Anna stood up and stared at him for a while before saying;
"It's not that normal to take pleasure in making others suffer. I hope my son never has to resort to something so..."
"Don't be silly!" Adam said, getting up and standing right in front of her, making her lift her head to look him in the eye. "You're a masochist too. What do you think you're doing to Sarah? If both our parents, and Ian's paternal ancestors, went through this period, why is there something bad about Ian experiencing it too? Stop being so hypocritical!" Adam said and grabbed a suit from the closet.
Anna crossed her arms as she watched him put the clothes on.
"Where do you go dressed in black, like the werewolves who work for you?"
Adam stared at her, looking indecisive.
"Anna, you... Get out of here and put some black clothes on, too, and ask them to dress Ian in the suit Kate bought him. She seemed to be guessing..." He said, frowning.
"What happened?" Anna let all her worries show in that question.
"I'd rather you knew with everyone else. I don't want to have to repeat what I'm about to say even once in my entire life.
Anna then remembered that he had arrived and shed tears in the silence of the room, in his arms. She needed to talk to him about her need to go to where her family was, but it wasn't the right time. Anna took advantage of the fact that he was so close to her, and raising her arms, she made him lower his head until their lips met. She thought it would just be a quick kiss, but he hugged her tightly and kissed her passionately. She responded, not because she thought it would comfort him, no. Her motives were extremely selfish. She wanted to enjoy all the time she had with him. No matter how many alarm bells were ringing in her mind, telling her that what she was doing wasn't right. She wrapped her arms around his neck, then grabbed his hair, and was ready to give in when he pulled away with a happy gleam in his eyes.
"I'd love to, Anna... I can't tell you how much I've waited for a moment like this, but I can't. Out of respect for what happened..."
"I'm sorry, Adam, I overreacted... This couldn't happen. I started taking the medicine for the infection yesterday..." Anna said, remembering that detail at a very convenient moment when she felt rejected.
"Where did you get the medicine? You said you'd forgotten..."
Anna didn't think about her lie. Her heart was still aching from Adam's rejection.
"My father brought them for me..." Anna said and left to put on her black dress. She didn't see Adam's angry eyes. Perhaps if she had, it would have altered future events. Perhaps that little slip would have been forgiven, and the story wouldn't have ended for the human Anna.
...
Anna entered her room, her cheeks still hot with shame. But she didn't want to think about it any more, so she searched through her clothes for something suitable for mourning, but there was nothing like it. She sat down on the bed and put her hands over her face. Then she got up resolutely, put on the blue party dress she had left there when she ran away, and went to Ian's room to help him change.
When she opened the door to his room without knocking, Kate was finishing adjusting Ian's tie and Anna felt proud of her son's beauty. He smiled as soon as he saw her.
"Aunt Kate said that something bad had happened and that everyone in the house should wear black today." He said from the top of the bed, but came down to hug his mother. "You look beautiful, Mom." He said, offering her his cheek for a kiss, and as soon as Anna kissed him, he ran out of the room.
Anna turned to Kate, who stood with her arms crossed, staring at her indifferently.
"Too pretty, Anna. It's not a fashion show, and that dress isn't even appropriate for this occasion." Kate observed scathingly.
"I didn't bring anything that could be used for that purpose... Do you know who we'll be mourning for?"
"No." Kate said, and picked up a dress, which she had deposited on the bed. "Caricature refused to talk. He didn't even want sex tonight, or this morning, and you can't even imagine how unusual that is." She said and tossed the dress to Anna. "I hope it fits, and that you don't mind borrowing one of my dresses."
"Thank you, Kate."
"Don't delay getting changed. Everyone's gathered in the dining room." Kate said and left.
Anna changed her dress right there. It was a bit tight, but it was better than the other one she was wearing. She hurried to the dining room. She hadn't expected it to be so crowded, with men and staff from the mansion all gathered at the same time. It looked like a hundred people in a place that didn't even hold a dozen. Everyone wore black. The table was set, but given the atmosphere there, it would be the only meal of the day. She hurried over and stood next to Adam, while Ian held his hand on the other side.
"Now that you're all here, I want you to know that we've lost some men from our big family. Some men here already know, but there are only a few. I didn't want to break the news to you. Believe me, I'd give my life if I could go back... But that's not the case. So I want you to know that those people who lost their lives yesterday defending all of us from an aggressive occupation planned by the enemy faction of humans commanded by a Sigma from my own family will be avenged. Their deaths will not be in vain. I will establish a new age, so that you can call for war. The boy, one of our warriors killed in battle, was one of the most promising future werewolves, and I won't deny that I had plans for him. But his life was cut short. And now, it's a time of grief. But in a week's time, we will invade and avenge our comrades, friends and brothers. Alexander and Lory's son, Goles, and Genevieve will be remembered with every blood shed, by the enemy."