The only sound she could hear was her own harsh breathing. It was a definite step up from the moments when her screams were all that reverberated. She didn't have the energy to try to think let alone move though she knew she should before they came back. This might be her only chance of escape. Steeling herself she jerked on the chains and screamed again. The vervain; it was covering the bonds. She had forgotten for a moment, the more intense pain clouding her memory. They had used the plant often on her.

It had covered the knives that had been slipped along her chest. It had filled the syringe that had been stabbed repeatedly into her, in the drink that had been forced down her throat. It had been on the wooden stakes that had been driven, shot and punched into her. It was why she could hardly move, couldn't heal the dripping wounds, the broken clavicle, the burns. God, she just wanted to die but she didn't even get that reprieve.

Today they had heated a tire iron and used it burn her once clean skin. The pain was so intense she thought she would have passed out but she didn't. No matter what they did she was always awake. And with every bit of torture and every day that passed she felt a little less like herself and more like the cold-hearted monster she denied.

It would be so easy to grasp the rage, fill her now empty heart with it. It would be so easy to give into the monster knowing that the foothold on her sanity slipped ever so slowly as the bloodlust kicked in. They didn't know how it would be. How she envisioned her revenge, siphoning off the triad one by one. She would take her time breaking bone by blessed bone. For hours she would bite and drink until she bled their last drop. How good it would feel as she bathed in the afterglow of a ripping well done.

Her morbid ruminations were interrupted by the stomp of boots as someone made their way down the stairs. And it was the bitch she saw every day, the one who she fantasized about how her live heart would feel beating in her hand. How her blood would flow down her throat. She looked up meeting the monster with bold yellow eyes as she smiled.

"Hello Caroline."

Three days earlier

She loved Lady Antebellum especially Baby, It's Cold Outsidebut hearing that belt out at 6am would make anybody, make that human or vampire, release a few choice words into the atmosphere. Groaning she turned to pick up the phone.

"How do you feel about ditching school to spend the day with me?" It was Tyler and God help her she really loved hearing his voice but dammit it was early in the freaking morning.

"Tyler…I am so kicking your ass," she responded as she sat up. Hearing his chuckle she pouted, "I'm serious I've been waiting a good forty-eight hours for your promised talk. And now you call me at the ass crack of dawn…"

"I know," she heard him sigh, "Don't I get a point for calling at least twice since then."

"For five minutes each time!" She swore that males no matter what species were genetically designed to be stupid. As if checking in to say hey-you're-alive-I'm-glad was anyway to talk to the girl you had just made love to.

He sighed again, "I'm really sorry about that Care but I want to make it up to you and I was thinking a picnic at our place."

"Our place?" she asked, perplexed.

"Yeah, the waterfalls," He answered easily. Was it completely sappy of her to have melted when he referred to it as their place? Lockwood could be the most infuriatingly romantic bastard when he wanted to be. And she was just that much in love with him to be sucker enough to fall for it.

"And you couldn't wait til the sun crested over the horizon to tell me this?" she moaned out loud mainly for show because she knew she was agreeing.

Caroline could almost hear the smile in his voice when he answered, "Yeah but I wanted to get an early start because we have a few things we need to do today. And…Alek wants to have dinner."

"Alek?" he had rushed out the last part. Something he did when he got nervous.

"The alpha of the pack. There are so many things we need to talk about, so many I need to tell you but Alek wishes to meet you."

"Me? Tyler I'm not sure…" The hell she wasn't. She was absolutely, positively certain she did not want to meet another pack of wolves. The last encounter had ended with her full of bullet holes, not a scene she wished to repeat. If it hadn't been for the others… She shivered thinking of the hell Brady and Jules had put her through, the hesitation on Tyler's part that had marred their budding friendship, the scars he bore even now of betraying and signing the death warrant of his own kind. It was not something she wished to try her hand at gain.

"Not just you," he continued after a pause and she knew his mind had recalled, just like hers, the last time, "They are inviting everyone for dinner."

"What?" she was confused now.

"They know about you guys…" his voice was hesitant as though he knew how she would react.

"What? You told them about us?" She could tell her voice was getting hysterical but she couldn't help it.

"Not in that way Caroline. Aiden and Accalia told them I had unusual friends and the alpha wanted to meet you after I told him how important you guys were to me especially you," he whispered the last part and Caroline knew he was trying to reassure her, "I'm gonna call everyone else after but I wanted the okay from you first. Please Caroline."

He was pleading, again. Tyler Lockwood was begging her, again. Caroline wanted to say yes but the last experience she had with wolves had not been a pleasant one. She didn't trust them but she did trust Tyler and they had two century and a half year old vampires and a powerful Bennett witch.

"Ok but not Jeremy and not Elena. The rest of us can defend ourselves but not them."

"Caroline, they won't…" he began but stopped himself, "No Elena and no Jeremy."

"Good. Give me an hour to get ready. "

"No problem. I love you."

"Love you too." And she did but she had faced too much at the hands of wolves and she wouldn't ever again. She had played the victim far too much in this series of the paranormal they called Life. First with Katherine she had been far too ignorant and far too vulnerable. And Brady and Jules had chosen her for the same reasons. She was always the one who was picked off at a moment because she wasn't as strong as Stefan or Damon, or as valuable as Elena or as kick-ass as Bonnie. But not this time. Caroline was determined not to play the part of the distressed again. So picking back up the phone she dialed the number she knew Tyler wouldn't call first.

"Blondie, do you even comprehend how early it is?" the slightly groggy vampire answered the phone. If Damon wasn't proof positive that vampires liked sleep …

"Get up, Damon," she said skipping the pleasantries, "We've got work to do."

As they traveled a road she had never seen in daylight before she couldn't help but feel like Tyler was holding back. Yes, she knew he had to tell her about his days with the wolves, the mark, and everything but still the way he was looking at her was strange and she didn't know if it was a good or a bad thing. It was intense, as though he were seeing her for the first time. It was eerily familiar to the first time he had found out she was a vampire.

Tyler parked his truck and they got out. This time they were farther from the water fall than they had been because the truck could not go as far as his bike could off the path. She watched as he hefted a picnic basket from the back and she realized that he hadn't been kidding about this day at the falls deal. He really wanted them to have some alone time in their place. She suddenly felt warm at the thought that he had actually put together something special for them both.

"So what did you bring Lockwood?" She asked as they sat down on the blanket he had carefully laid out.

With the rushing water in the background, the warm sun on her skin as she laid back, Caroline could almost forget everything else but this. Tyler was stretched out next to her, their arms so close she could feel the heat of his body but he didn't touch her. On hearing her words he turned over then and smiled.

"Grilled cheese on toast, fruit yogurt, granola, mandarin and Grapefruit and to drink, coffee or pineapple juice," he stated as he pulled out a picnic.

"And finally for the haematophages among us…" He spoke as he pulled out a blood bag. A grin spread across her face and she had a repeat of the cuddly warmth of the teddy bear because he showed how accepting he was of all she was. Truthfully she had just planned to look for a quick bunny or anything really that could be found in the woods, but Tyler had thought enough to pack a blood bag for her. It was a relief to not have to hide when they were alone. And she knew that a part of it was because he was different too. You couldn't really point fingers when you had to be chained down once a month. But if she was fair it wasn't only that. Tyler didn't judge. He had been criticized all his life and he never did that to anyone else. She leaned over placing a kiss on his lips before sipping on the bag as he laid out the feast he had brought. Once they were finished eating she knew that the time for stalling was over. Tyler had so much to explain. And as if he read her mind he started.

"So…I've been with the pack these two days and I've been learning a lot about being a werewolf. What that means and stuff. They've been helping me."

She nodded her head knowing that talking about things was hard enough for him.

"I don't know how to start but I guess starting at the beginning would be best," she flashed him a reassuring smile as he continued, "Alek and the others believe that like in the Native American legends our wolves are spirit animals, joined to us to guide us through our lives. Like two sides of our soul. And on that theory being a werewolf is not a curse but a gift meant to guide us."

"It seemed like a curse when all your bones were breaking," she stated blunt always.

"That's because it is a curse, when you're alone."

"Huh?"

"It wasn't that easy for me to get either," he chuckled at her perplexed face, "The pack believes and I think we've both seen the proof, that like in that Disney movie where the beast is cursed for his selfishness and cruelty, so were we. And like that the aim was to teach that love conquers all." He blushed then and Caroline could almost see the guy in him battling against such a wimpy definition.

Shaking her head at his silliness she urged him to continue with the motion of her hand.

"Having a family, people who love you and are there for you, takes away the pain. So when Accalia and Aidan entered the cellar and changed with me, the pain went away."

"So all this time all you needed was some company to change," she murmured more to herself than to him. Caroline felt guilty. He had been through months of excruciating pain because they thought he was alone and that's how it was meant to be.

"Care, look at me. This isn't your fault. We didn't know okay? We didn't know," he had read her like an open book, seeing the guilt there even though she had done more than anyone to help him, " And it's a little more complex than just having a partner. I needed to accept who I was and accept that I needed help and allow them in, not just into the room but into my spirit. And trust me I know how new-age doped up on crystal meth that sounds but I swear to you. We…linked and I felt us changing together and at that moment, the pain ceased."

She nodded and just looked at him knowing he was telling the truth. It was there in his eyes.

"They helped me Caroline and I'm grateful to them but you… you were my savior." He spoke softly reaching over to caress her cheek. Caroline reveled in the contact. His palm on her face filled her with warmth and she turned her lips kissing his fingers. When she looked up his eyes had changed color and in a voice that sent shivers down her spine he said, "You do that one more time and I won't finish this story."

Smiling she nodded and allowed him to pull back as he continued, "The night in your room when we… you told me you loved me. I have never felt more complete in my life, I was happy then that I had become a werewolf happy then that I had to transform every month happy then that the excruciating pain I bore had given me more than anything I could express. I was happy I loved you. And my wolf was finally let in."

He pulled off his shirt and showed her the mark. She reached out touching it realizing that it was even warmer than the rest of his skin, "It's a mark of the wolf and it shows who you are. One is for…" he touched the first scar, "me, the wolf I am. The wolf I chose to be. One is for my family, the pack I have chosen. I don't have that mark yet because I have not joined them nor have I sired my own. And this one…" He paused stroking the other mark, "Is special. It represents the woman who holds my heart. The one I am bound to and barring death shall never leave. This one is for my mate."

His mate? He was looking so intently at her that it finally clicked…

"I…I am your mate?" she stuttered out, confounded and excited and slightly freaked.

Tyler's smile then became radiant as he said, "You are the best part of me. I love you Caroline."

"Bonnie knew!" She charged screaming.

Tyler chuckled, "Not before she read it, she was the one who started the flood of info. The rest came from Alek."

"I'm your mate?" she said again in wonder. It was so much for her mind to wrap around. They had never even gone on a date. Yeah there had been declarations of desire and making love against a tree but mate? It wasn't something she was familiar with. And somehow, someway it felt right, like it clicked. As though it had been destined from time immemorial.

Caroline saw him turn away and whisper, "You can choose not to be. You can walk away from me." And it was there that lingering doubt that anyone could love him that pulled at her heartstrings.

"Can you walk away from me?" She asked him looking him in the eye.

"No." His voice was small, "I knew that even before this. I can't."

"Then why in the hell would you think I could? I love you. And that means today and forever. I would die for you."

The immediate lifting of his face caused Caroline to grin like an idiot.

"You love me?"

"I've only said it like a billion times, Lockwood."

And with that he kissed her. A kiss full of love and appreciation and commitment. A kiss that told her far more than words ever could that he was truly here with her, forever. And Caroline returned in kind, pulling him on top of her, enjoying the weight of his body as he pressed into her. When Tyler deepened the kiss, she moaned and slipped her hands under his shirt. He groaned and pulled back. Caroline moaned in protest following his body as it pulled away from hers, kissing his neck, his face, anywhere she could reach as she held on.

"Caroline," he moaned "I swore to myself the next time I make love to you it would be in a bed with sheets and time to explore every inch of your body."

"Tyler," she protested in between nips at his pulse as he gasped.

Grabbing her face he placed a long deep kiss on her lips before saying simply, "No."

Caroline flopped back onto the blanket sighing before looking at him, "When did I become the insatiable one?"

"When I asked you to marry me?" he stated with a grin on his face.

Caroline squealed as her eyes opened wide realizing that he had indeed. Turning over to look at him, she saw his eyes glowing while looking at her.

"I have one more thing to show you," he said and then she felt it, a presence against her mind. She opened her eyes wide and looked at Tyler.

I love you, Caroline! Caroline knew she probably looked like thyrotoxicosis gone horribly right but she couldn't help it. Tyler was in her mind.

"Can you do that with everyone?" she asked still having a hard time comprehending.

Nope. Just other wolves and my mate. He replied in her consciousness.

When she tackled him to the ground again, it was because she loved him. It was because she knew that she always would, no matter what. And for the moment she forgot everything but that.

If she hadn't grown up in Mystic Falls, the formality would have astounded her. But between founder's ball, and other disastrous massacres…ah, functions, she was definitely ready for the seven course Grecian dinner. When they had arrived, Tyler escorted them to the dining room and Caroline couldn't help but smile at him, secretly loving that they were more comfortable with each other than ever. She had yet to tell anyone about their new status, not sure how to articulate the fact that she was Tyler's mate _ a werewolf's mate_ to two vampires and until she figured that out she wouldn't. She knew that Bonnie would keep their secret until then.

They had all agreed not without protest from the Gilberts that Elena and Jeremy should stay home tonight. Alaric was present with his arsenal so neither would be vulnerable especially since the wolves would be occupied here. She looked over to the others who she knew were strapped to the nines for any eventuality and was a little ashamed that she had gone behind her mate's back, and she couldn't help the smile that erupted every time she thought that. She just hoped it wouldn't come back to haunt her.

The room was exquisite, its dim lighting setting an atmosphere that would be romantic if it wasn't a supernatural convention. The introductions were made and they were urged by the pack's leader to sit. Alek was super-sexy and Caroline couldn't help but stare in awe wondering why it seemed like only prime specimens became supernatural. Case in point the men who had formed a semi-circle of protection around them.

Despite being able to take care of herself, Caroline knew she was still considered the baby thus why Stefan and Damon and Tyler were on the outskirts while she and Bonnie were in the middle. It didn't take an empath to feel the tension of everyone in the room. Even the wolves were on edge, the wariness barely hidden underneath the surface. The only people who were able to hide their anxiety with any appreciable amount of skill were Stefan and Damon. They both came from an era of cultured indifference and lot of undertones. It was the first time she really saw the southern gentlemen they were emerge. Even the way they held their forks like it was an extension of their fingers spoke of it. Shaking her head she turned her attention to Tyler as the first course was set.

Caroline felt his mind and it was becoming very familiar to her, like a touch or a special place they could hide. You okay? He asked while looking into her eyes.

This is the most awkward dinner party I've been to and that includes the time my dad thought it be awesome for me to sit down with his new boyfriend as they tried to explain how homosexuality isn't a choice to a thirteen year old me.

She could feel his amusement as he rolled his eyes. Smiling at him she returned to the table, but it had gone deadly quiet as all the wolves' eyes were focused on her and Tyler. It was disconcerting to say the least. When she heard the red-head whisper incredulously, "I can't believe it's true!" She got even more nervous.

Damn it they were making everyone nervous. And from the corner of her eye she could see Damon reaching into his jacket, in preparation but she also saw Stefan stay his hand. Thank God for Stefan, the level-headed one. But it was the alpha that brought everything to a stop by raising his glass.

"To… new friends and allies. And to true love."

Everyone raised their glass and the tension seemed to dissipate from everyone, well almost everyone. Caroline could feel the intense scrutiny of a number of wolves and she wondered if they could sense the change between her and Tyler. And as if the toast had opened the floodgates, the real discussion started.

"So, Alek is it?" Damon started, "What brings you to this part of the world?"

"We heard rumors that the Lockwood family had settled here." The alpha answered easily.

"And you thought you would pop in on old friends." Damon continued.

"Of a sort, yes."

"Interesting."

Awkward factor sixteen. Damon was anything but subtle but Alek was crafty.

"As is your coven."

"You mistake what we have here." It was Stefan this time, "None is compelled to be here. We are friends and we take care of each other."

"Neither is this pack."

"And yet they defer to you as ruler." Damon again.

"And don't the younger ones defer to you as the authority. They are ready to fight for you, your witch, your baby vampire; even Tyler would forfeit his life in service."

"And you think we wouldn't do the same?" Stefan asked quizzically as if they were discussing the morning's paper.

"I am unsure whether your devotion runs that deep."

"How dare you?" Caroline spoke up then, screwing diplomacy to all hell. She wasn't going to sit there and let them insult her friends, "When your kind would have trussed me up like a turkey, they came in at great risk to themselves. They would give their life for me, for any of us!"

"I am merely searching for the answer that binds you together so closely," Alek answered reasonably. None of the other wolves had spoken even now.

"It's called love and loyalty, look them up!" she threw back.

He smiled then at Caroline seemingly impressed by her words. As if she cared one whit whether he was impressed or not! She felt Tyler and Bonnie's restraining hand and it was then she realized she was half out of the seat and the flash of golden eyes all around the table were directed at her.

"I trust that now that we have had that out you won't use the wolfsbane you have strapped to your person," Alek again. His smile was slightly amused.

"I won't if the vervain and wooden bullets remain as hidden as they are," Damon answered for them, "I trust we can continue to be civil, at least until dinner is over. But I don't trust you."

"Nor I you, vrykolakas."

Damon dipped his head in acknowledgement. The only persons at the table that looked shocked were her and Tyler. Alek had known about the wolfsbane weapons and Damon had somehow known a retaliatory attack had been planned. Good thing no one was fighting. They might actually make it through desert.

"You knew they had wolfsbane didn't you?"

Caroline had been waiting for the charge for an hour. Dinner had gone off without another hitch. Small talk had ruled at the table and they had each given a bit more of their back stories, nothing that could be used now but more of a truce. When they had had finally left she could tell it was coming. Tyler he had been seething so much so he hadn't even acknowledged the Salvatores or Bonnie leaving. He had forcefully 'offered' to take her home and she had agreed knowing they would need to deal with it sooner or later anyway. They were in her bedroom when he finally asked.

So she answered honestly, "Ric designed them but it was my idea to bring them."

"Why I told you…?"

"You are kidding me right? You told me what? That I could trust them! I vowed that what happened to me that night would never let it happen again."

"I would never let…" he started moving toward her.

"Like you didn't last time?" she shouted back and watched as he flinched, stepping back. She hadn't meant to say that. She hadn't meant to hurt him, but sometimes she still remembered that night. And the sick way she was held and tortured, blatant disregard for her as a person. Because to Brady, she wasn't a person just an abomination, a thing. Sometimes she still saw his cold eyes and heard his laugh.

"You still don't trust me, do you? Even after everything, you still don't trust me?" He asked his voice filled with pain she had never meant to inflict.

"Tyler…"

"No. I get it. And God knows I deserve it," he spoke as though to himself and walked out to the door heading to the car.

"Tyler!" she shouted sorry that her fears had hurt him. She did trust him and she didn't know why she had thrown that back at him. He had been confused then, hurt and hurting. But she would be a liar if she said it hadn't hurt her ,sometime she thinks beyond repair, seeing him, knowing he would have let her die if Bonnie hadn't taken out the wolves.

Caroline shook her head, vowing that tomorrow she would make it up to him. Walking to the bathroom she changed into her pajamas and got into bed settling down to sleep.

The next thing she was aware of was the blackness of her room. She opened her eyes just in time to see a large hand coming toward her. Caroline opened her mouth fully intending to scream but to her consternation a gloved hand was plastered across her mouth and she couldn't speak. Kicking she lashed out aiming for an eye but her arms and legs were caught in multiple iron-like fists. Her body flaying she tried to no avail to free one of her limbs but their arms flattened her against the bed. It was then she saw it, a needle coming toward her neck. Yellow eyes shone in the darkness intent as it came toward her. And that was the last thing she knew before the pain.