CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
the mikaelsons & a new truth

HOPE WOKE UP TO SHUFFLING and turned over, seeing her sister standing in the middle of the room on her phone, slipping her pack ring on her finger. "What are you doing?" She asked groggily, rubbing her eyes with her fist. 

Katelyn spun around, pressing a hand to her heart. "Bloody hell, Hope!" She hissed, releasing a strangled breath. "Almost gave me a heart attack!" 

"Aren't you dead?" Hope mumbled as she rested her head back on her pillows, squinting at her older sister.

Katelyn frowned. "Shut up. And if you must know, I'm going on an early morning run," she said, walking over and leaning down, placing a chaste kiss on her little sister's forehead. 

"By yourself?" Hope asked, becoming more awake. "That's dangerous." 

Katelyn smiled softly at her. "I promise you, I'll be very, very careful. I'll stay close to civilization if it makes you feel any better. I'm not going to shift this time." 

"Okay," Hope relaxed back against her pillows. "Have fun." 

Katelyn chuckled as she watched the girl fall back asleep. "You too, Luv." 

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Hope met her family outside of the school. Their cars were all lined up outside of the gate and they were all getting out of them. Caroline and Alaric were with her, one excited and happy for the arrival of the Mikaelsons and the other wary and on-guard. Jed was insistent, wanting to both meet the Mikaelson's and be around Hope in case Logan got away from Vera.

Hope looked back at the school, her hands stuffed in her pockets. She was worried about Katelyn. Her sister was supposed to stay as far away from them as possible today because she wasn't ready to see her family. The family who had stopped looking for her after fifteen years and assumed she was dead.

She looked back towards her family, grinning upon seeing her father and mother. She quickly ran over to them and hugged them tightly.

"There's our littlest wolf," Klaus said, kissing her head.

"I'm so happy you guys are here! But I can't help but wonder, why now?" Hope asked, pulling away from her parents and heading to give the rest of the Mikaelson Clan a hug.

"Well, we wanted to see you," Rebekah said with a roll of her eyes. "Isn't that enough?"

"Right," Hope laughed. She walked over to Jed while the rest of her family said hello to Caroline and Alaric.

"Your mom and aunts are hot," Jed whispered to her, still very much in awe and shock of the Mikaelson family. Hope punched him in the gut making him groan and fall to the ground, clutching his stomach. Everyone looked over as Hope giggled. "I need to learn to keep my mouth shut," he groaned. "I think my stomach just went to my toes. Ugh."

"You're so dramatic," Hope said.

Jed looked up at her with a 'really?' look. "And what are you?" He shot back dryly. Hope kicked him in the side. "And there goes the rib," he said with a strained voice, groaning and turning away from the girl.

"Hope," Alaric scolded as he shook his head.

"What?" Hope asked innocently, looking at the group. "He'll heal." Jed stood up and dusted himself off. "See!" She poked the rib she broke and he slapped her hand away.

"And is this a new boyfriend?" Camille asked, raising an eyebrow at Hope.

"Boyfriend?" Klaus glared at Jed who shrunk away from his gaze.

Hope gagged as Caroline laughed loudly. "No," Hope shook her head quickly, pretending to swallow her breakfast. Jed stared at Hope, unamused, while Caroline had to stifle her laughter with her hand having caught Josie and Hope making out when she barged into her daughters' room. She, Katelyn, Lizzie, Kaleb, Jed, and Landon were the only ones who knew Josie and Hope were dating. "Oh, God. I think my life just flashed before my eyes."

Jed turned on his heel and walked away and Hope began to laugh.

"Wait, no, come back! Jed!" She whined, rushing after the boy.

He walked through the doors. "Goodbye."

"No! Come back here, wolfie!" Hope said. They both disappeared inside the school.

Caroline shook her head and looked at the Mikaelson's who were all staring at her. "What?" She asked confused.

"You know something, Blondy," Rebekah narrowed her eyes, pointing at the younger vampire.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Caroline argued, turning on her heel and walking towards the doors. "Well, come on!" She called when she saw none of them moving.

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Katelyn was jogging past the Mystic Grill, maneuvering through grumbling people who were staring at their phones and drinking caffeine. 

"Hey!" She slowed to a stop at the familiar voice. She took out her Airpods and turned around, seeing the waiter from her and Lizzie's date. He was standing next to one of the still dirty tables with a cloth and a spray-in his hand. He left the items on the table and jogged over to her. 

"Uh... hey?" She said, raising an eyebrow, confused. 

He gave her a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey... I, um, the other night. I should've respected you and your girl's date. I had recently been cheated on by my girlfriend who was dating this other girl behind my back and it kinda set me off seeing you two together." 

Katelyn grimaced. "Oh... man, that sucks, I'm sorry." 

"Nah, don't be," he shook his head. "I was a total dick to you and I wanted to make it right. What I called you and your girlfriend... that was messed up. Just because I was pissed at a couple of a-holes doesn't mean that I have to take it out on you." 

"Well, thank you. Not a lot of guys are as chill as you when their girlfriend cheats on them," she said.

"Eh, we were heading in the wrong direction anyway. I was just pissed it happened so soon," he shrugged and stuck out his hand. "We good?"

Katelyn took his hand and shook it. "We're good, kid." 

He grinned. "Well, I'm Griffin." 

"Katelyn." 

His eyes widened slightly. "Katelyn... That name sounds so familiar." Katelyn frowned and pulled her hand back, growing more confused. That's when a brand on his wrist caught her eye. An infinity symbol. It looked identical to hers that rested on her right wrist. 

Katelyn looked away quickly and stuffed her hands in her pockets. "How old are you?" She asked, her voice almost a whisper, staring hard at the boy in front of her.

"Um, seventeen," Griffin replied with a shrug. "I've been in foster care since I was three. I don't remember much from before that though. I don't remember my parents. What about you?" 

Katelyn swallowed roughly, her eyes stinging with tears as she shifted on her feet, still looking at the boy.

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"I was hoping you could give us some help in something," Alaric told the Mikaelsons who were all gathered in Ric's office. 

"Ah, yes, only when you need something," Rebekah muttered with a roll of her eyes. 

Alaric ignored her. "A student of ours... is in danger," Hope looked over at Jed and Landon as the three shared a look, "she's very powerful but has been through some very traumatic things. Recently, two witches who helped harbor her disappeared from our cellars and we have yet to see them since," Alaric told the group. "One of the witches was responsible for burying my daughter alive." 

"Alaric," Hope hissed, her eyes wide. She couldn't believe he was going behind Katelyn's back specifically after she told him she wasn't ready.

Alaric glanced at her but didn't respond. "I wouldn't be asking this of you if I didn't believe I couldn't do this myself."

Hope's eyes flashed and she walked out of the room, slamming the door behind her. 

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Later that night, Hope, Landon, Jed, and Vera were standing around the Lockwood cellar. They were wearing warm clothing since it was sprinkling outside. 

Katelyn emerged with Logan thrashing around in her grip. She rolled her eyes and yanked him backward making him fall on his ass. "Fuck all of you," he snarled. 

"Do you not have any other words in your vocabulary?" Hope asked, crossing her arms across her chest. 

He glared at her making the girl roll her eyes. 

"Tonight... we hunt," Katelyn said, looking down at the man by her feet. "We have until sunrise." Logan stared up at her in horror, paler than ever. 

He knew exactly what the hunt was. They made Katelyn and her pack go and hunt people they needed that the witches needed to be taken care of. 

"You have a two-minute headstart," Katelyn told him. "Go." 

He all but sprinted into the forest, knowing she wasn't messing around.

"This should be fun," Landon smirked already unzipping his jacket and pulling it off.

AN: Hope you enjoyed it! Don't forget to leave a comment and a vote!

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Griffin Mik
dylan o'brien