Chapter Thirty Nine: Protect the Pack
Hayley reentered her territory in her wolf form, shadowed by Mason. She picked up on an array of scents- so many of them familiar, but all blanketed with the stench of fear, anxiety, and anger.
The pack was on edge.
A white wolf emerged from the trees, her golden eyes calm and direct. She inclined her head at her Alpha, before leading the timber and black wolves back towards the others.
When they entered the clearing where the homes stood, the entire western pack was gathered together, including the elderly and the children. Hayley's eyes looked over them all, then when she spotted a young girl hiding behind her mother's leg, her heart sank.
Rey, she thought, remembering the day she had watched the pups climb trees and play, and how this one had grinned up at her. Now she watched Hayley with dull, wide eyes that were full of uncertainty.
Hayley shifted back, and Mason followed suit. He stayed by her side, expressionless and calm. She took a moment, trying to imitate his air of calm, before she began to speak.
When she was done telling the others about what had happened, she quieted down, anticipating a slew of questions and accusations. To her surprise, the pack was mostly quiet. Then an elder stepped forward.
Hayley inclined her head respectfully, recognizing the older man as someone who had been a part of the western pack long before Hayley had claimed her place as Alpha. "Yes, Dedrick?"
The tall, thin man had hair that was streaked with white and pale, gray eyes. He dipped his head too, before asking, "What will become of Aiden if we manage to stop him and his Hunter ally?"
The entire pack murmured amongst themselves, casting curious looks at their Alpha.
The Alpha straightened, her green eyes darkening. Her expression became cool, impassive. Suddenly, she was no longer Hayley, or the mate of the Hybrid Klaus, but their Alpha who would uphold their laws and would protect the pack.
"For his crimes, Aiden's fate will be determined by vote of the three remaining Alphas at the designated, neutral ground. As for the Hunter, his fate will be left up to his leader."
"Exile!"
"Death!"
Hayley snarled when the cries arose from all around. "Quiet!" she ordered, and silence swiftly followed the Alpha's command. "It has been decided. Word has already been sent to Lana and Oliver, and we have agreed on this. Aiden's punishment will rest on how deep his crimes against the packs go."
Dedrick, who had not shouted along with the others, nodded at her. "And will you, Alpha, deliver the final blow if it is the will of the Alphas?"
It was Mason who saw the change in Hayley's eyes, even if it was only for a brief moment. It was the same look on her face when she had won her place as Alpha of the pack, after having defeated her opponent. It was an unnatural coldness that quickly hid any regret or doubt she may have had.
Hayley clenched her fists at the elder's question. Perhaps yes, the duty of ending Aiden's life would fall to her, being the Alpha of Alphas, the Werewolf Queen, the one whose bloodline descended from the eldest family and the Original werewolves.
"Yes," she said, in a cold tone.
And no one, not even Mason, saw how her hands trembled.
Ooo0ooO
Klaus stood next to Marcel in the Abattoir, feet away from a now forgotten throne. Both men stood with concentration etching furrows into their brows as they considered the milling crowd below.
The vampires, daywalkers and nightwalkers alike, were gathered below. Klaus recognized a slim, brunette standing apart from the others, studying her nails as if this whole situation bored her. Klaus' eyes then fell on the vampire known as Caroline, who stood next to Tyler, whispering in his ear.
He knew that Hayley had wanted Tyler to go home, back to his pack, but the young Hybrid had wanted to stay to protect Caroline from anything that may come their way. Klaus knew firsthand how stubborn the younger male could be, as did Hayley, so she had not tried to fight him on this.
Klaus rubbed a hand over the nearly faded mark on his shoulder. Being away from his mate had resulted in the mark nearly healing itself, since it had been days since they had... He shook his head, trying to focus.
Marcel himself was distracted. His gaze was focused on Rebekah, who stood next to Elijah and Kol. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, and she looked murderous. The eldest Mikaelson watched the crowd with what seemed to be an air of indifference, but it was closer to wariness. Kol was the only one who seemed to be truly indifferent to the unfolding events.
The crowd became quiet as a trio entered the Abattoir. The three women, two of which shielded the third, took in their surroundings carefully.
"Welcome, Sophie," Klaus called out.
The tallest of the three looked up. Sophie Devereux met the gaze of the Summer King, and gave him a nod.
With the witches being aware of what was happening, any qualms they previously had about Klaus was pushed aside due to the new situation they had quickly found themselves in. With warnings from Tyler and Mason about the new alliance between the Alpha of the eastern pack and a rogue Hunter, armed with the knowledge about the packs and one white oak stake, the witches had chosen to help the Hybrid, since that meant helping Hayley.
Sophie shoved the image of her handing Hayley that silver, white oak necklace, praying to the gods that that would never surface. A reminder that nothing- and no one- can truly escape death, she had said.
"Thank you," she replied evenly.
"These witches are under the protection of the western pack, and the Alpha Hayley Marshall," Klaus announced. "Which means they are also under mine. If any harm comes to them, punishment shall be swift."
The vampires exchanged looks, but stayed quiet. Only Katherine looked over at the witches with a curious, raised brow expression. She studied the tall witch, then the one with greenish eyes, who were blocking her view of the third.
So, she thought to herself. That's the one with all the power, then. With the smallest of smirks, she filed that information away for later before facing the King once more.
A few feet away, Caroline also peered at the witches from behind Tyler's back. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, but she kept quiet. She glanced at Tyler, a question in her eyes, but he shook his head very slightly. Later, his own gaze seemed to say. So she gripped his hand in hers, giving it a squeeze to let him know she understood.
Klaus and Marcel descended down to stand directly in front of the others. Klaus continued, "As you know, one of the werewolf Alphas has disappeared, and the same goes for one of the Hunters. We believe they may have teamed up to make a move against us."
"Us?" Rebekah's voice was sharp, like a knife through the silence. "It's pretty clear, brother, that the werewolf and the Hunter want you and your mate died. The rest of us-," she gestured widely, "are just collateral."
Klaus stiffened slightly. "Yes, I do believe you are correct, sister," he said through a clenched jaw.
"What does that mean for us exactly?"
This voice had Klaus turning. Standing at the edge of the crowd, more hidden in the shadows, was a face he had not seen in a while. Thierry eyed him back, looking as though he was ready to run if Klaus made any move towards him.
"I don't know," Klaus admitted. "Hayley believes Aiden wants her position as Alpha-,"
"But he is an Alpha," Kol interjected.
Klaus shook his head. "No. Not just her pack. Over all the packs. Hayley is a direct descendant from the eldest Original werewolf family, making her the Alpha of Alphas. Aiden, who we believe descends from one of the other families, believes that that position is his birthright."
"And the Hunter?" Elijah asked, frowning.
"The Hunter's goal is simple. He only wishes for one thing- my death." Klaus took a breath. "But we cannot be sure that he will stop with me."
At that implication, the Mikaelson family shifted uneasily, like the other vampires did. Only the witches looked on with grim expressions.
"So what are you going to do? You've never cared about the wolves or us vampires before."
Klaus didn't know who asked that, so he addressed the crowd as a whole. "I know that I have been a tyrant to everyone here. I have forced you to fight one another, to kill others for my own pleasure. I have killed too many to count."
"And you expect us to believe you've changed just because you've shacked up with this Hayley girl?"
Klaus growled slightly, trying to rein in his temper. "I understand why many of you have doubts. I would too, if I were in your shoes. But I vow to show that I am no longer the Summer King, the one who you once feared. I've learned that being a Hybrid means I have a duty to not just the wolves, but to the vampires as well. It's time that I became your leader, not your ruler."
Although many still murmured, and looked very skeptical at his words, Davina peered out over Bonnie's shoulder. Her gaze latched onto the Hybrid, and she smiled softly. Although her vision of the white oak stake, and of Hayley with Hybrid eyes, made her still want to tremble, she also thought about the dream she had had the previous night.
Unlike most of her visions, she only heard someone speaking, and now she recognized the voice as Klaus'.
"But it has to be your choice. Your choice."
And she believed if the vision of Hayley becoming a Hybrid came true, it would be. The only lingering thought in her mind was that of the room the turned Hayley sat in.
It was a nursery.
Ooo0ooO
Disclaimer: I do not own the Originals.
Author's Note: Please review!
Announcement: One chapter to go, then onward to Eternal Reign!