Anatu Father had ordered me to watch over the human born. I snarled at the thought of having to keep an eye on my brother's mate. She was just a hybrid! Between the hype that Ashur was in, always saying something positive about her, it almost made all of us sick. I thought a few times that Zefer was going to punch Ashur in the face. It was my turn to witness who this hybrid was. The first time I spotted the redhead, she did not seem special. At least until I tried to move towards her and I was stopped in my tracks. Zefer was there to witness the event. She laughed at me! “Annoying right!?” She continued to laugh. We both watched as the female IT planted flowers that Sadragon’s mate had brought over to her. For the rest of the day, we watched the redhead place a plant in the ground, whisper some unrecognizable words and continue to the next. “I bet you ten gold nuggets she is casting a spell?” Zefer materialized gold into her hand. I was not proficient in the world of spell casting, but even I knew when a spell was being cast. “Put your gold away!” I told my sister. “It is odd her casting … it is not something I have seen before.” “Sadragon said that Merna calls it Chaotic magick!” If I did not know my sister so well, I would have thought that this redhead was earning my sister's favour. “He explained it is when a human born takes ordinary objects and makes them into something else!” I glared at my sister wondering where the real sister had gone. “I thought you hated hybrids and even more human borns?” “Merna is not human born!” Zefer stated. “I have lived a lot longer than you. I have come across many food sources before … hybrids included! Merna may appear like she is in a meat sack … but it is all an illusion. Even how Sadragon speaks of her is a major indicator.” “What is she then?” I whispered to my sister. ‘I am not a fool Anatu! There are eyes and ears all around us, even if we do not see them.’ My sister linked me. I was taken aback! For the longest time, it appeared as if Zefer wanted to pound Ashur into the dirt! Here she is now speaking in favour of a human born. Who she claims is not what she seems to be. ‘What was it that I was missing?’ I privately thought to myself as we witnessed Merna going from one spot to the next repeating herself over and over again. In all fairness, this was the first time I had been ordered to observe this location. The others had more time to get accustomed to the redhead. When the redhead was working in front of my hidden location, I swear that she had looked directly at me. “Can she see us?” I held on to my sister’s arms as I did not like the colour of the hybrid’s eyes. ‘I can also hear you!’ An unfamiliar voice was in my mind. I glared at my sister! Now everything is starting to make sense! Why Ashur was so smitten with this female? She was not the ordinary female human born that we cross. We might not be able to smell her full potential. Her actions speak higher volumes. After that day, I asked my father to not send me back. When I had been questioned why I did not want to return. I told my father that the redhead, who was Ashur’s mate, scared me so much that I did not want to be left alone in her whereabouts. This plea did not come without backlash and taunting from my siblings. I did not care! There was something about this female that told me she was dangerous. I would rather deal with my father's wrath than be left alone with Ashur’s mate. When I was told that I had to be at the hunt, I groaned! This was not my thing to do, but my father told me that I had to be here. He would not elaborate any further! Which meant it was not a request but an order. I was there when the group entered the portal. Sniffing the air, I could tell that the redhead held a great deal of power. Here she could not hide her abilities well without her domain and protections. Similar to other powerful species, once they leave their domain or territory, they become noticeable. There was also something else in the air that caught my attention. It was not an unpleasant smell … I actually found it pleasing. I could not put a name to what I was smelling but it was sweet and alluring with the hint of spices. I glared at the members of the group. For the longest time, I thought the hybrid was going to be strict the arrogant one who was called Markous. The glare my sister Zefer and Alma were giving told me everything I needed to know. This male’s fate was already sealed and he had not set up his temporary dwelling yet. I truly believe that my sisters would challenge fate and our laws to kill this one male! In the shadows, we followed the group! The way the hybrid was reacting, she was following every step that we all made. I think that if any of us had attacked her, she would respond accordingly. “Still scared of her little sister?” Zefer taunted me. “Can you not tell by her posture she is a wild animal!?” I hissed at my sister. “I would rather spar with you than a hybrid that looks as if she can kill me with one stare!” Zefer turned her head and glared directly at Kudiya, “She kind of reminds me of Auntie Iravu! What do you think?” She was now taunting Kudiya and me at the same time. Hitting both of our fears. The temperament of the group was starting to build. Between the hybrid and the male named Markous. When I saw her stop Pierre with one look, I knew that she had alpha command. The redhead turned her head towards Markous, "Oh ... Markous! You are going to get your just desserts!" She chuckled dryly, "What they have planned for you ... Karma will server a side order of fuck around and find out!" “Did she just …” I started to say to my sister, Zefer. “We are not allowed to attack until there is a confirmed order that Ashur’s mate has passed the portal and entered the truck heading back to her domain.” Zefer’s eyes were glowing red. “And to your question … yes! The redhead just told the group what was going on!” I crept closer wanting to hear the conversation better. My ears perked up when I heard the hybrid talking to the human born named Steve. The smell was coming from him, I was just having a hard time understanding why. But when the hybrid told Steve to mention my name, a single word came out of my mouth, “mate!” When she made eye contact and nodded her head to let me know she saw me ... I knew she was more than what she allowed us to see! Zefer was correct … This female might be in a meat sack but she was not what she appeared to be. Zefer was in a protective mode now, "What does that human born have to do with you? What did the hybrid say, dear beloved sister?" Zefer hissed in my ear as we watched Merna walk away from the group. Whispering, "I think he is my mate!" Zefer hissed again, "I DO NOT THINK SO!" Her eyes were glowing brighter than before, “I can handle the hybrid but there is no way I will accept an air sucking, blood pumping sack of bones in this family bloodline! "Zefer!" I begged, "if you ever loved me ... leave him alone!" I had a tear rolling down my face. We noticed that the others were listening in on our noticeable conversation. ‘He is weak!’ Zefer roared in my mind. ‘Sister!’ My lip was quivering, ‘ I have waited my whole existence for this day! Father would never have sent me if he did not know about this … I will never be as strong as you ... I will not have a mate that is as strong as you! But … but at least I am given what I need! PLEASE!’ Zefer was heaving mad, ‘He is never going to be good enough for you!’ Black mist came out of her nose, ‘he will never be worthy of you! I do not care what you have to say about this …. This abomination!’ ‘Maybe so! Should I not be the one to make that decision?’ I was holding on to what dignity I had left. I knew I was ordered to be here for the hunt, but the murderous glare in Zefer’s eyes told me that if I did not get to my father before the hunt began, my mate was as good as dead!