The next morning, the vampires meet up with us. I now see that the child who answered the door is grown into a fine young man. He extends his hand, and I shake it. A red-haired vampire, whom I recognize as Patrik, whispers 'Shake a paw, Gildren; good boy...' I can feel the hair on the back of my neck begin to bristle in rage.

Chandria lays a hand on my knee and whispers 'Calm yourself, love...' I respond by saying 'Alright, but your son better damn well apologize, Cyrus... I may be a lycan, but I deserve just as much respect as you do; don't I?'

Cyrus nods and nudges the young man's arm, who stands and says 'I am sorry for teasing you, Gildren Longclaw... I am a delinquent and should be punished against any harm I have caused towards your reputation and, furthermore, your opinion of my species.'

Cyrus speaks again, this time stating 'Thank you, Patrik; I'm sure this is just my opinion, but your apology was certainly forgivable.'

I nod my head and reply 'That most certainly was forgivable, Cyrus. I take your apology in with open arms, Patrik Campbell; well done.'

Orion, another highly decorated member of the Vampire Council, shakes his head and says 'Now, if we're done playing with our dollies, ladies, I'd like to start this damn meeting and figure out a battle plan before those assholes wipe us out!'

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a voice says 'Something tells me it won't happen for a while...' I turn around to see my father dressed in fatigues and carrying a flick-knife at his waist. 'I killed five of your kind while you were all sleeping, Gildren. You had better watch out that you're not next.'

'Which five; my children?' Tears form in my eyes as I ask this. He shakes his head and replies 'No; I killed two of your siblings, and 3 of your cousins.' I gasp; how the hell could he be so goddamn heartless? He killed his own children, slaughtered his own babes; for what purpose?

Grandfather refuses to acknowledge my shock and continues to tell us what his plan is, what moves we will make, and on whom, while my father looks on.

Alex Longclaw Perspective

A few hours prior...

As I walk up to my nephew, Jayden, and tap his shoulder, fear shrouds his face. I can understand why --- it's not everyday that your uncle plots to kill you. As I raise my hatchet in preparation to kill him, a brief flashback slips through my mind --- appearing, then fading into non-existence.

I can see tiny Jayden Longclaw, just a few-hours-old pup, leaning against his mother's pelt in the cold winter night, pulling her tail closer to his body, helping him to retain heat. His father, Kade, and mother (also my sister), Belle, are great friends with all other wolves.

They love their cub with all their hearts, as he is the only one Belle has given birth to this season. This is a rare occasion, as there are normally three or more pups to a brood.

Suddenly, a dark figure barges into the cave and the next thing we know, Jayden is missing. Belle drops to her knees and whimpers 'Why did it have to be us, Kade?' Having a purely selfless heart, her husband kneels beside her and runs a hand along her jawline.

'Worry not, my darling; he will come back to us.'

'I will embrace the ground he once curled up in until that day, love...' Kade pulls her close to his body and mutters something in her ear before the flashback fades.

When I finally am back in reality, I drop the hatchet and fall to my knees. 'I can't do it, Jayden... Your life is too precious for me to be stealing it...'

Jayden drops down to my eye-level and whispers 'It's okay, Uncle... God will forgive you if you repent your sins. Orion's done it, so why not you? Acts 3:19 says 'Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.''

I figure out quickly how I'll tell Gildren of my meeting with Jayden: I will pretend I killed him.