After successfully completing a hunt at the beach, I stood on a sand dune and stared into the dark abyss that was the ocean. The sound of the waves calmed me, reminding me of Greece in a way of the sound of waves hitting the shore. The moon shone brightly down on me and my pack behind me. The crackling of a bonfire with the soft tunes of Aerosmith made the ambiance more calming. I slowly sat down with the legs crossed and my knees up with my elbows on my knees. The sounds of talking and laughter coming from behind me made me smile.

Paul and Marko were entertaining Michael and Sam. I didn't hear Dwayne or David move to sit on either side of me but I felt their presence. After a long stretched out silence, David crushed it with a question.

"What's the full story behind You and the Emersons?" David finished speaking and lit a cigarette.

I took in a deep breath before exhaling. "The Emersons are my family. I moved into their village.." I paused and frowned my brow. "I don't remember what year. And the house I was staying in was next to theirs. I grew close to them in a few years, faking being a widow so that I could say why I wasn't with a man. I grew close to them. Lucy and her husband along with their children Michael and Sam and their sister Emily. Emily was already married and had children of her own, living in the next village over by the time Max rolled into town." My nose scrunched up at the memory of the day he moved into the area.

"Max had his three sons at the time and was looking to expand his family... and he had set his sights on Lucy and her sons. But her husband was in the way. So, one night... after many failed attempts at seducing Lucy, he got angry and impatient." I frowned harshly and blink my tears away. "He slayed them, killing Lucy's husband first before Max's sons went after the rest of the family. I came home from a dinner that I was invited to that evening and heard the muffled screams."

I blinked again and a tear fell down my cheek slowly. "I found Lucy, Michael and Sam in the den. I remember running to Lucy's side and trying to assess the wounds. I then proceeded to give them my blood... My blood has healing properties and it healed them... But I was too late to save her husband. After they were healed and a day of them processing the things that happened. I gave them the option to become immortal... so that one day we could find Max and they could get their revenge.

"That night, I killed them with my blood in my system." I licked my lips and looked up as I felt a hand fall onto my shoulder. Michael was frowning at me, his eyes pained and compassionate filled as he looked at me. I put my hand on his and continued. "Our species of vampires needs the vampire's blood in the human's system and then the human has to die and then come back before then drinking blood to finish the transition within 24 hours. If they don't drink blood then they die officially."

I took in a ragged breath and let it out. I zoned back in from my memories and saw that the others had joined us. Sitting in circle and listening to the story.

"I officially became an Emerson after that. I'm technically their pack mother is what you would call me but in our terms I'm their Sire. We've been searching for years for a lead on Max. Along the way, Lucy found her mate but he was killed by hunters last year. We then decided to come and visit Lucy's grandson from her daughter. And then we found you guys." I grinned softly and shoulder bumped Dwayne next to me.

Soft chuckles echoed through the area.

A silence fell over the group and I smiled as I leaned back on my hands. "I'll have to call Dea the next chance I get... see if we can get you some daylight jewelry made. Make you fit in better."

David finished his cigarette and threw it away, blowing out smoke. I stared at him for a moment before looking over at Dwayne and then Paul and then Marko. Part of my new pack. "Dea?" Marko asked.

I chuckled. "A witch friend. She usually helps with it."

Paul let out a chuckle. "I still can't believe that witches are real too... what's next werewolves?" He cackled while running a hand through his hair.

Dwayne and Marko chuckled with him while David shook his head. Michael, Sam and I stayed silent as I tilted my head and grimaced. Paul noticed this and his cackling quieted down.

"No! No way!" He leaned forward and looked at me eagerly. "What?! Okay, what else is real? Explain?" He looked at me with almost sparkles in his eyes.

I threw my head back and laughed a full belly laugh. "Okay, okay. Calm your horses. Yes, werewolves are real. So are shapeshifters and fae. And many different things out there. I've learned to never let myself think I know everything cause one day something new will pop up." I watched Paul and Marko's face lit up at the possibility of meeting other supernatural creatures.

Morning was drawing nearer, with it being around 2 am. We made our way back to the caves at Hudson's Bluff and parked at the cliffs again. Marko, Paul and Michael were rough housing; pushing and joking around while we walked. Sam walked next to me with a small bounce as he hummed. David and Dwayne led the way, softly talking to each other in their minds.

Walking in, Marko skipped around and lit more of the barrels up. Making the already dim room, brighter.

I looked over and saw that Star was hidden in her little corner and smiled widely as I saw Laddie looking up from his toys and grin widely before taking off to glomp me. I laughed as he jumped and attached himself to me. His legs wrapping around my knees and his arms around my midsection. I took my hands and put them under neath his armpits and lifted him so I held him on my hip.

"Well, hello there Laddie boy." I kissed his cheek as he put his head on my shoulder. "How was your night?" I asked him as I walked over to a couch and sat down with him in my lap.

"Star took me to the Boardwalk." He said as he looked up at me. His big doe eyes shined as he went on to tell me what he did. "Star took me on a few of the rides. She stopped at the comic book store before we came back. I was getting tired after going on the roller coaster. The roller coaster was fun but it made my tummy feel bad. And it made me hungry so we came back here. My hunger went away by itself this time and I didn't need the bottle at all this time."

I glanced over at David at the mention of his hunger going away. The rest of the Boys spread throughout the cave. David and Dwayne had continued their conversation at David's "Throne" and Sam joined Michael, Marko, and Paul at the fountain. Paul had brought out the boombox again and played some Guns 'n' Roses.

Not breaking face, "That's good Laddie. I'm glad."

Laddie distracted himself while playing with some of my necklaces and yawned after a while. He slowly fell asleep as I hummed to him softly, rubbing his back. Finally, after I knew he was deep asleep, I stood up with him in my arms and brought him to his bed. Laying him down, I closed some curtains around his bed and turned to see that Star had made her way over to David. She had a shawl over her shoulders and tried to make herself seem smaller.

"What happened, David? I feel different... I don't feel the hunger anymore and neither does Laddie." Her voice was soft and small as she spoke to David. She seemed glad with that as she spoke.

I glanced at David and made eye contact with him for a moment. I knew there is gonna be some problems with her. Since David told me she didn't want to be changed and now that I know that she went to the comic book store where the Frogs were.

They are going to have to be taken care of sooner or later.

"Our Sire... died tonight. It's why you don't feel hungry anymore... The Sire bond is broken and now you aren't a half vampire anymore." He spoke frankly and leaned back into his chair as he put a hand to his chin. His face was set into an indifference façade.

"O-o-h." Star stuttered and became silent for a moment. Thinking and processing what he said.

I made a decision and looked at David. Opening a mental connection and speaking to him.

'David...' He glanced over at me but didn't show any reaction. 'I could either make her forget, make her accept what we are... or she dies... Your choice.'

I held eye contact with him.

He looked at Star and then back at me. 'She's already been talking to potential hunters at the Boardwalk. They are kids but still a danger to us.' I sent him a small memory of the time Sam and I were at the Comic Book store and what Laddie just told me.

David's jaw clicked as he looked back at Star.

"Star..." He drawled, making me my lips twitch into a grin. "Who are the Frogs?"