The rest of the day had been fairly uneventful.

They'd arrived at the house to find that only Nathalie (Nat) was there to greet them. Lyla was down for her nap, and Elvis and Aaron were working at the liquor store.

Nat helped Esmeray get settled into the guest room, much to Lyla's dismay. The little girl had woken up with the sound of all the moving furniture, and had come into the doorway holding a ratty looking stuffed dog that looked to be years old. "Mommy," she whined, rubbing her eyes and looking up. "Is—" she yawned, "Auntie Anya's friend here?"

"Yeah, she is," said Anya, going to pick her niece up and bringing her to the bed where Esmeray was laying out her clothes for the next day. "Lyla, this is Esmeray."

"You can call me Esme," offered the hybrid, smiling and holding her hand out. "It's nice to meet you and your puppy."

Lyla giggled. "This is Buddy. Stay with us!"

"She has to have her own room, Lyla," said Anya, ruffling her hair.

The little girl pouted. "But I want her to stay in my room."

"She talks really well for an almost three-year-old," noted Esmeray when Nat picked her daughter.

"Hearing us talk to her normally did wonders for her speech," said Nat, consoling Lyla, who was getting distressed to hear that Esmeray would not be her roommate during her stay there. "She's really advanced for her age. Aaron reckons we should move somewhere that has more opportunities for her to thrive academically."

"If they leave, that means I get to be Alpha," said Anya proudly. "If I get elected, of course. Our Pack does votes and a brawl to determine it."

Lyla waved at Esmeray, wanting her to hold her instead of her mom. The hybrid took her into her arms, and Lyla rested her head on her shoulder, cuddling up.

It was like Esmeray's entire body suddenly floated off the ground. There was this warmth and happiness that flooded through her, and she started to smile wider. Kids didn't seem so bad right now. Her mind seemed to automatically wander to Klaus and the vision of the little girl who looked like him. Was Anya right? Did nature want a tribrid to exist? It was hard to believe it could even be possible, but her gut was hardly wrong about major things like this. And for her whole body to have suddenly started tingling with joy at the feeling of an adorable baby resting against her chest... nature was definitely plotting something.

Lyla ended up falling asleep again, and Nat took her to her bed so that Esmeray could rest from the trip. "I swear, she loves that stuffed dog to death," observed Anya, watching how her niece clutched to her toy even while asleep. "My Ma gave it to Aaron before she passed, and he gave it to her when she was born. She'll drag it everywhere and won't let anyone clean it even if it's filthy. I forget what it's original color was."

"I can try to clean it, but I imagine she won't be too pleased giving it up," said Esmeray, setting her clothes aside now that they were ready. "I'm probably going to end up sleeping until tomorrow... I'm really tired, and I can wait to eat breakfast."

"Go ahead and rest," said Anya, smiling and helping her draw back the covers of the bed. "Tomorrow, Nat's going to make specially shaped pancakes for Lyla to wake up to. We can set up for the party after breakfast, since everyone will be coming by after noon. Sleep well, Esmeray."

"Thanks for everything, Anya," said Esmeray, curling up in the bed and smiling as the wolf waved, closing the door behind her as she left the room.

_

The next morning, Esmeray tried to wake up early to help with everything, to show her gratitude.

She helped Elvis start the truck after it failed to turn on the first time around. She carried some heavy bags into the house. She fixed the sprinklers with a simple wave of her hand. She aided Aaron in fixing the stove for Nat. She helped Nat make the pancakes. She helped Anya put the finishing touches on a princess gown she'd sewn by hand for Lyla, which basically meant making it shine in the light.

By the time Lyla woke up, the house was clean and calm, and everyone was able to sing 'Happy Birthday' to the very excited three-year-old who was eager to open her presents in the evening. She managed to down about four pancakes shaped like different types of animals, and even had room for several strawberries.

The members of the Willamette Pack arrived just as Anya and Esmeray finished putting tablecloths on all the tables they'd brought out from the garage. They'd rushed into the house to bring the trays of food Nat and Aaron had prepared— lamb chops, pork chops, bacon strips, grilled chicken, and a steak that smelled heavenly. The only side dishes were mashed potatoes and gravy along with vegetables for the children, since the adults were all carnivorous wolves who no longer preferred any greens.

The children hadn't waited at all before they ran out to play in the very large backyard of the house. They had started a game of 'leap wolf,' which was basically like leapfrog, except that the children had to see how many of their peers they could jump over at once. The record holder appeared to be the nine-year-old Mina, who had gotten a huge running start to jump over six of her comrades in one go.

Lyla was having no trouble keeping up with those older than her. She probably could have performed better in all the games if she let go of Buddy. Anya and Esmeray were supervising to make sure that no one got trampled, and despite encouraging Lyla to set Buddy down with them, she insisted on carrying the stuffed animal with her so that he could have fun, too.

"I can't say I really had those kinds of things growing up," said Esmeray pensively. "A comfort stuffed animal. Then again, it's hard to compare, considering how different things were a thousand years ago. The games, of course, seem to have stayed consistent."

Anya raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What did you use to play?"

Esmeray blushed. "I didn't play anything, I wasn't ever picked to be on anyone's team. The other kids had this game which was sort of like a track and field relay race, except they had to pass around something they took from the other team and get it to the finish line before their runners caught them. For example, they'd steal someone's necklace, and had to try and pass it off to their teammates and arrive at the edge of the village without getting yanked back by one of the members of the opposite team."

Anya looked almost annoyed. "I just think it's so foul of them to have excluded you repeatedly. You were hardly hurting anyone."

"Well the thing is... I was. I couldn't control the bursts at all. I'd accidentally burn someone when I touched them. Sometimes made tree splinters shoot out and embed themselves into people's skin. Several huts caught on fire whenever I was mad. My bitterness stems from the fact that rather than trying to help me, they tried to isolate me. I remember after I turned for the first time... that was one of the first times my entire Pack was paying attention to me and trying to help, mostly so that I would stop causing so much damage."

"I'd be furious if anyone ever did that to Lyla," murmured Anya. "Right now... half of them don't even understand that they have the gene. They treat the others the same regardless. I'm glad she hasn't ever been made to feel bad for anything."

"Times have changed, and I appreciate it," sighed Esmeray. "It's better now, in a way, that the kids don't know about being werewolves. It's easier to hide it since people purposely try not to trigger their gene. Those in my age group got unnecessarily competitive and brusque to try and show off. Everyone wanted so badly to have their wolf powers and would create tests of strength that would single out those who weren't as adept. I wasn't the only one who got teased, but I certainly got mistreated more than the others. Because of the ritual we used to do, La Luna Sanguinis, we were expected to trigger our gene at the same time, and everyone wanted to know who would be the Beta wolves of our group."

"You guys had Betas? Nowadays, we just have Alphas for each Pack and everyone else is on an equal playing field."

"According to my father, the oldest werewolves were very strict about Pack hierarchies. The Alphas chose two wolves they trusted to be their second in command, and everyone else was a Delta except for those they labeled as weaklings, who were called Omegas. But the thing is, it was the monarchy's way of dividing the pack into the 'very useful,' the 'somewhat useless,' and the 'disposables.'"

"That's why the Poldark Pack quit that stupid monarchy stuff— it just left the same family in power and kept singling out those who weren't as talented so that they could be target practice for those who were seem as an asset. My Pack really only had one Alpha for the tournament, then there was the Alpha's spouse, which was technically also an Alpha only if they were a wolf. For example, my mother couldn't be an Alpha because of her witch nature.

"In each age group, it was quite obvious who was stronger than the others. Because they knew I couldn't ever become Alpha, the strongest in my age group— unfortunately, my main bullies— started to label themselves as Betas, which basically just told everyone that they intended to compete for Alpha once my father became too weak to continue. The terms hadn't been used for years, but they brought it up specifically to bother me."

Anya frowned. "Bullies... plural?"

"Nodin, Kele, and Mika," she muttered. "They were cousins. They were the first born in our age group, and naturally, they made themselves the leaders of the other boys in the Pack. Their fathers had all failed to become Alpha several times, and instilled in them that I was the person to beat. For years, they made my life a living hell. They purposely tried to anger me so that I would cause some damage. It kept everyone from getting close, and eventually, my father had to just tell everyone that I wasn't going to be allowed to compete in the tournament."

"Hold on," said Anya slowly, her eyes growing sad. "Your father... told everyone?"

"I have called a meeting because it has come to my attention that many of you are concerned regarding what will happen when I am no longer able to be Alpha," said Rayan one evening when he'd brought the Pack together, not long after Esmeray had turned sixteen.

Several of the male wolves grunted in acknowledgement. "I invite anyone with questions to speak now," the Alpha continued. "All qualms will be heard without judgement."

Nodin's father raised his hand. "I want to know the truth. Is Esmeray going to be allowed to compete in the tournament?"

Rayan nodded. "Esmeralda and I believe she is a wolf, as well as a witch. It is only fair that she gets her chance when it's time. In one month, La Luna Sanguinis will happen once again, and if she is shown to be a wolf, she will be eligible to compete."

"It's not fair," snapped the other man. "We already have to fear for our lives after those blood-sucking monsters were created. Are we expected to tolerate an Alpha who cannot even control herself?"

Rayan frowned. "Well, Nolan, I think you may need to elaborate."

Esmeray and her mother were sitting off to the side, and it was blatantly obvious that everyone's eyes fell on the hybrid as Nolan went on, "For years, we've watched her tear apart this village and leave all her peers afraid of her. She has not mastered her magic, and if she is truly a wolf, she will be overpowered as well as volatile. That's not a fair fight for anyone. She'll use her abilities to her advantage and no one will stand a chance against her."

"Excuse me," snapped Esmeralda, standing up. "My daughter is no cheater, and it is not her fault that she was born this way. Nature has dictated that she ought to have all this strength, and it is for a reason. Perhaps she is meant to be the Alpha of this Pack to protect it from the beasts who torment us. Would you rather be led by a wolf who can be bested by those cruel vampires, or would you rather a powerful young hybrid who can use magic to subdue them? We've just learned of the hybrid, Niklaus, and our only hope of being safe is to trust the potential hybrid that is on our side."

"Esmeralda," said Rayan sternly to his wife. Glaring at him, she sat down, taking Esmeray's hand and squeezing it. He sighed and looked around at the wolves. "Nolan is right."

"Rayan!" snapped Esmeralda in disbelief.

He ignored her. "Esmeray does have an advantage that should not be allowed. You are right in reminding us that she cannot yet control it, even after seventeen years." He ran his tongue over his lips. "She is unstable, and for this reason, she will not be allowed to become Alpha, ever. Additionally, I say that she will not be participating in the La Luna Sanguinis ritual until further notice."

The men clapped in support. Nodin looked especially smug, as did Kele and Mika with their respective fathers, Kynan and Mahan. Esmeray's face burned with shame and she hung her head as she ground beneath them started to tremble furiously. Out of instinct, everyone looked at her angrily, knowing that it was her doing. The hybrid had started to tear up, and had gotten up quickly, running to the hut her family lived in. Esmeralda had followed her, coming to hug her from behind and holding her arms down as she caressed her daughter's abdomen lovingly. "Breathe, Tori, breathe."

Esmeray was sobbing now, but the shaking had stopped, and she sank to the floor, her mother coming down with her and resting her head on her shoulder. "I'm sorry," Esmeralda whispered. "Your father is just trying to stop them from tormenting you."

But Esmeralda was still quite angrily. She'd put Esmeray to bed and had done a spell to let her slip into a deep sleep so that she could rest. As soon as Rayan walked through the entrance of the hut, Esmeralda slapped him hard across the face.

"I cannot believe you," she sneered at her husband. "How dare you say that when she was right there? You knew it would make her feel uncomfortable and you knew it would trigger a burst, and you knew it would only prove Nolan's point. I don't understand why we listen to anything that bastard says, he's been bitter since I met you! He and his rotten brothers— you know how much they hate you and Esmeray for being pure Poldarks, and you let him be right? Just a week ago, he and Mahan challenged you and lost— of course they're bitter, but it doesn't mean they're right!"

"What sort of leader would I be if I made exceptions for my child?" said Rayan, shaking his head and brushing past her. "I have to treat everyone the same. We've known for years that she was unstable, Esmeralda, and nothing that we've done has worked."

"Forget for one miserable instant that you're the Alpha. How do you think she's felt this entire time? I've told you time and time again not to be so obvious about your disappointment in her. It is not her fault, Rayan. If it's anyone's fault— it's ours. You never stand up for her when those brats are teasing her, you never try to be patient, you always make her feel like she's a weakling for showing emotion— what do you want her to become? Do you want her to grow resentful and turn all that pain into violence? She has the power to kill us all if she's sufficiently angered. She needs more than just your lectures about how she might be able to control it. She needs to know her father values her, even if she isn't the perfect child!"

Rayan held his hand up to stop her from speaking anymore. "It had to be done, Esmeralda. I have to think of what's best for this Pack. We have to deal with vampires, and we know there to be a hybrid out there now. There is a reason we've been told that she ought to be put down— people are terrified and I don't blame them."

This time, she slapped him much harder, shoving him out the door. "Get out!" she snarled. "I don't want you to set foot in here until you can offer our daughter a genuine apology. I have faced so much hatred since I married you, Rayan, and I have tolerated it because I respect you and I respect your wisdom, but this? This isn't fair to me and it isn't fair to Esmeray. All of the men have been getting far more comfortable with trying to put us all down since your grandmother got rid of the monarchy. Do not turn into one of the males who puts a woman down because she's stronger than you. You conveniently forget how Nolan has treated me for years all because I'm not a wolf. His opinion should not have been taken into account, and you should not have publicly humiliated her."

Rayan looked hurt as she finished pushing him out of the hut, leaving him to sleep outside.

"My father thought he was doing the right thing," murmured Esmeray quietly. "He didn't want to face more opposition." She shook her head. "Back then, it was important for the Alphas to commit to the entire Pack more than anything, even their individual families. It's why they encouraged Alphas to have only one child. As soon as my mother had me, my father had a spell done so that he and my mother could not have another baby. He took his Alpha status very seriously."

Anya offered her her hand. "Esme... you can always talk to me about anything, you know that, right? I think that you've kept all your resentment against your father bottled up for a really long time."

"He's been dead for a thousand years. I will never get to talk to him again. Talking about all my past resentment feels... wrong. In that time, my parents didn't have enough of an understanding to be able to help me properly. I can't be mad about that. And while there were a lot of things I wish my father had done better, I don't want to look back, either. I just want to be better than him, if I'm ever a parent, or if I ever have the chance to be a part of a kid's life for an extended period of time."

They didn't speak more on the subject.

They returned to the tables when it was time to cut the cake. Buddy got a seat of honor beside the birthday girl while everyone sang to her, congratulating her on her third year of life. Esmeray hadn't been very attentive while she opened the presents, and even in the early hours of the morning when they were cleaning, she'd felt out of touch with the world.

Anya had been in her room when it was time to go to sleep, going over a checklist so that they could leave for New Orleans in the evening. Esmeray had purchased their plane tickets by then, and was just looking forward to finally getting the ritual over with so that she could feel at peace.

But she still looked forlorn. She'd curled up on her bed, staring at the wall, and Anya hadn't been able to just leave her like that. She came to lay beside her, putting her hand on her shoulder. "Esme," she whispered. "It's not wrong to feel hurt. He made you feel inadequate for most of your life. Even if he thought it was justified, that wasn't okay."

The hybrid began to cry, turning around so that Anya could pull her into a hug. The wolf caressed her back, whispering soothing words while the smaller girl trembled in her hold, shaking her head repeatedly and whimpering all the things that she wished she could say to her father. All the questions about why he treated her the way he did, and why he couldn't just accept her for who she was.

"You are beautiful," whispered Anya. "You are smart. You are generous and beyond talented. You have tremendous potential to be a great leader, and I know that whatever happens in the future, you are going to change the world and make it a better place for those who live in it. I am so sorry your father never made you feel like you were worthy of being Alpha. I'm sorry he let others hurt you. He should have valued you more— valued you in the way that Damon, Klaus, and so many others do. I will always be here for you, Esmeray, even if we never become more than friends. I just want you to know that you matter, even if we're a thousand miles away from each other, even if your heart belongs to another. You are special and wonderful and I am so lucky to have met you."

"I don't deserve you, Anya," whispered Esmeray, wiping her eyes. "I really don't."

"You deserve everything good in life," Anya told her before kissing her forehead. "Don't let anyone ever convince you otherwise."