"Hayden!" My eyes flew open at the sound of Hayley's cry. The covers were off me and before they could lay back down on the bed, I was vamp speeding out of my bedroom and down the hallway to the study at the sound of Hayley's voice. My heart pounded and my chest was tight as I burst through the double doors, my bare feet smacking against the wood floorboards as I skidded to a stop in front of Hayley and Elijah.

What?" I exclaimed, panting. "What is it? Where's the fire?" I looked Hayley over for any signs of injury but saw none nor could I smell any blood on her. "Are you hurt? Are you dying? What is it?"

"Oliver and Jackson aren't back with the kyanite rocks for the moonlight rings." Hayley informed me and I narrowed my eyes at her.

"You woke me up for that? For Oliver and Jackson?"

"I'm worried something happened to them."

"It's Oliver and Jackson, Hayley, I'm sure they won't be missed. I'm going back to bed." I turned was about to head back to my room when Hayley called me back.

"Hayden please." I groaned and threw my head back as I turned back around to Hayley. Elijah pulled out his phone and called Klaus.

"Yes, brother?" Klaus answered. "What is it?"

"It appears our wolves have gone astray, brother." Elijah said.

"They should've been back hours ago." Hayley said.

"Ok, calm down." I told her. "Don't get yourself all worked up. It won't do you any good."

"We need to find them." Elijah told Klaus.

"Well, that might be a bit tricky." Klaus said. "You see, we've located their car on a back road in the middle of nowhere. I suspect they've been shanghaied."

"And you didn't feel the need to share this information."

"It was my intention to present you with the problem only after I'd found an appropriate solution."

"Well, do enlighten us."

"I'm closing in on it as we speak. The only person who would be bold enough to snatch my wolf allies is the one who has the most to lose." I closed my eyes and sighed heavily.

"God damn Marcel." I growled under my breath.

"No." Hayley breathed. "He'll kill them." I held up my hand to silently signal to her to calm down.

"Genevieve assures me that Marcel has procured a cloaking spell." Klaus continued. "The only witch who will aid Marcel is Davina. I just need to get one last bit of leverage before I pay her a visit… and there it is."

TO

After biting Josh and using him against Davina, the little witch informed us that Marcel was staying at Thierry's place across the river. Meeting up with Klaus, the three us walked into the warehouse that was filled with crates, wires connecting each one of them. In the center of the enormous room, was a figure tied to a chair and a hood over his head. Sniffing the air, I recognized the rugged smell as Jackson. I walked over to him and stood in front of him, pulling the hood off his head. As he blinked his eyes several times to adapt to the sudden intake of light, I crouched down so I was eye level with him. His face was severely bruised, a cut across his cheekbone and over the bridge of his nose. He groaned as I placed my hands on my knees and gave him a fake pout, amusement bursting inside me at the sight of him.

"Awwww, did the big bad wolf get himself in a bind?" I taunted him, practically laughing.

"Piss off, Hayden." Jackson grumbled, shaking his head. "I thought we were on the same side, for Hayley's sake." I straightened up and placed my hands on my hips as I looked around at all the crates.

"Oh, we are. I got Hayley safe back at the compound. I have no idea what you got going on here."

"Accolades to Marcel." Klaus chuckled, smirking down at the wolf. "He did quite a dance across the bridge of your nose. Where is he now?"

"And that dumb blond person who follows you around like a lost puppy?" Elijah revolved around Jackson, staring down at the floor at the wiring that led to detonators scattered across the warehouse."

"Nowhere to be found…" Elijah answered absentmindedly as he walked over to one of the crates and ripped open the lid to reveal a load of C-4. "Although he did leave us a delightful parting gift." I raised my eyebrows and frowned as I peered into the crate.

"Oh, well, that was nice of him. What about the stones?"

"I don't know." Jackson snapped. "Untie me. I'll help you find them." I turned away from the crate to face Jackson once more.

"Mm. I rather not. You've already caused a big enough mess for us to clean up."

"Damn it, Hayden!"

"Kidding, Jackson." I held up a hand to silence him and signal him to sit still. Once he stopped squirming in his chair, I pointed to the ground by his foot where there was a detonator tied to the leg of the chair. "That's why I don't want to untie you. I've already been blown up once this month. I'm not looking forward to doing it again." Klaus walked to the right side of the warehouse to open more crates as I made my way to the opposite side to do the same, leaving Elijah to figure out how to get Jackson out of the chair without setting off the detonator.

"Our focus should be the stones." Klaus muttered, ripping the lid off another crate.

"Disregard my brother." Elijah informed Jackson. "Over the course of the last millennium, his capacity for tact is somewhat diminished."

"That's not the only thing that's diminished." I mumbled, strolling through the maze of crates.

"Oh, that's typical, isn't it?" Klaus snapped at his older brother from the side of the warehouse. "Marcel fills a room with dynamite, and yet I'm the tactless one."

"I recognize these explosives from the attack on the bayou." Elijah said. "Could you remind me again why you believe that Marcel was innocent?"

"Remind me to ask him before I pull out his innards." Klaus flipped open another lid on the crate and groaned. "Ah. Ok. Exercise extreme caution in this general area. Bit of a mess." Elijah's phone ringing echoed off the walls of the warehouse and he stood up from beside Jackson, sighing as he pulled out his phone.

"Impeccable timing."

"What's going on?" I heard Hayley's voice faintly over the other line, full of worry and concern.

"Jackson is fine. He's a little tied up right now." I snorted at the inside joke. "Could we call you back?" Klaus laughed as I opened another crate to reveal yet another dozen or so C-4 with five detonators attached to them. This crate was the same as the rest of them except this one had a folded-up piece of paper. I picked it up and unfolded it to read, this is for Thierry. My blood ran cold. Up until this point, the detonators had a little red light that flashed rhythmically. Now, the red lights went to a solid green as a whining noise emitted from all the detonators in the crates.

"Oh, that doesn't bode well." Klaus murmured as he traded glances with Elijah and me.

"Are you trying to kill us?" Jackson shouted at be, squirming in his chair once more and I shot glares in his direction.

"I didn't do anything." I retorted, making my way back over to Elijah's side. "So shut your mouth before I send you back to Hayley in pieces."

"Elijah, tell me what's going on now." Hayley demanded as the whining began to intensify, and I took the phone from Elijah.

"Can't talk. Gotta run. Byeeee." Elijah grabbed Jackson and vamp sped out of the warehouse with Klaus and me on his heels as every explosive in the warehouse went off.

TO

I walked into the compound with Elijah, Jackson and Klaus and we headed into the study to see Hayley anxiously pacing in front of the couch. As she heard our footsteps, her head shot up from looking at the ground and sighed in relief as she took us in. She ran over to Jackson and threw her arms around him. He groaned in pain.

"Thank God you're alive." Hayley breathed, closing her eyes as she buried her face into the crook of Jackson's neck.

"I'm fine, too." Klaus grumbled, walking into the room. "Thanks for asking."

"That is the last time I'm getting blown up for you." I snapped at Hayley, pointing a finger at her. "That's the second time. That's like… two time too many for a normal person."

"Thank you, Hayden." Hayley smiled at me as she let go of Jackson and guided him to the couch. I waved a dismissal hand at her.

"Don't thank me. Thank Elijah. He was the one who grabbed him. I was happy to just leave him there."

"Thank you." Elijah nodded his head in acknowledgment. "What about the stones?"

"Scattered across the bed of the Mississippi, I imagine." Elijah informed her, leaning against the mantel of the fireplace. I vamped sped down to the kitchen to grab a bowl of water, a rag and a first aid kit. I returned to the study and sat on the edge of the mahogany coffee table in front of the couch where Jackson was sitting and began to clean his wounds.

"See?" Jackson chuckled at me before groaning in pain. "You do care." I snarled at him.

"I'm only doing this because you keep whimpering like a kicked puppy and it's driving me insane." He gave me a disbelieving look.

"Look." Klaus spoke. "Marcel knows an empowered werewolf army would mean the end of vampires in New Orleans. The explosion is his way of saying he means to prevent that, for all the good it'll do him."

"Well, it did him pretty damn well, didn't it?" Hayley snarled at him.

"This is my fault!" Jackson growled under his breath. "I will find a way to fix it."

"No, Jack. You're hurt, and no one is blaming you."

"I am." I corrected her, dipping the rag into the water. The blood from the rag ran and swirled through the water, turning it to a murky pink color.

"Hayden!"

"I'm blaming you." Klaus agreed with me, leaning against the doorway of the study and Hayley glared at him. "Those stones will be hard to replace. Fortunately, I always have a backup plan."

"Thank God for that." I muttered.

TO

I peered over the railing and down into the courtyard as a Francesca and a group of men surrounding her walked into the middle of the courtyard. They looked up at us, Francesca smirking as if she knew that she was the most powerful human in the city.

"You can't seriously mean her." Hayley whispered to Klaus as we walked down the steps to meet her. "She's a gangster."

"I see her more as a means to procuring rare items at short notice." Klaus informed her with a Cheshire Cat grin. "Greetings, Mr. Correa. I see you've brought company."

"These are my brothers." Francesca explained. "I always include them in delicate business matters." I began to stalk around them, looking at them from head to toe. They were like soldiers. Still. Adamant. Statue-like.

"More like lapdogs." I muttered as I walked back over to Hayley's side.

"Fellas meet Mr. Mikaelson."

"Please, call me Klaus." The original hybrid greeted them. "All my friends do." I shot Klaus a look as Elijah stayed on the steps behind us.

"I don't know if I'd call us friends, but if you and Marcel are planning on having a little throwdown, I'd prefer my family to be on the same side as the inevitable victor." One of the brothers stepped forward and held out a metal briefcase that she opened and pulled out a small black velvet bag. She walked back over to Klaus.

"Then you have what I asked for."

"Not enough for an army at such short notice, but it's a start." She handed the tiny bag to Klaus who took it eagerly and dumped the contents into his palm. There were tiny, gleaming ebony stones. Kyanite.

"Strange." Elijah finally spoke up as he stepped off the landing and walked over to his brother. "I wasn't aware that she was familiar with our plan."

"My price for doing business is full disclosure. Your brother complied."

"How does the human faction expect to benefit from all this?" I questioned her, crossing my arms over my chest.

"I only want to solidify our allegiance to the ruling class."

"Kiss ass."

"It's good for business."

"If only everyone shared your capacity for reason." Klaus murmured.

"Sadly, they don't. Marcel is being especially vindictive. I'm worried he might come after me or my family just for meeting with out. It might be in our best interests if we combine our efforts."

"So be it. The more bodies we have to defend the compound, the better. Let's get started, shall we?"

TO

Leaving Klaus and Elijah to deal with Francesca and her brothers, I found Hayley in her room who was currently finishing dressing Jackson's wounds. I took a couple steps in and stopped. Jackson looked over Hayley's shoulder at me and sighed.

"Hayden, listen there's something I've been meaning to tell you." Jackson groaned as he tried to straighten up. I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for him to speak. "The unity of the two packs isn't just between two alphas. They need a guardian, sort of like an enforcer. They bind themselves to the alphas to secure the unity and protect the pack. Your bloodline has gone back to the beginning of time to producing guardians for the packs." My throat felt tight and felt like there was a large lump stuck in my throat as I swallowed hard, pushing down the rising anxiety. I knew about the guardians. My parents told me stories of them as a child. Me? A guardian to the packs? I don't think so. I already had enough on my plate, so I held up a hand to silence him.

"I'm going to stop you right there, buddy." I barked at him, my grey eyes hard as steel. "I'm already the emissary for the factions so I don't need another role thrust upon me. So no more guardian protector crap." Jackson frowned at me but didn't say another word. "And besides, Hayley hasn't even agreed to marry you so let's not jump the gun here."

"Thank you." I waved a dismissive hand at him.

"Don't thank me. It was Elijah who vamped your ass to safety."

"I got to go, get back to the bayou before the moon rises, so…" Jackson began to stand up, clutching his left side as Hayley stepped up to his side.

"Jackson, this will be the last time." Hayley reassured him. "After tonight, you'll never have to turn again—no more pain, no more hiding in the bayou, I promise."

"You know, Klaus isn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart. He's doing it for you, Hayley. You're the one who's gonna change everything for us." Hayley's cheeks turned red as she blushed and smiled at him. Jackson's eyes flicked to the doorway and I turned to see Elijah walk into the room. "Seems I owe you yet again." Elijah gave him a short nod before Jackson hobbled out of the room. Elijah looked back at Hayley and me. I stuck my hands in my back pockets and bit my lower lip as I gave Hayley a pleading look, wanting some alone with Elijah. She cleared her throat.

"Yeah, um, I'm going to go sit down for a bit. The baby won't stop kicking." I gave Hayley a grateful smile as she walked past me and out the room.

"I understand he risked his life to save his friend." Elijah said cautiously, taking a step towards me.

"Don't tell him I said this, but he's a good man."

"Yes, he is." I turned my back to him and slowly walked to the open doors of the terrace, biting my lower lip. I felt his presence near, and it was intoxicating as he slowly followed my lead. "Elijah, there is something that I need to tell you. When I was little, my family spoke of tales, legends, of warriors for the wolves. Guardians, protectors forced to take a vow of celibacy to provide the utmost care fo the pack. My bloodline carries that legacy. I always thought that they were just stories, but Jackson just confirmed that they're not. He wants me to be the guardian to the Crescent wolves, a beta to the alphas, their right hand." I turned back around to face Elijah to see him look out the open doors to the balcony, speechless. I rolled my eyes and sighed. "I don't know. It's this insane custom with the wolves."

"No. You don't need to explain anything. I understand the need to make sacrifices for one's family." I rolled my eyes once more as he turned to look at me.

"Oh, come on, Elijah. For once in your immortal life, can you just not be so noble?"

"What would you have me do?"

"I just told you that I'm to be a guardian for the Crescent pack, to Hayley and Jackson's arranged marriage according to some backwater arrangement by people that I never knew. Tell me that you think customs are stupid. Tell me that I have a choice." In fast and slow motion, Elijah took one step towards me and grabbed the back of my head, pulling me towards him so he could press his lips against mine. His lips were soft, and I never knew I craved them until now. He kept a firm grip on the nape of my neck as he deepened the kiss and I inhaled sharply, involuntarily leaning into him and bringing my hand up to grip his arm for support as I became lightheaded. Once my mind finally caught up with reality, my lips moved against his. I clung to his arm never wanting to let go. Elijah pulled back slightly, just enough where our lips still brushed together. I kept my eyes closed, not wanting to open them to watch him step back from me. He placed one more kiss on my lips with heartbreaking gentleness before pulling his head back. My eyes fluttered open as he looked down at me, his soulful brown eyes searching my storm grey eyes.

"You will always have a choice."

TO

We all stood around in the conference room as Genevieve began to perform the moonlight ring spell on the stones.

"Matera et lunare tua virtuse." She chanted. "Matera et lunare tua virtuse. Matera et lunare tua. Matera et lunare tua virtuse." The double doors to the room opened and I turned to see Francesca come walk in as if she owned the place.

"My people say Marcel is on the move and he's bringing friends." Francesca informed us.

"Matera et lunare tua virtuse."

"Get Hayley to safety." Klaus ordered me before leaving the room and for once, I didn't argue with him. If Marcel was coming with his army then my main priority was Hayley's safety.

"Matera et lunare tua virtuse." I reached out to my right to gently take Hayley's arm and began to pull her towards the door.

"Come on." I said but she yanked her arm out of my grasp.

"No." She protested. "Someone needs to watch her." She jutted her chin towards Genevieve, and I bit back an irritating growl.

"Elijah can do that. Now, let's go, Hayley."

"Matera et lunare tua virtuse." Genevieve continued to mutter over the stones."

"No." Hayley repeated with more force in her tone.

"Matera et lunare tua virtuse." I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply as I fought the boiling rage growing inside me.

"Hayley, so help me—"

"You two should go help Klaus." Francesca interrupted me, motioning to Elijah and me. "If Marcel is bringing an army then an Original and two hybrids might serve more beneficial than just one hybrid. My brothers and their security detail won't be much against a vampire army."

"Matera et lunare tua virtuse." Genevieve continued and I growled at Hayley in frustration.

"I'll stay with Hayley." I turned and growled at Francesca, the veins under my eyes crinkling as my werewolf eyes came out. Elijah walked to the doors and wait for me.

"Matera et lunare tua virtuse."

"Go, Hayden…" Hayley urged me quietly.

"Matera et lunare tua virtuse."

"And don't hold back." I turned back to her, flashing my wolf eyes, and extending my fangs.

"Don't—" I began to remind her, but she cut me off.

"—leave your earshot. I know. You've only been telling me that since the day I met you in those mountains. Now, go."

"Matera et lunare tua virtuse." Genevieve's voice was the last thing I heard as I followed Elijah through the double doors and made our way through Correa's guys to the courtyard. We strolled up to Klaus' side who was standing in the middle of the courtyard, looking around as vampires surrounded the courtyard from top to bottom. Vampires began to jump down from the roof, surrounding us.

"I thought this lot would've learned their lesson." Klaus muttered to his older brother.

"Well, they're not exactly renowned for their genius." Elijah told him, straightening his jacket cuffs. Klaus stood there with his feet shoulder width apart and his hands clasped behind his back as his eyes moved above him as if he were searching for something. Or someone.

"So, where's the ringleader of this circus… too afraid to show his face?"

"I'm here." Marcel's voice sounded above us as he appeared on a balcony, vampires parting to allow him to walk up to the railing and peer down at us. "I'm gonna offer you one last chance to pack your stuff and get the hell out of my town." Klaus chuckled amusingly.

"Or what, you'll allow your men to rush to their deaths again?" Marcel splayed his arms around to show off his army of vampires.

"Look around. Every vampire in the Quarter came out. They want their city back, no surrender this time. You're gonna have to kill us all."

"Ok. I think I'll start with you." Marcel grinned down at the original hybrid and his sire.

"Fine. Come get me." Marcel vamp sped out of the compound and Klaus growled under his breath.

"If you don't kill him, I will." Elijah vowed.

"He's mine. This won't take long." Klaus growled under his breath before taking off after Marcel, leaving Elijah and I with the vampires who were closing in on us. Elijah looked over at me and I smiled mischievously, exposing my fangs before looking back at the vampires.

"Gentlemen… shall we?" Elijah splayed his arms, initiating the challenge and the vampires charged at us. I dodged under the swinging arms of the vampires, smashing a chair in my path. I picked up the two legs of the wooden chair and twirled them in my hands, using them as staffs. Adrenaline rushed through me as I felt like I could see everywhere around me at once. As I was staking two vampires in front of me, I felt the presence of two more behind me and I was pivoting around as graceful as a dancer to stake them. I stayed close to Elijah and he stayed close to me, never allowing too much space between us as we watched each other's back. I swung my makeshift staffs, smacking a vampire in the cheek and knocking him away from me, giving me time to twirl and stake another vampire on my left before returning to the first vampire and staking him.

"Separate and flank them!" I recognized the order to come from Diego. "Take them down now!" Distracted by the order, I didn't see a group of vampires come running up on my side and barreling into me, knocking me to the ground. Grunting as the air was knocked out of my lungs, I skidded across the stone away from Elijah, my weapons scattering across the ground. I quickly scrambled to regain the upper hand as they surrounded and I balanced myself on both hands, kicking out with my feet, knocking a vampire away and giving me room to flip to my feet. These vampires wanted to play rough. Fine. I'd show them how to play rough. My hands were a blur in front of me as I snatched vampire after vampire, sinking my fangs into their jugular and tearing their throats out. Vampires were laid out on the ground all around us as I tossed my last victim to the ground and surveyed the carnage. Elijah walked casually among them, not breathing hard at all but I was panting slightly. There were still a few stragglers on the outer edges of the courtyard. "Are we done?"

"Come on, boys." I snarled breathlessly, my skin slick with sweat. "Is that all you got? I'm embarrassed for you."

"Well, nice job." Francesca's voice sounded from the entrance of the conference room and I turned to see her walking out into the courtyard. "Saved me the trouble of killing all these vampires myself." I cocked my head to the side and stared at her in confusion. Through the moment of confusion, a group of werewolves jumped out and attacked Elijah. I gasped, my heart in my throat as I took a step towards him.

"Elijah!" Before I could get to him and help him out, I was jumped by werewolves. As I raised my arms to defend myself, two forceful grips closed around my arms to yank them down and hold them behind my back. Watching Elijah get bit and brought down to the ground only fueled my rage. Snarling fiercely, I felt my bone begin to shift beneath my skin as I started the process of phasing into my wolf form. Before I could complete the transformation, two hands gripped me underneath my chin and with a quick flick, the bones in my neck dislocated with a loud snap. The world went black before I even crumpled to the ground.

TO

The world was blurred and dim as my eyes fluttered open and I regained consciousness. My neck ached as my bones continued to crack and pop back into place. For a moment, all I could register was the cobblestone beneath me; the dried blood on the back of my hands as I opened and closed my fingers. Then, everything came rushing back in. My head snapped up and my eyes grew wide as my vision cleared and I looked around the compound. Through the carnage of dead vampires, I made out Elijah a couple yards away from me, still unconscious.

"Elijah." I breathed as I scrambled over to his side. Grunting with effort, I grabbed him by his shoulders and heaved him over onto his back. His white dress shirt was stained in blood and he had werewolf bites all over his flawless skin with his eyes closed. "Elijah?" His eyes remained closed. "Come on, Elijah, wake up." Gripping his broad shoulders, I gave him a shake as if that would stir something in him. "Elijah, wake up." When he made no signs of opening his eyes, I closed my own eyes and took a deep breath and listened. Thump… thump… thump… There was a slow rhythmic beat of heart and overlapping it was the crunching of bones as his broken neck began to heal. I opened my eyes just in time to see a twitch come from his left hand. I let out a loose breath of air in relief but quickly inhale sharply again when I remembered someone else, I had to check on. "Hayley…" I scrambled to my feet and ran to the meeting room. My throat closed and my heart dropped to my stomach like a stone in water when I saw it empty. There was a puddle of blood on the floor where I had left her. Rushing over to it, I bent down and dipped my fingers in it. It was sticky and thick as it had begun to dry. I held it up to my nose and inhaled deeply. My werewolf eyes flashed at the familiar scent of Hayley. I abruptly stood up and spun around, now wild with fear and anger. "Hayley!"

"Hayden?" Elijah's voice sounded out in the courtyard and for a quick second, relief fluttered through me. I vamp sped back outside to Elijah's side as he was getting to his feet. He was breathing heavily as the werewolf venom was coursing through his veins, but he still scanned my entire body as if looking for any injuries. When he couldn't physically see any, his brown eyes, full of worry, met my own. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine but, Elijah, Hayley's missing." He quickly spun around, looking as if he could see something that I couldn't. "I'm going to check the rest of the compound. Maybe she hid when everything went down." Deep down, I knew that was a lie. Knowing Hayley Marshall, when everything went down, she probably joined in on the fight. I sped through the entire compound, searching every room, every stairwell, every corridor. With each empty spot that I checked, my fear grew and grew, and I was in my head so much that I almost barreled into Elijah. I skidded to a halt and shook my head at him, indicating that I couldn't find her.

"Genevieve and Francesca are gone as well." Elijah informed and I growled in frustration.

"They played us. Both of them." Before Elijah could say anything else, something caught my ear. I turned my head ever so slightly to the direction of the entrance to the compound and perked my ear as it picked up on Marcel's voice. Marcel. He was the reason why I couldn't be by Hayley's side to protect her. With lightning speed, I was down the steps and storming through the courtyard, livid with Elijah behind me.

"Marcel!" Elijah called out and Marcel spun around from where he was talking to Camille and faced us. He was panting with exhaustion, bite marks on him from where werewolves must have gotten him.

"Where is she?" I demanded, eyes glowing and the veins beneath my eyes bulging. "Where the hell is Hayley?" Cami swiftly moved around Marcel and stood between the vampire and me before I could get any closer to him and rip his throat out with my teeth. I continued to glare at Marcel over Cami's shoulder as she spoke.

"He doesn't have her." Cami told me softly like she was speaking to a wounded animal. "Please. I know you don't trust him, but you know I wouldn't lie. He doesn't have her." I finally broke eye contact with Marcel to look into Cami's dark green eyes. I gave her a soft hiss, nostrils flaring as I tried to comprehend and believe what she was trying to tell me.

"Well, someone does." Elijah walked around us and up to Marcel who tensed up as if preparing to fight the Original vampire.

"Where is my brother?" Elijah demanded; his voice laced with quiet thunder.

"I left him in the street." Marcel answered honestly. "He was gonna kill me, and then he got jacked up by some witch's spell." Elijah turned back around to face me.

"Genevieve."