I lay on my stomach, a plate of food by my side as I read the book that was now propped up on the pillows in front of me. Osckar had left just a few minutes ago to make sure things were running smoothly and to calm the pack. Apparently, after I'd stormed off Osckar threw a tantrum, he prowled around the pack homes snarling and snapping at anything that passed his way. What made it worse was that the news of Osckar killing my parents spread like wildfire. Marie was so distraught after hearing that I'd been part of the reason her son didn't return. I couldn't completely say I was sorry, of course, a part of me felt guilty for killing him but what I did was to protect my parents and myself. I didn't owe anybody an apology, if anything Osckar should be the one groveling right now.

The passing thoughts of pack members increased as they voiced their concerns through the mind link. It was like I was in a crowded room and everyone was shouting at me. The pack was divided and unsurprisingly so, some sided with Osckar, their loyalty weighing in despite his wrongdoings. Some despised me, the knowledge that I was the one who killed some of their loved ones was a betrayal. I coughed up a laugh, thinking they should all get in line. If anything Osckar was to blame for this whole situation. If he'd come clean this could have been dealt with in a different way.

Blocking the outraged members I cleared my throat running my hands gently over the page before turning it, I stopped. It was my family tree, and there I was, my name pencilled in at the bottom in my father's handwriting. At the top of the tree was my great great grandmother, the witch who mated with a werewolf. Her name Cordelia Wells, a Witch of the North, mated to a beta werewolf from the Lycian pack; his name was James.

I gasped, what were the chances that I came across a potential family member even if he was a distant relative, one that helped me during the trials. This couldn't all just be a coincidence. Maybe my father was right, I wasn't completely alone in all of this. Did he know? I had a sudden urge to find out how close I was related to him. My family line wasn't left to just me.

Going down the family tree I noticed a trend, in each generation there was only one child, no more than that. All of them are men until me, the first girl to be born of this bloodline. I wasn't sure if it was a game-changer but I just knew it was something important to consider. Would that be my fate, only to have a child then part with it through an early death? The only one that was fortunate enough to live longer was my grandfather, he was smart, he managed to stay alive and die of natural causes. He wasn't hunted down and killed, he found a safe pack, and well it was safe until they found us. My father and mother's names were also penciled in and his date of birth had been scribbled in but next to it was a blank space for the date of death.

I choked back a sob as I reached into my backpack for a pencil and came back to the book. I scrawled in the date of death for both of them, a tear dropping onto the page. I sniffed and wiped it away. When I could finally compose myself again I continued to read.

According to what's been written in the first few entries, the Witches of Old have had a never-ending grudge against the Witches of the North. It didn't state why and I guess I'll never know. But the moment Cordelia and James' union created a hybrid child they went on the run. They claimed it was a ruling against nature and no child should bear the properties of a werewolf and the magic of Witch. So they made it their mission to destroy the bloodline of werewolves and witches no matter what the cost may be.

"Maybe you should take a break from all that reading." I jumped at the sound of Osckar's voice, I hadn't heard him coming.

I shook my head turning to face him, he was standing by the door frame "No, I've got to keep reading."

He sighed and I felt the bed dip.

"This is not healthy, you've been here all evening and you need a break."

I opened my mouth to protest but he beat me to it.

"Seriously, you've got bags under your eyes and it's almost one am. You need rest, hop in the shower and I'll bring up a light snack for you to eat."

"We might not have time to figure it all out if we go to sleep right now."

"And even if you don't your brain is not going to process the information correctly." He argued, I turned to stare at him.

Did I make the right decision to show him the book? A small part of me regretted it but there were no takebacks. What's done is done. Just like how he'd ordered the murder of my parents. The thought sobered me up a bit.

I didn't like that he was right even if the witches did attack tonight I still wouldn't be prepared for them. Reluctantly I let him pull me up and lead me into the bathroom, I watched as he turned on the taps letting the water fill the tub. He sat me down on the toilet seat and began to pull off my socks.

"I can do that myself," I grumbled moving my feet away, him touching me felt like a betrayal to my parents. It was all so fresh that this was not ok.

I could tell he was making the effort of being the perfect boyfriend but it felt a little too late.

"Just go get me some food please," I said looking away.

...

"Where are we going?" I huffed clutching the book to my side the next morning as Osckar led me through pack grounds. On the outside, we looked like a unit, like we were still happy after what transpired yesterday. I made sure of it, I didn't want the pack to be divided, especially not right now.

Last night though I made sure to put my foot down and have Osckar sleep on the floor. I couldn't be that close to him or intimate in any way. He'd taken it surprisingly well and backed off when I'd asked. I'd come to realise that he was used to getting what he wanted and he was somewhat a bit of a dick. Even without all of the drama that happened over the last couple of days.

"I'm taking you to my favourite spot, away from the noise of the pack."

"And what's with the basket?" I asked, eyeing the basket in his left hand.

"I thought we might get hungry so I thought I'd bring something along."

I didn't say anything as we walked in silence up a slight slope. When the path levelled out we reached the top of the hill, the sight was amazing. I could see most of the pack from here, we'd come up behind the territory. I could see the large packhouse in the middle, then a few houses scattered around it.

"Wow," I breathed. "I never realised how big it was."

He laughed, "Don't forget we count the woods surrounding the border then it's no man's land over there."

He pointed towards the dense trees on the right of the territory.

"I can see why you like it here," I said as he took out a blanket from the basket and fanned it over the grass.

"Oh, yeah?" he raised his eyebrow. "Why do you think I like it here."

"It's the perfect way to watch over everyone," I walked towards the edge of the hill.

"You're right, we've had so many threats in the past I used to come up here every night."

"Well you've done a good job so far," I commented before plopping down onto the blanket. "Now things might not be so great since the Witches are involved."

"It's completely my fault," He said quietly and my eyebrows shot up in surprise, did he just admit he was wrong? "If I hadn't made the deal in the first place then your parents would have been there."

I didn't say anything, he wasn't wrong but I didn't want to comfort him either.

"But you hate me right now." He said looking into my eyes "The way you look at me is different, you look at me as if I took your whole world away. And I did, if I could go back in time I'd undo everything just so you don't even have to look at me this way."

Well, here we fucking are now.

I looked away mumbling "You did take my world away."

"Do you think you could ever forgive me?"

I looked at him in the eye, "You haven't even apologised yet."

He sighed, "This was the start of my apology,"

I waited.

"Calla, I'm so deeply sorry that I lied and ordered the killing of your parents. What I did at the time was just business. And now" he trailed off looking away, "I'll be handling my business differently, this has opened my eyes. What you've been through the last month has been horrific, so I'm deeply sorry for the pain my decision has caused you. Can you forgive me?"

My heart hammered in my chest, I didn't know what to say. He looked sincere and it sounded sincere but I couldn't forgive him. Not now. Not yet.

I licked my lips and looked away, " I can't. Not now. But thank you for the apology."

I didn't look at him, I didn't want to see his reaction but I could feel it through the mating bond. The heartbreak he was feeling right now and it surprised me. If I could feel what he was feeling so strongly then he surely knew how I felt. I didn't have to explain myself.

I barked a laugh. 

"What?" he asked baffled by my sudden sound.

"I just remembered what Bay said to me."

"What did she say?"

"I think it was more of a threat but she wanted me to know that nothing bad has happened to the pack in years and if I fail in protecting it I'd be the downfall of it."

Osckar laughed "You shouldn't listen to everything Bay has to say, she's a bit overdramatic on everything. Let's just say she likes to make herself known."

I leaned back, propping myself on my elbows.

"Seriously, don't worry about it, she'd do that even if you weren't my mate."

I hummed under my breath.

"Let's just finish reading this, I'm sure I saw a chapter called summoning's," I said, pulling the book to me and ending our conversation.

"Why would you need to summon someone?"

I gave him a look. "We could ask for help from my witch ancestors, from what I've read they were more than happy to help protect the hybrids." 

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