Chapter Five: Birthright
"It's what you are meant to do. It's your birthright."
Those words had been echoing through Hayley's mind for the past several days. It was Eve who had said them, after Hayley had told her what Lana had said at the Alpha meeting. Eve said the Alpha who was to lead the wolves into the Summer King's territory was not Lana, but Hayley.
Eve had pulled out a old, dusty tome that depicted every werewolf bloodline dating back to the Original werewolves. She told Hayley of her own bloodline, while tracing a finger across the old and yellowed parchment, pointing to the three families that first started the werewolf line. It seemed that the bloodline Hayley descended from came from one of the three families, and it was the eldest family.
"Do you understand what this means?" Eve had asked Hayley.
"I'm royalty. You told me that," Hayley said.
Eve shook her head. "It means more than just being royalty. It means you are the last remaining descendent from the eldest line. It means that you are the true Alpha of us all, Hayley. You're the Werewolf Queen."
Hayley had laughed at the ridiculous title. The Werewolf Queen? She got a silly image of her draped in fine jewels and a crown, lounging on a throne.
But now, as the seriousness of the situation sunk in, Hayley contemplated how it was possible that a girl who came from two broken homes could possibly be a Queen. She mused over the irony of it all, the fairy tale overtones. A poor orphan girl turns out to be the true Queen of the werewolves? What was next, a frog prince?
Hayley shook her head, ridding herself of those ridiculous thoughts.
Queen or not, she was still an Alpha and if she was going to go into the Hybrid's territory, she needed to be prepared.
The first thing she did was implement an invitation for all the werewolves from all the regional packs to join her and her pack for an official meeting. Jackson was calling it the "Alpha meet and greet", which Hayley supposed was accurate for lack of a better term. Her goal was to allow every wolf to see and to meet her, and for her to familiarize herself with all of them. If they were going to follow her, she wanted to know who she was leading.
The next thing was making sure each and every wolf knew what they were walking into. "Know your enemy" seemed to be a necessary precaution, given that the enemy was a thousand year old Hybrid King. Rumors were rooted in false truth and Hayley wanted them to understand that this Summer King was not a monster to be trifled with.
Along that same vein, Hayley had it in mind to keep the wolves aware of the other threat- the Hunters. As another enemy that could not be underestimated, Hayley wanted to ensure that they would all exercise caution when it came to confronting the Hybrid as well as the Hunters.
Jackson was keen on reminding Hayley that they had no solid proof that it was the Hunters that were behind the killings, but Hayley trusted her instincts. She also figured it was smarter to be overly prepared than not prepared at all. What they were planning on doing called for acting on instinct, making snap decisions, and if anyone found themselves unable to adapt to the situation, that could spell trouble for them all.
Ooo0ooO
Klaus often took his lunch out in the veranda in the Abattoir, enjoying the mild sunshine and the distant sounds of the bustling town. Having a personal chef at your disposal had its merits, which Klaus enjoyed thoroughly.
He leaned back in his seat, one hand holding a glass of blood, and the other held a small, worn book with a faded cover that read Macbeth.
Marcel approached him, lifting a brow at his sire's choice of literature. "Macbeth?" he asked, taking a seat across from Klaus. "I'd figure you to be more of a Titus Andronicus guy."
Klaus placed the book aside, giving the younger vampire an amused look. "I do enjoy a good tragedy. Hamlet amuses the reader with a proverbial game of cat and mouse, Macbeth leans towards the supernatural with the witches and ghosts. Of course, Titus has its own moments, what with the cannibalism. All of them enjoyable in their own way."
"I'm guessing you're the guy who reads Dracula and comments how inaccurate Stoker's vampire is compared to the real thing."
Klaus smirked. "Perhaps everything but the ability to control the wolves," he agreed.
Marcel rolled his eyes. "You need to read something other than Gothic literature."
Klaus waggled the play. "I am."
Marcel dropped the subject. Reading was fine and all, but his tastes laid elsewhere. "Well, apart from your disturbing taste in books, I have some news."
Klaus leaned back again, draining the rest of his blood. "Oh?"
"Rumor has it the werewolf packs are starting to gather together. Now my sources say it's because of the Hunters, but others say it's to march their way here to challenge you."
Klaus's eyes narrowed at that. "Challenge me?" he repeated coolly.
Marcel shrugged. "That's what they tell me. Apparently there's this Alpha who is going to lead them, and the word is they're the top wolf of them all, the Alpha of Alphas."
Klaus's expression darkened. "We shall see about that."
Ooo0ooO
The meeting of all the packs happened during the night of the full moon. Compelled to turn from the moon's pull, every werewolf stood before Hayley in their wolf forms. Hundreds of golden eyes stared up at her, shining like coins.
Hayley stood at the rise of a hill, flanked by Mason and Eve. As the moon reached its peak in the sky, she tilted her head back and howled.
The others joined in, and together their voices melded into one, echoing off the foothills and mountains, sending the nocturnal animals skittering deeper into the woods. It was a call that could be heard from many miles away.
Hayley then descended towards the wolves, walking through them all. She familiarized herself with their scent, and they did the same with her. Some bowed their heads towards her, acknowledging her rank, but most eyed her quietly.
She understood that she might have been given the title of the Werewolf Queen, but it was one thing to be called a Queen. She knew she would have to prove to them all that she was capable of carrying that title. Perhaps she would have to prove it to herself too.
Circling back, she rejoined Eve and Mason. Eve gave her a small nod, and with that, they shifted back to their human form.
With her eyes still burning gold, Hayley watched as the others followed her example. With the moon moving away from the highest point in the sky, they were able to shift back. The full moon at its peak was the only time that the wolves were forced to change, but unlike the common lore, they could also shift at will without the moon's guidance.
Hayley raised her voice, which carried along in the wind. "Thank you for coming. I know what I'm asking of all of you is not something to be taken lightly. However, the situation we find ourselves in is not something to be taken lightly as well. The Summer King has taken one of our own and changed him into a Hybrid. Now he sits on his throne in New Orleans, stealing wolves for his games. Wolves, vampires, and witches are being killed. I know some of you have your doubts, but I believe this is the work of the Hunters.
Together, we have to stop the Hybrid's games and the Hunter's from killing any more of our kind. It's time we took a stand against the ones who are hurting our wolves, our family. For too long this has gone on. It's time we started new, in a world without a tyrant and without Hunters. Wolves should not run in fear of the King. They need an Alpha."
She looked over them all. "I am Hayley Marshall. I am the last descendent on the elder werewolf bloodline. I am your Alpha."
And once again, the air echoed with the chorus of howls as the werewolves tilted their heads back towards the moon, and vowed to follow the female Alpha as she lead them into the Summer King's territory.
Ooo0ooO
The air carried the sound that sounded like the humming of bees. It whispered through the trees, along the mountain pass. Every animal that heard this sound cowered away in fear, hiding in the trees or the brush.
Then appeared a group of men and women, heavily armed, moving swiftly and silently down the path. Cloaked in black, they followed the tallest man, who lead them at the front.
His face was composed of sharp angles, high cheekbones, and full lips. His hair was short and dark and his eyes were hidden under the shadow of his hood. Despite being tall and muscled, he moved like a ghost across the rocky ground.
Jeremy Gilbert, the leader of the Hunters, was known to be the man that the monsters had nightmares about. Chosen at a young age, Jeremy was raised to be a Hunter. He know nothing else, as it was his birthright. He and several other men and women banded together, coming from different parts of the world, gathering in places where the monsters threatened the human world.
His second in command, Matt Donovan, stepped closer. "Are we close?"
"We will be there by tomorrow at midnight," Jeremy told him in a low voice.
Matt's blue eyes fixated on the view spanning out before them as they reached an opening in the pass. Stretching out before them was the last of the Appalachian mountains, which fell down into the southern states. Matt knew he was looking towards the borders of Georgia, which meant Louisiana was not far away.
"And when we reach our destination?" he asked.
Jeremy's hand ghosted over the sword he had strapped across his back. "Then we end the Summer King's reign once and for all."
Ooo0ooO
A lone girl walked down the streets near the Quarter, ignoring the strange chill in the air. Her heeled boots clicked again the stoned pathway, which echoed down the quiet streets.
Her nervous, light blue eyes jumped from shadow to shadow. Her heart raced and her skin prickled, as though she could feel someone watching her.
Rounding a corner, she slammed into a solid wall of muscle. She yelped, startled.
Smiling down at her was Marcel, all charm. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. What's your name, sweetheart?"
The girl swallowed. Lie! her instincts screamed.
But then Marcel leaned in. "Tell me your name," he said sweetly.
The girl found herself strangely relaxed. She even smiled. "April. April Young."
"Well, April Young, a pretty thing like you shouldn't be walking out here all alone. There's strange people here."
April blinked. "Strange… people?"
Marcel only flashed her another smile. He positioned himself at her side, gently taking her elbow. "Why don't you come with me?"
April nodded, almost drowsily. "Yeah, I'll come with you." Then she looked forward and stopped again. She gasped.
In front of them was a wolf, with gleaming gold eyes.
Marcel stiffened.
"Is that… a wolf?" April asked incredulously.
Marcel forced another smile. "April, why don't you go inside right here? No need to be afraid, it's just a stray dog. I'll take care of it."
April relaxed again before walking inside the Abattoir, her expression blank.
Marcel then turned back to the wolf. "So," he said, tilting his head slightly. "Who let you out of your cage, dog?"
The wolf, which was massive and timber colored, peeled back its lips and bared its teeth. It snarled viciously, lowering its head as the fur along its back stood up.
Marcel's eyes narrowed. "So you're not one of ours. I see." Then he beckoned the wolf with two fingers. "Come and play then."
Ooo0ooO
Hayley nearly lunged at the vampire standing in front of her, every instinct telling her to rip off its head.
But before she could, she caught the scent of something more threatening than a run of the mill vamp.
Emerging from the shadows was a tall, golden haired man. He was more slender than the vampire, but his posture made him appear larger than he really was. His dark blue eyes nearly danced with an amused light. His features were delicate; full lips, fine cheekbones, like something from an old painting or a fairy tale. Dressed in white, he looked more like a fairy prince rather than the feared Hybrid King.
Hayley barely noticed how she shifted back into her human form. She stood in front of the Hybrid, waiting for the fight or flight instinct to kick in.
When it never did, her eyes narrowed.
Klaus studied the werewolf with just as much interest. She was a pretty little thing, with lovely eyes and dark hair. She stood there and looked at him, not out of anger or fear, but rather stubborn defiance and an odd sense of confidence.
But they both realized something individually, something they both felt deep within that perhaps they didn't recognize or know what to make of. It was a strange sense of recognition, as though they were not unfamiliar with one another, even though they had never met. But it was also a feeling they both chose to ignore at that time.
Instead, Klaus pushed his hands into his pockets and smirked. "Well, well, little wolf. Are you lost?"
Hayley knew her pack was waiting for her signal and if she gave it, they would jump in to protect her. But she also knew there was probably vampires waiting for the King to do the same thing. She knew it was too risky to expose her pack, not here, not in the open.
"I'm not lost," she told him. "I found what I was looking for."
Klaus lifted a brow. "Is that right? And why would a little wolf like yourself seek out my presence?"
Hayley straightened, her eyes still gold. "I just wanted to see the Summer King in person. I have to say…" She made a face. "I don't know if I'm impressed."
Within the span of a heartbeat, Klaus moved forward, reaching out to grab the werewolf. However, being nearly as quick, Hayley darted out of his path and reappeared in a flash ten yards away, under the bright light of a lamppost.
Hayley tilted her head at him, her expression unreadable. Her eyes melted back to their usual green hazel color.
Klaus narrowed his eyes at her. "You're fast for someone so small," he said.
Hayley got the distinct impression that wasn't a compliment. "You're slow for someone that calls himself King," she returned in a calm tone.
Klaus's eyes flickered, turning gold and black, before going back to dark blue. "What's your name, little wolf?"
Hayley lifted a brow. "You mean you don't know? And why would a King like yourself not know my name in my presence?"
"The Alpha," Marcel realized. "You're the Alpha."
Hayley's lips twisted up into a smile. "The one and only."
Klaus snarled at that. "Not the only one, love. Not here."
Hayley knew she couldn't keep baiting him like this. She was fast, faster now with the strength of a new, larger pack behind her, but she was not as fast as a Hybrid. She knew if she kept taunting him, she might experience a side to him that would reaffirm why people cowered in fear at the sound of his name.
"It looks like you're not the only one as well. Not anymore," she told him.
Klaus whirled when she disappeared, flashing away into the shadows that lead out of town and back into the forests and swamps surrounding the Quarter. He bared his teeth in a semblance of a smile.
"Do you want me to follow her?" Marcel asked.
Klaus shook his head. "No, let her return to her pack. I'm sure that won't be the last we will see of her."
"Should I gather the troops?"
Again, Klaus shook his head. "No. Go back inside."
Marcel nodded and flashed away, leaving Klaus alone under that lamppost.
He smiled to himself. "Your move, little wolf."
Ooo0ooO
Disclaimer: I do not own the Originals.
Author's Note: Please review!