Chapter 8

Joseph's POV

"Curse this damn sunlight!" I shouted out loud as I made my way out of a den I found last night. I could already feel weak just from the morning heat touching my body, but it's been a while since I drank blood and I'm getting really thirsty. I have no idea where I am, it was all a blur last night when my blood rage started kicking in. Tall trees were covering most of the grassy landscape, but I had to admit it did look nice.

I relied on my nose to help me catch a whiff of any blood or scent in the air. Then a small scent hit my nose. Must mean a rabbit is nearby, oh well it's better than nothing at least. I cloaked and followed the trail torwards the scent and a few moments later I found my prey.

Such an innocent little creature, going about it's normal everyday life not knowing that this very day will be it's last. Looks like it's busy searching for food if its own. Normal predators would have to be careful not to get spotted when hunting their prey, but not me, not anymore. Realizing my cloak was going to deplete soon because of the sun, I sprinted torwards it, it's ears perked up and saw me but it was too late. I grabbed hold of it and cut its throat quickly. Then I proceeded to drink the blood oozing out of the rabbit's throat continuously until it ran dry.

Finished, I set the corpse down gently on the grass. "May you find peace in the afterlife." I said to the body and I bowed my head and turned to leave the rabbit there so someone else could have the meat. I didn't need it. Since I was an omega I wasn't experienced in hunting before but now if feels like I was born for it.

I found a secluded spot that was shaded by trees and went to replenish my energy there. I may be in the sun, but anytime I'm in the shadows it would be just like if it was night. No weaknesses from the sun. I relaxed against a tree and closed my eyes to savor the taste of warm blood still in my mouth.

I never knew why, but anytime I drink blood it always puts me in a good mood no matter how depressed I am. It's like I could forgive Dawn and Victor for the terrible thing they did to my parents, but once the savory taste of blood is gone, anger soon replaces my happiness. Now all I thought about was making them both suffer for what they did, making sure to give them a slow and agonizing death. Hearing their screams as I tear their body slowly apart. I smiled just thinking about that.

But then my smile vanished. I was thinking about my parents. What would they think of me now? Would they be proud of me for trying to avenge them? Dissapointed? All these thoughts gave me a headache, I wish they could let me know what they are thinking about me right now. I miss them so much.

Dawn, the very reason that I won't be able to see my parents ever again. She better have a good explanation, but even after she does explain I'll probably still kill her. I know my parents would be proud.

Wait, something doesn't feel right. I'm starting to feel really light headed, I think I need to...

Next thing I knew, my body collapsed and my vision blackened.

In another world

I woke up and what appeared in front of me completely astounded me. "Home." I said to myself feeling a sense of peace and happiness in me. But something was off, there was no one around. No birds, rabbits, or wolves, it's just empty. I made my way torwards my den out in the distance, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to go in. My parent's dead bodies might still be in there lying on the floor. I really don't want that image in my head again.

As I came near to the entrance of the cave a wolf came out of it. No... mother?

"Hello son." My mother said in such a sweet voice I started crying heavily.

"Mom, h...how is this possible? I saw you die." I said trying to keep it together but I couldn't. Just seeing her again made me lose all the anger, sadness, and pain that I had felt inside me not to long ago.

"Come inside sweetie, your father and I want to talk to you." She said as she turned away and went inside the cave as I was following right behind her. My father is here too? How can this be? Is this even real?

"Ah Joseph, it's wonderful to see you again, your mother and I missed you so much." I knew that voice.

Dad, he was sitting in the same spot from when I last saw him. Mom took a seat right next to him, also the same spot. Here they were again, it's like their murder didn't even happen. I was crying tears of joy almost the whole time, I never thought that I would ever see them again.

"Son, we have something to discuss with you, please sit." My dad said pointing to the empty spot in front of them. I immediately made my way over and sat down in front of them. I smiled at them but I stopped when I saw that both of them were frowning at me.

"Mom? Dad? Is everything alright?" I asked with concern.

My mom spoke first. "Joseph, we know everything that has happened to you lately... and what you did." Oh no, how could they know? I looked down in shame knowing what they are about to say.

"Your mother and I are very dissapointed in you son."

I started sobbing like a pup, hearing those words from them was a stab right in my heart. All I wanted was to make them proud and I failed them.

"I'm so s...sorry, for everything." I couldn't look at them.

"Honey, we understand this need to avenge your's and our deaths but your starting to lose yourself in the process. You've been murdering innocents, friends, families, and loved ones Joseph! Just like us!"

I never felt more like a monster of pure evil than I did now and just to hear that I've been killing families from my parents confirms this. I've become what I swore to destroy, a ruthless murderer.

"We wish you wouldn't have become what you are now, but we only ask that you do not become the deadly nightmare that everyone will fear." Dad pleaded.

"Joseph, we want you to be our compassionate and happy son that we always had and to show mercy to those that wronged you and us." Mom added.

Sadness was now replaced with unspeakable anger, do they not care for vengeance? To kill the ones that took their very lives?

"I can't just spare them after what they did to us! I'm sorry, but you will not stop me and my quest for revenge. Dawn and Victor need to die for what they did to us!"

Both my parents looked at each other worriedly then back at me.

"I know we can't change your mind about this, but we only want you to do one thing for us. Spare Dawn."

"What?! I can't just let her live, what if she tries to kill me again huh?! Or some other poor unfortunate family, you really expect me to do that?!"

"Son please, we only want you to be happy and Dawn will be the only one that can help you. She really cares about you, me and your father both know that she would never do anything to harm you or us. We believe she has been forced."

Forced? I never thought about that, if what my parents say is true then perhaps I'll hear her out and see what Dawn says.

"Ok, if you are right about this, then I'll let her live. I promise." I said truthfully to my parents and they both smiled.

"Thank you sweetie, we hope that you will do the right thing and that your future will bring a new light to Jasper." Mom said as both of them approached me and gave me a hug.

"We love you son." They said in unison and then not long later they vanished in black mist.

"I love you too mom and dad." That might be the last time I ever say that to them.

My home started to fade black and everything started to disappear in front of me. It looks like I'm back in the vampire's mind. Did he create all of that?

"Yes Joseph, I did." Startled, I jumped and turned behind me to see the pitch black wolf again.

"Why would you do that to me, make me see my parents again?

"I'm sorry but it was the only way to make sure you wouldn't end up like me."

"Like you? What do you mean?" I asked, is there something he didn't tell me?

"I lied when I said I didn't have a mate. Many years ago I became friends with the most beautiful wolf in my pack. She always knew how to make me smile and laugh. Her name was Maria and she was an omega, but I was an alpha. Pack law forbid such romance, but I didn't care."

He had a mate? I never thought a powerful vampire like him would have room for love.

"Maria and I would always go up to this lonely tree on top of a hill and talk just about anything that came to our minds. We also would chase and play with each other in the snow up high in the mountains. Never in all my centuries of living here in Jasper had I ever felt more happiness around just one wolf. I realized that I had feelings for Maria and one day up on that tree I told her how I felt about her and... what I was."

Uh oh, that's probably where it ended badly.

"No Joseph, she actually did not mind, just like Dawn. All that mattered to her was that both of us loved each other. Unfortunately, my pack found out about us and since we broke pack law they turned on me. Anger boiled in me since they wouldn't accept us. To bad for them because the sun was down. I killed each and every one of them. What Maria didn't tell me was that her parents were also in that pack and I just killed them. She only saw me as a monster now. So... I killed her too."

Damn, maybe us vampires were only meant to be alone, away from everyone else.

"Look, what I am saying is don't do what I did and go on a killing spree without thinking first. I know what you plan to do, kill Dawn. Sure she will give you an explanation, but she is also part of your kill list now. The question is, are you willing to forgive her for what she did in order to have a happier future? You will know what I mean soon enough."

Happy future? The only happiness I get will be my claws piercing Dawn's throat!

"Oh but I know you won't do that to her Joseph." He said with a grin.

"She will be something more to you, just give her a chance and you will thank me later."

Something more? I don't understand what that means. What could Dawn possibly mean more to me? I guess I'll follow his advice and give her a chance.

"Now I must leave you, remember what I said and for your sake, please do the right thing." He said one final time before vanishing.

I lost consciousness, but only for a few moments before I once again entered the real world. Now I wait, for tonight I make my choice.

The Northern pack territory

Dawn's POV

I looked over at the horizon, The sun was setting. Soon I will have to meet Joseph and Sarah, I hope this will go well.

"Are you sure you have to do this? I don't trust him, heck I don't even know who he is!" Marcus said as he was coming up beside me.

"I have to do this Dad, if I don't he'll kill us all. Don't worry I know I'll be fine because Joseph would never hurt me." I hope I'm right.

"How come I have never seen him? You never told me anything about this Joseph."

"You wouldn't have approved of us Dad because... he's from the southern pack." I shouldn't have said that.

A look of suprise and anger showed on his face. "The southern pack?! Dawn, why the hell are you friends with the enemy?!"

"We were pups when we first met, we didn't really care about the war at that time only that I helped him at one point and we became fast friends from there. I'm sorry I didn't tell you Dad."

"So this guy is working for the south? We have to hunt him down!" He started walking away probably about to gather the alphas.

"No! You don't understand, he is very powerful and he will kill all the alphas you send after him."

My dad looked back at me with suspicion in his eyes. "How do you know this? Is there something your not telling me Dawn!"

Oh no, I can't tell my dad about Joseph or he will use his weaknessses to their advantage. Plus Joseph would be furious if he knew I told them. Me and Sarah are the only ones that truly know what he is.

"Dad if you don't want me to get hurt by him then I can't tell you anything about him right now. I promise I will soon." That may have been a lie because I don't want my dad to know anything about Joseph. It's too risky.

"Ugh! Fine! But please I'm begging you come back safe or I will send all the alphas and personally kill your friend myself!" Then he stormed off torwards the den.

I know he's just looking out for me, but he will get all of us killed if he try's anything. I have to do this myself.

A wave of fear hit me, the sun has now descended below the horizon and night is now upon us. This is it, I need to start heading over to the lake now. Hopefully this will go smoothly, it's really about what Joseph will do that scares me. May the light keep me safe.

I started making my way through the cold night, knowing that my friend is probably doing the same thing.

Five minutes later, the northern lake

Looks like I'm early, there's no one here yet. I think now is a good time to relax myself before dealing with what's about to happen shortly.

I went up to the lake and looked at my reflection. Why did I get myself into this mess in the first place? I should've told my dad what Victor told me and he would've done something about it. But I knew I couldn't risk telling my dad, he would end up getting killed because of me.

I sighed heavily and closed my eyes taking deep breaths trying to stay calm.

"Hey buddy!" A loud voice spoke from behind me and put a paw on my shoulder scaring me half to death. I quickly turned around just to see the only wolf who I know would do such a goofy thing. There was Sarah, laughing out loud like a little pup.

"Seriously Sarah?! Your going to give me a heart attack one day!" I said laughing as well. Even in these dark times she still is the happy and joyful wolf I've come to know very well. I'm surprised she's even an alpha considering how playful she can be.

"I'm sorry I couldn't resist! I promise that will be the last time I swear." She put a paw over her heart.

"Liar, I'm going to get you back one day just you wait."

"Ah well, fun times over, now we wait. Are you nervous?" Sarah asked as she sat down with me in front of the lake.

"Nervous? I'm terrified Sarah! I just don't know what he's going to do. I hope he can forgive me."

"Don't worry, I know my brother. No matter how angry he is with you, he will always see you as the only friend that cared about him. There's no way he's going to..."

We suddenly heard faint footsteps and turned around to see a black mist, and then Joseph appeared with his yellow demonic eyes filled with anger. Stay strong Dawn you can do this.

Joseph's POV

Is that my little sister? What on earth is she doing here?

"Sarah, why are you here?"

She took a few steps forward. "Brother, I also want to know why she ordered us dead. But I trust that she has a very good reason." Then she looked at Dawn.

I looked at her as well trying very hard not to slice her right now. "So Dawn, after everything we have been through together as pups, everything we did as best friends, was it all just a lie?"

Dawn's sapphire blue eyes looked at me with wide eyes. "No! I would never do anything so cruel to you, I value our friendship greatly Joseph."

"Then why did you do it Dawn?!"

Me and Sarah were now ready to hear the very reason that she killed our parents.

Dawn took a very deep breath.

"I ordered them because..."

Wait, there's others with us. I can hear them.

Next thing I noticed was a group of twelve wolves approaching us from the trail torwards the northern territory. Who the hell are these guys?

A big grey furred wolf who lead the group spoke with an evil grin. "Well done Dawn, you did well. Now we can finally carry out your order and finish them. Alphas! Slaughter these two!"

"No! Eric! What are you doing?!" Dawn's voice was heard in the background.

"Joseph!" Sarah shouted to me. It all happened so fast, half the group was attacking me while the other half went for Sarah. We were far separated apart. She managed to kill two of them, but with their combined strength they took my sister to the ground and starting attacking her with everything they had. Claws were cutting her, and their maws were ripping her throat apart.

"NOOO! SARAH!"

Nothing could describe the amount of anger that was now consuming me. My blood rage was unleashed, my face disfigured to a more monstrous form, and my eyes turned blood red. All of the wolves saw this and backed away in horror.

"What monstrosity is this?" One of them said.

"Run! Monster!" Another shouted.

"YOU WILL PAY, FOR EVERYTHING!" I shouted in a very different and terrifying tone.

Claws and fangs extended and with the night by my side, none of them is going to leave here alive. I manage to kill four already, now there's six left, this will be easy.

I pierced my fangs right to the closest wolf's neck and drained him quickly, I threw the corpse at another wolf launching him back quite a distance. Another tried to pounce me, but I caught him by the throat and broke his neck with just my paw. I vanished and reappeared behind another and lunged at him using my claws to cut right through his skull, blood gushing out of his head. The one I threw the body at was still on the ground dazed by the force of my throw. I quickly ran right to him and stabbed him right where the heart would be. The second to last one tried to run away, but I immediately caught up to him and cut his back legs in half. He was screaming in pain, but those screams soon ended when my claws tore through his stomach and ripped his intestines out.

"Victor didn't tell us about this! What the hell are you? Stay away from me demon!" The last one who I assumed was Eric ran for his life.

Suddenly, in the blink of an eye I appeared right in front of him and he screamed. I extended my claws and cut his head cleanly off his neck all in one swift motion.

I looked around to see what was once a beautiful scenery of the lake, but was now a bloody and gory nightmare.

Then my red eyes fell upon Dawn. She witnessed the whole thing and started crying.

I walked right up to her preparing to end her miserable life. Wait, I have a better idea.

She started backing away from me quickly in complete terror.

"No Joseph please! I didn't know anything about this I swear!"

"ENOUGH!" I grabbed her neck and started choking her.

"First I will slaughter everyone in your pack Dawn! Then when I'm done, I'll come for you. And when I find you I'll give you a very, very slow and painful death!"

I released her and and made my way to the northern pack.

"JOSEPH NO!" She screamed from behind me but I didn't care.

Tonight, the screams of many souls will be heard throughout Jasper. The blood of the wolves will bath the land in a bright crimson red.

Tonight, the northern pack will be annihilated.