Sarah and Dezra hold hands in front of Raurlin, Jackson and Naomi. They both hold out a hand with a small cut on both hands. They recite the incantation and as they do Raurlin can feel a searing pain behind his eyes and Jackson bends over holding onto his stomach. The black smoke pools on the ground, slightly rises and dissolves. Naomi is stunned into silence.

Sarah sways slightly and Naomi walks to her and places an arm firmly around her waist to keep her steady. She and Dezra performed the same spell on the majority of the pack and few were afflicted but none as intensely as Brody. She was exhausted but she understood her role as the balancing witch in ensuring there would be no further disruption of the wolf pack.

Raurlin settles back onto his feet and soon Jackson does the same. Sarah settles into a chair and shuts her eyes. Her head is pounding. Dez looks pale and tired but she stays standing. Mikain walks into the kitchen and puts the kettle on. The air is cold and stiff.

"Well while we're all here, Sarah and Dez, thank you both for your swift assistance with this matter. Raurlin and Jackson I've been in contact with Stellan and he's put feelers out for the third witch. Benedict is arranging constant checking of our parameters to ensure this doesn't happen again. Naomi, my deepest apologies. In my home you were attacked and I can assure you the same will not happen in future. For now I think you need to rest and recuperate."

"But I feel fine. I can help Benedict..."

Raurlin hesitantly clasps tightly onto Naomi's hand and she falls silent. She gazes down at her feet an unfamiliar feeling settling within her. She recovered suddenly from the attack and in fact felt better than she ever did.

"It's been a trying day for all of us," Mikain continues. "Let's call it a night and regroup in the morning."

They all walk upstairs each step causing further exhaustion. Mikain gives a small tired smile before disappearing into his room. The four all settle in Raurlin's room. Naomi sits on the bed cross legged and Sarah sits down beside her.

Jackson and Raurlin sit in the chairs at the edge of the bed and all of them are silent. Jackson clears his throat.

"Naomi, how are you feeling?"

"I feel fine, Jax."

"Good. The shock could just take some time before fully settling in. Raurlin you stay close to Naomi for now. Sarah?"

"I'm fine. I'm drained. The spell really took it out of me. I'll need about a day or so to recover. We need to have a conversation about the third witch but it can wait until the morning."

Jackson nods slowly and stands up, "then that's settled. Raurlin I'll leave you and Naomi to it. Come Sarah, let's get you to bed."

Sarah nods and follows Jackson out the room. Naomi stands up and walks to the bathroom. "Going to shower." Raurlin watches on, choosing to keep quiet.

He sits on the bed and merely listens as the shower turns on and then again as it turns off. Naomi opens the door and walks out with a towel wrapped tightly over her body. She walks to the bed and stands in front of Raurlin. Her hair is dripping onto the floor.

"Naomi, I'm worried about you. I don't think the events of the day are setting in."

Naomi finds herself battling back tears. She wipes at her eyes and Raurlin visibly saddens. He holds a hand out to her. Naomi holds it tightly and her hands are cold. Naomi leans forward and gently kisses Raurlin. The kiss deepens and Naomi gently pushes Raurlin into a lying position on the bed.

Jackson pushes the door open and flicks the light on. He walks in and turns to Sarah and she takes two steps into the room before her legs completely give in beneath her. Jackson catches her effortlessly and carries her to their bed. He lays her down gently.

Jackson walks to the cupboard and pulls out some clothes. He walks back to the bed and undresses Sarah then dresses her in her pajamas. He kicks off his shoes and climbs into bed beside her. He pulls Sarah into his arms and she is soon sound asleep.

Naomi gently flicks the kitchen light on and holds a finger to her lips and she giggles. She treads across the kitchen floor and pulls open the fridge. Raurlin leans against the counter loving the look of Naomi in his t-shirt and socks.

She pulls a tub of the ice cream out the freezer and eases it into the counter. Raurlin watches on amused as she slowly pulls open a drawer and produces two tablespoons. She winks at Raurlin and tiptoes to where he is standing. Raurlin scoops her up into his arm and she giggles softly. He carries her gently upstairs.

Naomi stirs in her sleep. Her body is stiff and she is tucked uncomfortably in Raurlin's arms. She cracks an eye open. The sun is shining already. Raurlin is snoring softly against the nape of her neck. His breathing sends a shiver down her spine.

She tries to lay still so as to not wake him. The evening had been eventful. Naomi had a deep dreamless sleep and now being awake she feared the previous day's events would engulf her whole. But they don't. Naomi feels good. She feels rejuvenated.

Raurlin jerks awake then kisses the back of Naomi's neck. "Morning doll" he mutters, his voice deep and hoarse. Naomi flushes and smiles. She shoves him off her playfully and steps out of bed. She stretches intently and Raurlin tucks a pillow under his chin with a lazy smile on his face.

"I could get used to this view," he drawls and Naomi does a little shimmy in his t-shirt. She walks to the bathroom and turns the shower on. "Water will be hot soon," she shouts from inside the bathroom. Raurlin rolls out of bed. In the room next door Jackson slowly sits up. He glances over at Sarah who is still sound asleep.

He had awoken several times throughout the night to check on her and she hadn't woken up at all. He laid and just watched her sleep for about an hour before falling asleep himself. He was surprised that he had been affected by the black magick and even more surprised that Raurlin was too. Aside from Lyjil and Stellan, Raurlin is the strongest vampire he knows. Well vampire-hybrid.

Jackson eases out the bed gently and makes quick work with showering and getting dressed. The weather had taken a turn at around midnight and the air grew colder than anything that they had experienced since arriving. He is certain it will snow soon. He walks from his room to Raurlins as quietly as possible so as not to wake Sarah. He knocks on Raurlin's door and after there is no response he assumes Raurlin and Naomi are already downstairs for breakfast.

Jackson jogs downstairs and into the kitchen where the pack is buzzing with excitement as they usually are. There is a definite shift in the atmosphere and everyone is relaxed but there is a flair of excitement. Around the table are the young wolves that Raurlin had been preparing with. Raurlin is seated at the edge of the table next to Mikain. Naomi is sitting beside Raurlin and they are engaged in a conversation with Mikain and Sandy. Sandy looks tired as she rests a hand on her pregnant belly and rubs it slowly. Jackson deduces she will be in labour soon.

He sits down beside Naomi and she beams up at him. He drops a hand onto hers and gives it a squeeze. "I'm so glad to see you're doing better, Naomi. I was very worried about you." Naomi smiles at Jackson and responds "look at me, between you and Raur, literally, I'm okay." Jackson releases Naomi's hand and gives Raurlin a nod. Raurlin nods back and Jackson is amused by his demenaour.

He is slumped into the chair completely relaxed and his eyes aren't that glowing red or gold. He looks refreshed and Jackson can feel a clear sense of calm radiating off of him. Jackson feels a sudden tinge of jealousy which he swallows down quickly. A few of the other wolves begin setting down plates of food on the table.

"Hey, where's Sarah this morning?" Mikain directs at Jackson.

"She's still asleep, the spell really took it out of her. I didn't want to wake her."

"Makes sense. Dez is also in recovery with Brody. Hopefully things can fall in place in preparation for tomorrow. Raurlin, how do you feel?"

Raurlin nods his head slowly "I feel fine actually. I'm more excited than anything. I'm ready to go home. I mean no offense, Mikain but this is about as much excitement an old man like me can handle."

There's general laughter around the table. One of the younger wolves further down the table stands up and he looks at Mikain. Mikain lifts a hand and the table falls silent. The young wolf lifts a cup of coffee and he grins. He is clearly excited. He begins speaking.

"Mikain, our Alpha, we as the young pack undergoing the awakening would like to thank you for facilitating this process. Tomorrow we fully awaken our wolf sides and from there we are all excited to find out where we fit in this amazing pack! You are our Alpha and our allegiance and lives are yours, we are always at your service."

There's a low rumble and banging of cutlery and Naomi feels accustomed to it. She feels a sudden wave of sadness at the thought of leaving the pack and going back home. The rumble slows to a stop and the young wolf turns to Raurlin with a big grin on his face.

"Uncle Raur! Son of Maddox The Destroyer!"

The young wolves all cheer loudly and Raurlin rumbles a laugh and turns to Jackson who is watching on with an amused smile on his face.

"Uncle Raur it has been an honour for all of us to be a part of a pivotal part of our history with you. We thank you, greatly from the bottom of our hearts. Lads, tomorrow we become wolves!"

Naomi stacks the breakfast plates into the sink as Raurlin and Mikain chat with the young wolves about the procedure for tomorrow. Sandy sits on a chair just beside Naomi and she watches on.

"Are you nervous?" Sandy asks Naomi.

Naomi looks over her shoulder and shrugs before saying "not really. I guess I'm more concerned about the process you know."

"I hear you. Off the bat it sounds really concerning but basically because Kain is the Alpha he can force a shift out of any member out of his pack. That's all it really is. It sounds worse than it is."

Naomi sits down in front of Sandy and places a glass of water in front of Sandy.

"Doesn't that mean Raurlin would have to accept Mikain as his Alpha?"

"I'm not sure actually. But he is part wolf. His bloodline built this pack, he needs to be a part of it. Lone wolves don't survive."

Naomi shrugs and glances at Raurlin and merely says "he isn't just a wolf."