Bernael's POV

　　"As I suspected, you got free with a little persuasion and a gentle nudge!" I taunted, sensing my son's wolf appearing behind me. 

　　"GENTLE!" he hissed, nodding. I turned to face him; "I could have cut off his favourite toy to get him to see sense, so yes! Gentle!" I declared with a bored tone. Locking eyes on my son's bloodied clothes, I smirked. 

　　"I hope they were not expensive!" I sneered, knowing they were. Like me, my son had expensive taste in everything. Turning back to look at the book in front of me, I smiled, hearing the husky voice of Ares.

　　"The blood will come out." He snapped back at me sarcastically.

　　"Hmm." I grinned, hearing the animalistic growl rip from my son's throat and nodded, clicking my fingers. "Yes, but a bit pointless if you have torn them to shreds during your first change." I grinned, sitting on the same padded seat as earlier, watching my son drop to his knees on all fours. 

　　I watched his body in fascination as it was quite an experience. His entire form changed on an atomic level, his bones breaking, changing shape, and mending while his muscles tore and reformed to the new structure. His skin ripped and stretched to take on the unique shape while his body sprouted a mass growth of ebony fur. 

　　Sitting back in my seat, I let out a whistle, impressed by my son's wolf; I had seen many shifters in my time, wolves of all shapes and sizes, but never one as large as my son, who easily doubled the size of any of the usual Alpha wolves I had had the pleasure of torturing.

　　"Demonic Blood", I grinned as he approached, his two front paws stepping up on the table before me; amusingly, it creaked under his weight. Bringing his face close to mine, his blood-riddled teeth snapped at me in what I am guessing was meant to be a threatening gesture. However, all it did was give me an idea of what damage he could cause. 

　　"Impressive!" I nodded, flicking my hand and sending him back and across the room, his claws digging into the wooden floor, splintering the antique flooring. Sighing, knowing it would cost a fortune to fix, I stood and brushed off any imaginary hairs he had left upon the expensive fabric of my suit. 

　　Grasping the opportunity, he charged at me again; this time, I transported using one of my angelic gifts. I appeared on the balcony above him; I watched him look for me, scanning the room. Whistling, I grinned as his blood-red eyes narrowed on me venomously. 

　　"What's wrong? Can't tap into Damiens's powers- like he does yours!" I challenged with a mocking wink! 

　　"Ares: he was a Greek god of war! That is where your name comes from! And take it from someone who has met the arrogant son of a bitch! He would not be impressed by a weakling like you!" I provoked, already knowing Ares, like his namesake, was vain and didn't like to be heckled. 

　　Something he would need to work on if he were to be of value to me! 

　　Gripping the metal bar of the balcony, I leapt over the side and dropped down, planning to land on the back of my new pet and see just what he was made of. But surprisingly, he vanished just like I had, reappearing behind me. His teeth clamped down on my shoulder, tearing muscular and cracking bones, throwing me aside like a discarded rag doll; I grinned proudly, shutting off from the unbearable pain as I got back to my feet. Ares, not slowing his assault, had embarked on another attack. 

　　"Enough!" I roared, holding my hand up to halt my son's feral wolf, impressed by how quickly he obeyed my orders. I could hear Damien's confusion as he and Ares communicated. 

　　"Why did you stop?" Damien asked nervously.

　　"I had to!" Ares groaned, trying to push against the ancient magic. 

　　Smiling as I pushed my dislocated shoulder back effortlessly as if it was nothing, I nodded to the water jug I had used earlier. 

　　"You didn't think it was just wolfsbane I shoved down your chops, did you?" 

　　"What did you do, father?" Damiens's concerned voice boomed through Ares's head. 

　　"I did what you should have done from the start!" I seethed, coming to stand before my son and his wolf. "I Got your wolf under control! You had your chance, son! Now he will do my bidding! AS WILL YOU!" I grinned, tilting my head to the side. I pulled out my phone and walked off to my luxurious seat, sending a quick text as I sat. 

　　"Sit!" I ordered, and obediently Ares did! 

　　"Good dog!" I laughed, ignoring my son's requests and pleas for a second chance, but he knew better than to seriously think I would allow him any further say in our mission.

　　He would submit or die! 

　　Dante's POV

　　"I am getting sick of my phone pinging only to see I am being called upon like a fucking servant!" I growled as I followed an actual servant through the large doors of the Blackwood manner to where I was told Bernael was waiting for me. 

　　Pausing, I eyed the large wolf before me, looking it over with intrigue as it sat on its hind legs, looking at me with what I knew to be hatred. 

　　"How's my wife and child?" I smirked, knowing it would ruffle the kid's feathers. I let lust wash over my face as I thought about her while approaching the remarkable wolf; his black fur ruffled as he growled. 

　　"Damien, I assume?" I quizzed, and Bernael nodded at me smugly, confirming my thoughts. Walking around where the beast sat, foaming at the mouth to attack, I stopped inches from his face. With my hands behind my back, I circled him again, slower this time, assessing his strengths. He was a big boy! He would prove an asset in the war to come.

　　"His feet are as large as my head." I noted out loud. 

　　"The perfect size to crush someone's skull," Bernael replied coldly.

　　"The magic I sense binding him gives you full control over him?" I asked, already knowing the answer. I could feel the potency of the spell coming off him in waves, which made me smirk wickedly. It would be some time before Ares was back in the driving seat- if ever!

　　"Yes." His response was again frigid, but I cared not; this was not a friendly visit; it was pure business!

　　"I would like to see precisely how far your control goes!" I added, opening the beast's mouth and checking his teeth with a satisfied and impressed nod. 

　　"Have him attack the girl! Maim her, not kill her! I still need her!" I requested although we all knew it was no request! Everyone in the room was fully aware I was testing not only Bernael's control over his wayward son but his intentions and feelings towards his daughter and our bargain.

　　"Done." Bernael shrugged as Ares stood, his full size even more impressive. "And anyone who gets in the way", He added, nodding for his son to leave.

　　"Do not touch her face! I like her pretty!" I laughed; I am not very often shocked, but seeing the wolf vanish before my eyes took me by surprise. 

　　"A wolf with both demonic and angelic abilities! Well, there is something you don't see every day!" I laughed, nodding to Bernael.

　　"How does it feel to have sent your son to inflict pain on your daughter?" I asked, genuinely curious I had heard that Bernael was ruthless and calculated, that he loved no one and nothing more than power. Seeing him shrug plainly, I knew the rumours were indeed correct!

　　He cared for no one! Not even his children! 

　　Perhaps this was the start of a beautiful friendship after all!