The men knew what they had to do, what their roles were. I sent three hundred men out into the forest four miles behind the hunters, silently trailing them. Another hundred men had the duty to seal all the exits save for two; the main entrance to the compound and the exit into the forest where the women could be evacuated if everything went wrong.

I stepped down from the podium and walked towards the front door, standing in front of it as I watched the security camera monitor. In the distance thousands of men marched towards our underground facility, armed and ready.

Behind me, the loading bay was filled with the rustling of fabric and the popping and cracking of bones as the men stripped and shifted. The aim was to hit and run. Once they hit, the group would scatter in several directions, attacking stray hunters. They could only chase after a couple of the wolves and while they are preoccupied with protecting themselves and trying to kill the retreating wolves, more will attack.

Rieker knew this tactic well and I know that once he figures out what we are doing he will order his men to regroup. When they do the men behind them will attack in the confusion which will create a domino effect. The hunters will try to run or if they’re stupid enough, fend off the attacks from all sides. When this happens they will be pursued and die.

-

I held up a hand to open the doors as the hunters drew near. I knew that if they got too close, their snipers would be able to take out many of my men. I wouldn’t give them the chance though; they wouldn’t be able to aim properly if their targets were moving too fast to track.

“If you are too slow, they will shoot you. If you are too close, they will shoot you. Kill and then keep moving.” I said to the men as the doors slowly opened. “If the bullet wound doesn’t get you, the silver nitrate will and the poison dipped tips will.” I warned. As the door finally open I pulled off my weapons and shifted. A feeling of calm descended over the men as we watched them approach. We’d trained for this moment for over a year and now that it was upon us, I knew that they were ready. I had done what I could to keep them alive but now it was up to them to survive.

My heart pounded, blood and adrenaline mixed together as the hunters drew nearer. My eyes ran over the mob, searching for one face; the one man I would kill even if it killed me.

I couldn’t see him, I couldn’t smell him but I knew that he was there. I held my wolf back as she pacing inside my head, thirsting for their blood. I watched in anticipation at every step they took, every beat of their hearts, every breath they drew. Soon they would be lying motionless on the floor, unfeeling, unseeing, not breathing. I wanted their hearts beating blood as I devoured them.

My muscles coiled as I crouched, closer they came, closer. I judged the distance with each step. Once they were in range they would unleash a cloud of poisoned silver bullets. Without warning I sprung forward, sprinting towards their lines. Seconds later I heard heavy footfalls behind me. With supernatural speed and agility I threw myself into the fray, a blur of claws and teeth, a deadly combination. I ripped into the hunters before they could fire, disembowelling anyone in my way, tearing them to shreds. My eyes landed on a huge giant of a man who was about to shoot Yiannis who stood metres away. My muscles flexed as I rushed him, knocking the gun out of his grip. Pinning him under my claws I went in for the kill. My powerful jaw clamped around his throat and with one pull I severed his spinal cord and ripped his head off.

Raising my head I looked down the barrel of a gun. The youth holding it was shaking so badly it looked like he was about to drop it. Sweat was pouring down his face which as white with fear, his brown eyes were wide and filled with terror.

A smirk crept onto my face as his arms began shaking with the effort of holding up the gun that as almost as tall as him. I crouched low and growled menacingly, his Adam’s apple bobbed and it looked like he was about to run. I tore at his back as he tucked tail and ran. His blood was sour and coppery with fear and I spat it out as I stood over his broken corpse.

Gunshots filled the air, growls, snarls, shrieks and screams were the sounds of battle. I was in my element. Bullets flew by me as I tore each and every man and woman standing around me to shreds. I loved their cries of mercy as I sunk my teeth deep into their flesh, their desperate attempts at protecting themselves as I watched their life drain from their eyes.

I doubted half of them had ever seen the battle field, let alone killed anyone. They were stupid to join the hunters and now they paid the price, with their life.

Sweat mingled with blood as I dodged bullets, the bodies piling around me; both human and wolf as I searched for Rieker, killing anyone and everyone in my path. It was like a sea of hunters; I’d kill one and two more would replace him.

My senses were in overdrive. The air smelt of death and fear, the ground was slick with blood, flowing in crimson ribbons. It was chaos. Corpses littered the ground; many were mortally wounded while screams, growls and gunshots filled the air. The temperature was dropping as the sun set over the horizon and the hunter’s numbers were drastically diminishing.

I looked around the field and a sense of dread washed over me. Scattered between the corpses small fights broke out between the wounded hunters and stray wolves. Many dispatched the wounded hunters and carried their brothers back to the compound where they’d get help.

I could only hope that no hunters had gotten to the women.

A feeling of dread washed over me as it became dark, with only the light of the moon and stars bathing the clearing in its light. Looking into the forest I could see that the worst wasn’t over.

It had only just begun.

Rieker had obviously sent his weakest hunters to break out barriers and injure as many wolves as possible. More were coming I could feel it, soon. The wolves I had sent into the forest before were still lying in wait, where they would stay until the hunters struck again. Rieker and his men were in for a rude awakening when the Drăculești got here. I could only pray that I could keep them in line, especially with so much blood everywhere. Once they saw the hunters and smelt the scent of fear and freshly spilt blood they would go into a bloodlust and be uncontrollable. Rieker won’t know what hit him.

-

I sat perched in a tree half a kilometre away from where the hunters were camping next to the river. I wanted to make sure that I knew when they would move and I couldn’t go back underground, I had too much adrenaline running through my system.

I knew that Rieker was being careful; no fires, no talking, no movement. From where I sat I could see that a still had a thousand men, all heavily armed and all deadly. These were his warriors, men who knew what they were doing and had no remorse killing any men, woman and children who were in their way. They’re from the same mould as me which spelt disaster.

‘Rory where are you?’ Nick asked, sounding absolutely terrified. Did he think I was injured, or worse? I resisted the urge to snort, choosing instead to focus on one man who was a seven foot wall of muscle and dwarfed the men around him.

‘Rory! Come back right now!’ Alex demanded.

‘Rory we need you here, please! Marti’s about to give birth!’ Nick pleaded.

I didn’t respond, instead I jumped from the tree, ensuring that I made next to no noise as I landed. I scented the air to make sure that no one was going to jump me. I don’t like surprises and killing a hunter would alert Rieker and the others that I was here.

I ran until I was a few kilometres away and then shifted so that no one would hear my breaking bones, popping joints and tearing muscles. I was a black blur, a shadow as I reached the compound.

Despite what I’d said, I cared; I cared too damn much. I loved them, all of them. I have this weakness, love, emotions; Rieker saw it and took advantage of it, he still does. He hurts the ones I love unless I do exactly what he says. No matter how hard I try, I can never stop loving. I’ve never been able to fully shut off my emotions, stop caring.

The guards let me in, no questions asked and I ran to the infirmary. I could hear Marti’s screams echoing through the concrete walls and I winced. So much pain. I’d suffered through the most excruciating pains, pain that no one could ever imagine. I would take away Marti’s pain if I could, make it my own but I couldn’t. Painkillers didn’t work on us, regardless of the strength. Our metabolisms were too fast for the drug to take effect before it was burnt up in our bodies. I knew that if I hadn’t miscarried Tyson and had a c- section with Jenna, I would be in the same kind of pain.

I stood by the door watching the scene in front of me. There was a white sheet, well red now from all the blood, covering her lower section, the doctor underneath. Marti’s face was contorted in pain and she squeezed Matthias’s hand was a vengeance. I would have laughed at the barely concealed pain on his face as another contraction hit and Marti screamed, squeezing his hand hard. To think that I nearly killed this man a year and a half ago, he showed no pain then, yet now he looked about ready to pass out. Men. I thought snorting. Taking on an aggressive hunter? No problem! Faced with childbirth? Ready to pass out.

“Matthias I hate you! You’re never touching me again!” Marti screamed, her face red, tears running down her face. “Where’s Rory?”

I stepped into the room and shifted, walking towards her side. I didn’t care if everyone could see my nudity, I had an amazing body from centuries of training and I knew it. They’d more than likely look away because of my scars though. Marti was more important than any kind of modesty though.

“I’m right here.” I said pushing her sweaty hair away from her pale face, smiling down at her. “You’re so strong Marti, it’ll be over soon and it’ll be worth it when you hold your baby.” I whispered.

“God I hope so!” She said panting. The doctor emerged with bloody hands and a huge smile on her face.

“Just a couple more pushes and you’ll meet your baby.” She assured Marti. “You’re about to be proud parents!”

Marti groaned while Matthias looked like he was a little kid on Christmas. It was only a few seconds before Marti began panting and pushing, crying out in pain.

It was a beautiful sound when the cries of a newborn resonated around the room. It was a sweet and sour moment; a beacon of light in dark times. A new life was born as hundred were lost. Matthias cut the umbilical cord and after the babe was cleaned, the doctor showed Marti how to breast feed.

They’d had a beautiful baby boy, his name was Hansel and I was pronounced godmother.

Too bad I would never be a mother to my own child, let alone someone else’s. I doubted I’d be alive to see him or Jenna grow up anyway.