First off, I'm so sorry this took so long. I never wanted to be an author who only updates every few months. Unfortunately everything in my life happened at once and I didn't have a spare moment to breathe let alone write.

I had a really hard time with this chapter, if I was ever going to do a "deleted scenes," this chapter would feature heavily. I'm sorry it's so short.

I had a few questions about how Caroline didn't know Klaus was a wolf but Stefan did, or how Klaus didn't know anyone was a wolf. The answer is no one knew anyone was a wolf, because in my world the wolves can't sense each other. Caroline made a slip of tongue and called Klaus the "newest member." She meant STAFF member, Stefan thought she meant PACK member. I wanted it to be one of those incredibly convenient plot holes TVD loves so much.

"I...well...okay then."

Caroline looked so lost, I wasn't far behind her, but I thought I was handling it a little better. It was hard to feel bad for her, she looked adorable stumbling for words.

"So...yeah, nope. I can't handle this right now." she laughed nervously and pointed at me "I'll deal with you tomorrow, or Monday, or never, I don't know yet."

She stormed off into the woods. Damn, but she looked nice walking away from me.

We all took a long drink.

"That went well." Damon looked at his bare wrist where a watch would be, "Ooh look at that, it's wolfy time for Damon!" He gave a wave of his fingers and walked away.

Stefan introduced me to some of the people by the fire, all wolves waiting for the moon to call them into wolf form, before leaving to turn himself.

I mingled for a bit before I excused myself from the couple Stefan had left me with, Jo and Alaric. Lovely people, but moon light was wasting and I wanted to run.

There was so much about being a wolf I had missed; the enhanced hearing and sense of smell, the agility and power, the freedom of being able to run around like a dog just let out of its cage. Some wolves would hate the analogy, but it was accurate. And what could I say? Running around like an idiot was kind of fun.

I woke up on the forest floor, sheltered under the low hanging branches of a pine tree I had stashed my clothes under when I turned. I groaned, rolling over, it had seemed like a good idea at the time; the tree offered shelter from the elements, but I now realized I would smell like Christmas for days. That shit never came out.

"Holy shit, you're huge!"

I looked over to see Caroline stop dead in her tracks and slap a hand over her eyes.

"Wow...NO! Not like that!...I didn't mean...as a wolf I mean...but also like... Would you put some pants on please?"

I dressed as she rambled. Adorable.

"All better now love?" I asked, sitting down in a fallen log, and yes, I was laughing at her.

She peeked through her fingers to confirm I was clothed before lowering her hand and adopting a very determined look.

"Thank you. Now, let's get this over with. Usually when a new wolf joins the pack, it's because a pup reached turning age. They already know everyone and how we do things, their parents teach them everything. We haven't had a mature wolf join our pack in a while, five years at least, and I wasn't exactly..." she shook her head, "I actually have no idea what I'm supposed to do right now."

"Well, I do already know all the wolf parts, so I guess that just leaves pack business. What happens when someone marries in? Can we follow those rules?"

"That's the problem," she sighed and sat next to me, "I told you my parents died not long ago, they were the alpha pair. They tried to teach me how to lead, how to resolve pack issues, deal with new members," she cast me a sideways glance and I smirked. "But I thought I had more time, I didn't pay as much attention as I should have."

My father's pack had very strict rules, but I had learned in recent years that no all packs ran the same. I got the feeling Caroline's was more on the relaxed side. I told her as much.

"How about you tell me about your pack, how it runs and that and we can go from there? You make the rules now Caroline." I gave her what I hoped was an encouraging smile. "You're the alpha, do you have a beta?"

"Not officially. Right after my parents died, there were some who thought I wasn't ready to be the alpha, and tried to challenge me. Stefan and Damon stepped in and put a stop to it all. Since then they've kind of been my enforcers. Stefan has been acting as my second in command while I figure out how to do this. Including introducing the new pack member while I freak out, I'm sorry about that by the way."

"I suppose I'll forgive you, but only if you promise to finish this conversation Monday, I'm about 10 seconds from passing out, I'm exhausted."

The high from the full moon, and easy acceptance into Caroline's pack lasted until Monday morning.

I stood in front of the motel with old Mrs. Fell, staring at the gaping hole in the roof, and shingles scattered all over the parking lot.

"I'm so sorry dear, the roof has needed replacing for a while now, and the storm took most of the shingles right off. We'll refund you for the rest of the month of course, but you'll have to find a new place to stay."

Caroline stopped me as I was stashing my bags and canvases in the back room of the book store. I thanked my lucky stars that I hadn't started the painting of her I had planned, my sketchbook full of her face was hidden at the very bottom of my backpack.

"You're not leaving are you? " She looked hurt, I rushed to reassure her, I wasn't going anywhere.

"No! No no, the storm took most of the roof off the motel; I had to bring everything with me." I waved off her concerned expression. "No one's hurt and insurance will cover the roof, there's no need to worry. Though I am now in need of a place to stay, do you know of anywhere I could rent?"

"That's awful, I'm glad no one was hurt!" She drummed her fingers on the counter thinking, "no one rents here, but I have plenty of room, you can stay with me."

"Are you sure love? I don't want to impose." I also didn't want her to think of me as a roommate. I was, however, interested in actually being alone together though, the store was so busy we barely spoke through the day.

"I'm sure, as long as you do half the cooking," she gave me an embarrassed smile, "I'm kind of a terrible chef."

She wasn't joking. She seemed to be surviving on cereal, sandwiches and frozen foods.

"How are you still alive!" The contents of her fridge and pantry were sorry at best. Caroline was laughing at my horrified expression. Even during my years as a wolf I ate better than this.

"I can't let this go on love, I'm teaching you how to cook. That's how I'll pay you for letting me stay here."

She pretended to consider it.

"I suppose that's not a bad trade. Come on, I'll show you the rest of the house."

Yes? No? Let me know what you think! - xo