Chapter ONE

Thunder rumbled lightly in the distance, and Max could smell the upcoming rain from miles away. It had rained earlier, which atones for the muddy puddles resting on the surface of the wood's floor. The water sloshing as the vampire coven trekked the land.

Trekked would be the wrong way to put it.

They practically levitated off the ground as they ran; they were so fast, they barely touched the ground. The trees rustled against the night wind, drops of water landing randomly. The coven consisted of seven people...

They weren't really a coven— more a family.

They lived and secluded themselves from society by building a modern-day home up in the mountains. It was peaceful, quiet... Away from the sun.

They kept far from it; reason being was whenever the sun pierced their skin— a vampire symbol would appear on their cheekbones— letting people know their true identity. The symbol was made up of a cross with two lines going across parallel to each other, diamond-shaped edged both tips. It would just magically appear like that or a hidden tattoo.

Max breathed in deeply; he felt at peace. He was a rather small, slender little vampire with voluptuous curves, dark chocolate hair, strong defined eyebrows, plump pink lips, and most importantly... His blood red eyes.

He trailed behind his family; he was the fastest .. that was his power, so he always stayed behind his family. He always got carried away and disappeared in a trance. It often took about half an hour to find him again.

Ada, one of the coven females, looked behind as she ran, practically swerving trees as if they were just mere toys and not large, gigantic beauties. She offered her boyfriend a smile— Tyler returned it by giving her his signature eye smile before they moved closer to each other.

The sounds of his family's laughter had filled Max with joy. Their laughs and chatter echoed beautifully against the calm of trees. That being the only sound he could hear before...

The nearby stream came into his line of hearing, and Max instantly slowed... his shoe clad feet finally grounding themselves in the mud, his frantic sprints turning into a slowed walk before he stilled.

His eyes bore into the distance as the sound of snapping twigs, and large thuds of paws filled his ears. He looked to his right, and so came the cliff that separated two planes of land. Max slowly approached the death-defying ledge, the stream sitting at the bottom of this small valley.

This gorgeous channel of water separated the vampire and werewolf. Each side sporting a rock ledge, the drop was not the deepest, but it wasn't the most shallow either. Max watched with loathing as he peered at the pack of large wolves zipping past the tree lines like they were nothing.

It was quite ironic...

How they ran side by side... Together, yet separated by a stream and a treaty. The treaty was the only thing keeping the wolves and vampires at bay— keeping them away from each other, keeping them from tearing each other to shreds.

Max stood firm, his eyes never leaving the large beasts that thundered pass just across from him...

But that wasn't the reason as to why he stopped.

A larger wolf seemed to have spotted him too. Its powerful legs skidded to a halt. Half its face shrouded in darkness and shadows before it slowly began to step out of the thick brush of trees, the moonlight leaking onto its face as it ascended the mountain peak in their territory.

The wolf's golden eyes staring right back, straight into Max's soul... A shiver thundered down his spine, and goosebumps prickled his skin, the knowledge of the unknown had caused some worry in the pit of his stomach.

He hated it. A new scent came into the air, filling his nostrils like an inescapable toxin.

Basil and dew musk...

A new pack member.

Max had never seen this one before, never even smelt him before. As crazy as it was— Max was familiar with the scent of every pack member on the other side...

But this one... He had never smelt before.

The wolf's coat was white, little streaks of black dousing the ends of its white fur to create a light grey. It stood tall and proud, his power flowing off him in folds. Max felt anger rise within him...

The wolves did not inform them of a newcomer, which means an increased risk of attack from a wolf that knows nothing of their treaty rules and land.

"Max."

The said vampire looked to his right, only to find his brother Benji waiting for him. His red eyes are brighter than Max's, his skin deathly white. The brunette stared at the blonde for a few seconds before he turned back to stare the wolf down.

It was quite the battle of the species. Red against gold... Vampire against wolf. Max could feel the wolves’ vibrations running through his feet, and sure enough, the white wolf was getting into a defence position.

Max practically saw it before he even heard it— a growl rumbling through the wolf's chest, reverberating off his throat and finally barking his true voice. It was no doubt terrifying, but this hadn't even made Max flinch — instead, Max threw his head forward and hissed, his fangs in full length and veins snaking their way out from under his skin and vining their way around his eyes.

They didn't seem to let up, Max's fists clenched at his side's, his heart pumping and adrenaline kicked in. The sound of the night birds filled the air beside the presence of wolf and water. Time seemed to still as these two fierce creatures stared off.

Both of them seemed ready to fight, but Max's name was called again before anything could ensue. This time, Benji gave a tone of warning.

Max remained where he was even though his body was telling him to walk away. After all, his brother was second in command after their leader— Hayden. Max being the youngest, had no choice but to back down. He slowly backed off, and this only triggered the wolf off more— seemingly aching for a fight.

The wolf snarled harshly, his hinds dipping as if ready to launch across and cause havoc. Benji stepped in now, his arm pushing Max back as he hissed in threat...

Another wolf came bounding out of the brush of trees, barking harshly. Benji took his position, thinking that the brown-colored wolf came to attack too but was surprised when the brown wolf turned toward the raging white wolf; he refused to back down, it's stubborn paws pressed into the mud— grounded and ready but the other wolf didn't seem pleased.

Only when the muddy wolf snapped its teeth did the white wolf begin to slowly back off, it's eyes refusing to leave Max's— as if etching his face into the back of his mind so that he could fight again next time.

Both wolves eventually turned on their hinds and darted into the black trees, their fur coats helping them blend in.

But the new wolf... Stood out amongst the black.

Max will never forget his smell.

Dew musk and basil.

-

"They brought in another pack member and didn't inform us," Max spoke calmly, his body leaned against the kitchen door frame as his coven tidied up the kitchen. They had a few human guests today— who had willingly volunteered to give them blood.

All thanks to the charming Hayden, who had a contract with humans on being blood donors. The brunette stared at the blood-red apple in his hand, admiring its beautiful sheen.

"So what, Max?" Tyler opened his hand and moved it in an arc, gesturing Max to give them a reason as to why it's bothering him.

"The treaty says that if any new member joins pack or coven... We are to inform the other party." Max keeps his cool. His forefinger thumping against the fleshy fruit as if he were counting down in his head.

"No one cares about the treaty Max... As long as we stay on our sides, there shouldn't be a problem." Tyler speaks as he pulls Ada in by her waist and leans his head against her shoulder. Ada smiles down at him before raking her fingers into his hair, messing it up slightly before moving away.

The brunette made her way toward Max; she reached up and caressed his face,

"Stop worrying about the treaty. Tyler is right." Her eyes soften as she gazed at Max as if he was her world; they all were adopted after all. Taken in by Hayden when they had nowhere to go. Max was technically her stepbrother...

But then again... So was Tyler.

"Even if Tyler told you a lie straight through his teeth ... You'd believe it, Ada," Max said, and Benji snickered, along with his lover, Rose.

"What can I do, Max? I love him." The brunette gave him a soft smile before she turned toward her lover, gesturing him over with a nod of her head and exiting the kitchen. Tyler, like a lovesick puppy, dropped the dishcloth and trailed after her. He wished everyone goodnight before he was gone too.

Leaving Max alone with the two couples.

Benji and Rose.

Hayden and Bridgette.

Hayden had remained quiet the whole time, his veiny fists palms down onto the sink. His glasses tucked onto his nose bridge, and his blueish hair flicked upward, revealing his eyebrows and forehead. Bridgette stood behind him and massaged his arms and shoulders before wrapping her arms around him and leaning against his large back.

"Don't think too much about this, okay?" Benji spoke, flashing a sweet smile before he took Rose and disappeared in a flash.

Max remained monotone as he stared at Hayden, expecting him to give him another mouthful before disappearing too. Hayden offered a dimpled smile before pulling Bridgette to his side,

"You're right, Max... I'll check with the pack leader tomorrow. You should go get some rest..." Hayden spoke softly. He pitied Max... He knew the boy was lonely, but he was very good at hiding it.

"Call us if you want to talk .. okay, Max?" Bridgette genuinely smiled, her grin making Max smile, but it was barely there.

The brunette slowly made his way down the corridor. He used his speed to get himself into bed faster, his arm going underneath his head as he stared out his glass wall. Droplets hit the glass in a serene rhythm that had him feeling relaxed but as soon as peace flooded his mind— it was gone as quickly as it came.

Golden eyes stared back each time he closed his eyes. His anger flaring slightly. A plan taking effect into his head, his red eyes burning into his ceiling ...

... Just you wait, Wolfie boy.