I had arrived too late.

The forest was aflame and the manor in its heart was absorbed in a blaze that spiked far up into the dark sky. It wasn't night, but a catastrophe was fast approaching. She... we wouldn't escape it. I needed to make sure she was alive. I needed to know she would get out of here before the catastrophe would hit in force. It was my fault after all. I had prompted her to act too fast, earlier than she was supposed to. It was a mighty gamble for her having come here now to end the Game early.

Red stood victorious in front of the falling house of cards. She was now the alpha lupo, the Fang who won the Great Game this round. Now my only thought was if we were standing here as friend or foe. If the hot rushing blood has or has not taken her mind.

-''Red!'' I shouted. Determined to get her attention. Hoping she would recognise me.

She turned to face me. She was battered and wounded but still very much a killing machine, ready to spring into action again. And she looked at me as if a stranger. I knew Grandma was watching. She held domain over the pack now, and she wanted me dead.

-''Tacet shouldn't be here.'' She said in an ominous voice.

Well. At least she recognised me. But I didn't like the way she was approaching me.

-''You are the last that Grandma wants killed.'' She said as she pulled out her knifes.

-We'll talk about it if you catch me first.

I suddenly sprinted in the opposite direction and I instantly knew she was onto my tail! The wolf hunter was hunting the wolf killer and I knew she would catch up to me. My hope being that she was wounded and tired enough that it would take her more time to catch up than normal. More time that I would run away from the scorching blaze that was engulfing the forest and further away from the epicentre of the oncoming catastrophe!

I ran in zigzags and around trees yet here and there a knife landed onto tree trunks too dangerously close to me. I jumped onto a lean ravine picking up speed downwards, yet I knew it wouldn't be enough. At least I had escaped the worst of the flames and the fire would take some time to also catch up downslope. I felt that menacing aura getting closer. This was not good. Grandma must have assumed direct control of Red, abominable damn entity. It wasn't enough that it won, it wanted me taken out of the picture as well! I was approaching a shallow stream and suddenly Red jumped right into it in front of me, cutting my way out of the forest. She wasted no more words and pranced at me in an attack! I parried and quickly avoided her next hit, yet she came onto me unrelentingly! As wounded as she may have been she was only a fraction of a second slower than her prime. More than enough to take me down and not nearly enough to even the odds, not for long anyway!

-''Why!?'' I shouted yet she didn't indulge me.

My sword was flying, and my arm guards were well put to use parrying her knife attacks. Yet her deadly intent was palpable. One wrong move and she would gut me dead.

-You said you loved me! Was it a lie!?

A flinch appeared in her attack and I managed avoid it in time only to cut my shoulder lightly. But her next boot came right into me.

-You said your knives are mine! Yet you wield them to end me now!?

-Tacet... shouldn't have come.

She said before she continued her string of attacks. Slowly but surely she was adding cut after new cut on me. I had to snap her out of it, I had to make her realise what she was doing!

-I came because I am your mate! Because I love you!

Suddenly a knife embedded itself into my shoulder! I managed split second to kick her off me, giving me just a spare moment to jump back. Yet the very next moment she came head first into me, crashing me hard on the ground and I tumbled painfully. I tried to rise, yet there was a sudden weight on me. And a knife at my throat. Red was standing over me. Her glare cold and calculated to what was about to come next.

-Are you going to let our pups grow without a father, Red?

I asked sincerely, expecting the worst. I knew I never really had a chance against her, fighting like this, fighting defensively. It was to be the end. The last cruel and dark joke fate would throw at me. But at my question she seamed to hesitate in applying Grandma's final sentence.

-Red wanted a family, you once said.

The slightest tremble could be noticed in the grip of her knife. A tear formed in each of her eyes and came down her cheeks.

-''Red does.'' She said with her knife hand visibly trembling now.

-You promised me pups. Let's go back home and raise them together, Red.

-I... I...

She trailed off. There was a great struggle in her, I could sense. No, it was an inner battle that she was having against Grandma's control. I was awaiting our fate to unfold. She was busy battling it in her mind, so I dared not test her reaction by doing any moves. But as she quickly returned the knife in a different direction I caught her arm just as Red was about to impale her own throat! Tears were flowing openly on her cheeks.

-''I... don't want this.'' She spoke looking at seemingly no one.

-''Let me... Tacet.'' She spoke now looking at me, pleadingly. As if she was hanging by a thread before losing control.

With great force and great anger I suddenly punched my beloved lupa straight in her face. Propelling her off of me and landing on her back unconscious. This was one way to diffuse a situation as much as I hated harming the one I love. At least I avoided any of our deaths, for the meantime at least. I rose up on my knee with a great headache and with smoke starting to gather around us. The fires were coming, of the land and of the sky. Ominous eyes were watching from the foggy smoke, and they didn't look too friendly. The one ahead of them exuding a seeming malice for me the most. I grabbed her knife and intended to pick up Red to leave this accursed place as much as my pierced shoulder would hurt to carry her. The catastrophe wouldn't wait for us.

I was above my lupo when the pain in my head suddenly became too sharp. The smoke stung my eyes more than usual and I closed my lids to refresh them. But instead memories assailed me. Dark memories from the bottom of my mind. I've been too many times close to death during that damnable war. It was one reason why I had so many scars on my face and others that my body concealed. The pain of having my body so prone to violent heart attacks. The pain of seeing their faces, reminiscing. It was no good thinking of it even after its conclusion. Yet I felt the hate and disgust I had for those things that took all I had. I hated them with a passion. They took my buddies, they took my family, they took my peace of damn mind, and they took everything else. I wanted them dead along with my traitorous kin! Not just the men but the women and children too! All of them!

The worst flashbacks were coming and going. Annoying me, inflaming my spirits, lighting up a deep malevolence and anger. I opened my eyes and saw an abomination. Yet my eyes were deceiving me. I recognised her. But, she was one of them. That would always be the reality. The more I thought about it the more my mind was being clouded by these old feelings of mine. This... was not how it was supposed to be. I was so tired and enraged. It was becoming... so difficult to think. The waves of the worst of what I was were bellowing against me, wanting to take me in its stream. I raised Red's knife, poised to strike, and with a titanic force of will I stroke down hard!

The shearing pain was excruciating! I let out a traumatised scream that was more than just the physical pain but my mental one as well! It was an intense and angry bellow I gave out that reverberated throughout the burning forest. I gasped for air and I felt it irritate my throat. The shadow over my eyes was dispelling and, looking down I saw a deeply shocked Red looking back at me. My hand besides her head was impaled deeply with her knife that I held just a moment ago.

-''Red!'' I said with a feeling of happiness I could barely control.

I realised the pain I felt would have been nothing compared to what I would have experienced have I opened my eyes and found my lupa murdered at my own hands.

-Please, tell me you're back to me, Red.

-''Red is here with you Tacet!'' She said with a voice full of emotion, and I knew my lupa was back to her normal self.

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-''Aaah!'' I flinched my hand and it hurt like Hell.

I grabbed the knife again with my right and pulled it out. The ground where it stood was soaked with my blood, and it continued to flow freely.

-Tacet!

Red rose on her knees as well along me and quickly grabbed my bleeding hand. She rummaged through one of her pouches and brought out a thick bandage, applying it quickly to me. I embraced her, taking her by surprise just as she finished tying the bandage up.

-My lupa!

-Tacet. It was foolish to have come after me, you knew... they don't like you.

-''You are my mate, of course I would have come for you!'' I said before I continued.

-It's because of me that you had to leave earlier as well, I know.

-You wanted it done before our pups burdened you.

I knew she was pregnant. I had found out after she left. It had been a year since, we knew it and the anti-pregnancy implant had expired. And we... we were reckless one too many nights that time. When she found out she knew it was a race against time to finish the Game. She would not get rid of the pups that were growing inside of her. She left without me knowing, and I long followed her trail. To know she was alive, to make sure she would return home safely.

-Let's go back to Rhodes, together.

-''Tacet.'' She said, looking intently at me.

-You have... a bloodied past, even more than mine.

I was unsure what she was getting at. She had revealed that Grandma had whispered to her that I was a killer of wolves and of my own kind in my past, yet what else did she reveal to her now?

-I... have seen everything. Every memory that came back just before you struck.

My eyes widened. How was that even possible? Then again, with the kind of eldritch beings that existed in this world I assumed IT revealed everything in my mind to Red. Perhaps trying to convince her against me.

-I truly love you, Red.

-''Don't reject me now.'' I said in a low voice, as if giving a final objection after a verdict had been already decided upon. Looking at her defeatedly at what she might say, what she might judge.

-After all you've been through...

-And then to have gone through so much for me, Red believes.

I embraced her then and there. Her lovely fluffy ears brushing against my face.

-I couldn't live without you anymore Red!

-I need you in my life.

I felt her own arms wrapping tightly around me.

-Forgive me, for I was not myself, Tacet.

-Red is your mate, and yours forever.

-Forgive... me.

She squeezed me desperately, scared and happy at the same time. I rubbed her head and caressed her wet cheeks. Putting her at ease through body language alone. We looked into each other's eyes and I could see her more lively than ever. This was the lupo I knew, and with a heart that knew true joy from the bond we had. I heard a great thunder not far enough in the distance as I would have wished, and I realised my throat seemed more irritated than ever. Alarm gripped me as I realised what this was. Concentration of originum particles in the air. That was provoking my irritation... oh no, Red!

-We have to leave now! The catastrophe is about to strike the earth!

She acknowledged simply with a nod, and she strapped on her gas mask. We jumped up to our feet and were about to make our way out of the forest when I noticed my compass was going haywire, spinning crazily. The smoke was all around us and I couldn't recognise the landscape to find my trail back to the off-road jeep I came with. Looking at Red I could tell she couldn't pick up a scent or a track back either. The smog was getting thicker, yet I could notice shapes taking form in them. Lupi.

And one in front of them all was regarding us. Though in truth, they were all watching, judging like a pack. I felt a great force trying to subdue me through sheer will. To make me back down, to turn away. It was... chocking, almost overwhelming this presence. But I preferred death over ever abandoning my lupa. I stepped forwards instead and Red quickly jumped at my side, clasping my hand. She was determined, she was... alive, I realised.

The Signori dei Lupi, with Grandma in front of them all, tried to pull me and Red apart. It tried to force Red to kill me against her will. They tempted me to kill my lupa and my unborn child. Death was probably what awaited us, now that they couldn't break us. Growls were heard against our insolence yet we both remained resolute in the face of death. We would emerge together or none at all. That was both our will. The growls suddenly stopped. The head wolf came up to us. Grandma... It was huge though it chose the form it desired. It looked at us decidedly, then, amazingly, it bowed its head to us.

I felt at ease, yet I was unsure if this was truly real and not a ruse. The forms of the lupi behind and around us disappeared, and then Grandma herself slowly vanished into the smoky vapours surrounding us as if it was never there. Ahead of us, the foggy smoke seamed to dissipate unnaturally so that it presented a way out for us. We quickly followed it, emerging outside the forest soon enough just as the catastrophe was unleashing great thunders and lighting flashes into the blazing forest. Great originum crystals smithing the once lush forest. I ran the jeep far away, back towards Rhodes Island now that I had my dear lupa once again.

---A week later, back at Rhodes Island---

I had found my lost lupa. We had gotten out alive, facing a blazing forest, a catastrophe and the Signori dei Lupi themselves. Yet it was all so worth it and more to have had my wolf girl back to me. We were supposed to be happy, and we were to an extent. But a shadow of grief was stalking us. I was immune to oripathy, however my lupa was not. We had lingered too long in that contaminated forest. It would have been more than enough to heavily infect Red. And with that, the possibility of affecting her pregnancy and both their lives.

We had just arrived earlier today back on the landship, and we were in a private medical ward as doctor Kal'tsit personally performed tests and tended to Red. She was allowed to remain in her normal attire, and I was allowed to remain by her side. She held a hand on her belly and looked dejected even as little as she dared to show. I put my palm atop her own. Her tummy was still lean, her pregnancy was still in its infancy, yet I knew she carried life. Our life, made together. I caressed and kissed her head. Lifting her mood. We were alone while we waited for Kal'tsit to return with the results of Red's tests. My lupa looked at me as she was about to speak.

-You helped me realise many things.

-Did I?

-Yes. I believe I know myself now, before that I just... was, and nothing more.

-Now I am much more, I am my own person.

-I believe you grew then.

-Red believes so.

She looked at me, and then approached like the confident lupo that she was. She laid on my lap only this time she had her legs stretched out comfortably together. I was facing my ever so deadly and beautiful grey lupa.

-We're so different, Tacet. What did you ever see in me?

-Someone lonely, something beautiful.

-I am happy you risked so much for me. I would have never been the same.

She touched my chest.

-''You were a lonely wolf at heart too.'' She said.

I couldn't help but break her gaze as I wondered.

-What is it?

-You've seen my past. Do you think differently of me now?

-Those struggles were your own, but I am happy you could see past them for me.

She raised my chin and came closer to kiss me. I wrapped my own arms around my soothing mate, and we kissed. Sharing our love for each other. At that time doctor Kal'tsit walked in the examination room we were in.

-''At it again?'' She asked simply.

-You both are quite the passionate fiends.

She approached us, and I hoped I took from her at ease voice and casual remark that things were not as bad as we expected. Red shifted in my lap to face Kal'tsit however she remained there, arms still around me.

-Lay it on us doctor.

She took out a large photograph and showed it to us. It was a microscopic photo of one of Red's blood tests. Dark, metallic like spots could be seen in the blood sample.

-''Originum?'' I asked gravely.

-Nanomachines.

I looked at her surprised. Red was looking as well, amazed.

-Congratulations Red, your pup will be a girl and is completely healthy.

-Tacet's immunity has passed on to you with the pregnancy, you now possess his gift.

-''This... sounds too good to be true doctor Kal'tsit.'' I said.

-It is the truth I speak to both of you.

-My gift, it wasn't supposed to be transmittable, or given again.

-''I have a theory.'' Said Kal'tsit.

-Your mentor mentioned that this gift was meant to preserve your humanity.

-He also told you that you held the power to unlock many other things with it, given time and control.

-I believe you have unlocked one such hidden use.

-Your love for Red. It was so genuine, it was so true, it was something so naturally ''human'' that it must have activated as a command.

-You gave your gift to her when you bonded.

I felt as if a heavy burden was lifted upon Red's soul. I could read it through her body language and expression. And I felt the same.

-''Tacet.'' Red spoke.

-''I didn't know, Red.'' I answered sincerely, unsure of her thoughts.

-''I don't know what I would have done without you.'' She spoke and then she kissed my cheek.

---Years later---

It was near a homey cottage in a bright green forest full of light and life. A small, swift, grey shadow dashed from tree to tree. Knifes were landing more or less precise in the targets tied to each branch and stump. The last knife had cut the head clean off the dummy that was at the end of the training range. The swift grey shadow miss-landed on the last tree and slipped, shortly about to fall. However I had quickly caught her in my arms, having watched the entire training exercise.

-Papa!

-Good work my little pup, you were swifter this time!

-But you failed just at the end.

I said as I poked her nose lightly. The little child was distracted from her failure and giggled as I played with her.

-Mama! Did you see!?

Shouted eagerly the small human like lupo. Her yellow eyes darting from her father to her mother.

-I have seen my sweetie. Mind your velocity and the grip of your feet in the future.

-''I will, I will!'' She said cheerfully before I handed her a small tablet of chocolate and she scooted away happily.

-''Our daughter is forming a good spirit.'' I said as I spoke to my wife.

-It is because you are a good father to look up to.

-And you are a dedicated mother, my dear lupa.

I embraced her. Kissing Red's lips and then gently rubbing the head of the baby lupo that she held.

-You greedy man. It's a lot of work caring for two pups.

-''I cherish your gifts nonetheless.'' I replied.

-''I don't regret it, my mate.'' Red responded with a warm smile.

The little human like baby twitched its fluffy grey ears and looked with its blues eyes from his mother to his father. He was looking sleepy already as he fell to a slumber the next moments.

-''My lupa.'' I spoke passionately.

-Hmm?

-What shall we ever tell our children when they will ask how we met?

-The truth.

-''It would seem a grim story.'' I said.

-''But it has a happy ending.'' Red retorted.

-That it does.

I looked deeply into my lupa's visage. Delving in those bestial golden eyes of hers.

-I love you so much, my grey wolf.

-Red loves you with all her heart, my mate.