𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙎𝙄𝙓𝙏𝙀𝙀𝙉
ミ★ ( reign of wolves, act one ) ★彡

The full moon took too long to come around in Elijah's opinion. Rhea stayed with the Crescent wolves while the month went by—not like she had a choice anyway since she was stuck in wolf form. It wasn't like she could go back into the Quarter as a wolf. Elijah was in the Bayou almost everyday to spend time with her until the full moon came around. It was as if he was too nervous to take his eyes off of her for too long in case something else happened to her—instead, the opposite happened. Rhea flourished further as a wolf. Maybe it was something that she needed all this time.

Hayley and Eve gathered the wolves to the Bayou on the night of the full moon and prepared the herbed mixture that Celeste had given them.

The wolves all turned to their human forms and eagerly drank the concoction—unable to wait any longer for the salvation they had been waiting for, for decades. Hayley looked around excitedly for Rhea, eager to share the excitement of her and her family being in human form again but her happy smile turned into a concerned frown when she noticed Rhea's black wolf strolling into the Bayou from within the tree lines.

     "That can't be right." Jackson commented when he noticed it too. They had each gotten closer with each other in wolf form, becoming a pack with each other in a way despite the fact that Rhea would never drop her own alpha status to be under another. She had no pack—but, everyone knew she was alpha material. But nonetheless, they had become protective over each other as if they were a part of a pack and had been for years. She owed him one for trying to help her when Celeste had her knocked out while the plantation house burned down around them.

     "No, it can't be." Elijah said as he joined them, almost horrified that Celeste had cursed her in such a way that she wouldn't even turn back on a full moon like the rest of the Crescent wolves that she had cursed.

     Her curse was completely unjustified. Rhea had done nothing to Celeste to warrant it besides be fated to Elijah, and he wasn't even the one that got her killed all those years ago—Klaus did when he ignorantly blamed the witches for the deaths he was causing by being blatantly stupid with his duelling.

     Hayley turned to the Original with wide, concerned eyes, "Elijah, we'll fix this. I'm sure there's a witchy workaround that we can find."

"Well, we'd bloody hope so." They heard Rebekah's snappy voice as she came storming into the Bayou, "They're the reason we're in this mess in the first place."

"Rebekah, what are you doing here?" Elijah questioned his sister, "I'd assumed that you would've been halfway across the world by now."

"I came to make sure my sister-in-law returns back to her human form." Rebekah answered him, "I'm not saying goodbye to her as a wolf."

"You're leaving?" Hayley frowned, "What happened to us girls sticking together?"

"Well, Nik and I came to a sort of all-or-nothing arrangement. I leave town for good, and he allows me to." A bittersweet smile forms on her face as she shrugged, "Can't pass that up."

Hayley laughed sadly, "A thousand years with Klaus? I guess you deserve a few vacation days." She remarked before turning back to look at Rhea, "I guess that mantle is being passed to Rhea now that you're leaving."

"But, that mantle can't be passed while she's a wolf." Elijah snapped, pulling out his phone to call Klaus. He didn't answer at first but he kept persisting with the phone calls until he answered the phone.

"What do you want, Elijah?" He growled out, "You'd think you'd pick up the hint that I'm busy since I didn't answer the first ten times you called."

"I need your help." He admitted, "Rhea hadn't turned back human. She's still a wolf."

"What the hell do you mean she's still a wolf?" Klaus spat, "She should've turned back like the rest of the Crescents."

"Has your hybrid hearing decreased in the last year? She is still a wolf, Niklaus." Elijah snapped at his brother, eyeing Jackson angrily as he comforted Rhea who was clearly uncomfortable with the situation from all the eyes onto her, "We didn't actually know that she would turn back on the full moon. Celeste has damned her to be a wolf forever."

     There was some rustling on the other line as it sounded like Klaus was asking someone to take the phone before the voice of Genevieve made Elijah freeze once more, "Hello, Elijah."

     "Genevieve." He responded stiffly and Rebekah's head snapped to meet his wondering why the hell he was speaking to that devil woman.

     "What seems to be the problem?" Genevieve asked him, faking a sense of concern about whatever had him so worked up, "Klaus looks worried. Is there something I can do to help?"

     Elijah didn't know if he could trust Genevieve. After all, she was one of the witches that was raised with a vengeance against his family—and she was close with Celeste. He didn't know if she was only going to make it worse for Rhea, "Celeste turned Rhea into a wolf like the Crescents." Elijah told her vaguely, "But, unlike them, she still hasn't returned back to her human state."

     "Oh, that does sound like a predicament." Genevieve responded, "A little birdy told me that Celeste made a concoction for those very same wolves for them to stay human throughout the month. Has she taken it?"

     "She hasn't returned to her human form for her to take it." Elijah answered her.

     Genevieve chuckled, "Just give her the mix, Elijah." She told him, "She should return human after she takes it. Celeste must've just wanted to cause you a little extra turmoil so she could get the last laugh in before you killed her."

     The Original didn't respond. How could she be so sure that it would work?

     "How can I trust that?" Elijah asked.

     "It will work. All spells have a way to break them, even a powerful witch like Celeste can't change that." Genevieve told her, "And even I know that it wouldn't be good for her to stay as a wolf. Both you and Klaus would kill me if I left it like that."

With one last look at Rhea, Elijah let out a breath, "If this doesn't work, I swear—"

"—That you'll kill me?" Genevieve interjected, "Yes, I know. Just have her take the mixture before you make any more threats. You can thank me later."

The phone line then ended and Rebekah looked at her brother expectantly, "So? What's the verdict?" She asked him.

"Genevieve says she needs to take the mixture." Elijah told her and Rebekah's eyes widened at the mention of the witch.

"Genevieve? Are you crazy?" She snapped, "How do we know that the mixture won't make her stay a wolf permanently?"

"We don't. But, I'll try anything at this point." Elijah stated desperately as he walked over toward the cauldron that held Celeste's mixture and put some in a bowl before walking over to Rhea's wolf and crouched down in front of her letting out an ironic chuckle, "I understand that this is a little on the nose but I've been told that if you take this, it'll bring you back to human form."

Rhea sent him a look before her head bent down to lick the contents of the bowl.

     They all looked at her expectantly and she let out a whine to let them know it was making her feel uncomfortable. She was used to staring but all of them looking down at her made her feel... small.

     "Anything?" Hayley asked no one in particular if they noticed anything changing.

    Elijah let out a sigh of defeat. Genevieve had deceived them and Celeste had cursed her. He was out of options on how to help her—he might even need to make a few calls to Mystic Falls and to a certain Bennett witch to see if there was anything she could do to fix her friend.

     While Bonnie hated his family, he hoped that she still had love for Rhea and would be willing to help.

     Suddenly, a cracking noise was heard and they all noticed that her paw was deformed and was slowly turning back to a humans' hand. She let out a whine and after a few more bones cracking, her fur retracted back to skin and her face back to her human one.

She looked around in shock and Elijah immediately shrugged off his blazer and covered Rhea's bare skin with it—the size of it covering most of her body and she let out a small blush of embarrassment for being naked in front of everyone, "Well, that was annoying." She remarked and everyone chuckled at her.

Rebekah and Hayley immediately pulled her into a hug, "Oh, thank God." They both said before pulling away again so Rhea could reunite with her soulmate.

The hybrid walked over to Elijah and wrapped her arms around his waist, "I missed you." Rhea whispered, it feeling strange for her to use her voice again after a month of not speaking.

"I missed you more, my love." Elijah said back, kissing her head. He had never felt more relief in his life to see her okay, "I'm so sorry for what happened. Please forgive me."

Rhea shook her head and his face fell, "There's nothing to forgive." She said and relief flashed on his face again, "What Celeste did isn't your fault. She's just a crazy bitch with a vengeance—and you let me kill her, so, we're more than good."

     Elijah grinned and pulled her into a kiss, "I love you more than life itself."

     Rhea grinned into the kiss also, feeling more than complete in that moment as she said, "I love you, too."

     Rebekah smiled at the couple, "Now that everyone is happy again. I'm here to say my goodbyes."

     Rhea frowned. She knew that Rebekah was only going to stay until Elijah was back and safe but stayed longer because her siblings needed help. But now, she was free, "It's finally time, huh?" She mumbled, "I guess I'm really going to miss seeing your face around here, even though you used to piss me off immensely."

     The female Original smirked in amusement, "You really were the only girl to keep up with me. I respected that and I'm so glad that fate chose you to be a part of our family—even when they drive me crazy, myself." She said back and Rhea smiled sadly as Elijah pulled her closer into his side.

     Rebekah's respect and admiration was hard to come by when it came to family despite what might think. She was a lot like Klaus and didn't trust when it came to her siblings alright she wasn't as trusting when it came to herself. It meant a lot to Elijah that she loved Rhea like a sister especially since they didn't get along at first due to being on opposing sides that was the war in Mystic Falls.

     Rebekah then looked at Hayley, "Listen. About Nik, he is a monster. Do not ever cross him." She warned the werewolf, ignoring the disappointed look that Elijah gave her, "But, he does want more from life than to just be feared. He's too broken to find it himself, but I do believe there is hope for him in the baby that you carry. And speaking of your child—our family has no shortage of enemies. She will inherit all of them. Please, be careful."

     Hayley smiled as she looked at Elijah and Rhea and her pack behind them, "Don't worry, I've got some family left over to help me out in need." She said and Rhea smiled at her before she looked back at the blonde with a mischievous look on her face, "You know, you can always come back and visit. I've been known to keep a secret or two from Klaus."

     Rhea snorted and Rebekah said, "Well, if I can't, you make sure to tell that little girl stories of her crazy Auntie Bex. And let her know, despite my absence, I do love her very much."

     With that, Rebekah walked away, finally free.

     Genevieve laid lazily on the couch in Klaus' art room the next day in just her lingerie, while Klaus got dressed. They were speaking about the past and she couldn't help herself as she said, "Spoken like a man who's made peace with his demons."

     Klaus smirked as he buttoned up his shirt, "My demons are dead, or chased off."

     Elijah then entered the room with Rhea in tow. He glared at Genevieve harshly and Rhea watched in amusement, "Yes, apart from the one lingering monster with whom you share a bed." He remarked and Rhea snorted as he held out her heels in his hand, "I trust you can find your clothing and the door."

"Even if you are a monster that shares a bed with an equally annoying monster," Rhea started, "Thank you for helping me get back to normal."

      The witch looked annoyed at Elijah and smiled at Rhea, but stood up and took her heels from his hands and left the room without another word, not really caring to cover up much more either.

     Elijah turned to Klaus, "You do recall that woman tortured our sister?" He reminded him, "Not to mention helped play a part with Celeste's unjust games against Rhea."

     "She also revealed the truth about our sister's treachery and helped Rhea return to her normal state." Klaus shot a glance at the hybrid, "Nice to see you in human form again."

     "Oh yes, I'm sure you missed me so much." Rhea responded sarcastically, "Didn't even visit once while I was stuck as a wolf."

     Klaus shrugged, "I was busy."

     "Yeah, busy catching something probably," Rhea remarked, "I'd be careful, Klaus—since you can, you know... procreate. I wouldn't want to get her knocked up out of all people."

     "Maybe we should gift him a box of condoms for Christmas." Elijah joined in.

     Rhea's dark eyes brightened, "Oh, babe! That's such a wonderful idea!" She cooed as she pressed a kiss to his cheek. She then looked at Klaus while pointing at her soulmate, "This guy just has so many great ideas. Gosh, what's not to love? He's helping us protect you from getting the woman that drove your sister away forever pregnant with your demon child."

     Klaus' eyes rolled in annoyance at the two of them ganging up on him, "Must I remind you that Rebekah harboured the desire to leave for quite some time?"

     "Niklaus, it has been a month. Now, I feel our sister's loss as deeply as you. But, you must stop distracting yourself with this ridiculous behavior and channel it into some kind of action." Elijah finally turned serious.

     Klaus rolled his eyes again and grabbed a paintbrush to return to his art that was half done nearby on one of the easels, "Why must I, exactly?"

     "Because over the course of Marcel's tenure, the city grew accustomed to having a king. You wanted this throne. Now, you must accept the responsibility that accompanies that." Elijah answered him sternly.

     Klaus was only half paying attention to his brother as he painted, "Apologies, but I'm rather ensconced in other pursuits."

     Rhea crossed her arms angrily as she asked, "Like what?" They had only come to New Orleans for him and stayed because he wanted to become the king of it. Now that it was up for the taking, he didn't want it; like a child with a toy that wasn't his. It isn't until the toy was his that he grew bored and wanted the next thing.

     Klaus ignored her question and Elijah went and snatched the paintbrush from Klaus' hand, "If you can so easily neglect your home, I wonder what will become of your daughter?" He spoke out loud, "Have you forgotten what it was like to live beneath the threat of violence? We must work together, Niklaus. Let's make this city whole again."

     Klaus only spared him a glance as he muttered, "Perhaps it is too broken to mend."

     Klaus took back his paintbrush and returned to his painting while Elijah sighed, grabbing onto Rhea's hand and walking out of the room, "If you won't do anything, I will."

     Father Kieran, Rhea and Elijah had managed to gather a meeting for the various supernatural and human factions to settle on an agreement—unfortunately including Genevieve and Diego to represent the witches and the vampires, respectively.

     "St. Anne's has long been neutral ground in our city." Father Kieran started, "So, it's only fitting that we gather in this chamber at the behest of Elijah Mikaelson to bring harmony to this place we call home. Thank you all for coming."

     Elijah stood from his seat and cleared his throat, "Yes, thank you for coming. And welcome." He held up a signed document, "These are the rules of the city according to Marcel Gerard." He tears the document in half, "Which, of course, no longer apply, because I'm in charge."

     Diego narrowed his eyes on the original, "You said that if we came along, that we would get to run things by ourselves. Never mentioned anything about making yourself king."

     "He's the only one in the suit." Rhea commented, smirking proudly at Elijah.

     Elijah chuckled at her comment, it being a reoccurring thing she says before responding, "Well, you were each selected to represent your own communities. In our honor, however, any issues that arise between factions, it will come to me." He explained, "Now, we are all responsible for the current chaos in the city. However, you have one very, very simple choice ahead of you here: you can all play nicely together, or you can leave."

     No one spoke so Elijah took it upon himself to then explain the new terms; which included the territory lines for each of the factions, hoping to seperate them all so they didn't have blood baths every other day because witches and vampires might've accidentally crossed paths.

     Eventually, it erupted into chaos. The vampires didn't want to give up territory and the witches didn't want to give anyone anything after being shunned for decades.

     "This is our city, too! We should be able to go wherever the hell we want!" Diego shouted.

     "We would consider it an act of war!" Genevieve shouted over Diego.

     "We're getting nowhere. You vile creatures cannot agree." Kieran stated, looking pale and agitated at the situation, and he wasn't the only one either.

"Take control. You're in the suit." Rhea said from behind Elijah.

He slightly turned to her, "I thought you said that the suit wasn't what made me reliable?" 

"Yeah, well, out of all their options, they're going to want to pick the one in the suit because he's in a suit." Rhea responded.

     Elijah then shouted at them all, "Father, calm yourself, please." He then lowered his voice as the room got quieter, "Thank you. Now returning to the issue of boundaries, you will all heed to the following —"

     His words were then interrupted by Hayley, who had just crashed the meeting. Their heads all snapped up to her, "—Are you serious? You're dividing up the city, and the werewolves don't even get a say?"

     Rhea was sitting in her chair with her fingers against her temple as she lazily raised her hand, "That's what I'm here for." They had barely gotten anything sorted about what was in New Orleans already before they had even gotten to the wolves in the Bayou. She wasn't going to leave them to fend for scraps after they had helped her the last month.

     At the sight of her, Diego stood up and pointed at Hayley angrily, "What the hell is she doing here?"

     Rhea groaned, "Diego, sit down, seriously." She looked at Hayley to explain, "And we're not dividing the city. We're establishing boundaries—"

     "There is not gonna be a peace if the werewolves are excluded. They want a seat at the table." Diego and Genevieve both scoffed and Rhea groaned again, feeling all progress going down the drain, "And if they don't get one, I can guarantee that you will all regret it."

     Rhea sighed as she said, "Everyone leave. We'll talk about this later." She said and everyone stared at her. She snarled, her hybrid face appearing as she said, "Now!"

     Everyone quickly got up and left, leaving Rhea, Hayley and Elijah still in St. Anne's. They waited until everyone was out of earshot before Elijah spoke, "Do you have any idea what it took just to get those people in one room together?"

     Hayley crossed her arms, "No, actually, I don't! Because I didn't even know what you were doing out here until someone else told me." She shrugged, "Tell me something. Did you leave the werewolves out because of me?"

     "No, the wolves weren't excluded because of you. We needed them to get along and end the conflict here first before we could expand to the Bayou. They hate the wolves more than they hate each other." Rhea explained, "And we didn't ask you to be there because they hate you more than anything because you're their queen. Me; they hate a little less."

     The werewolf scoffed at her answer, "And until then, I should tell them what? Sit? Stay? Roll over? The wolves deserve a voice! You know it's the right thing."

     "I know the wolves deserve a voice and I'm trying to get it for them after everything they did for me but you being stubborn is making it really fucking hard." Rhea snapped, "Had you of not interrupted the meeting, we probably would've been able to get your guys' home back. But no, that's done now."

     Hayley sighed in defeat, "You're right, I'm sorry." She apologised and Rhea smiled at her, "They're my family and I want to help them, it just makes me blind to everything else out and I forgot you are just trying to help too."

     "Thank you." Rhea said back, "Don't worry, we'll fix it. Just give us a chance, okay?"

     Hayley nodded before she left, leaving Elijah and Rhea alone.

     When she was gone, Rhea let out a puff of air and Elijah smiled proudly at her, "You handled that well."

     "Yeah, you might need to get me the suit." She remarked as she cuddled into his side to groan into his jacket, "What are we gonna do about the factions now? Seeing Hayley reminded them of how much they hate each other and how much they hate the werewolves more."

     Elijah kissed her head, "We'll figure it out."

     An idea then struck her mind and she smirked, "What if we threw a party?" She asked and he looked at her with interest, "Think about it: parties make everyone come together, supply them with enough booze, lust and blood it'll make anyone say yes to what we're imposing on them."

     "I do believe you are a genius, Mrs. Mikaelson."

     It was later that night and Elijah and Rhea were watching as the factions had come together to celebrate and mingle at their impromptu party that they had thrown from the upper balcony. Rhea had made a couple calls, as did Elijah and within a few hours, the party was in full swing—she even made a call to Mystic Falls to invite Caroline to have a night and to enjoy herself away from the drama over there but she had declined.

     Genevieve had entered with Davina, Abigail, and Monique in tow. Diego and the other vampires were drinking together when they saw Jackson, Hayley, Oliver and the other werewolves entering the party.

     "I'm impressed." Klaus said as he joined the engaged couple.

     "I do get my party planning skills from Caroline." Rhea agreed, "But, we just need to keep them from tearing one another to shreds—or at least wait until Hayley leaves before they do that."

     Klaus chuckled, "Well, then for Hayley's sake, here's to a spectacularly boring evening." He said before they all joined the party.

     Diego and some other vampires were walking passed Jackson and Oliver and Diego purposefully bumped into Jackson, which immediately enraged Oliver for him disrespecting his alpha, "What's up, little man?"

     Jackson immediately noticed the change in Oliver's demeanour and what Diego was trying to achieve and placed his hand on Oliver's shoulder to stop him from attacking, "He's not even worth it."

     Elijah went to follow after Jackson, sensing hostility brewing, but Francesca stopped him, "Since you're preoccupied, I'll intuit your flattering compliment." She smiled, "Thank you, I think I look stunning, too."

     "That's nice but unfortunately you don't hold a candle to my soulmate." He responded, hearing Rhea's chuckle as she was speaking with Davina, catching up after everything they had missed, "I trust you've spent as much time fortifying alliances as you clearly have selecting that dress."

     "So, you do notice me." Francesca reached, "And, yes, I've already settled the dispute over the docks. I pacified the witches with an increased share in cemetery tours, and I've given the Crescents a Welcome-Back-to-Humanity gift in the form of hundred dollar chips to my casino. So, I think I deserve some champagne, don't you?"

     Elijah grabbed a glass of champagne off a passing hostess, but when she grabs for it, he pulled it away, "Ahh. You know, in light of Kieran's deteriorating condition, the others have acquiesced to your proposal. You will represent the human faction until he's ready to resume."

     Francesca took the glass from him, "Then, I suggest we make the most of our limited time together." They then clink glasses.

     Davina sees Oliver from across the room and smiles at him and he smiled back at her while Diego watches this happen, and angrily chugged his drink. Rhea noticed this and before Diego could do anything, she was in front of him with a stern warning face, "Diego. You will be polite and welcoming—and you will not ruin this party for me."

     Diego only glared at Oliver again, "Yeah, see, his people killed my whole family. My sister bled out on the floor right next to me. The only reason I'm standing here is because Marcel came along and turned me before I bled out, too. So, I'm telling you right now—I cannot be polite and welcoming to that."

     "See, if you said that it was Oliver himself that killed your family, I'd be a little more understandable, but you're just being bigoted. We are here to make peace and if you do anything to ruin that, I'll be the wolf that finishes the job, do you understand me?" Rhea growled, her werewolf eyes flashing at him, a reminder that a single bite from her could kill him.

     He scowled at her, "Fine."

     She simply smiled at him, "Good." She says as she then left him alone to walk over to Jackson.

     "Nice work." Jackson commented as she approached him, "I'm surprised he didn't bow down to you."

     She shrugged, "They will eventually." She said back before she grew serious, "Hey, look, I never did get to thank you for trying to save me back at the plantation house. Elijah told me you were trying to get to me while we were trapped."

     "You're one of us. You might be a hybrid but you're still a wolf at the end of the day. We protect our own." Jackson said back.

     "Yeah, well, both communties don't exactly like me so thank you for accepting me." Rhea said before her eyes then caught onto a growing commotion brewing between Diego and Oliver. She groaned, "What did I just say?"

     She stormed over right as Diego had said to Oliver, who was only trying to order a drink at the bar, "Hey, wolf boy. Should have had them put it in a bowl for you."

     Oliver turned to him and smiled at him manically, "Well, yeah, if you want me to crush your skull with it."

     Francesca appeared to intervene, stepping in between them with a drink in her hand, "Please, boys. At least fight over something interesting. Me, perhaps?"

     Rhea scoffed, "I'm sure they'd rather choke on their own vomit, Francesca." She responded before looking in between the two of them, "Hey, Bert and Ernie, what did I just say about fighting?"

     The two didn't say anything, instead, Diego picked up Oliver furiously and threw him across the courtyard, where he fell onto a table covered in glasses of champagne which shattered upon impact. Diego sped over to him, but Oliver pinned him against a wall. Suddenly, Rhea appears and pulled Oliver off of him before pushing him against a table.

     "I don't think you heard me, asshole." She snarled, "This ends now. I won't ask again."

     Elijah looked over to find Jackson pinning Diego to the wall, a stake aimed right at his heart. Suddenly, Hayley appears on the staircase, "What's stopping you?" She spoke and their heads turned to her in confusion, "Kill him."

      "Dont tempt me, Hayley. You know I don't do well with impulse lately." Rhea reminded her, smirking at Oliver who looked nervous.

     Hayley shrugged, "Do it. I mean, it's not like he doesn't deserve to die."

     Nearby, Klaus and Francesca were watching the fight, Francesca leaned over slightly, "Shouldn't you intervene or something?"

     Klaus smirked as he watched Oliver gaze fearfully at Rhea in amusement, "Why would I? This party just got interesting." He remarked.

     "I mean, it was Oliver who handed Rebekah and Rhea over to the witches so they could torture them. But, then again, wasn't it Diego who led a werewolf massacre last month? And the witches cursed the wolves, while the humans stood back and let it all happen. So, when you think about it, everyone here deserves to die." Hayley reminded them.

    "Are you approaching a point?" Elijah asked her, annoyed that she would bring up the Celeste situation, it being still a sore subject to him.

     "My point, Elijah, is this: if we can't all learn to get along, if our families can't create some sort of community, then, what's the point? Kill each other and get it all over with."

     After considering Hayley's words, Jackson lets go of Diego reluctantly and with one last proud smirk, Rhea let go of Oliver, the werewolf relaxing slightly before Rhea head butted him, "That's for handing me over to the witches, douchebag."