"aaahhhh" Tyler's scream rang in my ears so loudly it almost hurt when, in a fit of rage, he attacked Jeremy at school and Anna overpowered him like he was a two-year-old child.
"Calm down… we're not going to do anything rash." I slipped quietly to Anna's side while she was choking Tyler. "He's an idiot… but we're not going to kill him for that."
"He attacked Jer," Anna growled, not wanting to let go of Tyler, who kept choking and was starting to turn red. "He's going to die."
"Jeremy is fine," I said in a gentle voice and touched her arm. "And that's why you came back to school, right? To protect him. And he's bound to you — divine — so anything that isn't decapitation or ripping his heart out isn't going to kill him."
Tyler collapsed to the floor coughing, dragging air into his lungs in desperation, his hands still on his own neck as if he couldn't believe he was alive.
Anna let go slowly, but her gaze remained fixed on him — cold, ancient, dangerous.
I kept my hand on her arm only until I felt the tension fade.
"See? He didn't die. We can go back to our boring school day."
Tyler looked up, still in panic, and stared at Anna as if he had finally understood something.
"You…" his voice came out hoarse. "You're like me."
The mistake echoed through the hallway.
Anna went completely still.
For a full second.
Then she placed a hand on her chest, offended in an almost theatrical way.
"You can insult my mother," she said, her voice low and sharp, "you can insult my existence, you can even try to kill me again…"
She leaned toward him, her eyes glowing.
"But don't call me that."
Tyler scooted back on the floor, confused.
"I felt it! The strength, the anger, the way you held me—"
"I know exactly what you are," Anna cut him off with a humorless smile. "And that's why that was so offensive."
Jeremy arrived at our side at that exact moment, completely unharmed, just adjusting his backpack.
"Okay… does anyone want to explain why Lockwood is almost crying on the floor and Anna looks like she's been personally insulted?"
"He compared me to a werewolf," she replied, still indignant.
Jeremy blinked.
"…is that bad?"
"Extremely."
Tyler froze.
"Then what are you?" he asked irritably — and was successfully ignored.
I sighed, running a hand over my face.
"Congratulations, Anna."
She shot me an irritated look.
"He said it first."
I shrugged.
"Too much information for a school day."
"You know," he insisted.
"I do," I replied. "I just don't feel like it."
Jeremy frowned.
"Wait. Werewolves exist now?"
Anna crossed her arms.
"Focus on the fact that you were attacked and you're perfectly fine."
Jeremy looked at his own body as if checking again.
"I still think I should be protecting you guys."
"You are literally the only one here who can die permanently," I said.
"Detail," he shot back.
Tyler stood up slowly, still looking between the three of us.
"No one is going to explain anything to me?"
Anna gave him a cold smile.
"Consider it part of your personal growth."
"That's not funny."
"It is to me."
He looked at me one last time, searching for some answer.
I just held his gaze.
There was something there.
Even confused. Even humiliated.
He didn't lower his head.
Leadership instinct. Raw. Undisciplined.
And dangerous — he had the alpha spark in him. Maybe he'll evolve before becoming a hybrid…
Probably not… the alpha spark is rarely awakened easily, it takes years, and a hybrid can't become an alpha.
I'll let him keep suffering as a normal werewolf and then turn into a hybrid… he deserves it.
Especially when my memory insisted on reminding me of a possible future — one where he and Caroline…
Although my father also tried to hook up with my girlfriend in the show…
For fuck's sake… Tyler is fine, he's just a kid and my girlfriend is hot and so naturally attractive she's going to get the attention of every guy out there… but my own father trying to steal my girl? Am I going to have to beat up the old man?
I looked away before finishing the thought.
It wasn't jealousy.
It was strategic caution.
Of course.
"Control your anger," I said at last. "That will keep you from being strangled again."
He clenched his fists.
"You're all crazy."
"Correct," Jeremy replied. "Don't mess with us."
Anna was already pulling me by the arm to leave.
"I'm still offended," she muttered. "Like him… unbelievable."
"It'll pass in about fifty years," I said.
Tyler was left alone in the hallway.
Without answers.
With his heart racing.
With his instincts screaming.
And with that terrible feeling that his body knew something his mind hadn't reached yet.
And we simply walked away.
Because sometimes the best way for someone to find out what they are…
Is to survive long enough to understand on their own.
"We're going to stake Katherine," Stefan approached me at the end of class and said. "Damon asked me to let you know."
"Okay… good luck," I said with a smile.
"Why is my brother warning you about his moves?" Stefan asked curiously. "He doesn't answer to anyone."
"He didn't tell you?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Tell me what?" Stefan asked, even more curious.
"Nothing…" I answered and spotted Bonnie and Caroline coming toward me. "Ask him."
"We need a witch… are you going to help us?" Stefan asked with his puppy-dog look.
"No… I have a non-aggression pact with Katherine… your brother didn't tell you that either?" I asked with a laugh.
It was a lie… Katherine wasn't in any condition to make any deal with me.
"You have what?" Caroline arrived beside Bonnie and asked in an irritated voice. "Care to explain, my wonderful boyfriend?"
I'm screwed.
"Yeah, explain to her, little brother," Bonnie said in the same tone, crossing her arms.
Seriously… you too? Hey, I'm the oldest here, how am I the little brother?
The hallway suddenly felt way too small.
Caroline had her arms crossed, her foot tapping on the floor in that rhythm every predator learns to recognize as real danger.
Bonnie beside her, identical expression — except with magic vibrating in the air like static electricity.
Stefan didn't look annoyed.
Worse.
He looked interested.
Very interested.
"I'm waiting," Caroline said with a smile that had absolutely nothing cute about it. "A non-aggression pact with Katherine?"
"Technically," I began, raising a finger, "it was more of a—"
"—shut up and explain properly," Bonnie cut in.
"You too?" I looked at her. "I thought our relationship was based on trust and silent admiration."
"It's based on me deciding whether you live or not," she replied sweetly.
Stefan stepped closer.
"How did you manage that?" he asked, genuinely intrigued. "Katherine doesn't make deals. Katherine betrays deals."
"She breathes manipulation," Caroline added.
"She respects no one," Bonnie said.
"She respects me," I answered.
Three pairs of eyes stared at me.
Silence.
Caroline tilted her head.
"Want to try again, but this time telling the truth?"
I sighed.
"Truth is a very subjective concept."
"Nik," she said, narrowing her eyes, "if you made any deal with psychopathic doppelgänger and didn't tell me—"
"Ex-psychopathic doppelgänger," I corrected.
"—I swear I'll rip your heart out and then apologize."
"She wouldn't do that," I told Stefan.
"I would," Caroline replied without taking her eyes off me.
Bonnie raised a hand.
"I'll help."
Stefan was still stuck on the important part.
"She agreed to a pact. With you. Why?"
The question was scientific.
Almost academic.
I liked that.
I tilted my head, thoughtful.
"Charisma."
"Nik," two voices said at the same time.
"Okay, okay," I raised my hands. "Maybe I made it clear that fighting me at that moment was not statistically advantageous."
"You threatened her," Stefan concluded.
"I presented unpleasant future possibilities."
Bonnie narrowed her eyes.
"You're lying."
"I'm omitting."
Caroline stepped forward.
"And since when do you make deals with Katherine and think that's an irrelevant detail in our relationship?" she asked, irritated. "First you say she's hot and then you make deals with her? Should I worry about Elena too?"
Damn… she's jealous… why did I have to comment that Katherine was hot? It's the attitude, not the face…
"I thought it was one of those things that falls into the category of 'complex diplomatic matters that don't directly affect our romantic life.'"
"She tried to kill me," Caroline replied.
"She tried to kill everyone here," I added. "She's very inclusive."
Bonnie snorted.
"I'm going to help Stefan and Damon stake her."
Stefan looked at her, surprised.
"You are?"
"I am," Bonnie replied. "Because someone here is clearly hiding something."
"I'm not hiding," I said. "I'm managing information."
Caroline stared at me like she was deciding between kissing me or setting me on fire.
Maybe both.
"I didn't think it was necessary…" I said with a sigh.
Man, I didn't make any pact, I just don't want to do a favor for a Salvatore.
Bonnie let out a humorless laugh.
"I'm going with them tonight."
Stefan still hadn't recovered.
"Was she afraid of you?"
I smirked.
"Katherine is afraid of a lot of things. She just doesn't show it."
"And what did you ask in return?" he insisted.
"Not to cause me problems," I answered simply.
"That's not enough for her," Stefan shot back.
Caroline was still staring at me, ignoring Stefan.
"You did this alone?"
"Yes."
"Without telling me."
"Yes."
"You thought I was going to be okay with this?"
"I thought you'd find it sexy."
Bonnie turned her face to hide her smile.
Caroline didn't.
But she didn't give in either.
"You're impossible."
"But irresistible," I finished.
Stefan ran a hand through his hair.
"I still don't understand how you made Katherine accept this."
I took a step back, starting to walk down the hallway.
"Historical perspective?"
Bonnie followed him.
"I'm not delaying. I'm going to help stake her."
"Are you doing this out of revenge or principle?" I asked.
"Out of irritation," she replied.
Fair.
Caroline finally stepped closer, stopping in front of me.
"We're going to talk about secrets later."
"I'm looking forward to that conversation."
She moved closer, voice low.
"You're going to tell me everything."
"Probably not everything."
"Nik."
"Okay."
She stared at me for another second… and then sighed.
Stefan still looked like he was assembling an impossible puzzle.
"Katherine respects you," he murmured.
"She respects the idea of not dying," I replied.
And there it was — the fundamental scientific truth of Mystic Falls:
Well-applied fear is the purest form of diplomacy.
Bonnie was already planning the ambush with Stefan, Caroline still irritated with me, and I…
I could only think that, somehow, that afternoon had become more interesting.