The first fat splodges of rain fell against the canopy of leaves high above the forest floor. Thunder rolled in the distance and the sky lit up. The once busy forest slowed, creatures scurried to safety and the wolf was left alone next to the old oak tree.

Water soon hit his thick brown pelt, but it would be a long time before it managed to soak through layers of fur that protected him from the cold. His paws were wet though, and his hunches where he sat in among dying leaves. Still he sat on, guarding his favorite tree and waiting fort he day to pass so it would be over. There was a noise behind him, quiet, but loud enough to reach his sensitive ears through the storm.

A branch snapped, and then another. The black wolf with the blue eyes was making his presence known as he approached. It was his Alpha.

The brown wolf inclined his head respectfully. It was odd, showing this courtesy to the black wolf. This morning they had been chasing each other across this very spot, wrestling the way only brothers could do. He had even been the victor, it happened occasionally. His brother may be Alpha but he had been training for years to stand by his side and protect their pack.

The black wolf padded close and dipped his head. They sniffed each other, and the the black wolf turned slowly and looked over his shoulder. The brown wolf stood and with one last glance at his tree, he followed his big brother home.

The house was full of people when Stefan walked through the door. His mother was dabbing her eyes with a tissue and he could see Mayor Lockwood shaking hands with his sister-in-law next to his fathers corpse.

Stefan hated funerals. Everybody was so fake and full of good intentions that they never followed through on. It wasn't their fault, life happened but Stefan would rather they didn't lie about how much they wanted to help, about how much they cared. Stefan found a quiet corner and watched them move around the room and whisper gossip he didn't care to hear.

'Hey,' Damon said as he joined Stefan and handed him a drink. 'The old bastard looks pleasant when he's dead.'

'Makes a change from when he was alive,' Stefan agreed. 'Thank god for Elena.'

Damon's wife was there in the middle of it. She was young, a year older than Stefan, but she was a natural when it came to handling people. Her mother was in the kitchen handing out refreshments, doing a better job than their own mother.

'You need to eat,' Lily said from beside them.

Stefan turned to his mother, Damon ignored her. She dabbed her eye again and reached out to hug him. Stefan wanted to decline her but he wasn't interested in drawing attention to himself.

'Faker,' Damon said.

Lily sighed and Stefan pulled away glad to be free. More people arrived and Stefan could feel his chest tighten.

'Brother, could you to greet Alpha Lockwood?' Damon said.

'Gladly,' Stefan turned away from his mother.

Caroline wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. He shared an awkward smile with Tyler over his friend's shoulder.

'How are you?' Caroline asked as she took his hands.

'Fine,' Stefan grumbled. 'I'm tired of everyone asking me that.'

'Well get used to it buddy, they ask it a lot,' Tyler said as he passed them by. Caroline hooked her arm through Stefan's and let her husband go mingle.

'Now, tell me, how are you really?' Caroline asked.

Stefan sighed. 'I'm a little shocked, it was unexpected, but I've no love for him.'

'He's your father Stefan,' Caroline said gently.

'And you know what he's like,' Stefan turned to smile at her. 'But thank you, the fact that you care means a lot to me.'

'Go be social,' Caroline said as she pushed him into the main room. He tried to smile at her but he knew he looked awkward.

Stefan forced himself to be polite and made small talk about how wonderful Giuseppe was, how he had led a good life and was going to be missed. The only thing Stefan would miss would be the freedom he felt when he left the house. He wasn't even here that often, the attic room in Damon's house was the size of a small apartment and the space suited Stefan just fine. He'd been living there since he returned from his post graduate studies at Dartmouth.

'You look tired,' Elena said with concerned eyes when she cornered him later.

'Just of small talk and lies,' Stefan shrugged.

'You should come into the drawing room,' Elena said as she squeezed his hand. 'The Mikaelsons have arrived and your betrothed is asking after you.'

Stefan rolled his eyes and let out that huff of irritation he'd been fighting all day. 'He's the last person I want to see.'

'He is your betrothed, and he will be able to comfort you better than anyone here, including Damon and I,' Elena said.

Stefan felt his teeth on edge but he did as Elena asked and followed her to the drawing room. She was his Alpha now too, technically, given that she was married and mated to his brother.

'Ah, there he is,' that honey smooth voice said. A warm palm rested between his shoulder blades and he pressed a kiss to Stefan's cheek. 'How are you love?'

Stefan turned to meet bright blue eyes. Truth be told, the moment Klaus touched him Stefan felt that the day wasn't as long, that the crowd was more manageable. He could get through this with his mate at his side and Stefan hated that feeling. His body and his wolf were betraying him as usual.

'Stefan,' Elijah shook his hand. 'I am sorry to hear of your fathers passing. If you need anything remember I'm here.'

'Thank you,' Stefan said. He accepted a hug from Gia, Elijah's wife and resisted the urge to look at Klaus.

'Stefan,' Carol Lockwood called and Stefan excused himself from Elijah. Klaus stayed by his side, that infuriating look pasted on his face. He alternated between holding his hands behind his back and touching Stefan on the arm or between his shoulders. Stefan hated how much he appreciated it.

Eventually people started to leave. Stefan was glad to see them go, and so was Elena apparently because she soon kicked her high heels off and made everyone left behind a cup of tea.

'We have so much to do yet,' Damon rubbed his face.

'Mayor Lockwood will do the obituary, and we need someone to do some readings, and it would be nice for someone close to say a few words,' Lily said. 'Why don't you boys do a reading each?'

'No,' Stefan said.

There was silence in the room. Everybody turned to look at him and Stefan wanted to shrink away from their scrutiny. 'Stefan I think you should,' Lily said.

'Mother, I'm an atheist, I'm not standing up there and reading bible passages when I don't believe the words I speak,' Stefan said.

'Stefan now is not the time for your-'

'He said no,' Klaus cut Lily off. Everybody looked at him but Klaus kept his eyes on Lily. Stefan bit his tongue, holding back the words that were warring to come out. He was surprised that Damon stayed quiet too but he supposed Damon was trying to avoid drama.

'I'll do it,' Elena said. 'Giuseppe was always polite to me so let me do it to save Damon and Stefan the stress.'

Lily's lips twisted but she didn't push the matter.

'Thank you,' Damon said to Elena. She just shrugged and smiled back.

They discussed the plans for after the internment and Stefan tried to be polite but all he wanted to do was scream. Instead he busied himself with carrying dirty dishes to the kitchen.

'Hey,' Elena touched his arm as he placed them next to the sink. 'Stefan I'm sorry, I had to put Klaus in with you. He is your fiancée and Damon and I thought he had a right to be here to support you.'

'It's okay,' Stefan said as he loaded the dishwasher.

'It's just with your mother staying here and her entourage and Damon and I-'

'I said it's okay!' Stefan snapped. He regretted it immediately when he saw the cut look on Elena's face. 'I'm sorry.' Stefan wrapped his sister-in-law in a hug.

'No, it's been a tough day,' Elena said. 'You know if you stopped fighting it and let Klaus in it really would be easier for you, especially now.'

Stefan grit his teeth. 'So you say.' He pulled back. 'How is little Jacob?'

Elena smiled sadly. 'This is the first night we've spent apart.'

'Your Aunt Jenna will take good care of him,' Stefan said. He wouldn't mind a cuddle from his little nephew to chase away the darkness that had settled around him. Jacob was always so pleasant to be around.

'Go, I'll finish this,' Elena said.

'Yes, I will. Thanks,' Stefan kissed Elena's forehead.

Klaus was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for him. Stefan barely acknowledged him as he brushed past and headed to his room. Klaus followed close behind him and stood inside the door waiting for Stefan's instructions.

Stefan knew he was being rude as he stripped off his clothes, cruel even but he didn't care. He set his clothes carefully over his desk chair and reached for his sleep pants.

'Would you like to talk about how you're feeling?' Klaus asked when Stefan was ready for bed.

'No,' Stefan said.

'Talking about this kind of thing is good for you, it eases your burdens,' Klaus said.

'You know everybody around here is awfully worried about my burdens. Perhaps they should worry about themselves,' Stefan said.

'Perhaps we care about you,' Klaus offered.

Stefan pretended to consider it. 'No, you don't.'

Klaus sighed and moved to where his bags were. Stefan hoped he would leave but he just started to undress.

Stefan decided to ignore him and got into bed. He tugged the blanket over his shoulder and refused to acknowledge Klaus at all. The bed dipped behind him, but it felt like Klaus was perching on the edge.

Stefan wished he could tie himself to the bed, he knew that his traitorous body would seek Klaus out as he slept. Stefan didn't want that, he wanted to ignore the other werewolf's presence completely.

'Stefan,' Klaus said.

'What? What do you want from me!' Stefan snarled as he twisted to face Klaus.

'You're acting like spoilt little bitch and my patience is wearing thin,' Klaus snarled back. His eyes flashed yellow and he snapped Stefan onto his back.

Stefan looked up at the Alpha, not his Alpha, not yet, and bared his teeth.

Klaus' jaw ticked. 'Why must you constantly defy me?'

The words were there, on the tip of Stefan's tongue. The list of infidelities and cruelties carried out since their betrothal was agreed, and the things that Stefan was giving up, things that once, not so long ago, had been within his grasp.

Stefan's wolf may have chosen Klaus as a mate when they were younger, hell back then Stefan had been content fall for the other boy too but now Stefan was miserable and so was the wolf inside him, both for very different reasons.

Klaus wasn't going to back down, and it wasn't the action Stefan wanted to take but he was the Beta in the relationship and it was his place. He arched his neck and bared his throat. Klaus hesitated for a heartbeat and then he buried his face in the space Stefan created.

It would have been easy to give in and let Klaus take care of him. Even this, reluctantly given felt good. It would be simple to wrap his arms around Klaus, to let Klaus support him whilst he grieved a man he hated.

'I was going to ask if you'd prefer I sleep in the armchair in the corner,' Klaus revealed.

Stefan blinked up at him, and this time he really did feel guilty. No matter what Klaus did he was always there for Stefan, he gave him space to carry on with his studies and start his manuscript for his book and he hadn't left Stefan's side tonight.

'It's okay,' Stefan whispered.

Klaus nodded and raised himself off Stefan. Stefan shifted back to his original position under the blanket and buried his head in the pillow.

The bed dipped, the blankets moved and then with a click the room was bathed in darkness.

Sleep was a long time coming.

It was raining again when Stefan woke, and like he expected he was plastered against Klaus. It surprised him though, that he was the big spoon. His legs were tangled with Klaus' and he had somehow gotten an arm under Klaus, the Alpha werewolf was using Stefan's bicep as a pillow. His other hand was on Klaus' flat belly, underneath the cotton t-shirt.

Stefan considered moving, but he was so safe and comfortable, and Klaus' scent in his nose was dulling the tension that was already throbbing in Stefan's mind. He resolutely ignored yesterday, and last night, and focused on now. He let himself imagine that Klaus was his, really his, not betrothed or mated, but in love with him. Stefan decided this was how they would wake up everyday, tangled together so it was hard to determine where one ended and the other began. Klaus wouldn't be his Alpha but his equal.

Stefan wanted that, wanted an equal who loved him, who confided in him and trusted him. Stefan couldn't imagine sharing his secrets with Klaus, planning a life with Klaus. Sharing a home. Klaus was demanding and loud and there would always be some sort of drama that Stefan would have to deal with. Stefan never wanted to be mated to an Alpha, and as a second son he was freer than most to choose his own path, but then Klaus had come onto the scene and Giuseppe had seen power and money and influence. All the things Stefan detested, all the things Klaus was. Klaus was a leader, a proper Alpha. Stefan was a loner, he'd imagined a life with his brother as his Alpha, and he knew Damon knew him well enough to respect his wishes.

It wouldn't change now though, werewolf law was ancient and archaic and so full of things like loyalty and frailty where it wasn't necessary. Stefan might have been able to get out of his betrothal if Giuseppe were alive but it was tradition to respect the wishes of the dead. Stefan was trapped with Klaus as a mate, a life partner, an Alpha.

Klaus was asleep, and with gentle movements Stefan managed to extract himself. He pulled on his workout gear and headed out to the forest despite the weather.

Stefan was aching and soaked to the skin by the time he trudged back to the house. Damon and Klaus were on the porch both wearing dark slacks and dress shirts. The funeral wasn't until tomorrow but Giuseppe was a popular man in the community and there were already strange cars in the driveway and guests in the house with their fake sympathy.

Klaus searched his face as he neared, and Stefan offered him a tight smile.

'Good workout brother?' Damon said.

Stefan nodded. 'Yeah, I needed it.'

'Listen, Stefan, I have a favor to ask. Jenna called, Jacob's been fussing all morning, can you change and let Elena go over to him for a few hours, take her place in helping out inside?' Damon asked.

'Yeah, sure no problem. Sorry, I didn't think,' Stefan said.

'No, no you needed time too, but Elena's been so good,' Damon slipped his hands into his pockets.

'Of course, fifteen minutes,' Stefan said.

Stefan hurried up the stairs and let them get back to whatever was so important they had to whisper about.

'Stefan,' a deep voice said. Stefan turned to see Marcel crossing the church. 'I am terribly sorry for your loss.'

'Thank you,' Stefan said as he shook Marcel's hand. Klaus was at his side, his arm touching Stefan's. Stefan hated that he appreciated the gesture. Since their argument two nights ago they hadn't spoken, only exchanging pleasantries or offering each other food or drink. Klaus had spent the night last night too, and they'd woken tangled together. Stefan couldn't wait for all this to be over.

'If there's anything you need, anything I can do,' Marcel said. He still held Stefan's hand and his thumb was brushing Stefan's skin. Despite Stefan's reluctance to accept his relationship with Klaus this was highly inappropriate. Marcel had courted Stefan briefly, but it only lasted several weeks. Stefan knew that Giuseppe had considered Marcel, but Klaus had ultimately laid a claim to Stefan and at the time Stefan was happy to accept.

'I'm fine, thank you all the same,' Stefan said. To pull his hand away would be an act of defiance, and Marcel was a traditionalist. He would be insulted by the slight. Stefan had to leave this up to Klaus or Damon to deal with, he didn't think Giuseppe's death was enough of an excuse to be rude.

'Marcel, its nice of you to join us, but there are other guests eager to greet Stefan before the service starts,' Klaus said politely. He was bristling though, Stefan could tell from the set of his shoulders.

Marcel smiled and dropped Stefan's hand. He walked away with a backwards glance and Stefan turned to Klaus. He expected Klaus to lash out, reprimand him, but Klaus was busy glaring at Marcel.

'Are you okay?' Klaus asked after a moment. He laid his hand between Stefan's shoulders again and Stefan fought the urge to lean on him.

'Not really,' Stefan admitted. Klaus seemed surprised by Stefan's honesty, and glad of it at the same time. 'I just want this to be over.'

'It will be, soon,' Klaus promised. He squeezed Stefan's hand and Stefan let him.

The service lasted approximately an hour. Stefan sat pressed between Klaus and Damon, an Alpha on either side of him. Elena held Damon's hand and Stefan wondered if he should reach for Klaus, but he kept his fingers clasped and waited patiently.

There was a reception at their home, and Stefan was once again subjected to fake smiles and meaningless small talk. He was more relieved than he cared to admit when the last of the guests were leaving, but he couldn't help but notice Klaus and Marcel in a heated discussion on the front lawn.

'Are you still chasing my scraps Marcel?' Klaus said. He looked confident with his hands in the pockets of his black slacks.

'Hey I'm just waiting for you to toss him to the side too, the way you do when you get bored,' Marcel shrugged. 'Then he'll come looking for a real Alpha.'

'Ah, but that's where your mistaken. You see Stefan doesn't want an Alpha at all,' Klaus said.

'And you aim to change that, to break him and take him,' Marcel smirked. Stefan shifted uncomfortably.

'What I plan to do is none of your concern. Now we're betrothed and you put Stefan in a very difficult position today at his fathers funeral. It was rude and arrogant of you, and if you ever do anything like that again I will challenge you and I will win,' Klaus snarled.

Marcel smirked at Klaus. 'You bring it.'

Stefan turned away and headed upstairs. He had no interest in listening anymore. He wasn't a prize to be fought over. He was a person, with hopes and dreams, with plans for the future and ideas he wanted to explore. Being partnered with a Beta would have given him an equal, someone he could be himself with, someone to explore with. Being partnered with an Alpha changed that. He had to submit, to indulge his Alpha, to put his Alpha first.

'Stefan,' Lily said as he hurried upstairs.

'What?' He snarled. Lily was a Beta to his father and she suffered terribly. She had run away in the end, leaving Stefan and Damon with Giuseppe, and had created another family, preferring their company to her own sons. Stefan had hated her for it ever since, but these moments where she tried to mother him were the worst.

'Why must you be so angry all the time?' Lily reached a hand out. Stefan let her squeeze his arm then shook her off.

'I live with Damon, I'm planning to pack my bags now so I've nothing left here,' Stefan said.

'Perhaps you would be better served moving in with your Alpha,' Lily suggested.

Stefan pulled his arm away and took a step away from her when he heard Klaus behind him. 'Is everything alright here?'

'Fine,' Stefan said as he headed to his room. Klaus followed him and leaned on the door.

'Can I do anything love?' Klaus asked.

Stefan shook his head. 'No, I'm okay. If you want to go home thats okay, he's buried now so you can.'

Klaus examined his face. 'Why do you fight me, its like one step forward and three back. I don't understand.'

Stefan snorted and sat on the bed. He was tired, tired of fighting his feelings and the people around him. Right now he was weak, and he knew he was close to giving in, giving himself over to whatever Klaus had planned for them, but there was a little spark inside him that refused, that burned. Stefan had no idea what was fueling it, but he was grateful it was there.

'I'm tired Klaus,' Stefan admitted. Klaus sat next to him. 'I just-' he dropped his head into his hands and rubbed his face.

Stefan didn't know what he wanted, but if he gave in now he would lose his independence, possibly even himself. He wasn't ready for that, not yet.

'There's a battle going on inside of you Stefan, and I think its hurting you, I think its killing you. I don't know what or why, but I do want to help. Your family does too,' Klaus said.

'Do you love her?' Stefan asked. He kept his eyes locked on his knuckles. He was about to disrespect his Alpha and that could mean a punishment as simple as Klaus walking away and not speaking to him. Perhaps it was what he needed, or it would break him, Stefan didn't know.

'Who?' Klaus asked.

Stefan sighed. 'Aurora,' he said as he examined his fingers.

'I don't understand what you're asking me Stefan,' Klaus' sounded dangerous all of a sudden.

'I do understand, I know how it goes when you're an Alpha, I've watched my father for years and I've seen his actions and their consequences,' Stefan explained.

'Giuseppe was a traditionalist?' Klaus asked with a tilt of his head.

'He was very dominant yes. My mother escaped him,' Stefan admitted.

'And you're afraid that I'm going to put you in the same position?' Klaus surmised with a smile.

'That and I know that you'll want children,' Stefan said. He knew how it went in same sex relationships. The Alpha would find an appropriate surrogate and he would have children with her, perhaps two or three. The Beta was the Alpha's possession and therefore he didn't typically become a father. Giuseppe had been very frank with Stefan on the rules he would need to adhere to when he was mated properly to Klaus.

'And why have you brought up my ex,' Klaus asked. He still wasn't angry, and Stefan was thrown off guard by that. He had expected a blazing argument by now.

'It's a silly thing,' Stefan admitted. 'I was jealous and I know I have no right to be.'

'Stefan you have every right to be jealous, you're allowed to have emotions you know, they don't just shut down,' Klaus said.

Stefan pressed his fingertips into his face. Klaus placed a hand on his back again and rubbed small circles. 'I don't want to be submissive to you.'

'Then don't be,' Klaus said with a frown. 'Fight me, challenge me, bare your teeth and tell me what you want and what you don't want. When I realized it was you, when I decided that you were the one I wanted to spend my life with, it wasn't just my wolf that mated yours, but I saw something in you, passion and intensity, I saw a thirst for knowledge and adventure. I saw someone loving, who wanted desperately to be loved back, someone who wanted so much from life. You inspire me Stefan, and these past months living with your animosity has been agony for me.'

Stefan stood up and paced the room. 'I don't want to play second place, I want an equal, Klaus, I want someone who loves me for who I am, not what I can give them.'

'If you'd let me I'll give that to you,' Klaus stood up.

'You don't understand what I'm trying to say,' Stefan closed his eyes. He couldn't look at Klaus when he said it. 'I don't want you to have any other lovers. Just me. And knowing that you've been unfaithful to our betrothal has really hurt me.'

Hands cupped Stefan's face. Klaus' thumbs rubbed over his cheeks and brushed the sides of his ears. The hands continued their journey down to his chin, and Klaus carefully parted Stefan's lips. Something touched Stefan's mouth, Klaus was kissing his bottom lip, holding it between his own and then he was away. 'Open your eyes.'

Stefan did. Klaus looked intense, there was an anger boiling behind his eyes and for a second Stefan was afraid. Klaus was going to take him, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Perhaps Klaus liked a struggle. 'Who told you that I had been unfaithful to our betrothal?'

Stefan swallowed. 'My father indicated that I had to get used to it,' Stefan said. 'Marcel called not long ago and told me who you were...' Stefan closed his eyes again.

Klaus wrapped his arms around Stefan and pulled him close. Stefan was loathe to admit that he sagged against Klaus and let Klaus take his weight. It would be easy to just give in, right now he could just give in, let Klaus take what he wanted, let Klaus have him, own him. Mark him.

'I have never betrayed our betrothal,' Klaus whispered. Stefan shivered as Klaus' breath tickled the shell of his ear. 'I could never hurt you that way. As much as you're mine I am yours. You must understand it and believe it. I think I've always been yours.'

Stefan turned his face to Klaus' neck and breathed in. Klaus was warm, his scent went to Stefan's brain and Stefan wanted to give and take all at once.

'Do you want me to take you to your brothers house tonight?' Klaus asked. He pulled back and looked into Stefan's eyes.

Stefan nodded. 'I have no idea what's going on in my head right now.'

'Then stay with him, but we've been neglecting each other, you avoiding me and me giving you space to come to terms with whatever nonsense you've been dealing with. That will stop Stefan, we need to spend time together,' Klaus said warmly.

Stefan nodded. 'Will...' Stefan hesitated.

'What?' Klaus asked gently.

'Will you help me pack up?' Stefan looked at his feet. Suddenly he wasn't ready for Klaus to leave, the moment he'd been looking forward to was here and he wanted to delay it for as long as possible.

'Of course I will,' Klaus cupped Stefan's cheek. 'On the condition that I get one more kiss.'

Stefan smiled and closed the gap between them. He kissed Klaus slow, tasting his lips before he pulled back.

Stefan turned away and reached for his suitcase. He tossed everything inside in a heap, the bag he'd packed was essentials at best for the last few days spent in his fathers house. His mind was a mess and Stefan knew he wouldn't be able to move forward without sorting everything out first, but he was starting to accept that Klaus was his Alpha and for the first time in months he wasn't daunted by it.

'I need to tell you that Marcel has been chasing me a little, flirting and offering me small gifts,' Stefan said. 'He told me some things.'

'You leave Marcel to me,' Klaus said darkly.

Stefan nodded and reached for his backpack. He started to load books into the bag, and soon the room looked empty.

Stefan sighed as he closed the door and followed Klaus down the stairs. Hopefully the next few days would start to ease the burden on his mind and he'd be able to sort out his feelings for Klaus.