chapter 18: the weight of feelings

The walk back to the Salvatore School was silent, except for the sound of the group's footsteps and the rustling of leaves beneath their feet. Ethan, still covered only by Alaric's coat, walked beside Hope, his mind full of questions he didn't know how to formulate. He couldn't remember anything from the night before, but the looks of concern and relief on his friends' faces told him something big had happened.

When they reached the schoolyard, the students gathered outside stopped what they were doing, their eyes fixed on Ethan. The silence was almost palpable, broken only by the murmur of voices that began to emerge among the students.

— It's him… — whispered a witch, instinctively stepping back as she held a grimoire to her chest.

"The werewolf who destroyed the courtyard?" a vampire asked, his eyes wide with fear and curiosity.

The werewolves at the school, some still bandaged from the previous night's wounds, reacted differently. One of them, a boy who was standing nearby, lowered his head at the sight of Ethan, an instinctive gesture of submission. Others followed suit, their instincts screaming to recognize Ethan as a natural leader. His presence was overwhelming, even in his human form, and it made them uneasy.

Rafael, who was sitting on a bench with a bandaged arm, looked up at Ethan. He hesitated, a mixture of fear and respect in his gaze, before looking away, clearly uncomfortable. He still felt the pain from the blow Ethan had given him the night before, and the memory of that moment made him shudder.

Ethan noticed the reactions around him and felt a knot in his stomach. He didn't understand why everyone was acting like this, but guilt began to weigh on his chest. He knew he had hurt people, even if he didn't remember the details.

Hope, who was walking beside him, noticed the tension on his face.

"It's going to be okay, Ethan," she said, her voice soft but firm.

"They just need time to get used to… what happened," she added, trying to reassure him.

Ethan nodded, but he didn't look convinced.

"I hurt people, Hope. I saw Rafael… he can barely look at me," he murmured, his voice thick with guilt.

Alaric, who was at the front of the group, turned to Ethan.

"Let's talk in my office, Ethan. We need to understand what happened and how we can help you," he said, his voice serious but with a touch of empathy.

In Alaric's office, Ethan sat in a chair, his coat still wrapped around his waist. Hope stood beside him, while Alaric sat behind his desk, his eyes fixed on Ethan with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"I don't remember anything," Ethan began, his voice hoarse.

—Just flashes… pain, anger… and then I woke up in that cabin. What did I do, Alaric? — he asked, his eyes shining with a mixture of fear and guilt.

Alaric sighed, crossing his arms.

"You've transformed, Ethan. But it wasn't an ordinary transformation," he said, his voice deep.

"You're… different. Bigger, stronger, fiercer than any werewolf I've ever seen. You injured some of the other werewolves, but no one died. They'll recover," he explained, trying to keep his voice calm.

Ethan frowned in confusion.

— Different how? I know werewolves usually turn into... like, big dogs, right? Like Rafael. But you guys keep saying I'm different. What does that mean? — he asked, his voice full of curiosity and concern.

Alaric exchanged a look with Hope, hesitating for a moment before answering.

— Your transformation is not like that of other werewolves, Ethan. You do not become a common wolf, like Rafael or the others. You are… humanoid. A colossal figure, over seven feet tall, with enormous musculature, and strength that goes beyond the supernatural — he began, his voice serious.

— You are not an ordinary dog, like other werewolves. You are something we have never seen before… except by Hope, or rather, by the stories she heard from her father — he continued, looking at Hope.

Hope nodded, her eyes wide as she remembered the stories her father, Klaus Mikaelson, had told her when she was a child.

— My father… he spoke of a werewolf named Clark, your father of course — she said, her voice low, almost a whisper.

— He said that Clark was unlike any werewolf he had ever seen. He was no ordinary wolf, but a humanoid type, like you, Ethan. Extremely tall, muscular, with a strength that went beyond what anyone could imagine — she continued, her voice thick with emotion.

Alaric leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Ethan.

— Klaus said that when he met Clark, he made an entire building shake with just one roar. His strength was... indescribable. Even Klaus, who was one of the most powerful beings who ever existed, felt fear at that moment — he said, his voice full of gravity.

— He never knew where Clark came from, or why he was the way he was. But what you showed him last night… it's exactly how Klaus described Clark. You're a humanoid werewolf, Ethan, something we haven't seen before — Alaric concluded, his expression serious.

Ethan was silent for a moment, processing Alaric's words. He felt the weight of the revelation, the idea that he was something so rare, so powerful, that even Klaus Mikaelson, the legendary original hybrid, had been afraid of someone like him.

"So… I'm like my father?" he finally asked, his voice hesitant.

Hope placed her hand on his shoulder, the touch gentle and comforting.

— Maybe. But that doesn't mean you're a monster, Ethan. My father also said that Clark wasn't bad… he just needed to learn to control his strength — she said, her voice soft.

—And I'll help you control it, I promise—she added, her eyes shining with determination.

Ethan looked at her, gratitude evident on his face.

— Thanks, Hope. I… I don't know what I would do without you — he said, his voice lighter, but still full of emotion.

Alaric cleared his throat, getting the two's attention.

— Ethan, you need time to process this. And we need time to understand who you are and how to help you. For now, rest. We'll talk more tomorrow — he said, his voice firm, but with a hint of understanding.

Ethan nodded, still feeling the weight of guilt and confusion, but also a strange sense of relief. He wasn't alone in this, and that was enough for now.

Later, as Ethan walked through the schoolyard, trying to ignore the stares of the other students, Landon watched from afar, sitting on a bench near the entrance to the dormitory. His eyes were fixed on Hope, who was talking to Ethan a few feet away. Landon's heart beat wildly, a mixture of love and pain consuming him as he watched her. He was in love with Hope—deeply. Her smile, that smile that lit up her face like the sun, was the guiding light in his life, the only thing that made him feel worth staying in this place, even amidst all the chaos that surrounded him. Every time she smiled and spoke to him, it was as if his world, so full of shadows, gained color, as if everything made sense for a brief moment.

But he knew things weren't right between them. Hope had been suspicious of him for a while, and he understood why. He had his secrets, his own struggles, and though he'd never meant to hurt her, he knew his actions had left her feeling insecure. Still, he loved her—more than he could ever put into words. He dreamed of a future where he could earn her trust again, where he could prove himself worthy of that smile, that look that made him feel like he could be more than he was.

But then there was Ethan. His presence, so overwhelming, so dominating, was like a shadow that loomed over all of her dreams. Landon felt a tightness in his chest just thinking about how comfortable and caring Hope seemed to be with him, how… happy she seemed. He didn't want to admit it, but the truth was clear: Hope was getting closer to Ethan in a way she never had before. And it was killing him inside.

Landon clenched his fists, anger starting to build inside him, mixed with jealousy he could no longer contain. He could no longer stand by and watch as Ethan took what he wanted most in the world. He had to do something, he had to confront him, even if it meant facing a werewolf who was clearly stronger than him. For Hope, he would do anything.

"Ethan!" Landon called, his voice thick with anger as he approached quickly, his heavy footsteps echoing his determination.

Ethan turned, frowning at Landon's expression.

"What's wrong, Landon?" he asked, his voice calm but with a hint of caution.

Landon stopped a few feet away from him, his fists clenched at his sides.

— What happened? Seriously? You almost destroyed the school, hurt a bunch of people, and you still have the nerve to stand around like nothing happened? — he accused, his voice shaking with anger.

Ethan frowned in confusion.

— I don't remember what happened, Landon. I didn't mean to hurt anyone — he said, trying to explain himself.

Landon stepped forward, his eyes shining with jealousy and frustration.

— It's not just that! I saw you… in your werewolf form, touching Hope's face as if… as if she were yours! You're taking advantage of her, stay away from her Ethan! — he exclaimed, his voice full of emotion.

Ethan's eyes widened, startled by the accusation, but then something inside him shifted. Anger began to build, a primal rage he couldn't control. His eyes, once a heterochromic blue and green, glowed a bright fluorescent green, the same glow that had appeared in his werewolf form. A low, menacing growl escaped his throat, and his canines grew sharp and dangerous as he glared at Landon with a fury that made the air around them feel heavy.

"Did you tell me to stay away from Hope?" Ethan asked, his voice deep, almost a growl, as he took a step forward.

Before Landon could respond, Ethan grabbed him by the shirt with incredible strength, lifting him into the air as if he weighed nothing. Ethan's eyes glowed even brighter, the fluorescent green almost hypnotic, and his presence was overwhelming, like that of a predator about to strike.

"Who do you think you are, Landon?" Ethan said, his voice thick with controlled but dangerous fury.

— Hope is not yours to decide who she should or shouldn't be with. And if you think you can tell me what to do, you're very wrong — he continued, his canines still bared, the growl echoing in his words.

Landon's eyes widened, fear evident on his face as he tried to pull away, but Ethan's strength was overwhelming. Ethan, overcome by his inner beast, felt a wave of power and possessiveness consume him. He leaned forward, bringing his face close to Landon's, and whispered in his ear, his voice low and menacing, filled with a cold certainty that made Landon shiver.

"You'll never have Hope while I'm around, Landon. She's mine, and no one—not you, not anyone in this world—is going to take that away from me," he said, each word dripping with an almost cruel determination.

Landon went pale, the mixture of fear and humiliation leaving him speechless. Before he could respond, Hope came running up, her eyes wide with concern.

"What's going on here?" she asked, her voice full of authority but also confusion as she looked from Ethan to Landon.

Ethan released Landon, who fell to the ground with a thud, panting. He turned to Hope, a playful smile appearing on his face, as if nothing serious had happened. His eyes returned to normal, the fluorescent green fading, but the overpowering energy still emanated from them.

— Nothing, Hope. Landon is just jealous, that's all — he said, his voice light, almost teasing, as he gave Landon a sideways glance.

Landon stood up, his face red with hatred and rage, his fists clenched so tightly his hands were shaking. He glared at Ethan, his eyes blazing with a fury he could barely contain.

"This isn't going to stay like this, Ethan," he said, his voice low but full of venom, before he began to turn to leave the courtyard, his heavy footsteps echoing his determination.

But then he stopped, his heart clenching in his chest as he saw Ethan approach Hope, the playful expression disappearing to give way to something more serious, more intense. He heard Ethan say, in a firm, almost authoritative voice:

— Come with me, he said as he grabbed Hope's waist and took her somewhere. 

Landon froze, his stomach churning as Hope hesitated for just a second before nodding, letting Ethan lead her across the courtyard, past the curious stares of the other students, until they disappeared toward the back of the school. He didn't know where they were going, but the sight of Hope following Ethan, the way she seemed so at ease with him, devastated him in a way he never imagined possible.

Landon stood there, alone in the courtyard, his chest tight with a pain that felt like it was tearing him apart. He was in love with Hope—more than he'd ever been with anyone in his life. Her smile, that smile that lit up his life, was the only thing that made him feel worth keeping going, even through all the hardships he faced. He knew she had her reasons for distrusting him—he hadn't been completely honest with her, and it had hurt her. But he was willing to do anything to win her back, to prove that he could be the man she deserved.

Seeing Hope with Ethan, however, hurt him with a depth that was impossible to measure. It was as if every step she took beside Ethan was a knife to his heart, a cruel reminder that he was losing the only person who truly mattered to him. He could feel the emptiness growing inside him, a mixture of anger and jealousy and a sadness so deep it made him want to scream. He wanted to hate her for it, wanted to hate Ethan for stealing what he wanted most, but he couldn't. Because deep down, he knew that Hope wasn't his to claim—she never had been. And that only made the pain all the more unbearable.

Landon clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he fought back the tears that threatened to fall. He couldn't let this end like this. He couldn't lose Hope to Ethan without a fight. But at that moment, all he could do was watch helplessly as the girl he loved disappeared with someone else, taking with her the light that had illuminated his life.

~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Ethan led Hope across the courtyard, past the curious gazes of the other students, to the back of the school, where the tree they had almost kissed under the night before stood. The place was secluded, surrounded by tall grass and bathed in soft afternoon sunlight, a peaceful haven away from the chaos of the school. He stopped in the shade of the tree, turning to Hope, his eyes beginning to glow a fluorescent green again, the same glow that had appeared in his werewolf form, reflecting the intensity of his emotions.

Hope stood still, her heart racing, feeling the energy emanating from him. There was something different about Ethan, a stronger, more commanding presence, as if he had become more than he had been before. The green glow in his eyes mesmerized her, and she felt the force that bound them together pulse like a living heart.

"Ethan, what's going on?" she asked, her voice hesitant but full of curiosity.

Ethan stepped forward, closing the distance between them, his eyes glowing even brighter, the fluorescent green almost unearthly. The werewolf part of him was taking over, and he didn't see that as a bad thing—not if it meant he could have Hope for himself. He wanted her like he'd never wanted anything in his life, and that need consumed him, pushing him to act more assertively, more dominantly.

"Hope, I won't wait any longer," he said, his voice deep, almost a low growl, as he took another step, so close now that she could feel the heat of his body, the scent of earth and leather that always seemed to accompany him.

"Ever since I saw you, I felt like we were meant to be together. I can't imagine my life without you today, Hope, and I won't let anyone—not Landon, not anyone in this world—tear us apart," he continued, his green eyes shining with fierce determination, the words coming out with a force that seemed unbreakable.

Hope's eyes widened, her heart beating so fast she thought it might explode. There was something about the way Ethan spoke, the way he looked at her, that sent a shiver down her spine. He wasn't just declaring himself—he was claiming it, with a certainty that left no room for doubt.

Ethan hesitated for a moment, the shine in his eyes softening slightly as he lowered his gaze, as if he was gathering the courage to say something that carried a huge weight for him. He took a deep breath, his voice quieter now, almost vulnerable, but still thick with emotion.

— Before anything else, I need to tell you something… about what's happening to me, about what I feel for you — he began, his eyes meeting hers again, now with an intensity that seemed to burn.

— My mother… she explained to me once, when I was younger, about something that some werewolves like me can feel. It's called an "imprint". It's not just a connection… it's like the universe chooses someone for you, someone who becomes the center of your world, the person you would protect with your life, who you would desire above all else — he continued, his voice shaking slightly with the raw emotion he was letting out.

— When I first saw you, Hope, I felt it. It was like the world stopped, like everything inside me screamed that you were mine. The "imprint" is… it's a force that pulls me towards you, that makes me feel like I can't live without you. That's why I'm like this with you, why I can't walk away, why I… why I want you so much — he confessed, his voice full of an honesty that made Hope's heart race even more.

Hope was silent, her eyes wide as she listened to Ethan's explanation. She had known all this before—she had called Ethan's mother a few days ago, seeking answers about his behavior, and his mother had explained what imprinting was and what it meant for a werewolf like Ethan. But Ethan hadn't known she had done it, and Hope decided not to mention it, at least not yet. She wanted to hear it from him, wanted to feel the vulnerability and sincerity in his words. And somehow, hearing Ethan talk about imprinting with such passion, with such longing, made a heat grow inside her, a connection that went beyond anything she had ever known.

Ethan interpreted her silence as surprise, and he took a step closer, his voice taking on a firmer, more possessive tone as he continued.

"You feel it, don't you?" he asked, his voice dropping to an almost feral tone, his green eyes shining with an intensity that seemed to burn.

— What we have… is not just this "imprint". It is something much bigger, Hope, something that transcends everything that has ever existed. You are mine, and I am yours, in a way that the entire universe cannot explain. And I will no longer deny that I want you, that I need you more than the air I breathe — he continued, his voice filled with a raw, almost wild passion that seemed to echo in her soul.

Hope was speechless, her heart racing, the imprint that bound them together pulsing like a living heart inside her. She knew he was right—she could feel the connection, feel the bond that bound them, and the way he looked at her, the way he spoke, made her feel like there was no way out of it, not even if she wanted to.

"Ethan…" she began, her voice shaking, but before she could say anything else, Ethan acted, driven by the overwhelming desire that consumed him. He couldn't wait any longer, couldn't hold back any longer. He wanted her, and he wanted her now.

In one swift movement, Ethan wrapped an arm around her waist, his hands sliding down in a bold gesture, cupping Hope's ass firmly. He lifted her off the ground with ease, bringing her up to his level, their bodies pressed together as he pushed her against the tree trunk behind her, the soft but firm impact trapping her between him and the wood. Before Hope could react, he bent his head and captured her lips in a searing kiss, a tongue-in-cheek kiss filled with passion and desire that seemed to set the air around them ablaze. Their instincts had risen against them, and neither of them fought it—they gave themselves completely to each other, seeking to taste each other completely, as if they wanted to devour the other's essence.

The kiss was wild, almost primal, their tongues dancing in a frenetic rhythm, exploring every corner, every taste, with an urgency that mirrored the desire that consumed them both. Ethan deepened the kiss, a low growl vibrating in his chest as he pressed his body even tighter against hers, the heat of their bodies mingling in a way that made the world around them disappear. Hope responded with equal intensity, her arms wrapping around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair as she gave herself over to the pleasure, to the fire that burned between them. The taste of him—a mix of something wild and something sweet—was intoxicating, and she couldn't get enough, couldn't stop wanting more.

Ethan slid one hand down her side, tracing the curve of her waist with a possessive touch, while his other hand cupped the back of her neck, keeping her exactly where he wanted her. He nipped lightly at her bottom lip, eliciting a muffled moan from Hope, before sliding his lips to the corner of her mouth, tracing a line of hot kisses down her neck. The heat of his breath against her skin made her arch against him, and she tilted her head to the side, giving him more access, completely surrendered to the pleasure he was giving her. Ethan didn't hesitate, his lips finding the sensitive spot just below her ear, where he left a slow, deliberate kiss, followed by a light bite that made Hope shiver, her nails digging lightly into his shoulders.

Hope had never felt anything like this before. Every touch from Ethan, every brush of his lips against her skin, seemed to light a fire inside her, a desire she hadn't known she was capable of feeling. The imprint that bound them together pulsed like a living heart, amplifying every sensation, every shiver, until she felt like she could lose herself completely in him. The weight of his body against hers, the strength with which he held her, made her feel wanted in a way that left her breathless, and she didn't want this moment to end.

Ethan, on the other hand, was completely consumed by her. The taste of her—sweet, with a hint of something he couldn't describe—made him hungry for more, and he couldn't control himself. He captured her lips again, the kiss slower now, deeper, but no less intense, their tongues intertwining in a dance that seemed to never end. He could feel her heart beating against his chest, the heat of her body against his, and it only made him want more, want everything she had to offer.

When they finally broke apart, they were both panting, their faces inches apart, their eyes shining with a mixture of desire and ecstasy. Hope still had her back against the tree, Ethan's legs holding her in place, and she stared up at him, her lips swollen and her eyes half-lidded, a deep blush covering her beautiful face. Ethan watched her with a hungry gaze, his fluorescent green eyes still shining with an intensity that made her shiver, an almost feral smile curving his lips.

They said nothing—they didn't need to. What they felt, what they shared in that moment, went beyond words. They had let their instincts rise up against them, and the result was a moment of pure passion, a desire that consumed them and united them in a way neither could deny. The imprint that bound them pulsed like a living force, and they both knew that from that moment on, nothing would ever be the same. They belonged to each other in a way that transcended anything they had ever known, and they were willing to lose themselves in each other, at least for now.