A/N: My apologies for the long update. Thanks for patience and reviews. !Shadow!

---

My nerves were standing on end as I prayed to God that Ren would still be alive when we walked into the lion's den. How could she be so stupid? This had a death wish written all over it. To go into the vampire's lair alone to fight them was insane. My hands were shaking as I laced my fingers together. Zack was glancing at me every so often to make sure I wasn't about to jump out of the moving vehicle. I was sorely tempted to do just that. It seems like we weren't moving fast enough.

"It's going to be fine, Raina," Zack assured me and did something I hadn't expected; he reached over and placed his large warm hand over my entwined ones. My eyes widened and when I looked at him, he was staring at the road, face tense. Why, I wondered. Was it because we were about to fight or something entirely different? We pulled up to a huge house with many cars in the driveway, one of them being Ren's. I pulled my hands out from under Zack's, not really wanting to but knowing I had no choice. I got out of the car, taking care not to slam the door. They probably already heard the car's engine. I didn't care. I wanted to get Ren and leave after killing the vamps of course. If we didn't kill them, they'd kill us. That was the way of the jungle or at least the way of the supernaturals.

"You need a weapon?" he asked, coming to stand beside me.

My nails suddenly became claws, fingers elongated, the black razors long. I smiled at him, flashing fang and knew that my eyes were narrow like a wolf's. "No." He smirked and we stalked towards the house. As we reached the door, I could hear banging from the inside, people talking. What was going on? Slowly, I opened the door and, surprisingly, it didn't make a sound. Where was the squeaking? I watch too many movies. Zack had one of his guns drawn, pointing it inside the door. He nodded and I walked through first. I wasn't human so I could take anything the vamps gave me but Zack wasn't like me. One blow from my kind could instantly kill a human. I did not want Zack's death to be on me. I felt like enough things were already my fault.

Ren could have been saved from this if I would have just spoken up sooner. Then I had to drag Zack and her in the same room. If it was not for my stupidity, she would not be here. If I had just left it alone and told Travis instead, things would have been different. Right? I wish I could turn back time but what is done is done. Nothing can change what I have done or what I will do and I cannot wait to do it. I will dig my claws into those filthy corpses, I will rip their throats open with my fangs and, by God, I will slaughter the lot of them if they so much lay a finger on Ren or Zack. They were already in for it for making Ren their blood bank. That time has come to an end. She will no longer be a power source to them. I can promise that.

Cautiously, I walked farther into the house, taking in the beautifully furnished room with its heavy red drapes. A flight of stairs were to the left of me. The noises were coming from upstairs. I strained my hearing to listen more intently to what was going on. There were some harsh words, even harsher tones and something hit the wall. Something shattered; it sounded like someone threw a table against the wall. Carefully and slowly, I crept up the stairs with Zack right behind me, gun aimed and ready to fire. We made it to the top with no troubles which surprised me. I had expected at least one vamp to come out and try to stop us but no one did.

As we reached the top of the stairs, the yelling got louder, people raising their voices to be heard over the others. One of those voices were Ren. Good. She was still arguing so that means she was OK. But for how long? Suddenly, everything got very quiet. Too quiet. Fear and anger took over. Before my mind, and Zack, finally caught up, it was too late. I was already down the hallway that twisted like a snake and kicked open a door. In the room was a long table with chairs and vamps occupying them. Most of the vamps leaped up, turning to see who intruding on their territory. The first vamp I noticed was Alexander who was a little shocked yet amused to see me. I really, really hated that bastard.

Ren was staring at me with a look of pure anger. She would get over it. Beside her stood a tall, very handsome vamp who ran this clan. Blond hair was cut short and green eyes were narrowed on me. His name was Vasilis and he was Greek. Also, he was one of the oldest vamps I had ever met, probably around eight hundred years old. This is the clan we had the pact with but someone broke it. Why I did not tell Travis or anyone else that, I had no idea. I need to think more in situations like these.

"Raina, daughter of Maria and Owen," Vasilis said, nodding.

"I know who my parents are, thanks," I snapped.

"What are you doing here, Raina?" Ren asked, growling.

I glanced at her. "I'm killing every vamp in this clan then taking you home."

Vasilis and the other vamps started laughing as if that were the funniest thing they had ever heard. "You cannot kill us," Vasilis sneered.

"Sure I can," I said, shrugging nonchalantly. "You broke the pact you made with my Alpha."

"Leave, Raina," Ren commanded but I ignored her.

"Alexander entered my home uninvited and bit me. The treaty was that whatever vampire enters a werewolf's territory dies. But why kill one when I have so much more?"

Some of the vamps started for Zack and I. Vasilis held up his hand and the vamps halted though I could see in their eyes they wanted to rip me to shreds. Let them try. "It is your Alpha's job to carry out such sentences."

"Well, he isn't here, now, is he?" I asked, smirking.

He returned my smirk. "And you will not be either."

"Stop!" Ren shouted as soon as Zack pointed his gun at a vamp that stepped up to me. "Raina, get out of here now!"

"No!" I snapped, glaring at her. "I won't just let this assholes take your blood. The only way to deal with a problem is to get rid of it and that is exactly what I intend to do."

The vamp that had approached me swung at my face. I ducked and landed a blow to his midsection, staggering him. Zack shot him in the head and he fell to the ground, dead. I smiled at Zack who returned it, excitement glowing in his eyes. My eyes were glowing with excitement and anticipation as well. I could feel it coursing through my veins, making my heart beat faster and my pulse race like a mustang running through the fields.

"Let's go, Ren," I said, spitting my own commands to her. Vasilis grabbed her, yanking her back to his front and wrapped his arms around her waist, trapping her arms against her sides.

He sniffed her neck and smiled. "She's not going anywhere." I took a step forward, anger boiling like a pot on the stove, ready to bubble over. "Now, now, Raina. You take one more step and you won't see the main event. Cartel!"

I leaped to the side, grabbing Zack's arm just in time to move us out of the way of huge, honey colored werewolf with dark green eyes that leaped into the room. He jumped onto the table and snarled. The scent of vanilla permeated the room. Ren's eyes widened then narrowed with rage. She struggled and fought against Vasilis who laughed menacingly.

"Say hello to your creator, Ren," Vasilis murmured in her ear.

We all watched as the wolf's muscles flowed like water. We all listened as his bones cracked and reknit themselves. Claws became nails, fangs became teeth and wolf became man. He was tall, strikingly handsome and very naked. His broad back was to me. A vamp threw him a pair of jeans that he slipped on.

I heard Ren whisper, "Bastard," before he turned to me. I gasped in shock. It could not be. I knew this man but the last time I had seen him, he had dirty blond hair and baby blues. The eyebrow piercing was still there. I threw back my head and howled, stung by the betrayal but more pissed at myself that I did not smell the scent of werewolf on him before. Growling, I ran after him and leaped through the air.

Together, Marco and I tumbled to the ground.