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CHAPTER 36: THE DOG THAT NEVER DIES

❝ happy wife, happy life. ❞

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SOME THINGS DO NOT CHANGE EVEN WHEN YOU ASK POLITELY. Old habits do not die hard, they go into the backyard and lay down softly. Old habits have weak, stubborn bones that cannot live but refuse to die. Yes, this is still about the dog. Enola is driving down the dirt road talking about denying love. Then a year later, she does not want to stop the car as she passes by.

Enola had the same freckle resurface at the first sign of heat. She realized that last May her hair was nearly the same length it is now. Last summer she had just cut it, this summer she is growing it out. It all comes back in different ways, but it all does come back. Sometimes history repeats itself and sometimes the dog actually dies. She cannot get rid of herself, you know? There was chestnut brown hair on her pillow last year and guess what happened when she woke up today. Sometimes you say you will not get a sunburn the next time you go to the beach and now your legs have been on fire for two years. She is not done running. Her tired, scorched legs are already on their way to next May.

Some things change just enough to stay the same. Talk of reincarnation. Talk of the yellow lab leaving the black one behind. Talk of the old habit dying and things growing up around the grave. Talk of the midwest collapsing on itself. Talk of how Enola is no longer freshly sixteen. Some parts of the heart do not die, they just lay down on the dock where she has spent that one night in July. She is no longer that person. But that is just what happens when you grow up.

Kol was dead again, Rebekah was trapped in the body of an evil witch, Elijah was miserable because Hayley grew closer to Jackson by the day—but Klaus and Enola were on cloud nine. They spent the following week in the honeymoon phase. Though they were bound to be pulled out of it sooner or later. And it just so happened to be sooner rather than later. She stood in the doorway between the nursery and the bedroom with Hope bouncing on her hip as he stood in front of Hayley and Jackson tossing out orders like he was top dog around here.

"It is officially time to put our werewolf army to good use," Klaus announced. "Finn and the woman who calls herself my sister are in the city. The wolves can help us pinpoint their location."

"No," Jackson scoffed in disbelief. "We need all hands on deck here with Hope. You can compel humans to track your enemies."

"Do my ears deceive me or did you just give me an order in my own home?" Klaus glowered.

"This isn't about your ego, Klaus." Jackson scoffed, looking towards the baby. "It's about what is best for that little girl."

"How dare you question my intentions for my daughter?" Klaus growled.

"Klaus is right," Hayley surprisingly agreed. "Finn's body disappeared from the morgue, which means he is powerful enough to heal from the explosion."

"Or Freya is powerful enough to save him," Enola pointed out. "Either way, we're not finding them unless we send our best people out there."

"I'm sure you and your merry men will find them posthaste," Klaus grinned in victory when Enola and Hayley backed him up.

"Just to be clear, I am only doing this because Enola and Hayley are asking." Jackson glared. "Don't think for one second I take orders from you."

Jackson stormed out of the room with Hayley following close behind. Enola didn't want to step on anyones toes. She knew everyone wasn't used to her taking point which is why she let them run the wolves how they pleased. She would simply remain nothing but the face of the wolves. She had no problems with it. But someone did.

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Jackson walked down the long hallway with Aiden in tow. They were discussing their plan to get Finn and Freya out of the way. They unfortunately had two very different opinions on the matter. One was more focused on getting this over with while the other thought they had better things to do.

"So what are we now?" Aiden scoffed. "Errand boys?"

"I told you—Finn is powerful." Jackson sighed. "If we are going to find him, we need numbers and strength."

"Wait, Jack, these new abilities of ours—people are already talking about what they can do individually." Aiden tried. "They need to feel respected. We are going to lose good men—"

"We are not going to lose anybody if you stay alert," Jackson spoke firmly. "Hunt Finn down as a pack. As a group. Catch him off guard. The sooner we find this freak, the sooner we can all relax." He lowered his voice in warning. "And Aiden? I appreciate your concern. But why don't you let me worry about the pack."

Jackson didn't wait for Aiden to speak before storming away. It was then that Klaus chose to step out of the shadows with a shit eating grin. He thought that it was absolutely ridiculous how Enola was willing to sit back and let Jackson take control. She was their queen. It was about damn time they started treating her like one.

"Surprising how little he values you input," Klaus began. "Especially since it was you who led the wolves during his self-imposed exile."

"What do you want, Klaus?" Aiden immediately scowled.

"Merely to offer advice that may save the lives of good men," Klaus shrugged, taking a few steps forward. "Enola is your alpha. Enola is your queen. So why are you still following Jackson?"

"I—I don't know," Aiden confessed. "He has always been our alpha. It's weird to imagine someone else filling that role."

"The person you claim to be your alpha is going to get you all killed," Klaus pointed out.

"Then what do you think we should do?" Aiden inquired.

"Give Enola a chance," Klaus proposed. "Let her prove that she is worthy enough to be your leader."

"What do you get out of this?" Aiden inquired.

"Well, you know what they say." Klaus grinned. "Happy wife, happy life."

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"I can smell your anxiety,"

Enola was in the middle of putting Hope down for a nap when Adien made an appearance. He paced just outside the room for a solid ten minutes before she finally said something about it. She figured that he was just working up the courage to say something, but she was not a patient woman. She would have thought that he understood that by now. So she opened the door and stepped out of the room to address him.

"I have a few concerns," Aiden confessed.

"Concerns about what?" Enola blinked.

"Jackson," Aiden continued.

"What is it?" Enola questioned.

"The plan to hunt Finn—it will only get us all killed." Aiden continued.

"Have you told Jackson about your concerns?" Enola inquired. "And Hayley?"

"He won't listen and she will only follow him," Aiden expressed. "We need you. We need our alpha."

"I'm no alpha," Enola sighed. "I'm just a mother who did what was best for her child."

"Then, as a mother, what would you do now?" Aiden inquired slowly.

"I would offer you some motherly advice," Enola muttered.

"Go ahead," Aiden ushered.

"Why does my guidance mean so much to you?" Enola inquired.

"Jackson left us to fend for ourselves for months. You were always there to pick up the pieces." Aiden answered. "If you want me to bow down and call Jackson my alpha, I will. But I will never respect him as much as I respect you."

Enola was silent for a long moment. She had never really considered her actions to be heroic. She had only done what she thought was right. She had always done what she thought was right. Even after she had lost everything and everyone. She always pushed her feelings aside just to help those who needed it. Because at the end of the day, her problems could be so much worse.

"Finn may be clinically insane, but he is smart. He will see you guys coming a mile away and he will not hesitate to kill you." Enola explained. "So be strategic about this. Move quickly, move quietly. Keep everyone scattered, not grouped. Loss is to be expected, but at least this way we will lose less people. Do you understand?"

"Yeah," Aiden nodded. "I understand."

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"Thought you might be hungry,"

Enola stepped out of the nursery only to be greeted by Klaus. He wore a soft smile as he held a small plate out for her to take. His words were ironic considering the only thing she technically needed to stay alive was blood. She still enjoyed her fair share of human food though. Her cravings for a mean cheeseburger never fully left.

"Grilled cheese, huh?" Enola smirked, taking the plate before setting it on the bedside table while she cleaned up a bit. "You are one hell of a chef."

"I don't like to brag," Klaus gave Enola a joking shrug. He paused, watching as she put toys in their respectable bins and drawers. "You know I can take a break from my scheming to help you with Hope, right?"

"I already missed six months of her life. I really don't mind stepping up." Enola shrugged. "Besides, if you're not going to save us all with your scheming, who is?"

"Touché," Klaus nodded in acknowledgement. "Did Aiden happen to stop by?"

Enola froze at the words Klaus spoke. She should have known it would be him who sent the lost wolf her way. He had a bad habit of sticking his nose in places it didn't belong. She had to admit that it was cute. Most of the time. She wasn't sure what to make of it this time.

"What are you up to?" Enola quirked a brow, whirling around to face Klaus with a glare.

"Whatever do you mean?" Klaus frowned, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"You sent Aiden to me," Enola pointed out. "Why?"

Klaus paused for a moment. Why did he send Aiden to Enola? The answer was simple enough. His wife was a queen. It was about damn time people started treating her like one. Even if that meant he had to go over a few heads to ensure that it would happen.

"Because I think that you could do great things," Klaus confessed. "And Aiden must agree considering he made the decision to seek you out in the first place."

"That—" Enola was interrupted by Aiden who knocked at the door before entering the room.

"We found Finn," Aiden announced.

"Where?" Klaus demanded.

"Lafayette Cemetery," Aiden answered. "With a girl—Freya, I think."

"Very well," Klaus nodded, turning to his wife. "I will see you tonight."

Enola nodded, giving Klaus a gentle peck on the lips. She waited for him to leave before turning to face Aiden who still lingered in the doorway. She could sense the grief coming off him in waves. It was all she needed to know.

"Who did we lose?" Enola sighed.

"Jerick," Aiden answered solemnly.

"Well, like I said; loss is to be expected." Enola sighed.

"Doesn't make it any less painful," Aiden said.

"No," Enola confessed. "It doesn't."

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AUTHORS NOTE.
i'm back. i know this chapter is a little short. but i hope you guys enjoyed it anyway. do you have any predictions of how act two might end? i would love to hear your thoughts and opinions down in the comments. until next time, my loves!!!