Chapter Four, The Chicago Pack and Gloria

Previously on The Devil and The Goddess:

The group had followed Ray Sutton up a vast mountain, Speckles happily bounding beside Hecate on his lead, until they came to a clearing at the top where Ray's pack had been waiting for him. As they breached the tree line they could hear Ray explaining everything to them, and despite that he initially didn't have a choice in the matter (he also had brought it upon himself with how he had treated the three women without an ounce of respect, especially as Hecate was Niklaus' mate and Rebekah and Greta were each other's mates) he wouldn't change it for the world as he now could do without the pain if he chose to turn every full moon and admitted he was disgusted with how he had treated not only Hecate, Greta and Rebekah but also the women of his pack and openly apologised for his disgusting misogynistic behaviour.

At that point Niklaus took over and offered all of the wolves a choice: they could become hybrids and join his large pack that was waiting for them in Chicago to turn along with a coven of siphon witches and warlocks that his brother Kol would turn into Heretics like himself and Greta if they wished. Or they could go on with their lives as they are but minus Ray who has chosen to join the pack.
"Like with Ray I will remove the forced loyalty bond that is created in all children of Sires no matter if it's hybrid or vampire. It's why a vampire will still defend and stay with their Sire even if they were turned against their will, this way you can choose freely if you want to join the pack, and we can earn each other's trust, loyalty and respect." Niklaus added, looking like a benevolent king with his queen tucked beneath his arm and their puppy sat at their feet but protectively in front Hecate.

This seemed to sway the pack. That and the chance to run free through the forest without having to go through mind numbing pain first. "We'll change." A speaker for the rest of the pack, a Beta called Serena Phillips, told them after they had left twenty minutes ago to discuss and think it over.
"Excellent." Hecate beamed. "Here I brought sandwiches for everyone, it'll help with the cravings for blood if you're changed on a full stomach." Chucking sandwiches to each of the wolves and their human mates. To Stefan's horror twenty wolves were turned into abominations like Niklaus, he dreaded how many were waiting in Chicago! He had to find a way to stop this!

'What if I got rid of Hecate? Would that work?' Stefan thought to himself, trying to hatch a plan that he missed the looks he was being sent, much like he missed what Niklaus had said about Sires. What he didn't know was Kol and Greta had discreetly read his mind as they didn't trust the vampire as far as they could throw him. And they were right not to trust him, they would need to inform Rebekah and Niklaus and fast. Kol was determined to never be separated from Hecate again, he didn't think he or Rebekah could survive it; and he knew Niklaus definitely wouldn't be able to. He barely did the first time.

It had been a dark time in their lives, a time where he and Rebekah swore that they would never see again; it had been heartbreaking to see Niklaus in such a state and they didn't want to see their brother like that again.

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Chapter Four, The Chicago Pack and Gloria

To say Niklaus was angry was a severe understatement! The moment that Stefan had stepped away to talk to the Doppelgänger and his brother, Kol had just informed him, Hecate, Rebekah and Greta that he planned to kill Hecate. That was something by which he would not abide! Not now, not ever! He would not lose his mate again, for which he would surely not survive it, which was most likely the idea and reason why Stefan wanted to kill her.

"I'LL KILL HIM!!!!" Nikalus raged, pacing up and down like a cornered wolf. He didn't have to worry about Stefan returning while they were planning as Ray had taken some to follow him while the others had volunteered to keep watch – they knew they would be filled in later.
"Shh, shh. It's going to be okay my love." Hecate soothed, grasping his hands within her smaller ones ceasing his pacing.
"I won't let him, or anyone harm you, Cate. Never again, I promise!" Niklaus beseeched, pulling her into his arms, holding his mate tightly.
"I know Nik. I know." Hecate agreed, smiling softly at him as she leaned up on her toes bestowing a sweet kiss to his lips.

"I want to kill that little wretch!!!!" Rebekah shouted. "Who the hell does he think he is!!"
"Calm down, love." Greta soothed, despite her own anger that was bubbling away beneath the surface, her magic held within her tight restraints unless she lost control. "He won't get away with this, we will make sure! No one threatens us or my sister and best friend and gets away with it!" She promised to earn a bright smile from Hecate.
"Love you too, Etta." Hecate smiled brightly.
"I'm feeling very single right now!" Kol grumbled; arms crossed over his chest.
"You'll find someone soon, Kolie." Hecate reassured her little brother. "But for now my crazy can match your crazy."

"That's good cause mine matches yours, Cate!" Kol laughed, the others following suit as they all laughed at the pair shaking their heads. Once they calmed down they started to plan on what they'll do with Stefan. They knew that the Doppelgänger and his brother Damon were following them at a distance, so on their journey to Chicago they will tell Stefan tonight that there is a change of plans, and they aren't going to Chicago but to New York instead as the pack has moved there. Then come morning once they were sure Stefan had passed on the fake trail they'll take Stefan out early in the morning and kill him by ripping his heart out and burning the body.

***

Upon receiving the text from Serena that Stefan had told the change of plans to his brother, Niklaus, Kol, Rebekah and Greta appeared in front of him as he returned. As he opened his mouth Kol wracked him across the face with his metal baseball bat knocking him to the concrete. However before he could say or do anything his neck was snapped harshly by an angered wolf hybrid who had one thought in his mind: protect his mate.

When he came around he noticed they weren't in the hotel anymore and it was just the five of them with the other four blocking the exits, he could feel both Kol and Greta's magic in the air; it was then that he realised that they knew and that his chances of getting out of here alive were slim to none. But that didn't mean he would make smart decisions in his last moments.
"You won't get away with this you know." Stefan growled at them.
"Oh that is where you're wrong, mate." Kol smirked, twirling his metal baseball bat in his hand.

"You're the one who's not getting away with your plans!" Rebekah growled, finishing for her twin. It always seemed to freak their prey out when they spoke in twin-speak which is why they did it all the more.
"Did you really think that we wouldn't find out?" Greta asked, twirling a syringe which instantly caught Stefan's attention. "Oh, this?" She asked, watching with great satisfaction as his eyes tracked from the syringe to Niklaus, his face paling as he seemed to realise how fucked he well and truly was. "You've realised. Good! This little beauty here is a syringe full of Nikalus's werewolf venom and as he was born a werewolf, is over a thousand years old and is the first hybrid makes his venom all the more potent then a normal werewolf." Greta explained gleefully.

"Which means your suffering will be ten times more painful then what your brother went through." Nikalus explained, a dark look upon his face. "Pity all the efforts you went to save him are moot now. Do you really think that I'll give you the antidote or any of the others will give you their blood, seriously?" He asked incredulously, spotting the pleading expression on Stefan's face. He growled flitting over to the vampire gripping his chin tightly, almost ripping off Stefan's head with the force he yanked it upwards by his chin. "You plotted to take my mate from me and that is something I shall never forgive! Why do you think we have never forgiven Elijah and our eldest brother!" He scoffed rhetorically, shoving Stefan away from him with a scoff of disgust.

Stefan never got a chance to recover from the harsh shove when unbelievable agony coursed through him; screams ripping his throat. His eyes saw Greta stepping back from him with an empty syringe in her hand that she destroyed with her magic before his eyes clouded over in agony, hand covering his neck where he had been injected, twitching and jerking all over the dusty floor; his screams reverberating off the run-down wooden walls. The four stood watching Stefan in agony gleefully for a little while completely ignoring his pleas for help until Rebekah had enough and ripped out his heart, crushing it in her hands, dropping what remained beside the still body of her ex as Kol set the body and what remained of his heart on fire.

With each of their revenge exacted upon him they waited until nothing, but ash remained of Stefan. The threat to Hecate was over and they couldn't help but sigh in relief. There was no way they would take risks regarding Hecate's safety. Nikalus, Rebekah and Kol would never go through that dark time ever again and would destroy anyone who posed so much as a threat towards her and Greta would always help her mate Rebekah and her brothers-in-law to protect Hecate. She loved her just as much as they did, she was her little sister, and she would never part from her. Banishing what remained of that despicable vampire, Greta followed the others back to the hotel; they had a long journey ahead of them to get to Chicago.

***

Nikalus smiled as he returned to his hotel room spotting Hecate asleep on the bed with Speckles curled up next to her.
"It's okay, boy." Nikalus soothed, stroking Speckles' head when he lifted his head to see who had entered the room, a goofy grin appeared on the puppy's face with a tired wag of his tail before he returned to his position next to a slumbering Hecate taking up most of the bed, but Niklaus didn't mind he was just glad he had vanquished a threat to his mate. Sighing softly, he returned to bed, pulling her firmly into his arms so he could get some more sleep and not fall out of the bed with the large puppy taking up most of the bed.
"Go to bed. You're thinking too loud." Hecate grumbled, snuggling into Nikalus' chest, pulling a soft tender smile onto the Hybrid's face.
"Sorry love." He apologised, kissing her forehead as he settled down to sleep.

***

- Chicago -

Hecate climbed excitedly from the car, stretching and spinning as she took in all the sights with a giddy smile on her face. They had all decided for Rebekah and Greta to take her shopping to get used to the current time while Niklaus and Kol turned and helped the wolves and siphon witches/wizards that were currently in the Mikaelson mansion that sat on the outskirts of Chicago. She had met them but because there were so many within the mansion Hecate became a little overwhelmed with everyone happy to finally meet her; she wasn't used to so many people yet, so they had decided on this.

"Are you sure about this?" Niklaus asked worriedly, his eyes tracking Hecate's movements shrewdly, but a soft smile was on his lips especially as Speckles joined her and was spinning around with her. Their goofy boy did love to spin, it was his favourite trick, along with the treat boxes Hecate makes where she buries treats and toys under paper within a cardboard box and he has to use his nose to find it all.
"We will be fine, Nik, I promise." Rebekah promised, as she and Greta climbed out of the over car that Kol was driving.
"I can join them too if that will make you feel better." Serena offered a laugh tumbling from her lips at Hecate and Speckles. They were both too sweet for this world. In the past few weeks Serena had taken on a motherly relationship with Hecate, and they all knew that she would do anything for that young girl.

"It would. Thank you Serena." Niklaus said gratefully. "And it'll make you feel better too, I imagine." He added.
"True." She agreed, shrugging her shoulders unrepentantly. Not that anyone would want to make her feel that way; not that they could.
"Okay." Nikalus agreed, turning the car off for the moment as he headed over to his mate, taking her into his arms while Speckles sat patiently at their feet taking in all the sights, smells and sounds while Hecate held his lead.
"Nik and I will meet you here at three o'clock before we head over to Gloria's." Kol told his twin, his sister-in-law and Serena.
"Who's Gloria?" Greta and Serena asked, confused.

"You'll see." Rebekah said mysteriously, making the other women roll their eyes with light-hearted laughs. "She's a witch who will love you both and will love Hecate, she's always wanted to meet her."
"Ain't that the truth!" Nikalus laughed, joining them with Hecate tucked under his arm with Speckles walking on Hecate's other side. "She made all of us swear, while she used magic to hold us to it, mind, that we would bring you to meet her, love, as soon as we had gotten you back." Niklaus told her, kissing Hecate's red hair.

Hecate just closed her eyes, relishing being back in her mate's arms after a thousand years apart. The time they had together so far still seemed too little after such a length of time apart. As if he knew what she was thinking Niklaus pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist pressing multiple kisses all over her face making her laugh. While everyone else watched on with indulgent smiles.
"After all of this is done my love, how about we have some time together. Just the two of us." Niklaus suggested.
"I would love that." Hecate agreed, a happy, content sigh leaving her lips. She has never felt this happy or content before. And she couldn't get enough.

"Good. 'Cause Bekah and I wanted some time together as well. Just the two of us." Greta told them, wrapping her own arms around Rebekah who had an identical smile on her face to the other couple opposite her.
"Don't worry big brother," Rebekah said, holding her twin brother's hand, squeezing softly. "You're mate is out there just waiting to meet you and just as eager to meet you as you are. And when Queen Frigga deems you two are ready you will meet them." Kol nodded, feeling better at his twin's words, more assured in himself.
"For now my crazy will just have to match my twin's, Nik's, Cate's, and now Greta's as well." Kol started making them all laugh, although none of them could disagree with that notion.

"Okay. Okay. You boys are interrupting our shopping time." Serena stated, shooing the two men towards one of the cars. Ignoring their faux offended faces Rebekah and Greta joined in while Hecate just laughed at them.
"Speckles say bye to Daddy." Hecate coaxed, earning a bark-like-whine from the puppy while everyone let out another laugh.
"Bye Speckles, be good for Mummy. Love you Cate." Niklaus told her, darting over to kiss her breathlessly. When he pulled back he had a satisfied smirk on his lips as he climbed into the front passenger seat while Kol climbed into the driver's side.

"Love you too." Hecate said breathlessly, linking arms with Serena while Bekah and Greta held hands leading the way to the best shops. For the rest of the morning either Bekah, Greta or Serena would compel the owners of the store to close the shop for them, supply them with champagne and allow Speckles in with them while they tried on what could constitute as a boatload of clothes and had the time of their lives. It would seem a girly-day was just what the doctor ordered.

***

"Why aren't you a gorgeous little thing." Gloria stated, holding Hecate at arm's length to get a good look at her. "Much too gorgeous for this mutt." She added teasingly, ignoring Nik's noise of indignance. "I bet you keep him on his toes though."
"Oh, you know it!" Kol laughed, dodging Hecate's hand which only made the little shit laugh more.
"Now, let me get a look at you , Greta." Gloria stated, moving to stand in front of the first witch to be made into a Heretic who stood up in front of the elder witch. She and Hecate knew that Gloria was like a mother to three Mikaelsons sitting in the bar with them. It was just the five of them in the bar as Serena had decided to stay at the mansion with her mate and help her new pack members and keep an eye on Speckles for Hecate and Niklaus.

After they had dropped off their new clothes and met all of the new pack and coven members – Hecate feeling more settled now. Hecate had settled the puppy down in his new bed in her and Nik's bedroom with new toys, food and water. All of the new members had agreed to keep an eye on the mischievous and active puppy, taking it in turns to play with him and take him out to the garden for bathroom breaks when he wakes up, so the five core members could meet Gloria properly.

"You too are a gorgeous woman, Greta and perfect for my Bekah." Gloria stated, pulling everyone out of their thoughts and making Greta and Rebekah blush but beam happily at her.
"Thank you Gloria." Bekah and Greta beamed, clasping hands again when Greta returned to her seat as Gloria brought over some glasses and a bottle of her best Bourbon.
"I think we should celebrate this properly." She told them, pouring some into the six glasses.

"To Niklaus and Kol for breaking their Curses and creating Hybrids and Heretics by helping wolves and Siphon witches and warlocks. And, to Hecate for returning to us!" she raised her glass in a toast with everyone following suit with their own glasses; wide beaming smiles on each of their faces. All of them enjoying the peace, love and laughter that melted the ice that had formed around their hearts during the last thousand years.

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Author's note: DO NOT ask me to update in any way shape or form. There are other ways of telling me what you thought of this.