Chapter 3.

'Is it dead?'

'Of course.' He answered sounding almost offended that she could doubt it.

'There was another one.' She informed him as she looked around her, expecting it to come out any second just like its friend had done.

Klaus calmly took out his cell phone, 'Check the area.' Was all he said before putting it back in his jacket pocket.

'Who is with you?'

'One of my hybrids.'

'What...why are you here?' She could still feel the rush of adrenaline pumping through her veins.

He frowned at her. 'Calm down, love, you're safe now.'

'Are we?' She whispered as words from the conversation between Tyler and Tony kept coming in her head.

His frown became more pronounced, 'What is it about this pack, that has you so worried?'

Her mouth opened but she didn't know what to say.

'Your interest in them, intrigues me, but we'll talk about it later...come on, I'll take you home.'

'No!' She shook her head, 'I have to wait for Tyler.'

His chin came out, and his eyes sparkled angrily. 'Are you telling me he left you out here alone with werewolves around?!'

For a moment she was stunned to silence as she took in not just the anger in his voice but the concern too.

Then her own protective instinct kicked in. 'He went to their camp, so as to free the way for me to leave.'

He sighed. 'Why are you still here then?'

'I told you. I'm waiting for him.' Suddenly she grabbed her cell phone and texted Stefan a short message, writing were Tyler was and that they could need back up, if he didn't return.

'He's one of them, they won't hurt him. You can wait for him at home, let's go.' He made a motion with his head but she didn't move a muscle.

'Don't you find it a bit...strange, that it's not full moon but there are wolves around?' She asked, pointing at the dead wolf.

'I've seen it before.'

'You have! Where? When?'

'All right, love, now you're going to tell me exactly what...'

He suddenly turned as a loud growl broke the silence around them.

'Don't move...' He whispered to her.

She stilled behind him, as she looked at the wolf that had appeared. His fur was a light brown, with the expection of his left paw which was white. His eyes were gleaming yellow but she kept looking at his sharp teeth, bared at them. Saliva dripping from its big mouth.

Klaus and the wolf seemed to be looking in each other's eyes. She would never admit it out loud, but his presence made her feel safe, like she knew for sure he would never let that wolf get to her. But she couldn't help wonder if maybe Klaus was in danger too, and should she say something right now!

The wolf's growl was low but unstopping. He lowered his front legs and she knew it was getting ready to spring, she was surprised it hadn't done it yet, like he was assessing what to do first!

'You'll never have her...leave.' Klaus voice was calm, commanding.

In answer the wolves eyes seemed to gleam brighter as with a pounce it leapt on Klaus, who was too fast for it and moved out of its way, only to kick him on his side a fraction of second later, making him fly metres away. Once more, Klaus took his place in front of Caroline but the wolf was already attacking him again. Klaus jumped over him exposing Caroline to the wolf but before it could attack her, Klaus hit him once more. The wolf was up and hurling itself on Caroline again a second later with the hybrid deflecting him. It was almost a dance the way they turned around each other, one assessing the other, but then Caroline moved slightly from behind Klaus and put out her hand to grab a fallen branch and suddenly the wolf was right on her. Klaus grabbed her and pushed her out of it's way, and the wolf's teeth sunk deep in his right calf instead. Caroline watched as they both rolled on the hard ground, Klaus grabbing the wolf's by the mouth and with a fast hard twist broke it's neck. It's body went slack over Klaus and he kicked him away.

'Damn it!' He swore under his breath.

'Oh my God, he bit you!' Caroline rushed to his side, fear written all over her face.

'Yeah,' The hybrid admitted, 'a good pair of trousers, ruined!' Then looking straight in her eyes he asked, 'Are you hurt?'

She just shook her head at him unable to speak.

He frowned at the panic in her eyes, as she looked at the wound on his leg, that was oozing blood from the deep dents left by the wolf's teeth.

'It's nothing, love, I'll be as good as new in a few minutes.' When she just stared at him, the panic making her breath come out in short puffs, he added with a small smile, 'Dare I believe, you're concerned about me?!'

When he was met by silence again, he got up, brushing his clothes, and seemingly totally obvious to the wound in his leg, he grumbled something about being surrounded by fools, took his cell phone out again.

He swore again when whoever should be answering his call, didn't.

'So, you're okay?' She whispered.

'Sweetheart, I'm the original hybrid.' Was his proud answer.

She sighed in relief. When she had been bitten by Tyler she had felt the pain immediately. Whatever plan Tony and his pack had to kill the originals it had nothing to do with them being bitten it seemed. Or more simply she had been worrying for nothing and there was nothing they could do to this family, and therefore to the rest of them.

'Can we go now?' He asked impatiently.

'You can go if you want, I'm waiting for Tyler.' She got out her phone and texted a simple SOS to Tyler. They had to leave before the pack realised that two of their own were dead.

'Are you always this stubborn?!' He shook his head, and with a loud sigh sat down at the foot of one of the trees.

She hurried to him, hunching down to his side. 'What is it? Are you feeling unwell?'

'If I say yes, can we leave?' He raised his eyebrows at her, making her frown deeply at him. 'This bitch stings!' he added nodding towards his wound.

'No one is asking you to stay!' Even as she uttered the words, she realised how ungrateful they sounded, it was thanks to him if she was still alive.

'I didn't mean...'

He raised his hand to silence her, his eyes hooded, 'I'm not here just for you...that incompetent isn't answering his phone!'

'Do you think...could he be...'

'He's one of them.' He answered back, knowing the word she wasn't saying.

'They attacked you.'

He shook his head. 'I was protecting you, keeping him from killing a vampire.' Suddenly his lips pulled back over his teeth in a grimace.

She bit her lip as she watched his face, 'Does it hurt very badly?'

'I said I'm fine, why do you keep asking me the same thing?'

'Because...' She stopped and just shook her head, he said he was fine, stop worrying!

'Well?' He tilted his head to one side as he waited for her answer.

'I didn't mean to sound so ungrateful just now...' She said instead, '...thank you for saving my life.'

He smiled softly. 'It's becoming quite a habit, love...what was this? the fourth time?'

She scoffed loudly. 'Considering that the first time was your own fault that I needed saving at all, I wouldn't count it!'

His smile grew wider, his dimples appearing on his cheeks.

'What are you smiling about?'

'That night,' he replied softly, 'I have...a fond memory of it.'

The admission stunned her. 'Why?'

'You should try to find a way to thank me...properly.' He said, ignoring her question. He chuckled as the look in her eyes told him exactly what she thought of his preposition. 'No?...I guess I'll have to make do, with knowing you're safe.' His eyes went back to his cell phone as he pushed a button once more so he didn't see the way her lips parted in surprise or her eyes softened at his words.

He puffed impatiently at the still no answer and she lowered her eyes, afraid of what he could read in them.

'Your leg's still bleeding.'

He winced again then frowned at his wound. 'Happens where there's a wound...even to me.' He said quietly.

He tried to pull his leg up to check it better but he growled in pain and stopped. 'Bloody hell!'

'Are you...are you feeling weak?' She whispered.

'Again with the questions!' Suddenly he seemed to read something in her eyes, 'Do you know something I don't?'

She wet her lips, 'This pack...I don't trust them.'

'Why not?'

Hurried footsteps over dead leaves could suddenly be heard, and Tyler appeared from behind a tree.

'Thank God!' Caroline hurried to him, hugging him.

'What the hell is he doing here?' Her boyfriend, frowned at Klaus, as he tried to stand up. He swore again harshly and sat back down.

'He saved me!' Caroline pointed at the dead wolves, 'They attacked me and he...helped me.'

'Are you okay?' Tyler asked urgently, and she nodded. 'but Klaus' been bitten.'

'What?' Tyler shrieked turning widened eyes on his sire, 'No, no, no...my God...'

'What the hell is wrong with you?' Klaus snorted at him but Tyler ignored him and turned to Caroline instead,

'Call Bonnie, tell her we need her help. Now!'

The feeling of dread that had been in the pit of her stomach since the attack, flooded in all her body. 'Why?' she whispered, almost afraid to ask, 'What's wrong?'

'I'd like to know that too, mate!'

'Call her!' Tyler shouted at his girlfriend, who took out her cell phone and punched her friend's number.

Klaus got up holding fastly to the tree. 'Answer me!'

Tyler swallowed hard. 'You're...you're dying!'

Caroline gasped out loud, her eyes wide in her face while Klaus just barked a laugh, 'Are you crazy?!'

Bonnie answered on the first ring.

'Bonnie! Where are you?'

'At my gran's house, we all are! We decided this is the closest we could be if you needed us! What's going on?'

Caroline tried to shut out Klaus angry voice as he kept asking questions that Tyler was ignoring as he listened to the phonecall too.

'Are you ok guys?'

'Yes, we'll be there soon...Bonnie...this is serious!' Caroline added before hanging up and turning back to Tyler.

All of a sudden Klaus grabbed Tyler by his neck, and pushed him hard against a tree. ' . Now.'

'We have no time!' Tyler tried to release himself from his strong grip while Caroline shouted to let him be.

When Klaus just tightened his hold in answer, Tyler gasped out, 'They have a witch. It's thanks to her that they can change without the need of the moon!'

'So what?'

'She also...she also spelled them...she had original blood which she spelled and then made them drink it so...so she made it so that...that the originals aren't immune to their bite!'

Caroline's eyes flew to Klaus' leg, the hem of his pants drenched in blood.

Klaus released Tyler, who stayed leaning against the tree, rubbing his neck. 'That is impossible.'

Tyler shook his head, 'I'm afraid not! We have to take you to Bonnie now, she's the only one who can do something...also because it's too dangerous to stay here any longer, they had already began to worry about their friends not returning to camp!'

Caroline took a step closer to them. 'He's right Klaus and you know it.'

Klaus looked intently in her eyes. 'You were aware of this...that's why of your behaviour...'

'There's no time for more words, come on!' Tyler moved next to him, 'I'll have to carry you, running on it will make you lose more blood.'

'What?!'

'We'll carry him together, we'll go faster that way!'

'No way!'

'Shut up, Klaus and for once just listen!' Without waiting for any reply, Caroline took Klaus arm and put it around her shoulders.

Tyler did the same with the other arm. 'We'll take the longer route, and retract our steps a few times...we have to confuse them iin case they follow our scent.'

Caroline nodded and immediately they sped away.

As they ran, Caroline paid attention to not touch Klaus wounded calf. She could feel his body hard against her side and even more she could feel his angry eyes on her face. She knew why he was angry, this was all her fault.