The morning chirps of the birds was what brought Lecter back from his dream state before the sunlight peaked through his closed eyes. He opened and rubbed them as he tried to recall what happened the night before. Lecter’s memory could recount him leaving the mansion before the full moon had risen and him shifting into his wolf form as he let the beast take control and hunted the local wildlife. He also remembered Necross appearing and tormenting Lecter with the memories of his past.

While the Naga was known for his malice nature, he was speaking the truth about what Lecter had done when his Werewolf heritage made itself known. And even though Lecter did tell Raven about the night he transformed for the first time, which resulted in the death of his parents, he wasn’t open about what happened the following months during the full moon.

Lecter found his way back to his home as he made sure no one saw him. Raven caught sight of her husband from the kitchen window after giving the twins their breakfast. She unlocked the backdoor and Lecter quickly headed up to their bedroom. Seeing that the kids would keep themselves occupied with their toys, Raven made her way upstairs to meet with Lecter. He was putting on the last of his clothes when Raven entered the bedroom.

“You didn’t have any problems last night did you?” she asked.

“No not at all,” he answered, “There were several deer so I kept myself away from the city. Are the twins doing alright?”

She nodded in response and gestured towards downstairs. Raven knew something was troubling Lecter but she did not question him until he was comfortable with talking about it.

The Lycan father went to see his children with Raven not far behind. As she watched Lecter play with Katrina and Hannibal, Raven could sense fear within him. It was the same fear she felt from him when the Brotherhood of Evil came after the twins. If Lecter was worried about something that was threatening the children, Raven would want to know what was troubling him.

Once the kids were exhausted from playing with their dad, the parents tucked them in for a nap so they can have some time for themselves. Lecter prepared himself a sandwich for lunch while Raven brewed tea for them both. Raven informed Lecter of anything important he may have missed last night along with what their friends were up to for the day. The couple also talked over any plans they wanted to get done in the near future.

Lecter felt he should tell Raven about what went down with him and Necross. Besides, he had a feeling she knew it was on his mind.

“While I was out last night, I was, for lack of a better word, visited by Necross,” he admitted.

“What? What did he want? What did he do? He didn’t do anything to you did he?”

“Take it easy, Rae. He didn’t do anything to me, at least in terms of cursing me or something magically related.”

“But I have sense great distress in you. It was even more prevalent when you were entertaining Hannibal and Katrina.”

Lecter paused for a moment as he mentally visualized the twin toddlers and their joyful faces that radiated from the love he and Raven gave them. He then visualized the horrifying illusions Necross had shown him with the cunning serpent’s voice ringing in Lecter’s head.

“You remember when I told you about the first time I transformed shortly after my eleventh birthday?” he began to say, “And the tragedy that resulted from?”

Raven read the pain in Lecter’s face as he was retelling these memories.

“I also mentioned that I would be on the run for the next three months of my life since I would change during the full moon,” Lecter continued, “I wasn’t completely honest with you about my past sins, which is what Necross used to taunt me.”

He took hold of Raven’s hand and squeezed it tightly, trying to hold back the tears watering up in his eyes.

“My parents were not the only victims of my beastly side. The two months that followed after my parents’ deaths, I hunted others and killed them in the same animalistic fashion. Innocent people who were still in the prime of their lives but I snuffed it out of them! They were somebody’s friend, somebody’s child, and maybe somebody’s lover or parent. Necross made me relive the horrors I buried deep inside my mind and spoke about the underlying fear that I have.  What if that monster that took those innocent lives comes back? Not only you and our friends are threatened but also our children. I remember when the Blood Moon came about and how much of a threat I was to the Titans. Another thing that Necross mentioned is what would become of the twins as they get older? They share the heritage from both of us and I’m afraid what will happen when their powers start developing.”

Raven saw the tears come out of Lecter’s eyes. He felt relief from finally let all this anxiety out but now it would be weighing on his mind. Much like when she first learned about Lecter’s mysterious past, Raven would comfort him and try to sooth his inner conflict.

“I am not upset about you not being truly open with me regarding what your past nor do these revelations put a strain on our relationship,” she said, bringing her husband’s head up so he could look into her eyes, “You may have the heritage of a predatory animal but I am not afraid of this monster resurfacing because the Lecter I know would never let anything harm those close to him. Ever since we left the Titans and started a family, I have seen you take on a new role of Lycan leadership and as a caring father. Keeping your love ones safe has become so important for you. You have gone through so much training to maintain control of your abilities like I have. What I see in you now is not some savage beast but someone who has a firm grip on his wild side and will only use against whatever is a threat to his family. What Necross said may ring true because of your past sins but it doesn’t mean that you are destined to only be on this path.

“Like me, you’ve strive to become more than what others told you would be. When l learned what happened to your parents, I said that you cannot let these bad memories rule you and it remains true. You will not bring harm to me, our friends, or our children. And I will always be here for you to offer mediation and other ways to keep this beast from rampaging. As for when Hannibal and Katrina begin to exhibit their powers, we will teach them how to control their abilities and not to fall into the darkness. They have the lineage of my father and the animalistic nature that Werewolves are known for. They will have challenging times as they get older but with the support of their family and friends, they can overcome these obstacles.”

Raven embraced Lecter and kissed him on the forehead as Lecter used her shoulder to cry on, literally. They then shared another kiss as they passionately locked lips. Their moment ended abruptly with the sound of crying from the twins’ room and they ceased their kissing. Both parents figured it was because someone’s diaper needed to be change or someone was hungry.

“Any guesses on who’s crying?” asked Lecter with amusing grin.

“Most likely Katrina,” Raven replied, “She has been becoming very vocal these days.”