After so long of knowing only his wolf form and the vague silhouette from the bar, I finally saw him clearly. He was leaning against a tree, his arms crossed over his massive chest, one leg bent resting against the trunk. He was just slightly taller than me and only a few years older - or at least he looked only slightly older. Even though his body was hidden by a well-tailored suit I could see he was very muscular. His brown hair with strange white highlights was slicked back and he had dark sunglasses on his eyes. Overall, he looked like an experienced businessman who probably liked black coffee and played golf. I should have expected that even as a human he would look like a predator, a clever predator.

I couldn’t help but wonder what I looked like to him. My hair was messy and sticking out everywhere, my uniform was still dirty. I was elegance itself… I didn’t know what to say. My mind was suddenly blank and I found myself staring at him helplessly. Oh, I shouldn't have come here alone…

Lazar pushed himself away from the tree and smiled as he approached me. One part of me wanted to run, the other felt joy at being close to him. I reached out to the Beast desperate for any help, but only darkness answered me. And so I stood there like a pillar of salt until Lazar was only one step away from me. I couldn’t see his eyes through the glasses but I could see my own reflection in them. What a pathetic expression full of awe and fear played over my face! I forced myself to close my mouth. Lazar just chuckled.

"’I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection,'” he quoted and his hand lightly grabbed my chin and tilted my head up. I felt a sharp pain in my mouth as my fangs lengthened. I wanted to bite him, but no matter how hard I tried, my body refused to move.

"Sigmund Freud," I said almost involuntarily.

“Handsome and educated? No wonder you're so stubborn.” He shook his head at me in amusement and let go of my chin. I frowned at him because that was the only thing I could do. ”Did you come alone Pup?" I nodded and growled softly at the last word. Come on, Andrew, get it together! Lazar's smile faded and he smacked his lips disapprovingly. "Why so hostile? I just want to talk.”

Somehow I doubted that was all he wanted from me, but for now I wasn't going to protest.

"Come on, let's take a walk." It was an order, that much was clear to me. To my horror, Lazar headed deeper into the cemetery. Somehow I managed to follow him without my knees giving in under me. "I suppose, you have a lot of questions, but I have a few things on my mind that I need to share with you." Lazar even carried himself like a predator with his confident light footsteps that were practically inaudible even on the gravel.

"I’m aware we had a bit of a… rough start." He sighed miserably. I almost growled at him again. As if it bothered him in any way. "That is mainly my fault, I admit it. I shouldn't have left you all alone... But a child can never grow up if they do not experience the harsh and unjust world we live in," he said very seriously.

It was quite appropriate that we were in the cemetery. I wondered how many people were there because of him. And how many because of me… A chill ran down my spine.

"But I didn't just leave you at the mercy of the elements. I promised you power, I called out to you, my child. Why did you refuse to come?” It was a question, but Lazar did not wait for my answer. "There is nothing as amazing as holding someone's life in your hands. Oh, the thrill of ruling over life and death.” I glared at him. You can't play God! I wanted to yell, but he continued. "I must tell you, you surprised me, Pup. You resisted my call and followed your own prey. Yes, I was pretty upset, but then I saw the bodies. You definitely have talent.” He smiled broadly at me.

My stomach heaved. I was finally starting to think a little more rationally again.

"But no one is perfect... You let someone live. That was the stupidest thing you could have done. We are at the top of the food chain, Andrew. However, we must never forget, that our prey is also a predator. And although a wolf can easily kill a lone coyote, it leaves the whole pack alone. And believe me, people can be quite devious and tenacious when they’re trying to eradicate a common enemy." Yeah, we were quite good at that... No, not we. They. Lazar was right, I was no longer one of them. But I didn't belong with him either. "Why did you let him live?"

"Because he didn't deserve to die. He wasn’t evil," I objected with a steady expression.

“Ha! Evil! Evil is a relative concept pup." Lazar seemed quite amused. It bothered me that I couldn’t see his eyes. "Evil is fleeting my little Andrew. Evil is a bad decision that can change at any time. The men who attacked your human pet, what's his name, Henry?” I felt my muscles go tight as I heard his name. Did he know him? Did he know where he was? Was he planning to kill him? "The men could’ve decided to stop at any time, they could’ve called an ambulance and run. Then they would no longer smell of evil... What if they needed money? They could have had families who were starving. What if they were forced into evil by conditions? That one decision was perhaps wrong, but you wrote them off as servants of the devil. Do you have the right to decide that every little bad decision deserves the death penalty?”

I stopped. My surroundings suddenly blurred and I felt nauseous. He was right... What was my right to condemn them all myself? I kept thinking that they didn't care that they were evil, so they deserved to die, but what if I just took away their chance to make amends?