Naira sat in her cozy cottage, curled up with a blanket around her shoulders and a cup of tea in her hands. Her heart was heavy, her mind unable to calm itself as thoughts of her brothers, Katherine, and the deadly ritual haunted her. She knew about the Originals—the ancient, terrifying vampires who had lived for centuries. Niklaus, especially, filled her with dread. She didn't know why, but a cold shiver would creep over her every time someone even mentioned his name.
The candlelight flickered, casting shadows that danced across the cottage walls as she tried to sit still, hoping for some sign that her family was safe. She knew that Damon and Stefan didn't want her involved, didn't want her near the danger. But with every minute that ticked by, her worry only grew stronger. She wished, with all her heart, that they would just call her home.
Suddenly, a piercing howl echoed through the trees, a sound so raw and full of pain that it pulled her to her feet. She hesitated only a second before slipping outside, the night chill biting at her skin. She scanned the dark woods, the air thick with anticipation and an odd sense of fate.
Then she saw it.
A massive black wolf, majestic yet wounded, limped toward the edge of her herb garden. She took a cautious step forward, wondering how it had managed to cross the cottage's protective barrier. The creature's fur glistened under the faint moonlight, a stark contrast to the blood smeared along its flank. Despite the beast's intimidating size and the fierceness of its eyes, something about it tugged at her heart.
"Oh, you poor thing," she whispered, kneeling down on the cool grass as the wolf watched her, a deep intelligence in its gaze.
Her fingers brushed over his coat, careful, soothing. She could feel the creature's muscles tense beneath her touch, but it didn't pull away. Instead, it sank down onto the grass beside her, letting out a low, pained whine. She ran her hand down his back, whispering reassurances, feeling an inexplicable urge to protect this wolf, this creature who seemed so much more than he appeared.
"Don't worry," she murmured softly, pressing her forehead to his in a gesture of comfort. "I'll take care of you."
The wolf lay beside her, allowing her to tend to his wounds, her fingers brushing gently along his blood-matted fur. She hummed a quiet tune, and, in that peaceful moment, it was as if they were both in their own world. They sat under the stars, her arms wrapped around his massive form as she whispered her worries to him, unaware of the watchful gaze from afar.---
Klaus's POV
The moment Klaus felt the power of the moonstone breaking, an ecstatic surge filled him. Centuries of being bound, suppressed, stripped of his true nature, were gone. He was free, and the wolf within him had awakened, ravenous and untamed. His senses sharpened, his instincts heightened, and he shifted with a raw, primal energy, embracing his werewolf form under the full moon.
In his transformed state, he ran through the forest, reveling in the sheer power, the predatory grace that came with his true self. But as he moved, his instincts were overpowered by a desperate need to satisfy his hunger, and he set his sights on a nearby deer. Just as he lunged, however, pain exploded through his leg—a hunter's trap, old and rusted, but still enough to catch him off guard.
He snarled, yanking against the trap, but the more he fought, the deeper it cut into his flesh. With every step, he dragged the trap along, each movement sending another wave of agony through him. Eventually, he broke free, but his wounds were severe, his once-proud stride reduced to a painful limp. Instinct drove him forward, his senses searching for a safe place, somewhere to shelter.
The scent of lavender and rosemary filled the air as he neared a small cottage, tucked away in a clearing. The girl he saw in front of him radiated warmth, kindness—two qualities Klaus hadn't encountered in lifetimes. Exhausted, he made his way toward her, unable to turn away.
As she approached, he tensed, wondering if she would fear him, recoil from the blood on his coat, or sense the darkness within him. But she didn't. Instead, she kneeled beside him, her face filled with concern and compassion. He had felt a lot of things throughout his life, but he had never felt such kindness, especially not from a human, one who had no reason to be anything but afraid of him.
She whispered soft reassurances as she gently cleaned his wounds, her voice like a balm to his frenzied mind. She even touched her forehead to his, sharing a gesture of intimacy that made his heart ache in a way he didn't quite understand.
"You're safe now," she murmured, her voice like honey as she ran her fingers through his fur. He let himself sink into her warmth, his body relaxing as she wrapped her arms around him.As the minutes passed, Klaus felt something stirring in him he hadn't felt in centuries—a strange peace. He lay beside her, allowing her to soothe him, his usually guarded heart softened by her kindness. He hadn't felt so at ease in... he couldn't even remember when. This girl, this strange, compassionate soul, had taken away his fear and his pain without even knowing who he was.---From a distance, Elijah watched the scene with an astonished expression. The way his brother, who had brought terror to countless lives, lay so peacefully beside this girl—it gave him a glimmer of hope he thought he had lost long ago. Elijah had wondered if his brother could ever be saved from his own darkness, if Niklaus could ever be more than the monster the world knew him as.Perhaps, just perhaps, there was hope for him yet.
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Force of Gravity • NM
Fanfiction"𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕠 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦...... 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕤𝕦𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣! " That was the last thing she remembered of her childhood...not even her name. She grew up too soon... but that little girl...
