It was chaos.

The house rumbled and groaned with each roar of explosives that shook through it, the children echoing the sounds with their pained and frightened screams. It was like the soundtrack for a horror movie or a nightmare, and I winced as each scream tore through my ears. The children needed help desperately, some most likely injured or simply too terrified to move.

We both stumbled from the elevator, the door slamming closed behind us. Another tremor rocked through us all, bringing with it the heart wrenching cries.

"Kitty," I shouted over the noise, spinning to gain her attention. "I need you to evacuate the building. You need to get the children out of here!"

The youth looked dumbfounded, her eyes wide as the scent of smoke hit her nose. I winced at the smell myself before steeling my expressions, hoping to remain strong for the woman before me. "Y-yeah," she mumbled finally, her head lowering in a brief nod. "I'm sorry; I just didn't think she'd..."

I smiled bitterly, swallowing slightly. "You just didn't think she'd hurt children?" At her nod, I let out a world weary sigh, chuckling dryly. "Monsters hurt children," I informed her before pushing her gently. "Now, go."

She hesitated and I growled lowly, taking one threatening step forward. "Now Kitty!"

I heard her gasp, lips trembling before she disappeared abruptly. Shooting back, I stared at where she'd been before looking down, blinking slowly in realisation.

Kitty was too cool for stairs apparently.

"Just go through the floor why don't you," I mumbled, beginning to slip my shirt over my head. "Now," I continued, already toeing off my boots. "Where are you Aunty dearest?"

I tried to focus solely on my sense of hearing, ignoring the sickly sweet smell of smoke and the horrid stench of fear lacing the air as I tugged off my sweatpants. I didn't know what I was hoping to hear or smell as I moved forward, my body beginning to thrum with the anticipated change, but I knew it as soon as I heard it.

A heartbeat.

With the lightening fast beat echoing in my ears, I felt my bones elongate, skin bursting and tearing. There was a twinge of pain, my body punishing me from ignoring the change for so long but I clenched my new canine maw and pushed through it. Fur bristled as four paws hit the ground with a muffled thump, my large form causing the floorboards to creak dangerously.

Okay so maybe I looked a little like Jacob Black from Twilight.

Shaking my canine head, I whined low in my throat, adjusting to the new sights and smells. The smoke was over whelming now, burning my eyes and nose as I pressed forward, heading for the staircase with large bounds – because unlike some people I couldn't just fall through the floor.

The heartbeat was still pounding in my ears, sounding skittish as I leaped down the stairs. I couldn't tell you whether it was instinct or the hunter within me that knew I was hearing the life of my prey. All I know is that I knew I would find the enemy at the end of the trail.

Ashleigh... I stalked forward, my feet gliding along the floor as I moved to the end of the hallway. Faintly I could hear Kitty, her powerful voice commanding children through winding corridors and endless doors. The stench of pain filtered through and I winced, begging that none of the children were hurt.

"Come on pup, I know you're in there somewhere." The taunting voice reached my ears, echoing as though bouncing off every surface between myself and the woman.

With another growl I started forward again, my paws padding against the ground before I butted my way through the door, emerging into the spacious gardens. Ashleigh stood a few feet away, her face alight like a child being given a new toy when she spotted me.

She clasped her hands together, both moving to settle under her chin. "I knew you weren't dead," she gushed happily, bouncing once on her feet. "When my equipment told me that your life signs had stopped... Well, I wasn't very happy to say the least."

Her tone was almost scolding, and I snorted, taking a few steps closer before beginning to circle her. If she noticed the predatoral action, she made no comment instead continuing to speak animatedly, her hands moving in wild gestures as her voice trilled and bounced.

"Of course, it only took me a few days to figure out the trick, but you were close my dear niece." Her eyes followed me, turning cautious as she recognized the pattern I was pacing. "It wasn't a nice thing to do Ivy, I was a tear sodden mess for three days straight before I realised my devices had glitched. Now, it was clever to use that young mutant's ability, but Ivy..." She waggled a finger at me in disapproval. "My equipment is very expensive."

I attempted to cock a brow, hoping a look of boredom would be expressed on my lupine features. Apparently I succeeded because my relative let out a loud laugh, the sound ending as soon as it began.

"Am I boring you?" she demanded, grey eyes narrowing. "Oh forgive me," she finished sarcastically. "But I was hoping to get along with my beloved niece instead of finding myself dismembered by her pointy teeth."

My circle was tightening as I snarled, baring said pointy teeth in a terrifying show. Ashleigh flinched before her expression darkened again. "I was hoping we could be civil about this Ivy," she said lowly, her jaw working slowly.

I shook my head with a small exhale, watching her pivot on the spot; following my movements. "I can help you, Ivy. Help you become stronger and better than ever before, don't you see that?" she pleaded in disbelief. "You're family to me remember? I didn't mean to hurt you or your father, I was just so angry at everything..."

Her eyes widened, lower lip trembling in a pathetic show. "Forgive me?"

As her hand reached out hopefully, I lashed out, biting down on something soft. Her arm shot back, body stumbling as I analysed the copperish taste in my mouth. Blood. Ashleigh rubbed the torn flesh as I spat to the side, realising she tasted wrong.

"I'm going to take that as a no," Ashleigh noted slowly, blinking back pain as she meet my eyes once again. "That's a real shame, my dear."

I made a small noise under my breath as she flexed her fingers, staring down the woman with a cautious look. She was so cliché movie villain. Really it was almost sickening and I bet my life savings that a cleverly worded song and dance would be next on her villainous agenda.

Actually no, hopefully no dancing. I was uncoordinated with two legs, let alone four.

"I was looking forward to a family reunion," Ashleigh started again, sighing almost forlornly. "And now you've ruined that for me as well."

Song and dance any minute now...

"Like a few months ago when you killed my lover, remember him? The man you tore apart? I think I loved him, but I'm not sure now. It should hurt more shouldn't it? The death of someone you love?"

Any minute...

"If the death of the man who warmed my bed and my heart didn't seem to affect me... Do you really think the death of my niece would?" Having said her piece, Ashleigh reached into her expensive leather jacket.

Wait, so I don't get a song a dance? What the hell is she..?

Oh.

Oh.

Gun. Guns are bad.

"I'm gonna miss you Ivy," Ashleigh declared, removing her hand and allowing the light of the early morning to glint of the cold, hard metal. "Actually, no... I won't."

I took a few steps back, still in clear view of the muzzle of the gun. It followed me and I resisted the urge to wince, suddenly feeling a little nauseous at the prospect of death. Not like I hadn't stared death down before – cough, cough, Piotr, cough – but a gun was so much more...

Permanent.

I hunkered down, and time seemed to slow, closing in on the miniscule tightening of my family member's finger. She was about to pull the trigger.

Now!

I leaped to the side, my body unfurling as I moved away from the bullets trajectory. It was a near miss, and I considered myself lucky. Of course that was until the bullets began to follow my movements, barely missing my flanks as I collided with the ground again.

Automated weapons were a bitch.

Her arm was steady as she moved, clearly attempting to follow me as I bounded around her. Those few seconds of gun fire and movement seemed to last hours, each bullet like an explosion sounding in my ears. I continued to move erratically, bouncing off trees before leaping high in the air only to roll across the ground seconds later.

I knew she had to run out of bullets eventually, but seeing as I wasn't exactly a weapons expert I wasn't entirely sure on the when part of that equation.

With a yelp, I realised my luck had run out, a bullet lodging its way into my flank. My leg burned with the shot and my next jump turned into a stumble, only allowing more bullets to hit their attended mark.

Oh shit, shit...

I cursed – it came out as a growling bark – as I fumbled to regain my footing, changing my pattern and leaping towards the holder of the gun. I'd already been shot so what was the risk?

I collided with the warm body and felt the body crumpling to the ground. It was definitely a growl that left my throat this time around, and I glared down at the person I'd caught, instantly checking for the weapon. A gleam of silver caught my attention, the gun laying a few meters to our left.

With a wolfish grin, I turned to face the latest problem to plague my family. Ashleigh Ryder. The bad egg.

She let out a laugh, the sound almost homicidal. "Wow, you're quick, I'll give you that. You've grown into this body well I see," she stated smugly, shifting and making herself comfortable under my weight. "So now we have a dilemma, it would seem. While I may be able to pull the trigger easily can you?"

I hesitated, and she saw it, her face tilting back in a laugh. "Oh, you can't? Interesting," she purred before pursing her lips. "I'm surprised at you though, I thought my death would be on the forefront of your mind considering what I did to your lover.'

My cheek twitched, skin pulling back over dangerously sharp teeth. Once again, all I did was spur on her laughter. "Oh, you didn't know? That's embarrassing."

I shook my large head, licking my teeth in a threatening show. The growl that left me would've made Logan proud.

Logan...

"How do you think I got here Ivy? Your little pack of dogs attacked me a few hours ago, and while it wasn't entirely a lengthy battle it was still quite fun," she mused. "Of course, I was expecting more from your little hunk of a feral, and really when he unsheathed his shiny little weapons I was a little disappointed."

Queue growl number two.

"Oh hush, we both know how this night is ending. I'll be dead, and you'll have even more blood on your hands, including the blood of your long term partner. I might as well get my kicks on my deathbed."

I jumped off her, beginning to pace and roughly throw my head to the side. I made sure to stay between her and the gun, snarling and growling under my breath as I fought to regain the upper hand. Minutes ago, I had been ready to tear out the woman's throat and now she was smirking at me from her lazy position sprawled out on the grass.

"Something wrong, Ivy dear?" she questioned, giggling softly. I growled over to her and she sighed, almost in disappointment. "Really Ivy? Really? You didn't think I would have more than one weapon on me?"

What?

I turned only to stare down the barrel of another gun, this one older fashioned and jewel encrusted.

Oh goddamn it Ivy, you stupid piece of...

"Like it?" Ashleigh asked, tilting the gun to admire it herself. "It was a family heirloom. I was going to give it to you for your twenty-first birthday and now it holds the bullet that's going to end your life."

I cocked my head once, blinking slowly. Fuck me...

"Goodbye Ivy."

Her finger tightened on the trigger.

Here we go with the next update. I hope you like it, seeing as it took me a while to type out. Quite difficult, let me tell you that.

Taila xx