First Chapter of the sequel to Hymn for the Broken!

If you haven't read that one, you HAVE to read it to understand this story.

Or just enjoy being confused.

It's your choice ;)

But for those of you who have read it, I know ya'll have been greatly anticipating this one!

So I'll shut up now, and let you get to it!

Disclaimer: I don't own in any way, form, or fashion these characters or any other fictional works my story references.

The woods were dark, and cold, I'm sure, though the temperature hardly bothered me with the blanket of fur that covered my skin.

Yes, fur.

Fall was giving way to winter, and I could smell the changing of the seasons in the air.

Snow had fallen yesterday, but it wasn't quite cold enough to stick, so now, the ground was soft and damp beneath my paws.

Everything was so much clearer in my wolf form.

Being apart of the forest was just one perk.

The Pack was the other.

My family.

Where were they?

I glanced around, as if expecting one of them to show up.

I'm waiting for them.

At least, I think I am.

Wasn't the plan to meet here?

I could no longer remember, and a small part of my mind tried to tell me that this was a matter of concern.

But the larger part of it was focused on the new noise that pierced the air.

Something was crying.

I pushed my legs forward into a run, following the sound.

It grew louder and louder, until I realized I was hearing a baby.

I ended up in a clearing, one I couldn't recall ever seeing before.

And in the middle, the noise was coming from a ball of pink blankets.

Cautiously, I strode forward, lowering my head.

But as I grew closer, the crying stopped.

Silence filled the air, in such a strong gush, it chilled me to the bones, more efficiently than the weather ever could.

The wind shifted then, and the smell of blood hit my nostrils, stopping me cold.

I made a quick decision, and Changed, afraid the baby might be hurt.

Once I had two feet under me, I ran the rest of the way to the child.

What the-

There was no baby in the blankets.

Just a bloodied onesie, that had been ripped to shreds.

And a note.

With fumbling hands, I reached down and picked it up.

You can't save her from me, it read.

Then something grabbed me from behind.

I shot up from the bed, thrashing, kicking of the sheets in the process.

Something still had a hold of me, but as my vision cleared, I realized it was Damon.

And I was in his bedroom, not the woods.

And the sun was pouring in through the far window.

It was morning.

And my lover was talking to me.

I made myself focus on his words, "Elena. It's me, kitten, it's just me."

I took a deep breath, and nodded.

"I'm okay," I assured him, now that I had shaken the dream off.

"Another nightmare?" He guessed.

I nodded, falling back against the blankets.

"You were tossing all night," he laid back with me, "Felt like I was sleeping next to a tornado."

I smirked, "Stop being dramatic."

He pulled me into his side, tossing the sheet back over our bodies.

I ran my hand down his bare chest, "They just feel so real."

His brows furrowed, "Is there anything I can do?"

I shook my head, "Not really."

He stared at me, "You want to talk about it?"

"Not really," I repeated.

I couldn't help that Damon knew about my nightmares, but I'll be damned if I was going to give him the same worries I'd been dealing with.

This wasn't my first dream centered around a baby.

"It would help if we could find him," I said, avoiding my lover's gaze.

"You mean Giuseppe," he guessed.

I nodded, "I hate knowing he's out there, evading us. It's been weeks since the Mutts attacked. Shouldn't he have made a move by now?"

Damon eyes were hard, "Kitten, stop worrying. We will find him. It's only a matter of time...and he's not going to touch you. There's nothing for you to fear."

I tried to believe him.

But the problem wasn't the fear for my safety, it was my fear for the child in the woods.

My child.

"Do you really believe he'll just give up?" I asked him, making my point, "I've spent days in the basement, digging up everything I could find on Giuseppe Salvatore, and none of it was pretty. He's vicious, Damon. He has a higher kill list than most Mutts, and they aren't just human. Our kind. And he faked his own death! If that doesn't prove that there is something else going on, I don't know what does!"

Damon sighed, "I know, Elena. Trust me, I understand exactly how bad he is. Outside of Alaric, he was the only father I've ever known. He was Pack Enforcer before he was Alpha, and only stayed as Alpha because no one dared challenge him. But I don't care. Whatever he has planned, we'll handle it. He's not getting you."

"It's not me that he wants," I whispered.

Damon fell silent then, knowing what I meant.

"I know, kitten," he said finally, holding my gaze, "But you're taking contraceptives, and besides, we don't even know for sure how the Change affected you. A child may never come."

"But if it does," I pressed, "Damon, if I get pregnant one day-"

"Then I swear this to you," he said, placing his hand on my stomach, "I will protect you, both of you, with everything that I have. With all that I am. If it happens, our child will be guarded by the safety of the Pack. Giuseppe, or anyone else, will never stand a chance."

I closed my eyes at his words, almost convinced.

But one more thought plagued me, "And if we never do? Have a baby, I mean. Giuseppe said it himself, he doesn't care who I...breed with. If he decides he's given you and I enough time, he might try to-"

"Let him try," Damon growled, "Let him come. I will gladly rip him apart for even thinking he could take you away from me."

I smiled gently at Damon's ferocity, the safety I felt in his presence surrounding me.

Since I'd learned the truth about my own past, more accurately, the day I had been bitten, I hadn't left his side.

Things between us were better than they'd ever been, and I was slowly trying to find a way to forgive my Alpha for the role he'd played in keeping Damon's secret.

That was proving more difficult, but we had more to think about.

The loss of Enzo kept us from reaching complete recovery of the Mutt attacks, but the Pack had certainly regrouped, and refocused.

On our most current threat.

Giuseppe Salvatore.

I had known so little about him, before he spun the plan that caused the Mutts uprising.

But I'd done my research since, and he was more Mutt than Pack.

He'd only been Alpha because he'd challenged his predecessor, and won.

Even Alaric feared what the man was capable of.

But I had to trust what Damon said.

Come better or worse, the Pack would prevail.

A knock on the door broke my thoughts, and Damon groaned.

"Whatever you're selling, we aren't interested," he shot, but the door opened anyway, and the youngest Salvatore stepped through.

"Stop complaining," Stefan scolded, "I'm not here for you."

He reached out to me, a phone in his palm.

"Who is it?" I mouthed.

"Caroline," he whispered back, and I sighed.

I'd been avoiding her for weeks, because I had no idea what to tell her.

How do you explain to your human best friend that you had to leave the city of New York, on the very night your human boyfriend, at the time, was slashed open by a werewolf, who you then murdered in front of him.

Not exactly the "Hey, how you doing" conversation I was looking forward to having.

"Tell her I'm not here," I said, as quietly as possible.

Stefan gave me a look of disapproval, but did as I ask.

From the lashing he got back in return, I don't think Caroline bought it.

But she hung up at least, after telling Stefan where he could go.

He groaned, falling back onto the bed next to me.

"Don't make me do that again," he pleaded, "She gets more and more mean each time."

I rolled over, which was difficult with Damon's arms still wrapped around me, to face him, "Sorry Stef. I'll talk to her soon, I promise."

He nodded, "Good. Now, why don't you tell me what you were dreaming about."

I narrowed my eyes, "How do you even-"

"We heard you yelling and tossing all morning," he answered, "Mason and Tyler had a bet going on whether it was a dream, or Damon making you scream like that, but then Alaric made them go get breakfast ready."

I smirked, "Serves them right."

Damon nuzzled into my back, his face burrowing in my hair, but muttered, "Tell them to mind their own fucking business. And mind your own, while you're at it."

Stefan rolled his eyes, "Bite me."

Damon lifted his head, "You're joking, right?"

I laughed, and wriggled out of Damon's embrace, to sit up.

The sheets fell, and Stefan wolf whistled, causing Damon to let out a possessive growl.

Now I was the one rolling my eyes, "Damon, chill. Stefan, stop being an ass, and hand me a shirt," I chided.

He grinned, but did as I asked, reaching over to the floor, where Damon and I had disposed of our clothes the night before.

He tossed me my T-shirt, and I threw it over my bare torso.

Since going back to sharing a bed with Damon, I found it easiest to just return to my old habit of sleeping nude.

Otherwise all of my comfortable clothes would keep getting destroyed.

Damon reluctantly dressed as well, ushering Stefan from the room until we were finished, and then let me drag him down the stairs, where the smell of coffee and bacon made my stomach clench in anticipation.

George was sitting at the table, fully recovered from the attack he'd suffered, though he would complain that his arm still twinged on occasion.

It seemed fine now, however, as he flipped through the morning paper.

Damon sat down at the table, in the chair next to him.

Mason, who had just brought in a pan of food, grinned when he saw we'd joined.

"Oh, look who finally woke up."

I gave him a dirty look, and nudged my way into Damon's lap.

Mason smirked, sitting the bacon down, "Not very friendly this morning."

Damon's arms wrapped around me as I leaned back, "Just tired."

"Hmm, wonder why…" Mason hinted, with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

I narrowed my eyes, "Say it, and I swear to god, I'll break that container of syrup over your head."

"I would appreciate it if you didn't," a voice called, and I turned to see Alaric entering, pulling a T-shirt over his head.

He smelled of wind and oak.

"You went running?" Damon asked, before I could.

Alaric nodded, "It was a good morning for it."

"Not with Giuseppe out there," Damon chided, "You should have woke me. I would have gone with you."

"Tyler went with me," Alaric told him, "I'm not a fool. Besides, it was only for a moment. I believe I can survive without you for that long, Damon."

Damon accepted this grudgingly, and didn't press the point.

"I appreciate your concern," Ric assured him, "Though, from the sound of things, Mason is going to require your protection more than I will. What did you do to piss her off this time?"

"Sex jokes," Stefan answered, entering the room with a plate, Tyler following close behind.

"Ah," Alaric fought a smirk, "Well, if we are all finished threatening each other, perhaps we should eat?"

No one could argue with that.

Breakfast at Alaric's table reminded me of the old days.

Only better, in some ways.

Worse, in others.

Enzo's absence was a solid pain, that had dulled little over the time we'd had to mourn.

And though we had avenged him, the ache would linger for years to come.

But the silver lining, was that I could finally have Damon.

Guiltlessly, without doubt or anger.

And it was the best thing that had ever happened to me.

Even now, as he held me in his lap, feeding me pieces of his pancake, I couldn't believe it was real.

But it was, and I was happy.

As happy as I could be, anyway, knowing that Giuseppe was still out there.

And apparently, I wasn't the only one concerned.

"You, know, we should call Elijah," George suggested to Alaric, "He could probably catch a lead faster than any of us. He knows who might have knowledge of Giuseppe's whereabouts."

"I've considered it," Ric admitted, as the rest of us listened, "But he's still reestablishing trust with the other Mutts. It's enough that he's agreed to be our informer. Asking the wrong questions, so soon after being doubted, could be counterproductive. We need the Mutts to trust him, if we expect to get intel."

"Of course," George nodded, "But he is still our best chance."

"Perhaps," Ric allowed.

"We could always question the Mutts ourselves," Mason recommend, "Just sic Damon on them, I'm sure they'll squeal in no time."

Damon chuckled, "As true as that might be, I don't think Giuseppe would be stupid enough to slip up around random Mutts. No one we could get our hands on will know anything useful. Elena and I tried that a few weeks ago."

"But you didn't go far. Some Mutts closer to the other Packs may lead to someone who does know something," Mason reasoned, "Besides, the two of you need to get out of Mystic Falls for a few days. Your googoo eyes are nauseating to the rest of us."

I flicked a piece of bacon at him, "Don't be jealous."

He grinned, "With you, baby girl, that's an impossible feat."

Damon let off a warning growl, and Mason's grin faltered.

"God, man, I'm joking," Mason defended, "Kind of. But that's not the point. You know she's only got eyes for you."

Damon smirked, darkly, "And don't you forget it."

"If you two are through whipping it out..." Stefan cut.

"Yeah, yeah," Mason continued, "I was just saying, it might be a good idea to pursue the Mutt's again. Follow those leads."

"We'll look into it," Alaric promised, "There is always a way to track someone, no matter how good they are at hiding. It's only a matter of time before we find Giuseppe, and he has to know that. I'm calling the Alpha council today as well."

"Why bother alerting them?" Tyler asked, "The last thing we need are the other Alpha's getting involved."

"They need to know that Giuseppe isn't dead," Alaric answered, "So they'll know to keep a look out for him, though I highly doubt he's left the country. Not since-"

His eyes flickered in my direction, and I understood, "Not since I'm here."

He nodded, "Exactly. I think he'd stay close enough to keep an eye on the Pack here."

"So why not bait him?" I suggested.

Damon tensed under me, "How do you mean?"

I looked down at him, "Look, Giuseppe wants me because of my breeding capabilities. For my children. If he thinks I'm already pregnant, it may draw him out."

"No," Damon shot immediately, "Forget it. We aren't using you as bait."

"But it could work," I insisted, looking to Alaric for support.

Before Ric could voice his opinion though, Damon turned on him.

"You can't think this is a good idea."

"She has a point-" he began, but Damon cut him off, "There is no point. We know Giuseppe, and Elena is not going to be bait in our attempts to find him. And before you disagree, you should know that I am more than willing to challenge you for Alpha, if that's what it takes to dispute this decision."

I froze, looking down at him, and I wasn't the only one, "Damon!"

But his eyes were hard, focused on Alaric, who, to my surprise, let out a small chuckle.

"I commend your dedication, Damon, but there is no need. I agree with you."

"You do?" I asked, a little disappointed.

Ric nodded, "As I was saying, you have a point, Elena. Thinking that you are with child may draw Giuseppe out, but then his target will be you. Which I can not allow."

Damon relaxed beneath me, his arms loosening some.

"So, it's settled," he stated, a little smugly, "We aren't baiting you out."

I shot him a glare, "Do you ever think that maybe you're a little too overprotective? Just a bit?"

"I prefer the term appropriately cautious," he corrected.

I rolled my eyes, "You're a cautious pain in my ass."

Damon only smirked, and kissed my shoulder, "You love me anyway."

I couldn't deny it, but remained silent, instead of giving him the satisfaction of confirmation.

"Oh, come on," he pressed, "Don't be mad."

"I'm annoyed," I corrected, "I've been in plenty of scrapes before, and I haven't died yet."

"Oh there's some great logic," Damon shot, "Wait until you're dead to take action. Am I allowed to protect you then, kitten? Maybe I can guard your coffin."

"Oh, shut up," I commanded, covering his mouth with my hand, "You know damn well what I mean."

He grinned.

Breakfast continued like that, each of us moving on to different ideas of how to find Giuseppe, or ways to figure out his plan.

But nothing solid was decided, except that Damon and myself would continue chasing down the Mutts this weekend, in hopes that one of them might have information.

It was a long shot, but better than just sitting on our thumbs, waiting for the inevitable.

We finished eating, and I helped Stefan take the dishes to the kitchen.

"Damon's right, you know," he told me, as we began loading the washer, "My father is dangerous. You can't take risks with him."

I sighed, "It's not like I'm volunteering to invade his lair on a solo mission. I just don't think it would hurt to drop a rumor or two, to see if he shows himself."

"But if he believes it, and comes for you? And he will, Elena. If he wants your child, he'll take you while you're pregnant, knowing the baby will be harder to get to after it's born."

"He won't have the chance to take me," I insisted, "Hell, Damon hardly leaves my side, and I'm not completely useless in a fight."

"I know," he assured me, "But my father was the Pack's Enforcer before he became Alpha. Try to imagine Damon, with decades more experience, no humanity, and a power trip complex. My father was brutal. We all just want you safe, okay."

I closed the dishwasher, and sighed, before shivering at the image he'd put in my head, "I know, Stefan. I just think it's a little-"

"There you are," Damon entered the room, coming up behind me, his arms encircling my waist.

I leaned back against him, "We were just cleaning up."

He nuzzled his head against the side of mine, "Feel like taking a break?"

I looked back at him, "Why?"

He smirked, "Let's go run. All of us."

He glanced up at Stefan, who considered it, "It should be safe, if enough of us go."

"Perfect," Damon kissed my head, "Mason and Tyler already agreed. Let's go."

I laughed, and let him pull me towards the back door.

After all, a run did sound nice.

There ya go, a nice long first chapter!

As ya'll know, A Hymn for the Broken was a sort of retelling of Bitten.

This sequel will follow aspects of that story, but not as much as the first one did.

The plot line will be more original, with influences from the other series.

Just in case anyone was wondering!

Review and let me know what you thought!

I'll post the next chapter soon :)