Fight With Me

Chapter 20

JOSIE'S POV
I walked to my room, my heart pounding as I started to pack. Just as I was getting into it, the door flung open, and Lizzie stepped in, her eyes blazing.

"Where are you going?" she demanded sharply.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the fallout. "I'm going to stay with Hope and her family for a while." I prepared to shield my ears from the inevitable explosion.

"WHAT THE FUCK? IT'S BAD ENOUGH YOU'RE WITH THAT MUTT BITCH, BUT NOW YOU'RE GOING WITH THE REST OF THOSE MIKAELSON MURDERERS? NO, I FORBID YOU FROM GOING!" she yelled, her voice so loud the walls seemed to shake.

---

LIZZIE'S POV

I lost it, my anger spilling over as I yelled at Josie, breaking my usual calm demeanor. The ground began to tremble, and the door flew open. Hope rushed over to Josie, glaring at me as if I were the worst person in the world.

Then my dad stepped in, his face a mixture of anger and disappointment. Just when I started to calm down, two unfamiliar figures entered the room—Hope's aunts—looking worried. That was it.

"LISTEN UP, YOU MIKAELSONS! YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE ELSE AND RUIN PEOPLE'S LIVES, BUT YOU EVIL MURDERERS CANNOT RUIN MY LIFE—I MEAN MY SISTER'S SAFETY!"

"ELIZABETH!" my dad yelled, though I could tell he wasn't a fan of the Mikaelsons either.

"NO, DAD! STOP WITH THE FAKE BULLSHIT! DOES HOPE KNOW ALL THE THINGS YOU SAY ABOUT HER AND HER FAMILY? NO? SO DON'T GET MAD AT ME FOR TELLING THE TRUTH! WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEREVER THE MIKAELSONS GO, DEATH FOLLOWS!" By now, everyone in the room was glaring at me, especially Josie.

Just as I was about to say more, Josie spoke softly.

She muttered a spell I'd never heard before, making me and Dad groan in discomfort.

"Get out," she said firmly.

"Huh?" Dad and I replied in unison, both taken aback.

"I SAID GET THE HELL OUT!"

"Josette, what is the meaning of this?" my dad demanded, incredulous.

With a fiery intensity I'd never seen before, Josie shot back, "I can't believe you'd say those things—BOTH OF YOU! Hope has always been there for you, Dad. And Lizzie, the things you said are horrible and not even true! So get the hell out!"

Dad and I exchanged glances, both filled with confusion and anger as we walked out together, my heart pounding in frustration.

---

HOPE'S POV

I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at how Josie stood up to her family. It was fierce and beautiful, and I wanted to bottle that moment forever. I turned to my aunts and assured them we could handle this.

Once we finished packing, I texted Freya a quick note to let her know we'd be back. Then, I whooshed us off to the woods. I quickly shifted into my wolf form, and Josie climbed onto my back.

I ran for about twenty minutes before shifting back. Instead of putting my clothes back on, I stood in front of Josie, my heart racing.

"You know, I'm pretty damn proud of the way you stood up to your family. It was pretty fucking hot," I said, my voice low and teasing.

Josie whimpered softly, her cheeks flushing. "Oh really? Well, show me how hot it is."

"You know I have a list of places where I want to fuck you senseless, and these very woods are one of them," I said darkly, my eyes glinting with mischief.

Her breath hitched, and before I could hold back, I attacked her lips with mine, pushing her against a tree. Just as I was about to rip open her shirt, my phone buzzed with a call from my aunt.

"Time to go," I sighed, reluctantly pulling back.

---

JOSIE'S POV

I wasn't terrified of meeting Hope's family, but I was nervous. I wanted them to like me. As we pulled up to the plane, I heard Hope's voice in my mind.

"God, if my aunts weren't here, I'd fuck you till you couldn't walk."

I glanced over, surprised to see her mouth wasn't moving. I decided to respond back using my thoughts.

"Oh really? Well, you'll have plenty of opportunities to do that later," I thought back playfully.

Hope placed her hand on my thigh, and we fell into a comfortable silence for the rest of the ride.

---

**FLASH FORWARD: ON THE JET**

This jet was enormous, a luxurious space that felt surreal. As I took in the lavish scenery, Hope was busy bringing our luggage on board.

After we finally settled, I lay my head in her lap while she stroked my hair. We communicated silently, sharing thoughts about what we wanted to do once we got to New Orleans. I felt a sense of peace wash over me as the jet took off.

---

ALARIC'S POV

I was shocked when Josie kicked us out, but now all I felt was anger. She was obviously blind to how hard we were trying to protect her. I was lost in thought when Lizzie spoke up, her voice thick with disbelief.

"I can't believe those stupid Mikaelsons! They've obviously brainwashed Josie! I can't believe you let Jo go with those murderers!"

Doubt crept into my mind, and before I knew it, Lizzie and I were running back to the room, hoping Josie would still be there. But when we arrived, the room was empty.

I knew I had messed up.

---