The Howling ▹ Klaus Mikaelson

15.

THE HOWLING.

15. CHAPTER FIFTEEN: when will i stop belonging to this hungry thing inside me?

     "Why are we doing this again?" Rowan asked, lifting one of the many boxes of decorations. Her raised eyebrows directed to Matt. "I have enough going on in my life that needs to be dealt with, and that doesn't include setting up a dance I don't even plan on going to."

Matt craned his neck to look behind him. "You're not going?"

"You are?" she asked. Matt shrugged. "Besides, what happened to doing the seventies? Don't get me wrong I'd prefer flapper dresses rather that bad wigs, and cringing at the overuse of the word groovy."

"I'm pretty sure 'groovy' derived from the sixties."

"Derived?"

"Yeah. It means from where something originated. For example ‒"

"I know what the word means, Matt." Rowan sent him a deadpanned look, though he saw her lips twitch. "You've been studying, huh?"

Matt shrugged once more, meekly. "A little."

"Well," Rowan started as she placed the box onto a table. "If you ever need any help, I'm just a phone call away." Matt's eyebrows furrowed when she looked over his shoulder, eyebrows raised. "But I'm afraid I'm going to have to abandon you now."

Before Matt could question further, she was walking away, and he was being interrogated by one Caroline Forbes.

Rowan made it to her car in record time. And made it back to her home in even more impressive time. The house was quiet. It was the housekeeper's day off, her mom was the office, so no one should've been inside. But Rowan could hear another heartbeat coming from upstairs. She kept her own slow and steady and her footsteps even as she carried herself up the stairs and through the halls. It was getting louder and more clear as she grew closer, and in a flash she had the culprit by his neck up against the wall.

Her mouth went dry and her voice caught in her throat.

"Damn, Rowan, didn't know this is how we're reuniting now," her brother said, voice a little strained due to the extra pressure. Rowan's eyes were wide and wild and grew reddish before her forearm was no longer choking Tyler, instead wrapped around his neck in a hug.

"Where the hell have you been?" she choked out, gripping his jacket before pulling away. And then she punched him. "Not even a phone call, Tyler! Seriously?" Rowan nearly shouted, punching his shoulder again.

Tyler grunted and winced at every hit before grabbing Rowan wrists, smirking as she attempted to get free. Finally she ripped herself away and ran her hands through her hair.

"Well, this isn't the warm welcoming I was expecting," Tyler sighed. Rowan's eyes narrowed.

"You left without so much as a 'see ya later,' and for months I had no idea if you were alive or dead! If one of Klaus' minions found you because you left without him knowing! I didn't know! Do you have any idea what that's like? Not knowing if the one person who you love unconditionally and who loves you unconditionally is alive or dead? It sucks, it really friggin' sucks! I don't care if you wanted a warm welcoming, honestly who expects that of me? You should expect a lot more punches and slaps and possibly me cutting you because of how much you piss me off."

Tyler was caught off guard when Rowan wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him once more. He tentatively did the same. "Okay, you're really sending some mixed signals."

"Shut up before I punch you." She sighed, tension leaving her shoulders. "Just let me be happy that you're not dead, big brother."

They stood like for a few more moments for Tyler spoke up again.