text: Would you offer your throat to the wolf. These were the words that formed the written part of the Crest which was displayed above the entrance to the, well what could be seen as a castle but Nick maintained it was just the families country residence. It is always with trepidation that you meet your new love interests parents and family. Lucy had been dating Nick a little over two months and things had been going so well. Lucy had been on a girls break in Aberdeenshire at a spa and they had taken an evening off from the healthy and decided to try out the local pub which was just down in the village. The wolf and prey such a sweet endearing name she thought to herself. Despite the morbid name it was in fact a nice friendly place with a great fun atmosphere. Lucy was just sitting with the girls when Nick came in through the door. He had the most beautiful auburn eyes she had ever seen and a mop of dark brown curls which fell around his shoulders. His eyes she thought almost seemed red when the light caught them. She caught his eye as he walked past and smiled and to her amazement he smiled back at her. "Oh my god" exclaimed katy, not even quietly Lucy thought. "He is lush Lucy ,I saw you checking him out". Lucy wanted the floor to open up she saw him looking around as Katy spoke. "What are you doing he might have heard you?". "It's fine you worry to much". And so they continued their conversation and Lucy was was watching him as he went to the bar and he turned and caught her looking at him and started to move towards the group of girls. And the rest as they say is is history. She was nervous about meeting his family although he was very down to earth and yet had a very fierce and raw side to him he loved being outdoors and especially loved evenings under the stars and they had many late night picnics, which she also enjoyed as she was quite a night time person so it was a joint passion. When they entered the "castle" she was amazed at how unkempt it was almost as though it had been in the family for hundreds of years but not been changed one bit in all the time. Nick's parents met her as they walked in with open arms and an endearing attitude. "It is wonderful to meet you at, we do not always have the pleasure of meeting Nick's young ladies we hear about them and then they tend to disappear from sight, so we are very happy to meet you". His mother said with a smile and the a hug. "Its my pleasure to meet you as well". Lucy smiled as she shook their hands. After a tour of the beautiful and gothic home they sat to eat and then had drinks buy the beautiful stone fireplace it was so romantic she thought to herself. It was Autumn and that was her favourite time of the year, the beautiful golden trees and the blanket of gold leaves embellished the ground and that discernible smell at this time of the year that was always in the air. The wood fires burning, it moved her so much and of course the always beautiful harvest moon, which always seemed bigger and more present. "Shall we take a walk tomorrow it is the full harvest moon and I can show you all the grounds, the lake and the family crypt if you like, it is a bit creepy and at the same time quite beautiful ". Nick asked her. "I would love" that she explained. "I honestly think that I am something of a goth at heart it is amazing how much I am drawn to the eerie side of life". "Perfect that is tomorrow evening sorted". "I do hope we get to see you after your walk, don't disappear on us" Nick's father asked jokingly. Lucy thought how different these people and this place were to her own crazy family. Nick came down to meet them first before meeting his family. Her father was very open and friendly he was so called man if the house but not at all in a misogynistic way but her mother ran everything and was a very strong protective character especially where Lucy was concerned she was fiercely protective of her daughter and there were only certain sorts of boys she would entertain as being "good enough " for her daughter. She said she had a nickname for Lucy, "Lupus" it was it had a deep meaning that only she understood. But as things were her mother totally approved of Nick making him very welcome and to Lucy's horror one night claimed he would make a good mate. So the next day Lucy and Nick spent the day at his parents castle and come the evening of the harvest moon they got set to take the walk of the grounds .The kitchen staff enquired to his parents what should they put together for the picnic. Lucy said anything that had meant in she loved her meat although she was never quite ok with how animals were treated In the process she lived her meat. And so they set off around the grounds it was a beautiful place somewhat haunting and misty. As the evening went on she felt that Nick was becoming a little edgy and uncomfortable as the harvest moon was rising and they were walking around the crypt. "Is everything ok Nick?". She asked concerned at his irritability. "Yes I'm am fine just feeling a bit on edge tonight not many of my lady friends share this with me I do hope your not to scared or freaked out by this place?." "Not at all I love it and the moon is almost at its highest it is so beautiful and bright tonight." He sat her on a stone wall that ran along the outside of the crypt, would you just wait here I have something to reveal to you?" he said "and I do hope it will not scare you away from me." "Of course not a problem don't be long I am so hungry right now?." "Me too". He smiled and disappeared into the crypt. "When he returned Lucy was not where he had left her, the food was open from the picnic and torn up and dispersed all over the floor, he shouted for her but there was no reply and he started to panic as to what might of happened to her Then he heard a low growl coming from behind the crypt he thought there maybe an animal of some sort but there were some foxes around therse parts and deer but no wolves to his knowledge. Then the growling became louder and deeper and as he turned he was standing in front of the biggest wolf he had ever seen mostly because it was standing upon its hind feet. He cowered back and fell against the wall where he had left Lucy and as the creature stood over him drooling and bearing its yellow teeth he called out Lucy's name as if to reassure himself she was still alive. Then to his horror the creature spoke. "I am here Nick". Nick's parents received a letter say he was moving down south with Lucy and he would be in touch but not to worry everything was fine . At the back of Lucy's garden there were several kennels and as she walked down to the biggest and newest cage she knelt down and said good morning Nick as rubbed the nose of the newest arrival. A big husky looking dog that was as big as a wolf.