His life took an interesting turn, and he was now packing his some of his clothes. His father told him that they were going to track vampires that hunts humans, and it would be serval years before they would be back. Pausing in his packing, he briefly wondered about Artemis and felt himself tremble slightly before he shoved the thought aside. Apollo is sure that their friendship is over, so he is almost happy that he was leaving for this training trip.

"Apollo dear, Artemis is worried for you. Did you want to talk to her before we go?" his mother suddenly spoke up from his doorway, making him flinch slightly.

"No."

"But- "

"She made her choice, and I've made mine." Apollo angrily shoved a shirt in the bag before getting to his feet. Allyson sighed sadly, but said nothing else as she walked away from her son. The boy clenched his fists before heaving a sigh, and walked into his bathroom to gather his toothbrush and toothpaste before going back to his bag and shoved it inside as well. Once everything was packed, he trotted down the stairs to see his parents with their bags as well and looking at him with small smiles.

"Ready, dear?" his mother inquired as she walked forward to embrace him. Sighing lightly, he snuggled into her embrace and inhaled her soothing scent.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Apollo responded with a heavy heart and pulled away, gathering his bag and looking to his dad and alpha. Once they made eye contact, he immediately dropped his gaze and started for the door.

"Let's get going then." Daryl heaved both his and his mate's belongings and walked out after his son, leaving his wife to smile after them as she followed close behind. Apollo opened the trunk and set his bag down, moving out the way to let his father do the same before closing the trunk. Glancing to where he sensed someone staring, his gold eyes connected with tearful jade green eyes of his best friend.

"Apollo," she whimpered pathetically, in which he responded with a curl of his upper lip and a glare.

"What?" he snapped, cursing silently when his body started to tremble softly.

"Were you really going to leave without telling me?"

Apollo scoffed, moving further away when Artemis tried to get closer. "You made it clear that you didn't want anything to do with me. So, don't come crying to me anymore." He growled, moving to enter the car and glare out the opposite window. Artemis let her tears fall and she ran back to her house, soft sobs escaping her just as she slammed the door shut. All the anger that Apollo had drained immediately at the sound of her sobs, but he did nothing as his parents got into the car, looking back at him with worried eyes.

"Are you sure about leaving things the way it is, son?" Daryl spoke up as he turned the ignition on. The small SUV rumbled to life smoothly and the song Thirteen Thirty-five by Dillon came on that his mother burned onto a disk.

"If you leave it as it is, there is a high possibility of you two becoming enemies." Allyson inputted.

Apollo merely continued to look out the window as he father put the SUV in drive to leave his home. "She made her choice. I was always there for her, but I won't be any longer." Nothing more was said as they drove away.

>>Fifteen Years old>>

A large gray and black wolf stood over the still form of the vampire that he just took down by himself; it's head a couple of feet away from the rest of the body. Snow fell on his thick coat, but melted before it could stick due to the intense heat he gave off. Apollo looked away from the male human drinking vampire when he heard another wolf approached him from the right. The wolf was his father, with his mainly beige coat decorated with black and gray, and he was still larger than the adolescent, but only barely. Behind him trotted his mother, her dark coat easily being spotted as she frolicked through the deep snow.

"Good job, Apollo!" Allyson chirped happily as she nuzzled her pup and swish her tail in the air.

Daryl was impressed as well as he looked over the damage done to the dead vampire. "This is the 12th one this week. You're on a roll."

Apollo kept silent and shook his fur, brooding to himself as his gold eyes stared at the horror filled gaze of his victim. The young shifter didn't like to end the lives of the cold ones, even if they fed on humans. They were just doing it to survive; what was the difference between a human hunting down an animal and eating them? It's life, but here he was, killing someone over their eating habits. It didn't sit well with him, but he never objected to the orders from his father.

Allyson sighed sadly as her son remained silent, but said nothing as well as she watched her husband shift and burn the remains of the vampire so it wouldn't reform before returning to his wolf form. "I'm tired. Let's go back home."

"I'll stay here," Apollo interjected, not wanting to go back just yet. Daryl huffed and started to walk away with a swish of his tail, Allyson reluctantly following him.

"Be careful, dear." Then, they were gone, leaving the teenager to lay on the ground and stare at the purple smoke that rose from the vampire's body. His stomach rolled uncomfortably at the scent, but he endeared it because he killed the poor guy. He wasn't necessarily a bad vampire either; he chose to feed off perverted men that preyed on young children, and no one else. Closing his light gold eyes, he eased into a light slumber as the wind ruffled his multicolored fur.

>>Twenty Years Old>>

Around four vampires surrounded him, his mother, and his father. They were outnumbered by one, and it seemed that one of the vampires were gifted with an extra power besides the speed and strength. The leader had the power to paralyze one with eye contact, but it only lasted for three seconds. The other vampires were average, though they fed on humans, making them stronger than the ones who feeds on animals. Allyson was limping due to one of the female vampires snapping her back left leg in half when they were on the run. It healed, but it wasn't set right leaving her with an unusable leg. Daryl was bit a couple of times, trying to protect his mate and only child as they tried to flee. But the venom, while it wouldn't change him, slowed down his healing factor and sent pain jolting through his system every time he moved.

Apollo was the only one in tip-top shape, and had taken down one of the less experienced vampires earlier by himself when they were ambushed at their home in the middle of the night. He was swift on his feet, and stronger than what he was five years earlier due to the constant training with his parents and fights with the cold ones. He could easily take down his alpha, who was in his prime. Now, as they were surrounded, he knew that all of them were not going to make it. It hurt to think of the possibility, but he was more logical than anything. With his parent handicapped, he was basically on his own against the coven of vampires.

"Apollo, we will make an opening for you," his father growled, linking both his son and his wife to his mind. Allyson whined and Apollo glared at his father briefly before launching himself at the air borne vampire that aimed for his mother. With a growl, they collided and fell to the snow-covered ground with Apollo on top, snapping his jaws at their unprotected jugular. Using his impressive weight, he caught the vampire's throat between his jaws and jerked his head. The head went flying and he jumped off its body just as two more lunged with loud hisses. Daryl moved to help Apollo and tackled the female with light hair while his son took the female with earth-toned hair.

"No!" The shriek of their female pack member gained their attention, and they watched as the coven leader make eye contact with her from a distance and froze like a dear in headlights. Using his teeth to tear off the vampire's arm, Apollo moved away as she cried out and clutch where her arm was. Claws digging into the half-way melted snow, Apollo pushed himself just as the second last remaining male vampire swiped at his mother's throat, causing her to cry out loudly and fall to the ground. Jumping over her fallen body, Apollo opened his jaw wide and tore at the unsuspecting vampire apart brutally.

"Allyson!" Daryl howled in agony as he finished off his opponent and shook off the one-armed female vampire, running toward his fallen mate. Dashing towards the charging one-armed woman, Apollo crashed into her side and clawed at her, snapping at anything he could grab. She screeched when he finally grabbed her throat in his jaws. Without hesitation, he tore off her head and panted heavily as he looked towards his parents with his ears pricked forward.

"Mom?"

"A-Apollo, are y-you alright, d-dear?" Allyson's weak voice connected with his mind and he whined slightly, shuffling towards her limp body. As he drew near, his hovering father turned around and snapped at him viciously, growling and foaming at the mouth in rage.

"Stay away from her!" Apollo jerked away in time and glanced at the remaining vampire that merely watched with a sick grin on his face, but the shifter made sure not to make eye contact.

"Daryl," she growled weakly, her dim gold eyes glaring up at him. "Apollo, I'll be alright. Finish that vampire, quickly." Her son straightened at her order and stalked forward with his head low, upper lip curled over his teeth, and tail raised high. Dashing toward the smug vampire, he snapped his jaws, but only caught air when he jumped high into the surrounding trees.

"I won't be killed today, pup. I'll be seeing you soon," he laughed darkly. "In case you want to search for me, my name is Marco Geovanni from the Volturi." He introduced himself, bleach white hair falling into his blood red eyes. Then, he was gone. Apollo held himself tense, throwing out all his senses just in case that the vampire was still hanging around. Once he was for sure, he turned back to his parents only to see his father draped over his mother's body. Too occupied with the order to kill the vampire for his mother, he didn't notice her presence that was always in the back of his mind was completely gone, and the broken whispers of his father echoing in his mind instead.

Whining slightly, Apollo threw his head up and bellowed out a sorrowful howl. Urged to join, Daryl got to his paws and howled with his son as well. They lost a packmate, a wife, and a mother. Not wanting to leave his mother out for humans to find, Apollo left the clearing they were fighting in and towards their temporary home where lots of flowers grew. His mother always gripped about how lovely they were and would spend her time laying in them. Deciding that this would be a great resting place for her, he started to dig until the sun came up.

Satisfied, the young wolf went back to where his father stayed with his wife's wolf body. Cautiously approaching the resting male wolf, he sniffed at his mother's body and whimpered lightly before glancing down at his father who barely reacted to his arrival, merely staring at his wife.

"Dad," he tried, nudging the older male's muzzle and waited for the expected bite to the face, but nothing happened. Lowering his ears worriedly, Apollo continued to speak to his too silent father, but received nothing. He sighed and moved to his mother, nosing her gently.

"Have you found a place to bury her?" Daryl said abruptly, closing his eyes as he ignored his mourning child.

"Yes. In the middle of the flowers by the house."

"I'll take her there. Burn these bodies." The lighter wolf got up, moved the slightly smaller wolf away with a light grumble and latched onto the scruff of the stiff body, and began dragging the body away leaving a trail of blood. Apollo glared down at his paws before going to one of the trees that they kept clothes and matches in a bag. Shifting, he pulled on some basketball shorts and took out the matches before shoving them into his pocket. He then set out to collect the bodies to put them into one pile and the heads and other limbs that were torn off into another pile before setting them on fire. The snaps and pops grated his ears harshly and he began to make his way their temporary home when he heard a gunshot.

Startled, the young man began running and neared the house where he saw his mother's body and a human body draped over her, a gun dangling from his fingers. "D-Dad?" No answer. Shaking as tears fall down his cheeks, Apollo crumbled to the ground and sobbed, screaming out to the sky and punching the ground. "T-This can't be happening!" He had to leave and return to his true home, where the elders and the rest of his family resided. Slowly getting to his feet, he stumbled to where his parents lied and used the rest of his strength to push both into the make-shift grave and put the dirt back in place with tears running down his face silently. He wandered into the cabin-like house, grabbing his driver's license, passport, and bag of money, and located the gasoline in the garage and started pouring it throughout the house, coating everything. Making a trail to lead outside, he got the matched from his pocket and lit one, staring at the flame for a second before flicking it at the trail of gasoline, watching as the fire eat at everything in its path. Backing up to the safety of the trees, Apollo sat down and watched the flames as he rested his chin on his folded arms that rested against his knees.

>>The Next Day>>

Everything was black, but the fire didn't spread like Apollo expected it to for whatever reason. He had shifted as it began to snow heavily and curled up at the base of the tree, staring at the spot where his parents were buried. He felt like he had no energy to do anything, but sit there and rot, but he knew that his parents wouldn't want him to be this way. So, he got to his paws and began walking away. It would probably take him a while to return to his hometown, but the travel would be good for him. Perhaps he would meet others like him, or even other species of the supernatural world.

And when he gets home, he'll apologize to Artemis. He stood on his paws and began to wander away, agony tightening his chest and leaving him breathless as he trudged on in silence.

"Mother... father... "Apollo whimpered and stumbled slightly, but quickly righted himself when he smelled something on the frigid wind. It was like his parents' scents, like whoever was out there was a shifter. Deciding to find out, the young wolf stalked towards his prey and hid behind some foliage to look at the large lone wolf with nearly orange fur with a cream-colored underbelly and a black spot on its back.

It sniffed around curiously and darted its light-colored eyes around. Apollo hunched down, rolling his shoulders and pouncing when the wolf looked away from his direction. With a thunderous growl, Apollo easily overpowered the unknown wolf and snapped at anything exposed, causing the other wolf to cry out.

"Who are you?!" Apollo snarled, and used his weight to trap the whining wolf.

"M-My name is A-Abram," the wolf whimpered mentally back to the slightly smaller wolf on top of him. "I didn't know this was your territory! No scent was around the borders."

"Hn," the gray wolf grunted and hesitantly let Abram up, keeping his guard up just in case the wolf decided to attack him. "This is unclaimed territory, so you weren't in the wrong. I haven't met someone outside of my pack that were like me."

"Oh, so there are others?"

"Just me now," Apollo denied solemnly. He sat on his hunches and eyed the more stocky wolf who sat across from him. "Where is your pack?"

"I was kicked out for showing compassion to our enemies."

"You have compassion for vampires?" Apollo's tone was incredulous as he stared down the other wolf, who wisely avoided his direct gaze. The older male knew that Apollo was stronger than he was, despite him being larger. It was like the weight of his presence was pushing him down into submission, yet the black wolf did nothing.

Abram grimaced, his ears pinning back at his tone. "I do."

"Me, too," Apollo stared down at his paws, not sure what to say next. "Look, I'll be leaving soon back to my hometown if you want to tag along. To have someone in my pack with the same morals as I would be great." Abram perked up at the offer and glanced at the other male wolf briefly before nodding his large head.

"I would like that a lot. Can I get your name, alpha?"

Apollo straightened at the title, raising his tail in dominance as he stood. "Apollo." Without another word, they set off.

>>Small Town in Washington>>

"This is your hometown?" the tall male with brown hair and jade green eyes asked, looking around curiously as they exited the car at the iron gates. Apollo and Abram finally made it to the small town where Apollo was born after six hours on the plane.

"Yeah," Apollo grunted as he got his bag out the back seat and slugged it over his shoulder. Together, the two shifters approached the gate and pushed through, wondering if someone would come and greet them before they get to the family homes. They walked for ten minutes before Apollo felt that they were being watched from the woods.

He put his arm out in front of the oblivious Abram and glared to the left. "Wait."

"What is it?" the male questioned, but received no answer as Apollo continued to glare seemingly at nothing.

"Come out!" the dark-haired male called out, watching as a large brown wolf creep out slowly, glaring at them with orange-ish eyes. Apollo furrowed his brows at the familiar looking wolf before his gold eyes widen in shock. "Uncle Rick?" The wolf paused and lifted its nose in the air to catch a scent.

"You know him?" Abram muttered to his friend quietly, tensing up when the wolf drew near. The beta wanted nothing more than to shift into his wolf and protect his semi-vulnerable alpha. Slowly, Apollo lowered his arm and dropped his bag on the ground, eyes locked on his uncle. He could see how aged his uncle looked by the gray fur surrounding his muzzle.

Before Apollo could say anything else, two more wolves emerged behind the brown wolf known as Rick. They were two wolves, seeming to be females due to their slender bodies. The smaller female was pure white with icy blue eyes, while the other had light fur and brown eyes glaring at him.

"Alpha," Abram growled lowly, trembling slightly as his instincts raged at him to shift due to the obvious threat. Apollo merely shook his head and gave him a quick glare, that calmed the other down instantly.

"Who are you, and what is your purpose here?" a strong, feminine voice called out to their right, causing everyone to look over.

Shock flitted through Apollo's features once again. "Artemis?"