Searching for Always and Forever

Chapter 18

"You asked me last time why I am looking for all this." Hope continued.

"Hope, it's fine. I get that you don't want to talk about it. I help where I can." He smiled genuinely and Hope smiled back at him.

"If I tell you. Can you please promise me, you won't ever tell this to anyone?" Hope asked nervously.

"Of course. I haven't talked to anyone about the tribrid either. Don't worry it will stay between us." He said, reassuringly. Hope nodded anxiously.

"Three years ago, our parents were murdered. We lived in the middle of nowhere and one day these men showed up and slaughtered my parents." Hope said as she was fidgeting with her bracelet, reminding her it was all her fault.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry." Landon said it in a genuine tone and Hope felt his hand touching hers. Hope looked up in his eyes and gave him a reassuring smile, but she held onto his hand anyway. It didn't feel awkward at all, it felt nice and comforting.

"We were hiding with my siblings... but umm... I left our spot to check what was happening, and I found my dad dead on our living room floor and our mom was dying as one of the men who was alive questioned her. He was looking for this tribrid. That was the only lead I had for finding the people responsible."

"Did your mother have her? The tribrid?"

"No, of course not. I didn't even know what it was they were looking for."

"Then how did you know it had to do something with Klaus Mikaelson?" Landon asked curiously.

"I asked Henry. He grew up in the pack where I came from. My parents... umm... my mom was actually their alpha. We thought growing up, that the whole pack was gone, dead. We were running for years when we were little, I know many of the pack were killed. But Henry told me that some survived and then they went back to their home, to New Orleans. That's where my parents ran from in the first place. Henry said Klaus was violently searching for my mom when the pack returned many years ago. That's why I thought he must be connected, he must have found my mom later on and he could be the one behind the people who killed them." Hope explained

"Hmm... Klaus Mikaelson searching for the tribrid would make sense, if she was his daughter... but why would he think she was with your parents?" Landon was wondering and Hope shrugged. "Do you know how old she is supposed to be? The tribrid?" Landon asked and he looked slightly anxious.

"No... only that she is not a child anymore." Hope replied but Landon's mood change bothered her. They were still holding hands. It felt so natural and peaceful that not once her mind wandered into anxiety. "Is everything okay?" Hope asked and squeezed his hand lightly.

"Yes!" He replied but Hope noticed that his smile was forced. "Let's talk tomorrow. Same time?" He said and pulled his hand back from Hope's. Hope felt slightly disappointed, but she nodded.

"Okay. Good night Landon." Hope gave him one last smile before she left the library for him to close.

Hope walked back to her room thinking about everything they just found out... and about the weird way Landon was acting before they said their goodbyes. He looked the same when he realized the tribrid was actually Klaus Mikaelson's daughter. He realized something... something he didn't want to share with Hope and it bothered her. It was about her, her parents death. She wanted to be mad at him but she had a hard time hating him. His smile and their hands in each other's hands were so perfectly calming. She really crushed on him, how stupid she was to think it was her wolf who wanted him. It was just her. But she felt more than a simple crush. She felt like she could trust in him, she felt safe and comforted as he held her hand. These thoughts were running through her mind, as she opened her bedroom door. But what she found in the room first startled her, then anger took over her.

"What the hell are you doing?" Hope yelled at her sister, who was with Lizzie in her bed, making out passionately in very minimal clothing. They quickly pulled the cover over themselves but not before Hope could see that Grace's birthmark was totally exposed. "Get the hell out Lizzie! And you! You need to explain yourself!" Hope screamed with fury.

"Jeez Hope. Can you chill? The whole building can hear you." Grace added with an eyroll.

"Chill? You want me to chill? So what Grace, is this what you've been doing with Lizzie lately?"

"It's not your business! What is your problem anyway? Is it about Lizzie? You don't like her? Or is that the fact that she is a girl?" Grace started to get mad at her sister too. Lizzie was dressing quickly.

"My problem is that you shouldn't get naked with people! You barely know her!"

"Just because you live in a hole and you don't know anyone doesn't mean I barely know her. I know her completely and she knows me better than you do, apparently." Grace yelled back and she started getting dressed. "You know what? Have the fucking room to yourself, I'm moving in Lizzie's room. At least you don't have to see me get naked with anyone!" Grace yelled furiously and she slammed the bedroom door loudly as she left with Lizzie.