors of the mansion. Once outside, she laid eyes on the army in front of her, the nearest men regarding her with a curious expression. Off in the far distance was the estate, the other army gathered and ready to fight.

  "Everyone!" shouted out Echo. "It's over!"

  Sounds of total confusion erupted from the men in the distance.

  "There will be no war!" shouted Cutter.

  "Stone is dead!" added Jack.

  Mace only smirked before going back into the house. Echo and Cutter and Jack regarded one another with curious expressions for a moment. Mace returned holding something in his hand, something large and round.

  It was Stone's head.

  Mace ran off towards the army, throwing the head into the air when he was close enough. Echo watched as the head hit the ground and rolled, coming to a stop at the border of the encampment.

  Moments passed as the troops took the time to realize what they were seeing. And when they did cheers broke out among them.

  "Shit," said Cutter. "That's one way to send a message."

  Mace rushed back to the group.

  "Figured that be the easiest way to do it," he said with a grin. "Beats the hell out of trying to explain what we just did."

  "Now," said Echo. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to get home."

  "Fucking same," said Mace. "Let's move."

  They made their way through the army, the troops of all the clans cheering and patting them on the back as they passed. They soon reached the other army, their army, still waiting at the estate.

  "Marx!" called out Cutter.

  Marc emerged from the front row of the troops.

  "Cutter," he said, his tone one of disbelief. "You're still alive, thank God."

  "The men get the word?" Cutter asked.

  "They did," said Marx. "And they're just waiting to make sure you all got back safe and sound."

  "It's over!" shouted Cutter to the men.

  More cheers broke out, the men breaking up and celebrating.

  "You know, Marx," said Cutter. "The Saw Tooth clan still needs an alpha."

  "Yeah," said Marx. "And it's you."

  "No," said Cutter. "I'm no alpha. You've proven you're the man for the job. The clan's yours."

  "Shit," said Marx. "Aren't we supposed to fight over it?"

  "We could," said Cutter. "But I'd rather shake your hand."

  And that's what they did.

  "Now," said Echo. "I think we need to do a little something to celebrate what we just went through."

  "No kidding," Jack said. "Something that doesn't' involve risking our lives." />
  "In that case," said Echo, I think I have just the thing in mind."

  The men looked at one another, realizing what she meant.

  "Then let's not waste another second," said Mace.

  EPILOGUE

  ECHO

  Months later...

  The water felt like heaven on Echo's skin. Her arms draped over the sides of the massive Jacuzzi, all she could do was close her eyes and savor the feeling.

  "Holy...," she said, not even able to finish her sentence.

  The water was perfect and hot, the soft rock playing the speakers was the perfect complement, and even the scented candles were just right.

  "Now," she said. "Just need my..."

  She reached over and grabbed her glass of red wine. Once it was in her hand, she slowly brought it to her lips and took a long, slow sip.

  Once it was down the hatch, she let out a long, pleasured "ahhh," as she set the glass back down.

  If only every night could be like this, she thought.

  But then she checked herself, her eyes opened up as she considered what she'd just thought. Sure, she realized, the occasional night like tonight was nice. But every night being like this would be lonelier than she would like.

  It'd mean no Cutter, no Mace, no Jack. And, of course, no babies.

  Part of what made this evening nice, or any of the other nights that the guys gave her off, was knowing that she'd be ready to go back the normal routine, all refreshed and ready.

  She took another sip of her wine, letting the red linger on her palate before bringing it down.

  "Wine," she said. "Wine is nice.”

  After being pregnant for months and not having a drop of booze, Echo was still finding herself getting used to being able to drink after having to stay dry all through the pregnancy.

  The booze hit her just right, working in perfect tandem with the hot water to put her in a state of total, relaxed bliss.

  But right as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes again, a knock sounded from the bathroom door.

  Oh no, she thought. Something's up—something that only mommy can take care of.

  "What's up?" she asked, reaching for the remote and turning down the music.

  "It's me," said Mace through the door.

  "Uh, it's us," said Jack.

  "All of us," said Cutter.