“My family?” Neve said, as he leaned back in the chair.

“Your family,” Cory replied with a smile Neve didn’t return.

The atmosphere in the room was tense. A chill ran down Cory's back as he realised what came next would be life changing. Neve stared past Cory to the wall behind him, and when he talked, it was with a sense of forlorn.

“Our family story begins in England in 1777, with a man named Thomas Layton. Thomas came from a poor family, and life was extremely harsh. By the time he began his transformation, greed and hatred were embedded deep in his soul. For the next two years, Thomas used his power to gain dominance and amass large amounts of territory. He understood little of what was happening to him but it didn’t stop him from controlling others like him. At nineteen, he met an older woman by the name of Elizabeth Grange, one of us and obsessed with our species. It was through Elizabeth, Thomas learned about the madness and the need to mate. Thomas was introduced to a young woman named Claire by Elizabeth and they married and mated. But both Elizabeth and Thomas shared a similar dream to create the perfect empire. There is no record as to what happened to Elizabeth’s husband or Thomas wife but we know they married three years after Thomas’ first married.”

Neve continued, “Within the next eight years, Thomas became Alpha to one of the largest clans in England, and the most powerful. He held a position in Parliament, giving him power over any other of our species during his time. He had men seeking teenagers who had turned and, by force if necessary, brought them into the clan. There were others who wanted better lives and willingly joined. But Thomas only sought out those who met his criteria. In many cases, Thomas ordered the killings of those he saw as a threat. This soon led to other clans joining to fight against Thomas. But, it was his own clan that saw his downfall. Thomas’ ultimate goal was to create a pure-breed. Therefore, he enforced strict laws within his clan and over time this created resentment within their ranks. Thomas’ continual belief they were only half-breeds outraged many of our species, who believed themselves superior to humans.”

“Half-breeds?” Cory questioned.

“Half-breeds are those who are born from a parent who carries the gene and never turns. As a result three or four generations can pass before the gene becomes dominant in a person.”

“Same as what’s happened to me?” Cory asked.

“Yes. It was believed producing human offspring stopped the spread of the gene, but this was proven to be wrong. The gene continues to be passed through the families until one turns. There is so little known about our species that Thomas was determined to start fresh.”

Cory wondered who in his family might have possessed the gene and thought he might speak to his parents regarding their family tree.

Neve let out a sigh.

“Thomas insisted his clan mate and breed with others of their kind before the age of thirty. Any who bred with humans were killed. It came to a head in 1789 when members became frustrated with Thomas’ leadership. Although they lived no differently they used their abilities to secure wealth at Thomas’ command. Through fear, many did as told. He destroyed those who tried to stand against him and to deter others he had the families of those challenging him killed.”

Neve paused and Cory stared wide-eyed, a hundred questions on the tip of his tongue. Neve continued, not giving Cory time to respond. The want to tell his story shone brightly on Neve’s face, and Cory allowed him to continue.

“It was the human justice system that was Thomas’ downfall. Members of his clan used the simple process of telling authorities his activities, which led to an investigation. As a result, Thomas’ arrest in 1789 led to his conviction of crimes against the state and deported to Australia. He was twenty-eight at the time and although bitter with the outcome, decided it a blessing in disguise after he arrived.”

“Why?” Cory asked.

“He was the first of our kind here. Two years after his arrival, Elizabeth, their two children, and seven other families arrived. After Thomas was deported, the clan fell apart. Other clans came in, took over territories and several wars between clans followed. Those loyal to Thomas fled England and made their way to Australia. Thomas – once again Alpha – built his territory and continued his plan to produce pure breeds. And because the colonies were in their early stages, the clan controlled the half-breeds arriving or in the country.”

“Control, how do you mean?”

Neve moved uncomfortably on the chair, not for the first time they had sat to talk. Cory moved over to his double bed and lay down on his side, getting comfortable. “I’ll let you share the bed so long as there's no funny business.”

“I’d rather not.”

“What? Afraid you won’t be able to control yourself,” Cory joked.

“You should be more afraid not being able to control yourself if I jump you.”

“Please, I can control myself fine. Do you want to be comfortable or not? Or you’re welcome to spend the rest of the night on the chair.”

Neve stared at the vacant spot next to Cory before standing. With hesitation, Neve reached for the second pillow. He placed it against the headboard and sat against it, one leg on the bed the other hanging over the side.

“Such a gentleman,” Cory teased.

Neve instantly turned and pushed Cory flat on his back, mounting his waist. Cory didn’t have time to respond as Neve flooded Cory with his feeling and leaned in to kiss him. Cory couldn’t help but respond even though his mind was screaming for him to stop. He didn’t want to be kissing Neve but Neve’s emotions were stronger than Cory’s. Cory surrendered as his body responded to Neve’s heated kiss.

Neve then pulled back and resting his forehead against Cory’s, they both panted heavily.

“Don’t push me, Cory. If I ever get another chance, I will not stop.”

Neve pushed off Cory and moved back over to his side of the bed. Cory remained where he was, staring at the ceiling. His body on fire and his arousal pressed so hard against his pants it hurt.

“Shit Neve, look what you did you me.”

“Sorry. Do you want to take care of that?”

“Yes, no. I… give me a minute.”

“Okay.”

The room fell silent and Cory closed his eyes trying to calm himself. The lingering emotions Neve had left behind electrified him. Several minutes passed before Cory said, “When they talk of people finding their soul mates and say it feels earth shattering, are they talking about what you did?”

Neve didn’t respond at once and Cory's eyes remained closed.

“No. Having that control over someone isn't right. Maybe with our kind it might be like that but it doesn’t happen often. We don’t get a say in who we marry.”

This surprised Cory and turning back on his side, he said, “You mean even now you don’t get to choose who you marry. What if you fall in love?”

“It doesn’t matter, we have to marry who is chosen for us.”

“And if you don’t?”

“Then we’re killed.”

“What! No way – why do that? Does that mean I have to marry whoever is chosen for me?”

Neve went to reply, but he paused and changed his mind, before he said, “That’s how it is. There are laws we must follow if we want our family to survive, it’s not about one person, but many.”

“Damn, Neve. So they’ll kill you because you’re gay and if you don’t get married. What else is there?”

“This.” Neve waved a hand around the room.

“This, as in you being here with me? But we’re friends?”

“We’re not allowed to tell outsiders. We’re not allowed to befriend half-breeds. We may not place our clan in danger.” Neve shrugged. “I guess I’ve broken a few rules.”

“I’m sorry, Neve.”

They went quiet again, before Cory said, “Perhaps you should leave. I don’t want to get you into any more trouble.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“You keep saying that.”

“Cory, why do you think we're the only family here?”

“I don’t know – because you’re smart?”

“We’re the largest most powerful purebred clan in the world. In every other country where clans occur, they still fight to exist. There isn’t another clan that can defeat us. If they tried to enter the country we'd know before they even hit our shores. There are people within our family so powerful their influence reaches the top people in the world. Our Council exist to deal with half-breeds and the threat they have to our family. It also has the largest database of known people of our kind in the world.”

“So what does that mean for me?” Cory didn’t like what Neve was implying.

“When we first found you, Seth reported you to the Council – but because of the heavy rains, any trace of you vanished. However, one of our jobs is to record registration of vehicles at the park. Given those details, we continued our search for you. I found you immediately but for the first time I couldn’t bring myself to report you to the Council.”

“Because you fell in love with me?”

“Do you have any idea how much that fact has tortured me? It Seth or Dale found you and then...”

“And then what, Neve?” Cory asked frustrated.

“As Seekers we report half-breeds to the Council. The Council comprises two divisions. The genealogist’s responsibility is to trace the family genealogy of those we discover. They then track and monitor those families, watching and waiting for half-breeds to appear. Because where there is one there will always be others. In fact, a report produced states over half the population of the world carries the gene but only a small percent will turn. The second division are the protectors, they're the ones who have already mated and passed their maturity stage. It’s their job to remove the threat.”

“But I wouldn’t deliberately threaten you Neve, or anyone else.”

“Not now because you have not hit your maturity yet but you'll turn against me when you do.”

“But I can mate with someone within the family before I mature. I can do that right?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“If a lone wolf is found on the territory of another pack and seeks to join it what do you think would happen?”

Cory stared at Neve and then closed his eyes. He knew what happened in the wild. Cory took a deep breath and replied quietly, “They'd chase it away or kill it.”

“Exactly, and if we forced you to leave here, to never see your family again, to never contact them again. What would you do?”

“I’d fight.”

“You’d fight against our family. We fight no one, Cory.”

The slow realisation brought Cory to a panicked state, and coming to kneel before Neve he said, “But we’re talking about people here, Neve. They wouldn’t kill someone because they weren’t part of the family. Surely they would make them a part of their clan to increase their numbers.”

Neve didn’t respond but stared at Cory.

“What are you saying, Neve?”

“Do you understand now? Why we are the only clan here? How we became the most powerful pure-breeds in the world? All half-breeds are killed – you’re not given the opportunity to make a choice.”

With a violent shove, Cory pushed Neve off his bed.

“Get out,” he demanded.

Neve lay crumbled on the floor staring up at Cory.

“Get out! I wish you had never told me. It would've been better if they'd killed me. Now what to I do, Neve? If I leave the country, I’ll never see my family again. And if I stay, I’m dead. Not to mention what happens to my family. What the hell do I do now – wait until they find me?”

Tears fell down Neve’s face. Cory might have sympathised – but not while his anger was in control.

“Get out Neve and never come back unless you can save me.”

Neve looked away and picking himself up, wiped his face. Without a word he left the room. Cory didn’t follow, fists clenched at his side, as his whole world fell apart.