"Apparently the Guerreras are causing trouble in the city," Hayley said with a sigh, staring off into the distance. "The Crescent Pack told me this morning."
"You let random dogs into my house?" Nik growled, only to receive a sharp smack from Caroline.
"Ow!"
"Don't be racist," Caroline replied before hugging and kissing him.
"I'm not," Nik protested. "My father is half werewolf—ow!"
He yelped again when Amara smacked him too before doing the exact same thing Caroline had.
"Doesn't matter. You're not," she finished before kissing him.
"But wolf girl, since when are you talking to the pack?" Nik asked curiously. He didn't remember letting Jackson get anywhere near Hayley.
Especially because he thought Hayley would get along much better with Elijah.
"A wolf approached me when I went to visit Hope at Klaus' house this morning," Hayley commented happily. "I really have a family, Nik."
"Of course you do," Nik answered irritably. "Your family is your daughter and—"
But he didn't finish.
"He said I'm engaged to him, and that they're trapped in wolf form because of a curse, and if I marry him, I can save the pack, Nik," Hayley said awkwardly. "But…"
"But you like Elijah," Nik answered immediately.
"How do you know that?" Hayley asked defensively.
"Because your emotions are as transparent as crystal-clear water?" Nik replied like it was obvious. "But I'll give you a reason not to marry him. If another werewolf kills you, they can steal your alpha power, and if you marry him and complete the pack ritual… they'll receive part of your alpha power."
"What? What do you mean?" Hayley's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?" Hayley repeated.
Nik let out a sigh through his nose and rested his head against his hand.
"Because this is one of those ancient supernatural traditions that should've died with medieval kings," he answered. "But unfortunately, it still exists."
Caroline narrowed her eyes. "You're being dramatic on purpose."
"I'm being accurate."
Hayley crossed her arms. "Nik."
He looked at her for a few seconds before replying.
"You already know you're an alpha," he said quietly. "But most wolves don't understand what that actually means."
Hayley frowned slightly.
"To modern packs, alpha just means leader," Nik continued. "The strongest one. The most respected one. The one in charge. That's it."
"But isn't it?" Caroline asked.
Nik shook his head.
"Not originally."
His tone became more serious.
"Before the war against vampires, there were dozens of true alphas. And they were… different."
Hayley stayed silent, listening.
"When vampires started hunting werewolves, they killed the alphas first," Nik explained. "So the survivors hid. They stopped teaching. The knowledge died with them."
"And what was left?" Amara asked.
"Broken stories. Rituals repeated without context. Traditions nobody understands." Nik replied. "Today wolves follow ancient customs without knowing why."
Hayley felt a strange chill.
Because that made far too much sense.
"You didn't become physically stronger after becoming an alpha," Nik said while looking directly at her. "You noticed that, didn't you?"
She hesitated… then slowly nodded.
It was true.
In human form she had all the powers she'd normally have during the full moon, but she wasn't actually stronger. Caroline still beat her in fights constantly.
But the transformation…
The transformation had changed completely.
She remembered the first full moon after awakening as an alpha.
No loss of control. No maddening pain consuming her. No feeling like she was being destroyed.
It felt like breathing for the first time.
"Alphas control the curse," Nik explained. "Instead of being controlled by it."
"And alphas are rare," Nik added. "Ridiculously rare."
Hayley stayed quiet for a few seconds before asking:
"And what does that have to do with the pack ritual?"
Nik tilted his head.
"Ancient pack bonds weren't made for ordinary wolves," he answered. "They were made for alphas."
The atmosphere immediately grew heavier.
"A pack bonded to an alpha shares part of their stability," Nik continued. "Emotional control. Transformation control. Mental resistance during the full moon."
Amara frowned. "So the Crescent Pack wants that."
"Not consciously," Nik replied. "Jackson probably thinks he's restoring his pack. He probably doesn't even know what an alpha really is."
Hayley looked slightly relieved.
But Nik continued before she relaxed too much.
"The problem is that ancient magic doesn't need people to understand it in order to work."
Silence.
Hayley slowly lowered her eyes.
"So if I do this…"
"You'll magically bind yourself to dozens of wolves you don't know," Nik finished calmly. "Emotionally unstable wolves trapped in animal form for months and desperate to survive."
Caroline grimaced. "When you say it like that, it sounds like a terrible idea."
"Because it is."
"Nik," Hayley scolded.
He raised his hands in surrender.
"I'm not telling you what to do," he immediately replied. "The decision is yours."
Which was technically true.
And exactly why Hayley took him more seriously.
"But…" Nik casually continued, "I personally find it suspicious when an ancient tradition requires magical marriage, permanent supernatural bonding, and direct access to the emotional mind of a rare alpha."
Hayley blinked. "Access to what?"
Nik realized too late that he'd said more than he intended.
Caroline immediately turned toward him. "You share emotions?"
"Partially," Nik answered reluctantly. "Ancient packs were connected. The stronger the bond, the stronger the emotional influence."
Hayley froze.
Because she already felt Hope sometimes.
Small impulses. Anxiety. Joy. Fear.
The idea of feeling dozens of people at once sounded suffocating.
"And if they panic during the full moon?" she asked quietly.
Nik shrugged.
"You'd feel it."
"And if someone loses control?"
"You'd feel that too."
Hayley immediately looked away.
And Nik noticed the exact moment she started reconsidering everything.
So he softened his tone.
"Look…" he said more gently. "Maybe everything will be fine. Maybe Jackson's a great guy."
Amara snorted.
Caroline nearly laughed.
Nik ignored them both.
"I just think you deserve to understand exactly what you're getting into before handing your entire life over to a tradition modern wolves barely understand anymore."
Hayley stayed silent.
And for the first time since meeting Jackson… the idea of "family" started feeling less simple than she wanted it to be.
Hayley remained silent for a few moments, clearly lost in thought.
Then she frowned slightly.
"Wait…" she said slowly. "You said killing an alpha lets someone steal the alpha state."
Nik nodded.
"And pack bonds share stability."
"Yes."
Hayley narrowed her eyes. "Then why didn't ancient alphas just create massive packs?"
Nik went quiet for a moment.
And Caroline immediately noticed the look on his face.
"Oh no." She pointed at him. "You're about to say something horrible."
"Probably."
Amara let out a muffled laugh.
Nik looked back at Hayley.
"Because ordinary wolves don't benefit the alpha."
Silence.
Hayley blinked. "…What?"
"Wolves bonded to an alpha receive stability, control, and resistance," Nik explained. "But the alpha gains almost nothing in return except emotional connection."
Caroline grimaced. "That sounds unfair."
"Magic is rarely fair."
Hayley crossed her arms. "Then why did packs exist?"
"Protection. Territory. Family," Nik replied. "But ancient alphas rarely built power through werewolves."
She frowned. "Then through what?"
Nik hesitated.
And Caroline immediately narrowed her eyes again.
"Nik."
"I'm not going to lie to her."
"You also don't need to encourage her."
"I'm not encouraging anything."
Amara snorted. "You are literally using the voice you use when you're trying to convince someone without sounding like you're convincing them."
Nik completely ignored both of them.
Which only confirmed they were right.
"Alphas can transform humans," he said while looking at Hayley. "Not into wolves."
The room went silent.
Hayley blinked slowly. "…What do you mean, not into wolves?"
"Shapeshifters," Nik replied. "Creatures capable of taking specific forms."
Caroline rubbed her face. "Of course. Because the supernatural world needed to become even more complicated."
Nik continued:
"When a human is bitten by an alpha and survives the transformation, magic reacts to that person's nature."
Hayley looked completely focused now.
Which made Caroline sigh dramatically.
"You're making that face again," she complained.
"What face?"
"The 'Nik is teaching me forbidden supernatural secrets and this is amazing' face."
Hayley immediately looked embarrassed. "But it is amazing."
"You are openly a fan of this idiot," Amara agreed. "Everything he says sounds amazing to you."
Hayley couldn't deny it.
Nik almost smiled.
Almost.
"Depending on personality, instincts, and even emotional traits…" he continued, "…the human awakens a different form."
"Like what?" Hayley asked immediately.
"Crows. Big cats. Serpents. Hybrid creatures. But most are wolf-shifters who imitate wolves," Nik replied casually. "Ancient records describe dozens."
Hayley's eyes widened.
"And the alpha gains part of that?" she asked.
Nik nodded.
"That's why ancient alphas preferred small groups of loyal shapeshifters," he explained. "Each transformation partially strengthened the alpha who created that lineage."
Amara frowned. "So an intelligent alpha would carefully choose who to transform."
"Exactly."
Caroline stared at Nik for two seconds before smacking him again.
"Ow!"
"Stop putting ideas in her head!"
"I am literally doing the opposite!" Nik protested indignantly. "I'm explaining why magically binding yourself to an entire pack is a terrible strategy for a rare alpha."
Hayley froze.
Because that… actually made sense.
While a pack of ordinary wolves benefited from her…
Shapeshifters strengthened her in return.
The difference was enormous.
"And ancient alphas knew that?" she asked quietly.
Nik nodded slowly.
"Of course they did," he answered. "That's why they preferred transforming humans instead of taking in werewolf packs."
"Shapeshifters were more independent," Nik explained. "The bond was different. Less collective. More… selective."
Hayley looked away thoughtfully.
Then Nik casually added:
"Besides, supernatural political marriages rarely end well."
Caroline immediately pointed at him. "There it is."
"What?"
"You changed the subject because you realized she was starting to consider the shapeshifter part."
Nik pretended to look offended.
"I would never emotionally manipulate a friend."
Amara stared at him expressionlessly. "You emotionally manipulate the air itself."
Hayley ended up letting out a soft laugh.
And Nik immediately took advantage of the distraction.
"Look…" he said more softly now. "You don't have to decide anything today."
She looked up at him.
"And honestly?" Nik shrugged. "You already like someone."
Hayley froze immediately.
Caroline smiled instantly.
Amara nearly rolled her eyes.
"Nik…"
"I'm just telling the truth," he replied innocently. "You look at Elijah like he invented poetry."
Hayley instantly turned red. "I do not—"
"You literally stop breathing when he walks into the room," Caroline interrupted.
"Caroline!"
"And he likes you too," Amara added calmly. "Which makes all of this even more complicated."
Hayley covered her face with her hands.
Meanwhile, Nik leaned back against the couch looking completely satisfied.
Because now Hayley wasn't thinking about Jackson.
She was thinking about Elijah. And about how that marriage was starting to feel less and less like her own choice.
Hayley still looked thoughtful after the teasing about Elijah.
But then she slowly returned to the earlier topic.
"These wolf-shifters…" she said slowly. "Are they rare?"
Nik let out a small laugh through his nose.
"Actually? No."
She blinked in surprise.
"Wait, what?"
"Exotic shapeshifters are rare," Nik explained. "Crows, serpents, hybrid creatures… those bloodlines nearly disappeared."
"But wolf-shifters?" Amara asked.
Nik casually nodded.
"There are thousands."
The room fell silent.
Then he added:
"Maybe millions across the world."
Hayley's eyes widened. "Millions?!"
"Ancient alphas created many of them," Nik replied. "Especially during wartime."
Caroline frowned. "So there are millions of almost-werewolves walking around?"
"Basically."
"That's disturbing."
"We live in New Orleans," Amara replied. "The standard for disturbing here is pretty high."
Nik ignored both of them and kept looking at Hayley.
"Most of them don't even know their own origin," he explained. "Some think they were simply born different. Others believe they belong to separate supernatural bloodlines."
"And they have the wolf demon?" Hayley asked, still clearly stuck on that part.
"No."
She instantly looked offended again.
"That's still ridiculous."
Nik almost smiled.
"You really took that personally."
"I had to rip that thing out of my head through sheer hatred," Hayley complained. "They don't deserve to skip that part."
Caroline burst out laughing.
"Oh my God, you sound like a traumatized veteran complaining that the rookies have it easy."
"Because they do!"
Amara covered her mouth, trying not to laugh too.
Nik rested his chin on his hand while watching Hayley complain with an amused expression.
"Even without the demon, some wolf-shifters manage to awaken an alpha spark," he casually commented.
Hayley froze.
"…Excuse me?"
"And some can steal the alpha state from true werewolves," Nik continued.
Silence fell across the room.
Hayley stared at him for several seconds.
Then she spoke slowly:
"You are telling me…"
Nik already realized where this was going.
"…that there are millions of wolf-like creatures…" Hayley continued.
"Hayley—"
"…without a wolf demon…"
"You're exaggerating—"
"…that can steal my alpha power."
Nik closed his eyes for a second.
Caroline immediately pointed at him.
"Congratulations," she said dryly. "You broke her."
"I did not break anyone."
Hayley slowly turned toward Nik.
"AND YOU SAID THAT SO CASUALLY?!"
"Nobody goes around hunting alphas constantly," Nik replied quickly.
Amara raised an eyebrow. "…You realize that did not help at all, right?"
Hayley now looked genuinely alarmed.
Because suddenly everything started fitting together in a horrible way.
Alphas were rare.
Ridiculously rare.
And the alpha state could be stolen.
By werewolves. By shapeshifters. Maybe by creatures she didn't even know existed yet.
She slowly crossed her arms.
"So basically I have a giant supernatural target painted on my back."
Nik pointed at her. "Technically you already had one before becoming an alpha."
"That also does not help!"
Caroline was trying not to laugh at Hayley's horrified expression.
"Relax," she said. "You live with the Mikaelsons. That already scares half the supernatural world."
"The other half sees it as a challenge," Amara commented.
"AMARA!"
Nik let out a sigh.
"Hayley," he called more gently now.
She looked at him immediately.
"Most shapeshifters are not powerful enough to face a true alpha," he explained. "Especially an alpha who killed her own wolf demon."
She still looked suspicious.
"Then why are you warning me?"
Nik stayed quiet for a moment.
Then he answered honestly:
"Because ancient alphas survived by being paranoid."
Silence.
Hayley hated how immediately that sentence made sense.
"And because blindly trusting strangers is exactly how alphas ended up dead," Nik finished.
Caroline slowly closed her eyes. "Do you realize that every time you try protecting someone, you turn them into a walking conspiracy theory?"
"That's called teaching survival."
"That's called anxiety."
Hayley, however, was barely listening anymore.
Because now her mind was overflowing with horrible possibilities.
Shapeshifter infiltrators. Desperate werewolves. Ancient rituals. Alpha power being stolen.
And worst of all…
Jackson wanted to magically bind her to dozens of people she barely knew.
She slowly turned her head toward Nik.
"…You think I should stay away from all werewolves."
Nik immediately raised his hands.
"I would never tell you what to do."
Caroline threw another pillow at him.
"OW!"
"You emotionally manipulative bastard!"