[POV Hope]
After morning classes ended, my mind remained complete chaos. I couldn't focus on anything I was reading, and the image of that new guy introducing himself and sitting right next to me simply wouldn't leave my head.
Driven by an imperative mix of curiosity, shock, and suspicion, I walked briskly down the school hallways, heading straight for the headmistress's office. When I reached the heavy wooden door, I didn't even bother knocking. I just turned the handle and barged in, letting the door slam against the frame.
Caroline Forbes, who was intently signing a stack of documents on her desk, flinched slightly at the sudden entrance. She looked up, marginally surprised by my lack of ceremony, but her shoulders relaxed the moment she saw who it was.
— Hope... — Caroline said, straightening the papers on her desk. — Did something happen? You look like you've seen a ghost.
I shut the door behind me with a heavy thud, taking a few steps forward and resting my hands on the edge of Caroline's desk, staring at the headmistress point-blank.
— Who is the new guy? — I asked, my tone deep and direct.
Caroline blinked, leaning back in her leather chair.
— Ah, you mean Ethan.
— Yes, Ethan — I continued, crossing my arms and narrowing my eyes. — The entire coven is talking about how he's a werewolf who can use magic. Caroline... How is that even possible? Is he a hybrid like me?
The question echoed through the room with immense weight. Caroline let out a long sigh, fully understanding the reason behind the restless look in my eyes. After all, I had always carried the lonely burden of being the only one of my kind.
— I knew you'd come in here to ask me about this as soon as you heard — Caroline began, lacing her fingers together over the desk. — But the short answer is: not quite, Hope. He isn't like you.
I frowned, confused.
— What do you mean he isn't?
— The difference, Hope, is that you are a Hybrid by birth, born from an ancient, unique magical bloodline — Caroline explained calmly. — Ethan's case is a bit different based on what we've gathered from his background. He comes from a bloodline where werewolf genes and magic crossed, but his wolf side is still completely dormant. He has never taken a life.
— That's impossible, Caroline — I countered, my analytical mind working fast. — Anyone with werewolf blood running through their veins should never be able to be a witch or wizard. Nature itself prevents it. I am the sole exception in all of history for several reasons and because of my lineage. If Ethan has the wolf gene, he simply shouldn't be able to channel any magic at all, whether the curse is dormant or not!
— And that is precisely why he is here — Caroline pointed out warmly. — Ethan arrived here without understanding anything about the supernatural world. He didn't even know what a coven was or how to channel his own energy until he stepped foot into this school today. He doesn't have your training, he doesn't have your family's knowledge, and above all, he's terrified of his own potential.
I stood in silence for a few seconds, absorbing every word. The weight of Caroline's revelations made sense, but it didn't lessen the mystery surrounding the newcomer.
— If his wolf side is ever triggered one day... — I muttered, more to myself than to the headmistress —, nobody knows what will happen to that magic. But I've never heard of anyone using magic while carrying wolf blood besides me. That's why I got so intrigued by all of this.
— Exactly — Caroline confirmed with a nod. — Which is why I need everyone in this school — and that includes you, Hope — to give him space to adapt. He's just a kid trying to figure out what he is.
I released a slow breath. The storm of thoughts in my head hadn't disappeared, but I had a much clearer picture now.
— Right... — I said, stepping back toward the door. — Thanks for explaining, Caroline.
— Hope? — Caroline called before I left. I paused and looked back. — Try not to scare the guy on his first day, okay?
I gave a dry, slight smirk from the corner of my mouth before opening the door and walking out into the hallway.
[Caroline's Perspective]
As soon as the door closed and Hope's footsteps faded down the hallway, Caroline let out a deep, drawn-out sigh, leaning back in her chair. She stared at the wooden door for a few moments, her eyes weighed down by a secret, suffocating worry.
It's better that Hope doesn't know about this for now..., Caroline thought, rubbing her forehead. She has no idea who Clarke was, Ethan's father... let alone the secret affair he had in the past with Hayley. If she were to find out that Clarke was the father of her stillborn twin brother, it would reopen a painful wound.
Caroline stared at the locked drawer of her desk. Revealing that to the girl right now would shatter Hope's peace and jeopardize a delicate secret about her mother's past—something Klaus himself preferred to keep strictly under wraps until the right moment.
[POV Hope]
Reaching my room, I locked the door, pulled out my phone, and dialed my aunt's number without hesitation.
Riiing... Riiing...
— Hope? — Freya's voice sounded from the other end of the line.
— Aunt Freya, good morning.
— Good morning, Hope. What's going on? Do you need anything?
— I need to know... Do you know of any bloodline of wolf-witch hybrids?
There was a brief pause on the line before Freya answered:
— No... In fact, that should theoretically be impossible, Hope. What happened with you is unique in history. Why are you asking me this?
— Because a new student arrived at school. He's a hybrid like me, a witch and a werewolf. He hasn't triggered his curse yet, just like me. And yet, he can use magic. That should be impossible, right? I mean... Nature only made one of me.
— That is... — Freya paused, and I could hear her mind racing to come up with some kind of explanation. — Hope, are you absolutely sure about this? You aren't mistaken?
— No. Headmistress Caroline herself confirmed he's truly a werewolf with a dormant gene.
— That is at the very least unprecedented and fascinating... — Freya murmured thoughtfully. — I'm thinking... If what you're saying is true, how old is this boy?
— He must be a bit younger than me. Why?
— Perhaps... — Freya said, her tone growing more solemn. — Only nature itself could have created something like this.
— What do you mean by that, Aunt Freya?
— Think about it, Hope. When immortality was created by Qetsiyah, she did it with her wedding day in mind, so she and Silas could be together forever. You already know that story, right?
— Yes, I know it. Where are you going with this?
— The point here is that Silas became an immortal, something entirely unnatural to the world. In response to that offense, the world created mortal balance counterparts: the so-called doppelgängers. Ordinary humans who could be killed to balance the scales.
— I still don't quite understand, Aunt Freya...
— What I'm trying to say, Hope, is that when you were born, the very thought of a hybrid existing was unthinkable for the natural balance—even more so a Tribrid like you. Nature might have tried to create your balance counterpart. Someone like you...
Hearing that, I felt a knot form in my throat and froze in shock.
— Auntie, but that's...
— You remember the story of your twin brother, right, Hope? — Freya asked gently.
— Yes... How could I ever forget him? Mom and Dad always told me how hard it was for them to lose him.
— Right. Your baby twin brother was stillborn. For some reason, nature didn't want him alive in this world, and unfortunately, he passed away. Which leads me to believe that nature had other plans to keep the balance in check.
— That's... a lot for me to take in, Aunt Freya... — I muttered, resting my hand against my head.
— Yes... I could be wrong, but the possibility of this being the exact cause is much more precise than anything else.
I remained silent for a few moments, staring at my bedroom floor as I digested every word.
— I understand, Aunt Freya. Thanks for the help. I'll think about all of this, and I'll also try to find out everything about him before taking any hasty action.
— Alright, Hope. Stay safe. If you need me for anything else, just call me. Bye...
— Bye, Aunt Freya.
Hanging up the phone, I stepped away from the desk and threw myself onto my back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
A balance counterpart with my nature?, I thought, a shiver running down my spine. If that's true, then... Was he made for me, and me for him? No... That's impossible. My aunt has to be wrong.