Naomi holds onto the woman's hand who she found out was named Jaime. Stellan is standing beside Mikain. He slept for the rest of the day and Mikain wanted to ensure the rest of the day would run smoothly for the young wolves. Naomi and Sarah spent the day with Jaime making sure she was okay. Once Stellan woke he freshened up and changed and they all regrouped in Mikain's office.

Naomi is stunned to see Stellan having fully recovered. He is taller and larger than Mikain and the way he carries himself makes Naomi regret being so casual with him. He crosses his arms over his chest as Raurlin shuts the door.

"Thank you for accommodating Jaime and I so quickly. '' Stellan directs at Mikain. "Your help and hospitality does not go unnoticed."

"It is both my pleasure and my honour to have you here, Stellan. Now please tell us what happened."

"It seems it was a coup on the ground level. Only Jaime, Lyjil and I were at the compound and they attacked. We were unprepared and outnumbered. I did my best to not kill any of our own."

"Lyjil?" Raurlin pipes in and Stellan just shakes his head.

Raurlin's head drops.

"The way they fought was so primal I haven't seen anything like this since the war. I figured it was magick that did this. I understand you had a similar incident earlier at which point the witches were able to assist?"

"Yes it was a black magick spell" Sarah explains "we still know nothing about the third witch and haven't had time to try and track her down. The awakening was yesterday."

"I see. Well then tracking down this third witch should be our top priority. Sarah, if you're comfortable perhaps you could work with Mikain and I to try and pinpoint the third witch's location?"

"What of us, Stellan?" Jackson asks.

Stellan turns to Mikain and Mikain nods.

"Secure the perimeter and ensure that we have an emergency protocol in terms of children and the elderly and those who cannot fight."

Mikain frowns at Stellan and he asks "are we anticipating an attack?"

"They weren't there for me, Mikain. They wanted Raurlin."

Naomi feels an instant and sharp anger and she grits her teeth.

                                                                                                          ❄

Naomi comes to a halt behind Raurlin as he braces against a tree. After they regrouped with Mikain and Stellan they broke into groups with Benedict and some of the other wolves to do a physical perimeter check. Sarah and Dezra are working on a protection spell to ensure no one else on the property is affected by any more black magick attacks.

Raurlin punches the large tree and his fist lands squarely in the middle of it. Naomi gasps and she rushes to where Raurlin is standing. The wolves around them come to a halt and Naomi waves them on. They continue a slow jog. Naomi gently eases Raurlin's fist out the tree and she picks at pieces of wood that are sticking out of it haphazardly.

Raurlin shuts his eyes tightly, a surge of extreme anger building within him. Naomi watches as his chest rises and falls with heavy breaths. He opens his eyes and the colour is something completely different. It's a combination of that bright red and bright gold. His claws extend effortlessly and his fangs drop from his mouth. Naomi pulls him into a hug.

Raurlin strains against Naomi before giving into the hug and sobbing into her shoulder. Naomi stands motionless holding him tightly as he cries against her. His body racks with the effort. His breathing steadies quickly and he straightens and wipes at his eyes and nose. His body has returned to it's human shell.

"I know you're angry at yourself for not being there, Raur. None of this is your fault."

"I know. I keep trying to convince myself that that's true. But we lost a good man to a senseless battle. He is...was the oldest of our kind. His death brings the death of an era. He was the strongest of us. And now you'll never get to meet him."

"Lyjil?"

"Yes." Raurlin laughs suddenly and Naomi frowns. "The last thing he said to me was that I should be with you. It was an insult and a compliment all in one. That's the kind of man he was."

Naomi smiles, feeling a tinge of sadness. "We'll be home soon my love then we can give him the farewell he deserves. For now something is coming, something big. A lot has changed literally overnight. We just need to make it through this first."

Raurlin nods as the group of wolves come jogging back towards them. They all regroup and start the jog back to the house. One of the wolves is a wolf that Raurlin had gone through the awakening with. He is the same wolf who dubbed the nickname 'uncle Raur'. He falls into stride beside Naomi and Raurlin.

"Hey Uncle Raur can I ask you something?"

"Yes Rhonan."

"Something big is coming..."

"That's not a question, Rhon."

They come to a halt a few feet away from the house and Raurlin glances around them.

"I know Uncle Raur but Mik only has us do a physical perimeter check when something is wrong and this is my first official one and I just went through the awakening and I guess I just-"

"-Rhonan" Raurlin drops a hand on his shoulder and looks deep into Rhonan's eyes "you will be okay. You're surrounded by the strongest of our kind, the strongest of the vampires and the strongest of the witches."

Raurlin turns his attention to the rest of the group as the group with Jackson and Benedict join theirs. Raurlin continues speaking and Jackson watches on from the back of the group.

"This is not a repetition of history. We are not fighting each other, we're fighting a common enemy. We're all on one side and I pity anyone that would attempt to come against us."

His eyes slip back into that gold-red colour and almost instinctively the wolves eyes change colours. Jackson's eyes gleam an instant red and Naomi's match clear as day. Jackson looks around him at the other wolves and he steps forward and steps in front of Raurlin.

"Thank you everyone for your assistance with this. Go home to your families, eat and sleep. We do not know what morning will bring."

Raurlin turns and continues his walk to the main house and Naomi walks beside him. The other wolves retreat to the forest and others make for the main house. Jackson remains standing outside. He stuffs his hands into his pockets and he looks up. It's cloudy and there isn't a star in sight. Stellan walks from the front door to where he is standing. Stellan stands beside Jackson and he looks up at the sky.

"Your Majesty. My sincerest apologies. Raurlin and I should have been there. Nothing can be said to change that. Lyjil lost his life because of our absence."

"Death is a peace he made with himself when he agreed to be my right hand. It's the same fate you accept by being Raurlin's right hand. Jackson I will be honest with you. I don't know what will happen from here. All I know is I feel the same way I did before the war. Many of the afflicted men are our men. They're good men. I would hate to see so many lives lost."

"I understand. The only way to beat this battle is to ensure it never comes to combat."

"It's my understanding that you're close with the witch."

"Sarah."

"Yes, Sarah. If experience tells me anything, she's the key to all this. And as for us, we live to fight another day. For that we thank the Gods."

Stellan walks back to the house and into the front door. Jackson remains standing outside alone in the dark and the cold. Snow starts falling and with that he makes his walk inside. At the dinner table Mikain is seated with Armon, Dezra, Sarah, Naomi and Raurlin. Jackson sits beside Raurlin and the group look between each other.

"Vampires, understand I do not hold any resentment towards you despite the war being brought to my front door. Witches, you sisters gather strength from each other. We do not know what tomorrow brings. Hybrid, the first of your kind, my deepest apologies. You have not been afforded time to truly discover who you are. But with the vampires you have a home and with the wolves you have a home. Now let us rest."

With that everyone disperses from the table. They all make their way upstairs in silence. Each goes into their own rooms and the doors are shut followed by cold silence. Sarah settles onto the bed cross legged and she opens her grimoire in front of her. Beside her Jackson is standing by the balcony looking out the window.

Sarah jots down some notes in her journal beside her. She flips through pages quickly and she writes intently, completely engrossed in her work. She doesn't notice as Jackson showers and changes and slips into the bed beside her.

"Sarah, it's late. You need to get some rest."

'I think I've figured it out, Jax. I need to fine tune the details or I'll kill him."

Naomi directs Raurlin to the bathroom and she tells him to stand in front of the mirror. She sits on the edge of the tub and watches him. Raurlin frowns at her through the mirror.

"What am I doing here, doll?"

"How do you make your eyes change colour?"

"Naomi come on."

Naomi shakes her head and she cuts into her palm with a small knife that she had conveniently placed in the tub. Raurlin rolls his eyes and turns to face his reflection. Raurlin takes a step back then another step forward and closely examines his face. His fangs drop out followed by his claws. He looks at his hands frowning and he turns to Naomi. Naomi is equally as perplexed as she examines her palm which is completely healed.

"It could just be that you still have my blood circulating. This is a lot to take in. Hybrid huh. First time I've really been called that. I think it's kind of catchy. Raurlin the hybrid."

Naomi chuckles as she follows Raurlin back into their room. She flops onto the bed and Raurlin settles beside her and pulls her into his arms. Naomi lies against his chest and listens to his heartbeat.

"Raur?"

"Yes doll?"

"I'm scared."

Raurlin's arms tighten and he kisses the top of her head. They lay in silence and all through-out the house there is an eerie silence. Everyone feels an undeniable level of fear and uncertainty. There is hesitation and confusion. And undeniable fear. Fear of not knowing what is to come.