Chapter 50: The Hunger Within
Logan stood at the center of the pack hall, facing the gathered members of the Crimson Moon Pack. With a proud smile, he shared the news that Jean was pregnant and that he would soon become a father again.
As soon as the words left his lips, the room erupted in cheers and congratulations. Selene, Laura, Hope, and all the pack members were ecstatic.
Raising a hand to quiet the excited crowd, Logan declared, "To celebrate, I'm giving everyone in the pack two months of vacation. All your expenses for the next two months will be covered by Howlett Enterprises. Take this time to rest and enjoy yourselves."
The pack cheered even louder at this announcement, already making plans for their time off. However, amid the joy, one person remained notably subdued—Emily.
Standing near the edge of the room, Emily looked more anxious than happy. She was lost in thought, remembering her experience taking care of Laura during her pregnancy.
The overwhelming behaviour of Laura, she had shouldered that back. She's feeling uneasy about having to repeat it, especially with Jean, the host of the Phoenix.
Seeing Emily's face, Daisy nudged her gently, "Hey, what's up? Everyone's thrilled, but you look like you're at a funeral."
Emily forced a smile, but her eyes betrayed her worry. "It's just... I remember how it was with Laura. I was the one taking care of her, and now... Jean's pregnant. I guess I have to do it all over again."
Daisy chuckled softly, "Sounds like you're in for a wild ride."
Emily sighed, "You have no idea."
Not wanting to delay any longer, Emily walked over to Logan, trying her best to put on a brave face. "Congratulations, Logan." Her voice wavered slightly as she added, "I guess I'll be taking care of Jean now."
Logan smirked knowingly. "Actually, Emily, you don't have to take care of her. I'll handle it."
Emily blinked in surprise. "What? Why?"
Logan chuckled and glanced over at Jean, who was laughing with Laura, Hope, Anna, Selene, Hank, and Ben. "Because Jean isn't like Laura. She's the host of the Phoenix and can summon 50 percent of its power whenever she wants. If she gets mad, well... let's just say you'd be ash before you even knew what hit you."
Emily swallowed nervously, her face a mix of relief and lingering uncertainty. "Well, uh... in that case, congratulations again." She quickly excused herself, feeling lighter as she rejoined Daisy.
Meanwhile, Hope came bounding over to Logan, tugging at his sleeve. "Daddy! You're giving everyone two months off for my sibling's birth, but what did you do when I was born?"
Logan chuckled as he scooped Hope up into his arms. "When you were born, I gave all of our pack members, and even the humans who worked for us, a year's worth of salary as a gift."
Hope's eyes widened. "Really?! You gave them all that just for me?"
Logan smiled warmly, kissing her cheek. "Not only that, I also named a star after you."
Her face lit up with excitement. "A star? Really? A real star?"
Logan nodded, laughing at her enthusiasm. "Yes, a real star. Your mother was there too. She helped me choose the perfect one."
Laura, hearing the conversation, walked over with a smile. "Yes, Hope, your father named a star after you. He always wanted to make sure you knew how special you are."
Hope beamed, wrapping her arms around Logan's neck in a tight hug. "I want to see it, Daddy! Can I see my star?"
Logan laughed, hugging her back. "We'll wait until tonight when the stars are out, and I'll show you."
After sometime Yelena and the widows arrived and each one congratulating Logan and Jean. The hall buzzed with lively conversation and laughter, and for a moment, everything felt perfect.
As the evening wore on, the rest of the pack members went to their houses and began to prepare for the vacation.
Later that night, Logan took Hope and the rest of the family to terrace. The sky was clear, and the stars twinkled brightly.
He made someone arrange the telescope in the terrace.
He pointed to telescope as Hope went there and see through the lens as it is positioned at a specific star, shimmering brightly against the dark expanse of space. "There it is, Hope. That star right there is yours."
Hope's face lit up with awe as she gazed at her very own star. "It's beautiful, Daddy."
Logan hugged her once more, his heart full as he looked up at the star with his daughter. "Just like you, Hope. Just like you."
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A few days had passed, and Logan sat calmly in the hall, his eyes closed as he focused inward. His senses expanded across the vastness of Earth.
His training with the Flying Thunder God (FTG) technique, combined with the energy he'd absorbed from the Tesseract, had honed his abilities to a level that few could imagine.
Now, he could teleport to any place he could sense, though it required concentration and energy, especially over great distances. Certain places, like Kamar-Taj, remained beyond his reach, guarded by powerful wards, but the rest of the planet was within his grasp.
As he meditated, Jean quietly approached him, a soft smile playing on her lips. She leaned down and kissed him, gently pulling him from his focused state.
Logan opened his eyes and smiled at her as she gracefully settled on his lap. "You know," Jean said with a teasing tone, running her fingers through his hair, "Fury's been wanting to meet with you for a while now."
Logan chuckled. "You told me that after he called you, didn't you?"
Jean smirked, leaning closer. "I did. So, what's your plan?"
Logan's eyes twinkled with mischief. "I'll go meet him, of course."
Jean leaned back slightly, a playful glint in her eye. "Just... don't go too hard on him, okay?"
Logan grinned. "That depends entirely on Fury."
They both shared a moment of laughter, Logan knows that his interaction with Nick Fury was bound to be an interesting one.
The fact that the Crimson Moon Pack had wiped out most of Hydra overnight had placed Logan on the top of Fury's "must-watch" list. Logan knows how to handle him well.
As they sat together, Logan's mind shifted toward the infinity stones. If Tesseract's energy can give him the teleportation ability, other stones will also provide him different abilities that increase his power more.
He began to consider collecting infinity stones and absorb thier energy.
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Inside the Mystic Falls school, the lunchroom buzzed with the chatter of students, laughter echoing off the walls as friends gathered around tables.
However, amidst the jovial atmosphere, Hope Mikaelson sat at a corner table, feeling increasingly uneasy. Her throat felt parched, an unsettling dryness that no amount of water seemed to quench. She pushed her half-eaten food around on her tray, the hunger gnawing at her insides growing stronger with each passing moment.
As she sat there, her gaze unconsciously drifted toward her friend Josie Saltzman, who was animatedly chatting and laughing with their friends.
Hope watched her, her eyes lingering on Josie's neck as she tried to suppress the surge of cravings that flooded her senses. Hope swallowed hard, a knot tightening in her throat as she felt an overpowering need awaken within her. It was a hunger she had been struggling to control, and it was becoming increasingly difficult.
"Hope? Hey, are you okay?" Josie called, noticing Hope's strange demeanor. But her voice felt distant, like echoes in a canyon, as the world around Hope faded. She was consumed by an insatiable urge, her instincts overpowering her rational mind.
Hope's eyes began to glow an eerie yellow, black veins creeping beneath the surface of her eyes. The hunger took over her body, and before she knew it, she had launched herself across the table. She pushed Josie to the ground, instinctively biting into her neck before she even registered what was happening.
The lunchroom erupted into chaos. Her friends screamed in shock and horror, some darting toward the exits while others rushed to call for teachers.
Josie cried out, but Hope didn't seem to hear. In that moment, all she could focus on was the warmth of her friend's blood and the primal hunger that consumed her.
Yet, even as the act unfolded, a part of Hope remained aware. Josie, being a werewolf herself, didn't push Hope away.
Instead, she held onto her, trusting that Hope would never truly harm her. The pain radiated from her neck, but she remained still, a mix of fear and faith in her friend.
Seconds later, as the taste of blood filled her mouth, clarity returned to Hope. She snapped back to herself, realization dawning as she recoiled in horror. "What did I do?" she gasped, her breath hitching in her throat as she looked down at Josie, who lay on the floor, eyes wide with a mix of fear and confusion.
Josie's neck was already beginning to heal, the wound knitting together as the werewolf's regenerative abilities kicked in. However, the fear in her eyes was palpable, and Hope felt a pang of guilt wash over her.
"What's happening?" Hope's voice trembled as she looked around, seeing teachers rushing toward them, concern and confusion etched on their faces.
The noise of the lunchroom faded into a dull roar as she tried to comprehend the gravity of her actions. "I didn't mean to! I—I couldn't control it!"
One of the teachers stepped forward and told others students to go to their classrooms. Other teachers immediately send all of them away.
The teacher, Nick, checked Josie condition and looked at Hope, "I think it's time for your parents to come here."
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