We were in wolf territory, that much was clear.

Klaus held me by the arm, dragging me along. "Hayley!" He roared, ignoring the wolves who were circling us slowly. They knew we were there.

Fuck.

"Klaus, whatever you're going to do, please don't. We were both just trying to do what we thought was best for the kids."

"You would do well to hold your tongue, wife." He pulled me into his side. "You will have your turn."

My breath caught in my throat. Maybe I'd forgotten just how dangerous he was, but there was something off about him now. It wasn't sitting right with me, it was the same exact feeling that I had earlier.

"Klaus!" Hayley marched out, holding a shot gun. "Let her go."

He chuckled. "Going to use that on me?"

"If I fire a shot off, it'll alert every wolf in the area. There's hundreds in this pack." She warned. "Leave us alone or I swear to god, I'll never let you see my daughter again?"

"You mean our daughter?" He taunted.

"Enough." That voice. It sent chills down my spine. "I cannot sense your eldest child, Niklaus. Where is he?" Dahlia was deceptively calm.

A wave of relief washed over me. Thank the gods.

"Give me what you promised and I'll give you his location."

Hayley looked at them in horror. "The three of you are working together?"

"Ah ah. Two of us. Maverick made an attempt." Klaus corrected. "No, while I laid on the floor with that infernal blade in my chest, Dahlia worked her way into my mind, told me all sorts of interesting things."

"It's not what it looks like-" My voice disappeared with a wave of Dahlia's hand.

"But Hope, you told me you were going to protect her."

"I can't very well do that if I don't know where my own daughter is." Klaus pushed forward. "Do you remember when you first came here, not too long ago, the curse the wolves were under?"

Hayley frowned. "The Crescent Curse?"

"Yes, that's the one. Jackson, with his bleeding heart, decided to help the one woman who would be his downfall." She paled. "Maybe he hoped that the days, possibly weeks, if you believed you would escape me that long, would make you fall for him, perhaps forget my brother in the process."

Jackson appeared from the shadows, and I could hear the rest of the wolves in the trees.

"Ah, the man of the hour." Klaus gestured to him. "Did you know that wolves are linked to their alphas. Once you're part of their pack. An adorably easy thing to manipulate."

"Have we arrived at your point yet, nephew?" Dahlia seemed like she was growing impatient.

"Just about. I've come up with the perfect punishment for you, Hayley." He nodded toward his aunt.

She rolled her eyes, and with a wave of her hand the sound of hundreds of wolves beginning their transition filled the air.

Hayley dropped to her knees, screaming as her bones broke and reformed. "Why are you doing this?"

"I've only stolen a page from Marcel's book. Though I did have Dahlia make a few adjustments for your hybrid nature." Klaus squeezed my arm, giving me a look that pinned me to my spot. A clear warning. He then approached Hayley, crouching down in front of her. "No one steals my child, not even her mother. Dahlia wants to teach her how to control her power, Bennett too."

"I would prefer the boy, but I will take Hope, was it? As collateral for your deception."

"She's going to take our baby." Hayley groaned as her shoulder moved.

"Far from it. She's expressed her interest in allowing Hope to grow up, with me by her side."

I should be running right? But I felt frozen, and I'm almost positive it wasn't magic holding me back.

"You could've had the option too, had you not run the moment my devious little wife told you to." Klaus brushed her hair behind her ear. "Enjoy this time as a wolf. After all, isn't that what you really wanted? To be accepted into a pack."

He stood as Hayley let out a final screech, and a wolf emerged from her clothing. She darted toward the woods along with the others.

"Maverick, be a dear and go get Hope. She's in the shed."

"I'll do it." Dahlia let out an impatient breath.

"No. This is all part of the process. Maverick will do as I please, because she knows I have something far worse in store for her." Klaus turned to face us. "Run along, lover."

Maybe this would lessen his anger? I couldn't expect that he'd keep his promise not to be like him.

Not now.

I took a breath and nodded, avoiding eye contact as I made my way toward the shed, where I realized I could hear a baby's cries. One foot in front of the other Maverick.

"I don't see the point is all."

"She's a survivor. That's what she does, anything and everything that will lessen whatever blow she's expecting."

Annoyingly, he was right. I hated that he was.

Hope was buckled in her car seat on a wooden workbench. I tried to whisper a hello, or something that would soothe her, but my voice had been stolen. Instead, I unfastened her buckles and cradled her close to my chest, rocking her back and forth like I would for Bennett.

My throat became tight.

My baby. I missed my baby.

I had to take care of this one until Hayley could get back on her feet, and it was safe for my son to come home.

"Hello, sister." Was that Esther?!