Dormant Wolf – XXI Caution

Summary: Since her birth, they had been drawn to each other without even knowing it. After an unexpected meeting, their journey began, leading them towards an unbreakable bond. l Klaroline AU

I do not own The Vampire Diaries or The Originals.

CAROLINE

Klaus had been keen to see people the following morning and had headed downstairs soon after we had both woken up. I took my time getting ready with my mind on Klaus and his meeting today. I was quite keen to discover the plan of action for these revolting hybrids but then again I wasn't sure I could stomach it.

Eventually I wondered downstairs and just about finding my way to the parlour. I could hear Klaus' voice to guide me from the foyer. He never did draw me that map.

I was greeted by Klaus and Stefan who were both graced with humans across their laps for feeding. The wounds on the girl's necks left a fresh scent of blood in the air.

"Good morning Ma'am," Stefan smiled, gesturing to a girl who sat alone quietly. "I brought you breakfast." My gaze was locked onto the girl as I began to question whether I should accept the offering.

"Something the matter love?" Klaus asked, noticing my frozen stance. I shook my head, becoming more comfortable in the situation as I remembered he was here.

I slowly walked over towards the brunette and ordered her to stand before running my elongating fangs along her neck. I could feel two pairs of eyes watching me as I went in for the feed. There were no screams, and I concluded that she had been compelled to be silent as well as compliant.

"Sweetheart," I heard Klaus call behind me. "That's enough unless you plan on killing." The final verb pulled me from the woman's neck.

"Thank you," I whispered back, noticing Stefan's gaze. I wondered whether he thought I was strange in not wanting to finish her off. Without prompting, I healed and compelled the girl before watching her leave the room.

"Let us leave Stefan alone to his meal," Klaus stood up from his seat, pushing the limp body from his lap onto the cushions. His meal was dead... I nodded, feeling his arm move around my waist as I eyed the girl closely. "See you at the meeting mate," Klaus called back to Stefan whose teeth was already ripping through another innocent neck.

Klaus' hand slipped into mine once we were out of the parlour and the smell of blood had faded. Instead of heading through the front door as I expected, I was led to the back entrance towards the gardens behind the house.

"This is quite beautiful," I commented as we were lined with box hedges and flower beds.

"It's a little too…" Klaus paused, "fake, for my liking, but I let Stefan and his brother design it as they wish."

"If you don't like it why don't you make them change it? It's yours after all," I pointed out, wondering why he had loosened the reigns a bit.

"But I don't live here sweetheart."

We spent a good half an hour strolling along the mowed paths and man-made flower arches. I couldn't quite believe the effort put for such a garden. Even the Mayor's garden in Mystic Falls wasn't quite as complicated. Klaus however still didn't find the beauty I saw in it.

When we walked back into the house, Klaus led us directly into the office. It was laid out in a similar fashion to the one at home with a large mahogany desk and plush seats around it. This one however was considerably empty when it came to files. I assumed Stefan took care of his business elsewhere.

Stefan, Damon and Aiden were already seated and waiting for our entrance. I immediately averted my gaze from Damon as I followed Klaus around to our seated positions.

"Morning Gentlemen," he greeted them. "Let us get straight to the subject at hand." His tone hardened into his business-like alpha voice. "Stefan, are you aware of the numbers of revolting wolves? Any names I should know about?"

"Out of the twenty two new arrivals Elijah brought to us, around seventeen are part of the revolt," Stefan began. "On top of that there are about ten others who have joined. The names…" His gaze drifted over to his elder brother. "We did create a list of those we have proof of."

"What are they so upset about exactly?" I spoke up, to Damon's annoyance. Once I had started it was only then I realised that I had spoken when he was about to speak.

"You should find the list on the desk," Damon eyed me. Klaus immediately sorted through the papers that the Salvatores had laid out for him to find.

"Not everyone joins the pack without a fight love," Klaus filled me in as he skimmed the list in his hands. "But like yourself, Stefan and Damon, you all come to your senses eventually. Some however are a bit more resistant than usual."

"So what is the plan Sire?" Aiden asked. I assumed from his absence in Klaus' list that his most loyal beta was more willing to join than others.

"Stefan and Damon, you will continue as normal." Klaus glanced up from the paper, putting it back on the table before him. "I will see how things are myself and deal with those responsible considering you chose to keep this from me Stefan." There was a slight glare from his eyes. "I shouldn't have to hear about this from my brother."

"Understood Sire," Stefan nodded apologetically. "It will not happen again."

"Good," Klaus' gaze shifted to his first beta. "I'd like you to accompany me Aiden." He nodded, just when the alpha turned to me. "And what about you love? Are you joining me?"

"You're welcome to see things from a different angle Ma'am," Damon suggested with a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. "Come and follow my brother and me."

"No thanks," I muttered, sensing Klaus' tension. "I think I'll stick with my fiancé." I moved a hand to place on his thigh just under the table, hoping for him to relax.

"Then it's sorted," Klaus' called the meeting to a close after asking whether there was anything else to be discussed. There was not. "You are dismissed gentlemen. Aiden stay on the premises would you? I will find you when we're ready."

Aiden nodded, before the three of them vacated the room. I scowled at Damon's exit, not liking the elder Salvatore even more after the meeting. His eyes on me had made a feel uncomfortable especially after what he saw last night.

"Is he really necessary?"

"Afraid so love and just for the record," Klaus' voice became a whisper. "He can probably hear us right now."

"I don't care if he can hear me," I muttered. "He bugs me and he's just…creepy." Klaus reached across to run his fingers down my bare arm as we remained seat in the office. "I just don't want to think about it." I knew he understood what I was referring to in this moment.

"I know love," he leaned closer. "He won't bother you…but you will tell me if he crosses the line?"

"You'll be the first to know if he does," I stated firmly. Klaus placed a soft kiss on the corner of my lips before pulling back.

"Would you mind if I dealt with something love?" He proposed, beginning to scan through the papers on the desk again. "I won't be long. Should I meet you upstairs?"

"No, it's not a problem," I leaned to place a soft kiss on his cheek. "I'll see you later then." It was then I exited the room. Already hearing the squeak of his chair as he pulled it closer to the table to work.

KLAUS

"So where exactly are we doing?" Caroline asked, as we walked hand in hand down a backstreet road.

"There is an abandoned warehouse just along from here," I informed her, just as the building was coming into view. Aiden followed behind us with a few more loyal hybrids from his quarter as we moved to 'speak' to those revolting. "Stefan's quarter often uses it as a meeting place and if his times are correct there should be a large proportion of them there now."

"Would you like me to go in before you Sire?" Aiden suggested.

"No, no, there is no need. I shall go in first." I didn't need a human shield. I was quite capable of looking after myself. My eyes glanced towards Caroline with a soft smirk. "It's time for you to watch and learn love."

"Okay," she smiled nervously, not quite sure what this was going to entail.

With my Alpha female on my heels, I headed towards the double doors and pushed them forward with a strong force. Each door banging on the walls either side, causing the sound to erupt through the large room where most of Stefan's quarter had congregated. The hybrids immediately stopped what they were doing and stared at myself and Caroline with almost fearful eyes. It did enjoy power I had over them.

"Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen," I smirked widely, probably enjoying myself too much already and the fun hasn't even begun yet. The anticipation was heavenly. I felt Caroline stopping to my side with Aiden reflecting her position a little further from me. The other hybrids coming together behind me, blocking the exit.

"I'm not sure whether Stefan Salvatore informed you of my visit, but I much say it is quite brilliant to catch so many of you at once," I took a few steps closer. Even if it wasn't all of them here that was involved, it would still teach them a lesson in loyally.

Caroline's nervousness grew but I focus on the present matter.

"You see, I hear that many of my newest recruits here are not settling in as well as planned. It's quite a shame really considering my betas and I do so much to ensure that you are well skilled and equipped for this life." I glanced around the crowd, recognising a few faces from the list that Damon had prepared for me. "What is even more disappointing," I took a few steps, "is that existing hybrids have taken it on themselves to disobey me." I shook my head, a slight menacing laugh leaving my lips. "Such a shame."

My gaze caught Caroline's for a moment as I turned around to walk back. Her emotions were rather muddled, making it quite difficult to pin point how she really felt. My exhilaration must be mixing up with her anxious nature. I would have spoken to her, but I needed to keep up with my performance.

"I do believe that we need a demonstration," I spoke up again before stepping into the centre of the crowd. Of course the hybrids moved away from me to form a path. I glanced around until I found a wolf that carried a name from Damon's traitors list. "Ah, Jules, you've always been a fickle one." In a blur I had my hand in her chest, ripping her bloody heart from her chest. I threw the heart over the crowd to land before them for all to see. It landed not too far from Aiden's feet.

Not surprisingly there was a sea of gasps as the woman's body dropped to the ground. One of which was the deceased's lover; he soon faced the same fate as he tried to avenge her.

"Anyone else?" I shouted before I walked back through the hybrids. They moved back further this time in fear of reaching the same end. I noticed Caroline averting her strained gaze from the heart, looking out ahead. "This my wolves is what happened to those who disobey me. You should all consider this a warning and remember who you are loyal too." I growled through my alpha tone, grateful for my sire bond.

I gave a final scowl before turning back. Aiden gave me a cloth to wipe off the blood from my hands which was welcomed. Once clean, I offered a hand to Caroline, noticing her silent stance. Thankfully she accepted as we left the building in one swift motion. I hoped that did the trick. After all, actions speak louder than words.

We stayed silent for the remainder of the journey back towards the house. At some point our hands drifted apart. I didn't object, giving her some space after what she had just witnessed. It wasn't until we reached the far back of the house garden when I stopped walking.

"Would you give Caroline and I a moment," I directed Aiden and his hybrids who complied immediately.

"Don't worry I'm not going to say anything," Caroline mumbled. I gestured for Caroline to walk around the garden with me again. The garden lamps lighting up the paths in the evening light.

"Honestly love, how do you feel?" I asked softly, finding myself needing to ask instead of it being instinct.

"I don't know…" She glanced down towards her feet as they stepped slowly. "I have a lot of feelings." Was there fear? Nervousness? My influencing exhilaration?

"Your emotions are a little muddled." Caroline nodded in agreement.

"Honestly I'm a bit conflicted."

"I suppose it is to be expected since I doubt you have seen a heart removed form a living body before?" She shook her head.

"But I know how you feel about it." I couldn't help but smirk at her comment.

"One of the reasons why I love to rule in such a manner."

"I know why you rule the way you do…" Caroline admitted. "You want them to obey…to follow… You're building an army, and you need to train them as such."

"And the sire bond can only do so much," I nodded in agreement, smiling gently. "You're quite observant aren't you?"

"I like to think so," her own lips curled.

A/N Thank you again to those who reviewed. Your comments were much appreciated and I do look forward to what you think of this instalment!

I would also like to say a BIG THANK YOU to those who nominated me for a Klaroline Award! Dormant Wolf is in the running for Best AU Fanfiction! And Honestly I cannot believe it, it was such a thrill to receive the message. You can head over to KlarolineAwards at Tumblr to vote for so many talented people, and if I'm included in your vote, I shall be honoured.

Thank you again for reading and supporting my writing. You, my readers, really do mean the world. I love you.