Welcome back! I don't know how often I'm going to update this, as it's going to take me a while to filter through the name changes and pronouns after changing the sexes of a few of the characters. If you see a mistake, just know this is already a completed book that had original characters in it.

Thank you all who have, and will, take the time to read this. Hope you all enjoy it, even if i'm not enjoying having to go through and change a few things (it's a long book...) Either way, enjoy the show!

*1 Year Later*

Kane and Spencer stayed hidden within a small town, not too far from their old village. Kane got a job as a carpenter, while Spencer kept an eye out for any signs of his brother, or his old pack's hunting squads. They not only had to live in secrecy from them, but also from the humans they lived among. They hid their ears with hats and scarves, the neighbors never seemed suspicious nor did anyone ask questions. The two seemed to feel more at peace in the town; with a sense, they'd never be found. Until it happened; as Kane started to close the store, a woman's scream tore through the air.

He dropped the large wood plank and ran out of the shop as fast as he could. He'd been getting better at using his new heightened abilities, Spencer teaching him in the forests as often as possible. Outside the little shop he worked in the town was in frenzy. Blood and bodies decorated the streets, it had been a silent hunt, and no one was alive. Kane went to find his uncle; he came running up beside him.

"Are you hurt?" He asked quickly, looking him over.

"I'm just fine… How did we let this happen?" He asked shaking his head.

"This wasn't his doing Kane. The pack's scent would be all over this place."

"Maybe another pack that has joined his?" Kane questioned looking to his uncle for answers. Before he could speak someone behind them came walking up.

"I didn't know this town was already claimed, I am truly sorry to have wiped out your entire food market." A man with dark blue wolf-like ears said as he wiped off his hands.

"We didn't use these people as food." Spencer scorned his nose wrinkling as he let out a snarl. The man smelt of blood and he didn't like the look he gave him when he had approached.

"Oh? Why ever not? They tasted very good." The man smirked.

"Because; doing a disgusting thing like that, will only get us caught and killed." Kane stepped out from behind Spencer as he glared at the man. He was about as tall as Kane, but he wasn't well-built or very strong-looking; not in this phase anyways.

"But that's where this is good news. There is a kingdom, not far from here, whose king is just like us. Together the humans live peacefully with us. My pack however; doesn't necessarily disagree with those arrangements, but we must hunt to survive. It's not natural for a wolf to be fed a meal on a plate. So, we do what we must, this town was poor anyways, no one will miss these people." The man waved his hand about as he tried to justify his murderous acts.

Spencer went to speak, but before he could utter a word Kane stepped closer to the man, "Where is this kingdom? What is it called? How far away is it?" He asked, a place where people like him and humans living together sounded perfect.

If the kingdom was extremely far away, he wouldn't have to worry about hiding anymore. He would soon forget about him and his uncle and Voltaire could continue with planning his 'war'.

"The kingdom is that way"- The man pointed to the horizon behind Kane, the same direction of his old village, "It's about a five day walk on two feet. The kingdom's name is Varleeanne." The man said.

Kane had a huge grin plastered to his face as he turned and grabbed hold of his uncle's hands, "We can go there Spence, we'll be safe I'm sure of it." He said, trying to sound joyful.

For the first few hours the two walked in their human phases, by night fall they changed phases. Running on all fours as fast as they could to this new haven, as they neared where their village lay hidden in the woods, they detoured around it. Thinking they had been far enough that their scents wouldn't reach the village, when suddenly a red wolf slid to a stop cutting Spencer and Kane from their path. Phasing over she became a tall girl, with long red hair that was held back in a pony tail down her back. Her eyes a dark-brown, that contrasted heavily with her green outfit. She wore a tube top and her pants, made of the same material as her shirt, tucked into her knee-length boots. With a bright orange scarf around her neck and her red wolf-like ears had two silver studs stuck in them, where they almost blended in with her hair.

The two panted heavily and stood staring at the girl before them. Kane's head cocked to the side as he tried to recognize the girl. Suddenly he changed phases and walked over to the girl, grabbing her shoulders in a friendly way.

"Salima, WH-what're you doing here?" He asked, still catching his breath. Looking her over, and still holding her shoulders.

Spencer phased over as well, but kept his distance and his guard up.

"I should ask you the same, do you know what would have happened if someone else smelled you?" She kept shifting her eyes as she spoke, then looked at Kane hard, "like your father?" She asked deepening her tone.

"Well… it's a good thing it was you and not him." Kane chuckled scratching the back of his head, Spencer rolled his eyes.

"What are you doing?" Salima asked looking them both over, they were filthy looking, as if they had run for days.

"We were"- "We're passing through Salima, now please, move…" Spencer held his arm out in front of Kane to stop him. He glowered at Salima, who didn't seem to be fazed by the lack of politeness Spencer showed her.

"I won't tell anyone." She said, "As much as you think I don't, I do care what happens to you Kane. Maybe when all this is over, maybe we can be together, like it was planned…" Salima tore her glare away from Spencer's and looked Kane in the eyes with sympathy, he wasn't one to pass up making a saddened pretty girl happy.

He took a quick glance over his shoulder to his uncle, and before he could speak up he told Salima where they were heading.

"I wish I could go with you." Just as she spoke those words three loud howls sounded in the distance. They were warning howls, saying that strangers were in the woods, "But I can't, and you must go. Your secret is safe with me." She urged them to go, pushing on Kane's shoulders; Spencer was already back in his wolf phase and ready to go.

"Thank you, Salima, maybe one day, we can be together like planned. You've been a good friend all my life." He said catching a quick glance at her in the eyes before turning into his wolf phase and following his uncle.

The two ran higher into the mountain and deeper into the woods. Just as they disappeared another howl erupted through the night sky, Salima ran the way she had once came.

"I have never heard of such a kingdom!" Voltaire laughed. "Are you sure this is where they are going?" He asked looking down at Salima from his 'throne'.

"Yes, my king, if you send someone out now, you will be sure to reach them in time. Before they even make it over the mountain's pass." Salima said, standing as still as a statue.

"Send out three squads."

"Three?" Salima questioned, looking at her superior as if he were serious.

Voltaire turned and looked down at Salima with a glare that would have made even the strongest man alive cry.

"You honestly think that they won't get away if just ONE person goes? Clearly you think all they've done is hide in a hole, no. He's trained him Salima, and he… He is strong." It was almost as if it hurt him to compliment his own brother. "Send three, now!" Voltaire ordered and watched Salima leave the room, quickly followed by two others.

It was almost sun rise; the sky was beginning to turn from black to a dark grey/blue color and the sun could be seen coming over the tree tops. Spencer and Kane stood in a very small clearing on the top of the mountain panting hard, sweat would have poured down their faces if it wasn't for all the fur they had. With one quick look and a funny doggish smile from Kane they went to run down the mountain, but before they could, both were knocked off their feet by two heavy objects.

As Kane went to stand another wave hit him, knocking him back down, fur was torn from his skin and he yelped loudly. Spencer had been knocked a few feet away from him, he tried to get back up quickly to get over towards him, but before he could even move three wolves pounded him into the ground.

Salima sat at the top of a tree, watching as her wolves trampled and pounded Kane and his uncle into the snow, which was once white and now soaking up all the blood. A small smirk crossed Salima's lips as she had the feelings of a mission complete, just when the wolves that had surrounded Kane were flown off in separate directions, the tides seemed to change as he went about, ripping off heads.

His eyes black as night, as he bounded from one enemy wolf to another he let out a snarl and a growl. Even though much of his fur was torn out and blood seemed to cover most of the ground and his body, he could hold himself up and move like he was a new fully changed wolf on a rampage. Salima sat back and held her breath, she didn't want him to smell her there in case he was to get away. The wolves he had killed would only make him hate his father more, she needed to stay under cover. She glanced over to where Spencer was, the wolves that had pinned him down were now devouring his lifeless body, it would be too late to save him even if Kane wanted to.

Kane held down an orange wolf, latching his jaws into the others neck, pulling hard against it, and then throwing the dead body towards the group that had his uncle surrounded. The body flew and hit one of the wolves, knocking it off-balance giving an opening to where Kane got a look at his uncle's dismantled body and form. Rage engulfed him, like an insane animal he took off at a dead run at the group and Salima watched, not only in shock and disbelief, but in awe and amazement. That this could be the strongest wolf she had ever known to exist. Single handedly Kane dismembered the others, blood and fur covered the ground, as soon as he was done with the last wolf he changed phases and fell to his knees. Looking up at the sky as snow began to fall; his hair was a mess and clung to his bloody and bruised face, his arms were gaping open with an assortment of wounds, but he didn't care. He screamed into the silent night for what seemed the longest time.

Salima had been gone for a while, no trace of her lingered in the air. Kane, now exhausted from his adrenaline rush placed the last stone he could find on the small mound where he had buried what was left of his uncle. He bowed his head while sitting in the snow on his knees. With blood still pouring down his face; he walked down the mountain with a slight limp, his vision was beginning to blur and he could feel his legs give way under him. His body was tired, his spirit was tired, and he needed a place to rest. Just 30 miles away was the kingdom's gates, his salvation would have to wait, for he had collapsed in the snow in a garden of the furthest house from the kingdom.

Halfway from the village Salima stopped and tried to recapture all she had witnessed. She began to fear what Voltaire would say and do about this news. And before she even realized what she was doing she turned around and ran east from the village.

"Hey… Hey? Is anyone home?" The soft voice seemed to smooth Kane's aching body, but the shoe the girl kept putting against his face wasn't soothing at all, and as he rolled over on his back he let out a painful moan. Trying to pry open his eyes he quickly shut them do to the blinding light from the sun.

"Are you alright?" The girl got down on her knees just above Kane's head blocking the sun; he could open his eyes. Only to be met with young emerald-green eyes and a beautiful face of what he thought to be an angel.

"Am… am I dead?" He managed to mutter through gritted teeth and as soon as the words left his lips he grabbed his sides from the searing pain that shot through his body.

"No, but you are in my garden and have bled all over my flowers." The girl said, smiling with a slight concern look on her face.

"Where am I then?" He asked, not caring much for the girl's flowers.

"You're just outside the kingdom of Varleeanne, are you here to seek refuge? You're a Demon, right?" The girl asked as Kane struggled to push his body up, blood had dried over his wounds and some of the more minor scrapes and bruises had already healed over.

"I'm sorry… Am I a what?" Kane shook his head, not ever had he heard his kind called that, turning so he could get a better look at the girl.

She looked to only be a year or two younger than him, bright emerald-green eyes blinking at him with concern. Her dark-blue hair pulled in a high pony tail upon her head, her smile warm and welcoming. Wearing a simple peasant type dress, held by a belt around her hips.

"You know."- She pulled her hair up on either side to try and resemble his wolf-like ears. "A Demon, it's what we call your kind here. Oh, I'm Mariam by the way." She held her hand out to shake his, which he just looked at.

"This is the kingdom then?" Kane looked past the girl, having slight trouble doing so, but he hid it to impress her.

"Yeah, I just said that silly. C'mon let's get you inside and take care of those nasty wounds." She said tugging on his right hand, even though she pulled quite firmly, he didn't feel any pain. He allowed her to tug him out of the flower garden and around the side of the house; it was small and made of logs that stacked upon one another with grey stuff in between the cracks to hold them together.

"Where are your parents?" He asked, noticing that the house was empty, but kept neatly.

"Some Demon's killed them when I was seven. I've been on my own for years now. The people around here help me out sometimes, but just enough to get me by. I've saved up some extra money so I can live in the kingdom itself, where it's safer because the king actually pays attention there." She said as she twirled her hair.

"It seems you've got it all figured out." Kane admired her dream, but felt it was all for not. "How much does it cost to live in the kingdom?" He asked, realizing he had no money either.

"Ummm… for a small flat it's about 10,000, I have 200 saved up already." She smiled.

Kane's heart stopped in his throat for a second, and he choked it down. "That's expensive!" He yelled out and put his head in his hand trying to think of how to get in the kingdom where he would be safe from his father.

"What kind of jobs do they offer in the kingdom?" Kane asked, looking up from his hand.

"There are lots of things, I want to be a dress designer, I made the clothes I'm wearing. But I know that they are low on carpenters and the pay is good, 50 gold an hour I believe. But they won't just take anyone, seeing as how they don't only carve the wood and work it into things; they go into the forest and cut the trees down themselves as well. And out there at night it gets dangerous." She explained.

"I'll tell you what, if you give me a place to stay, I'll help you move into the kingdom faster, after that we can go our separate ways and do what we please. I used to be a carpenter in my last town, and I helped my father build our house when I was young. Not to mention I'm a… A Demon… So, I can protect myself out there." He said crossing his arms over his chest, all the pain he had once felt now gone and he truly believed that this idea of his would work.

Mariam thought about it for a short while, pacing in front of him as she did so. "That's all fine and good now, but on one condition." She stopped and pointed at him. "You have to tell me your name." She laughed.

His wolf-like ears bent back, and he smiled a bit, "Kane."

A few months went by and already Kane was the main director over the carpentry industry in Varleeanne and he could pay just enough to move him and Mariam closer to the kingdom's gates. Mariam could take up an apprenticeship with a woman who worked making clothes for the nobles, just a few heads away from making clothes for the king and queen themselves. Although life was already getting better for Mariam and Kane they were very far from their goal, their house was ransacked often, and Kane would lose about 10 men in a month's time due to the Demons who preyed upon them in the forest, or carelessness in the workshop.

As for their relationship it was simple, Mariam looked to him as a protector and provider as he looked at her as a younger sister. When there was no work to be done they would walk towards a mountain side and enjoy each other's company. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months and soon enough those weeks turned into years and their dreams of moving inside the kingdom fell apart when Mariam became pregnant with their first child.

Mariam didn't blame Kane for not being able to live inside the kingdom; she was too busy preparing for their baby, as Kane worked harder, making things from floors to extravagant furnishings for the palace. As the realization became clearer that he was soon to be a father, he became more paranoid about his own father finding him and taking everything, he once loved away.

He had lived with Mariam for six years and hadn't seen any signs of him or Salima, but that didn't mean they weren't watching them. Sometimes at night he had nightmares where they came and killed Mariam and their baby and forced him back into the pack. Other nights he would dream that he killed the queen of Varleeanne and started a war between the Demon's and humans. The closer Mariam's due date arrived the worse the nightmares became.

"Kane, Kane baby wake up!" Miriam shook him hard, smacking his arms. He was running in his sleep whimpering like a hurt dog, sweat covered his body. Suddenly he shot up flailing his arms about as he jumped out of the bed. He stood there huffing and puffing hard, looking around the dark room as if someone was there; he spun on his heels and faced the wall opposite of the one their bed was against. He stormed over yelling and pointing.

"I want you out! Leave my house!" Mariam was used to his night terrors, but never had he talked to anyone, she tried to peer through the darkness, but her simple human eyesight wasn't strong enough to cut through the darkness.

"If I see you here again I will kill you! Leave, don't you dare look at her!" He growled and shoved his body forward; Mariam thought he ran into the wall. She quickly lit a candle on the bedside table, as the light lit up the room she could see, but no one was there, and Kane just stood there standing against the wall shaking hard.

"You're dreaming honey, come back to bed." She called to him sweetly.

He turned around; his eyes were red and swollen as if he was ready to cry. He slumped back into bed alongside his wife, who wrapped her arms around him. She held him as close as she could, with their growing baby between them.

As Kane slept peacefully in the arms of his wife, Salima stood on the outskirts of town. Three other Demons, who had chosen to stay in their Demon phase, stood by awaiting her orders. Her right eye was starting to bruise where Kane had punched her. She gently touched the bruised skin and smiled, turning away from the town and kingdom as the others followed her.

"So, he found himself a haven." Voltaire mused to himself as he tapped his fingers on the wooden arms of his chair. "How much longer till she gives birth?" Voltaire asked.

"About two weeks." Salima answered quickly.

"Good." Voltaire paused, "and what of this king that hides behind those walls?"

"He has yet to bear a child, his wife seems to be barren."

Voltaire laughed, "I think I want to meet this king and his queen."

"I will arrange it for you." Salima quickly spat out and went to leave the house they were both in; before she was out the door Voltaire stopped her.

"I want him alive. You can kill her once the child is born. Am I understood?" He spoke coldly, sending shivers down Salima's spine. "Remember the last time you disappointed me… DON'T let that happen again, or you will suffer much worse than before."

"Yes sir" She left the house; taking the three Demons with her as she went back to the kingdom of Varleeanne.

As Kane worked out in the yard he kept his guard up, he didn't know how or why Salima had come to his house last night, all he did know was that Mariam and their child were no longer safe. He took a quick glance at his wife who was hanging their sheets on the clothes line; she noticed him watching and smiled back to him. His wolf-like ears set back, and he went back to raking the leaves. Mariam continued her work, on the last piece of clothing when suddenly she doubled over in pain screaming.

In a split-second Kane was beside her, holding her back up on her feet as he helped her back inside the house. She clutched to her stomach and screamed louder with each step she took, piercing Kane's already sensitive ears. He didn't slow down, he laid her on their bed and noticing the blood that stained the bottom of her dress he quickly ran out the house to fetch the doctor that stayed inside the kingdom.

Mariam started to fall in and out of consciousness, her vision was getting blurry and before her she couldn't make out the fuzzy outline of the figure standing at the foot of her bed.

"H... Help me…" She pleaded; sweat trickling down her face as another contraction coursed through her body. She let out another ear-piercing scream. "Please." The figure didn't move, and all Mariam could do was lay there in labor, waiting for help.

Just when time seemed to be running out Kane and the doctor burst through the bedroom door, and from past experiences the doctor got right to work. Kane stood by Mariam's side for a short while, when he noticed a familiar smell lingering in the air. As Mariam went to reach for his hand so she could start to push, he walked away casually out of the room and out of the house. Once outside he took off in a brisk run, Salima hadn't gone far, and he knew he could catch her.

Upon a hill, she stood there overlooking the small town just outside the kingdom, Kane walked up behind her just as the sun started to set, the sky turning blood-red mixed with orange and pink colored clouds.

"What do you want?!" Kane asked, his fists clenched as he stood there, and he bore his teeth like an angry dog.

"Do you love her?" Salima asked and turned on her heels to face him.

"That's not answering my question…"

"Voltaire wants his grandchild." Salima answered shaking her head with a slight smirk on her lips.

"Like hell!" Kane's fists clenched tighter and he lunged at Salima's face bearing his fangs snarling like a ravaging dog.

Like the wind Salima moved without Kane even noticing, her knee went straight up into his gut causing him to double over. He stood, bent over her knee for a short second until her elbow came down on the center of his back. He laid flat on the ground as Salima stood over him, she pushed back her bangs and sighed as she bent down next to him and gently rolled his body over on his back.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Kane asked not even looking at her.

"It's not always up to me; we're pawns in this game of life hun. Now, which side you choose, that's completely up to you." She said as she gently played with his bangs that laid in his face.

The two talked for what seemed like hours, neither one smiling or hinting that they were enjoying their talk. Kane never looked at her in the eyes and he spoke in monotone to her, until she said something that he completely disagreed with. He turned his head in her direction and just stared at her with a cold gaze. "I'd rather die." He turned his head and faced the sky again.

Salima sat there for a second and stood up leaving him lying there as she walked down the hill back to where Voltaire was.

An hour or two had gone by before Kane walked back into the house, and there in his bed sat his wife, and wrapped in her arms and a blue wool blanket was his son. A large smile crossed Kane's face as he took the small babe in his arms. The baby had a full head of lavender hair, and upon his head were two white wolf-like ears. He was sound asleep, and all Kane could do was hold him tight and silently cry to himself. He sat on the edge of the bed and Mariam wrapper her arms around him, staring over his shoulder to look upon her baby.

"His name is Bryan." She said and rubbed a gentle finger along his soft chubby cheeks.

"Bryan? I thought we were to name him Spencer?" Kane's voice was choked, and he quickly swallowed the lump and wiped the small tear that had escaped from the corner of his eye.

"You weren't here, and the doctor needed a name, I'm sor-" "No." Kane stopped her, and he turned his body around to face her. "Bryan is a great name." Mariam smiled and leaned into kiss him, which he welcomed with an open heart.

That night as the two-lay asleep Kane sat outside under the moon as he leaned against the house breathing in the night's cold air. He couldn't get his mind off track, all he could hear was Salima's voice, over and over in his head. "Five years." He sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. He stood up and phased into his white wolf, larger and stronger than when he was just a teenager. As a wolf he took off running, where to he wasn't sure, he just needed time to think.