"What have you done?" The hushed demand laced with irritation slithered from Klaus's lips. "Leave nothing out."

In an instant, Juliana felt human once more; a mortal exposed and vulnerable, unable to combat enemies of her own making. Ever since their reunion he had protected and saved her at every turn, but how many times would he be willing to understand? Which straw would be the final breaking point? His anger was understandable, maybe she deserved whatever consequences would follow. She had deceived him, even if unintentionally. Perhaps the realization of her relationship wounded him; afterall, she knew the truth, what was her excuse other than loneliness?

"It would be easier to show you." She whispered, reaching a hand toward his face and offering to share her memories.

Gaze never strayed from her, he leaned forward. Instantly, their minds joined, her memories as potent and vivid as though they were living it at present. Crickets chirped from every direction, soft dirt greeting the strong paws pressing down while a soft spring breeze filled their nostrils. The leaves rustled and the grass moved aside as the large golden wolf moved in silence. The memory of Juliana's gaze fell on a young man crouched against an oak tree, a soft blue hue emanating from his palms.

Juliana's voice echoed through the memory, a narrative explaining what unfolded before them. "It was 1588, when the English had begun their settling of the western territories, exterminating the supernatural without hesitation. Witches burned and wolves hunted, I watched them claim that which was not theirs." Juliana sighed, a hesitant tremble causing her words to slow. "I remained in wolf form for much of my time during those years; whether it was intelligence or cowardice, I'm not sure. Easier to survive I suppose, watching the humans build from the shadows." A single image emerged, regret and anger forming a lump in her throat as she forced his memory forward. "It was a full moon the first time I set eyes on him."

Klaus remained statuesque, his hand held over her own as it rested against his temple.

"He was young, and stupid, sneaking off to the woods to practice his magic. Most of the covens around Roanoke had been rooted out, the smart ones blending in and the stubborn sent to their ancestors." Juliana's tongue pressed against her cheek, her head shaking. "I should have let him die that night."

Still enraptured by her memories, Klaus listened as her mind unfolded the tale. Seeing as though he were one with the wolf, the scene flooded his senses; a powerful wolf crouched, watching the witch until movement in the darkness drew their attention. A low growl echoed through the trees, too low for mortal ears to hear. Another wolf stalked him, his lunge toward the witch intercepted by Juliana.

"You saved him?" Klaus's words were more awe-filled statement than question, his eyes fluttering with each movement as though he himself embodied Juliana's wolf form..

She nodded. "Another wolf stalked him, and I had no intention of interfering-" with uncertain breath, she failed to fight back the tears welling in her eyes. Too many emotions to name fell down her cheeks as her jaw tensed. Instinctual protection told her to pull away, to hide the visual from Klaus lest his temper overtake him, but a gentle whisper urged her to trust. A chance is what he asked for; she owed him that much. "He was powerful. I watched him restore wilted flowers to full bloom without so much as a word. Fire danced on his fingertips without command; I thought if he was powerful enough to use magic without invocation-"

"He could remove your compulsion." Klaus's eyes opened, understanding crossing his face as he studied the shame overshadowing her own. Wrapping his fingers around her hand, he leaned back, a small nod encouraging her to continue.

She stopped, her eyes meeting Klaus with hesitance. Perhaps he wasn't looking for something to hold over her head or blame her for. Perhaps he was not in search of an angle or position, but rather wanted to walk this path beside her. Perhaps her Klaus was still there after all. "Yes. My only intention was to use him- at first. I never expected to grow fond of him, to-to-'' the words hung in her throat. Affection had blinded her; maybe it was love once, but undoubtedly whatever it started as, it devolved into unbridled control and manipulation. "When I saw you in France, with the red haired woman, I…" voice trailing off, she waved her hands as Klaus's expression stiffened.

"Aurora?"

"It doesn't matter." She straightened, leaning forward as her tone hardened. "I saw you and how happy you were. You had moved on and I wanted to feel something , anything, so when I saw Killian I thought perhaps it was my chance. A fresh start with someone who understood what it was like to lose everything. To be hated for what you are." Lips sliding between her teeth, she tore her gaze away, fingers threading through her hair as she scoffed. "He knew what I was right away, he could sense the magic in my blood. At first he seemed caring and compassionate; he wanted to help the town despite what the humans had done to his coven in Jamestown. I admired him, if I am to be honest. He sold himself as an apothecary and doctor, using herbal remedies to heal the sick.

"In reality he was just using her blood to heal everyone and calling it medicine." The words rolled with disgust from Damon's lips, his arms folded over his chest as he rolled his eyes. "And he liked kids."

Juliana gave a small nod, Klaus tilting his head as the story unfolded. "I thought it compassion which brought him to the ill and ailing, focusing on the children of the village. They called it a miracle when children sick with plague or scurvy became well in a matter of days; I thought we were helping them, so when they suddenly fell ill once more, their little bodies fragile and sunken in on their deathbed, I couldn't understand it. My blood should have been healing them fully, why were they growing worse?" Teeth gritted together, her fist slammed against the grass. "I wanted so badly to feel that I overlooked the monster in my bed. Over time, each child he visited grew well before becoming ill once more, a cycle I should have seen." She stood, two fingers raised and pushed out before her. "Two years, Klaus, I turned a blind eye to what his magic was doing, going so far as to compel the town leaders away from their suspicions of us, while child after child fell prey to his disgusting lust for power."

"He's a siphon witch." Klaus's jaw dropped slightly as he realized the danger coming for her. "You turned him."

"In 1590, the governor purchased a slave woman and her child. When the child fell ill, they called on Killian. Unbeknown to us, she was also a witch, and ancestor of the Bennett coven; she knew the moment he began to siphon her son's life force." Juliana grimaced as her nostrils flared. The mother's face, coated in dirt and tears, twisted in grief moved to the front of her mind. Agony and regret twisted her stomach, her chest tightening as she fought against the image. "She grabbed my arm and begged me to stop him, fearing what would happen if she revealed herself. I told her he was helping the boy, although I'm certain I was attempting to convince myself more so than her." Juliana wrapped her arms around herself, loose strands of hair sticking to her dampened cheeks. A grimace hidden behind a smile crossed her lips, a scoff carrying the words from her lips. "I can still hear her words. 'How many lives have you helped him take? How many more before you stop him?' I don't know why that question shook me; perhaps it was a mother's desperation or being forced to face the reality of it, I can't say, but by the time I decided to intervene it was too late. The boy was gone. It was a slave, he had no need to be cautious, or so he said." A firm shove against her cheeks wiped the tears away. A thousand thoughts of what could have happened, courses she could have taken, decisions made differently- a thousand scenarios that could have saved the innocents lost.

"What happened next?" Klaus stepped to follow, the earth crunching beneath his heel as he reached for her arm. His words softened, anger softened to compassion. His blue eyes carried the silent concern she saw behind closed doors, love conveyed in the gentle touch of his fingertips against her crossed arms.

"I accused him of witchcraft." Juliana shrugged. "And compelled the village to believe me." She turned to him, pulling away from his touch. She didn't deserve his compassion, not for this. Hatred and regret would keep the memories alive, albeit buried; reminders of what she had done. "I knew what would happen, and although at that point I knew what he was, I still loved him- I think. Like some sick, twisted romance novel, I still wanted to save him." She sneered, peering over the water. "I mixed my blood with his wine" A disgusted chuckled pushed through her exhale. "How twisted is that? I thought if he were sirebound to me, he would lose his magic and his desire for me and my wishes would overrule his desire for power."

"But siphon witches don't lose their magic when turned." Damon added.

Juliana nodded. "Nor are they sirebound. So in my attempt at forced redemption rather than execution, I made the bastard more powerful." She scanned Klaus's face, anticipating fury or disappointment- expecting it; any moment he would stand and storm off, cursing her disloyalty and foolishness, yet all that met her was quiet comprehension. "He burned at the stake less than twelve hours after. He screamed and condemned them, his last breath uttering a curse upon them. History says Roanoke mysteriously vanished, but they were wiped from existence by hatred fueled vengeance in the form of black magic.

Klaus remained silent for what seemed like ages. He stood, pacing as his hand moved along the back of his neck and across his chin. "Why choose to reveal himself now? Obviously you made no attempt to hide from him as you had no suspicion he had escaped."

Juliana rested her hands on her hips. "He wants revenge for binding him beneath the water but more so- Klaus, he wants the child."

Klaus straightened, his eyes flashing gold. " My child?"

"The power behind the Mikaelson bloodline isn't a secret." Damon chimed in. "But one thing that I still can't figure out is why he's not more upset that you turned him in, he's focused on making you pay for drowning him and not killing him in the first place."

Juliana remained silent.

"Because he doesn't know, does he?" Klaus took a step toward her.

Juliana shook her head, her eyes darting into the darkness. "No, and death, true death, would be a mercy for what he would do should he find out." Her pleading gaze fell to Klaus. "He vowed vengeance, Klaus, if something were to happen to you or Hayley, or-"

"Nothing is going to happen to me or any of us." He reached for her arms, his brow raised as he held her gaze. "Whatever demons we face, we face them together. This Killian Grey became my enemy the moment he threatened you and my child; scarce else in this world matters more." A grin flashed across his lips as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Now, what do you say? We head home and get some rest. And when the devil comes calling, we will be ready."

ii

"It will be sunrise soon." Klaus's voice reached her ears, his arms wrapping around her waist as soft lips brushed her ear. "You should sleep."

With a sigh, Juliana relaxed into his hold, their bodies gently swaying side to side. "I can't sleep, not with the knowledge of what waits on the horizon. Mikael, Killian, Marcel, enemies as far as the eye can see yet we have no idea when they will strike. We are forced to sit and wait."

Klaus signed, his warm breath sending chills across her skin. "You can't fight a war, let alone a battle, without taking care of yourself." He pulled her in tighter. "If closing your eyes worries you, I suppose I'll just have to watch over you while you do so."

Juliana smiled, but no words left her tongue. She wanted to believe his confidence, fall asleep in his arms and awaken to a world which bore them no hatred or danger, but that was not the life they had been given. Destiny, the universe, the god of your choosing, all seemed to have nothing but death and damnation in store, determined to make them fight for every moment.

"Juliana." He turned her around, his eyes holding her attention. "I will not let harm come to you, you know that."

"It's not me I'm worried about, Niklaus." Killiana's promise echoed in her mind. A promise to come for the ones she loved; to come for the child. "When I fell unconscious, it wasn't anything Damon did, but rather Killian." She closed her eyes a moment, reminding herself Klaus's touch was real, his promises sincere. "He knows of your child and he hates me for drowning him-"

Klaus frowned. "Juliana, enough." His expression softened, the corner of his mouth turned upward. "You worry too much over what you can not control; perhaps this will settle your rampaging mind."

With curiosity in her amber eyes, she watched as Klaus removed each item of clothing. Without a word or hesitation, his body began to jerk and contort, his bones shifting with audible cracks. Groans and growls of controlled pain rumbled from his clenched jaw as his body lengthened, obsidian fur covering his skin. In a matter of moments, a midnight direwolf stood before her, glowing golden irises searching her face.

Come, rest your eyes as you did so long ago.

The night that changed everything; the night he triggered his curse and found her at her home. The night she fell asleep against his warm coat as he wrapped his head and tail around her in a shield. The last night they spent together for the next thousand years.

Struggling to hold back tears, Juliana smiled as she settled against his side. Eyes slipping shut, sleep greeted her sooner than expected. At least for tonight, she rested safely in the wolf's protection.