Marcus lead us to a small sitting area, despite the neglected appearance on the outside of the cottage, inside was quite neat and clean. Eric moved to a black leather sofa so still pulled along by him, I followed. Freddy sat on my other side and Marcus sat opposite on a single recliner. The man lingered in the corner behind me, his eyes burning into the back of my head.

"Eric, you seem a little tense" I could tell Marcus was trying to provoke him, the mischievous glint in his eye glowing. I couldn't help but glare at him.

"I'm not," he lied, whining like a child. Freddy sighed beside me, seeming to be bored with the situation already.

"The girl asked us to bring her to you Marcus. We merely did as she wanted" I shot a look at Freddy, who was making it harder and harder to actually like him. Unbothered by me, he looked to Marcus who now seemed more annoyed than anything else.

"You, you wanted to see me?" He spat out in my direction, as if it was most absurd thing he ever heard. I merely nodded, my confidence slipping by the second.

"Eric, Frederick, why don't you two and Finn see if we can provide the guest some tea?" His suggestion was an order and I could see Eric fighting it.


"Now brother" Freddy had gotten up and looked back at him expectantly. Eric offered a smile to me and did as they were asked leaving me alone with Marcus. 

"Well, you wanted to see me?" he sat back clearly amused at my discomfort. Before I could think of what to say he started instead.

"All the information I have found out about you is quite interesting Elizabeth. Your mother a witch. Your father a werewolf. So what does that make you?" he wondered, his eyes met mine and I felt the challenge. Any fear I felt left then, sitting up a little straighter in the chair.

"My Mother is not a witch," I snapped, not touching the subject of my father despite the curiosity that was there. He smirked, his hand tapping on the arm of the chair he sat on.

"No? Then how do you think Margaret is here? And I know you know about her. Her magic is all over your house. She died, many many years ago. Someone bought her back" I gulped, he was right. How was she here? Mum had never done anything with magic, if she had wouldn't we know? Catching her outside with Margaret had been strange, how many times had she been out there without me knowing? Sure she had her visions and 'feelings' and she told me Margaret never passed on her knowledge to anyone, not wanting her family to suffer the curse of it. Or so Mum had told me.

"Ah, so I am right then?" I frowned at his words, as my silence was all he needed to verify his beliefs. What was his issue with thinking I am a witch? And what if I was. Aren't his kind meant to want one on their side?

"Enough about me. I came because I wanted to know why you have them follow me. What was going on at the ball but more importantly, what happened that night in the forest." My change of subject threw him and he shifted uncomfortably.

"What night in the forest?" he ignored the other questions and I knew he had the answer.

"You know exactly what night I am talking about" I replied, the more he looked uncomfortable the better I was feeling.

 "Well, that confirms it then, you most certainly take after your mother" he spat out, looking at me like I was nothing but dirt to him. Inside the feeling of the creature inside me stirred, gone was her calming comfort, she was as mad as a tornado and wanted me to knock that look of his face. She did not like the disrespect coming off him and I knew I would have to tell someone about what I was soon. The feelings she sent off were hard to control, what it be like in a few years if I was to be like them? Would I be locked away in a mental institution by then completely mad? I closed my eyes taking deep breaths, thinking calming thoughts when William came to mind. Amazingly that seemed to settle her but the anger was still there.

 "Answer the question," I demanded, my voice dripped with venom as her anger got into my words. Surprised he opened his mouth but nothing came out. He gave a slight cough as if clearing his throat, finally continuing. We both surprised at the power that felt with my question.

 "Well little witch, you must know what happened then. You are so similar to her, yet she had an innocence you lack. One thing Margaret did right was keep Penelope away from magic so she did not end up like you" I was on my feet trembling with anger within seconds of him finishing his sentence. At my movement he was up too. We stood defensively glaring at each other, challenging the other to move first. It was really quite stupid on my part but at this point in time, I didn't care.

 "Back down witch, I sense no power with your magic. You will be easy for me to kill," he snarled, his brown eyes swirling to black. Before I could respond Eric was back at my side, Freddy lingering in the doorway with Finn who all watched curiously. This wasn't what how I was expecting this to go. Marcus looked at Eric, his anger shifting from me to him.

 "You defend the witch?" I rolled my eyes every time he called me that. While everyone else seemed consumed with their own conversation I wasn't privy to I looked at Eric's face that still glared at Marcus. I didn't know about this pack stuff but from the tension flowing between the pair I knew he could be in deep trouble from doing this. Marcus felt stronger and as Eric had told me he was second in command to the alpha, I realized that must mean something.

"I am not a god dam witch!!" I yelled, all eyes snapped to me instantly. "Tell me what happened after Margaret issued the potion! I know you were there and saw it all. What happened to William after she and Lucas took Penelope back to the village!" Everyone looked at each other the mood altering to curiosity instead, though Marcus continued to glare at Eric.

 "Why would you care about our Alpha?" Freddy spoke up first. I could tell he was now interested in me, more than just from their orders to watch me. I felt his connection to me grow, not quite like Eric but it was stronger. Marcus seemed to cringe at his words but didn't say anything. I decided to tell them about my dreams, some of them anyway.

"Since coming here I have had dreams...." Like a child Marcus mumbled 'witch' under his breath but I ignored him. "About that night. It feels so real like I am Penelope and I only know the end from the story where she married Lucas, had some kids and died. I just, I just need to know about the rest" I sighed heavily, thankful of no more interruptions but the silence that followed made me wonder if I would get any answers. Marcus's hatred for witches seemed to be the driving force of his reluctance to help. In what I had seen of him, I never would have guessed him to be like this. I thought he was trusted and friend not a foe.

"Marcus has had you followed to ensure you are not here to cause trouble. The fact two witches, even if one who may not know it yet, moved here when our Alpha had taken refuge within the castle not so far from town. Worse again, you are not just any witches but descendants of Margaret, the one who hid his mate from him. To us, there is no crueler act. We can't help but wonder if you are who you are or something of her making? The ball, well before Parker arrived we had wanted to..... talk, about what I just said. Our Alpha had returned so it could not be a coincident that happened when you came" Finns voice was calm and gentle, unlike his appearance and my surprise could not be hidden. If he was talking, I wasn't going to let him stop.

"What do you mean, your alpha had returned?" Marcus sat back in his chair with a low rumble of a growl, clearly not liking his brother opening up to me. In doing so Eric tensed and Freddy came and sat down where he had before. Had the storm passed or was this the real calm before the storm?

"When William woke up a few hours after the bullets had been removed, he was weak. He wolf refused to heal him and it was weeks before he was able to stand on his own. On the next full moon something got him to get up, he headed into the village and found Penelope. The pair merely stood staring at each other, totally unaware of whom the other was but that woke his wolf up and once we took him home he was back to his old self. Sixty years ago, Margaret finally left this world. I do not know if she planned it or didn't know but upon her death the memory of that night returned to him as her spell had been broken. Of course it had been generations since Penelope lived and the village had changed with the rest of time. Upon finding her grave his wolf left him, he became weaker than before. His mate had died. He left Marcus here in charge of the pack and retreated into his castle. Those balls were only for the pack and other wolves to see he was still alive and to end any disputes. Locals were invited to keep any hostilities from breaking out. For once night a year he lived. The rest was spent away from the world in his own misery" I nodded as he finished. All that time he had been alone in the castle grieving for a lost love. That wasn't even who he thought she was. My heart went out to the poor creature who had been so lost thinking his mate had died. 'But I'm here' the voice confirmed, her happiness obvious.

"I am guessing when you arrived into town his wolf sensed it and returned. We all felt him connect back to the pack as its leader, while Marcus is Beta he is able to step in but as William never submitted power over, when he came back to us all is as it should be" Finn spoke proudly, his loyalty to William obvious as it was with all of them. Yet Marcus still seemed annoyed.

"Does it bother you Marcus, William coming back? Is that why you are so suspicious of me?" I taunted, still sensing something off with him. His hand was around my throat, cutting off the air as Eric and Finn were trying to get him to release me before I could even comprehend what had happened. 

"I was there seeing my Alpha die. I was the one who carried his dead body home. I was the there when he woke up lost. I was the one who was by his side night and day helping him recover. I was the one who kept this pack together when our Alpha was unable to because of YOUR family, witch. I am loyal to him as the day I was born. I WILL NOT let you or your kin hurt him in such ways again" He yelled as the power he contained rolled off him. Black spots clouded my gaze and my eyes flickered close, the voices around me becoming muffled. When I was about to allow the darkness to take over bright blue wolf eyes emerged followed by the dark outline of a wolf's face. Was it was her - my wolf? She gave a slight nod, never blinking and with what strength I could muster my hands grabbed his.

"Le....t  meee..... g-g-go" I managed to croak. Surprisingly I felt his grip lessen but not release, opening my eyes I found his dark ones and stared back. My throat was on fire and pain shot down into my shoulders and behind my head. Taking a deep breath I said it again, clearer. Stronger.

"Let. Me. Go" I commanded. Bewilderment filled his eyes and amazingly he dropped his hand. I held his gaze till finally his eyes dropped to the floor. 

"What magic is this?" he questioned, more of a whisper than anything. At his release my lungs burned as the air invaded them and I dropped to my knees gasping, the pain throbbing with every beat of my heart in my head. Eric was at my side, gently rubbing my back with a pained expression on my face while Freddy and Finn stared, just as in shock as Marcus. As if snapping out of a trance Freddy went and got me a glass of water which I carefully sipped. A few minutes later, I already felt better but could feel the bruising already emerging.

"Where were we?" Staying composed I knew I had the power now, not flinching as I sat back in the chair, Eric glued to my side as he glared at Marcus. No one spoke, not even Finn. I sipped more water, the coolness helping sooth the ache inside but I was determined not to look weak in front of them, as this was a test. 

"Thank you for answering my questions Finn. How does Parker fit into this?" My voice was slightly croaky and not as confident as I would have liked. Freddy sat beside me once again, paying more attention now and Finn sat in the chair Marcus had been. Marcus merely left the room, silent and lost in thought. Inside my wolf felt satisfied, having earned her place over him she relaxed once more. Finding his voice Finn kept talking.

"Parker is Williams brother. When William became Alpha it was only natural someone close and trusted would be granted a place as Beta. But they had opposing ideas on the way things should be and Parker was going off on his own. Pack is family, it is life. A pack looks to its leaders to ensure safety and order. Parker also considered our kind above humans and after a particular gruesome attack on a family outside a distant village William removed his brother's title and gave it to his eldest cousin. Of course Parker acted out and while William would never reject him from the pack, his ties were weakened. Parker lived as a rogue travelling and doing as he wished. A month before the event, Parker went through Penelope's village. The girl appealed to him like no others had in his many travels and seeing her with Lucas jealously got the better of him. He posed as a distant cousin, the humans easy to fool and started to try and make her his own"

I closed my eyes and could see Parker looking at me. Glancing around I was outside of Lucas's butcher shop and looking back to Parker it hit me. I gasped, opening my eyes to see everyone including Marcus back and watching me cautiously. Matthew was Parker. How did I not realize in the other dream? 'Because you were Penelope then. She didn't know so you neither did you' the voice in my head explained. I shook my head, thinking of the tulips, looking back to Finn I faked a smile. "Carry on"

"While she would return his advances, he noticed she was not truly interested in him. She showed the same affection to Lucas and most people she met. She was just an innocent girl who despite having lost her mother saw only the good in the world and the people around her. On one of her Sunday journeys to see Margaret he followed and in doing so discovered William and knew his brother was the one that had her heart. She was just a naïve human. Her affections were built and won like any other, she never seemed to show signs of a mate, and humans do not react as we do so it was expected. We never saw him for many years after that, but we have our suspicions he was the one who gave Lucas the bullets" Finns gentle voice was bitter, his own eyes seeming darker as he talked about it. It wasn't a lot of information but it was enough.

"Has he ever had a mate?" I wondered, if he had one, it would fix things. I could be with William free of his infatuation. Yet Finn shook his head. 

"No, he has never found her," his voice gentle again yet it seemed almost sad. How does someone find a werewolf his soul mate?

"How do you know so much about mates?" Marcus finally spoke again, his suspicions back and thick in his tone. Eric sat back in the chair and without wanting to give to much away I shrugged as Marcus glared at Eric.

"I saw it on Twilight, the whole imprinting mate thing" I lied. No one bought but now the way Finn looked at me I knew he knew. As if hearing my thoughts he winked, smirking. If I really was William's, 'you are' the voice confirmed at my thoughts but ignoring it, I knew Marcus was an important part of his life, of pack life what ever that was and in turn, my life.

"I need to go it's getting late. Thank you for today Finn" He got up and I surprised him by giving him a hug. He and Eric exchange a look and I knew what it is was about while Freddy watched scared of the gesture as he always did when Eric and I touched. Turning to Marcus he tensed. Not risking pushing things with him I merely extended my hand. After a few minutes he finally took it, shaking it with more care than I expected. 

"Thank you for seeing me" I smiled at him genuinely, ignoring the pain that shot up under my jaw. How was I going to explain this to Mum? He gave me a small nod, and I knew his mind was racing as to why I was so calm around him after what had just happened. I followed Freddy and Eric to the door. Back outside Eric seemed to relax and Freddy was well Freddy.

"I'm going home," he stated, leaving Eric and I alone. Half way back to my place I decided I wasn't done with question and answer time. Sensing what was coming up Eric held up his hand stopping me. 

"Not now Beth, ok?" he begged and deciding to give him a break I nodded, he had done a lot for me today and I could see how stressed he looked. After inviting him to stay for dinner I linked my arm in his and we headed home. Yet all I could think about was how we could find Parker his mate and what was really in the future for William and I.