I own nothing but my own words.
Chapter 7: Is That A Challenge?
Hope looked at her pile of books and wrinkled her nose.
Yes, she still had two more classes to make up, but she didn't really want to work on them while she was with Ryan.
But, he insisted. Plus, it was almost March, so she didn't have that much time left.
Muttering to herself, she shoved her math and literature books into her bag. Those classes were the least fun because there was nothing magical about them. But, there was a curriculum that needed to be upheld by all accredited schools.
She laughed to herself wondering if Ryan ever had the pleasure of learning complicated math formulas. With any luck, he would give it a hard pass so they could focus on other things like how long they could make out before they had to come up for air. There had to be some science behind it. And that would definitely make learning fun.
Next, she tossed a change of clothes in the bag and headed to her closet.
"What're you doing?" Alyssa asked, leaving the bathroom in her jogging gear.
"Packing," Hope said, pushing hanger after hanger, needing an outfit for dinner the next night. "I'm staying at Ryan's tonight, by the way."
"Huh," Alyssa said, walking to her side of the room to pull on her sneakers.
"As per our deal…" Hope looked over at her pointedly.
"Mums the word," Alyssa said.
Hope nodded, still a little wary but also a bit more confident since they had future plans now. No way would Alyssa be a part of that if she screwed Hope over.
Pulling a simple floral dress with a v-neckline out, she deemed it appropriate enough for meeting Lizzie's beau.
As she packed it and other accessories into her bag, she regarded Alyssa silently.
If she really wanted to give Alyssa a chance at being friends, then maybe she could try that morning…
"Mind if I join you?" Hope asked.
She could tell Alyssa's immediate reaction was a resounding, No. But the school's mega bitch must be trying to turn over a new leaf because she caught herself.
"Suit yourself," Alyssa shrugged.
Hope turned back to her dresser to pull out something comfortable to jog in. She had some time to kill before yoga anyway.
"No Lizzie yet?" Hope asked, joining Josie on the mat next to the brunette's.
"She'll be here…eventually," Josie murmured, side-eyeing Hope. Lizzie was being difficult that morning, and she wanted to tell Hope about it but… had Hope really just arrived with Alyssa?
Alyssa chose the mat in front of Hope, bending down to stretch.
Seeing her, Hope began her own stretches.
"You guys walk together?" Josie asked.
"Hmm?" Hope glanced up from stretching her legs. "Oh. Yeah. Went jogging this morning too."
"If you could call it that," Alyssa said over her shoulder.
"She wasn't exactly cheerful about it," Hope said out the corner of her mouth, amused. Alyssa preferred silent morning jogs, so whenever Hope attempted to talk, Alyssa would run faster. Hope wasn't a distance runner so talking quickly became a non-issue in her bid to catch up. Thankfully, once she stopped trying to talk, Alyssa slowed down to a jog again.
Josie nodded and resumed her own stretches in preparation for class.
Huh, Josie thought. Jogging with Alyssa would be a good reason to go off campus without raising suspicion if she needed to.
Things with Wendy hadn't gone as planned.
While the witch wanted help and had no problem using the list of safe houses Josie gave her, she wasn't too keen on staying in the basement of the school. It was too much like prison, because it technically was a prison.
And trying to glamour Wendy to stay at the school in some capacity didn't make sense to the renegade witch either since neither Josie nor Jade actually attended classes there.
She had to admit, Wendy had a point. She was just going along with Jade's plan, but there were way too many holes.
So, instead of them sneaking Wendy on campus yesterday, they had gone out on a 'date' as a cover to get a burner phone to her so they could contact her whenever they needed to, and vice versa.
Josie was amused at the irony. Lizzie and Hope had told her a lot from when Hope and Clarke were on the run. Using Clarke's own tips for avoiding Triad to avoid him now? Masterful.
Wendy couldn't go shopping or show her face anywhere in Mystic Falls without chancing a camera or any number of Triad members spotting her. It was up to two thirds of 'The Js' to get her everything she needed. They just had to be extra careful in case they were under surveillance.
If Josie joined Alyssa on her morning jog, she could find out the path the other witch took and set up a drop off point. It would mean waking up super early until they could figure out exactly how to help Wendy disappear for good, but she didn't mind.
"Sounds like fun," Josie said. "Maybe I should join you sometime too, Alyssa."
Alyssa's shoulders stiffened, but she bit out an annoyed, "Fine."
The instructor had already begun directing them when Lizzie finally arrived.
She stalked to the mat on the other side of Hope but stood with her arms crossed, glaring at Josie.
"Mom? You sent Mom?" Lizzie huffed.
Josie shushed her, glancing around hoping they weren't disturbing the rest of the class.
"You wouldn't get out of bed," Josie whispered, stretching her arms over her head.
"So?" Lizzie said. "Maybe I wanted to sleep in for once. Ever think of that."
"I'm glad you're here," Hope whispered, following the movements of the rest of the class.
"I'm not," Alyssa said over her shoulder from her graceful position. "You really could've done with more beauty sleep."
"See?" Lizzie said. "Even Alyssa thinks you should've just left me alone."
Josie shook her head, changing positions with the rest of the class. There was no way she was going to agree with that. Lizzie loved yoga. She thought it was a brilliant idea when their mother decided to offer it. Lizzie looked forward to yoga every week. There was only one reason Lizzie would choose to remain in bed instead of going.
She was depressed.
Josie wouldn't allow Lizzie to sink into the depths of her own mind and push away the things that made her happy. She may not know personally what her twin was experiencing, but she wasn't going to sit around and do nothing… except, she didn't know what to do so she got Mom.
"What did Mom say?" Josie asked.
"That if I went to yoga, I could sleep in tomorrow," Lizzie said. "So, don't even try to wake me up."
Josie nodded. Smart. Mom made a deal with her knowing if Lizzie did her morning yoga exercises, it might help her out of her funk. Exercise did produce endorphins. She was taking 'Health' as an elective at Mystic Falls High since they didn't offer things like 'History of Witchcraft'.
"Well, I, for one, am looking forward to dinner with Jack tomorrow night," Hope said, trying to lighten the mood, but she was getting even more worried about Lizzie. "So is Ryan, I'm sure."
"Oh," Lizzie said, glancing away. "Right. That."
Josie nodded at Hope. Reminding Lizzie of her plans was a good thing too. Hopefully she didn't decide to cancel them tomorrow.
The most worrisome part of all though… Josie was pretty sure Lizzie was taking her medication.
So, what was going on?
"If I promise there won't be any extra bodies, will you let me drive you into town again?"
Hope smiled and shook her head, "It's alright, Ethan. I already ordered a Lyft. And I know last night wasn't your fault. It was just one of those things."
"Cancel it," Ethan insisted. "I really need to get away before the fight…and talk to you."
"Okay," Hope had to agree. She knew the fight wouldn't be an easy one, especially not for him.
"I should probably be… I don't now, pummeling a sand bag to prepare, but…" he shrugged.
"Keep it fresh for the fight," Hope said, putting her phone away after she canceled in the app. "Ready to go then?"
"Yeah," he nodded.
After climbing in to his truck, she asked, "So, what's up?"
"Am I crazy?" he asked, starting the truck and driving off. "Do I really have a chance at winning?"
"Where's all the confidence from yesterday?" she asked.
"Oh, it's there," he said. "Hiding behind this mountain of self doubt that sprang up over night. I should've just fought him last night."
"No, you were right," she said. "It's better to do it in front of the pack. They need to see you win."
"I got that idea from you," he said.
"Me?" she asked. "I'm not an alpha."
"You're basically the alpha of a god," he said.
"You mean Fenrir?" she said. "How did that…?"
"Remember all Crescents had that dream before Thanksgiving," he said. "I am a Crescent. I just didn't understand until I heard about it later."
"So, since Fenrir made sure the pack saw my fight, you thought it best the school pack see you win," she nodded. "I get it."
"I just didn't think I'd get so restless waiting for it," he said. "And then there's the part where Raf is half vampire and I'm not."
"I fought Fenrir as a wolf only," she said. "No magic, no vampire power. And I won. I nearly died though. At least you won't have to worry about that." With her order, Rafael wasn't allowed to kill Ethan. That sire bond finally worked in her favor for once.
"Yeah, thanks for that," he said. "Got any tips?"
"Never lose focus," she said. "We're known for our temper, being unable to control ourselves when the rage gets the best of us. Remember what you're fighting for and why it's important to you."
"Right," he nodded.
"Also remember that just because he's a hybrid doesn't mean he's more powerful than you," she said pointedly. "You're a Crescent, a Labonair. You have all the enhanced powers of a hybrid; you're just not part vampire."
"Do you really think I can win?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said. "I do."
"Wish you could be there," he said.
"Nah, you don't need me," she said. "You just need your pack."
"Thanks, Hope," he said.
"That's what family is for," she said.
He sighed, "Speaking of family…"
"Don't think about it," she said. "I know he's part of your new family unit, but this isn't about that. This is about what's good for the pack. When you win, he'll adjust and move on."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Family is supposed to be always and forever," she said. "If he's really part of your family, nothing will change that."
"I hope you're right."
"Believe me," she said. "When it comes to Rafael, I can almost guarantee family is more important than pack." He already proved that time and time again by putting Landon before them. It didn't make him a bad person; it just meant he wasn't really cut out for alpha status.
Ethan came to a stop out front of the apartment.
"Do you need a ride later?" he asked.
"No," she said firmly.
"I promise, just me," he said.
"Lizzie's picking me up," she said. Of course, she wasn't picking her up until tomorrow, but Ethan didn't need to know that.
"Okay, then…"
"Good luck, Ethan," she smiled warmly. "You'll do great!"
"Yeah…"
He was still asleep.
Hope stood in the open bedroom door, smiling fondly at Ryan sprawled out under the covers in the middle of the bed on his stomach.
Knowing him—and she did quite well—he was naked under those sheets. Apparently those weeks on the road with her, he only wore clothes because she probably would have maimed him otherwise. That was just one of the many things that changed once they took their relationship to the next level.
She knew they were in no way conventional. She knew most people would assume they were going too fast. But she couldn't care less. When it came to the way she felt, she just knew. He was the one for her. Most would probably question the way they met, and how they were enemies long before they became lovers. But, she read a quote once that she thought described them perfectly.
The idea of showing someone the worst parts of yourself first and still having them fall in love with you spoke volumes of the depth of feelings shared.
She had seen the worst of Ryan. She knew exactly what he was capable of. And she still loved him. She knew he was trying to change—to learn what it meant to really be human. He was trying to care about the world, especially since it was pretty much his mom. But he was also trying to be a better person, and she wanted that for him because he wanted it for himself. But no one was perfect and everyone made mistakes. Even if he found himself struggling with the darkness again, she would still love him through it all.
As for her, well, it had taken her a while to be sunshine and rainbows with him. He got the full brunt of the worst parts of her personality first: her temper, her stubbornness, her disdain for him. And yet, he had seen past all that and fallen in love with her. Even more amazing? He did it while not even fully understanding love at all.
She knew he still hadn't seen the very worst of her, mostly because she hadn't seen it yet either. But one day that darkness would present itself—perhaps even worse than his own—and she didn't doubt for a second that he would stand by her the entire time.
Walking to her side of the bed, she pulled up the covers slightly and grinned. She was right—naked as per usual.
Kicking off her shoes, she slid under the covers, cuddled up against him, placed her hand on his back, and rested her head against his shoulder.
She kissed his skin, felt him stir beneath her, and decided to trace her fingers lazily, enjoying his warmth, happy to just be with him.
"Hey," he murmured, barely opening his eyes.
"Hi," she whispered, kissing his back again and continuing her finger movement.
"What're you drawing?" he asked.
"A portrait of us," she said with a smile. She wasn't drawing anything, just content to be touching him, but now that he mentioned it… she traced out the letters I-L-O-V-E-Y-O-U and kissed him a few more times.
"Did you see her?" she asked, knowing he usually used sleep to meet with his mother.
"No," he mumbled. "Only dreaming of you."
He shifted, and tried to look back at her.
She moved to his side again, resting next to him and moving her hand from his back to his face.
"Though, nothing better than the real thing," he said, his eyes meeting hers with a soft smirk.
"Oh, I know," she smirked back then met her lips to his.
He reached up to her face, needing to touch her too while their lips danced softly, pressing more and more firmly with each caress. He shifted to his side, turning over, and fell onto his back all the while kissing her.
She moved her hand across his chest now, tracing circles over his skin and through the patch of hair that covered him.
"You're wearing too many clothes," he said against her mouth.
"That's because I came to study," she murmured back, but sank deeper into the kiss after that, enjoying his mouth too much to be distracted for long.
He moaned and reached for her, wanting to rectify the clothing problem.
She grasped his hand to stop him. Pulling back, she shook her head.
"This morning is just about you," she kissed him again. "I went for a jog, did yoga, even gave out fight tips already."
She traced her tongue across his bottom lip, loving the way his eyes darkened even more. Their mouths met again as she went back to tracing her fingers across his chest and down to his stomach.
She murmured, "I'm very much awake, but you need a little assistance, so…"
He barely heard her as he focused on her hand's downward descent.
She kept kissing him but traced her hand down his stomach to his cock, taking him in hand and gripping him firmly, loving the smooth velvet feel of him.
His kisses dissolved into open mouth moans, wanting to pull her against him but she was in complete control, moving her hand over him. He held back since she insisted she wanted to pleasure him alone. He heard that part through the haze, so he focused on enjoying her ministrations knowing he would definitely be returning the favor later.
He nearly protested when she pulled her mouth away from his completely, but then she slid under the covers with a devilish smirk that had his pulse jumping. When her mouth joined her hand, he acknowledged that she had succeeded in her endeavor.
He was very much awake.
Talking with Hope had done a lot to alleviate the tension Ethan was feeling.
He could do this. He had to do this. He wanted to do this.
He felt like he was born to do this. He knew that sounded a bit crazy because he was so new to everything and school only lasted a bit longer. But the fact remained, the Salvatore school was supposed to prepare supernaturals for life outside of school. Becoming and being alpha, it would definitely prepare him for the real world. Not that he had any idea where he belonged in the supernatural world after graduation, but he had figured things out thus far. He would figure out that part too.
And he had super friends to help him along the way.
There was only one more thing he wanted to do before the fight, and it was definitely long overdue.
Talk to Jed.
Jed was always busy lately with his other school, and Ethan barely got to see him even though they lived at the same place. As alpha before Rafael took over, Ethan owed it to his friend to tell him his intention. He didn't know if Jed would give him his blessing, but Jed would be a member of his pack if he won.
When he won.
"Jed!" Ethan called out when he saw him in the hall talking to Josie.
"Hey, man," Jed nodded.
"You got a minute?" Ethan asked, smiling apologetically at Josie. "I wanted to talk to you."
"About the alpha fight?" Jed asked.
"Yeah…" Ethan said.
"It's cool, man, I mean, you issued the challenge already, so what's there to talk about?" Jed said, shrugging.
Ethan didn't like the sound of that… He glanced at Josie who was looking away uncomfortably. "I just…wanted to… check in before the fight."
"Like, I said, it's cool," Jed shrugged again. "Best of luck."
Jed looked down the hall, like he was late for something—or just wanted to get away.
"Look, I gotta go," Jed excused. "I'll see you later, Jos," he nodded at her. "Later, E," he barely nodded at Ethan before he took off.
Ethan watched him go, knowing he was missing something but having no idea what. He was also disappointed.
"You know," Ethan murmured to Josie, "I figured things would change when I came here, but I thought it would be for the better. And they did…except with Jed."
Josie shrugged, "He's been acting different for a while, so I don't think it has anything to do with the alpha fight."
"What is it then?" Ethan asked.
"Well, when you win the fight, I guess your first order of business is to suss it out," Josie said with a smile.
Ethan nodded. He couldn't disagree.
He returned her smile, "One thing I do miss is when the five of us hung out together. We should do that again. It'll be even better since we all know our superpowers now."
"Something tells me Maya might not be too down for that…" Josie hedged. Maya may be polite, but she had broken up with Jade for a reason. Plus, Josie had spent most of their hang outs pining for Jade while keeping Ethan at a distance. She had no desire to repeat that ever again.
"She's much better around vampires now," he said. "Raf is practically our cousin, and she has no problem with him."
"Raf isn't a vampire though," Josie disagreed, but honestly his words just made her even more resistant. She already lost her boyfriend to his ex, she wouldn't let history repeat itself with her girlfriend. At least with Jade, she knew Maya's rejection hurt her enough that she would never give her another chance—she hoped.
"I'm just saying," Ethan said. "I don't think she'd have a problem hanging out like old times."
"Just get through the fight first," she said instead of agreeing to something she had no intention of agreeing to.
"Yeah," he let out a breath. "Since you know about it, I don't suppose you'll come see me fight? Cheer me on?"
Josie laughed, "Who doesn't know about the fight?"
"What do you mean?" Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"E, everyone is going to be there," she said. "Word travels fast at this school, and a fight at any school can not be missed. I'll be there. But so will the rest of the school."
"But it's a wolf thing…" he said. "Why…" He stopped talking because she was right. A fight for alpha would be that weekend's greatest entertainment. No one wanted to miss it and would be talking about it for weeks.
"I'm sure you'll do great," Josie insisted. "And yes, I'll be cheering you on. The vamps, not so much."
"I imagine not," he said with a wince.
Why, oh why, hadn't he just fought Raf last night?
"You should go."
"What?" Landon shook his head. "No. I need to be here for you."
"Land, I appreciate that but as alpha I should stand on my own," Rafael said. "And as a phoenix with a mother who wants to bond with you, you should go meet her in town square."
"There'll be other times for bonding," Landon said. "This is too important."
Rafael disagreed. Nothing was permanent in this world, not even death apparently, but Seylah wasn't immortal and Landon needed her more than he realized. Rafael would very much like to meet his mother and talk with her—if she were still alive—so he had to insist that Landon not miss the opportunity to do so with his own mother.
"That's too bad," Rafael said, "Since I already told her you were coming."
"Why would you do that?" Landon said, shaking his head. "I don't want to go."
"Actually, you do," Rafael said sheepishly. "Or, at least she thinks you do. I messaged her on your phone."
"So not cool," Landon frowned at him.
"So unless you want to break your mother's heart," Rafael said, "you're gonna go listen to some indie music with her."
"Raf, I need to be here," Landon said.
"No, you don't," Rafael said. "I've got this, Land. This is about the wolves, not you."
"…And since you only became alpha because of me, you don't want me around to remind the wolves of that," Landon finally put all the pieces together. "I get it." He sighed.
"So, just go," Rafael said. "Even if you don't say a word to Seylah, enjoy the music."
"Right," Landon shook his head. "So, I guess I'll…"
"I'll tell you how it went later," Rafael smiled at him.
"Good luck, buddy," Landon said, reaching out to him.
Rafael gripped him tight in a bro-hug. "Thanks, man."
The hybrid watched his brother leave and let out a deep breath.
He had to win.
Life hadn't been easy for him lately and he needed something once everything he was going through was over…
Because once he broke the sire bond, he was certain he was going to lose Hope forever.
She hadn't forgotten to re-issue her command when they got back to the school last night. She didn't hesitate to tell him not to come near her again until the sire bond was broken.
As much as it bothered him staying away from her, he still had a connection to her as long as the bond stood. He still felt her when she was near. Once the bond was broken, he wouldn't have that. And he wouldn't have her friendship either.
He pushed away her attempts at friendship when she was with Landon; and, now that she was with Clarke, he could tell she was going to be the one to push away his attempts when this was all over. Attacking Clarke had ruined everything. She barely looked at him in the truck last night.
He felt like he lost a lot of himself in all of this too. That's why he needed to be alpha. That was the one part of himself he hadn't lost, and he refused to let it happen.
The fight was set to start really soon. He would spend that time mentally and physically preparing. He was stronger than Ethan. He had been a wolf longer. He was going to win.
"Hey, Raf?" Jed said, knocking on the door Landon left open on the way out. "Got a minute?"
"Not really," Rafael said, in the middle of a leg stretch. He had to focus completely on the fight. Jed could wait.
"Oh, uh, okay," Jed said, looking around and shuffling awkwardly.
"Once the fight is over?" Rafael said, switching legs.
Jed nodded but barely looked at him.
"How is it out there?" Raf indicated the direction of the field.
"Crowded already," Jed said.
"Great," Raf said with very little enthusiasm.
"Lot of wolves…and a lot of vamps," Jed said. "The vamps are all rootin' for you."
Raf stood up, "What about the wolves…?"
Jed sighed, "Not many, no."
The hybrid nodded, "You're probably hoping he wins too."
"No," Jed shook his head.
"Yeah?" Rafael said, surprised. "Thanks."
"Not gonna lie…" Jed said. "I think I'm the only one."
Rafael nodded stiffly.
"I'm gonna, uh, go," Jed said, eyes downcast.
"See you after," Rafael said.
"Yeah…" Jed left, angry at the entire situation. He knew Ethan would make the better alpha, but he really wanted to talk to his current alpha. He put it off too long, making excuses to himself, knowing he should talk to his alpha because he would help him. If Ethan won though…it would be too late. It was Rafael or it was no one. He should've known Rafael wouldn't make time for him though. There was a reason the wolves had turned against him.
Rafael turned away and braced a fist against a wall.
None of the other wolves were there to support him. He had been their alpha for nearly a year now, and he didn't have anyone to blame but himself for it.
It made him angry at himself for not taking it serious enough when he should have, but it only renewed his determination to win. He would win and then he would prove that he could be a great alpha.
The fact that the vampires would be there to support him made him hate an audience even more. Just like with Landon, the wolves didn't need to see others who weren't wolves support him more than his own pack. The vampires probably saw him being a hybrid as another win for them.
"Uh, Raf?" Wade said from the doorway.
He really should close that door.
"What's up?" Rafael asked.
"Just letting you know I'm here to support you," Wade said. "Do you need anything?"
Rafael had a sinking feeling. Phoenix, vampire, fairy: he had the support of everyone but the ones he most wanted. It didn't matter. He would win, and then he would win back the support of the pack.
"Not really, but could you close the door?" he asked.
"Sure thing," Wade nodded. "See you out there. And good luck."
"Thanks…"
Clarke was using his tablet to read summaries and character studies for one of the books in Hope's Literature class. It figured the only two classes she had left to catch up on had nothing to do with magic at all.
Since he couldn't help her with modern day mathematics—what Triad agent ever needed to use Calculus anyway?—she was sitting against the couch end with her legs sprawled across his lap, her textbook and notebook in hers. She was working diligently, intent to get through the next chapter as quickly as possible.
After his wake up call, he was surprised they managed to get out of bed at all. But he had insisted she bring the books, and catching up with the classes were important to her.
So, he was currently stuck reading about Jane Eyre without reading the actual novel. She had started it but only got a few chapters in. He would've preferred to help her with the other novel she had to read. The Basic Kafka was much more his taste and fit perfectly at the Salvatore School. Being alive when most classic literature was written, he had read a lot of it, but he had never been all that interested in the romances. Given Jane Eyre's nod toward the supernatural though, it was also fitting for her school.
As he clicked on a link for the next character analysis, an alert came across his notifications indicting the latest field report for Operation: Von Brandt. He insisted all reports about Wendy be sent to him as soon as they posted.
Grateful for a reprieve, he reviewed it quickly, not expecting anything to stand out, but reading the list of arrivals to the Salvatore school the evening before gave him pause.
22:07 - 2025 Chevrolet Silverado, brown - Ethan Machado, Hope Mikaelson, Rafael Waithe, Landon Kirby.
He glanced up at her but looked back down before she noticed.
Hope didn't have to tell him everything. He knew that, and she knew that…but she knew he had a problem with Rafael being around her. That's why she gave him the command to stay away from her in the first place. The hybrid was dangerous and had tried to kill him. Who's to say he wouldn't lose control and hurt her? Her even being at the school when Rafael was there worried him. So why didn't she tell him about last night?
He took a deep breath. Stop, he told himself. She didn't have to tell him everything. And, yes, she was a tribrid and could protect herself…but she wasn't invincible, and if she died… He shook his head. He well knew the potential consequences of her activating her vampire side.
He wished she had told him because now that he knew, he wanted her to know that he knew but he didn't know how to come right out and say it without sounding like he was accusing her of something.
"Remember that case I told you about?" he asked instead. "The possible fire monster who didn't sound like a monster?"
"Yeah?" she said, looking up.
"It's a witch," he said. "It's Wendy Von Brandt."
"You mean, Wendy? Prison world, Wendy?" she sat up straighter.
"We think she made contact with Jade this week," he said. "I've had people keeping an eye on her."
"You think, but you're not sure?" she asked.
"I'm sure, but no visible confirmation has been made," he said.
"I can keep an eye out for her too?" she offered.
"It's Triad's problem. We'll handle it," he said. She had to focus on her classes. She didn't work for Triad yet. Besides, he had already alerted the school's headmaster to the situation…for all the good that would do them.
"Okay, but if I see her I'll let you know," she said with a smile.
"Since I know contact's been made, we're keeping a closer eye on Jade and all of her friends," he said.
"You mean like Josie?" she asked.
"And Jed and Wade," he said. "Also, since we can't get on school grounds, we're keeping track of everyone arriving and leaving the school."
"You don't really think Josie or Jed or Wade would help a criminal?" she asked, frowning.
"They would if they don't know she's a criminal," he said, wondering if she would figure out what he was trying to tell her or would he have to spell it out? At least she would understand why he knew though. He wasn't keeping tabs on her.
"So we'll let them know," she said. "Just talk to Doctor Saltzman. He can call an assembly so everyone can keep an eye out."
He shook his head, "That would only spook her. I knew she'd come here. She'll run if she knows we tipped everyone off."
"So that's why you want to keep track of everyone coming onto school grounds, in case she tries to sneak in…" she trailed off suddenly.
Sighing, she put her pencil in between her books, closed them, and tossed them on the coffee table before leaning forward.
"Ethan's Mom made him drive Landon and Raf back to school last night," she said. "That's why you're telling me about this. You want to know why I was with them."
"No," he shook his head. "I want you to know that I know."
"It bothers you though," she said. "That I didn't mention it."
"No," he shook his head again.
"Then it bothers you that I was near him," she concluded.
"He's dangerous," he said.
"Ethan couldn't say no," she said. "I would've just taken a Lyft but he was already on his way. I used the sire bond to let Raf near me for one car ride and when we got to school, I told him not to come near me again. End of story."
"I don't need an explanation," he said.
"Well, you got one anyway," she said. "I know Rafael is a problem, but I can handle him when I have to. It was just one car ride. I didn't think it was a big deal."
"It's not…" he said.
"Could've fooled me," she sat back, wondering why she suddenly felt like she had done something wrong. It was a stupid situation that was over and done with. It wasn't like she and Rafael were alone in the truck. She barely even spoke to him. Ryan was making her feel defensive and she didn't like it.
"So you got a Lyft here today?" he asked, trying to change the subject and failing.
"No, Ethan drove me," she said. "But don't worry. I made sure there wasn't a hybrid stowed away." Her stubborn sarcasm seeped through.
"Hope."
He sighed. She was annoyed with him. This was exactly what he was trying to avoid by telling her the full story.
"And Lizzie's taking me home tomorrow after dinner," she continued.
"I'll send a driver for you from now on," he said, thinking that was the best way to avoid any trouble in the future.
"Okay, Ryan? I need you to stop," she said, sitting forward again and holding her hand up. "You can't micromanage me. That's not who we are."
"I'm not—" He wasn't trying to control her. He would never do that. "Look, getting a ride is a problem," he tried to explain, feeling a little bewildered. "Let me help."
"I can handle it, okay?" she said as gently as possible, trying to reel in her annoyance. He looked so confused and she realized she may have overreacted. He was worried about her and after his own interaction with Raf, she knew he had every right to be. That pesky temper of hers had slipped out. Werewolf gene, ugh.
"Okay," he agreed without arguing further. He wasn't sure how their conversation got so out of control. Maybe he shouldn't have let her know that he knew, he did keep some things from her but those were necessary to protect her. This was different.
Once she got a hold on her temper and pushed it away, she realized what the real problem was. She should have told him. She tried to tell him everything. She should have told him last night before she even left, but they were having a great evening and she didn't want anything to ruin it.
"I'm sorry," she said, feeling badly. "I should've told you."
He shook his head again, "You're right, it was just a ride."
"I should've told you," she said again. "I promise from now on full disclosure in all things Raf."
He nodded, feeling a great deal of relief at her words.
She stared at him for a minute. It had been a long time since they had an exchange like that, in fact the last time was probably before they got together.
"Wow," she said. "I think that was our first fight."
He raised an eyebrow, "It was more of a disagreement…and we've fought before."
"I mean, since we became us," she said.
"It still wasn't a fight," he said.
"That's too bad," she said, studying him with interest.
He laughed, "I can't say I agree with that."
"I've heard the best part of fighting is making up," she said, grinning ruefully now.
"Want to make up with me then?" he smirked.
"I don't know…" she said, pulling her legs in and sitting up next to him. "I mean if we were fighting, there'd have to be some aggression, right?"
"Show me," he said, grateful that their argument seemed to have passed.
"Like this?" she asked as she reached her hand around the back of his head and yanked on the curls, pulling his head back sharply.
"Hair pulling," he said, staring up at her. "Yeah, I can see how that's aggressive."
"Well, and we do already have our own personal form of aggression," she said suggestively.
"What might that be?"
Letting go of his hair, she snaked her hand around until it found his throat and she gripped him firmly but a bit more gently than she ever had before.
His breathing hitched.
He couldn't resist doing the same as he brought his own hand up to wrap around her throat, but he made sure not to grip her too hard either.
"Oh yeah," he nearly croaked out, his voice revealing exactly how turned on he suddenly was, "I remember this quite well."
They stared at each other for a moment, remembering how things had changed since the last time they were in this position. Then they let go at the same time to both work hurriedly on their own pants.
He unbuttoned his and pushed at them a bit frantically, shifting to slide them down only as far as he needed to.
She pulled her bottoms off completely and straddled him in record time.
Stroking and then holding himself in position for her, he groaned as she slid down and completely took him inside of her, her knees resting on either side of his thighs.
They grasped at each other's throats again, still not gripping too hard, but she used it to hold onto him as she began moving her hips.
Gasping, her gaze went from his eyes, down to his throat, and back up again, increasing her movements.
He put his other hand at her hip, needing to hold her and guide her as he pushed up with each of her downward movements, hissing out his desire.
At one point she leaned back slightly, still gripping him but moving so he stroked her inside at a different angle. They both breathed heavily, moaning and gasping, riding the waves of pleasure for as long as they could.
She increased the rhythm as she got closer to her peak.
When she finally came, she jerked forward, involuntarily gripping his throat tighter as she lost herself in sheer bliss.
The clenching of her inner walls, and her hand, had him exploding hotly and gripping her more tightly as well.
When he started coming back to his senses, he let her go immediately, not wanting to hurt her.
She sank against him, burrowing her face into his neck, kissing him there softly even as she rocked gently against him, still enjoying the feeling of him inside of her.
"Make up with me anytime you want," he murmured, panting and clutching her to him. He buried his mouth into her shoulder, kissing her softly.
"How about we go to the bedroom and make up some more?" she said, her lips moving against his neck as she spoke.
As much as he wanted to…
"We can't," he breathed out. "You need to get this done."
"You really want me to do homework right now?" she asked, amused as she was still wrapped in his arms.
"The way I see it, if you don't catch up, you don't graduate," he said.
"I'll catch up," she said.
"And if you don't graduate, that means another year at the Salvatore school," he went on anyway.
"I'll catch up," she repeated.
"I'm making sure you do," he replied. "Call our future make up sessions my incentive for resisting." Not that he wanted to argue or fight with her, but he definitely hadn't been expecting that from her. Being with her on her journey of sexual discovery was definitely one of the highlights of loving her.
She drew back, still amused, and took the time to draw her finger across his bottom lip.
When he attempted to take her finger into his mouth, she teasingly drew her hand away.
"Math, it is," she declared with a laugh and a kiss before detangling her limbs from his and searching for her pants.
He worked at pulling his pants up while he watched her find hers and tug them on. Had he really just said 'no' to spending the afternoon in bed with her? Was he out of his mind?
She settled back on the couch and resumed working in her math textbook.
"I don't know when you'll ever use those formulas again in life," he said. He had survived eight hundred years without knowing any of it.
"College, remember?" she answered sweetly.
He decided to stretch out on the couch, resting his head next to her knees, looking up at her.
"And remember you don't have to go to college?" he pointed out.
"But I want to," she said, still working on the next problem. They had talked about this before. She knew he wanted her to be done with school, but that wasn't what she wanted. It didn't stop him from mentioning it every once in a while.
"Don't you want to help supernaturals?" he asked. "You can learn to do that better by working with me at Triad than at a human college. What would you even major in?"
"I don't really know yet, but college has always been like a rite of passage," she stopped working and looked up at him. "It's something I want to experience, though I figure I'll probably study plenty of different things in my life. I mean, think about it. Once I activate my vampire side, who knows how long I'll live, but it might be tons of life times just like you…
"I could have a different career in each of those lives," she continued. "I could major in occult studies or art or graphic design; I could do social work or just create tons of art work and fake my own death to see if I could be one of those artists labeled as one of the greats only after death. I could be legendary." She giggled.
"I can be anything I want to be and not just choose one thing for the rest of my life. It's pretty exciting because I don't have to worry about making the wrong choice. If I don't like it, I can just start over again."
"Very astute of you," he said, thinking that she hadn't once mentioned Triad. Triad was his, yes, but he wanted it to be theirs one day…
She winked.
"I hope the same can't be said of you for me," he said, one side of his mouth curling up the way she adored.
"Oh, definitely not," she denied immediately, smiling at him. "You're the one constant that I will always want. You'll always be the right choice for me."
"Forever," he said, referring to the Mikaelson family motto.
"You know it," she said softly.
"So, I assume that means plenty of years of college in your—and my—future," he groaned inwardly at the thought.
"Well, we'll just start with the first four," she laughed. "Maybe another four in, oh say, seventy years?"
"I'm okay with that," he smirked, relieved.
She started back in on her notebook as he fell silent.
He should get back to reading about the tragic beginnings of young Jane Eyre, but he was still thinking on their conversation.
"I don't ever want you to die," he said softly, "but I know you have to so you can live forever with me."
"I know," she said, glancing at him again.
"Not anytime soon though," he said, mind going immediately to everything they didn't know about her being a tribrid and what that could mean for their future—their family's future.
"Yeah..." she agreed but looked back down at her book quickly. "Ok, back to math. Only five more chapters to go. I'm trying to get through two before tonight."
He groaned.
"Where's Josie?"
"I'm not talking to her right now," Lizzie grumbled.
"Huh," MG said before sitting next to Lizzie on the bleachers.
"Shouldn't you be sitting with your coven?" Lizzie said.
"Only witches have covens, Lizzie," MG said. "Though, is there a special word for a group of vampires? I mean, wolves are a pack, fish are a school, crows are a murder, vampires could be..."
"A gang?" Alyssa said, sitting down behind them.
"Not really where I was going with that," MG said.
"Surprised to see you here," Lizzie said to MG. "Aren't you a pacifist?"
"True," MG said, "But I'm here to support my buddy Raf."
"You mean you're here to support the vampire side of the hybrid in control of the wolves," Lizzie said, rolling her eyes.
"If the vampires rule two thirds of the school, where's that leave the witches?" Alyssa asked.
"I'll tell you where," Lizzie said. "Not in a good place. Clearly I'm here to support Ephram"
"You don't even know his name," MG laughed.
"So?" Lizzie shrugged.
"I believe," Josie said, joining them even though her sister was very deliberately trying to ignore her, "that a group of vampires is called a clan."
"Uh, I think I prefer gang," MG said, pointing at Alyssa.
"What are you doing here?" Lizzie glared.
"Same thing as everyone else," Josie said, ignoring her real question and sitting next to Alyssa.
Lizzie turned away to face forward with a "Hmph!"
When she looked down at the field, she let out a breath, "Thank God it looks like they're finally starting. I cannot suffer another minute of some people's presence."
"And I thought I'm bad when my beauty sleep is interrupted," Alyssa said
Josie looked heavenward. Lizzie was certainly making this grudge last all day.
"Next time let her have at least another twenty minutes," Alyssa went on. "Those bags under her eyes aren't doing her any favors."
Lizzie resisted the urge to touch her face or run to the nearest mirror.
"And a hybrid has already been in charge of the wolves for the past three months and nothing bad has befallen the witches," Josie pointed out.
"Right," Alyssa said. "So why are the vamps acting like that."
"Who doesn't like a fight?" MG shrugged.
"You. And aren't you going to get in trouble with your gang if you don't sit with the rest of them," Lizzie asked MG, determining to ignore the other two.
"Maybe flock would be better," MG wondered aloud.
"Spoken like a preacher's son," Lizzie rolled her eyes. "Flocks are birds. You're not a phoenix."
"That would be cool though, right?" MG grinned.
Lizzie was unamused.
"If they're starting, where's…" Josie said, looking around before she spotted him on the field. "Oh, there's Kaleb."
"What's he doing?" Alyssa asked.
"Whoever wins is part of the honor council," Josie said. "So the current heads are supposed to be there to start the fight. Not really, but Kaleb likes to make up rules as he goes."
"Hope's not here though," MG said, looking around.
"She had better things to do," Lizzie snickered.
"Right…" MG said, wondering about that. Her cousin and her hybrid were both fighting, so why wasn't she there? Maybe she didn't want to choose sides. Of course, most students didn't know Hope had turned Rafael but since the only thing they knew about hybrids revolved around Hope's father, they figured Hope had something to do with it. The end result was the mystery surrounding Hope widened and put even more students in awe of her. MG was part of the chosen few who knew her secret, but only because he was part of that secret himself. It had taken nearly two months to wear off, but eventually the effects of her blood left his system.
"Tracy's not here either," Josie said, referring to the witch who took her seat on the council when she gave up her powers and transferred schools. "Kaleb decided only he was really needed for this."
"Of course he did," Alyssa said, thinking about his overabundance of confidence and his sweet smile. It had been a while since she had seen that smile though. Not since she ruined everything by sleeping with Jed.
On the field, Kaleb was taking a minute to go over everything with Ethan and Rafael.
"Rules are simple," Kaleb said, looking back and forth between them. "No one can help you, no killing, and the first to yield loses. Or whoever gets knocked out first."
"Why are you doing this?" Ethan asked, looking around. The place was packed with spectators. He was pretty sure nearly every upper class student had come to watch. The audience, he understood, but why was a vampire initiating the fight?
"Winner's on the honor council," Kaleb said, clasping his hands together. "The council is here to represent."
"So, where's Hope then?" Rafael looked around but he couldn't feel her. He knew she wasn't there even though part of him had been hoping he could get a glimpse of her. "She's on the council." Which was also another incentive for him to win—he would get to see her at any council meeting once the bond was broken. He was open to any excuse to see her at this point.
"Don't know, man," Kaleb shrugged. "But only one of us is needed."
"She's not here," Ethan said. "I gave her a ride earlier."
Rafael looked at him. There was only one reason for Hope to go into town. The same reason she was there last night too. The thought of Clarke was lighting a match to the anger and rage that had already been building all morning.
"Figured she'd be here," Raf said, clenching himself against the rising ire.
"It's not her pack," Ethan returned.
"It's not your pack either," Rafael bit out. "And it's never going to be."
"Hey," Ethan stood up straighter, glaring. "I'm part of this pack whether I lead it or not. Though I will be leading it. Even more, the wolves want me to." He needed to point out that the wolves were there to support him. Hope said to remember what he was fighting for. The wolves, the pack—it was for them.
"You haven't won them all over yet," Rafael glared back. "Jed had no problem showing up for me." When Ethan's supposed best friend gave him ammunition to get under his opponent's skin, he would take it.
That gave Ethan pause.
Jed had been with him from the beginning of this crazy supernatural journey. Jed had basically become his best friend, and, yeah, he knew Jed acted lukewarm that morning towards him but of all the wolves, Jed was the one he really thought he could count on to support him. There was no reason for Rafael to lie, so… Jed was against him.
And suddenly Ethan wasn't quite as calm and focused as Hope had coached him to be for the fight.
He growled at Rafael.
"Hold that thought," Kaleb said, turning away from them and bringing the bull horn to his mouth.
"Welcome to the Alpha Challenge!" Kaleb called out, gaining everyone's attention. "Ethan over here challenged Rafael for Alpha, and yeah, they're gonna fight."
Everyone started yelling and cheering.
"Rules are simple!" Kaleb hollered out over them. "No killing and no helping. So don't let me see y'all trying anything!" He gave everyone a look, letting them know he wasn't playing.
"First to yield or get knocked out loses," he repeated again for the benefit of the crowd.
He spun around, looking back and forth between the two wolves.
"May the best wolf win!" Kaleb exclaimed. "Fight!"
Rafael immediately growled and jumped at Ethan, hoping the quickness of the attack would catch Ethan off guard.
Ethan moved to the side at the last second and slammed a foot into the back of Rafael's thigh as he passed.
Rafael was moving too fast to stop when he missed the other wolf. He stumbled from the kick but turned around immediately with another growl.
"Thought Hope taught you better than that," Ethan said, glad he found control over his emotions again. Now he would keep trying to make Rafael lose control over his.
The hybrid didn't bother replying, just bared his teeth and came closer to start throwing punches since the surprise jump attack hadn't worked well.
"Ethan's not bad," Alyssa said, surprised, watching the wolves fight.
"Besides football, he did wrestling too," Josie supplied. "And he has been training with Hope right along with Raf."
"As a sheriff's kid," MG said, leaning back into their conversation, "he's probably been learning self defense all his life."
"Well, he's gonna need it to beat Raf," Lizzie said, wincing when Rafael managed to connect his fist with Ethan's stomach. "He's got nothing on a hybrid."
"I wouldn't say that," MG said. "They look pretty evenly matched."
It was true. For all the strength and speed Rafael used, Ethan returned it. Both of them had taken some pretty hard hits and kicks from the other, but they kept going.
Ethan knew if he gave an inch at all, Rafael would finish him. While he was throwing everything he had into each punch and avoiding as many jabs as possible, it seemed like the hybrid wasn't wearing down at all. Ethan wasn't immortal and if he didn't find a way to get past Rafael's defenses, he was going to tire out long before Rafael ever would.
The only way to really get past a wolf's defenses was to make them lose control. And a surefire way to rile Rafael up was to mention Hope.
Realizing he had the same exact ammo to use against his opponent as he had used against him, he lost focus for a second and winced when Rafael's fist connected with his jaw.
He turned with the hit, but forced himself to stay standing and spun away around Raf, coming up behind him finally. He gripped him in a wrestler's hold, wondering if he had the strength to subdue the hybrid. He yanked back and nearly grinned when Rafael fell to the ground. Ethan shuffled around quickly, gripping his head at the neck and using his body to pin him.
"Yield!" Ethan yelled at his face.
Rafael struggled to get out of the choke hold, trying to kick at Ethan and clawing at his arm.
"Yield!" Ethan repeated, struggling to hold on. "Hope would want you to."
Her name had the initial effect Ethan was hoping for as Rafael paused, losing focus for the moment.
Rafael stared at Ethan's face, his words flashing through his mind again. If Hope would want him to yield then…Hope wanted Ethan to win.
"That's a lie!" Rafael ground out, beginning to struggle again.
"What?!" Ethan gritted out, slamming his body down against Rafael again as the hybrid's struggles had caused him to shift a bit. "Can't believe she'd support her family over you?"
Rafael felt a new surge of anger and used it in his legs as he brought his feet up and pushed down against the ground propelling his body over his head with enough force to make Ethan break the headlock so he could roll free.
He sprang to his feet a split second before Ethan did, but that was enough time for him to rush at the wolf again and catch him by surprise for once. His hand gripped Ethan's neck and he slammed him down against the ground, grinning when Ethan actually cried out in pain when his back and head smacked the field.
"You will never be alpha!" Rafael growled. "Yield!"
Ethan rolled toward Rafael, using his body to knock him off balance so he would lose his grip. As soon as Rafael let go, Ethan scrambled back, standing quickly but putting some distance between the two of them.
He needed to regroup. He needed another plan, and he needed it fast. He nearly lost consciousness when he hit the ground. One more of those and he would lose.
He was losing his strength. He wasn't half vampire. Even without another giant hit, a small one could take him out.
He thought quickly as he started circling around Rafael.
"You had your chance," Ethan ground out, using the words to buy himself time. "You were a shit alpha, and everyone knows it. Except for you apparently."
"When I win, in front of my pack, they'll know who the real alpha is," Rafael growled.
In front of…
Ethan thought back to his conversation with Hope that morning.
"I fought Fenrir as a wolf only. No magic, no vampire power. And I won."
Maybe that was what he needed to level the playing field a little.
"Why not make this a real battle of wolves?" Ethan said, stepping back and removing his shirt. "Not like either of us needs a full moon."
Rafael agreed immediately, his wolf yearning to get out and attack the wolf that tried to take his place.
"I wonder if this is how Charlie Swan felt when Jacob started stripping," Lizzie said from her seat, watching both guys take off everything but their underwear.
"Not like it's anything you haven't seen before," Alyssa sniped. "Especially with Raf."
Lizzie glared back but when MG glanced at her, she immediately felt bad. She didn't know why, it wasn't like she had ever given MG any indication that she was interested in him, especially last year when everything had gone down between her and Rafael. But something about his eyes before he looked away again made her feel like the reminder hurt him.
She desperately wanted to say something to Alyssa, but she didn't want the other witch to keep talking about it. Not in front of MG.
"Oh my God," Josie said, leaning forward. "They're really going to change in front of everyone."
"Vamps!" Kaleb called out on the bullhorn. "Stay back!"
For the first time, Lizzie was worried. "Can they really control themselves if they do that? I mean, what's to keep them from coming after the vampires?"
Josie shook her head, "Being able to control their turns means they have access to both sides of their minds at the same time. The human part will keep the wolf in control. It's why Rafael's PTSD got better after he became a hybrid."
"Aren't you just the little expert on Rafael," Lizzie said haughtily.
Alyssa leaned forward and Lizzie immediately put her hand up readying to release a spell.
"Say another word and I'll burn your eyebrows off," Lizzie threatened. She knew that look on Alyssa's face. She was going to say something else about her and Raf. While Lizzie could take it, she didn't want to see that look in MG's eyes again.
"Dude, this is crazy though," MG watched the field, fascinated. "An alpha fight while they're wolves? Is this the first time in history or something?"
"It might be…" Josie murmured, wincing as she watched them change. "I've seen Ethan change before, but…" She looked around, taking in the expressions on everyone's faces. The wolves were usually too busy changing themselves to witness the other wolves' transformations. The vampires did their best to stay away from wolves especially on the night of the full moon, so they definitely had never seen something like it before. The witches, most of them could barely watch.
Fortunately it was over quickly and all of them let out a collective sigh of relief as the wolves on the field prowled around each other, readying to pounce.
"Looks like Ephram isn't tired anymore," Lizzie observed.
"Ethan's smart," MG said. "It was his idea too."
"How could you possibly know that?" Lizzie said.
MG tapped his ear. "They've been egging each other on the entire fight. Ethan keeps using Hope to get to him."
"Of course he is," Lizzie rolled her eyes.
"Ohh," Josie said leaning down. "You're right, Ethan's brilliant. Hope can't do magic in wolf form, remember? That means no magic at all besides the were powers. Raf can't use his vampire powers."
"Thank God," Lizzie sighed out. "Ephram might actually have a prayer of winning now."
"He's been holding his own," Josie said defensively.
"He best keep it that way," Lizzie said.
The wolves jumped at each other at the same time, their claws digging before they bounced back, both landing on their paws.
They circled each other again, waiting for an opening, each snapping forward at the other but not attacking yet.
Ethan decided to trick Rafael by faking a left strike, moving closer than the other times, waiting for the hybrid to move in that direction before shifting to the right and coming around to slam into the black wolf from the side.
Jumping on him, claws scratching, Raf landed hard but immediately struggled against the auburn wolf, twisting and slashing and growling.
Rafael ended up on his back with Ethan pressing a paw against his throat, applying as much pressure as he could while Raf struggled, snapping his teeth, trying to take a bite out of the leg holding him down.
Kicking out his back paws, Rafael dislodged Ethan, and he was back up, pouncing onto the other wolf. Ethan struggled against him before he saw an opportunity and took it, biting hard into Raf's right shoulder.
Rafael yelped out at the pain, then worked to get himself out of Ethan's jowls, but the wolf held on as long as he could, making it even more painful trying to tug himself away, the teeth ripping through with each of his movements.
Finally he got out of Ethan's bite, but he was losing blood quickly. He needed to hurt Ethan as much as he hurt him if he was going to win. He tried to circle Ethan again, as they had done earlier, wondering if he could fake out the other wolf like he had done to him. He tried a few times, but Ethan was on the lookout for that. Rafael even stumbled a couple of times, the injury to his forelimb as bad as it felt. He finally stopped trying to fake him out and just attacked, throwing his weight and strength at the other wolf.
Rafael slamming into Ethan pushed him back at first, but Ethan quickly pushed forward, head butting him in the underbelly, causing the other wolf to slam to the ground but he was up again in an instant.
Ethan slammed into him again, against the earlier shoulder injury, and Rafael reared back from the pain.
That was enough for Ethan to pounce on him once more, putting his claw against his throat yet again, growling down at him menacingly, his wolf communicating his command for the hybrid to yield.
Rafael didn't care how much pain he was in, he refused to yield. He kept struggling and freed himself from Ethan's grip once again, but as he tried to get away to regroup, Ethan attacked, jumping onto his back, digging his claw into the bite on his shoulder.
Black spots swam in front of Rafael's eyes. No.
He shook, trying to dislodge Ethan, doing everything he could. He could not pass out. He had to win. He had to.
Ethan held on for all he was worth, digging his claws wherever he found purchase, causing every jerk from Rafael to inflict the hybrid even more pain.
When the black wolf paused, readying to roll over onto his back, the auburn wolf withdrew his claw from the bite injury long enough to slam it down against it again.
Even as Rafael was sliding sideways for the roll, the black spots came back and took over. The pain was too much, he couldn't escape it. He tried to hold off, but he couldn't.
Instead of rolling, he collapsed, and the darkness swept in, and then he knew nothing.
Feeling the fight go out of his opponent, Ethan moved off of Rafael and walked around the unconscious wolf, nudging him with his snout.
"Oh my God!" Josie jumped up.
"He did it!" Lizzie jumped up too.
The wolves in the stands were ecstatic, yelling, hollering, howling, and whistling their cheers.
"Damn," Kaleb shook his head. Then he shrugged and walked down to the field again, pulling up the bullhorn.
"We have a winner!" he exclaimed. "Ethan Machado is the pack's new alpha!"
Ethan looked at the crowd, relieved. But he was also worried about Raf.
"Someone get the man some clothes," Kaleb called out.
The wolves all jumped up and converged on the field.
Brock grabbed Ethan's clothes and brought them over.
A few wolves circled Ethan to give him privacy to turn back and dress, so he did quickly.
The wolves congratulated him, pounding his back, glad to call him alpha.
"Let's go celebrate!" Brock called out.
Ethan shook his head and turned back to Rafael.
He saw Jed next to Raf, carrying his former alpha's clothes, ready to be there when he woke up and turned back.
"Not yet," Ethan said, walking over and squatting next to Rafael across from Jed.
"But you won," someone else called out.
Ethan looked back.
"Yes, I'm alpha," he said. "And one of my pack is hurt. I'm not leaving until he wakes up."
Understanding dawned, and while some of them wanted to disagree, especially since a lot of them didn't agree that Rafael was a 'real' wolf anymore, the rest were finally experiencing what it meant to have an alpha who really did care.
An alpha who would be there for every single member of his pack, even the one that just tried to kick his ass.
Brock walked up and placed his hand on Ethan's shoulder.
"We'll wait with you."
Ethan nodded.
Jed looked down. Ethan really was the alpha the school pack needed. He couldn't deny it.
He just really wished he could have spoken with Rafael before he lost.
"This music is nice."
Landon nodded, shifting awkwardly.
He hadn't spent much time in Mystic Falls lately. He was too busy with school, Rafael, recovering from Malivore's possession, and getting over Hope.
Attending the small indie music festival in town square with his mother wasn't something he ever wanted to do, but he was there. And all he wanted to do was leave.
"Do you dance?" Seylah asked, nodding at the couples who were doing just that.
"Uh, no," Landon shook his head. He definitely wasn't going to dance with his mother. He danced with Hope at something like this before. He still remembered how she smiled and laughed with him. He had no idea what he was doing, but she didn't mind. She actually enjoyed spending time with him. They had made a connection that night, one that rekindled when they met again.
He missed that connection. He missed her. He missed the way she was an avenging angel badass to everyone else—and whenever they argued—but in other moments with him, she was sweet, loving, letting her guard down and just making his life so much better than it had ever been before.
Coming back here, he knew it was a bad idea. On the heels of all those memories was the stinging knowledge that she was that way with Clarke now. With his brother.
He wasn't sure he would ever understand what happened. She loved him, and he loved her. Despite their arguments and his trouble trusting her, he never questioned that for a minute. They could work through anything, or so he thought.
But instead, here he was, at an indie music festival with his mother while Hope was spending the weekend with Clarke, doing God only knows what.
He wasn't an idiot although many people, including Doctor Saltzman, obviously thought so. He figured it out—belatedly, of course, but he still did—that Rafael attacked Clarke because he smelled Hope on him. Not just in passing, but because Hope had recently slept with Clarke. One of the things Landon had been waiting for, hoping for, willing to give her as much time as she needed for, and she had given it to his brother.
It was just one more thing on top of the million others that hurt. His heart couldn't take much more, but he didn't know what else he could do.
His first major love and his first major breakup—he knew everyone had to go through them eventually, but he really didn't want to lose Hope.
One day, maybe, he would get over losing her.
"Hi, guys!"
Landon groaned inwardly.
"Chad," Landon acknowledged him with a roll of the eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm on duty," Chad grinned, "my last shift before classes start!"
"Okay?..." Landon grumbled. It still didn't explain why he was interrupting his time with Seylah.
"Just popping in to make sure no one's up to no good," Chad said, looking around.
"Right," Landon said. He glanced at Seylah. He thought this was one-on-one time for them.
"I'll see you later tonight, Chad," Seylah said pointedly. "You still have a few more hours on shift."
"Right, right," Chad agreed. "Bye, bro!" He clapped Landon on the back a little too excitedly.
Landon looked at Seylah again as his "brother" left.
"Why are you even bothering with me?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" Seylah asked.
"I mean, you've got Chad," he said. "Why make any effort with me?"
"One is not more important than the other," Seylah said, brows furrowing in contemplation. "Do you feel that I've replaced you for Chad?"
"Well, yes," he said. "You got to choose him. You didn't get to choose me."
Seylah glanced at him thoughtfully. "Is this why you've been so resistant to me?"
"One of the reasons," he said, looking back to the stage.
"I never wanted children, no," she said. "You were not in my plans, but neither was being disposed of by my employers."
"No kidding," he mumbled.
"I could not keep you, and I did not want to keep you," she said. "I will not lie to you."
"So why even bother now?" he asked. "Why not move back to Lawrence or start over somewhere else?"
"You confuse my wanting to know you with my wanting to be your mother," she said. "I will never be your mother. I don't know how to be."
Landon was confused, and his expression spelled that out clearly for her.
"You are still my family," she said. "You are still my son, and I will do what needs to be done to protect you when needed. But we are long past the days of my raising you. You are your own person. I wish to know that person. If you do not wish this, then I will refrain from trying."
He thought he finally understood, and she was leaving it up to him if he wanted to keep her in his life or not.
All the time he spent in the system, he yearned for parents. He wanted a mother and a father. He first approached her because he wanted to know everything. And, yes, he was hoping she would want him even though she had given him up so many years ago. It was his old optimism at work.
"I don't not want to know you," he said finally. "I'm just not as…open as I was a year ago."
"I understand," she nodded. "Things have happened for you too that weren't in your plans."
"You're not wrong," he said, looking away again.
He noticed a random girl passing by with a group of friends. The girl frowned slightly when she saw him but kept walking. She glanced back a few more times.
The girl finally walked far enough away that neither of them could see the other, but he lowered his gaze to the ground.
Another reason he didn't like going into Mystic Falls anymore—he didn't know what Malivore had done while in his body.
He tried not to think about it, but whenever strange things like that happened his mind immediately went to the worst place imaginable.
Malivore spent that month trying to destroy any threat to him, but what else had he done? He originally wanted to take over his body to kickstart his new lineage. Did Malivore get the chance to use his body for that purpose? Even scarier, did Malivore even care if the person was compliant or not? Landon would never know the truth, but since the Malivore memories had been returned after the ware in Georgia, it was very possible someone could remember something. Thus far, no reports had been made, so he was hoping that meant Malivore hadn't gone that far but he feared the day something horrible was revealed.
Of course, Malivore taking over his body was a complete violation of its own.
"How did you get past it?" he finally asked. "I mean, what happened to you…"
"It helps that I don't have memories of how it happened," she said. "But there was nothing I could do, nothing I could change. It was not easy. Life goes on and I did what needed to be done to get through each day, no matter what surprises came up."
"Like me," he guessed.
"Yes," she nodded.
"What about Chad?" he had to ask.
"He kept me company in Malivore on my second trip. Caused more trouble than not, but," she smiled in amusement, "he grew on me, I suppose."
"Huh," he said.
"You are my son," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "But both of you are now part of my family. Maybe one day you will accept him as such."
"And if I don't?" he asked.
"Then you don't," she said with another amused smile.
He nodded.
He could live with that.
"How historically accurate is this?" Hope asked, snuggling back into Ryan's arms on the couch as they both watched the flatscreen. Michael Fassbender definitely looked different than any other role she had ever seen him in. Of course, the movie was filmed in two thousand eleven. Over twenty years had passed.
"Not too bad," Clarke shrugged. "Its fiction, does it really matter?"
"Guess not," Hope said.
"Does watching mean you can skip reading?" he asked.
She shook her head, "I still need to read it, but at least I can get started on the essays."
"My brain is crammed full of useless Jane Eyre facts now," he said. "What do you need to know?"
"For the first one, I just have to pick which character I most relate to and explain why," she said, still watching the movie avidly. She knew it was nearly over, but she wanted to see the end.
"Sounds easy enough," he said.
"Yeah," she smirked. "I could easily pick out the character that made me think of you."
"Let me guess," he sighed. "Rochester."
"No," she shook her head. "Jane."
He looked down at her head, raising an eyebrow, "Jane?"
"She spent her life searching for love," she said. There was also that whole imprisoned in the red room thing, but she wasn't going to mention that.
"And that's not you?" he asked.
"I'm like Helen," she said simply.
"Devoutly religious?"
"No," she shook her head. "Though I am technically an orphan, I have family and friends who love me. Losing my loved ones seems to be my curse, but they'll be there waiting for me when I'm finally at peace, just as Helen knew her family would be. So, she's the one I most relate to."
"Seems like a short essay," he said knowing that character died early on in the book.
"I just gotta pass," she shrugged, watching as the credits began to roll.
"Ready for bed?" he asked.
She looked up at him, smirking as she traced her fingers down his arms.
"Take that as a yes?" he said, returning her smirk.
Sitting up, she stretched, then grinned back at him, "I'm gonna shower."
Before he could say anything else, she sprang to her feet and left for the bedroom, laughter trailing behind her.
Hope smiled in anticipation as the hot water rained down around her.
It had been so long since she got to spend the full night with Ryan, and the last time she couldn't even appreciate it properly because she fell asleep.
But not tonight! Tonight she was wide awake. Tonight she was trying her best not to shower too quickly even though all she wanted to do was join him in their bed. While he took his in the morning, she preferred showering in the evening. There was something about washing away the day before climbing between clean sheets. So she would take her time.
Taking her time meant he had to wait.
She loved teasing him, especially since he loved to tease her.
He had promised tonight would be all about her after she made the morning about him.
Which meant she was in for a world of tease.
Not that she minded.
Finally finishing, she dried off as thoroughly as she could, then wrapped the towel around her body.
There was no need to dress, and no need to apply her endless supply of lotions and moisturizers—he didn't want a mouthful of that.
Entering the bedroom, she saw him waiting for her on the bed. He had pulled the covers back, but she spotted one problem immediately.
"Now who's wearing too many clothes?" she asked.
Smirking, he rose to his knees and motioned her over, "Come here."
She joined him, climbing onto the bed on her knees facing him, towel still firmly in place.
"Towel?" he said, eyes tracing over her body, clearly wanting to see everything.
"Shirt," she demanded with eyebrows raised.
"Thought you could help with that," he said.
Smirking, she inched closer and reached down, pulling his pullover and t-shirt up and off in one sure movement. Once she cleared his head, she had to admire the mess his hair became. Unable to resist, she reached and ran her fingers through it.
"Mine," she said softly.
"Yours," he replied.
Their eyes met and she felt like she was melting. His gaze promised so many things, tantalizing things. What used to intimidate her, now stirred her insides. The anticipation she felt earlier returned with renewed strength. Her eyes lowered to his lips and that was all he needed before he grasped her forward into his arms, his mouth coming down on hers.
The fireworks that went off every time he touched her weren't far behind. Their mouths met and kissed hungrily. His tongue demanded entrance and she gave it willingly, groaning and pressing herself more firmly against him as he began to explore.
While his mouth did it's delicious work, his hands came up her back, searching for and finding the top of the towel edge. He ran his fingers around, probing until he found the place where she tucked the end in.
When he tugged, she felt the air hit her body as the towel fell. She shivered until he gripped her against him again. Her body warmed up instantly as her breasts pressed against his chest.
When he pulled away from her, she protested and tried to drag his head back down to hers.
He shook his head, but took her hand in his.
"Lay down," he said softly, eyes penetrating hers.
She did as he said, lying on her back in the middle of the bed, his grip on her hand helping to lower her down gently.
He shifted toward the bottom of the bed and met her eyes as he raised one of her legs. Watching her the entire time, he slid his hot hand around her ankle, then leaned in and pressed soft kisses to her skin.
She watched with bated breath as he continued, moving slowly up her leg, his lips and fingers tracing the skin. When he reached her knee and continued up, his lips and fingers on the inside of her thigh now, her body clenched in eagerness. He was getting closer and closer, so much closer to where her core was screaming for him already.
He took even more care, pausing to nip and suck at the skin instead of just kisses and caresses. Her body was shivering again, but this time from the heat. She wanted him so badly.
Just as he was a hairbreadth away from reaching the ultimate goal, he stopped and pulled back. Crying out in dismay, she tried to reach for him, but he was already too far away.
When he grasped the ankle of her other leg, she realized he was going to put her through the same torture again. "Tease…" she murmured before she moaned as he began once more.
She could barely stand it, the pleasure was so intense. She struggled to remain in place, but when his tongue met the inside of her thighs again, she tried to shift down, encouraging him to shorten the distance and taste her. She wanted that more than anything.
He reached a hand up to press against her stomach, holding her firmly in place and setting off more fireworks as he knew how turned on she became when he did anything to her stomach.
She consoled herself knowing he was very nearly there, only moments more and he would finally give her what she wanted.
Right after his mouth finished pleasuring the deepest point of her inside thigh, he pulled away again and she cried out in her disbelief, "Ryan, please!"
He didn't bother replying instead he rose up and kissed along her stomach, joining the fingers that circled her skin.
She tossed her head back against the bed, the frustration falling away as the pleasure overruled her senses again.
His mouth traveled upwards, along with his fingers, and she whimpered as his fingers and mouth found her sensitive nipples. She couldn't control herself as her hips began moving, searching for something, anything to end the torment. She knew he would tease her, but he had never gone this far this long before.
"Please…" she begged between moans.
He was too busy tasting other parts of her, but finally, at last, she felt one hand begin a descent. She hoped it was on its way to where she most needed it. Traveling down her body, over her hip, and closer and closer—she spread her legs even further, hoping he was done with this torment—and…
"Yes!" she practically screamed out as his fingers ghosted over her outer lips.
Amazingly, that was enough. She jerked her hips up suddenly, breathing out and panting as she fell apart, the pressure between her legs finally exploding in a swell of pleasure that rocked her completely.
"Did you just…" he pulled away from her chest, looking at her in surprise.
"Maybe," she managed to gasp out, trying to act coy, but it didn't work because she felt too good. "Yes, yes, yes I did, oh my God."
All he did was touch her once, and she was done. Her face flushed as she grinned up at him.
He smirked down at her, his fingers still between her legs, tracing her gently, "I still have plans for you."
"More?" she asked breathlessly. She wasn't sure she could survive much more.
"At least twice," he whispered as his finger tips slipped between her folds.
"Not possible," she gasped out even as she arched up to meet his fingers.
"Is that a challenge?" he asked.
She didn't need to reply because in the next moment, he had slipped back down between her thighs. She felt his fingers opening her up, parting her folds until the nub of her desire was on display for him. There was no teasing this time, just bold movement as his mouth found her and suddenly she was sure he was going to meet that challenge.
His fingers replaced his mouth, so he could lick his way down to her entrance. She cried out as his tongue slid inside of her and his thumb pressed against her. She tried to spread her legs even further and ended up bending her knees up against her chest. She clutched at them, spreading herself for him, scarcely able to believe she was already on edge again so quickly.
Only Ryan.
He pushed two fingers inside of her once more, even as his tongue continued to move against her.
When he crooked those fingers, he pressed something inside of her that set her off and immediately made her crash over the edge again.
Pushing down on those fingers, she let go of her legs and arched her back as her senses flooded along with the heat between her thighs.
She couldn't catch her breath. She gasped and collapsed back, completely and utterly exhausted.
"Number two," he murmured, looking up at her, loving how blissful she looked.
"More isn't an option," she gasped out. Just the thought of one more mind blowing orgasm after the two she already had was enough to make her want to sleep for a week.
He reached down and removed his own pants that neither of them had bothered with before now.
She saw him, and she desperately wanted him. He still needed release and she was more than willing to give it to him, she just didn't think she would be able to reach a third one before he found his.
She reached out to him, "Come here."
He settled between her thighs, and she attempted to spread her legs further for him. She needn't have bothered since he grasped one of her legs and put it over his shoulder. He reached between their bodies and lined himself up.
His eyes met hers as he slid inside of her.
As his heat met her scalding fire, she reached and grasped his head, gripping hold of his hair again as she tugged his mouth down to hers.
He began thrusting against her as her tongue demanded entrance into his mouth this time. Their tongues found each other's, pressing in rhythm with their bodies.
As he sank inside of her, deeper and deeper, the leg over his shoulder stretched out further. She found herself unable to do anything but enjoy everything he was doing to her. She couldn't even thrust up to meet him; she was completely at his mercy.
He paused in his thrusting to roll his hips against hers. She could feel the shifting inside of her and her body responded. Pleasure and heat pooled in her inner most depths, but she refused to believe she could reach that crest again.
He didn't give up though, instead he increased his movements, slamming into her harder than before. Against all reason, she could feel another orgasm start to build. She clutched at him, pulling her mouth away.
"Let go, Ryan," she managed to gasp out. "Let go."
He shook his head, refusing to do so until she found release again.
"I can't!" she cried out, even as she struggled to push her hips up against his frenzied thrusts.
"You can," he grunted out, sweat pooling on his forehead as he kept himself in check. No way was he taking his pleasure before she found hers.
Seeing the determination on his face, she gave up trying to resist and focused on the rising tide within her. It came pretty easily after that. There was no better feeling than being completely connected to the man she loved, the one who was meant for her.
Focusing on that feeling, she surrendered to it, and found herself moaning out her third release, her head tossed back. His mouth found her neck and he bit down as he finally—at last—found his own release, spilling deep inside of her with one final thrust.
Breathing hard and panting, he released her leg and relaxed against her for several long moments. He kept waiting for her to say something, but when she didn't he turned and looked at her face.
Then he smirked.
She was sound asleep.
He would just have to wait until she woke up again to remind her he had passed the challenge with flying colors.
And maybe then he could also take up the next challenge.
"A little to the left."
"No, too far, to the right a smidge."
Clarke rolled his eyes, "You know, you could probably do this faster than me."
"I would if I could move properly," Hope said with a dramatic sigh. "But someone decided Hope didn't have to move today."
Clarke held the large mountain lion mural in place against the wall while he waited for her to decide if it needed to be adjusted anymore.
"You don't have to move to use magic," he replied.
"But then I wouldn't get to see you act all manly," she said with a smirk.
"Pretty sure you got to see that last night."
She actually blushed. "Okay, I think that's it."
He let go and backed up.
"Are you sure it's straight?" she said, walking up next to him and tilting her head.
"It's straight," he confirmed.
"I don't know…" she tilted her head the other way.
He went back into the bag he seldom used but still knew how to use the tools inside. Manly, he scoffed to himself. He grabbed the leveler and sat it on the top ledge of the painting that happened to be wide enough to support it.
"There, see? Level," he said.
"Great," she nodded. "Now I can get back to relaxing with my book."
She flounced in the comfy chair and opened up to her marked page.
"And what am I supposed to do while you read about the life of ?" he asked.
"Knit me a sweater?" she suggested.
"What about the next essay?" he asked, sitting across from her.
"Something about Jane's choice to run away instead of marrying Rochester?" she said, trying to remember the question.
"Which is why I could never relate to Jane," he said. "She got what she wanted. She found love, and he wanted to be with her. He wanted to marry her. And yet she ran away. Makes no sense."
"Because he was already married," she said.
"But he didn't love or want the wife," he shrugged. "She was out of her mind."
"It didn't matter," she said. "She had too much respect for herself to take only what was offered, to be the 'side piece'. She wanted a marriage that was real. And she wouldn't settle for anything less. She didn't want to just live to be with someone either. She wanted her life to have more purpose than that."
Clarke fell silent, contemplating her words. That all rang the exact opposite for him… He would gladly take whatever Hope offered just so he could have that love. He didn't make any demands of her, and he had accepted that she had feelings for someone else before she finally chose him once and for all. He didn't regret any of that either, just like he had no regrets in declaring that Hope was his purpose in life. Was he supposed to respond differently than he had to everything? He didn't really care if that were the case.
He was happy. He was loved.
He thought back to yesterday when she talked about all the things she wanted to do with her life. Maybe that was her saying, without using the words, that he wasn't her purpose. She hadn't mentioned Triad in her future. All she mentioned were things he wasn't a part of. What did that even mean?
His entire life had always been connected to someone else. Without that, who was he on his own? And did it even really matter?
All he needed was her.
"You're wrong," he said. "I relate to no one. I would've killed the wife out of mercy years ago. Then there would've been nothing holding Jane and Rochester back."
"I don't believe that," she said, glancing up.
"Why not?"
"Because you would never kill Lizzie, no matter how insane she becomes."
"It's a fictional character, Hope," he said.
"And what is literature but a commentary on real life?" she asked.
"Well this one doesn't comment on mine," he said.
"If you say so."
"You're still in bed?"
Lizzie groaned and pulled the covers further up.
"Come on, Lizzie," Hope said. "I can't touch you, so you gotta pull the covers off yourself."
"Go away," Lizzie grumbled, burrowing further into her pillows.
"What's wrong?" Hope asked. "Dinner with Jack was your idea."
Oh, right, Lizzie remembered. "Ugh."
Hope sighed. Dinner was scheduled for seven. It was six o'clock. She realized she hadn't heard from Lizzie all day. When she tried to text, then call repeatedly, she got no response. She finally called Josie, but the twin said Lizzie was still in bed and she wasn't allowed to bother her today for fear of severe repercussion.
Astral projection was the only way she could reach Lizzie without wasting even more time by getting a ride to the school first.
"Is it your period?" Hope asked. "There're some pain pills in my room if you're out?"
"Nooo," Lizzie mumbled.
Was this the same problem as yesterday, Hope wondered. Something was definitely wrong with Lizzie. She was depressed. If she didn't want to go to dinner, she didn't have to.
"If you don't want to go, that's okay," Hope said. "Just read me Jack's number off your phone and I'll cancel for you, okay? You don't gotta go, but it would be mean to make him wait around for nothing, you know?"
Lizzie didn't want to go, but she didn't want to cancel, but she wanted to go, but she did want to cancel.
She didn't know what she wanted.
She twisted around in her covers, flailing slightly.
"Forget about all that," Hope said finally. "I'll get a Lyft to school and use your phone. No one is going to make you do anything you don't want to." And she was going to lay down right next to Lizzie and stay with her until whatever this was passed.
Lizzie finally flung the covers off in a huff, "Fine! I'll get up!"
"Are you sure?" Hope asked warily.
"Yes, yes," Lizzie turned and planted her feet on the floor. "It's that late? I'm never gonna make it on time."
"Give me Jack's number," Hope said. "I'll let him know we're running late while you get ready."
"Thanks," Lizzie mumbled, opening her phone.
"She'll be here in an hour," Hope said when she returned to her living room.
"Forget she had a date?" Clarke asked, amused.
"Not sure if she remembered or not," Hope said, frowning as she typed into her phone. "She was still in bed."
"At six on a Sunday?" Clarke asked.
"I told you," Hope said, sending the message to Jack. "She's been acting different. I think she's depressed."
"Then why not cancel?"
"She decided to go," she shrugged. "Maybe she'll feel better after getting out for a while."
"Dinner should be interesting."
At seven fifteen, a blue 1969 Chevy Camaro squealed to a stop in front of the apartment building.
"Hurry up," Lizzie said, reaching over to pull up on the lock. "I'm making the worst impression in the world."
"Don't worry," Hope said, opening the door and leaning the passenger seat forward so she could climb into the back. "I told him it was my fault."
She pulled the seat back in place for Ryan to climb into the front seat next to Lizzie.
"You're a peach," Lizzie said, waiting impatiently for Clarke to close the door so she could take off.
"Orange and fuzzy," Hope laughed. "Yeah, that's me."
"Come on, come on," Lizzie tried to rush Clarke along. "We don't have all day, Shrek."
He closed the door and glanced at her, "Am I supposed to understand that reference?"
"You should, mud boy," Lizzie said, putting the car into drive and squealing out of the spot.
"Okay!" Hope exclaimed, gripping hold of the seat in front of her. "Slow down. We'll never get there if you crash!"
"Okay, okay," Lizzie said, biting her lip. "This is ridiculous. Why am I doing this again?"
"Because you like him and he likes you?" Hope said.
"What if he doesn't like me when we're not in some dark smoky club with pulsating sounds and sexy lights?"
"It wasn't smoky, or very sexy for that matter," Hope said. "He likes you enough to meet up again, so that's a positive sign! Don't you agree, Ryan?"
"Hmm?" Clarke looked back at her. "Oh, yeah."
"He's not even paying attention," Lizzie said.
"Yes, he was," Hope gave him a pointed look.
"No, I wasn't," Clarke shrugged.
"Why did I even suggest bringing him?" Lizzie said.
"Because you didn't want to meet Jack alone," Hope reminded her.
"Speaking of," Lizzie reached out and poked Clarke in the arm. "At some point between appetizers and dinner, Hope and I are gonna go powder our noses."
"Okay…and that required poking because?" he asked.
"Making sure you're paying attention," Lizzie said. "Because that's when you're gonna find out about the 'real' Jack."
"Isn't that the point of you having dinner with him?" Clarke asked.
"But you're a guy," Lizzie said. "Guys find out things about other guys."
"Just how long do you think we'll be powdering our noses?" Hope said. "He can't find out that much in five minutes."
"He'll find out something," Lizzie shrugged. "He works for Triad, doesn't he?"
"I own Triad," Clarke corrected her.
"See? Even he agrees he can find something in five minutes," Lizzie said.
"Or you can ask his last name and I can run a background check before dinner is over?" Clarke suggested.
"You can do that?" Lizzie asked, surprised and suddenly very interested.
"Guys," Hope leaned forward. "Chill. It's just a date. Who knows, Lizzie, maybe you won't like him once you meet him again."
"Oh, I definitely still like," Lizzie murmured to Hope as they walked into the restaurant and she spotted him waiting.
Jack's face brightened when he saw Lizzie and immediately came to greet her.
"Hey," he said, his eyes meeting hers. "I'm glad you called."
Lizzie felt slightly flushed. At least he remembered what she looked like. He could've met any number of girls that night, or any night since.
"Sorry we're late," Lizzie said, feeling a little uncertain.
"That's my fault," Hope interjected. "I'm Hope."
"This is Hope," Lizzie quickly grasped hold of an excuse to talk without sounding like an idiot—introductions! "My best friend."
"Nice to meet you," Jack nodded, shaking her hand quickly.
"And her boyfriend—"
"Clarke," Clarke stepped between the girls and reached out his hand, eyes very deliberately staring at the newcomer. "Ryan Clarke. You can call me Clarke."
Jack stiffened slightly though he hid it fairly quickly, "Jack."
Hope noticed the sudden tension between the guys and she glanced at Ryan in confusion.
"Right," Jack said, shifting focus back to Lizzie. "I already got us a table."
Lizzie put out her hand and he took it, smiling at her as he led her away.
"What was that?" Hope whispered to Ryan.
"What?" he asked, wrapping his arm around her waist as they followed the other two.
"Was that you being all big brother threatening or something?" she asked.
"Something like that," he said.
"Well, chill," she whispered. "Lizzie's really excited about him. Don't ruin this for her."
He nodded, but he was pretty sure Jack was going to ruin it for Lizzie, not him.
The table ended up being a booth. Jack and Lizzie settled into one side with Jack against the wall. Clarke and Hope settled into the other side, with Clarke across from Jack.
The girls looked over their menus and began talking, bringing Jack into the discussion. Clarke didn't pay much attention. He was too busy being amused, watching this guy squirm in his seat.
Jack. Jack Delaney.
Triad operative, who knew he was in a world of trouble.
Jack may not have recognized Clarke in appearance, but he definitely recognized his name.
When Hope insisted on going to a human club with her friends and Clarke couldn't tag along, he was unable to resist sending someone to keep an eye on them.
The girls weren't allowed to use their powers and they hadn't spent much time in the real world. Hope would probably be annoyed if she knew, but he couldn't help it. She was his number one priority. She was probably the most powerful person on the planet, but that didn't mean she was immune to the evil in the world. Evil that Clarke knew all too much about. He hadn't asked for any details in the report, he did not want to spy on her. He just wanted to make sure she was safe.
Jack Delaney was young, but he was good at his job. Clarke had selected him based on his history with the company.
Everything had gone well until the moment Clarke walked into the restaurant and discovered that his operative had ignored one of the mission rules.
Do not make contact.
He could interfere if a threat came to pass, but he wasn't supposed to stand out. And he sure as hell wasn't supposed to dance with Lizzie or give her his number.
While he might be willing to see past all that if Lizzie really wanted to date Jack, he was pretty sure Jack wouldn't want to really date Lizzie.
"You two go to the same boarding school?" Jack asked.
"Yeah," Hope nodded.
"What school?" he asked.
"You've probably never heard of it," Lizzie said. "The Salvatore School. It's in Mystic Falls."
Clarke could tell the instant Jack recognized the name. His gaze swung immediately to Clarke's.
The warning in Clarke's eyes ensured Jack didn't say anything stupid.
Jack did shift slightly away from Lizzie though.
"Shouldn't you do that thing where you powder your nose before dinner arrives?" Clarke asked Lizzie.
"Oh," Lizzie said, remembering her poke mission. "Right! Hope?"
Hope slid out of the booth, "Sure."
"Be right back," Lizzie said to Jack with a grin.
Hope gave Ryan a curious glance as she followed Lizzie.
The second the girls were out of sight, Jack sat up straight.
"Sir, I apologize," Jack said immediately. "I'll leave. She'll never hear from me again. I swear."
Clarke leaned back and smirked at him.
He wanted very much to open a portal to Malivore and toss this idiot in, but Hope would remember him even if Lizzie didn't. Plus, he wasn't that guy anymore.
Not that he couldn't wish he still was.
"You're not going anywhere," Clarke said.
"But she's—"
"A witch," Clarke supplied. "I know."
"A witch," Jack nodded.
It didn't matter what she was—wolf, vampire, or witch—most Triad agents didn't like being around any supernaturals much less dating one. Clarke hadn't told the operative the girls he was protecting were supernatural.
Clarke leaned forward, the look on his face leaving no room for argument.
"You're going to stay and be exactly the kind of guy she wouldn't want," he glared. "You're going to make her reject you."
"But, sir—"
"Make her reject you," he repeated. "If you hurt her, you're done."
"Yes, sir."
Whether young Jack Delaney thought Clarke was threatening his job or his life, it didn't really matter.
Lizzie was going through enough right now. This idiot wasn't going to reject Lizzie for what she was. He knew exactly what that felt like, and he wouldn't allow it to happen to her.
The dinners arrived by the time the girls came back.
Lizzie glanced at Clarke, raising her eyebrows as if asking for feedback right then. He just raised his eyebrows in return and shrugged.
Rolling her eyes, she scoffed.
"What was that?" Jack asked, hearing the sound.
"Oh, nothing," Lizzie said.
"Ryan's just being annoying," Hope said, having seen their exchange. She elbowed him.
"What else is new?" Lizzie said.
"They argue like siblings all the time," Hope had to say, winking at Ryan.
"As if," Lizzie said. "Fortunately, I only have a sister."
"A sister?" Jack said, throat suddenly very dry. He picked up his drink quickly, focusing on the sibling comment. If his boss regarded Lizzie as a sister… he had seriously screwed up.
"Yeah," Lizzie replied. "It's too bad you couldn't meet her. Maybe next time we can double with her and her girlfriend."
Nodding, Jack put the drink down on the table. He had to figure something out. He couldn't hurt her, but he had to get her to decide never to date him again. Beyond being just plain disgusting, what else would turn a girl off without hurting her? Maybe he could just piss her off?
"So everything's okay with Josie and Jade?" Hope asked.
"Yeah," Lizzie nodded. "They made up and seem to be better than ever now. Thank God. I did not want to be responsible for breaking them up."
Inspiration finally struck, and Jack swallowed thickly before he said one of the worst things he could think of—one he definitely didn't agree with, but his job…and possibly his life… depended on it.
"So, she has a girlfriend?" Jack asked. "Is that a phase or something?"
Lizzie and Hope both turned to stare at him as if he suddenly grew a second head.
"A what?" Lizzie asked a bit loudly.
"Really, Jack," Hope said frowning. "It's two thousand thirty two. I was pretty sure most people had evolved past thinking like that."
"I mean, yeah," Jack shrugged, "It's been trendy for a while."
"Trendy!?" Lizzie's face was so red, she looked like she was about to explode.
"I think it's time for you to go," Hope said pointedly, really wishing she could punch this guy.
"I agree," Lizzie turned and stood abruptly. "Leave. Now." She pointed at the front door.
"But dinner—"
"It's covered," Clarke said, glaring. "You can leave now." He probably should've been a tad bit more specific. A comment like that very well could hurt her. Fortunately so far it just looked like she was angry.
Jack slid out of the booth, being careful to stay away from the fuming witch, and left as quickly as possible.
Lizzie sat back down in a fluff of anger, "Seriously? Wow. Do I know how to pick them or what?"
"Not all guys are like that," Hope said.
"Definitely a waste of dinner," Lizzie said.
"We could go for ice cream when you're done?" Clarke suggested.
"That does not sound like a horrible idea," Lizzie said, sinking back into her seat. "Only mint chocolate chip can make me forget that human stain."
"I've already forgotten him," Hope said, reaching across the table to pat her hand.
"Can't believe I got out of bed for this," Lizzie grumbled.
"You mean, spending time with me and Ryan?" Hope said. "Definitely the best reason to get out of bed."
"Yeah, yeah," Lizzie tossed her napkin. "I'm ready for ice cream now."
"You're driving," Hope said, putting her napkin down too.
"Not like you can drive stick anyway," Lizzie said, rising from her seat.
"I wouldn't say that…" Clarke murmured to Hope as he tossed enough bills to cover dinner and tip on the table.
"Ew!" Lizzie said. "I heard that."
Clarke smirked at her as he followed the girls out of the restaurant.
That guy was lucky to be alive. That was definitely Hope's mercy showing through him. Clarke was trying to be a better person though, and not just for her.
However… for anyone who tried to hurt his family, it didn't matter what Hope said or wanted.
There would be no mercy.
To be continued…
