Chapter 2: Introductions

His nose twitched and tingled, tracking the stench of a vampire feeding. He was cloaked in silence and stealth, slowly padding through the soft grass and freshly fallen leaves. The dense forest was the perfect waiting place for an ambush as his predatory eyes found his prey. The thick greenery with its silvery filter of the bright white light from the full moon helped to camouflage his light sandy colored coat. His yellow gold eyes trained on the vampire as he curled his lips to expose his pearly white canines. His unsuspecting prey let out a hissing shriek of surprise when he finally revealed himself before the undead began gurgling on his own blood while Kaynon locked his jaws around the vampire's throat. Claws savaged his shoulders and torso in a poor attempt of escape. As the cold body finally went limp, Kaynon dropped it, then continued to dismember the body before setting it ablaze.

It had been three long years since he lost his family and his pack. Having been a strong alpha, and fearless warrior, he had many packs offer him sanctuary though he politely refused. Though he was technically considered a rogue, a wolf without a pack, he prefers the term lone wolf in search of a new start. So he continued his quest to ravage through the vampires as he came across them and also sought out individual colonies as pack's informed him of an overpopulation of the blood suckers. Letting them turn to coal as the red, yellow, and orange flames engulfed each one, just as it had his home. His goal was to wipe them out completely, only their source to replenish their ranks was in an abundant supply.

Watching the corpse burn, even though dismembered, it still tried to flee from the fire and pull itself back together into one piece. After there was nothing more than a few ashy burn scars scattered around the lush greenery of the forest floor, Kaynon left, returning to his newest dwelling. He had found a small cave overlooking the forest that bordered a small human town that he mostly avoided.

Living as a wolf since everything began has had his mind dwindling closer to animalistic rather than human. His humanity only clinging to the revenge of his pack and the hope of finding his mate, though the thought of finding her had him terrified of her possible rejection of him due to his savagery.

He lay his head down over his paws after finishing his meal of rotisserie style rabbit to stare at the entrance of his cave. No animal dared to enter his domain, including the grizzlies that occupied the area ever since he battled the one that previously claimed the cave as home.

The moon was full and shined brightly in the black sky. Kaynon lifted his head to stare into its light, feeling its mighty pull and relishing in its power. Closing his eyes, he took a deep inhale of the crisp air signifying the imminent return of autumn, and the anniversary of his pack's death. Their screams still haunted him and kept him up most nights.

Another day of redemption tomorrow. He thought to himself before drifting off into a dreamless slumber.

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The early morning sun made a small streak of gold across the carpet of her bedroom floor as she propped her book against her knees. It was still early and the twins were still fast asleep, not having to be ready for school until nine. Cilyna looked at the clock on the bedside table then placed her book beside it. Her usual morning routine slowly being put into motion while she stretched and gathered her clothes for a quick shower.

Her nose picked up the mouthwatering smell of breakfast being cooked as she exited her room, still drying her long hair. She could hear her fearsome five year olds running around playing tag and a smile stretched across her face as she peeked around the corner to the kitchen.

"Daddy, I want blueberries in my pancake please?" Chloe said, pulling on his pajama pants leg.

"I want strawberries in mine!" Kade chimed in, looking up from his seat on his father's foot.

"Alright, alright. It's cooking. Go ask your mother what she wants in her's, will you?" Thomas said as he playfully shook them off his legs.

"Ok" the twins said in unison before jumping up to run away.

Cilyna caught them both just as they reached the corner where she was spying from. They screamed in delight as she grabbed them up showering them with kisses and began tickling them.

"Mommy stop!" Kade giggled.

"Stop it, stop it!" Chloe chimed.

She released her children and they ran down the hall. Her smile remained in place as she greeted her husband with a kiss on the cheek.

"It smells delicious." She whispered in his ear, he smiled and turned his head to kiss her lips.

"Thank you. What would you like in your pancakes, love?" He asked, looking into her green eyes.

"Surprise me." She gave him a quick peck on the lips before turning towards the direction her kids ran off to.

She found them in their rooms playing through the door that separated their rooms; being twins, they never really wanted to be too far from each other. One knocking and then the other repeating the knock pattern before adding a new sound for the other to repeat. Chloe giggled when her brother messed it up.

"I win! I win!" She jumped up and down pumping her fists in the air.

"Only because I let you!" Kade protested as he came through the door.

"Nu-uh!" Chloe propped her hands on her hips.

"Yes huh!" Kade balled his fists at his sides.

"Nu-uh!" Chloe repeated, stomping her foot.

"Alright you two! That's enough. Daddy's almost got breakfast ready. You need to get ready for school." Cilyna stepped in before their fighting escalated.

"Mom!" They both whined.

"Don't 'mom' me. It's time to get ready. It's the first day of school and you don't want to be late. Go get your clothes. Come on, chop chop." She said firmly, clapping her hands at the pair as they both hung their heads and sluggishly shuffled to their dressers.

She just smiled and shook her head at the two, so much alike yet so unique by themselves. She did not know what she was going to do with them.