Chapter Three, Hybrids

Nik was glad, as they waited for Ray Sutton to wake up, that Kol and Greta along with his beloved Cate had figured out that his curse was a dual curse and that he would never be able to make Hybrids as long as the Doppelgänger was alive; thankfully they had successfully removed that curse before they found Ray so they no longer needed any contact with that girl. Unfortunately that meant Elijah or perhaps even the Salvatore brothers had succeeded in betraying them and found a way for the girl to live, either way it meant they had been tricked and all that bravado the night they broke their curses was just that; bravado.

They hadn't revealed any of this to Stefan of course as they didn't trust him and they knew that the second he could he'd pass on the information to his brother and the Bennet witch which they all but particularly Rebekah wanted to punish them for. She, like all of them, didn't like to be lied to or tricked but she especially didn't like her twin, Hecate, Nik and now Greta being duped. Thankfully they over the last thousand years Nik had earned the loyalty of several packs and had studied under several Alphas to learn how to become a true alpha after being deprived for so long; which Hecate was extremely proud of him for, and made sure to tell him every chance she got.

Whereas Kol, he had sought the globe for Siphon witches and warlocks over the last thousand years teaching them all he knew, learning from them, helping them and protecting them which eventually earned their trust as he created a coven specifically for Siphons, a safe place for them. And like his older brother Niklaus who had promised the packs to make all those who wish it into Hybrids; Kol had promised to make all those who wish it into Heretics like him. Thankfully both the packs and the coven were safe in Chicago in the Mikaelson mansion on the outskirts of Chicago where the packs had yards to roam across the vast lands on a Full Moon.

A sweet giggle drew Niklaus from his thoughts causing a smile to take over his face, looking over he noticed their new puppy - that Hecate had dubbed Speckles - trying to sit on her lap despite being too big as he slobbered her in kisses his tail wagging so fast he shook his whole body as he oozed happiness.
"Having fun there?" Niklaus laughed, as he approached them. At the sound of his voice, Speckles jumped off of the sofa in their hotel room (and off of Hecate) bounding over to Niklaus with his ears flying behind him making the newly engaged couple laugh especially as he tripped over his own feet with how much he was wagging his tail that it shook his whole body.

"You're such a goofy boy aren't you?" Niklaus asked, scratching behind Speckles' ears. "Yes?" Niklaus called with a sigh when their time together had been interrupted; the door opening revealed a very annoyed Stefan as he looked at Hecate and Speckles with a glare which immediately set the engaged pair on edge. Especially as Speckles only growled and barked at him and only him.
"What do you want?" Hecate and Nicklaus demanded.
"Can't you shut it up, Klaus!" Stefan demanded, referring to the eight month old puppy who stood protectively in front of Hecate growling and barking at the self-righteous vampire.
"No!" Hecate and Niklaus refuted immediately.

"Fine." An aggregated sigh passed through Stefan's lips. "Kol sent me to tell you that Ray is awake. Everything has been explained to him, why you changed him etc, etc and he has agreed to become part of your pack and will give up his role as alpha to you." A scowl marred the vampire's face as he evidently was missing some important details here. He hadn't been allowed in the room that Ray was in as it had been warded with some heavy magic and nor had he been apart of that conversation. How was he supposed to protect Elena and kill them all if he was missing details?

"Excellent!" Niklaus beamed, kissing Hecate with a fierce passion that was only in part to the jubilation he felt.
"Was there something else?" Hecate demanded once she had re-caught her breath and noticed that Speckles was still barking and growling at Stefan who was still standing in the doorway.
"You know he only proposed to you last night because of what I said right?" Stefan mocked, if he wasn't allowed to know all the details then he would stir up descent between Niklaus and Hecate which would eventually lead to trouble with the others as well.
"That is where you are wrong." Both Niklaus and Hecate smirked at him instead of getting angry like he expected.

"I made this engagement ring and both of our wedding rings when I was still human." Niklaus stated proudly, looking down at Hecate with so much love that it was disturbing to Stefan who only believed that Niklaus was evil and couldn't love. While Hecate beamed at Niklaus with so much pride and love that it still took Niklaus's breath away. He was only used to unconditional love from a select number of people; none of which were his parents or his two elder brothers. If they did then they wouldn't have helped their parents lock away a part of himself and Kol, nor would they have helped kill Hecate. "I best go and speak to Ray myself, my love, and remove the forced loyalty bond that all sires have over who they turn. Stefan. Get out and start packing." Niklaus ordered the shocked vampire, his voice firm and unrelenting.

"I'll start packing our belongings." Hecate informed her mate. "I love you." She added just before he left the room, pushing Stefan out of the room ahead of him. Niklaus looked back with a wide goofy grin taking in his mate as he did each time he looked at her, a fond smile on his face as she successfully calmed their puppy down with some ear scratches, soft words and kisses to his head, giggling as he licked her cheek in return.
"I love you too. Both of you." Niklaus added, scratching Speckles' chin as he left.

* * *

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 others 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 childe 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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