At the tattoo lounge. "Hey get off me." Peyton comes running and pushes the guy off Jeremy. The man tries to go at them but gets a punch in the mouth instead. Peyton continues punching and then gives the guy one hard kick to the groin. Peyton spits on the dude. Peyton picks up the money bands and throws them onto the man. "Take it and get lost." The man does so. Peyton helps Jeremy up. "Are you okay?" Jeremy sits down in a chair inside. "Yeah, I'm fine." Peyton bites their wrist. "Here." Jeremy drinks. "Alright. I'll be back tomorrow. Alright?" Jeremy nods and winces. "I'll see ya tomorrow." Peyton leaves and drives home. Peyton joins the table again just in time for dessert. Alex wipes Peyton's hands under the table. Peyton smiles and kisses Alex's cheek. "Thanks baby." Alex nods. Everyone eats dessert and chats. After dessert Alex and Eric help clean the dishes and put them away. "So. Peyton." Peyton takes a drag of their cigarette and blows out their nose. Peyton lights Philip's cigar. "You and Alex. You guys known each other long?" Peyton and Philip blow out smoke. "Awhile. I mean I was there when she was born but then I left for a while." "Why?" Philip takes a drag of his cigar and blows the smoke out. "Personal reasons." Peyton finishes their cigarette. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry. I'm just. I'm curious as to how you stay so young if you've known Alex her whole life." Peyton chuckles. "That's a secret I'm not really sure you want to know." Philip finishes his cigar. "No, I guess not." The two go back in the house laughing about something the other said. After presents and everyone has said their goodbyes. Alex falls into Peyton's lap. They chuckle. "Pooped?" Alex nods. "Hey. Dance with me." Alex looks at Peyton. "Right now?" "Yes, right now." Alex gets up. "I don't know babe. I'm not really that great and I'm super tired." Peyton stands up and holds Alex's hand. "I'll guide you." Alex caves. Peyton turns on their favorite slow dance song and dances with Alex. Justine comes in as Alex and Peyton are forehead to forehead while dancing. Eric shushes his mother before she could say something. Eric stops recording when the song stops, and Peyton and Alex stop dancing. Peyton winces. Alex backs away. "I'm sorry baby." Peyton nods. "Do it." Alex and Justine follow Peyton to the room in the basement with the chains and chain up Peyton after Alex takes off Peyton's shirt. "Okay now please go. I don't want you seeing me like this again." Alex shakes her head. "I'm staying. Until you fully shift." Peyton starts screaming. "Please." Alex shakes her head and puts her forehead against Peyton's. Peyton breathes heavily. They then scream and fall to their knees. So does Alex. "I'm here." The two kiss but Peyton pulls away as they scream. "Please. Justine. Take her and go." Alex shakes off her mother's hands. Peyton screams and their fangs extend. Justine grabs Alex's arms and pulls her away. Peyton roars as they fully shift. They try to break free of the chains. Terry comes downstairs. "Enough Peyton. You're just going to hurt yourself in the end." Peyton huffs and roars. Peyton keeps trying to break free of the chains. Around 3 am. Peyton huffs. They then roar quietly. Ariana smiles. "Hi dad. Brought you some snacks." Peyton huffs and takes them gently and eats them quickly. Ariana laughs. Peyton huffs. Ariana comes over and wipes Peyton's chin. "You had salsa on your chin." Peyton huffs. Ariana looks confused. "What? You want to shift back?" Peyton nods. Ariana backs away with Alex and Terry following. Peyton clenches their fists and roars. Peyton falls to their knees as they fully shift back. Alex is by their side seconds later. Terry and Ariana remove the chains. They fall to the ground. Alex slowly helps Peyton up and they walk to the bedroom. "Goodnight, everyone." "Night." Peyton quickly changes into their pj's and climbs into bed. Peyton is snoring as soon as their head hits the pillow. Alex chuckles and plugs in her and Peyton's phone. She then waits for sleep as well. The next few days Peyton is at the house fixing up what needs to be fixed up. As they're finishing with the new sink. "Babe?" Peyton hums. "Can I use your credit card?" Peyton sits up. "For what?" "I wanted to get some more shoes. There's a sale going on at my favorite shoe store. Buy one get the next two pairs half price." Peyton takes their wallet out of their pocket and takes out their credit card. "You come right back here after you're done shoe shopping okay? Don't make me come looking for you." Alex nods and takes the card. "I promise." Alex kisses Peyton softly. Peyton grabs Alex's wrist and chuckles when Peyton kisses Alex deeply. "Alright I love you." "Love you too princess." Alex leaves. Peyton spends the next few hours finishing setting up Eric's room with him. "Here?" Eric looks up. He nods. "That's perfect." Peyton nods and puts up the TV. "There. All done." Eric nods. "There's just one thing missing." Peyton raises an eyebrow. "Oh?" "I went to the store yesterday to get some led lights but the lady there was extremely rude, so I just said fuck it and left." Peyton scratches their face. "What store?" "It's around the corner from your daughter's office. I can't think of the name right now." Peyton hums. "Is it beside a hair salon?" Eric nods. Peyton smiles and goes to grab their keys. "Come on." Eric follows Peyton to their car. Eric does up his seatbelt and Peyton drives off. Once at their destination Eric goes into the store. The lady looks at him. "Out. You're not allowed here anymore." Eric smiles and roams the store. The lady goes to call security when Peyton walks in. She smiles. "Hello there." Peyton leans against the counter. "Hey Arabella. See that young man there?" Arabella nods. Peyton leans in close to Arabella and whispers something in her ear. "Got it?" Arabella nods. "Yes." Eric comes over with the stuff he wanted and puts it up on the counter. Eric pays for it as Peyton leans against the counter. Outside. Peyton's phone rings. They grab it and tell Eric to wait with their finger.
"Hello?" "Babe, I need you!" "What's wrong?" "It's coming! The baby is coming!" "Where are you?" "In the back of the shoe store I was telling you about." "I'm on my way."
Peyton quickly gets in the car with Eric following. Peyton speeds off quickly. Eric takes Peyton's phone and calls their dad. It rings.
"I know. I won't make it bud. I'm sorry." "Please dad! I can't lose her." "I know you can't, but I was sent back. Someone else is either going to have to do it or you'll have to turn her." "You know I can't do that." "Find a way buddy. I won't make it in time. I'm sorry but I have to go." "Okay."
Peyton swears repeatedly while hitting the steering wheel. "What now?" Peyton quickly parks and runs into the store with Eric following. "Are you Peyton?" Peyton nods. "I am." "This way." Peyton and Eric follow the woman to the back of the store. Alex grabs Peyton's arm. "Babe I'm scared." Peyton kisses Alex's forehead. "It's going to be okay baby. I'm going to have to do what I hate to do." Alex looks shocked. "You can't." "I have no choice, Alex! The baby is coming any time now and he's not going to make it. I'll have to deal with both consequences." "Both? There's more than one?" Peyton looks at Alex sadly and nods. "I'll be okay though. Let's go. Time to push." Alex nods. Alex puts her feet against Peyton's chest and pushes. Alex screams. Eric wipes Alex's forehead with the cloth the lady from before hands to him. "You're doing great baby. One more. One more and then I'll do it." Alex nods. Alex screams as she pushes. Peyton looks at Alex with this sad look. Peyton bites their wrist and lets some of their venom run into the bite. Alex drinks. Peyton lets some more of their venom into Alex's mouth. Peyton kisses Alex deeply. "I'll see you soon." Alex nods. She screams as she pushes. Peyton catches their son. The baby cries. Eric takes off his sweater and gives it to Peyton to wrap around the baby. Eric cuts the cord with a knife he has in his pocket after cleaning it. Peyton hands their son to Eric and then cries as they pick up Alex's lifeless body. Eric sheds some tears as well. The lady takes the bags from the counter and carries them to the car. She puts them in the trunk of Peyton's car. Back at the house. Peyton grunts. Eric looks confused. "What's wrong?" "Call AJ and Terry." Eric does so. Peyton falls against the wall. Eric goes to help them, but Peyton puts their hand out. "No." Eric stays away. AJ and Terry arrive just as Peyton screams and falls to their knees. AJ and Terry hold onto Peyton as every bone in their body snaps. A few of Peyton's pack members also come. Peyton roars and screams at the same time. Peyton roars out Aaron's name. Peyton's phone rings. Eric grabs it.
"Hello?" "Is Peyton alright?" "No. Something's going on. Their bones keep snapping over and over and over. It's not pretty." "I know. Aaron is too but he's not shifting." "Peyton is but it's taking longer than normal." "Alright. There's only one that can hold them back from completely shifting. With Alex dead I mean." "Who? Who is it?" "Their father." "He's in Romania with the clan." "Shit. Then you're out of luck until Alex wakes." "That could still be hours away. Come on. There's gotta be something we can do." "Alright. Lemme think. Lemme think." "Hurry!" "Okay. In the basement. There's a room with the chains. In the back of that room there's a safe. The code is 2424. Grab the book in there and the first page is the spell that was cast to cause what's happening to both Peyton and Aaron. You'll need AJ."
AJ comes over.
"I'm here love." "Okay. You'll need to say the words in Italian and then again in Romanian and once more in English." "Alright." "Thank you, Tristine." "Yep. Call me back when everything is done." "Of course. Talk soon." "Talk soon."
Eric puts Peyton's phone down and goes to Aaron's house and grabs the book Tristine was talking about and then goes back home. Eric hands the book over to AJ. He opens the book to the first page and clears his throat. AJ starts speaking in Italian. Then in Romanian and finally in English. Peyton screams and a bright light flash around the room. When the light disappears, Peyton is on their knees panting. Eric excuses himself and goes to have a conversation with Tristine. AJ goes over to Peyton and puts his hand on Peyton's shoulder. "You okay bud?" Peyton stands up. "All good." The two hug. "Thank you." AJ nods and pulls away. "I wasn't alone." Peyton smiles and nods their head. So do the others. Eric comes back. "Tristine wants to talk to you." Peyton sighs and takes the phone.
"Yes love?" "What did you do?" "I'm not sure what you mean?" "Cut the bullshit P. He nearly died. What. Did. You. Do?" "My father and I made a pact but went against it cuz of there being no time." "You realize that they will kill Titus now, right?" "Don't you dare talk to me like I'm a piece of meat on a hook. You forget who you're talking to? I am well aware of the consequences I must now face. He knew the risks but went on with it anyways. His death will not be in vain though. I will avenge his death. Just as I did with yours. Don't you forget what I had to do for you." "Yes. I'm sorry. I just" "I know Tristine. I know. I'm scared for him too, but you have the strength and power to protect him now. Just as I do from here." "Yes. Okay. Tell Eric I said goodbye." "Will do. Take care." "You too."
Peyton gives Eric his phone back and then goes down the hall into theirs and Alex's room and lays down. Kaden starts crying. Peyton gets up and smiles at his son. "Hey buddy. You need diaper change?" Kaden coos. Peyton smiles and finishes changing Kaden's diaper. They then hold him and rock back and forth in the rocking chair. AJ comes over with a bottle. Peyton takes it and tastes it. They hum and feed it to Kaden. He sucks away. AJ just sits on the floor beside the chair watching. "Can I burp him?" Peyton smiles and nods. AJ takes the blanket off the arm of the chair and throws it over his shoulder. Peyton fixes it and then hands AJ Kaden. AJ pats Kaden's back gently. Kaden burps. "Nice one." Kaden burps and throws up a bit. AJ wipes Kaden's mouth. "One more bud." AJ continues to pat Kaden's back gently. Kaden lets out a big burp. Peyton and AJ laugh at that one. Peyton takes Kaden. "Well done buddy." Kaden coos. The group go to sleep shortly after. A little after 5 am the next day. Alex sits up and smiles when she sees Kaden in Peyton's sleeping arm. He coos. Alex goes to take him but wakes up Peyton as well. Peyton smiles and wipes their face. "What time is it?" "A little after 5. Go in bed and go back to sleep." Peyton hums and stands up. They fix Kaden's shirt. "I'm okay. Have you been hunting?" Alex nods as she finishes feeding Kaden. Kaden burps. Peyton chuckles. "Well done buddy." Alex continues patting Kaden's back gently. Kaden burps and throws up a bit. Peyton cleans Kaden's mouth. Kaden burps once more and then Alex hands Kaden to Peyton. They bounce up and down a bit as they're walking around. "You wanna go see your big brother?" Kaden coos. Imre comes over and takes Kaden. "Hey there little man. I'm your big bro. He has such tiny hands and feet." Peyton chuckles. "Just like you and Ariana did. You mind watching him for a bit?" Imre shakes his head. "Thanks. I'll be back shortly buddy." Peyton kisses Kaden's head and leaves. Alex comes out of the bathroom a few minutes later. She looks around. "Where'd your dad go?" Imre shrugs. "Out hunting, I guess. I don't know. They didn't say where they were going." Alex nods. "Probably out hunting. It's been a few days since they did last." Imre nods. Alex smiles when Kaden giggles. "Tickle tickle." Kaden laughs as Imre tickles his side. Alex chuckles. "Do you have to go anywhere?" Imre continues playing peek a boo with Kaden. "Nope. Peek a boo." Kaden giggles. "He really likes you." Imre nods. "He really does. I'm glad you're letting me stay here and spend time with my baby brother. I never really got a chance to with Ariana." Alex sits down on the edge of the bed. "Why is that?" Imre puts Kaden down in his crib and sits down next to Alex. "Well. I'm gonna be honest. I wasn't the best person when she was born. Drugs, alcohol, sex. It wasn't until Ariana was around 12 that I changed. Went to rehab and then after I got out I joined the army. So even after being a different person I didn't really make an effort to get to know her." Alex hums. "I see. When did you guys become close?" Imre smiles. "A little after her 15th birthday. I was on leave for a few weeks so I came down to surprise her and dad. Ariana and I kind of lost touch after I found out who her mother was but that wasn't why we did. I just got super busy with saving the world and she got super busy with college." Alex hums again. "Who's her mother?" Imre gets up and shakes his head. "I can't tell you that. My dad made me promise." Alex stands up and holds Imre's hand. "They're not here." Imre sighs. "You can't tell them or anyone else. Got it?" Alex nods. "Yep." Imre wipes his face. "Your mother. Justine." Alex looks shocked. "That would mean." Imre shakes his head. Alex looks confused. "What do you mean no?" "When a hybrid has meaningless sex with a human and that human gets pregnant the child is born with both human and hybrid DNA." Alex nods. "Right. Like Kaden." Imre nods. "Correct. But for whatever reason if that child were to die, the human DNA would be destroyed and only the hybrid DNA would survive." Alex hums and sits down again. "So she's free of my mother's DNA." Imre nods. "Correct. So you're not related by blood anymore." "Just through marriage. When it happens." Imre nods. Peyton comes downstairs a few seconds later. "You just had to tell her didn't you?" Imre looks at Peyton scared. "Dad. I. I'm sorry. She asked and I" Peyton chuckles and puts their hand on Imre's shoulder. "Relax bud. I know how she works." Imre sighs with relief. Peyton laughs quietly. "You really thought I was going to harm you?" Imre shakes his head. "No. You're just scary when you're mad." Peyton's smile fades and they sigh. "Yeah. I know. Oh and it's all humans. Not just random hookups." Alex nods. "So lets make sure Kaden never dies." Peyton nods. Alex hums. Peyton sits on the bed against the headboard. "What's on your mind?" Alex pushes herself all the way back until her back hits the headboard. "Who was your real first love? I know its not me." Peyton smiles and nods. "It was maybe 1619. I'm not quite sure but anyways. There was this girl. Her name was Luuk." Alex giggles. Peyton chuckles. "I know. Funny name. She was the king's greatest warrior. She was born in the castle of the Roman King but later traveled to Israel to escape her father. He was not a nice man." "You met him?" Peyton nods. "He was actually my first kill. Anyways." Alex nods. "Right. Go on." "After she came to Israel she met Aaron and he sheltered her and kept her safe from harm up until she was 21. Once she turned 22 she left Israel and went to Romania. That's where I met her. She was a knight and I was her blacksmith. I sharpened her swords and other blades and made sure her armor was good. Okay this is where I'm going to stop because you don't need to know the rest." Alex puts her hands on Peyton's lap. "Please? I promise I'm okay." Peyton sighs. "Very well. So as time past Luuk and I had become very close. The King could see that and kept trying to keep us apart. He didn't want to lose his best knight after all. So one night. On a full moon she and I ran away together to a little hut just across the village from where the king's castle was. Well, you know what happened next." Alex nods. "You two spent the night together." Peyton nods. "A few days later she went missing. I went looking for her but I never found her. A little after 10 months past and I get this call." Alex looks shocked. Imre looks shocked as well. "Luuk is my mother?" Peyton nods. "She died giving birth to you but the king was there so he named you Imre. After the greatest King of Romania. Ever. And of course I agreed." Imre nods. Peyton gets up, stretches and then goes to shower. Alex follows. "I have a question." Peyton finishes shampooing their hair and rinses. "Sup?" Alex sits up on the counter. "I know its impossible but what if Luuk were to show up at our doorstep right now? What would you do?" Peyton conditions their hair and starts washing their body. "Well. I'm not going to lie to you. I would first gasp, fall to my knees in disbelief and then cry." "You would kiss her wouldn't you?" Peyton rinses off and rinses out their hair. They turn off the water and open the curtain. Alex passes Peyton their towel. "100%. Then I'd explain that I've grieved her death and moved on. With you." Peyton dries off and then wraps the towel around their waist. The two leave the bathroom. Alex lays down on the bed and stares at Peyton while they get dressed. "Really?" Peyton slams shut their dresser drawer. "Yes. Now can you please stop 20 questioning me?" Alex gasps. She then gets up and leaves the room. Peyton sighs and rubs their face. "I gotta go. Ariana is expecting me shortly." Imre checks his watch and whistles. "Damn. Time just flies by." Peyton nods and leaves. At the restaurant. Ariana smiles as Peyton takes a seat. "Hey." Peyton smiles. "Hey love." The two look over the menus. After ordering what they want. "So. Everything alright? I can sense something is wrong." Peyton sighs and sits back in their chair. "You remember the story I told you about when you were little about Imre's mother?" Ariana nods and sips her wine. "Well Alex asked me about her so I told her. Now she won't stop questioning whether or not I'd go after her again if she were still alive." Ariana tsks. "I'm sorry dad. That must be annoying." Peyton takes a sip of their beer. "It really is. Like I love her. Why can't she see that?" Ariana shrugs. "I have no idea." The two chat and drink while they eat. Back at home a few hours later. "Eric." Eric comes over. "Sup?" "There's going to be a few men coming over tonight so I need you to take this." Eric takes the vial from Peyton's hand. "What is it?" "It's my venom. They know since they can't kill anyone else I care about in my life they'll kill the only person they can take from me. You." Eric smiles with tears in his eyes. "Me?" Peyton nods. "You're my bro now dude. Forever. Please. Take it now. Before anyone sees." Eric nods and downs the contents of the vial. After he's done. "Blech." Peyton chuckles. "I know. I'm sorry I couldn't lace it with my blood. It would have tainted it. Now just go on about your day. Remember. When the men come and kill you, act dead. Until I fully shift back and they're all dead. Then come back." "Wait I can control when I can come back from the dead?" Peyton smiles. "Alex couldn't because of her being pregnant before she died." Eric nods. "Ah." "Alright go." Eric walks away as Alex comes around the corner. She looks confused. "What's with him?" Peyton shrugs. "Probably nothing. Just had a nice chat and now he's off to play his games or something." Peyton takes a sip of their coffee. Alex takes the cup and puts it on the counter. "Look at me." Peyton does so. "Sup?" "You're hiding something." Peyton shrugs and takes their cup of coffee and walks away. Alex looks sad. "Is this about earlier? Cuz I'm sorry." Peyton finishes their coffee and rinses out their cup and puts it in the dishwasher. "Can we please just not talk right now. I'm not in the mood." Alex sighs. "Fine. I'll be in our room looking after our son when you're ready to talk." Peyton goes to reach out for Alex. "Wait." Alex goes downstairs. Peyton sighs. They go downstairs and have a small chat with Alex. They kiss and make up. Later that night. Ding dong. Alex goes to answer it when Peyton stops her. Eric nods when Peyton looks at him. Alex looks confused. Eric stands beside Peyton when they open the door. "We're here for the human named Eric." Peyton nods. Eric nods and goes with the men. Alex tries to follow but Peyton stops her. "No. Not yet." "Eric!" Justine cries. "Why!? Why did you let them take him?" Justine starts hitting Peyton. They chuckle. "Isn't it obvious? He's the only one left." Justine looks angry. "You. You promised you'd never do this to me again." Alex looks confused. "What the hell is going on?" Peyton smiles and falls to their knees screaming. Justine fully starts crying. "No! My boy. No." Peyton laughs their deep laugh. Alex looks scared.