Chapter Seventeen
–Ellie–
IWASN’T SURE what stirred me awake after hours of making love to Tavish in our cottage, other than it was important.
When I realized the Viking sword was not where Tavish had rested it the night before, my heart sank because I sensed this meant our time together was dwindling.
After I quietly dressed and slipped outside, I spied a gray wolf pup sitting near the cliff’s edge, watching me with a dagger in its mouth, and knew I was right.
The Viking sword had turned into a dagger, just as it did for my sisters before they ultimately made their way to Sutherland Castle.
Where I thought that might be good because it could mean there was hope for me, given the blade would allow me to communicate with Tavish and the MacLeods on Sutherland territory, the feeling was fleeting as I gazed into Blaze’s eyes. I wasn’t sure why, but it was.
He was taking the Viking blade, but it wasn’t meant for me.
Nonetheless, as our gazes held before he trotted off in a northerly direction, I knew it was nearly time to leave.
So I sat on the bench and waited, knowing Tavish would sense I was gone from our bed and come to me without realizing the blade was gone.
Then I continued fighting back sobs while my heart shattered into a million tiny pieces as I said my goodbyes, however subtly, and made love to him one last time, knowing I would have to hold onto these precious memories for the rest of my life.
And every moment wrapped up in his strong, safe arms was perfect, until I had no choice but to slip away.
No choice but to chant myself into appropriate clothes for traveling.
And no choice but to break both our hearts again.
I gave him one last lingering look, so I could memorize everything about him, knowing it would have to sustain me for eternity, before turning away and following the same route as Blaze.
Yet I should have known better than to think I could slip away so easily.
Not when I had three powerful sisters.
“Did you really think we were going to let you leave without at least saying goodbye?” Aspen said when she and my sisters intercepted me on the woodland path, and my surroundings took on an enchanted vibrancy, shifting me into Willow’s Morrow.
Trying to stay strong, I managed a small, wobbly smile and shook my head. “I guess I thought it would be easier this way.”
“I don’t think any of this is easy,” Willow said, as teary-eyed and troubled as the other two. “There’s got to be another way. We just need time to figure it out.”
“Yet there is no more time,” came a soft, feminine voice with a modern-day accent, before a lovely woman around our age appeared with auburn hair and emerald eyes like Hazel’s. Smiling warmly, she shocked us all. “Hello, my friends. I can’t tell you how happy I am to finally meet you in person.”
“It’s you, isn’t it, Storm?” I exclaimed, recognizing her even though we had never met, because who else could it be? Seeing her was like reuniting with an old friend, and I knew my sisters felt the same way. “It's really you.”
Storm had written letters to my sisters and me over the years, helping us through our difficult childhoods while fueling our young, fanciful imaginations with talk of a dashing hero. Then, when the time was right, she urged the four of us to move into the house in New Hampshire.
Although we had yet to meet her, we’d since learned she was a wolf shifter who traveled back to ancient Ireland from our New Hampshire house.
Not just that, but she was also a good friend of Broderick and, without him knowing her angle, had anonymously worked to help him and his clan navigate this pact through the four of us sisters.
She had also ensured that Blaze, a wolf pup from her tribe, had arrived to help us here in medieval Scotland. He had since proven helpful, indeed. Last we knew, he was hiding at Sutherland Castle, keeping a discreet eye on Lilias’s daughter, Marjorie.
“Yes, it’s me,” Storm confirmed, nodding at us. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t approach you sooner.”
“It’s okay, you’re here now.” Aspen embraced Storm and blinked back tears. “Thank you for all your help over the years.”
“I second that,” Hazel said, embracing her next and then Willow, all of us overly emotional because we were happy to finally put a face to the letters. Something we thought might never happen.
Yet I had a feeling as she turned my way and embraced me, holding on a little longer, a little tighter, our time together would be short-lived. My sisters would be able to keep her in their lives, but not me.
“I’m so sorry, Ellie,” Storm said softly, blinking back tears when our eyes met again. “I wish I had better news.” She shook her head, and a tear slipped down her cheek. “I really do.”
I kept the emotions coursing through me from my face because deep down, I had always known this was coming. As expected, my sisters didn’t take the finality so well.
“You can’t be serious,” Willow said, comfortable speaking plainly even with Storm.
She frowned at our fellow time traveler and shook her head.
“Surely, there’s got to be something we can do because Ellie can’t end up in that monster's hands for a day, let alone the rest of her life. Hell, I’ll hide her in the Morrow if I have to. ”
“And if you do, everything I foresaw will come to pass,” I reminded gently, trying to calm my sisters even as I did my best to bury my own fears.
“Would you be able to do that if you were me?
I don't think so.” I shook my head and looked each sister in the eyes.
“None of you would, and you know it. In fact, you proved it in one way or another on your own journeys.”
“She’s right,” Storm said, her tone gentle. She looked at us with pride. “You’ve all been so courageous putting others before yourselves, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
“Only because you helped us every step of the way,” Aspen reminded, considering Storm.
“You seemed to have a good idea about where we would end up on our journeys and steered us in the right direction. So what happens if Ellie doesn’t go?
Is it as she foresaw, with the overwhelming bloodshed?
My death? The death of my unborn children? ”
“Yes,” Storm confirmed on a heavy sigh. “Or so I assume because I’ve never been able to travel to any time after this, except the twenty-first century, and that’s remained as it should be. So we can only assume the pact was fulfilled and the Sutherlands never reaped havoc beyond Scottish borders.”
“Nor is there any record of them doing anything drastic within the borders, either,” I said, trying to see the silver lining. “Which means they didn’t abuse the power they gained from mine and Dugal’s union.”
“Could there be a loophole we’re just not seeing?” Willow wondered, frowning at Storm. “A chance, Ellie won’t have to see this stupid pact through?”
“If there is, I don’t know about it.” Storm shook her head again. “You have no idea how much I wish I could say otherwise.”
“And what about our father?” Hazel wondered. “Where is he? Have you been working alongside him to make all this happen?”
“Yes, but it’s been years since I saw him,” Storm confessed, looking at Aspen, and with good reason, considering Broderick had once thought he was in love with her.
“After Broderick left me and my mate, Callum, in medieval Ireland, I traveled here to make sure he was okay, but I was intercepted in this very woodland by your father, Malcolm Sutherland. If I didn't know better, I’d almost say he knew I was coming. Honestly, I got the feeling he knew I wanted to make sure Broderick found the kind of love he deserved.”
“And he showed you how that might be possible,” Aspen said softly, seeming to understand. “It would require more than you might have bargained for over the years, given you had to befriend four little girls from the future and help steer them to their fated mates, but you were willing to do it.”
“Of course I was,” Storm said. “Not only because I love Broderick like a brother and knew he would do the same for me, but because the pact sounded awful for any woman, never mind one from my own era. Dugal and Elspet sounded awful. As did what your father said would happen to this country. So it was the least I could do, not just for Scotland and the four of you, but for Broderick, who risked his life for the Wolves of Ossary.” She looked at each of us, her wolven eyes flaring.
“And I’m so glad I did because it gave me a chance to know you and come to love you like you were family, wolf or not. ”
“How, though, when we had no way to write back?” Willow wondered.
“Through your father and how fondly he spoke of each of you,” she replied, surprising us. “And on my own, when I tracked you, however scattered across the centuries we were.”
“Where was he, though?” Aspen wondered, frowning. “It sounds like he traveled back in time often. And where is he now, since he clearly staged his own death?”
“I couldn’t say other than I suspect he’s close,” Storm revealed.
“After he was banished from Sutherland Castle and made his way to the future with your mother, Marjorie, he traveled back often enough to keep an eye on the Sutherlands and the MacLeods. He devoted countless hours to devising a plan to save all of you from this pact, or in my opinion, curse.”
“So we’re not completely without hope yet,” Aspen said, focusing on the positive and thinking like the leader she had become, despite Storm agreeing I had no choice but to go.
“Or should I say Ellie’s not without hope, or Tavish, because our father might very well still have something up his sleeve. ”
“He could,” Storm conceded, looking just as hopeful, yet I sensed her uncertainty because she couldn’t time-travel beyond this point.
At least not here in Scotland. “And I pray he does because if anyone could find a way out, it would be him. He’s powerful and determined to save the poor witches destined to get sucked into this pact. More so, his own flesh and blood.”
She was about to go on, but trailed off when we both sensed something at the same time. Moments later, I caught sight of Blaze with the Viking dagger still in his mouth, as if waiting for me to follow.
“It’s time to go,” I said softly but firmly, certain of it. “The Sutherlands are only going to get more persistent, and they’re trying something different now. I’m not sure what, but we can’t risk them figuring out how to get any closer to the MacLeods or you and your babies, Aspen.”
“The bastards,” Willow muttered under her breath, picking up on it as well. “They’re trying to mess with the Morrow, and I’m afraid Elspet might be able to do it if given enough time.” She swallowed hard and looked at me. “She’s determined to get to you no matter what it takes.”
“I know.” I felt her dark presence growing closer, tugging at me almost as much as Dugal’s. “And she’ll figure it out if I don’t go, so it’s time.” I shook my head when my sisters were about to argue. “There’s no more debate here.” I held out my arms. “So bring it in one last time.”
Fortunately, they did, not helping me feel any better with their silent tears, but I got it because I would feel the same way.
I looked each of them in the eyes after our group hug, and told them the only thing I needed to keep me sane, and they knew I meant it.
“Promise me you’ll look after Tavish because he’s going to need you.
All of you and the strength you can offer. The family unit only you can give him.”
“I wish you wouldn’t talk like that,” Hazel said softly, her voice shaky with emotion. “But if it comes to that, of course, we will. Always.”
When Aspen and Willow agreed without hesitation, I knew he would be all right. It might take time, but eventually, he would be okay, as children were born, and he was surrounded by love.
I embraced Storm one last time and asked her to look after my sisters, and she promised she would.
So after taking a deep, shuddering breath, I finally set out on the path I had been traveling without looking back.
Best that they see me walking bravely into my future with my head held high rather than hanging my head in misery and fear.
Better they remember me for being strong even when all my strength left me as I walked out of their lives into a terrifying future.