Bound in the Shadows / TVD N.M

🦋~° 8 °~🦋

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Liora

Once a month. That's how often Niklaus can truly see me, touch me, and make me feel whole again. But there's always a price—I'm stuck in my wolf form, four paws, fur covering every inch of me, and the worst part? I can't speak. No matter how much I want to tell him everything I've been holding back, all I can do is stay silent, a beast at his side.

Tonight, as I stood in the quarry, the cool air of Mystic Falls thick with anticipation, I watched Greta prepare for the ritual. She moved with precision, setting everything in place on the altar, drawing three circles that would soon trap the werewolf, vampire, and doppelgänger behind walls of enchanted flames. Every fiber of my being was buzzing, itching to break free. I could feel the pull of the full moon creeping closer, knowing that soon, once it reached its peak, I'd shift, and Nik would be able to truly see me again.

Tonight was different, though. Tonight wasn't just about me and him. It was the night Nik would finally break his hybrid curse. And as much as I wanted to be near him in my human form, to speak to him, to feel him... tonight, I'd settle for running alongside him as wolves, bound by the wild magic of the moon.

Lost in thought, I was suddenly pulled back to the present by the sound of footsteps—heavy and deliberate. Niklaus entered the quarry, his presence commanding as always. And right behind him, dragged along by his tight grip, was Elena, the doppelgänger. Her face was a mixture of fear and defiance, but that wouldn't stop what was coming.

Without a second thought, Klaus threw her into one of the circles Greta had drawn, and the wall of flames shot up, trapping her in place. The firelight danced across his face, highlighting that gleam in his eyes—the one that always appeared when he was so close to getting what he wanted.

The moon was climbing higher now, and I felt the pull of the transformation growing stronger with every passing second. Soon, I would shift. Soon, I would be at his side again, in the only form that allowed him to feel my presence. As the ritual began to unfold, I kept my eyes on Nik, knowing that tonight, no matter the outcome, we would both be bound by the ancient power coursing through us.

We would run through the woods together—two wolves, unstoppable and untouchable. But for now, I waited—watching, ready, knowing that everything was about to change.

As I stared at the handsome, blond Original hybrid, his minions dragged in the struggling werewolf and vampire, both unfamiliar faces, destined to die in this ritual. Originally, Niklaus had planned to use Elena's aunt after Damon's failed attempt to rescue Tyler and Caroline. But Jenna, fortunately, was out of town—thanks to Jeremy's request. When I learned of Nik's plan, I knew I couldn't let him kill her. Jenna was one of Jeremy's last remaining family members, and it would be too cruel, even for him.

The werewolf, Jules, had already caused havoc in town before Nik arrived. So, in a way, I suppose she deserved her fate.

"All three—offering themselves to my cause, their deaths giving rise to my triumph," Niklaus smiled, his usual restraint barely masking his excitement. He was pleased, but cautious—there was still room for things to go wrong. But if I knew my hybrid, he had already accounted for every possible outcome.

"Are you ready, Klaus? Do you remember every step you need to complete?" Greta asked, her voice tinged with reverence.

Nik rolled his eyes in annoyance. "I've prepared for this moment for a thousand years. Of course, I know every detail."

He handed the moonstone to Greta, the final piece of the puzzle.

"The moon has reached its peak. We can begin now," she said, a smile curling at her lips.