Chapter Seven: The Girl Who Cried Wolf

Elijah Mikaelson understood how the weight of eternity weighed on each individual differently. When it came to his own family, Rebekah was the one who constantly craved affection and attention, receiving both from a long list of ex lovers and presumably dead friends. Kol eased his way through by drugging women before drinking them dry, allowing their blood to give him the extra rush that he yearned for.

But Elijah and Klaus were very similar in the way they thought eternity should be spent. They both believed it should be with family, together for better or worse, especially if yours was destined to live forever.

When they had first arrived to the New World, it was clear that Klaus wanted nothing more than his family to remain together. When circumstances unfolded and they all parted ways, Elijah felt his brother compromised by gathering together as many vampires and supernatural creatures together and calling them "family". It was a way to fill the gap that his brothers and sister left behind, a gap which was also filled with hurt, resentment, anger, and sadness.

Elijah supposed he was at fault for the latter, having left his family for his own purposes. However, he did not consider himself a selfish man. On the contrary, Elijah spent most of his time traveling to help others, as opposed to his younger brothers, who seemed to enjoy creating chaos and upheaval.

Elijah found solace along the borders of Canada and at the most northern point of Maine. He enjoyed the cold and the solitude. Being a creature who faired better by himself, Elijah did not consider himself lonely, just alone.

When he moved from town to town, he took odd jobs. He rang up groceries at a small market, he helped cast fishnets into the freezing Atlantic, he even assisted at a local school for sometime as a substitute teacher. He enjoyed the hard work, which took his mind off of the feeling that came with living forever.

Of course, Elijah never forgot where he came from nor his family. He kept a picture of them all in a worn leather wallet and he wore his family ring of his right hand, like they all did. His thoughts often drifted to his sister, praying for her safety. Worry came when he thought of his brothers.

Long ago he understood he was not cut out to be the oldest. Finn was much better at being the guide, the eldest brother they all could look up to. Elijah, being the second oldest, never felt he could measure up to Finn, even when he was alive. And when he died, Elijah tried his best, but he never felt he truly lived up to being an older sibling to the others.

Even now, his mind was not on trying to guide his brother Klaus away from the destructive path he was on. Family was important, but enough time had taught Elijah that caring for yourself was just as important.

Instead, he envisioned a little town in Maine, and a woman with deep brown hair and a musical laugh.

Ooo0ooO

When the sun began to rise, Hayley was already awake to watch as it crested over the trees. She felt more relaxed now that it was daytime, but she knew just because it was light out didn't mean her and her pack were safe.

She scouted the perimeters with Mason, who seemed more on edge than usual. Hayley figured it was being so close to Tyler, and the man who had changed him from a wolf to a Hybrid.

Hayley nudged his shoulder with hers. "You okay?"

Mason sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Honestly? I don't know."

"Is it because of Tyler?" she asked gently.

Mason's lips thinned. "Part of it, yeah."

"And the other part?"

"You said you ran into this Hybrid. Twice now. So where is he? Why hasn't he attacked us?"

Hayley looked away, tucking her hands in her back pockets. "I'm not sure," she said quietly. "Maybe he's toying with us."

"Or maybe he's toying with you."

Hayley shot Mason a look. "What does that mean?"

"Think about it. You ran into him in the Quarter, then again in the woods, both in his human and wolf form. And what, he just let you go?"

Hayley frowned. "I was handling the situation."

"I'm not saying you weren't. I'm just saying it seems odd that a thousand year old Hybrid couldn't, or didn't, grab you when he had the chance."

Hayley understood his point. She wanted to chalk it up to sheer dumb luck. She jabbed the tip of her shoe into the ground. "I'm not going to be another game of his."

Mason snorted. "No doubt there. I don't know if he could handle you, wolf girl."

Hayley rolled her eyes at his longtime nickname. She figured it was still better than little wolf.

A call had them both turning. One of their scouts, a member of Oliver's pack, came jogging up.

"There's been a sighting. Vampire on the north edge of camp."

Hayley and Mason immediately began striding in that direction. Hayley glanced at the other wolf. "Just the one?"

The wolf nodded. "He might be a scout for the others. He's just… watching."

Hayley and Mason exchanged a look at that. With a nod, the three of them shifted into their wolf forms so they could run to the location where the vampire was spotted.

Ooo0ooO

Marcel stood waiting as the Alpha showed up, flanked by two other wolves. He smiled at the timber wolf, his posture casual, expression amused.

Hayley shifted back, eyeing the vampire. "What do you want?"

Marcel's smile widened slightly. "A good woman, good music, peace on earth…"

Hayley's lips curled back into a snarl. "Start talking before I rip out your throat."

"Oh my, now I see why Klaus likes you," the vampire mused. "You got some spunk, wolf." When Hayley growled, he lifted his hands.

"All right, don't get your fur in a twist," he told her. "I come in peace."

Mason shifted back at that. "Like hell you do," he snapped.

Marcel eyed the other male, brow lifting. "I think I was talking to the Alpha, mutt."

"Enough!" Hayley shouted, even as Mason and the other wolf snarled. "Talk."

Marcel looked surprised and amused when the two other wolves quieted down immediately. "Good boys," he said. Then his gaze met Hayley's. "I want to talk to you, without your guard dogs sniffing my ankles."

Mason moved forward, as if to shield Hayley from the vampire. When she shoved him firmly back so it was her that shielded him, Mason looked tense and angry.

"Go," she ordered them both.

Mason stared at her, and they seemed to have a wordless argument that Mason lost. Growling and swearing under his breath, he shifted back into his wolf form and slunk off with the other male.

Hayley knew they wouldn't go far, just out of the vampire's eyeline so assure that she remained safe and not alone.

Marcel shoved his hands into his pockets. "I don't get you wolves. You claim to be vicious, but at the end of the day, you're just dogs waiting for orders."

Hayley's eyes flashed gold. "Keep insulting us and I'll show you vicious."

Marcel had the nerve to wink. "Promises, promises. I'll leave the biting to Klaus though. He seems very… territorial over you. I don't know why. But I do know if you and your wolves stick around, you'll wind up dead."

Hayley narrowed her eyes. "What, is that a warning?"

"A fact," Marcel corrected. "He says you have until sundown to get out, or else we come in."

"And who's the one waiting for orders?" Hayley challenged, sneering.

Marcel bared his teeth in a semblance of a smile. "Take it or leave it, sweetheart. Once he kills each and every one of your wolves, he'll kill you slowly."

Suddenly, Marcel moved and reappeared about thirty yards away. "Or who knows. Maybe you'll become his new star contender for his games."

Then he was gone, leaving Hayley with a sick feeling in her stomach. She stared in the direction the vampire had disappeared, fists clenched.

Mason came up to her in his human form. "What do you want to do?" he asked her.

Ooo0ooO

Klaus waited for Marcel to return to the Quarter before disappearing into the woods. His heightened senses helped him trace Marcel's scent trial right back to the wolves.

He spotted his little wolf standing with another male, who Klaus could assume was her Beta. Klaus watched as she spoke softly to him, her hazel eyes dark. Her hair looked mussed, like she had been running her hands through the thick, dark locks.

Klaus settled himself into a crook behind a tree, still as a shadow.

Suddenly, Hayley lifted her head and looked around. Her entire body tensed as she whispered something to her Beta, who then dashed away into the forest.

Klaus kept quiet even as she looked directly where he was hidden. He was curious to see what she would do.

Instead of shifting or attacking, Hayley merely turned to face him, her expression unreadable. "I know you're there," she murmured softly, as if she knew he would hear her.

Unperturbed by being caught, Klaus stepped out from behind the tree. "Miss me?" he asked her cheekily.

"It's not sundown. And you won't get to my pack."

"Oh? And will you stop me?"

Hayley lowered her gaze, which melted from hazel to gold. "Yes."

Klaus smirked. "Now what kind of man would I be if I went back on my word?"

"The fact that you think you're a man at all is funny," Hayley shot back.

Klaus laid a hand over his heart, feigning hurt. "Sticks and stones, love."

Hayley stared at him, glaring.

"Come now, don't be rude," Klaus chided.

"I don't respond well to death threats," Hayley said coldly.

"How about a bargain?"

"I don't make deals," Hayley said. "Especially not with the likes of you."

"You should consider your options, love," he replied.

"I know my options, leave or die."

"Ah, I see Marcel didn't tell you the final option," Klaus remarked. "I was going to offer to let your pack go without a scratch on them."

Hayley frowned. "What's the catch?"

Klaus grinned, showing all of his teeth. "If I let them go, you have to stay, little wolf."

Hayley heard Marcel's last words echo faintly in her mind as she stared at Klaus.

"Who knows. Maybe you'll become his new star contender for his games."

Except something told her she'd be more than Klaus's new plaything.

Ooo0ooO

Mason found Hayley standing alone only ten minutes after he had left her. She had instructed him to warn the pack of Klaus's ultimatum, so the wolves would be ready to move.

He saw her tense, pale expression and went to her side. He touched her elbow gently. "Hayley?"

She turned her dark eyes to him. "The pack?" she asked in an odd, soft tone.

"They're okay," he reassured her. "Ready to go."

Suddenly, Mason caught onto a strange scent, which had him bristling. "What's that?"

"Klaus," Hayley murmured in that odd tone. "He was here."

"And he left without hurting you again?" Mason asked incredulously.

Hayley nodded very briefly. "He made me a deal. The pack leaves if I stay."

"What?" Mason exclaimed.

Hayley shook her head, as if to clear her head. "That's what he said. Everyone lives if I stay here in the Quarter."

Mason noticed the look in her eyes and reached out to grip her shoulder. "And you told him no, right?" When she didn't respond, Mason shook her a little. "Hayley!"

Hayley looked at him, and he saw the answer in her eyes.

Ooo0ooO

Disclaimer: I do not own the Originals.

Author's Note: That awkward moment when you drop a Taylor Swift lyric and McGonagall quote in the same chapter.

Thank you to everyone who has read and/or reviewed so far! Your reviews are such a great confidence boost. Honestly the last one made me tear up a little, so extra hugs to my Guest, whoever you are.

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