The sound of hooves brought calls and cheers from the people around her. Harnesses jingled and metal clanked together as the Termarth Court made their way down Main Street astride elegant horses and accompanied by guardsmen. Still, Evelyn kept her gaze on the cobblestone. She wished she could blend into the stone of her house behind her if it would let her remain unnoticed by the Count or his court. A minute later, the horses' legs came into her view. Chestnut, white, cream, grey, another chestnut, black, roan.

Evelyn's breath caught as the second chestnut came to a stop in front of her. She kept her eyes down, waiting.

"You there, girl!" a voice barked above her. At this point she did raise her eyes, to see one of the lords staring at her. "What is your name?"

Evelyn made sure to not match his gaze but rather admired his chestnut's pristine coat. "My name is Evelyn Sharp, my lord," she replied with a rough curtsy.

"Miss Sharp, do you have any skills you value?"

She tilted her head, a bit confused. "I'm afraid not, m'lord. I can cook and clean, but not well. I'm no good with a needle or yarn, nor do I have advanced education."

"Can you read, girl?"

"Yes, m'lord, I enjoy books and papers quite a lot."

"And how do you fare with coin?"

"I've only ever bought bread and fruit with it, my lord."

"Hmph." His face fell in disdain. "I was hoping you'd make a good concubine, at least." He thought for a moment, looking down the street at the other girls. He had options, they both knew it.

To her surprise, he called out to the procession, pulling it to a slow halt. "Count Vasian!"

Shit, please no, please…

Her gaze remained on the ground as the black-legged horse came back into her view. "You called, Lord Graham?" drawled a voice above her.

"Count Vasian, I respectfully request your permission to take this girl with me. Though I do not need consort or concubine, I find her to have quite the form. She will be a unique addition to my collection back home."

Evelyn swallowed the bile that rose in her mouth. She knew he was referring to her body, and the thought of this lustful man touching her made her sick.

"Raise your head, girl," commanded the new voice of Count Vasian.

She obeyed, looking for the first time at the two nobles in front of her. Lord Graham was tall, with rugged grey hair and an equally rugged beard. He appeared to be in his mid-forties and was stocky, built like a bear. Eery crimson eyes stared at her, and Evelyn could only imagine what torturous fantasy was playing out in his mind. He was practically drooling at her. Count Vasian, on the other hand, was wiry and thin, with a clean-shaven yet gaunt face framed by black hair. His age was harder to gauge, but she would put it in the fifties. He rode astride a massive black warhorse that had to be at least 15 hands high, both man and horse staring down at her with interest. He too had odd, crimson eyes.

"She is quite a unique one, that is true… however, I'm afraid you owe me, Lord Graham," said the Count in his long drawl.

Evelyn released the breath she had been holding, a small measure of relief coming over her.

"You thought to make a fool of me yesterday, Lord Graham, so to repay me, you will forgo this toy and I will make her my consort instead, so that you may be spited and reminded every time you visit that your actions do indeed have consequences."

Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "What?! No!" Her outburst came without thought, panic setting in.

Count Vasian grinned at her. "I don't need your opinion, girl, but believe me, this will be the best entertainment I've had in a while. Choose another wench," he ordered the other noble. He snapped his fingers, and Evelyn found herself pinned between two burly footguards.

"No! FATHER! NO, PLEASE!" She screamed and twisted, trying to fight them and reach back to him, she knew he was there! But the guards barely budged at her protest, hauling her around and hoisting her onto the back of Vasian's warhorse to sit behind him.

"Settle down, girl," he drawled from in front of her. "Your dear father can't help you now." A guard approached her father, depositing a sack of gold in his hands. "My payment, for the inconvenience, leatherworker."

Her father mumbled a thank you and bowed, his eyes downcast. As Vasian nudged his horse back into the procession, Evelyn sat, defeated. Tears welled in her eyes, and as she looked back at her father, she saw the tear tracks on his cheeks reflecting in the light. She let her tears fall silently as they continued down the street. She would not make a scene. She would not be a burden. She would not give anyone the satisfaction of hearing her pain. Her eyes focused on the saddle, tuning out everything but the street and how far they had gone.

It took another ten minutes to complete the middle ring of Termarth, with one stop to pick up another girl for Graham. She could feel his eyes drilling into the back of her head for the rest of the ride. In the outer ring, there were three more stops, presumably for the other nobles to pick up girls they wanted. The group finally reached the outer wall and the southwest gate.

Evelyn expected the group to turn around to head back to the fort when they reached the gate, but to her surprise they rode out, riding along the edge of the moat to the north. They passed the northwest gate and kept going. They didn't stop until they were on the backside of the fort. There was nothing but fields and the Ascora River here. Two guards moved to one of the barns and hauled the large double doors open. The group filed in and the doors were quickly shut behind them. The girls (six in total) were pulled off the horses and shoved together. The nobles dismounted and surrounded them, with the guards creating an outer layer of security. She watched as a guard moved ahead of them, stomping the wood floor. Ten paces ahead he found what he was looking for and bent down, hauling open a large hatch.

The group was hustled down the large hatch into a tunnel that could fit five men abreast. It was lined entirely of stone, though that didn't stop water or roots from breaking through where they could. It took a few minutes to reach a staircase at the end that led upward, and at this point, the guards fell back. Vasian took point, opening a cellar-like double doorway hatch. He turned to Evelyn but addressed everyone. "Welcome home." He gripped her by the forearm, pulling her inside.

The fort was spartan, at best. Evelyn had expected gaudy decorations and suits of armor. Instead, it was largely barren, allowing their steps to echo across the smooth stone floor and walls. There were well-carved pillars and high ceilings that gave it a lofty feel, almost like a cathedral, but beyond that, there was no personality to it. The air felt cold and soggy.

Vasian was walking with purpose, the lords and their girls following behind with the guards preventing any stragglers or runaways. They traversed halls and climbed staircases so intricate that Evelyn lost all sense of direction. Largely, from what she could tell, he just wanted to go up.

Eventually, he turned to the others. "Have fun with your pets, my good lords, and try not to break them on the first night." She could swear that Vasian winked at Graham.

They bowed, each one splitting a different way with their girls and a pair of guards in tow. It was just Vasian, Evelyn, and their guards left.

Keeping his grip on her arm, he led her to a door that hid a spiral staircase. They climbed up, Evelyn glimpsing pieces of the land outside as they went. This must be one of the fort towers. At the top was a small landing, and the guards posted themselves on either side of another door.

Vasian led her into a large circular room. Against the wall opposite was a large, ornate ebony bed with a red canopy. It had a nightstand with a book and an oil lamp, and a trunk at its foot. A door on the left side presumably led to a small wash chamber. On the right of the bed was a bookshelf, this one made of a dark stone. The walls were bare, and there was no source of warmth.

"Welcome to your new home," he gestured with his arms wide, grinning at her. "While you were not the catch that I was expecting, spiting Lord Graham is more entertaining than a new consort. You should get comfy, as this will be the only place you see for the next few days. Food will be brought to you, once I've finished with you."

Vasian spoke so casually that Evelyn was caught off guard. "Finished with me, my lord?"

"Oh yes, my dear." He pulled her towards the bed. "While our true consummation will have to wait until you've fully recovered, I plan to indulge in your voluptuous body in other ways tonight." He sat on the edge of the bed, his red eyes seeming to glow as he stared at her. Even sitting, she was still at eye level with him. "Now, be a good girl and sit for me," he said, spreading his legs and patting the edge of the bed between them.

Evelyn hesitated but obeyed. Something in this man was dangerous, even more dangerous than Lord Graham. Sitting on the bed, it was tall enough that her legs didn't reach the floor.

From behind her, Vasian produced a small dagger. It was incredibly ornate, made of a dark material that had sparkles like the night stars in it. He tore away the shoulder of her dress, pushing the material off and leaving her shoulders bare. He then must have dropped it as his hands, suddenly empty, wrapped around her and reached up, squeezing her large breasts. He leaned into her neck, inhaling deeply. She shuddered as the air moved, and noted that he was almost grinding into her backside.

Terror flooded her. "What are you doing?!"

"You smell divine," he breathed into her ear. "Not like others I've had before. Who are your parents?" he demanded.

"M-milord, my parents are human. My mother died giving birth to me, so I've never known her, but you just saw my father earlier!"

He narrowed his eyes at her. "You believe you are telling the truth, don't you?" He bent down again, taking another long inhale. "You do not lie, yet there is something." His arms and hands tightened, his nails digging into her soft flesh. "You can scream if you'd like, but moving will only make this hurt more."

Before she could respond, he placed his teeth against her neck and bit down, hard. He bit with an incredible force, puncturing through her skin deeply. She couldn't stop the cry of pain that escaped her as she flinched; it felt like needles digging into her. But as he withdrew them, it was even worse coming out. He was excruciatingly slow, and the needle-like pain was joined by a scraping sensation as his teeth rubbed against the layers of her skin. She felt her body throbbing as the pain radiated through it.

His teeth left, to be replaced by lips and tongue. He sucked, long and deep, pulling the blood from the wound and licking his tongue over it. Over and over, he drew from her. Every lick made her wince in pain, every pull set her nerves on fire. Somewhere behind her, he was moaning in pleasure, enthralled with whatever he was gaining. The blood never stopped coming, even after minutes had passed by. She couldn't feel her arms or legs anymore and didn't have any energy to move them.

A voice in her head spoke to her as her world started to go dark. Endure, it seemed to encourage her. But there was nothing left. Darkness swallowed her.

The beaver had been an easy prey. Dropping on it from above, he'd pinned it to the ground and whipped his head back and forth, breaking the creature's spine swiftly. From there it was a quick kill and a filling meal.

It hadn't been as satisfying as Kaden had hoped, but it did help lessen the desire to lash out. Sophia was one of several unmated females in the pack, and each believed that there was a chance Kaden was their mate. He couldn't even blame them; being mated to him would make them faster and stronger, and it also gave them a high position of power in the pack. If he was being honest though, he knew that they didn't give a damn about being mates. Whoever the lucky girl was would be able to lord it over all the others, and they were all fighting for the title of "Princess." He was thankful to Selene that she had not made one of them his mate. His mind turned to Evelyn. She would be in town right now, lining up for the selection of the Count's new bride. Was she doing alright? Was she scared, excited, sad? He knew she was close to her father and that if she was selected, it'd be a brutal separation for them. If she was selected, did that mean that she wasn't his mate? What if she rejects me? The intrusive thought made him stop. It would tear his soul in half for his mate to reject him. He'd never heard of it happening before, but it was a possibility. It would mean that he'd spend his life alone, in agony as despair consumed him, without her light to soothe and comfort him.

His wolf growled deeply, refusing to believe it. She. Is. OURS.

He wanted it. She wasn't like the other women around him. True, she wasn't conventionally beautiful, but that didn't matter to him. He saw her personality, how she was gentle and kind and caring with everyone. He saw her strength, the deep fire that burned inside her when someone made her mad. And he saw her grace when she was willing to put aside that anger and forgive for the betterment of herself and the sake of peace. She was an optimistic soul, but also awake to the reality she lived in. That she knew of.

He was going to turn her world inside out when she could see through the Veil. He would show her the sprites, druids, and gnomes that lived in the forest. He hoped he could introduce her to Estelar and the elves. There were fae, draheim, and even whispers of warlocks. Of course, there were bad creatures that existed as well. Trolls were fickle creatures that liked to entrap those who encountered them in bargains and trades with unexpected consequences. Witches were tied to dark magics and only sought after power, feeding off the magic of others. And vampires were just parasites, spreading infection and preying on the weak. Humans rarely saw them, though there had been those in the past gifted the ability to see past the Veil that separated humans from the supernatural. Those who saw were considered to be crazy or possessed or even devil worshippers by other humans, but the legends somehow persisted in their imagination.

He looked up, still in his wolf form, as a figure walked out of the trees towards him. He got up from his comfy spot on the floor of the forest and bowed, as his goddess approached him. Selene had visited him often as a child, offering him warmth and reassurance, and she was like another mother to him. She had long hair that went past her waist, a fair, slender figure, and always wore a simple gown that fell to her feet. She was almost elven in appearance, though he knew she was not of the elves. A soft golden glow radiated from her, lighting the area around her.

Goddess, he thought, reaching out to her. You humble me with your presence.

"Child, raise your head," she said with a warm smile. "I've heard your thoughts as of late, Kaden. I thought I'd come visit you. Come, lay with me, and let us know one another." She motioned for him to lay back down as she sat on the forest floor with him.

You already know me, Goddess. After all, you created me. You created us.

"That is true," she acknowledged with a nod, "but I have not made you mindless. While I have set a path for all my wolves, you are free to make decisions and have thoughts of your own."

His mind immediately went to Evelyn. Goddess, I can't get my mind off of her. None of my pack mates interest me or show bonding signs. And yet she is only human. I can't admit to knowing what love feels like, but am I making a mistake?

She ran a warm hand through his fur. "Little Prince, your mother and father raised you with the virtues and values that mimic your wolfen brethren. There is a mate out there that I have given to you, and with perseverance, my wolves are destined to meet at some point in their lives, just like true wolves. I gave you the same virtues they have with the knowledge that the wolves are not numerous, and that love is precious. But you are your own person. So, I ask you, do you feel as though you are making a mistake?"

Kaden pondered the last two years. It felt as though he had fallen for her the moment he had set eyes on her. There were butterflies in his stomach every time he was near her. There was hope, every time she was around, that she would one day see him through the Veil. There was the draw that brought him back to her again and again. There was a fierce protectiveness within him whenever she was out alone, hunting. He had never felt this for another woman, packmate or otherwise. He shook his large, shaggy wolf head. No, I don't feel this is a mistake.

"And would it bother you that your chosen one is human? She will be unable to shift, unable to fight or defend herself in a wolf form like your pack mates can."

Not in the slightest. There was no hesitation. He was surprised by the question, as he hadn't even considered that she wouldn't be able to shift and enjoy a wolf form with him, but he knew it changed nothing about the way he felt for her.

"Then worry not, Little Prince, and trust that I have guided your heart well." She put a hand under his chin, raising his wolf eyes to meet hers. "I love all my children, but I do not hide that the wolves are my chosen children. There are many dangers, in the world, Kaden Landry, but there are also many friends. In time, you will find that you are not alone in your endeavors. Though you may stumble, I will always be there to pick you back up. All you have to do is reach out."

You have always been with me, Goddess, and you always will be.

She smiled, and he watched as she faded away, leaving the forest with only the sun's rays once more. Selene had left behind a warmth within his soul, and hope in his heart.

Feeling lighter, he stood up, shaking the dirt and leaves out of his fur. He began a steady trot back toward his pack, certain in his path now. He would wreck some vampires tomorrow morning, and then approach Evelyn to introduce himself to her. They didn't have to be strangers whenever her mating mark appeared. Her father was a smidge intimidating of a prospect to overcome, but Kaden was confident that he could win him over if he had to. Even if he somehow didn't, now the two were both adults, and Evelyn could make her own decisions.

He made quick work of the trek back. True to his word, Estelar had brought his people. Scattered about the clearing 50 elves mingled amongst the wolves, both male and female. Their armor varied between leather and metal, but both forms were ornate. Some carried longbows, while others were kitted with longswords. All of the elves had magic, he knew, and a single elf could take out dozens of enemies on their own. With the addition of the elves, they were now almost 90-strong. Kaden didn't know how many people were expected to be in Termarth Keep, though having more allies than necessary was better than less. Especially with undead enemies around.

It seemed he had returned just in time. "Everyone, gather around," his father called, his voice carrying.

Kaden moved to stand behind his father, alongside Christian. Gabriel stood a step behind them. Estelar and his father stood together, looking out over the wolves and elves that quickly gathered.

"Tomorrow morning, we will launch an assault on Termarth Keep," Anderson stated. His voice naturally carried across the space. "As you all know, we have found there to be a decent vampire presence in the keep. Aside from the natural evil that vampires pose to supernaturals, they should not and will not be allowed to control a human territory."

He gestured to a cluster of elves off to the side. "With the help of the teleporters, we will make our way unseen and unheard into the keep's foyer. Once we have all assembled, they will remain in the foyer to help transport any injured out. With their help, we will keep this contained, and the townsfolk will be none the wiser. Wolves, we will all be transported inside, except Christian's group. You few will hide amongst the trees with the elves' archers and prevent any escaping."

"Once inside, we will begin the hunt. We are only here to kill vampires. Defend yourselves if the humans attack, but do your best to knock them out and leave them alive. They are not going to understand that we are not after them. Our goal is to kill as many spawn as possible, and if we get to their sires, even better – but not critical. They will weaken the more spawn we kill. We must cover every inch of the keep, and leave no corner unchecked."

He turned to Elestar beside him. "Anything else?"

"Only advice. If you can take off their heads, do it. It's the best way to make sure they don't come back. Holy water and wooden stakes are a bonus," he grinned.

"We leave at dawn," Anderson stated with finality. The gathered crowd nodded and scattered back to their places.

"Is there anything you need from us before tomorrow, Father?" Kaden asked.

Anderson shook his head. "Preserve your energy. Though we have daylight left, sleep if you can. Tomorrow, we fight."