"Ohh, you're the girl my brother got pregnant?" Rebekah looked at Hayley with interest. "You're actually pretty."
Hayley tried to act rebellious, but in the end gave up—she had heard about Rebekah's reputation through Klaus and Elijah.
"Where is Elijah?" Rebekah asked, looking over Hayley's shoulders.
Hayley turned her head slightly, following Rebekah's gaze over her own shoulder, as if expecting Elijah to appear there.
"He was with me not long ago," she replied, trying to sound firm. "Said he needed to take care of something… and just left."
Rebekah narrowed her eyes, suspicious, slowly walking around Hayley like a predator assessing her surroundings.
"Elijah doesn't 'just leave'," she murmured, more to herself than to Hayley. "If he left you alone, then something caught his attention more than… this."
Her gaze briefly dropped to Hayley's belly.
Hayley crossed her arms, uncomfortable.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
Rebekah stopped in front of her, tilting her head with a slight ironic smile.
"Oh, I have many things to say. But right now, I'm more interested in understanding why my dear brother left the mother of Klaus's child wandering around unprotected."
"I don't need a babysitter," Hayley shot back immediately.
Rebekah let out a low laugh.
"Everyone says that… until they do."
A tense silence fell between them.
Then Rebekah sighed, as if she had made a decision.
"He probably went to the bayou. Elijah has this… irritating habit of trying to solve everything alone, especially when it involves wolves."
Hayley uncrossed her arms.
"Then I'm going there."
Rebekah raised an eyebrow.
"You don't waste time, do you?"
"I don't have that luxury."
For a second, something in Rebekah's expression softened—almost like respect.
"Fine," she said, turning toward the exit. "But you're not going alone."
Hayley frowned.
"I didn't ask for company."
Rebekah stopped at the door and looked over her shoulder with a dangerous half-smile.
"It's not a request, darling."
She opened the door.
"It's a decision."
Hayley hesitated for only a moment… before following her.
The two walked through the city until they reached downtown, and Rebekah grabbed something for them to eat.
"You know, that boy who looks like Klaus—he's really his son?" Hayley asked. "I don't know why, but he seems way too trustworthy to be Klaus's kid."
"Ohh, you're talking about Nik?" Rebekah lit up instantly. "Yes, he's Klaus's son… we didn't know until we discovered him recently."
"Seriously? Like Klaus didn't know he had a son?" Hayley asked, confused. "Is that even possible?"
"For us, no. Vampires are infertile," Rebekah said, looking at the horizon. "But Klaus is different. He's part werewolf—it makes him fertile. Which is unfair."
"But let's forget that for now," Rebekah sighed and tried to stand, but someone sat down in the chair.
It was Nik, sitting beside them with a smile.
"Hi, auntie," Nik said to Rebekah, sitting next to them. "Hi, little wolf."
"Hey," Hayley growled at the nickname.
"Not running away this time?" Rebekah asked happily.
"No," Nik joked, running a hand through his hair. "My girlfriend and Amara are out, and I'm bored."
He smiled as usual and they started talking.
"And my mom's been busy, so I can't annoy her," Nik made a dramatic face, then smiled. "So I came to bother my favorite aunt."
"I'm the only one, right?" Rebekah replied in fake irritation, then widened her eyes. "You have a mother?"
"Of course… you think I was born out of Klaus's head?" Nik replied, offended.
"Hahahaha," Rebekah laughed. "Using mythology to answer things like that is fun."
Nik shrugged, still smiling.
"I could've said I was molded from Klaus Mikaelson's pure chaos… but Athena sounded more dramatic."
Rebekah laughed again, shaking her head.
"Definitely my nephew."
Hayley watched the two, clearly trying to follow the strange dynamic.
"So… you have a mother," she said directly. "And no one knew that either?"
Nik tilted his head, thinking for a moment.
"They did… my mom's family, the Bennetts, and my friends know."
Rebekah narrowed her eyes, genuinely curious now.
"That explains a lot… and at the same time nothing," she sighed. "And she never needed protection to take care of you? We could help."
"I have that effect on people," he replied with a half-smile.
Hayley scoffed.
"Convenient."
Nik ignored the tone and continued more lightly:
"But my mom is very powerful and has a strong name in the world… and she's pretty extreme when it comes to me. So… anyone who wants me dead thinks twice."
Rebekah let out a quiet "hm."
"So you're kind of Greek?" she asked curiously.
"How do you know that?" Nik was surprised.
"Well, the Bennett clan has its base in Greece—that's where most of your relatives are," Rebekah replied as if it were obvious. "And your mother is one of the leaders, isn't she?"
"Yes," Nik sighed. "Something like that."
"Smart of her," Rebekah said. "Raising someone so troublesome far from Greece."
"Hey," Nik put a hand on his chest, pretending to be offended. "I'm a great representative."
Rebekah raised an eyebrow.
"You just admitted you came to 'bother' me."
"Details."
Hayley let out a small laugh despite herself.
Nik noticed immediately.
"Well, look at that… she can laugh."
"Don't get used to it," Hayley replied quickly.
Rebekah watched them with a curious, almost satisfied look.
"It's strange," she said, resting her chin on her hand. "Seeing someone from this family talk without threatening anyone for more than five minutes."
Nik thought for a moment.
"Want me to ruin the mood?"
"No," Rebekah replied instantly.
"Shame."
A brief comfortable silence settled.
Then Nik looked at Hayley, more serious now—still gentle.
"And you?" he asked. "Handling all this okay?"
Hayley hesitated.
"Not exactly… but I don't have a choice."
Nik nodded, understanding.
"You have more than you think."
Rebekah watched the exchange, quieter now.
"You talk like you've been through this."
Nik gave a half-smile.
"Something like that."
Rebekah was about to ask more… when she suddenly stopped.
Her expression changed.
"Did you hear that?"
Hayley tensed.
"Hear what?"
Nik was no longer smiling.
He turned his head slightly, focusing on something distant.
"Vampires," he murmured. "Several."
Rebekah sighed, almost bored.
"Ah… now that feels normal."
Nik let out a small laugh.
"Looks like… family time is on pause."
Hayley stood slowly.
"Friends of yours?"
Rebekah answered first.
"If they're Marcel's… definitely not."
Nik stood as well, stretching his neck like he was getting ready.
"Well," he said with a slight smile returning, "nothing like a little chaos to go with lunch."
Rebekah smirked.
"Now that sounds like a family gathering."
"I'll handle them," Nik said with an amused smile. "I was bored."
His face filled with dark veins, his skin turning pale.
Then he rushed out of the place.
"Is that normal?" Hayley asked, confused, seeing his vampire face.
"No… but since he was born like that and not turned, he must be different from us," Rebekah sighed. "Come on? We need to follow him so those idiots don't try anything in the middle of a crowd."
They followed Nik into a dark alley.
"Stop right there!" a voice shouted. "You foreign vampire—hand over the daylight ring and come with us to explain to Marcel what you were doing with a wolf."
"Ohhh, who does Marcel think he is to send people after me?" Nik teased, leaning against the wall and tossing a coin onto the ground. "If you kneel and pick up that coin, I'll let you leave here alive."
Nik smiled widely, crossing his arms.
"So, what's it going to be?" he asked again, looking upward as several vampires appeared.
At least twelve.
"Ohhh, seriously? Marcel only sent twelve babies to face me? I guess I'll have to throw him under some trees a few more times so he learns."
A vein pulsed on Nik's forehead.
The vampires exchanged glances—not fear… not yet, but irritation.
"You talk too much for someone surrounded," one growled, stepping forward.
Nik didn't move.
"And you think too little for someone who can still walk away."
The coin kept spinning on the ground before slowing down.
The leader looked at it… then back at Nik.
"Kill him."
That was enough.
The first one rushed forward—but never made contact.
In a blink, Nik was already in front of him.
The impact was sharp. The vampire was thrown against the wall, cracking the concrete.
Silence.
Rebekah, leaning at the alley entrance beside Hayley, crossed her arms.
"I gave it… five seconds."
Hayley watched, tense… but impressed.
"Is he always like this?"
Rebekah tilted her head, observing.
"No… today he's being gentle."
In the alley, Nik cracked his neck slightly.
"Last chance," he said, now completely serious. "The coin is still there."
No one moved.
One tried to attack from behind.
Mistake.
Nik turned without even looking, catching the arm mid-air and twisting it—bone snapping loudly.
Another came from the side.
Nik simply moved.
This time there was no teasing—just speed.
One by one, the vampires were thrown against walls, the ground, trash cans… the alley turned into chaos in seconds.
But there was no rush.
It was… control.
Precision.
As if he was testing limits more than fighting.
Rebekah let out a light sigh.
"Definitely Klaus Mikaelson's son… but with less drama."
Hayley said nothing.
She just watched.
In the middle of the alley, two remained.
They hesitated.
Nik stopped.
Looked at them… then at the coin.
"Now you understand the part about choice."
One of them, trembling, dropped to his knees and picked up the coin.
The other followed.
Nik watched for a second… then smiled lightly.
"See? Not so hard."
He gestured.
"Go."
They didn't hesitate.
They ran.
Silence returned.
Nik took a deep breath… the dark veins fading, his face returning to normal.
He looked at his hands for a moment… then smiled again.
"Done," he said, like he had just finished something simple.
Rebekah approached slowly, clapping once without much enthusiasm.
"Fun. Could've lasted longer."
Nik raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you wanted it done quickly."
"I wanted options."
Hayley stepped closer.
"You could've killed them."
Nik shrugged.
"I could've." He looked at her. "But that would be boring—and wouldn't provoke Marcel as much."
Rebekah nodded approvingly.
"Smart."
Nik smiled and suddenly brightened when his phone rang.
"Well, my ladies are home," he said happily. "So I'm off."
He disappeared.
"Ladies?" Hayley looked at Rebekah, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Forget it," Rebekah shook her head. "You don't want to know… that flaw of my nephew."