CHAPTER 36

***Past***

RUDINA’S POV

I could hear other people condemning me as I walked around the village. I know I'm different, and I know we’re not the same species. It’s not my fault that I’m different from them nor that I’m a hybrid. I honestly don’t know if I’d enjoy being a hybrid because, first, I’m stronger than them. Then why do I appear weak at this time?

“Rudina.” I turned to the person who called me, then I smiled at her.

“Daciana,” I said, approaching her.

“Come on, I have something to show you,” she said, and I smiled and nodded.

I went with her till we reached the forest, where I noticed a very adorable bunny. She and I adore the bunny, but we are not permitted to care for it since we are werewolves. The difference between me and Daciana is that she is a pure werewolf, whereas I am half-werewolf and half-vampire.

“Are you still unable to attend the academy?” she said, and my smile faded as I turned to face her.

In answer, I sighed and shook my head. “I’m not sure when they’ll let me in or when they’ll accept me. I didn’t want to be a hybrid, but they saw me as a plague that would ruin everything,” I replied, swallowing because my chest ached.

Daciana approached me and held me; she is my only friend who gives me courage, but we can’t be friends because of our differences and her parents’ opinion that if their kid is in danger, I would be the cause.

Daciana and I both turned around when Daenim suddenly arrived. “Look at what a piece of trash is doing,” she said with both arms crossed.

“What are you doing here?” Daciana asked her sister.

“How many times have you been told not to go with that evil hybrid, right?” she said angrily, then pulled Daciana away from me.

“Rudina!” she calls my name.

“What are you doing, Daciana!” Daenim disobeyed.

“I don't see why you don’t like Rudina. She isn't a nasty creature, and to be honest, she is a truer friend than you are!” she said to her sister, prompting her to hit her.

“Daciana!” I yelled, and I was going to approach her when Daenim strangled me.

I was clutching her hand, which was squeezing my neck, and I couldn’t breathe because she was choking me so hard; I’m not worried about myself because I’m more concerned about Daciana.

“Daenim! Stop!” she begs.

Daciana didn’t know what to do, so she abruptly changed her form, and Daenim leaped, and I fell to the floor, coughing from choking. I feel like I’m going to suffocate as a result of what occurred, and it will be the last of me.

“Daciana!” Daenim defied her once more.

Daciana assisted me in standing, and my eyes welled up as I stared at her sister. I couldn’t resist because if I didn't, I'd be the only one who was wrong, and she might suffer as a result. I’m also thinking about my friend, who is the only one I have because everyone else despises me and regards me as a monster. I have no alternative except to remain silent and avoid conflict. Yet when it gets too much, I don’t know how to stop it.

“They’ll know what you did to them, Daciana, and I’ll make sure you never see that monster friend of yours again,” this threat made us nervous.

“Daenim, please,” she begged, grasping her sister’s hand.

I’m sick of it. I’m also sick of Daciana constantly defending me in front of her sister and our other werewolf pack. I didn’t want to cause anything awful to happen, so I grasped her hand, and she turned to me with tears in her eyes. I smiled at her, brushed my tears away, and then shook my head at her.

“That’s enough, Daciana,” I said, and she grimaced.

“Rudina…”

“That’s right. I can’t handle it any longer if something horrible occurs and your parents are correct. I’ll be responsible if something bad happens to you. Let’s stop doing this because we’ll both be in danger,” I said, shaking her head.

“No,” she said.

“What do you think, I’m still happy about what you did?” At this time, her eyes widened at what I said, and Daenim grinned at me.

“I told you it’s not good to be friends with the one you’re defending,” she said, then I looked into Daciana’s eyes.

“I don’t like what you’re doing anymore, and I’m tired of this. The memories you gave are enough. All the sacrifices you gave for me are enough. No matter what we do, they will not accept me as I am and for who I am, Daciana. You know we can’t force them, but you keep trying. Of the two of us... I’m still the one who is struggling, hurting, and hearing hurtful words. I don’t want you to get hurt while you were with me. So go away,” I said a long litany, then I turned my back on her and walked away.

“Is that all?” she asks, causing me to stop. “Do you think I’m not struggling? You know everything I do for you is true. You know that even once I wasn’t a plastic friend to you. Now what? Does you being a fool in what they say? Rudina, I’m the only friend you have besides your mother, and then you’re just pushing me away from you just because of what they say to you? Huh, what kind of thinking is that?” she said while her voice was shaking. “I understand you, even if it’s often hard to understand you.”

Hearing those words from her hurts me so much, but I have to let it go for their sake and safety. Even though it hurts, I couldn't tolerate it, and even if misery surrounds me, I can deal with it. I don’t want to make things tough for her because of me, and I don’t want us to end up in a horrible scenario that I will later regret. I clenched my hands and turned to confront her with tears in my eyes.

“Thank you for everything... you don’t have to do those things anymore since I’m cutting ties of our friendship,” I replied as I turned my back on him and quickly left.

I could still hear her calling my name and feel her following me. I instantly covered up my scent and went to a high mountain where I normally go when I’m alone, and she’s not around. I started weeping when I arrived, and even though no one could hear me, I didn’t care. All I wanted was to be accepted by them. That, however, will never happen again.

As I heard rustling, I spun around and hurriedly hid so that whatever it was didn’t see me. I gasped to see who they were, and I had no idea they’d follow me here. I covered my lips because I knew they’d find out, especially since I was here, and they'd use anything to hunt individuals like me. I sobbed even more while staring at them when I realized who was in the cage and unconscious.

“Mama,” I said weakly.

I don’t know what to do, and whether I will come out from where I am hiding or not. I’m struggling more and more with what’s happening now; I don’t know any other way but to go out and fight with them. I closed my eyes, then I breathed deeply. I felt a wing coming out of my back and also my claws getting longer. I didn’t flinch anymore, I rushed at them quickly, and none of them noticed my attack.

They were all confused at that point and quickly readied their weapons. I’m not sure why they had to arrest us since we weren’t causing any harm to anyone else or any of them. Our lives are peaceful, and they only bother us.

“Sharpen your senses, Rudina is not to be taken for granted,” a soldier observed, and I smirked.

Even if there are more of them, they can’t handle me. I have several abilities that they lack, and I can kill them in an instant. They won’t be able to accomplish anything even if they all help each other, and I know that no matter what happens, this is who I am and will never change. I don’t hate my father, but I am angry with him for abandoning my mother and me.

I showed them when my Mother was about to wake up. They aimed their firearms at me, but I showed no fear of them. “Let my mother go,” I said, and that one man smirked.

“We will only release your mother if you come with us, Rudina,” he said and then I grinned at him.

“What do you think of me? Silly?” I said sarcastically.

“We won’t end up in bloody talks if you cooperate with us, Rudina.”

I grinned even wider at what he said and stared at him with malice “You can’t get me through a calm talk because, first and foremost, you won’t get through one. Did you expect me to keep putting myself down? I’m not as foolish as you are, Faustino,” I replied.

I saw how his face became serious, and he signaled to his colleagues, so I immediately attacked from behind, and I quickly took one of the soldiers, then I took his heart and showed it to them. They couldn't believe what I did, and I was about to eat it when mom suddenly spoke and stopped me.

“Rudina!” she’s calling my name. “Stop!” she disobeyed me.

“Mom…”

“You didn’t do good, and you know what you’re doing is wrong,” she said, and my tears fell again.

“But because…”

“You don’t have to be like that simply because someone outrages you, Rudina,” she explained. “If you do what they do to you and retaliate against them, Rudina, you are not far from their awful conduct,” she stated.

I’m not sure if I should listen to what she says or do what I should do because it’s the correct thing to do. I have no option but to listen to my mother since I know she knows what is best for me. I let go of the heart I was holding and then approached her, breaking the prison she was bound in an instant, and we left there.

We arrived at an unfamiliar location, where I placed my mother and felt the frailty of my body. She quickly held me, and I felt absolutely helpless. Mother patted my head, and I kept crying.

“How come to this world is so cruel to our mother?” I wonder. “What’s the problem with being a Hybrid? It wasn’t outlawed before, so why are we suddenly treated like monsters in their eyes?”

“You won’t comprehend everything unless you find out why things are the way they are,” she stated.

I don’t think about anything else but what she says, and I don’t listen to anyone else but her. I just exhaled and smiled as I peered into the emptiness. I just want to live a peaceful life. There is no problem, no pity, no judgment, and no one to attempt to kill your life.

Mom and I rose up and started walking, but I had no idea where we were headed. My mother held my hand, and no one talked to either of us as we walked. To her, I am a very inconsequential child. She is willing to go to any extent for me and my safety. It feels great to have a mother like her who will never forsake me no matter what.

We came to a halt since we were tired of walking and the sun was almost rose up. We sat in the shade of a tree, then napped and relaxed there to regain our strength after what had transpired earlier. I awoke when sunshine struck my eyes, and as I opened them, Faustino’s face appeared to me. I instantly got to my feet and glanced about.

“What are you doing here?” I inquired, noting that there was no one else with him.

“Rudina,” he said, and my eyes widened as he unexpectedly hugged me.