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CHAPTER 42: RAGING STORMS

❝ what happens next is the consequences of your own actions. ❞

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ENOLA WAS A HERO OF THE HIGHEST ORDER. But psychologically denying her pain still had its drawbacks. Instead of experiencing her real buried feelings—fear, loneliness, and abandonment—she felt only anger. And anger is not a feeling; it is a defense. When you cannot acknowledge your true feelings because they are too excruciating, you defend against them with anger. And her anger happened to rival the raging storm outside.

Hayley could feel the suffocating indignation that lingered in the air around Enola. She needed to escape this madness. So she unknowingly left Enola alone with Hope and a bobby pin which was all that was needed to make an escape. She just hadn't realized how crafty Enola could be as she stepped out into the pouring rain. She sent a few of the lingering pack members a nod of acknowledgement before making her way over to the tent where Mary was stationed under with a few refreshments for the hardworking wolves. I guess kidnapping really took a toll on them.

"How is that little one?" Mary called over the pouring rain.

"Sleeping right through the storm," Hayley informed.

"And her mother?" Mary inquired slowly.

"Murderous," Hayley sighed sadly.

"I brought you something that might come in handy," Mary informed. She held up some sage that she had been wrapping before lighting the end of it. "In my youth, wolves and witches had peace. Voodoo queen I knew showed me how to use herbs to tell when magic's afoot. Combine Solomon's seal and snapdragon, and burn them." She dropped the burning sage into the wooden bowl. "If the smoke is white, all clear. If it's black, there's a hex in the air. And if it's red, well, then you know you are in trouble." Just as she finished, a thick cloud of black smoke was emitted into the air. "Just as I thought. This storm ain't natural."

"It's Dahlia," Hayley breathed. "She is trying to pin us down."

Jackson stepped out of the forest with a few men following close behind. He had disappeared about an hour ago to look for the best route around the storm. But judging by the deep frown on his face, he only came bearing bad news. Well, bad news for them. This storm might just slow them down enough for Freya to find Enola and Hope while Klaus was out of the game. As Enola thought.

"The road to the highway is flooded. The quickest way out of here is on foot through back roads." Jackson informed. He paused. "What is it?"

"Elijah called. Klaus is gone." Hayley confessed. "We don't know where he went."

"Does Enola know?" Mary questioned hesitantly.

"The cuffs we have on her restrict her vampire hearing. She didn't hear a thing." Hayley informed. "That doesn't change the fact that Klaus is probably going to be coming for her."

"Then that settles it," Jackson nodded. "We gotta get out of here."

"What about the others?" Hayley questioned.

"Alright, everybody! Listen up!" Jackson hollered. Hayley froze. He sent her a reassuring nod as if to encourage her, which it did.

"I want to thank you all for staying with us—protecting us. For the past few weeks, each one of you has shown me more kindness than I have ever known. Despite hardships and tragedy, you have all become the family that I have always wanted. You are my pack." Hayley spoke out. "But I cannot let you risk your lives any more than you already have. The witch is coming. She is powerful and she is not going to stop. Jack and I are better off taking Enola and Hope to get as far away as we can alone. I want you to know how grateful I am for everything that you have offered me. Us. But I can't be your queen anymore."

It was silent for a moment as everyone basked in the words that had just been spoken. Then—slowly but surely—everyone began to drop to their knees in a sign of respect and love that confused the she-wolf to no end as she looked around with wide eyes.

"You will always be their queen," Jackson smiled, kissing Hayley on the back of the hand.

Unbeknownst to them, Enola watched the scene through the window with a dangerous smile. She had the bobby pin inserted into the lock. It wouldn't be long until she was free.

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Enola sat in the back of the wagon again. She had the bobby pin clasped tightly in her hands. She would work on the lock when no one was looking. She had found it to be rather tiring to act as if she wasn't currently plotting her escape. She just needed to get Hope away from Hayley and everything would be fine. Especially without a raging storm to keep her pinned down.

"This is it," Jackson stated.

"Good. Tell the others they can go." Hayley said. "We will be fine from here."

"They said they are not leaving us until we get where we are going," Jackson informed.

Enola looked up when the wagon stopped. She first took note of the river bank they would have to cross before glancing around the pack. She had been rather calm these past few hours so they didn't feel inclined to watch her every move. That was her plan of course. Get them to lower their guards so they would be none the wiser when she escaped into the night with Hope.

"So far, so good!" Mary called out. She held a small metal pail with sage. The smoke was white this time around. No hex was in the air and no danger was coming. "Here. Let me hold that little girl while you figure out where to cross."

Mary set the bucket down as Hayley handed Hope over. Enola continued to stare ahead with an unreadable expression. She really had to strain her ears to hear what they were saying. She never realized how much she depended on her supernatural senses until this moment. She promised to never take them for granted after this.

"What do you think?" Hayley inquired.

"Get across, get to the highway, steal a car, and just go." Jackson shrugged. He glanced towards Hayley and noticed the solemn expression. "You okay?"

"It was a nice idea—Enola marries Klaus, makes our people strong, becomes our alpha, and we live happily ever after." Hayley smiled wistfully. "But in the end, we betrayed her."

"Hayley," Jackson tried.

"This morning when I told them they could go, I never let you off the hook." Hayley pointed out.

"Don't," Jackson sighed.

"I don't want you to make any sacrifices for me, fighting my battles." Hayley shook her head.

"That is what family is," Jackson continued. "There are the people you are born to and the people you choose, who stand beside you when things are hard. There ain't no place I would rather be than right beside you."

"Remember that when Klaus comes for us all," Hayley chuckled. Enola straightened at the mention of Klaus. "If we don't hurry, he will find us by sundown and then string us up for all to see what becomes of the people who defy him."

"You're not defying him. You're kidnapping his child." Enola corrected. "What happens next is the consequences of your own actions."

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The wagon had soon been traded for a pickup truck. Enola spent the next twelve hours squashed in the middle of Hayley and Jackson before reaching a resting point. She found herself settled in an abandoned warehouse that was located in the middle of an old junk yard. She sat on some crates where Hayley could keep an eye on her. Though Hayley was too focused on the map on the table to notice her working on the handcuffs that stopped her from fighting back.

"So the guys just set up a perimeter," Jackson informed. "We will keep first watch. You should get some rest."

"No," Hayley decided. "Hope is finally sleeping. Mary is watching her. Which means that we have five minutes to think."

"Okay," Jackson nodded. "What is on your mind?"

"I wanna decide where we are going," Hayley announced.

"So you dragged me all the way out here without a destination in mind?" Enola quirked a brow.

"I don't want to spend our lives like this—always on the run, looking over our shoulder where we go." Hayley continued, ignoring Enola.

"Too bad," Enola hummed. "Klaus will hunt you to the ends of the earth."

"I'm not afraid of him," Hayley snapped.

"We'll see about that," Enola smiled sweetly, almost as if warning them of their impending doom.

"So," Hayley cleared her throat, turning back to Jackson. "What do you think—Montana, North Dakota, Washington?"

"We can go wherever you want," Jackson smiled lovingly.

"Jack," Hayley sighed, looking almost embarrassed. "Look—I know that I don't have to say this, and I know that we are in a junkyard in the middle of nowhere, which is the least romantic place to say this for the first time, but I just want you to know that I love you."

What was supposed to be a cute and sweet moment turned sour the moment Enola let out an obnoxious laugh. Kidnapping her apparently wasn't enough any more. Apparently torturing her with romantic claims of love was just as daunting.

"Love?" Enola laughed. "What do you know about love? Last time I checked, you were in love with Elijah. It was why I decided to marry Klaus for the unification ceremony. So you wouldn't have to marry Jackson. So you wouldn't have to marry someone you don't love." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "What has changed since then? Is it because of Gia. Well, no need to worry. I'm sure Klaus has already taken care of her. So it looks like Elijah is back on the market again. Sorry Jackson."

"Screw you," Hayley spat.

"Why don't we all just calm down?" Jackson tried to defuse the situation.

"I am calm," Enola smiled.

It was then that a loud scream cut through the night air. Hayley and Jackson spared Enola one last look to make sure that handcuffs were secure before rushing towards the scene of the commotion. They darted out of the warehouse to find a few wolves standing with wide eyes full of fear. They pushed through the front of the crowd to find one of their own being held in a pair of callous hands. Though it wasn't until those same hands ripped the throat out and stepped out of the shadows were they able to get a clear view.

"Where are they?" Klaus growled dangerously.

"Go back inside. Get Hope and Enola out of here." Jackson demanded Hayley. "I will be right behind you."

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Enola wore a manic grin when Hayley rushed back into the shed with Hope and Mary. They unhooked her chains from the wall before tugging her to a standing position. They didn't need to say it out loud for her to know what was happening. He is here. She couldn't help the giddy feeling that bubbled in her gut when she was harshly tugged forward by the chains.

"What about Jack?" Mary questioned anxiously.

"He and the others will meet us up the road," Hayley promised.

"Oh, I doubt that." Enola chuckled.

Before Hayley or Mary could silence Enola, a new problem arose in itself. The sage that sat in the pail on the table started to burn a bright red hue. Enola didn't need a lesson in ancient magic to know that this was not good. Suddenly she didn't feel like smiling. Feelings akin to dread began to set in her stomach. Maybe she was looking too far into things. Because Klaus would never team up with Dahlia. Not when their daughter was involved.

"It's her—Dahlia." Hayley breathed shakily.

"All the more reason to go," Mary reasoned.

"No. I will not let Jackson pay for my mistakes." Hayley announced, handing Hope over to Mary. "Take Hope and Enola and get as far away from here as you can. Jackson and I will catch up."

"What about you?" Mary questioned.

"I'm gonna rip that bitch apart," Hayley spat.

Hayley stormed out of the warehouse without another word, leaving Mary alone with a fussy Hope and a livid Enola. The old woman bounced the infant on her hip as she dragged the hybrid by the chains. They could hear the fight in the distance as they booked it towards the woods to hopefully make a clean escape. But that still wasn't enough. Enola stopped dead in her tracks, forcing her kidnapper to freeze as well.

"I like you, Mary." Enola claimed. "And it is because I like you that I am willing to give you a chance."

"A chance?" Mary frowned in confusion, attempting to tug Enola forward by the chains.

"A chance to free me and hand my daughter over," Enola answered.

"We both know I can't do that," Mary sighed. "I have my orders."

"From who? Hayley?" Enola scoffed. "You forget that I am the alpha. I think for a time being, I did too."

"Enola," Mary spoke in a shaky voice.

But it was too late. The shackles that had Enola weak fell to the ground. She had finally been able to unlock the cuffs with the bobby pin. She had learned the hack from the internet after the hundredth time she had been kidnapped. She wasn't sure if it would ever be useful, but here we are. It only took her half a day to actually get it. She took slow tantalizing steps forward until she stood directly in front of the shaking grandma. She silently held her hands out for her daughter who had been crying nonstop.

Mary hesitated before finally handing Hope to Enola. She smiled softly once her daughter was finally in her arms. She spared the shaking granny one last spiteful look before turning around. She began her trek back the way they came which thankfully wasn't far. She weaved between piles of rubble before rounding the corner that revealed the battleground. She first noticed the pack on their hands and knees as every bone in their body broke. Then she noticed Dahlia with a shit eating grin that told her that she was behind this. And in the middle of all the chaos stood Klaus. He didn't notice her at first, sparing his new partner and crime a simple nod of acknowledgement.

"Nik," Enola began nervously. "Why is she with you?"

Klaus immediately turned to face Enola. His eyes softened ever so slightly as he rushed over to her. He immediately whisked her and their daughter up into his arms, checking to make sure there were no injuries. Once he was sure that she was okay, his eyes found hers.

"It's okay," Klaus reassured. "Dahlia is helping us."

"Helping?" Enola echoed. "Nik, she is going to take Hope. We have to run."

"You won't be going anywhere, sweetheart." Dahlia chirped.

Klaus went to defend Enola but never got the chance. Her ankle snapped to the side. She cried out in pain as she dropped to her knees. She quickly handed Hope over to Klaus before she went down. She cried out when her arm snapped backwards. She was used to the pain of transforming. But this was different. She wasn't doing this by choice. It was forced by magic. And the harder she resisted, the more it hurt.

"What are you doing," Klaus snapped, turning to Dahlia with wide eyes. "Stop this at once!"

"You are a fool if you think she will accept our plan. She will fight us at every step of the way." Dahlia said. "It has to be done."

"No," Klaus frantically denied, holding onto Hope for dear life. "No. I will kill you."

"You are welcome to try," Dahlia taunted. "But then our deal would be off and you will never see your daughter ever again."

Klaus dropped to the ground in front of Enola. He set a hand on her back in hopes of easing the tension. But that only made it worse when her spine suddenly broke and began to rearrange itself. She began to quietly sob at the unimaginable pain of her body bending and breaking.

"Nik," Enola spoke in a broken voice. "How could you?"

"I am so sorry," Klaus whispered softly, stroking Enola's hair. "I am so, so sorry."

Enola was unable to give a response before it was finally over. In her place with a large brown wolf with amber eyes full of anger and bitterness. She had just been condemned to a fate much worse than death. And once she was able to beat the curse, she would destroy anyone who ever hurt her. You do not stare the devil in the eyes and come out without some of his sin. You cannot beat the devil without becoming like him.

She got a taste for blood after licking her own wounds.

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AUTHORS NOTE.
it feels like forever since i last updated. so here you go. the end of act two. i am beyond excited to start uploading act three. it was definitely fun to add in a drop of drama after everything was so calm. klaus and enola have not been on the outs since book one so this is bound to get interesting. until next time, my loves!!!