The Davidson Mansion loomed like a silent fortress carved from ancient wealth and power. Its towering spires reached into the grey sky, and its wide stone steps led into a grand entrance hall lit by glowing chandeliers and lined with elegant portraits. The walls whispered stories of a legacy too deep to trace, their surface adorned with intricate carvings and golden trimmings that shimmered in the ambient light.
Inside, the long hallways stretched like veins through a beating heart marbled floors, high ceilings draped with velvet banners, and ornate doors on either side. Every footstep echoed as Tyler and Bella walked beside Connor, their gazes shifting from the vaulted ceilings to the towering stained glass windows that caught the morning light.
Bella, now fully awake and healed, walked beside her brother with wide eyes. Her skin had regained its color, her steps were steady, and though her clothes were tattered, her face was radiant with curiosity. Tyler stood beside her, alert and guarded, his body still sore but his senses sharp. Connor walked slightly ahead of them, his hands outstretched like a tour guide in a royal museum.
"Welcome to the Davidson Mansion," he said with a proud smirk. His voice echoed slightly in the vast hallway. "Your new home."
As they entered a large room that looked like a communal hall, all eyes turned to them. Dozens of people young, old, some chatting, others training paused to take in the new arrivals. Bella clutched her brother's hand, but her expression remained soft. Tyler, however, was stiff, his eyes scanning every face with quiet suspicion.
A graceful voice broke through the crowd.
"Welcome."
A young woman approached, her steps confident, her smile warm. She was stunning long wavy hair cascading down her back, her eyes a deep, mysterious blue that sparkled under the overhead light. She extended her hand.
"My name is Sophia," she said gently.
Bella smiled and accepted the handshake. "Nice to meet you. I'm Bella, and this is my brother, Tyler."
Tyler gave a curt nod, his arms folded. He didn't take the handshake. Sophia hesitated, then dropped her hand with a faint, embarrassed smile. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment before she turned back to Bella.
"Okay then," Connor interjected quickly, giving a glance at Sophia and smirking. "Let's get going. I'll introduce you to our leaders—you'll meet everyone eventually. Feel free to mingle." He winked at Bella. "The Alpha will be expecting you both later."
Sophia gave a little wave. "See you around, Bella," she said with a playful glance in Tyler's direction before turning away.
They left the grand hall and stepped into a wide courtyard that sat behind the main mansion. Outside, the air was fresh, filled with the sound of laughter and movement. Children ran through the field, playing games under the watchful eyes of young adults who looked barely out of their teens. The sunlight bathed the open space, but despite the peace, Tyler could feel the sadness hidden beneath the surface.
He slowed his pace, watching a group of boys tussling over a ball. "Did… did these kids go through what we did?" he asked softly.
Connor's voice was quieter now, thoughtful. "These children, every one of them, have a story some more tragic than yours, others less. But all of them are like us."
Bella tilted her head. "You mean… all of them are wolves?"
Connor nodded. "Yes. Young. Inexperienced. Some haven't even had their first transformation. But we train them, protect them. The war between vampires and werewolves didn't begin yesterday. It's older than this mansion. Every decade, a new chapter. A new loss. A new fight."
They approached a smaller, more private building nestled beyond the courtyard. It was sleek and modern, yet still held the air of the grand mansion polished floors, crystal windows, and high wooden beams.
"This is the council's apartment," Connor said, stopping at the door. "The leaders of this house. They asked to meet you both. Be good." He smiled slyly and, before leaving, reached out and tapped Tyler's cheek. "Try not to bite."
Bella chuckled as Connor walked off. Tyler frowned and knocked on the door.
It creaked open almost immediately, revealing a tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp features and greying hair brushed back neatly.
"Come in," the man said, stepping aside.
Tyler and Bella entered the quiet room. It was warm and lined with bookshelves, a fireplace crackling in one corner. Four men stood before them, their expressions calm but alert.
The man in the center stepped forward.
"Welcome," he said. His voice was deep and smooth, with quiet authority. "My name is Jack Parkinson."
The room was quiet, filled only by the subtle crackle of the fire and the low hum of silence that followed Tyler and Bella's entrance. The four men stood with calm authority, each of them radiating the presence of warriors shaped by time and experience.
One of them stepped forward. His presence alone was commanding tall, broad, with sharp eyes that seemed to look through the soul.
"I am the council head," he began, his voice deep and firm, "and second-in-command to the Chief, whom you will meet eventually." He gestured toward the others standing beside him. "This is Taylor, Edward, and Stark my fellow commandants."
Each of them gave a slight nod in greeting. Their expressions were a mix of curiosity and concern.
"We were called by Mr. Benson," the council head continued, a faint smile touching his lips. "Good chap, he is. Said we should meet you both right away."
He motioned toward the polished wooden chairs before them. "Please, sit."
Tyler and Bella exchanged a glance. Bella nodded first, and they moved to the chairs, sitting side by side.
"If you don't mind," said the man named Edward, leaning forward slightly, "we'd like to hear your story. From the beginning."
There was a pause. Bella hesitated, the memories already rising to the surface like a tide she couldn't control. Tyler turned to her, gently taking her hand. That gave her the strength to speak.
"It was just a normal day," she began, her voice trembling. "Our parents had just returned from a business trip. Everything was fine… until that moment." Her hands tightened in her lap. "Tyler had gone out to the supermarket with the car. That's when it happened."
Her eyes shimmered with pain, but she pushed on.
"A vampire… a wild one, appeared out of nowhere. I tried to stop it I really did but it was fast. Too fast. It… it killed my mom right in front of me." Her voice cracked. Tears spilled over her lashes. Tyler reached out, wrapping his hand around hers again.
"I tried to fight it. I grabbed it, but I wasn't strong enough to bring it down. My bites didn't go deep enough. Then it attacked my dad… it killed him too, just beside my mother's body. I couldn't stop it…"
She broke down into sobs, unable to continue. The room was silent, heavy with the weight of grief.
Tyler took over, his jaw clenched. "When I got back, I saw the front door ajar. I knew something was wrong. The smell… the blood. I found Bella, barely breathing. The vampire must have heard the car and fled before finishing her."
His voice lowered.
"I didn't have time to mourn. I picked her up and ran. But then… it came back. Same vampire. I fought it. This time, I killed it."
There was a pause. Tyler looked down, his eyes shadowed with guilt.
"But then… another one came. A female. Stronger. Probably his mate. She was faster than him more brutal. I was already injured. I couldn't have won. But someone helped me. I don't know who. All I remember is darkness after that."
Silence followed. The council members watched them, not with judgment, but with solemn understanding.
"You are safe now," Mr. Stark said, his voice calm and reassuring.
"You're lucky to have survived," added Mr. Taylor, his brow furrowed. "The vampires that attacked your family belong to a powerful clan. They'll seek vengeance for their fallen."
"They must've been hunting and found your family," Jack said thoughtfully. "The male… he likely underestimated your strength, Bella. Your transformation must've shocked him."
He stepped closer.
"But you're safe here. And from this moment on, you'll fight beside us to protect what remains of our kind."
Tyler raised his eyes, meeting Jack's gaze. There was something reassuring in the man's voice something unshakable.
"There's something different about you two," Jack continued. "A power that runs deeper than what you've shown. You may come from a lineage of wolves that once ruled these lands wolves of legend, whose blood still lives in you."
He looked at them both, his gaze steady.
"And the bond between you… it's not just blood. It's strength. It's fire. That's what you'll need for the days to come."
"The vampires live long," said Edward, "some for hundreds of years. But they don't have what we do. They don't have history. They don't have legacy."
Jack stepped back and opened his arms slightly.
"What our ancestors have passed to us, we carry still. And that will carry us to the end of this war."
He paused, nodding with quiet finality.
"Tyler. Bella. Welcome to your new life."