Allow me to make some introductions: Jaw meet floor. Floor meet jaw. :P

WOW! I didn't think that so many people would like this story! I am glad that people do though!

I have decided on the title: Vengeance: The First Reason to Live, because that basically is what is happening. Diana has to, literally, find a reason to live again. Thank you to everyone who helped me with the title you all actually inspired me for it.

~*~

"You need to rest." Lucian gently pushed her down onto the bed.

"But –" Diana tried to resist.

"We will explain everything once you have rested." Lucian's tone was firm. "Your body and mind have been through much."

Diana finally relented and allowed them to help her under the warm covers of the bed. Anora pulled out a small bottle, which she had retrieved along with the mirror, from the pocket of her dress, removed the stopper and put a drop of the liquid inside into the glass of water that sat on the table next to the bed. She then handed it to Diana. "Here. This will give you a dreamless sleep."

Diana took it cautiously, sniffing it.

"It is tasteless and scentless."

Diana looked at her for a moment before raising the glass to her lips and drinking the fluid. 'They saved my life already and stopped me from taking my life; I doubt they would go through all of that just to poison me,' the reasonable part of her pointed out. She swallowed the last bit that reached her mouth; then lowered the glass from her lips, giving it to Anora's outstretched hand. Diana didn't feel the effects at first, but the drowsiness, when it hit her, hit her swiftly and hard. Her eyes slid shut, unable to stay open, and unconsciousness came over her like a wave, allowing her to forget, albeit briefly, what had happened and what she had become.

~*~

Lucian and Anora stepped out of the room; into the hall, closing and, for Diana's safety, locking the door behind them.

Lucian turned to head off down the hall.

"Lucian."

He stopped and turned back to Anora, who stepped forward.

"What are you going to tell the pack? You brought her in without any word of explaination and for the last two days all they have had is what the rumor mill, which has been running like mad by the way, has had running through it: that you brought a female vampire into the den, unconscious and soaking wet, and that you and I have spent the last two days taking care of her. Then need answers. She makes them nervous being here."

"I know that, Anora, and –"

"Lucian!"

They both turned in the direction of the deep booming voice.

A huge, bald, dark skinned man was storming down the hall toward them. When he stopped in front of them he towered over them both. "What is this I hear about a vampire bitch being here?!"

Lucian and Anora glanced at each other, Anora's glance was an "I warned you" look. Lucian's returning look was one of "Yes I know you did, but keep quite about it."

Lucian turned back to his second in command, whom had just returned from a hunting trip. "Yes I brought a woman here who was bitten by a vampire and now is one herself."

Raze snarled.

"But she was turned against her will."

Raze's eyes narrowed.

"Victor came to her family's home and killed them all; she escaped. She ended up falling into the river, out of which I pulled her. She almost died, but Anora and I were able to save her, though she still isn't fully recovered."

Raze just frowned. "And once she does fully recover, what will you do with her then?"

"Most likely she will stay here."

Raze eyes became wide and he looked ready to protest.

"She has no where else to go." Lucian cut in smoothly. "She has no one in this world. She knows nothing about being a vampire. She doesn't know about the war. *And*," he gave Raze a significant look, "she hates vampires. More importantly she hates *Viktor*."

Raze's face was expressionless, but he nodded in comprehension. "What would you like me to do?"

Lucian didn't outwardly show it, but he was grateful for his second in command's support and loyalty. "I need you to guard this door." He pointed to the door of his room. "I don't want anyone besides myself or Anora going in there. You know what the others would do." Raze nodded. "In the meantime," Lucian turned back to Anora, "I need the rest of the pack to meet in the main hall. It is time to give them an explanation."

Anora nodded, somewhat grimly, before turning on heel and heading toward the other living quarters.

Raze took up his position at the door crossing his arms and looking very intimidating. Lucian nodded his thanks to him as he headed down the hall once more. He barely paid attention to the rock walls of the cave fortress that had become their safe haven. The lycans had dug it out from a single large cave, hidden by a tiny opening, in the heart of a mountain centuries ago and formed it into what it was today with a single large main hall, many smaller tunnels leading to other rooms and areas.

He wasn't too worried about word of the meeting getting around, the rumor mill was extensive and fast around here; there were scarce secrets around here. So at the moment Lucian was more worried about finding a more permanent room for Diana to live in. All of the rooms were occupied by at least one wolf, but most held many more than that, and a precious few would welcome a vampire roommate. But he had a feeling about one who might just workout. He finally came to a stop in front of a rough wood door that was identical to all of the rest, but Lucian knew it was the one he was looking for. He knocked on the door, which was promptly opened to reveal a young woman close to Diana's age, between 23 and 26. This woman, though, was a lycan who had been turned just earlier that year; he and Anora were hoping that because she hadn't been a lycan for too long that some of the prejudices that were deep rooted in others' hearts wouldn't have taken root too much yet in hers.

"Lucian." Surprise at his presence was evident on her face. "To what do I own the pleasure, sir?" She opened her door wider allowing him in.

He nodded his thanks. "How are you, Hana?"

She shrugged shutting the door. "I am doing well, I am adjusting alright." She made a slight face. "I am still having a little trouble with the food."

Lucian nodded. "That is something most everyone has problems with at first." He paused for a moment. "I have a request for you."

Hana tilted her head to the side, letting him know she was listening.

"I am sure that you have heard about the vampire whom is here." There was a nod of confirmation along with a slightly wary, but mostly curious look. "Viktor slaughtered her family." Hana closed her eyes and pressed her lips together, understanding, fully, what that meant; her family had been slaughtered by him while she had been out running errands. She had come home to the carnage. Lucian and a few others had come across her kneeling next to their bodies screaming, they had been attempting to hunt Viktor down. "He bit her but she escaped and is now a vampire, against her will though. She hates him and wants revenge." Hana's jaw tightened; he knew that she sympathized. "She will most likely be staying with us for a while. Would you mind if she became your roommate?"

Hana was already shaking her head. "I wouldn't mind at all."

Lucian nodded. "Good. As soon as she is well enough we will move her in. Thank you."

Hana smiled, blushing a little at his thanks. "It is nothing. I can understand how she feels."

Lucian nodded but pressed his lips together a little. "You will need to be patient with her, but don't allow her to treat you ill. You remember how it was for you when you first came."

Hana winced a little and nodded, remembering all too well how she had been short tempered, sharp tongued and all around not at all pleasant to be around. But through it all they had been patient with her, but they had also not allowed her to wallow in self pity or get away with, for long, her attitude. "I will."

"Thank you again, Hana." Lucian headed toward the door, Hana following just behind him.

"It really isn't a problem; it actually will be nice to have someone else around." She grinned.

He nodded. "There will be a formal meeting in which I will announce everything I have told you and some other things to everyone else; it is your choice of whether or not to be there."

"I will be there," she said quickly.

He nodded, inwardly satisfied, he quick response showed him that she was very much becoming a true part of the pack; that she wanted to be around them and take part in things that involved all of them. "I will see you there then."

She nodded; closing the door once he was further down the hall.

~*~

The main hall was echoing with the many voices of the pack. Hana was perched up on top of one of the tall rocks that jutted from the ground. She was still getting used to living with so many people in once place. Her family had been small, just she, her parents and her older brother, needless to say going from living with four to a couple hundred was awkward. And the strangest thing was that instead of going from an intimate environment to a less so one, it was the complete opposite. Everyone was a lot closer and things a lot more intimate here among the lycans than back at her family's home; you had little, if any, privacy among the lycans.

"Did Lucian speak to you?"

Hana started a little at the voice right next to her. She turned and found herself face to face with the woman who was considered the alpha-female since Lucian, the alpha-male, had lost his wife and Anora was the eldest female in the entire lycan coven.

Hana nodded at her question. "I accepted."

Anora smiled. "Good. I think you two will be good for each other."

Hana turned back to where Lucian would soon be standing. "I can understand how she feels."

Anora nodded.

Just then the person everyone had been waiting for was standing at the front of the hall and the whispering quieted down.

Lucian took a deep breath. "As you all know there is a young female vampire staying among us; her name is Diana." He paused looking out at the members of the pack. "And she is not to be harmed in anyway." There were incredulous murmurings at this. "She has been through enough hell as it is. Her family was slaughtered by Viktor." There were growls and cries at this. "QUIET!" Lucian's normally quiet, calm voice echoed in the hall, silencing everyone. "She wishes to avenge her family against Viktor and as she is fighting for the same thing we are she shall have a place here however long and whenever she needs." There were mutters that made their sentiments of somewhat dissatisfaction known, but all knew they wouldn't go against Lucian's orders.

"Oh boy," Hana breathed. "This is going to be interesting."

"That is an understatement," Anora muttered in return.

~*~

Selfless: Thank you! :)

DianaBananna: "Revenge is a dish best served cold" lol

AquariousF5: I'm glad you liked it! ^_^

Triality: Thank you for thinking about a title! "Keep going, you're a good writer." *blush* Thank you.

Forens: "My advice would be to slow down a bit, include a little more detail, and be sure to have fun while you're doing it." Thank you I will keep that in mind! I think that the reason the last one was so rushed was that I was writing late at night and the idea was flowing so quickly that it was rushed once on paper. I usually don't write so rushed; I hope that this part was less rushed; I will try to slow things down. "The idea for this story is very original" I wasn't sure how original it was; it just kinda came to me and wouldn't let go. *grins* Thank you for critic! :)

Hybrid Anatomy: Thanks! ^.^ "Ok, I better leave this now i'm starting to hallucinate." lol A fellow ungodly-hour-stay-upper-person? :P I rarely, if ever, go to bed before at least 12 am, most of the time 2 am.

OutlwS14: "I hope you write more chapters for this story....maybe Selene and Diana should bump into each other? That would be a shock." I am going to, yes they will, and yes it is going to be ]:) Yes I am quite evil. *evil grin* Thank you!

Thank you everyone for reviewing! It really motivates me to write more and critics help me write better!