As a vampire hunter, Cloud couldn't say he was the best. However, he did have the right to boast he's good at his job. He had a reputation for accepting jobs such as possible rumors of vampires awoken from their slumber. Even if the job didn't go anywhere Cloud still took it.

This was one of those nights. There was a rumor of vampires potentially awoken in an abandoned manor. The stories said they had all been killed off some thirty years prior. But perhaps a new family settled in and went to sleep for their own safety.

Now livestock have been slaughtered in gruesome ways. A few young adults gone missing. One brave soul dared to venture in and never came back out. But someone recalled hearing horrifying screams coming from the manor.

"I should go with you." Vincent didn't hesitate once he caught word where exactly Cloud was going.

Vincent Valentine, a dhampir hunter. In other words, he was half vampire half human. He hunts any creature that threatened human life. Despite his heritage he had quite a popular reputation among the hunter community.

"It's my old hometown. I think I got this." Cloud tried to deflect the need for help.

Since it was a short time span since there had been attacks, he figured they weren't high nobility in the vampiric society. Ghouls were the lowest of the pyramid. Following Ghouls were Newbloods, recently turned. Then Commons, the majority of the vampire class. Then there was Noble class. As of late the Noble class has dwindled.

"You forget I almost died there. If I had missed one of them, then it falls upon me to search." Vincent wasn't changing his decision.

Cloud sighed, and didn't argue further. It was good enough of an answer. Unlike most of the fellow hunters Cloud befriended, Vincent understood him on a different level. In fact Vincent came as a close second to Aerith.

They first took a look at the damages done to confirm if it were vampires, and not some other creature. But upon inspection it was rather difficult to tell. The sheep had had time to rot in the time it took them to arrive at Nibelheim.

"This is either a werewolf, or a Newblood." Cloud stated, studying the gashes.

"Or a Noble just awoken in bloodthirst."

"That's what you fought last time?" A sinking feeling in Cloud's gut.

"What does the scent smell like to you?" Vincent inquired.

Just like how Vincent was a dhampir, Cloud was a werewolf. Little known detail even among the hunter community. Vincent, Tifa and Barrett only know.

It was an accident. When Cloud first joined the hunters, he had been human. Then he befriended a known werewolf hunter, Zack. There was an accident that lead to Zack biting Cloud in his werewolf form. Ridden with guilt Zack disappeared, not so much as a trace. Barrett decided to keep the incident quiet among the rest.

Cloud sniffed the air. The scent was barely there among the rotting flesh. The stink of it dispersed any hunger he felt then, as it made him feel sick. As for the unknown scent, he knew for sure it wasn't another werewolf.

"Not one of my kind. Besides, the timing of the full moon doesn't align." He realized that the full moon hasn't passed yet. "The scent is nearly drowned out from the rot."

"Then let's hope for Newblood, but prepare for a Noble." Vincent glanced at his companion. "You sure you're up for this? This is your first mission since the incident."

It happened only a few days prior. And Cloud had yet to transform into his full on Beast form. He was only feverish for the first two nights. Then he pulled through and now he had enhanced sense of taste, smell and hearing.

Everyone was reluctant to let him leave on his own mission so soon. Until Vincent figured out where he was going and volunteered to go with him. This eased everyone else's worries, since Cloud will be having a senior vampire hunter with him.

"I don't feel any different." Cloud was itching to try out his skills with First Tsurugi. Since he had enhanced senses, then his strength would be just as well.

Cautiously they entered the manor. It certainly needed upkeep for being abandoned for thirty years. Dust covered everything. Some parts of the floor had caved in. Furniture strung about from a long ago struggle.

As they slowly ventured in further Cloud got a good whiff of the vampires scent. It was enchanting. A toxic paradise waiting further in. He felt something stir within his mind, and Cloud knew this was his Beast form. The wolf within him stirred from the scent.

Now Cloud wasn't feeling so sure of himself. As if sensing his distress Vincent slowed down, although he didn't pause. He did glance at his fellow hunter with concern.

"The smell is rather... Strong." Cloud cleared his throat.

"Strong as in what?" Now Vincent was worried, because depending on the scent meant a variety of reactions and scenarios.

"Sweet. So sweet it's toxic." By now Cloud was too embarrassed. However it was enough of a description that made his hunter companion reconsider the mission.

"Cloud? ... I'm not completely sure, but I've heard of this kind of scents driving werewolves crazy. It's the sign they found their mate."

"Hold up - I didn't sign up for this shit!" Cloud was frantic now. "What are you talking about?"

"You now harbor a wolf within you. As in their nature, they mate for life. A werewolf has the potential in finding their mates." Vincent noticeably lowered his voice, eyes searching their surroundings. But Cloud was too freaked out to care where they were.

"Why wasn't I told of this beforehand!? You sure picked a shitty time to tell me now." The blonde snapped.

Suddenly the atmosphere changed as someone emerged from the shadows. The sound of boots on the floor had a slow rhythm, and yet they resonated power. The figure had a tall height. He stood at least a foot taller than Cloud, if a few inches taller than Vincent.

Black leather pants with matching coat. Long silver hair. And the most intensely bright green eyes. What made Cloud's heart stop were the slit irises.

"So much for sneaking in, now. You poor hunters lost the upper hand." His voice was smoothe as he eyed the intruders. "Oh? A dhampir and a werewolf? An odd team. It would seem my bodyguard lost his touch."

"Bodyguard?" Vincent tensed. "But I killed your brothers. I thought I killed you."

Cloud's heart sank. This man was the source of the scent. Therefore he was to believe this vampire was his mate? A Noble Class? No. He couldn't believe it.

"And you almost succeeded. I fell into a coma to heal my wounds. And don't you remember? I had a werewolf here. You never saw his human form, did you?"

At his inquiry someone leaped out of nowhere behind the hunters. They whirled around and Cloud was even more confused than before. It gave him a moment of clarity from the nauseating scent.

"Well shit. Didn't expect you guys to be the ones to take up the job. My kinda shitty luck day I guess?" The bodyguard sighed.

"Zack?" Cloud stammered.