Chapter 9: Regret

Riker tore into Khloe, rendering her flesh, her blood exploding in his mouth. Snarls escaped his lips, and Khloe's terror drove him on. I trusted you he thought in his rage, and you betray me. How stupid of her!

"DADDY!" Khloe shrieked. Aidan, who was a few feet away from the werewolf and his daughter, turned around, and his eyes widened. "KHLOE!" He bellowed savagly as he aimed his gun at Riker's heart. Riker lifted from his prey, his mouth covered in blood, and faced Aidan.

He growled loudly, his voice sounding like thunder. Do your worst, you crazy--

His thoughts were cut short as the rest of the pack appeared from the shadows, Gabriel in the lead. The alpha had one glance at the scene, and he knew instantly what was happening. He bared his fangs at Aidan, who swung his gun around, switching from target to target, and he began to stink of fear. It rolled off him in waves, growing greater with each member of the pack that emerged.

Riker was suddenly throw backwards by Khloe, who raced to Aidan's side.

"Khloe, get behind me," Aidan said in a icy voice. Khloe obeyed with a whimper.

Vivian, who'd been crouched over Lark, turned to the hunter, and then she recognized the man's scent, though his appearance had changed.

Aidan

Bubbling rage surged through her, and she stepped forward. How dare he show his face! How dare he hunt her kind, when he knew that they would be ready to kill him! How could he shoot some innocent young one, when he knew they were human?

She snarled, and flashed her fangs at him. She wanted to bit him so badly, to feel his flesh ripping as she tore into him with razor sharp fangs. Vivian growled loudly, as did the rest, and she stepped to Riker's side.

Riker watched his mother with wild eyes, the taste of blood making him go wild. Vivian nudged him with her muzzle, and the crazy look left his eyes. The blow of what he'd just done made him whimper, and bury his nose between his paws.

Dear Moon, He thought, wishing this was a nightmare, what did I do? I just bit Khloe!

Shock raced over him like someone was pouring cold water down his back. I bit her under a full moon.

He felt Vivian lick his head tenderly, and she nudged him again, urging him to get up. Riker did so, and was burning from shame when he realized that the entire pack was staring at him. But there was the bloodlust in their eyes too; even slightly in Gabriel's.

Are we truly cursed, as the humans say? Riker thought bitterly. To always yearn for blood on the muzzle, to attack someone whom you love?

But then he remembered what Khloe had done to his sister, and he growled again. Khloe whimpered behind Aidan, while her father cocked his gun.

"What are you gonna do, wolf-boy?" He snapped. Riker's eyes locked on Khloe purposely, and he licked his lips. Vivian showed her canines to Aidan, and walked to Gabriel's side. Gabriel glanced at his mate, though his gaze never left the human that had intruded on his lands.

"Daddy..." Khloe whimpered pitifully. "My arm...it hurts..." Aidan's eyes flickered to his daughter's shredded arm. "You're losing a lot of blood." He said practically. "We have to get you to a hospital. But-"

Gabriel snarled. It was clear he wouldn't let the Hunter leave; he or his daughter. The Laws of the Moon came unbidden to Riker's mind.

A claw for a claw

A tooth for a tooth

So proclaims the ancient Law

Shed is blood

Then blood be shed.

Because each and all are dead.

A life for a life

The moon decress,

so don't you mourn and fall to your knees.

"Great Moon." Riker thought. "Dad means for her to bleed to death, if Lark doesn't make it."

Riker glanced to his sister, who was being tended to by Aunt Persia. Her breathing seemed pained and shallow; her eyes held a vacant look.

Aidan bit his lower lip, as if deciding something. "Fine. I can see that you beasts won't leave until my daughter is dead, because of your almost dead kin." He said, waver in his voice. Gabriel dipped his head slightly, indicating a nod.

"So I will make a deal with you." He said, his voice coaxing. "If you let me and my daughter go, I will give you the antidote to the silver that is in the girl's bloodstream."

Riker's eyes studied his father intently. Gabriel had his head cocked to the side, flickering his ears to catch every sound. The pack kept deathly quiet; yet some were staring at Khloe and Aiden, bloodlust and revenge in their eyes which shone off the light of the moon.

Gabriel growled-- then barked his agreement to Aidan's proposal. The hunter reached slowly into his knapsack, the circle of werewolves eyeing him intently. One slip up and he was wolf chow.

He pulled out a vial that contained a blue liquid. Cationously, he tossed it gently to Gabriel's paws, making sure it didn't land on the rocks and shatter.

Quick as a flash, Vivian had pounced on the vial, snarling at Aidan all the while. She raced to Aunt Persia's side, and laid it by the elderly healer, who immediatly snapped the lid open with her jaws.

Aidan began to back away, gripping Khloe's good arm. "Don't try any tricks with me, or my girl, you wolves. I kept my end of the bargain; I'm trusting you to keep yours."

Gabriel turned away from the man, flickering his tail dismissively. He had the antidote for his daughter. That was all that mattered. But just to be sure...

The pack leader yipped to Ulf and Finn and Willem, indicating with his eyes that they needed to drive Aidan and Khloe out of the pack lands---and fast. The three strong lycans growled, their lips raised to reveal pearly white and deathly sharp fangs. Aidan backed away slowly, but Khloe suddenly collasped. He glanced down at his daughter, and reached down, as if trying to help her up; he was stopped by Riker's snapping jaws.

"What are you doing!" Aidan demanded. Riker pointed his muzzle to the moon, then touched Khloe's wound softly with his nose. Aidan's face paled in realization. "NO!" He bellowed. He clutched his head, and yanked at his hair.

Khloe's eyes closed, and she began to shiver. Vivian came to her son's side, and looked down at her rival's daughter. Her gaze traveled to the moon, then a grief-stricken Aidan. The three who had been trying to get rid of Aidan stopped, waiting their Queen's command. She growled, and nodded. Aidan walked away without a fight, defeat in his step, and anger in his eyes.

They had taken his only child away from him, his only link to her mother. The black one had done it on purpose, had done it so Aidan would be filled with misery and woe...

Or at least, that's what the hunter himself believed.

He turned back and saw the black male and the gray female pull gently on Khloe's collar, pulling her towards a grizzled gray wolf that had patchy fur and squinted eyes.

The only thing that whispered in his mind was revenge for Khloe.

Khloe was shivering, and her mind was fevered. She opened her eyes to see she was surrounded by wolves, but she wasn't afraid. She welcomed the sight of them, like they were her friends, her family. And she also saw the moon, her savior..

Why have I never seen the moon in this light? Khloe wondered, her thoughts fuzzy. A faint whimpering filled her ears, and her dim vision caught sight of a black wolf with familiar eyes. Where have I seen you before, dark one? She asked herself. Khloe felt like she owed this wolf something, some great gift that had been bestowed upon her. But she couldn't remember what.

Wish I could talk to him She thought before she let the darkness claim her.

A/N: OMG! I am soo sooo sorry this took forever to update! I had an extreme case of writer's block, and couldn't figure out how to do this chapter! Anyway, please forgive me, and hope you like this chapter. Promise I update on this one!

Madi