warning: there's a lot that happens in this chapter... so there's a lot of words in this one chapter, but i promise it's worth it (at least i hope it is) :}

What seems like forever ago, I lost everything.

My brothers.

My parents.

Friends.

My people.

My Pack.

My life.

I've replayed the many tragedies in my life many times since i've been here. It's all it seems I can do lately... But I remember the first losses the most. The Crescent Wolf Massacres.

-

"Hurry up, Mel!"

"Yeah, slow-poke! We gotta get to the lake!"

"I'm trying not to step on the bugs!" She yelled back to her brothers; Markus and Mason.

The three were wildly known as the Collins-Bennett Triplets. Mostly for their inseparable tendencies, other times for their curiosity. One thing everyone knew is one never went anywhere without the other two. The other is that they would sometimes play a series of pranks on the people. Sometimes they'd do a sibling swap just for the sake of it.

Seeing as they are indeed identical triplets, that one prank would be easy, had their eyes been the same color. Mark's are blue. Mason's are brown. And Melori's are green, although sometimes they look blue as well. That's always been a dead giveaway that spoiled their devious plans.

They were on their way to a special spot by the lake in the bayou. A place where a river met the lake. It was their favorite place to play and swim. But, each time they went, Melori would be extremely careful not to step on any live creatures.

By the time she reached the river, the boys were already topless and splashing one another. Their smiles were large and they were careless of anything else.

"MB come on! The water is warm today!" Mark urged, giggling with his brother.

"I think I'll stay dry today, bub."

"Laaame," the boys said in unison.

"Shut up."

While the boys played in the river, Mel proceeded to inspect the wildlife. From bugs to things as large as a fawn.

That fawn was a dear friend of hers. Ever since she saved her from having a foot stuck under a rock in the river, and nearly drowning. She could always tell the baby deer was the one she saved because of a little pink spot on her black snout. Besides that, each time she sees Mel, she runs straight for her.

"Hii." The little girl smiled wildly as the deer did come today. Even with her mother, who's also very fond of the girl after returning her baby. The boys always watched in amazement because no matter how hard they tried, they could never get so close to anything.

"I think it's time to give you a name, little one." She gently rubbed the baby's chin while scratching behind her ears. She then turned to the mother as well. "Maybe you too."

Her brothers had already gotten out of the river by then, slowly making their way closer to the deer. They were afraid they'd scare them away.

"Help me name them."

"You want to name wild deer?" Mason questioned. His eyes widened in surprise. "They're animals!"

Melori turned and glared at her younger brother. "We literally live in a village in the woods because it's people are werewolves."

"But our dad's a witch! We can't be both, right?"

"Mom's a vampire-wolf hybrid, ya idiot." Mark pointed out. "It's even possible to be all three! Haven't you heard?"

"Just help me name them. They're not just animals. Like us, they have feelings."

The boys looked at each other, pretending to gag at their sister's empathy towards the two. However, Mark still stepped up to help.

"How about..." he paused for a brief second before pointing to the mother. "Dawn. And then..."

"Zoe." Mel said, smiling brightly, thinking nothing could go wrong in the world at that moment.

I thought everything would be as perfect as naming Dawn and Zoe then. I was wrong. That day changed my life forever.

A deafening shriek sounded from the direction of the village. Dawn and Zoe's ears twitched at the sound, and they instantly became alarmed. They ran off in the opposite direction and disappeared into the woods.

"We should head back, now!" Markus rushed.

"But what if there's danger? Mom always tells us to run and hide if there ever is," Mason reminded him.

"Mom doesn't even know we're out here, Mas, we have to go back!"

"But-"

Before Mason could respond, mark grabbed his younger sister's hand, while she grabbed Mason's, and they all ran towards their home. More screams followed and soon enough there was smoke rising above the trees.

At the sight, Mel lagged behind, releasing her brothers' hands. They instantly noticed, and her slightly older brother urged her forward. "Mel we gotta go now!"

"Wh-what if- what if they're all gone..."

"We gotta go!"

The three began running again, only this time they didn't stop until they reached the houses and trailers. Some were on fire, others riddled with blood. Blood from the almost lifeless bodies scattering the ground. Other kids were running around, trying to find some place safe to hide.

The triplets were horrified at the sight. The saw that even their own home was damaged.

They became far more worried when they couldn't see their parents.

Many of the wolves were running around, trying to move the children to secure locations, while other wolves attempted to fight off the attackers. Each of them had the strength of 10 or more men, they were extremely quick on their feet, and their ability to sense an attack was impeccable. But the triplets noticed their eyes... How they were bloodshot, and how the veins underneath seemed to protrude from beneath the surfaces their skin. And although hard to make out with the quick movements, they could see their sharpened canines.

"Vampires," Melori mumbled.

At that moment she could hear the sound of their parents calling to them. "Mel B! Boys?!"

I could hear my mother calling for us. And the various spells my father, a witch, had called out in attempts to help the wolves. Not only were they his wife's pack, but they were his children's, and therefore his. It was his magic that protected the pack. Yet somehow, it wasn't enough.

Lori, their mother, called out to her kids again. This time they called back. And so she was able to find them easily.

However, just as she turned a corner and spotted them, her face wasn't filled with relief. In fact, it only resembled more fear.

Followed by unsatisfying crack, I watched my mother's soul leave her body. Life draining from her eyes. It was when I turned around that I saw them. My brothers, and two vampires behind them.

But Mark and Mason. It only took me a second to realize I'd lost them. Just like that.

My mother was broken at that moment. I understood that more than anything. More than anyone. Losing not only one but two children could make someone spiral out of control in different ways. My mom broke down.

However for me it was different. I lost my brothers. My best friends. I was pissed.

So when their bodies dropped to the ground, I instantly took the wooden stake out of Mark's body. They laughed at me because I was only a little girl thinking I could take on decades old vampires. Some would've said I was delusional.

The vampires, still laughing, took two threatening steps forward. I thought I was next. But another vampire had stepped between them.

"You idiots!" He said. "We were given specific orders not to kill children! Now look what you've done!"

I didn't care what danger I was in. Only that I felt the need to avenge my brothers. So I took the stake and jammed it into his back, as far up as I could reach.

And to my surprise, he dropped to the ground, lifeless. I was beyond triumphant for killing a vampire.

The other vampires, the ones that murdered my brothers, had looked at me in shock. The shock became anger within a second, though, and their eyes darkened to red.

At that moment, Lori had snapped out of the trance she was in. She saw that her now only child was in danger, and that one vampire had been staked in the back, only, his skin wasn't desiccated. She listened for a heartbeat, but there was none. He must've been a witch, and it must've been Melori that killed him, she figured.

The very possibility that she'd killed a witch frightened her. That was a human life, and the sole thing that activates a wolf's curse is taking a human life.

The vampires took more threatening steps towards the young girl. Their fangs glistened in the sunlight as they still stepped toward Melori.

I didn't know what happened next, only that after a series of blurs, and sounds of blood splattering everywhere, the vampires were dead, heartless, and Mom was nowhere to be seen. I could hear my dad calling out for her, but it became cut off as his voice got closer.

When I turned around, I saw another broken parent. Torn from the soul, vengeful and heartbroken.

I remember him running towards me, picking me up and getting me away from them. And no matter how much he tried not to cry, I knew he was trying to stay strong for me.

After watching her kids die right in front of her eyes, my mother went on a rampage. Being a hybrid, she was stronger and faster than the average vampires. The older vamps grew cocky, knowing they could take her if they did it all at once, so they did.

They almost succeeded in taking my mother away that day as well. But when the other hybrid of our pack, my mother's best friend, Hayley- who was also the queen and alpha of our pack- came to fight by her side, the remaining vampires retreated.

I remember later that day, the remaining of the pack regrouped at the lake. Each of the fallen were in a canoe. Some had been decorated, others were bare. But all were covered with a white sheet and various flowers. Words were said by our alphas, then their canoes were sent to float in the lake. Once they were far enough, it was my dad who set their bodies on fire through a quick spell.

My brothers weren't among the wolves. Instead the rest of us traveled to Mystic Falls to give them a proper burial alongside my father's witch ancestors.

As their caskets lowered into the ground, I overheard my mother behind me. "They're such monsters. Why would they kill them, they were innocent."

"I know, Lori. They're not gonna get away with this, I promise," Hayley whispered back.

"I'm gonna curse them all."

"Blake, we're all beyond pissed, but we can't make rash decisions like this."

"Rash?! Hayley they slaughtered not only sixteen wolves, but two more who were no older than five years old!"

"You don't think I know that-?"

"What if it was Hope?"

Hope.

I knew Hayley had a child as well. I've never seen her though, or knew her name. Only that one day she could be the queen.

"How many more will die if we play their games, Blake? How many more kids? Do you want anyone to feel what you're feeling?"

"You know she's right, honey."

"They need to suffer."

"And they will," my mother said. Her voice lowered more, but I could still hear perfectly. "I'm beyond livid from losing the boys. I want to rip out the hearts of every vampire I come across, believe me. But I'm far more concerned for Mel B right now."

"What non-obvious reason would you be concerned about?" Hayley asked.

"Blake, our village was protected by magic, your magic. How could a bunch of vampires get past that without help?"

"They couldn't. They must've had help. From witches."

"I was helpless in saving Mark and Mason. I was frozen, and as a mother I failed them."

"Lori-"

"I stood there, unable to move. I was in a trance, but when I snapped out of it, I saw Mel standing over a body with a stake through his heart."

"What's the problem? He was a vampire right?"

"No. There was no pulse, I was sure of it, he was dead. But he didn't desiccate... I think she killed a witch."

Hayley sighed, "A human life..."

"How long until the next moon?" Dad asked.

"Three weeks... then she turns."

Three weeks did pass, and the first full moon of the month arrived. It was indeed the first time I turned. My mother knew it would be excruciatingly painful, especially for a small child, so she gathered a large sum of the wolves to change with me. Like an emotional support system that was much needed because of how painful it was.

My mother and I ran together in the woods after I fully turned. For a time it was soothing. Therapeutic, even.

Until again, we heard more screams.

She and I both rushed back as quickly as possible. I took a little bit of time because I was still adjusting to this new form I've taken. It felt natural, yet unusual.

We reached home and found that yet again, we were under attack by vampires. The wolves that changed with my mother and I have changed back to their human forms to fight them off. I even witness a few of them bite vampires after just barely succeeding at getting close.

My mom transformed in front of my eyes, instantly instructing me- who was stuck as a wolf cub- to hide under a picnic table. She sped into some form of clothing before making sure I wasn't seen under the table, but the picnic sheet that kept me from being seen didn't keep me from seeing everything.

"No matter what happens, Mel, don't move until it's safe. And know that I love you so much." Being in wolf form, I couldn't say or do much to protest before she sped into the open to fight off the vamps.

More wolves were slaughtered that night, but it was way less than the first attack three weeks ago. I saw my father appear, casting a new spell he's practiced that allowed him to shoot fire from his hands. He caught four vampires at once, and each of them burned to death. I watched my parents fight back to back; Dad casting spells on as many vampires as he could see while Mom defended him from the vampires that tried to attack him.

It became clear that he was the main target here.

The table above me rattled and not-so-subtle thudding followed. I had assumed that a few vampires were standing on it.

Other vampires swarmed the two. Dad was quite obviously fatigued. Using his magic so much took a toll on him and it showed.

"What do you want from us?! I thought we had a pact!" My mom shouted.

One vampire stepped forward. I figured he was the leader of this raid, and possibly the last one. "You have a pact with Marcel. He seems to think you dogs will just accept being in alliance with us. Quite frankly, my friends and I don't believe it. You could kill us in an instant."

"If we wanted you dead, you would be." Dad said.

"And you. You're a witch. You're not even one of them."

"I became one of them when I fell in love with one. Had kids, which one of you lackies murdered!"

"Unintentionally. I am sorry about that, truly, but... don't you have one left...? Where is she anyway."

"If you so much as think about touching our daughter-" My mother's eyes glowed in anger.

"Look around, hybrid. You're outnumbered."

"Marcel won't like this... neither would Hayley, or Klaus."

"You'll never get the chance to tell them."

"They will find out who's responsible for these attacks..."

The vampire snapped his fingers once and immediately, my parents dropped to the ground, holding their heads. A woman stepped out from the crowd of vampires, head high and focused on my parents, both in which were crying in pain while still groping their heads. They had another witch roped in.

"Octavia..." My dad strained. "Why... are you doing this?!"

"I'm sorry Blake. But when it comes to you or my son, I have to choose him..." She took both her hands and made fists. Simultaneously, my parents doubled over, clutching their stomachs.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure the little one finds a good place..." The lead vampire stepped closer to them. "But for now..."

By his signal, another vampire grabbed hold of my dad, by the head, and snapped his neck without a second thought.

"Noo!" Mom started towards his limp body, but Octavia enhanced the effect she held on her. Mom wept for her husband, still trying to crawl towards him.

The vampire grabbed my mom by the hair forcing her to her feet. She couldn't fight back due to how weak she was by the witch's power.

"Please..."

"A lot of the other wolves fled to protect themselves. The ones who stayed, died. And until we kill each and every last one of you, the number of witnesses must be kept down to zero..."

"My daughter... I'm all she has left, please, spare me."

"I can't take that chance, hybrid." He raised his left hand to her heart. "I'm doing what I have to for the survival of my people... you understand that right?"

Panting, my mom moved her head so that her mouth was as close to the vampire's ear as possible. "I'll see you in hell..."

"Mm... good talk."

I watched him force his hand through her chest, and through her back with her heart in hand. By then I was livid. My claws dug into the ground, and I was ready to pounce. I'd watched the people I love die, too weak to do anything. I knew if I tried to do anything, I'd be next, and I didn't care.

The only thing stopping me were my mother's last words to me. To not move until it's safe, no matter what happened.

I had no choice but to stay and watch her limp body fall to the ground, her skin slowly desiccating. Her eyes fell on me and her lips parted as if she was going to say something...

She didn't get the chance before she finally left me.

Suddenly another vampire appeared before their leader. "We have to go, now! Hayley is coming and she brought the Mikaelson brothers!"

"Someone grab the witch and scatter! Meet at the rendezvous point in an hour!"

Each of them sped away, and Octavia the witch was gone with them. Rushed footsteps sounded from not far away before I heard her scream.

I watched Hayley drop to her knees before my mother's body. She let out a series of painful cries... ones that I wish I could as well. She and I both felt the agony of losing my parents, but most especially my mom.

She lost her best friend, her companion, and I, a mother. There's nothing a child needs more than the love and protection of their mother... I lost that and so much more in just one month.

Hayley's cries died down after a minute as she found something odd about how Lori was positioned. They way her eyes looked in one direction, and the way they were focused made her curious. So she followed the path her friend's eyes had focused, and just barely saw something under the picnic table.

Paws.

"Klaus..." she said, pointing under the table. He and his brother, Elijah, looked at one another before making their way to the table, cautiously.