I could hardly sleep that night, my blood was churning in anticipation as I waited for the Witches of the North. I tossed and turned my mind coming up with countless scenarios, some that were so absurd I rolled my eyes at myself. Eventually, I succumbed to sleep, but it wasn't for long, I jolted out of bed at the sound of a shout coming from outside somewhere.

Osckar who was still sleeping at the foot of the bed bolted out of the room with the speed of light. I flung the bedding off me and ran to the window, pressing my forehead against the glass as I looked out into the dusk covered backyard. It was early morning from what I could tell and a few wolves darted from the pack house into the trees and hills around us.

I yanked on a pair of jogging bottoms and made my way downstairs with the same urgency everyone seemed to have. But there wasn't fearful energy about, just an edge of excitement that bubbled beneath the surface. If it wasn't a threat then it could only be one thing that could rile the pack up.

I just hoped that it was who I thought it would be. Osckar was not taking any chances until he and I got a good look at our newcomers. He'd sent an emergency patrol group to support the wolves already out there. I watched his figure from the door frame of the house as he stood just feet away dashing out his commands.

Approaching him, I couldn't help but tangle my fingers in his and give them a hopeful squeeze. Osckar looked down at me and I could see that same hope in his eyes, but it was mixed with fear. Something I hadn't really seen in him until now.

Together we walked towards the pair of wolves silently waiting to be addressed. George and Elda, I thought to myself, trying my best to name both of them as they began to speak in unison through the mind link.

I've never smelled anything like them before. They're about a minute out now.

I nodded and took a deep breath as the wind blew towards me and tasted the sweet flowery scent followed by a hint of a salty sea smell. It was the Witches, good or bad I didn't know.

I could hear them now, their footfalls were gentle and light but because everyone froze in anticipation almost holding their breaths it was easier to hear. Roman who stood beside us shifted quickly standing in front of me while the others fanned out a few feet ahead. I let go of Osckar's hand and stood with my feet apart ready to move if I had to. Fight or flight.

Like magic the trees parted, bowing in an archway as four women walking side by side emerged from the woods like something out of a fairytale. All of them, willowy in stature and stunning to look at took long graceful steps towards us. There was nothing immediately that screamed danger to me but I'd learned that something that looks beautiful on the outside could be packed full of deadliness and ugly intent.

As they got closer and I could really see their features, the one in the middle, the one that walked just ahead of the others, shocked me. It was like looking in a mirror and seeing what I'd look like as a mature woman. She had the same shade of brown hair, a few strands caressed her sculpted face that somehow made her look like a runway model.

I could feel the uneasiness that rippled through the pack and Osckar himself. I could feel their eyes on me as they too noted the obvious resemblance. I tried my best to ignore it, I had enough on my plate as it was.

She looks just like you Osckar's voice was soft in my mind.

Still, I didn't take my eyes off of her.

I guess they really are my family. I wanted to believe it, wanted to hope that these distant relatives of mine were really here for me. I was not alone.

Don't be so trusting. Osckar warned as if he knew exactly where my thoughts had gone.

When they stopped I smiled and mustered up all the confidence and authority I had in me.

"You heard my call," I spoke, the words coming out light and chilled.

The leader inclined her head, a warm smile gracing her lips as she surveyed the scene before her.

"We've been waiting for a call like yours for decades," she said, her eyes settling on me, "We lost track of you half breeds three decades back."

I involuntarily flinched at the name she just called me, I hadn't realised how offensive it would be to actually hear it. Osckar softly growled under his breath, sensing my discomfort.

"I am Cordelia," she continued ignoring the growl.

"But how?" I stuttered, she should be long dead by now, I was looking at my great grandmother. "I saw your name in the book. The dates..."

"Witches are immortal, we don't age but we can be killed." She said quickly as if she was tired of explaining already, "I take it the Witches of Old are nearing their attack on you, that is why we were summoned."

I swallowed, "Yes, I need your help."

Cordelia looked at the line of wolves that stood in front of me, the front line. I quickly sent a command through the mind link, They are our guests. The wolves eased and spread out but they were still watching curiously as I took a beconing step towards Cordelia.

"Would you like to come inside?" I asked, half turning back towards the house, "We can talk better around a table with refreshments."

"Agreed," Cordelia said brushing past me leaving a trail of her flowery scent behind.

Xxxx

We were sitting at the pack house dining table, Osckar and Roman on either side of me while the four Witches sat on the opposite side. I told them about my tale, how I ran from my pack and found Osckar. I even went as far as revealing who sent out that death order. Cordelia's eyebrows rose and her eyes slid to Oscakr apart from that she had a poker face. It was hard to decipher what she thought it all if this was something she considered an emergency or not.

When I was done, Cordelia's gaze still rested on Osckar who to his credit didn't shift uncomfortably under that intense look.

"I'm well known for doing the work others are unwilling to do," Osckar began, "So when the Witches came to me I didn't question it. We made a deal whereby in return for killing the beta of the Red Howlers pack It would guarantee the safety of my pack for years to come. As an added bonus they'd enhance our speed, strength and stealth."

Cordelia narrowed her eyes and her voice was laced with venom as she spoke, "You may have guaranteed the safety of your pack for now but the Witches Of Old tend to go back on their word when it suits them."

Osckar shook his head, "We made a blood oath, it's unbreakable, they can't go back on their word even if they wanted to and neither could I."

Cordelia pursed her lips looking back and forth between us then began muttering under her breath. The three witches beside her all whispered under their breaths, leaning into Cordelia like a small council. They hadn't offered their names and I thought it was best not to ask, they were older and stronger and here to help. I'd take their lead for now.

"What is it?" I asked, already knowing whatever they discussed among themselves, I wasn't going to like it.

"I'm afraid Osckar may have agreed to more than he had barginned." she said looking at me with soft eyes.

I turned in my seat to look at Osckar in the eye silently begging him to tell me that she was lying. What more could there be to this already messed up situation? I didn't know if I could handle hearing another lie he was keeping from me.

"I can't," Osckar said shaking his head as if the thought of the rest of the bargain made him sick.

"Think back to the moments you made the deal with those filthy Witches, there must be something that you've forgotten."

Osckar's squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head slowly. It couldn't be that bad, could it? Yes, it could. From the colour draining from Osckars face I could tell it was bad, very bad. Osckar shifted in his seat, moving away from me as he was afraid to touch me.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"I had made a promise to kill one more person if they asked." He looked at me pleadingly now, "I'm bound to do as they say, with no hesitation. They said I'd have to kill you."

My heart shattered in a million pieces as I looked at Osckar, his eyes had welled up with tears as he stared back at me. The one person fate had tied to me was the person destined to kill me.

"They know about me?" was all I could get out, all this time I thought I was safe for the moment. I'd been sleeping in the same room as a time bomb!

Osckar shook his head frantically, "They did say your name, just any living heirs. When you'd said he was your father that's when I put it all together."

I let out an involuntary snort, it wasn't out of amusement but at how tragic my life was becoming. It was like I was in a Shakespeare play where the world burns and the main character is right at the centre of it all. Where their death is the catalyst to a tragic love story.

"And you didn't think to tell me?" I began to see red.

Osckar just stared back at me, he had no defence, no excuses this time to justify leaving something so important out. He'd known all this time.

"I think I know how we could get past it." Cordelia spoke up in the silence, it took a moment for me to process what she'd said, "It's obvious they don't know you're here yet, otherwise Osckar would have killed you in your sleep."

I cringed at the thought.

"We could lock him up in some sort of cell and I could put a magic barrier to prevent him from escaping and potentially killing you. The downfall is the possibility that he will remain in that frame of mind until he kills you. He'll be feral like a wild dog unable to control himself. The Osckar you know will be gone."

I was silent for a moment. Even though he'd done such terrible things I didn't think I could live with myself knowing he'd been fated to such an ending. To know that if he escaped he would still kill me be it a day or a year from now.

"So what can we do to bring him back?" I asked, reaching over to hold his hand in mine.

Shock lit up his face, he wasn't expecting me to ask for a way to save him, not after all he'd done. I'd seen him over the last couple of days beating himself up over it, I could feel his remorse through bond each day. And I hated myself for it but I didn't want him to feel the guilt and torment he'd surely feel after he'd kill me. It would be involuntary but he'd have been the one to do it all the same.

"We need to trap and kill the Witches of the Old. And lucky for you I've had decades to plan."