TRIGGER WARNING: sexual assault, abuse, kidnapping, suicidal ideologies, memory loss

oops?

"Valinn?"

—

Eden missed Jenna.

As the days became nights and time blurred together, she thought of everyone she missed most. Some memories didn't feel real at all and some she could decipher entirely.

But she knew Harry was real. Her memories of Hogwarts. Her memories of fennel and white clovers. Fireworks for New Year's and falling asleep in a tent under the sky.

And she knew Jenna was real.

Witty, kind-hearted, perfect Jenna. Her big sister Jenny.

She missed Jenna so much that after Dolohov left her for an hour, she cried at the thought of her. Looked around in hopes she'd find her wand and could focus enough to apparate.

To go home and see her sister. She just wanted to hug Jenna.

She'd never been one for missing her mother, except on holidays and birthdays.

But times when she was most alone, she missed her sisters. And with Miranda gone, all she wanted was Jenna.

Tears fell from her eyes as she thought of the last she'd seen her sister.

What had she said? Would she be okay? Could she survive another loss in the family?

Eden couldn't hold on, not if her days would all look like this.

But for Jenna, she'd try.

—

Harry looked between his sister's boyfriends, Ron, Kingsley, and Draco, running a hand through his messy hair.

"Okay, the plan is rough," Harry pointed out. "You two go in first, most spells won't affect you—"

"—None will, I'm the immortal hybrid—"

"—We get it," Draco rolled his eyes. "Shut up."

Klaus shot a glare to the blonde, crossing his arms. Draco looked unbothered, toying with his wand in his hand.

"Potter, continue."

Harry nodded. "As I said, you two will go in first. Use your vampire speed and search for her, get her out if you can. We'll come in once she's safe. We cannot have Dolohov taking her to a secondary location. It's been two weeks and I know Eden, and she..." his face twisted. "She can't take another two weeks of this."

"She won't be able to move," Elijah spoke up softly from his place in the corner of the room. Shadows covered his person and Harry was hit with a pang of sadness for his new friend. He'd only known Elijah with Eden and he hoped to never know him without her again.

Elijah continued. "I can feel it. She's been stabbed and probably crucio'd. And," his jaw tightened. "Her body is soiled by him, it's raw and used. I'll carry her out."

"I'll do it," Niklaus said quickly. "She's my—"

"—Niklaus," Elijah looked at him, careful mask on his face falling. "Please. Don't fight me on this. For once in your life, follow someone else."

Niklaus shook his head, a glare in his eyes as he focused on the floor, a murderous look on his face.

"The Aurors will come in after," Kingsley spoke up. "Harry, you'll hold back, in case Eden needs you once she's rescued. I'll lead, Ron, you follow. Malfoy, wait with Harry, she'll need immediate medical assistance and you're the only person she'll accept that from, if your stories are true."

"They are."

"It shouldn't be more than him and Eden in the building, but we'll send two teams in after Dolohov. The priority is to disarm him and then bring him in for punishments. This is for naught if he gets away."

"Not if I rip him in half and paint the walls with his blood," Klaus growled.

"As much as I appreciate your tenacity," Kingsley nodded to Klaus. "She'll need you."

Kingsley hesitated. "You both understand that Dolohov will be custody of MACUSA, and then brought to Europe for due process."

"Fuck due process," Draco spoke up, glaring at Harry. "You're supposed to be her family and you're just letting this man get away with it?"

"Oi, watch it, Malfoy," Ron pitched in, straightening.

"Fuck off, Weasel." Draco rolled his eyes, looking around the room. "If he gets away again or something happens to Eden, you'll all fucking regret it."

Draco stormed from the room, brushing against Ron as he did so.

Harry sighed, running a hand over his face. "Everyone clear on the plan?"

"The only due process you'll be managing," Klaus spoke up, "is funeral proceedings because my brother and I will kill anyone who keeps him safe from us. Is that understood?"

And for once, Elijah didn't disagree with him.

—

Elijah sat next to his brother in the MACUSA Headquarters. Passersby's walked on, adjusted blouses, spoke to coworkers.

No one said a word to either of them and neither brother looked up.

Niklaus grabbed Elijah's trembling hand. The spasms hadn't stopped in hours. They both knew it was after-effects from the cruciatus, lingering through the soul bond from Eden.

Niklaus envied Elijah in a way. He envied that his brother could feel Eden's pain. Not that he wanted her in pain at all, but at least Elijah knew whether or not she was alive.

If Niklaus separated from his brother, he was left with morbid thoughts of how Dolohov had killed her.

Niklaus should have told Eden everything. Their bond was so similar to that of hers and Elijah's, but so vastly different, too.

And now she would...

Elijah squeezed his hand. "She'll be alright, brother," he told Niklaus quietly. "We'll save her."

"And if her memory's gone?" Niklaus responded softly.

Elijah was silent for a moment before he sighed. "Then we'll fall in love with her all over again."

"She's yours if you..." Niklaus' eyes watered. "All I've done is break her. If I hadn't brought her on this crusade, she'd be safe in Mystic Falls and—"

"—She's not Tatia," Elijah responded gently. "She belongs to no one. And no one will keep her safe like you will, Niklaus. In pushing her away, you're doing nothing but causing both of you greater pain."

"I'll only ruin her."

"Set aside your self-pity," Elijah snapped. "When we find her, she'll need you as much as she'll need me."

—

Eden often wished she'd had Harry's luck.

As much as she teased him about it, he was the luckiest person she knew. He managed to defeat Voldemort twice, more than half a dozen times if one counted the yearly encounters, and he'd never been tortured.

In the manor, Eden was grateful for Harry's luck. She was grateful he was far from being a prisoner like she and Draco. Like Luna and Dean.

Harry was safe.

Because Harry was lucky.

And now, as one hand clutched the painful open wound in her shoulder, tears poured down Eden's face. And she wished, more than anything, that in twelve years of friendship Harry's luck had rubbed off on her.

"She looks good, aye?" Greyback's voice cut through the ringing in her ears.

"Now she's really a pet," Dolohov's laugh echoed in her ears. "Shall we get her a collar to match?"

The pair laughed and Eden felt a rush of sick in her stomach. She gagged on the ground, but nothing came out. She hadn't eaten in days. She couldn't remember the last time anything had entered her body.

Gods, she wished she were lucky.

"'S'alright, pup," Greyback snickered, entering her line of vision. His breath was putrid, and his eyes were crazed. She'd heard he'd died in battle.

Misinformation, she supposed. It was just her luck the misinformation was going to lead to her own demise.

Eden whimpered as his fingers reached to the fresh wound.

"Now you'll smell like me, poppet," he grinned, yellowing teeth only encouraging her disgust. He pressed his fingers into the wound, then pulled her close, whiffing her neck. "He may be the Alpha," he breathed into her ear. "But you'll always be mine."

Eden gasped in displeasure when he licked her cheek, tongue scraping against her tears.

"Hush, pet," Dolohov kneeled down. "You should rest. We'll have our fun when you rise."

—

Eucalyptus.

Eden's eyes widened a fraction. Why did that smell familiar?

She smelled something else. Something softer, woodsier. Pine, she thought.

That's odd.

Dolohov smelled like sweat and blood and dirt.

Greyback smelt like blood and vomit.

"Sommers."

Eden blinked; gaze caught on the wall as her vision cleared. White paint, a marble floor. Where was she?

Someone brushed her hair back and Eden flinched. The hand smelled like smoke and expensive cologne. It was familiar, but Eden couldn't place it.

"It's Draco," the man whispered, gently brushing her hair back. "You're safe."

Eden didn't reply, eyebrows tugging together in confusion. What did Malfoy want with her? Why was he here? Was he going to torture her further? Was this another game to Dolohov?

"Eden," he spoke again. His voice was soft and that scared Eden. Why was he being kind to her? He would only hurt her, she knew it. "Can you speak?"

Eden blinked, wishing she could fall into the floor. She didn't want to do anything anymore. She wondered if the floor would be peaceful. Hadn't she just been on the floor?

Dolohov liked her on the floor. She should get on the floor; he wouldn't like her in a — was she in a bed?

Her eyes trailed down and her heart sank. She needed to get off the bed. She needed to get on the floor. She — was she wearing clothes? No, no, no.

"No, no," Eden managed, eyes filling with tears. She tried to pull the blanket off of her but found bandages over her wounds. "No!" She exclaimed in horror.

He'd hate those covered. He'd hate her hiding his marks. He'd hate this.

"Eden," Malfoy spoke up again, voice firmer.

Eden flinched away from him, wincing at the pain in her shoulder.

"I'll get Harry, don't move, darling."

Eden frowned at the term of endearment and the casual use of Harry's name. She hoped he hadn't been captured. Was he okay? She hoped he was still alive.

If he was captured, they were going to lose. They'd lose the war. They'd lose everything.

The door opened and Eden closed her eyes tightly, hoping it wasn't Dolohov. Praying he hadn't found out about her transgressions with Malfoy — whatever the extent of them — and that she'd have a moment's more of rest.

"Bon."

Bon?

Eden slowly opened her eyes, confusion writing her face. When had Harry grown a beard?

"Harry?" Eden asked tentatively, lip trembling. "You shouldn't be here," she whispered. "He'll — he'll find you."

Harry's eyes widened and he walked towards her. Eden flinched as he reached for her hand and his face fell.

"Bon, it's only me," he pleaded quietly. "It's just Harry."

Eden shook her head, clenching her hand around the thin blanket of the bed. She still didn't know where she was or why she was in a bed.

"Harry's on the run," Eden whispered. "G-gone. Harry's gone. You can't be — you're — I'm-I'm sorry. I didn't mean t-to be a bad pet, please I—"

"—Bon," he grasped her hand, replacing the scratchy blanket with his fingers. "It's me," he spoke softly, sniffling.

Eden glanced up at him nervously, finding tears in his eyes. Was he crying? Was he really there? Had they hurt him?

"Are you hurt?" She whispered. "Okay?"

He let out a breath and pulled her hand to his face, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "I'm alright, Eden. I'm not hurt. You're safe."

Eden shook her head. "Not safe," she replied weakly. "We're — he's going to come in any second. You have to run. Find-find Luna, she's here somewhere."

Harry closed his eyes. "Oh, bon," he whispered into her knuckles. "I'm so sorry. I promise I'll fix this."

He stood and left the room quickly and Eden resigned herself to the idea that it would be the last time she'd see him.

But that's okay. He would save Luna and Dean and he'd get out. He'd be okay. She would be okay with Dolohov.

It's where she belonged, anyway.

—

"What's wrong with her?" Harry asked Draco as soon as he left the room, tears filling his gaze. "Why can't she — why can't she remember?"

Draco looked pained, running a hand over his face. "It was always a possibility. The damage to her hippocampus and frontal lobe were strenuous. With the cruciatus, one can lose their mind after the first cast, or a dozen. Eden..." he wiped his eyes. "I don't even know how many she's endured. I can't...I don't..."

Draco let out a sob in his hands, fingers in his hair, shoulders shaking. Tearful, Harry placed a hand on his shoulder.

"We'll fix her."

"And if you can't?" Draco asked quietly, pulling away from Harry. "You're her best friend. Klaus and Elijah are explainable. If she forgets our relationship, I..."

Draco didn't say anything else, walking off.

Harry sighed, leaning his head against Eden's door.

"I'm sorry, Eden. I'm so sorry."

—

It was decided that Elijah would be the best person to send in next. A way to encourage her memory recovery and remind her of her safety.

He exchanged a meaningful look with his brother and entered the hospital room, a soft, tentative look on his face.

Eden was sleeping.

His heart broke at the sight of her bruised face and cut lip. Elijah hesitated, but walked to her bedside and took the chair next to it.

He didn't touch her, though he longed to. He didn't want to overwhelm her.

His hands still trembled, and he wondered how long that would occur. Most curses didn't affect vampires, and hardly any affected Originals, but he supposed the bond between them harmed him more than her.

Eden woke with a start, eyes wide, darting around. She was terrified.

Elijah calmed her quietly. "Easy, Elskan," he grabbed her attention.

Her brown eyes met his, wide and tearful, and his heart filled with warmth when relief flooded her gaze.

"Elijah..."

A smile couldn't be helped on Elijah's face, and he reached a hand to her face. She didn't flinch. He stroked back her hair and softly spoke.

"How are you feeling? Do you remember anything?"

Eden shook her head. "Just...but how do I know you?" She asked in confusion. "All foggy."

Eden's words weren't making sense, but Elijah pushed that aside. Draco said she'd be dazed and there was little chance of her memory recovering entirely.

"You're safe now," Elijah promised softly. "Dolohov's dead."

Eden's face froze and a myriad of expressions crossed it in milliseconds. Confusion, shock, horror, fear, relief, and then settled on suspicion.

"Why?"

Elijah blinked. He hadn't expected that question.

"Because he kidnapped and tortured you. My brother and I killed him."

"Nik," Eden whispered, a longing in her eyes. "Nik's okay?"

Elijah nodded. "He is," Elijah confirmed. "He's worried about you. As am I. Would you like me to bring him in?"

Eden nodded, then grasped his hand as he made to pull away. "Where am I?" She asked quietly.

"You're in St. Mungo's," Elijah informed her. "In a hospital room. You were gone for two weeks," he squeezed her hand gently. "Jenna doesn't know. We didn't want her to worry."

Eden nodded. "Thank you," she whispered. "I'll talk to her when I...go back, I guess."

She thought for a moment, trying to recall everything that led her to being kidnapped. She couldn't remember anything. She couldn't even remember meeting Elijah.

"The war?" Eden asked softly. "What...what happened?"

Elijah sighed, pulling her hand to his lips and kissing her palm softly. He noticed a cut there and if Dolohov wasn't dead now, he'd kill him again.

He and Niklaus wanted to torture the wizard for a century, but upon seeing him inside of her when they arrived, neither could control themself. He was dead in seconds, body parts scattered across the cellar floor.

Niklaus killed the other man in the room as Elijah carried Eden out.

He claimed it was more personal to him than even Dolohov.

"You won, Eden," he reminded her patiently. "It's been a year now."

"A year?" Eden asked tearfully, lip trembling. "Why can't I remember?"

Elijah hesitated. "We're not entirely sure," he answered truthfully. "Draco will be able to explain it the best—"

"—Malfoy?" Eden asked in confusion. "Why...why would he know? Was he there?"

Elijah's heart sank at her words. Oh, he hated Dolohov for doing this to her. Elijah knew how important Draco was to Eden. She'd deny it, claim others, but he knew that aside from Harry, her best friend was Draco.

He couldn't begin to imagine how Draco nor Eden would exist moving forward without the other. As much as it would pain Eden in the beginning, if he had to push Eden towards Draco to remember her friend — even if it meant reliving traumatic memories — he would.

In the long run, it would be better for them both.

"It's a lot to explain now," Elijah settled on, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to her head. "Before I bring Niklaus in...do you know what the other man did to you? Harry said his name was Greyback?"

Eden shivered at the mention of the name, her shoulder pulsing in memory.

"He bit me," she whispered.

Elijah nodded. "Do you know what that entails?"

Eden didn't want to think about it.

She didn't want to think about the fact that Greyback was a wolf the night before, and the wound in her shoulder hadn't healed properly. She didn't want to think about her future and the repercussions she would face with this illness.

"Yes," she whispered, tears falling down her cheeks. "I do."

Elijah reached forward and gently wiped the tears from her face. "It's alright, Elskan," he assured her. "I promise you, we'll get through this."

Eden let out a soft sob. "I...understand if you don't want to be with me—"

"—Don't finish that thought," Elijah cut her off, his voice harsher than he meant it. He softened it when he spoke again, reigning in his frustration. "Eden, I need you to understand that nothing could ever, ever tear me from you. I am with you for eternity. I am yours. Please," he leaned forward, cupping her face and gently brushing back her blood-stained hair. He would need to clean it for — it would probably hurt to lift her shoulder. "Don't ever presume otherwise. I love you, wolf, no wolf, magic, no magic. Always as Eden."

"I love you too," Eden whispered, sniffling. "Nothing makes sense to me right now," she reached her hand to his and moved it to her lips. "Nothing except you."

—

When she first met Niklaus, Eden felt a tug to him. Different than Elijah, but still present. It was easier to fight, harder to understand, and she could ignore it.

But when her eyes met his in the hospital room as he closed the door behind him, something shifted.

Nik's hair was messy, tugged in different directions — like he'd been running his hands through it. His eyes darted around nervously, shirt wrinkled, the chain around his neck hanging half over his shoulder, one of his boots untied.

He was the opposite of his brother, who entered in a pressed suit and only showed his worry in his gaze and tone.

Nik's eyes met hers and she could feel it.

As strong as her bond with Elijah, but in an entirely different way.

She understood now, what he meant when he'd said it before. She didn't then. Eden pretended to, but questions filled her mind more often than answers.

"Nik," Eden breathed out as her heart thudded against her chest. It pounded in her ears, demanding to be heard.

It felt like her heart was beating for Niklaus. Beating to meet him, to exist as he does.

Loud.

Needy.

Demanding.

It demanded to be heard as Niklaus demanded to be seen and she felt like she'd lose her mind if she listened hard enough.

But he'd be there, wouldn't he?

She knew that he'd catch her if her heart burst from her chest. Just as he entered the room to see her after her memories left her mind.

A smile tugged at his lips, unsure, tentative, nervous.

"Valinn," he greeted softly, walking closer, approaching a wounded animal after an attack.

Was that how he viewed her? She hoped not.

"You can sit," she sat up, wincing at the pain in her shoulder, gesturing to the seat next to her.

Niklaus did as such, observing her face for a long moment before his eyes found her wound.

"I didn't mean for it to happen like this," he confessed quietly.

"What?" She asked.

His jaw tightened. He closed his eyes, searching for the words behind his lids. "A Valinn is a wolf's mate," he began slowly, the words paining him as he spoke. He met her gaze again, his eyes sad and older than she'd ever seen them. "But they're also a wolf. I...you were touched by the wolf, that's why you felt a connection with me when we met, but it wasn't like what you feel now. I've always felt that, because I've always been a wolf."

Niklaus moved his hand as though to grab hers, but he stopped himself. Eden met him halfway, grabbing his hand in hers as he continued.

"The bond of a Valinn to an Alpha can't be completed unless both are wolves. Centuries ago, and for as long as they've existed, both the Valinn and the Alpha have been wolves. I thought...you were a wolf. When I first dreamt of you," his eyes watered and he looked away, "over a millennium ago, I thought you were in a figment of my imagination. When I broke the first curse and realized my true heritage, I thought you were part of another pack."

Niklaus pulled his hand from hers and rubbed his eyes tiredly. For someone stuck in a young body, he suddenly seemed his age.

"And then I saw your name and face in the Prophet and I didn't understand," he admitted. "Elijah's your soulmate through magic, Eden. Your magic isn't biological, it can't be removed from your DNA. It's in your core, your essence, your soul. That's what connects you to him. That's not what connects you to me."

Confusion filled Eden's face. "I don't..."

"I thought I'd be better at explaining this," he sighed. "When we met, you'd been touched by the wolf. Through your friend, Lupin. You were affected, but not inflicted. It was enough to spark the fire, so to speak, but not enough to let it breathe. Our connection couldn't move in the way it's designed to because you're not a wolf."

Niklaus bit his lip. "You weren't. I...I was going to bite you," he admitted softly. "When the time was right. I didn't...I didn't want you to feel obligated to love me. I wanted you to choose to be with me, or choose to live without the bond. I didn't want to ruin you."

Eden's eyes watered at his confession. "Nik..." she breathed out, but he shook his head.

"Let me finish, love," he asked gently. Eden nodded. "I was searching for a way to make new hybrids because when I realized I'd have to turn you, I didn't want you to be in pain. I..." his eyes filled with tears. "I wanted you to exist as Eden, magic, wolf, and all. You've been through nothing but torment, Eden, and I didn't want you to feel tormented to love me. And now..."

Eden watched Niklaus, her heart shattering at his words. Had he kept this to himself all this time? The amount of pain he must have been in...

Thinking Eden hated him.

Never believing she'd fully love him the way he loved her.

And, truthfully, she couldn't admit that she did love Niklaus. She cared for him, deeply, but she wouldn't go as far as to say she loved him.

Not yet, anyway.

It wasn't impossible.

In fact, she probably could fall in love with him.

And she'd probably be more comfortable with the idea if she could remember getting to know him.

"What does me being a...you know," she asked, her voice softening at the end. "Now?"

"I can shift on command," he answered after a moment. "I'll be with you every full moon. You won't ever be alone, Eden. And...as a Valinn, my presence will help you through it and..."

He kept talking but Eden's gaze found the blanket over her lap, tears filling her eyes. She couldn't believe this was happening to her.

A werewolf.

She was a werewolf now.

And she could, theoretically, be a hybrid like him, but they didn't have the answers yet.

Eden's breath picked up and she started to panic, biting her lip to stop herself from letting out a sob.

It was Nik's eyes that brought her back. His gentle finger on her chin. Cupping her face and grabbing her other hand gently. Squeezing softly. Commanding her presence back to the moment. Back to him.

"I will be here," he promised softly. "Every second. I swear you will not go through this alone. And I expect nothing from you," he added, meeting her gaze. "You have so much going on, Eden. I understand and respect your connection to my brother, and I won't ask anything of you. We can stay friends."

Relief flooded her. She couldn't imagine pursuing something with him while navigating her new werewolf side. And she already had Elijah, and as much as she loved him, she had to put effort into a relationship in order to make it work. Plus, the missing memories and trying to cope with the trauma she'd originally gained, and now had piled on.

The last thing Eden needed was a romantic relationship with Niklaus.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Nik's smile was soft, but his dimples showed anyway. She adored it when he smiled. She wanted to make him smile more.

"What did Greyback mean?" Eden asked curiously. "He inferred you're the Alpha, but I'll always be his."

A low growl rumbled in Nik's chest, and he tightened his jaw. "As I explained, I wanted to bite you," he started. "I wanted to turn you. He...did that instead. If he hadn't been killed," a small smirk toyed at his lips, "which was a pleasure, by the way, he could have called to you. It wouldn't have overpowered our connection, the one of the Valinn and Alpha is above all else, but he could have harmed your full moons. And...you smell like him."

Horror filled her face and she looked around for something to rub herself clean but he shook his head, moving her chin to look at him again.

"It's in your blood, Ástin min," he informed her softly. "It's faint, and if we ever...it would be hidden. But for now, it's...like you've been claimed by him. A piece of him exists in you, even in death."

Eden bit back the tears, moving her face from Nik's hand.

"You killed him?" She asked thickly. "How?"

Nik observed her for a moment. "Are you sure you —"

"—Tell me," Eden cut him off firmly, meeting his gaze with furious tears. "Tell me you ripped him to shreds."

"I bit into his heart and watched him fall," Nik met her gaze unflinchingly. "I tore the flesh from his bones and I intend to burn it."

A small smile pulled at her lips.

The same smile pulled at his.

Niklaus squeezed her hand.

Eden squeezed his in return.

—

AHHHHHHH OKAY OKAY OKAY huuuuuuugegggegegegegeee stuff happened in this chapter. how're we feeling?? everyone okay? it's a lot to take in and if we have questions, i'll answer them here. but, yes, eden's a werewolf. and you can bet that nik won't turn her unless she's 100% willing because that a) means death and b) he'd have to be sure it works and c) has to figure out how to even do it in the first place. alsoooooo how're we feeling about the memory loss? she's lost the past year — all of that hard work, zip gone zilch. will she get it back? we'll have to see.
hopefully you guys enjoyed this. I PROMISE no more torture. Dolohov's death will be described later for y'all who wanted the details. but he's gone and greyback's gone and now eden can truly heal without the idea of someone looming over her shoulder. THANK YOU ALL FOR LOVING THIS BOOK SM!!!! someone put it on "best of all time" recently and I deadass cried. you guys are so amazing with this book and Eden and I'm so grateful.next update will be up soon.