Enchanting Winter

Willow stares in at her childhood friends in confusion.

“What?”

“They are shifters Lady Willow.” Nicholas responds. “Luke was right about the stench.”

“But how?”

“Our Alpha was sure there was a surge of magic that his San Fransisco fifteen years ago. Our family was sent to investigate for the pack. It appeared though the magic was coming from you and your mum but we weren’t certain until the car accident.”

“Did you…?”

“No! Willow how could you think that?” Clare asks, her tone offended.

“Well you’ve lied about everything else…”

“We didn’t lie Will.” Charlie says.

“You didn’t tell me.”

“Of course we didn’t, what would you have done if we shifted in the middle of your living room.”

“Why are shifters in the non-magic realm?” Anna asks quietly.

Charlie and Clare share a look but it appears neither are keen to answer the question.

“Shadow Pack.” Luke growls.

“What’s the Shadow Pack?” Willow asks.

“I thought it was legend.” Nicholas says. “The Shadow Pack was forced from the magic realm by the first king. The pack was blessed to always have wolves but cursed to be stuck in the non-magic realm.”

“Until a witch with the first king’s magic running through their veins is born…” Charlie finishes.

“Me?” Willow fills in the blanks.

“We weren’t sure. Your mum was using her Wiccan magic to hide you. She cloaked her magic.”

“Why would you need me?”

“You are the key for our pack to go home Willow.”

Willow is once again shocked at her childhood friend.

“Why was the Shadow Pack exiled?” She asks quietly.

“Sacrificial rituals.” Luke grunts.

“If you think my father was bad he has got nothing on the Shadow Pack.” Nicholas adds.

“Willow, how can you not trust us? You only just met these people, we’ve been friends forever.”

“Clare-”

“Please Willow, help us.” Clare begs.

“I don’t-” Before Willow can answer smoke appears as if from no where.

Willow hears Luke shift beside her, Nicholas snarls and Anna and Jonathan are calling her name but something or someone grabs her.

Willow tries to fire off some icicles but none of them seems to hit their mark. Willow struggles and she feels something sharp and claw like dig into her biceps.

Willow calls out in pain.

“Don’t fight it Willow, your sacrifice will mean our pack can go home?”

Sacrifice?

“Please…”

Help me.

There is a flash of light and the smoke suddenly clears. Luke flanks Willow it’s his heckles raised, Nicholas stands teeth barred, ice and snow spin in a flurry around Willow and Clare and Charlie lay unconscious opposite them.

“What the hell just happened?” Willow asks.

“My love.” Cassius appears in front of Willow and for a moment she feels as though she might be hallucinating.

“What are you…what is…” Willow blinks at him. “Hi.”

“Those filthy dogs hurt you.” Cassius says , his index finger traces where claws had pierced the skin on her arm. He laps up the trail of blood with his finger before bringing his finger to his lips. His irises briefly shift from blue to red and back again.

“Where have you been?” Willow asks.

“I must apologise my love. I had some things to take of.”

“Like what?”

“Can we continue this after we get rid of the murderous wolves?” Nicholas comments, his eyebrows raised.

“Right. Jonathan how are you binding spells?”

“I will happily assist my lord.”

Luke growls as he watches on from next to Willow and she scratches behind his ear.

“So, fun weekend trip huh?”