I sat closer to Lydia, as she paused from telling me what happened to my parents eighteen years ago. I gently touched her hands, watching the old lady drown silently in tears.

"I'm sorry, Lydia. I should have been gentler when I told you about my mother."

Her quiet sobs filled the room, the sound echoing the loneliness I had felt during my mother's funeral. Back then, it had been just me, Harold, and a few of our regular customers from the antique shop—a small, somber gathering for a woman who had meant so much to so many.

"I'm sorry, signore. Lady Helena... she was so kind to me and my family. She gave us shelter, food, and a life here. But the night she left... I knew something terrible was coming. She left in such a hurry, holding you to her chest. You were just a newborn, only a few days old. She fled accompanied by that...man, Harold. Lady Helena trusted him, but... there was always something off about his presence. And that night, as they prepared to leave... I saw fear in her eyes, fear I had never seen before."

"Please, take your time. You don't have to say anything more if it's too painful."

Lydia slowly shook her head, as tears streamed down her weathered cheeks. "There are things you need to know, Signore. Information that was only confided to me. I've always hoped Lady Helena would return one day to reclaim her rightful place. But now, knowing that will never happen, you must listen to what I'm about to say. Please, forgive me if anything I'm about to reveal causes you pain. But you must know... your father is still alive."

"I’ve always believed Harold was my father. But after everything that’s happened, the secrets, the strange behavior of my parents... I started to suspect there was something more hidden right under my nose. Something they were desperate to keep from me."

"That man will never be able to fill those shoes. Your father—your true father—is of primal blood, just like you," Lydia said, wiping the tears from her face with trembling hands. "He was the former Alpha of the clan. But now... he's lost to the madness of the beast within him. He roams the northern forests like a vagrant, attacking anyone who dares cross his path. Because of his actions, the werewolves have been cast out of Adams society, labeled as nothing more than thieves and marauders for the past two decades."

Her words brought me back to the time of our arrival in Adams. I recalled the numerous abandoned vehicles along the roads, their doors left open, contents scattered. Were those the remnants of Curtis's attacks?

"After your mother fled, Curtis scoured the southern forests searching for her. But in the chaos, the estate was seized by the vampires. They tore through the house, turned it inside out, and drove all the staff away. Your father, lost in his anger, became something terrifying, something beyond the control of any werewolf. He transformed into a monster that none of us could recognize."

Lydia paused, gripping her hands tighter over mine. "There are legends, old tales that speak of a curse—the curse of the demon wolf, passed down through the Reinhart bloodline. The elders say, your lineage is ancient, forged by the hands of the devil himself to lead an army that would conquer the human world. But I never believed those tales. I've always believed that the Reinharts were not tools of evil... but rather a force destined to bring balance to a world plagued with monsters. Yet, with what has happened... the madness that consumed Curtis... it makes me wonder if there was more truth to those old stories than we ever dared to believe."

She lifted her gaze, as fear covered her expression. "You must not lose your humanity to the beast inside of you, no matter the circumstances. Once that line is crossed, there is no turning back."

"Can you describe the monster you saw?"

"It was indeed a werewolf, but not like the others. It stood on two legs, like a human, yet it possessed the strength of ten men. The vampires tried to contain him, but they were no match. That morning, they suffered heavy losses—none of their powers could subdue him. I saw it all with my own eyes. Your father... he shed every last shred of humanity in that moment. He became something far more terrifying than a mere werewolf. He was consumed by the beast within him, a force so powerful, so uncontrollable, that even the vampires fear him to this day. They began to whisper his name in dread... The Lycanthrope Monster of Adams Town."

Lydia's words left me reeling, as my mind struggled to process her revelation. The description of the monster Curtis had become matches the creature that attacked me on my first night in the house. If Curtis had orchestrated the werewolf raid that night, what could have driven him to such desperation?

"The monster you described, I saw it during the werewolf attack. If Curtis had been lost to the beast within, I would not have survived. But he didn’t attack me—instead, he spoke. He commanded the other wolves to pursue me, but he held back himself."

"The old tales of the demon wolf says, that in rare cases, the transformation can result into something... more. A perfect balance between the human mind and the beast’s power. It’s possible, that Curtis managed to control the transformation without losing his humanity. That would explain why he was able to speak, to hold back his instincts enough not to kill you that night. If he achieved this, it means he’s not entirely lost."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself as I looked into Lydia's tear-filled eyes. "Thank you, Lydia. I appreciate your courage in sharing this with me. But please, don't be afraid. I promise you—I will do my best not to let the beast inside me take over. I will do whatever it takes to protect you and Annie from harm. But you must understand, this... new werewolf life is foreign to me. I don't know how to control it. The power, the urges... they're like nothing I've ever experienced before."

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Serving the Reinharts is what our family has done for decades. We can help you calm the beast inside of you. But another matter needs your attention, my lord. I think we should also consider mentioning the upcoming war of the clans. It's set to take place in just a few months," Annie said.

"We have nowhere to go," Lydia said, standing up from her chair. "We have requested the pass for servants, to flee the town before the war starts, but the vampires denied our petition. That's why I asked my daughter if she'd been bitten by you. If she were a werewolf, she'd stand a chance, and maybe have the strength to survive the culling of Adams Town. But as mere humans...we're just sheep waiting to be slaughtered."

The idea of a war—a brutal culling that would sweep through Adams—had been nothing more than a rumor until now. But hearing it from Lydia, seeing the fear in her eyes, made it all too real. The vampires, hunters, warlocks, and werewolves were all gearing up for something far darker and more destructive than I had imagined.

Lydia's sudden movement caught me off guard. She gently took Annie's hand and placed it against my chest, her eyes glistened with a desperate resolve. "You have my blessing, young master. She's yours to take."

But Annie quickly pulled her hand away. "Mother, could you stop this?"

"Annie! Please, for once, listen to your mother. You are my only child. It would break my heart to see the De'Amano lineage end here, in this cursed town. We don't stand a chance with what's coming in Adams. You know this as well as I do. And the young master... he hasn't chosen a mate yet. Once the crimson moon passes, he won't seek another until the next cycle. This is your only chance to secure a future."

I've always braced myself for the worst, a habit that's kept me prepared for the unexpected. But seeing Lydia, so desperate to secure her daughter's survival, has made me see the choices people make in a new light. I'm beginning to understand why my mother chose to run—why she shielded me from the truth, hoping to protect her only child from a dark and terrifying future. Yet, despite her best efforts, I wasn't able to escape my fate. I became the werewolf I was destined to be.

Now, though, I face a far greater dilemma. If I allow myself to undergo another transformation, if I unleash the beast within me to protect those I care about, there's a very real risk of losing control. The rage, the raw power—it's intoxicating, but it's also dangerous. I could easily end up harming the very people who have turned to me for refuge, those who believe I can keep them safe.

After listening to my thoughts, I refocused my attention on Annie and her mother.

"Lydia, I have a better offer than making Annie feel uncomfortable with a decision made under pressure. You and your family are welcome to stay in the guest house. You'll be an essential part of this estate, where you can find safety without any further expectations. I promise to provide you with the protection you need."

"Young Master, are you sure?" Annie asked.

"Absolutely. Your mother's knowledge is incredibly valuable. I would like to extend an offer to your family to continue being part of this house."

Suddenly a sound coming from the kitchen caught Annie's attention. I walked with her to the kitchen, and as she opened the porch door, Antolio and Derrick entered the house, both with their clothes turned to shreds.

"We apologize, young master," Derrick said, struggling to cover himself with what remained of his pants. "We had to turn to avoid detection. It was the only way to prevent being caught."

"Let's talk in a more confidential setting," I said, turning around and walking towards the basement. "And there are spare clothes in Harold’s bags in the receiving room. I suggest you put something on before we continue. There’s no need to traumatize the ladies further."

"Yes, my lord."

Both men began to argue over the clothes, and after a few minutes, we gathered in the basement’s dimly lit room. I unfurled the paper map over the table, and Derrick leaned in, pointing to the marked area.

"Here is the region we examined," he said, tracing his finger along the rugged terrain. "The coordinates Chief Harrow provided led us to an area that's incredibly difficult to reach. The terrain is steep and covered with dense underbrush. About twenty feet from the exact coordinates, the only notable landmark is the waterfall at the top of the mountain."

"What did you find there?"

"We did three rounds of reconnaissance, sweeping the designated zone. Initially, there was no sign of Dylan or his pack. But when we decided to scout around the waterfall, we noticed something unusual. We spotted two hunters. One of them slipped behind the waterfall, while the other kept watch outside."

Antolio initiates a series of signals to capture Derrick's attention.

Derrick glanced at him and nodded. "Yes, yes, I’m getting to that. Antolio pointed out that these hunters were unusually well-equipped. They carried silver daggers, hand crossbows, and one of them had twin swords crafted entirely from silver. These weren’t your average hunters; they were prepared for a fight."

"So, they weren’t just there by chance. They were expecting to confront something... or someone."

"Given their weapons, they were clearly prepared to deal with werewolves—or worse. It makes me wonder if Chief Harrow wanted us there not just to find Dylan’s pack, but to see how we’d react to the presence of these hunters. It could have been a test... or a trap."

I stayed silent, deep in thought, as Derrick continued to point out key locations on the map. "Here’s where the waterfall is," he said, tapping the map with his finger, "and here’s where the hunters were stationed. But one thing stood out: these men don’t wear the typical hunter's crest. They aren’t officially part of the Hunter's clan. More likely, they’re deserters or mercenaries—possibly guarding something, or someone."

Antolio began gesturing urgently again. Derrick nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you for the reminder," he said. "Behind the waterfall, there’s a cave system connected to an underground river. After the hunters cleared the area, we decided to investigate further. Hidden within a small cave, we discovered a fully transformed grey werewolf chained to the ground. But the moment we left, bolts came flying at us. We had no choice but to transform and flee to avoid getting captured."

"I'm glad you decided not to engage them. I have a feeling that grey werewolf is Harold."

"It might be him," Derrick said. "Then again, it might not. The creature is fully transformed. The only way to be certain is... by killing it."

"That is not an option," I said. "We cannot kill him."

"Young master, there’s no room for reasoning once they’re fully transformed. The beast is in complete control. There’s no telling if there’s any humanity left."

"We need to find a way to bring him back, to restore his humanity. If he dies, we lose any chance of discovering who’s behind his capture, or why he was taken in the first place."

"As you wish, young master."

"Get some rest, we are only a couple hours away from sundown."