Chapter 13- The family meeting.

Within the week, Stephanie found that the McCallaways had moved back to the states, in the same house. She had been called to an important meeting among the McCallaway family, but first she had other business to attend to. She drove to Chris' house to tell him she was ok and unharmed. He wasn't certain about it until he inspected her neck. "I don't trust them Stephanie, that big guy was going to bite you, he has intent! I could smell it on him!"

"Chris, I am not hurt, really. I had to go and help him. Hunter was going to kill himself because he thought I was dead" she explained.

Chris gave a sneer to her as she mentioned the vampire's name. "So, now what?" he asked as he found himself leaning against the doorway. "The family is back and we still have issues with those that tried to attack you. Not to mention, what's going to become of us?"

Steph couldn't deny her feelings for Chris, he had been there for her since Hunter left, as well as protected her from Vicky and Shelton. But she still had feelings for Hunter, but she felt just as strong towards Chris. She kept her lips close on the incident in Rome, where the vampires passed a ruling. She is either turned into a vampire or she will be killed.

"I got to go" she whispered.

The young Canadian sighed aloud, knowing her tone all to well. She was going to see him. "I figured" he muttered. "I pray you know what you're doing"

As the door closed, Stephanie began to think long and hard about the option of becoming immortal like the McCallaways. But she then considered another option, could she be turned into a werewolf like Chris? But the thought quickly left her mind as she drove to the McCallaway house. She was welcomed in with open arms as Dave answered the door. He brought her into the living room and sat her down. The rest of the family soon joined them. Mr. McCallaway took the floor.

"You understand why we brought you here?" he asked of Stephanie.

She nodded. "I assume it's what is to be done about me," she explained.

He nodded to her as he looked around the room, starting off with Michelle. "You have always been part of the family, ever since Hunter brought you home. From the moment I saw you two lock eyes. I knew he loved you. I vote yes"

Next was Batista who explained that Stephanie had been living with them now more than her own father and voted yes as well. Mayrse gave a sneer, yet smiled at the last moment. "I much rather deal with you as an immortal, than hear Hunter whine for the rest of his immortal life. Yes" she announced.

Hunter however was dead set against it. He tried to explain there had to have been another way out of it, but Mr. McCallaway explained there as no way around it. He knew the vampire laws inside and out, and had there been a loophole for Stephanie, it would had been invoked. "Needless to say, my answer is yes"

Everyone's attention turned to Kane who stood at the far end of the room. His back remained against the wall as he looked to Stephanie and the others. "It was my fault this all happened" he muttered. "But as I look back at it now, I think it worked out for the best. Hunter needs you, and I had been spying on you when we came to Italy. I was going to turn you myself"

The room was rather startled to his confession, even Stephanie. But it explained how Natalya, Dave and Tyson were so tense when Kane appeared. He began to walk more and more towards her and announced that he would turn her before the Alumni come knocking on the door. But the choice is left to you Stephanie, for I say yes to turning you"

The room fell silent as Hunter announced it was a lot for her to digest and she needed time to consider it, gently he took hold of her hand a pulled her out of the house to the backyard. He sat her down as he gazed into her eyes. The words wouldn't come to him as he stumbled to find them. "Stephanie, I want you to have he option of being turned or not. You can let Kane do it. Or… when you get your degree. I will marry you, and turn you myself" he said.

The words were lost in her throat as Stephanie couldn't believe her own ears. Hunter, was proposing to her. "What say you Stephanie?"

Yet the moment she looked into his eyes, she saw Chris staring back at her. Her mouth fell dry as she choked out. "I don't know"…

The end, for now!

(author's note) Again I am very sorry for the delay in this story. I have been working hard on a vampire novel that I am try to polish up for publishing. Rewrites for that have gotten harder!

I hope to have new stories up soon, as I have a particularly funny idea….