If you have time, check out KateNorth and her stories! They're pretty damn awesome. If you have even more time, be sure to drop a comment on her works of art! ;)

- Sian

Out of exhaustion, Jacota fell back onto the damp grass, panting and feeling a little weak.

"You did it," Hunter whispered, kneeling in front of him and joining their heads together. He never thought he'd be so thankful to see a blue sky. "You saved everyone."

"We saved everyone," Jacota corrected, yanking Hunter closer so he could hug him. "I'm sorry I made you all worry. I almost didn't get back in time."

"That's not your fault." Hunter breathed deeply against the side of his neck, filling himself with his scent. "It's fixed, which is all that matters to everyone here." He pulled back and ran a hand through Jacota's hair. "And you're safe, which is all that matters to me."

They shared a loving gaze, losing themselves in each other's eyes.

Kaiden returned to Milokan's side and was also rewarded with a hug. The angel tugged on his shoulders, wanting the demon to crouch so he could wrap arms around his neck.

"You make me so proud," Milokan whispered.

Kaiden rubbed his back, but a frown wouldn't leave his face. "I did something to the human. I felt it."

Milokan searched his eyes. A cold sensation was present on the tips of Kaiden's fingers. The demon's hands were usually warm, but only for him.

"You healed him," Jeronah spoke with Meloras closely behind. "I always wondered if my angelic powers passed on to you."

"Angelic powers?"

"I was an angel of healing in heaven. Well, before my powers were stripped because I connected a bond with a demon." Jeronah kissed Meloras on the temple. He would give up his wings for his family, and wings were an angel's greatest pride.

"But I barely have any of your angel qualities."

"You do," Milokan smiled. "You have wings, and helping William was not very demon-like. You have softened, even if you don't like to admit that."

"It's not a bad thing," Meloras added, rubbing Kaiden's arm. "When you got stuck in the vampire world, we left a very grumpy son behind. Well, grumpy is an understatement. You were cruel and not just to angels; you were horrible to Milokan. I knew one day you'd change because angels have that effect on you." Meloras watched Jeronah, intertwining their fingers. "You're still a grumpy demon, but you're no longer sadistic. You would never kill an angel for fun, not anymore."

"I am ashamed of who I used to be." Kaiden lowered his head, remembering the awful missions Lucifer sent him on. So many innocent angels died from the strength of his hands. He didn't deserve a second chance.

"Not many demons can escape Lucifer. We are the lucky ones." Veronica joined the conversation, naturally drawing closer to other demons. "He forced you on missions because it was either kill or be killed. In your case Kaiden, it was either kill or be tortured. I've seen the scars on your back. I know what you've been through."

"You have been through enough to send anyone crazy. You didn't let the devil win," Meloras soothed, "and Lucifer hates losing."

Kaiden squeezed Milokan's shoulders. The emotion left his face, and he started feeling uncomfortable from all the praise. "Well, I'll kill him if I ever get the chance."

"One murder I will turn a blind eye to," Milokan said with a tiny smirk. Kaiden felt an overwhelming urge to kiss him.

"I think I killed him," Scarlet added from a few metres away. "I stabbed a pen in his heart."

"He's not dead. We would have felt it." Veronica glanced her up and down. "You should have double checked, but I like your style."

"Trust me; I would have gouged his eyes out if I had the time."

Now it was Kaiden's turn to smirk until his father pulled him into a surprise hug.

"I love you," Jeronah beamed while Kaiden stood stiff, awkwardly staring at everyone.

"I like you too."

Jeronah laughed, patting his shoulder to bring out the glare. "We'll work on that."

Kaiden looked him in the eye. It was like looking into his own. Their honey coloured eyes were shaped the same with slightly hooded lids and long black eyelashes. The demon knew he would learn to love his father, just how he learned to love Milokan.

Angelette ambled through the werewolves with a blank face. "Jacota," she said, quieter than her usual boom. "I apologise for underestimating you, but you were not the cause of this great war. This is only the beginning."

Those who were close enough to hear stopped what they were saying. The talking was replaced with panicked whispers.

"What?" Jacota asked and climbed to his feet with the help of his mate. The other Gods were trying to bask in their glory on the ground, but it was short-lived. "What do you-" he stopped and turned towards the forest. He sensed something. A warning.

"They're coming, Jacota."

"Who?" Sam asked.

Jacota turned to his father and his brother. "We need to talk." A thousand other eyes were on him. He felt suddenly very vulnerable. "In private."

He guided his family to the edge of the forest so they could talk behind a tree in peace. Jacota Jones was an exceptional role model for British werewolves. Everyone drooled over his status and barely respected his privacy when in public.

"What's going on?" Scott asked, resting a fatherly hand on his son's shoulders.

Jacota's gaze briefly scanned his brother. He looked overwhelmed, enough to concern the God. "Mum's alive. I saw her." William's eyes dimmed, though he recovered quickly by gripping his walking stick and sinking it further into the mud.

"Mum?" The word tasted bitter against William's tongue, like poison.

"Yes. Mum's a werewolf now."

Scott raised his brows. The sweat seeped into the wrinkles on his forehead. "That's not possible, unless..."

"She's an Alpha wolf too."

"I thought she died. What did she want?" William's eyes glazed over as he lost himself in thought. They pointed in Jacota's direction, but he wasn't looking at him.

"She was the white wolf, the one who had been watching over us thousands of years ago. She was turning the other Gods against me, saying I was too weak to be a leader."

Scott's hands turned into fists. He put them behind his back so his sons couldn't see. "History is repeating itself. Some people never change."

"Did she apologise to you?" William asked. He wasn't good at hiding his anger. He didn't want to.

"She's still in denial. Thinking that what she did was the right thing. She doesn't love us anymore. I don't think she loves anyone now." Jacota eyed the werewolves behind them. A few younger wolves were taking his photograph. "She said we're monsters."

"Nonsense!" Scott snapped. "You're both my world; you should be hers too. She's the estranged one. She disconnected herself from you for all these years and watched you from a distance when she could have been a part of your lives. I don't understand that woman; I really don't."

William cleared his throat. He had gone slightly pale. "What did she want from you?" he asked again and felt his dad rest a comforting arm around his shoulders.

"She told me that she had an army for the war. What Angelette said, the part about this being the beginning. I think Grace is the betrayal. She has to be the one to cause this war. Blood against blood."

"She has an army of humans to fight werewolves?" William asked, scratching the side of his neck. Summer fuelled mosquitoes. They stayed clear of werewolves but liked to bite him.

"Not humans," Jacota said in a hushed voice, "definitely not humans."

* * * * *

When everyone was up to date with the appearance of Grace Jones, the families regrouped in the house to discuss what to do next. There was no tear in the sky for those who came from the Vampire world. They had no choice but to stay and fight.

"She has an army of what?" Anthony asked, pacing back and forth in his kitchen.

"Demons," Angelette sighed, tapping fingers against the back of her hand. "They'll be here soon. I would like to offer our services. Angels are stronger than demons; we fight smarter." The elder angel stared at Veronica who returned a nasty glare.

"You can't speak for us all," the demon muttered and stormed into the crowd of loyal werewolves.

William watched her leave until a hand rested on top of his head. Sam stood in front of him.

"Have you been bitten?" the werewolf asked. "You keep scratching your neck."

"I think so. It's really irritating me."

Sam sat next to him on the couch with a hefty sigh. His bones felt heavy as the springs groaned under his weight. "Let me see." He turned his head from left to right. "I don't see anything. just try not to scratch it, you'll make it worse."

"I know," William smiled. Sam always fussed over him.

The werewolf stared at his human. He breathed deeply, and William knew what was coming. "You know, It felt so strange to have a big blast of gold coming from my chest. Did it feel strange for you? I thanked Kaiden for helping you. I didn't think he would be that nice, but I'm too judging. I'm so glad the tear is closed, and your ears are okay." William sat patiently, waiting for Sam to blurt out his thoughts. "Did it hurt a lot? I bet it was so strange for the werewolves to watch that. I mean, you don't see something like that every day. It's so weird isn't it?" Sam chuckled nervously, wringing his hands until William placed one on top, wrapping fingers around his knuckles.

"It's okay to feel affected. You're right in the middle of this chaos." William shuffled closer until their heads were centimetres apart.

"Will, I'm the God of Wisdom. I-" Sam forced the lump in his throat back down. It pressured his chest. "I think I'm losing my mind, but at the same time, I'm totally okay with it. I have no control over anything in my body right now. I don't like that. Now I know why Jacota struggled so much. It's so conflicting."

William kissed him, taking his time for their lips to melt together and their noses to squish at the tips. He waited until he tasted his mate before pulling away. Their hearts buzzed with affection. "When this is all over, I'll throw sticks for your wolf until my arm falls off."

Sam smiled, and William's eyes soaked up the sight. "My wolf is clawing to get out."

"You might have to show your wolf form when the demons get here. I've heard they're savage fighters."

"Not as savage as my teeth," Sam joked, baring his teeth and nipping the human's nose.

William flinched with a grin. "They won't stand a chance against you." Deep down, he was petrified at the thought of his werewolf being hurt and fighting for his life.

"Or you. That walking stick of yours is more lethal than my claws." Sam felt anxious at the thought of fighting demons. Angels, for some reason, didn't seem as bad. They wouldn't fight dirty, but demons would do anything to hurt their victims.

Sam looked past his mate and found Hunter, who avoided everyone apart from Jacota. "I'll be staying by William's side the entire time. I hope you know that," he thought.

Hunter hastily glanced at the couches. "I wouldn't have it any other way. We protect our mates today. Even if it's the last thing we do."

Sam looked down when his stomach swirled like he was spinning around really fast. He didn't want to think about losing anyone, but death follows wars like shadows chasing those who bask in the light, always on their heels until the light fades and darkness blends with everything it touches.

And darkness was coming.