Title: Under Our Skin

Rating: M

Genre: AU/Supernatural/Romance

Pairing(s): Bonnie/Tyler, Mason/Katherine, Mason/Lucy, Katherine/Lucy, Lucy/Mason/Katherine, Caroline/Matt, etc.

Summary: A one night stand brought on my grief and comfort reveals the secret of Bonnie's heritage to Tyler and the Lockwood curse to them both when Tyler's wolf is triggered by something unexpected resulting in a magical bond that has permanent consequences if it remains unbroken. AU from 2x01.

Warnings: Language, Sexual Content, Violence, Dub-Con, etc.

Author's Note: Reminder this fic is AU from 2x01, so Matt and Caroline are still a thing and Tyler and Caroline are not a thing at all. Lol. Also again this fic will feature human Caroline. I hope you like this part. No editing here so please excuse all errors. As always thanks for reading!

Part Two || Ad Infinitum

"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."

Buddha

Bonnie Bennett awoke slowly, her eyelids heavy as she opened them. Her head was pounding. There was an ache in her things and between her legs. She closed her eyes again and tried to remember what had happened after the bite, after she realized that there had been some kind of spell.

"Bonnie?" The voice, deep and smooth and perfect; made her feel like she was floating. Hands warm and gentle as they framed her face seemed to anchor her to the bed "Please tell me that you're awake."

Bonnie opened her eyes again and this time she shifted her body toward the sound. She nodded as they yellowed eyes glowed down at her, searching and scanning. "Your voice," she said. That was all that she could put into words. She wanted to hear the voice again. Wanted to keep. To wrapped around her like a warm blanket. Ever since her grams died she had felt cold but she was warm now. Hot. Safe.

"Yours too," the voice answered, "It sounds different. Nice. Like…warm honey."

Bonnie blinked. "That doesn't make sense," she whispered. Still she felt her cheeks flush. Her brain was telling her that she was speaking to Tyler, but there was an other that she could sense as well. Another entity that seemed to trapped on the inside, that was coming out through the glow in his eyes and pounding of his heart.

"It makes sense to me." His thumb stroked her cheek and then he spoke again. She was happy to hear even if his words seemed to make things even more confusing. "Are you okay?" he asked, "I don't remember everything, but things got kind of rough after I bit you. You blacked out I think. Things got kind of hazy and I felt like my skin was ripping open and then blacked out. When I woke up you were there and then we…had sex again I think. But it was different. Slower. Your scent changed. You smelled like me. Then we did it again but it was more frenzied and I had to mark you everywhere….I had to…"

Bonnie frowned as she felt his body begin to tremble. "Tyler?" she left the concern for him leak into her voice and tried to ignore the way that her own body had been affected by his words.

His hands moved downward, sliding around her back and she realized that they were both still very much naked. She was trying to focus on calming him down but something else was telling her to submit to whatever her wanted even though her body was exhausted and she could sense that something was off.

"I need you to focus." Her words might have had more an impact if her voice hadn't broken at the end of the statement. If her she hadn't reached run her fingers through his hair as his mouth fitted over the bite mark on her neck, sucking and causing a dual sensation of pain and pleasure that made her arch upward off the bed.

"I'm focused," he answered, his lips moving against her skin, "I can't think about anything else."

When he kissed her Bonnie responded for a moment until her eyes looked up at the ceiling and saw the singe marks that remained from the pentacle that had been there the night before. Gently she pushed him away. "No," she said.

Whatever had been clawing and trying to get out of him seemed to settle at the word and his eyes dulled to their normal brown. "I'm sorry," he whispered, "I thought you wanted…"

Bonnie shook her head quickly. "It isn't that I didn't want…," she sighed, "I need you to focus…but not on me. On the room. Something happened last night. Something is wrong, Tyler." Wrong didn't feel like the right word and she felt a sharp pain just thinking about it. Whatever it was it was right, but new. Something that hadn't been there before but not wrong.

"Wrong?" Tyler frowned as if his thoughts had mirrored hers.

"Not wrong," Bonnie amended, "But something happened." She pointed up at the ceiling. She felt a since of loss as Tyler moved away from her and looked upward.

"What the hell is that?" Tyler frowned as he looked up at the ceiling to see what looked to burn marks in the form of star enclosed in a circle.

Instead of answering Bonnie continued survey the room. There were tears in the sheets and the mattress. Things knocked over on her desk and her nightstand. Scratch marks on the walls. "Is that from…us?" Bonnie asked, her eyes settling on the wall.

"Yeah," Tyler muttered, scratching the back of his neck.

Bonnie looked down at herself and sighed. While there was only one bite mark on her neck, there was an array of hickeys all over her body. Her frowned deepened as she came to the mark about three inches in size, on the front of her shoulder underneath the bite mark, though it looked more like a tattoo of some sort. It was a series of interlaced thick red lines that were outlined in black. The completed formation looked like sort of weaving, and she couldn't tell whether it started or ended.

When she looked at Tyler she noted that he had a similar mark on his chest, except his was green and black. She reached out and touched symbol on Tyler's chest and it seemed to glow as she did, the colors shining out from the inside. She had seen the symbol before but she couldn't place.

She was wracking her brain for what it was and what it meant when her attention snapped into focus as Tyler wrapped an arm around the wrist of the hand she had placed on his chest. He lifted it up and his eyes narrowed. "Where did this ring come from?"

She hadn't noticed the ring until she spoke but as she looked down she recognized the type of ring it was. An infinity ring. She had only seen a picture of one once in one of the occult books that grandmother used to teach out of. This one was more intricate than the one that she had seen before. It looked to be three separate wrings, all thin, made of different metals. Silver. Copper. Gold. They were all twisted to form and infinity symbol and knotted together into one ring. She couldn't remember exactly what the caption under the image had said but she remember the words, eternal, faithfulness, and love.

Bonnie blinked several times. "I have one too," Tyler said, holding up his hand, "Exactly the same."

He was right, unlike the tattoo like marks which were different colors, Tyler's ring was the same as hers. They were both wearing them on the ring fingers of their left hands. That was a huge red flag Bonnie knew. "This is my fault," she whispered, as she remembered the surge of power she had felt, "I don't remember what I did but I must have done something. I'm so sorry."

Tyler gripped her shoulders gently and shook his head. "Whatever happened it couldn't be your fault," he sighed, "just calm down. I don't like seeing you upset. We'll figure it out. Mason was being weird yesterday. He said some things…maybe he knows something."

Bonnie shook her head. "You don't understand," she said, "I'm not who you think I am. I'm not…" She looked down at her hands and felt herself shaking. If he hated her after this she would die. She knew that she would. She couldn't live if he hated her. There would be no point. "The things that some of the people used to say about my grams and my family," she whispered, "They're true. I'm a witch."

"What?" Tyler frowned. However, even as the word left his mouth, something inside of him said that it was true. She was a witch. His witch. Her power was his power. His power was her power. He had felt it. Seen it shining out from beneath her skin and calling out to him like a beacon of light. "I don't understand."

"It doesn't matter," she said as she threw back the covers, "I'll fix it. I'll figure it out and I'll fix whatever happened and you won't…you won't have to deal with whatever this is or me anymore. It was just supposed to be a onetime thing right? Then I did something. Fucked something up. Probably some subconscious urge not to be alone anymore. I don't know but you should have to deal with my bullshit."

She stumbled as she stood her feet and Tyler shot up, catching her before she could fall and pulling her against his chest. "You need to calm down," he repeated.

Bonnie shook her head. "No I have to fix it," she said, "I have to…" She began to wave her hands and everything in the room began to right itself. When she stopped she was still shaking but her room looked exactly how it always did. There was no evidence of why had happened the night before. Even the mark on the ceiling had gone. But the rings and marks on t their bodies were still there. "How did I…" she trailed, "I don't know how I just did that. I don't…what's happening to me. I'm losing control. I have to-"

"Bonnie," Tyler snapped and the tone made Bonnie still immediately.

It might have scared another person but she found that it calmed her. She waited for further instruction, no longer trembling. "Look at me," Tyler instructed.

She looked up and his eyes had yellowed again but that didn't scare her either. It should have. She still didn't know what he was. But you do, a voice in her mind told her, you know.

"You're calm," Tyler said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Bonnie nodded. Her alpha wanted her calm and so she calm. Alpha? Bonnie ignored the question from the rational part of her mind and repeated Tyler's words instead. "I'm calm," she said.

She was. It wasn't a lie. She felt at ease. Safe. Him taking control of the situation was something she needed. It made her feel secure. Still it didn't make sense. He was the first person she had ever slept with, the first to see her naked. The first to see her so vulnerable, because she was vulnerable in every way possible at the moment; standing naked in her room without much memory of then night before with her powers seemingly developing a life of their own. Those thing alone should have been enough to send her reeling but she was unbothered.

She was drawing strength from Tyler's strength, even though she wasn't sure where it came from. She was focusing on the tingling sensation where their skin made contact and the pounding of his heart in her ears.

"Everything will be okay," he said, and she believe him. He pulled her back toward the bed and she allowed. Allowed him to pull her into his lap as he sat with his back against the headboard. Allowed him to wrap his arms around her and nuzzle her neck where the bite mark stood out against her skin; that should have probably hurt but just felt really good where he touched her. "Now tell me everything," he said, "Tell me why you think this is your fault. Start at the beginning."

Bonnie told him everything, from the beginning when the Salvatore had shown. She told him about discovering her powers, about Emily and her necklace. About Katherine and the Salvatore being vampires. About Vicki and what had really happened to her. About the tomb vampires and how her grandmother had died. She told him about how she had learned a few spells when she had bene away right after. About how helpless she had felt and still felt. About how she had just wanted to do the right thing and protect the town. She told him about the Gilbert device and what had happened the night of his accident and the night his father died.

At the mention his father and the reason that he, Matt, and Caroline had gotten into the crash, Tyler had stiffened and Bonnie had paused. He didn't say anything, just rubbed his hands down her arms and buried his face in her neck and so she continued. She told him about the reason she had sought him out aside for her only feelings of guilt and her understanding of his loss. About her odd encounter with Mason. She didn't stop until she came to the point the night before where she had realized that there was something happening with her powers.

"I have to go," he said once she was finished.

Bonnie froze and she felt tears prickling in the corner of hers. "If I had known that you and your father would react to the device I never would've-"

"Bonnie," Tyler sighed, closing his eyes, "I don't…I don't blame you for what happened. I wish things were different but you were trying to protect the town. You weren't doing anything malicious. I'm not mad at you, I'm not happy…but I understand okay. I know you well enough to know that if you thought there was another way you would've found it. You wouldn't have had to act at all if the Salvatore hadn't shown up. This is their fault. If they hadn't come here and brought Katherine here…my dad, your grams, and Vicki could be alive right now and Caroline wouldn't be in the hospital. I know you made some choices that turned out bad but you were backed into a corner and you were trying to help Elena and Stefan and protect everyone. I get it."

Bonnie shook her head. "Then why are you leaving?" she asked. Shifting in his arms, she turned around to face him. "If you mad then be mad," she frowned, "I get it. I deserve it. If you lie to make me feel better, I'm just going to feel worse."

"I'm confused and little scared and disappointed," he said, "I don't know what the fuck is going on right now. Yeah, I'm angry, but like I said…not at you. We have to figure out what happened and if Mason made a comment that made it seem like he knew about your powers that's the first place we need to look. I told you…he was acting weird yesterday. I think he knew that whatever happened was going to happen. I don't want you around him until I know if I can trust him. I need you safe. You said your grams put spells on this place? Protective spells? And the Salvatore haven't been invited in?"

Bonnie nodded, closing her eyes as he kissed her forehead.

"You're staying here," he said, "I'll feel better if you're somewhere no one can touch you since I won't be with you." His words surprised her, as did the fierce protective tone but he seemed to have surprised himself as well so Bonnie just nodded again. "Don't go to school. Don't leave the house until you hear from me."

"I'll look into things on my end," Bonnie said as he got up and began to put on his clothes. She watched silently, not bothering to cover herself or keep her gaze on him at eye level. It was strange that she didn't feel any shame or hesitance at either. "You'll come back?"

Tyler turned as he finished buttoning up his shirt. The buttons were done up wrong. He was clearly more upset than he was letting on but he was restraining himself for her sake.

Sighing Bonnie stood, fidgeting self-consciously as Tyler's eyes gave her a once over and the yellow tint returned slightly. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he said, as she brushed his hands away and buttoned up his shirt the right way. She noted that she had left her own marks on his skin as well. "Don't worry. Just stay here."

"Okay," Bonnie agreed, "Be careful with Mason."

Tyler's expression darkened at the mention of his uncle. "I'll handle him, luna," he said. Bonnie reached up and touched his face and his scowl disappeared. "Don't worry," he murmured, "It'll be okay, mea lux."

Bonnie's expression became even more worried. "Since when do you speak Latin?" she asked. She recognized the language that was used to create some of the spells that were documented in the journals and grimoires of her family members that her grandmother had left behind. "My light," that was what he had said. The endearment seemed to make Bonnie warm from the inside, even if she wasn't sure where it had come from.

"One more thing I have to get out of here and figure out," Tyler muttered.

Grabbing her face in his hands he titled her head and kissed her on lips. Bonnie closed her eyes as he pulled away feeling slightly disoriented at the loss. When she opened them, he was gone.

:::

Mason Lockwood was coming back from his morning run when his nephew finally returned home. He slunk into the front door of the mansion looking around and startling slightly when he saw Mason. Mason raised an eyebrow as Tyler stood upright and his eyes narrowed.

"You were gone all night," Mason grinned, "Have fun with Bonnie?" He watched as Tyler's hands clenched into fists and his eyes darkened and the yellowed.

"We need to talk," Tyler hissed under his breath.

Mason nodded. "I'm sure that we do," he said. He was about to suggest they find somewhere quiet and secluded when Carol rounded the corner, heading for the stares. Mason gave him a pointed look as Tyler stiffened, clearly agitated. "Morning, Carol," he said.

"Good morning." Carol smiled at Mason but her smile faded as she eyed Tyler. He was wearing the same clothes as he was the day before and he was sure he looked like hell. His shirt was wrinkled and his hair was tussled from Bonnie running her fingers through it and sleep and who the hell knew what else. There was also the marks that Bonnie had left all over his neck.

Tyler closed his eyes as he thought about Bonnie. He had fucked up. Left her while she was clearly upset and he was going out of his mind about it. His thoughts were almost in a frenzy with the need to go back and to reassure her. Make it right. He couldn't upset her. He couldn't hurt her. He was supposed to protect her. Protect. Possess. Own but never harm.

He hadn't harmed her but he had left her uncertain, but he knew he couldn't go back without answers. She was safer away from him right now, even as a part of him told him that she would need him always.

Tyler began to spin the ring around his finger. The gold, silver, and copper woven band that had appeared that he didn't understand. He had thought about removing it but he couldn't bring himself to take it off. The thought was almost agonizing. He spun the ring again and thought of Bonnie, trying to hide his agitation.

The move drew Mason's attention to it and as he looked at it his eyes grew almost comically wide. "Holy shit," he whispered under his breath, something akin to awe in his voice.

Tyler frowned. They had been right. Mason knew what the ring meant. He knew what it all meant. Tyler would get the information even if he had to force it out of him.

"You look terrible," Carol frowned, eyeing Tyler with concern, "Where've you been all night?" Tyler opened his mouth to respond that he had stayed the night with Matt but he stopped when his mother's eyes landed on the marks on his neck. The lie was next to useless now. He watched as she sighed and shook her head. "Never mind," she said, "I don't want to know. You have school in a few hours. You should get ready soon."

Tyler nodded, even though he had no intentions of going to school, and watched as his mother ascended the stairs and then disappeared. As soon as she was out of sight, Tyler grabbed Mason's arm and dragged him into the parlor room shutting the set of double doors behind him.

"Yesterday," Tyler spat, not wasting any time, "You pop up out of fucking nowhere and all you do besides reminisce about my father is interrogate me about my anger issues and my rage episodes and push me toward Bonnie. You knew where I went yesterday and you knew what would happened. Don't deny it. You looked too fucking smug when I walked in just now."

Mason held up his hands. "Tyler," he frowned, "Calm down." He felt his own anger rising in response and he felt his wolf wrestling to show dominance but in spite of being older he wasn't the dominant one now that Tyler had bonded and it wasn't a battle that he would win.

"Calm down?" Tyler laughed, but there was no humor in it. "You want me to calm down when I woke up this morning after having the best sex I've ever had with a fucked up tattoo on my chest and ring that I can't take off as souvenirs. Oh and apparently I can speak Latin now. Then I find out that not only is the girl that I slept with is a witch, but she's also smart, and funny and beautiful and she really cares about people so I can't see her powers as anything other than this other part of her that just as amazing as everything else. She also played a part in my father's death but she's the only reason I made it through yesterday. I can be mad about what she did because she was trying to protect the town from fucking vampires. Vampires Mason! You know like Dracula or those sparkly shits from fucking Twilight."

Mason snickered and Tyler felt the urge to rip him to shreds. Claw at his body until there was nothing left but pulp, but something was stopping him. Mason was family, no…he was pack…yes…that sounded right. Whatever the hell that meant, it meant more to whatever wasn't human inside of him than it did to Tyler at the moment.

"Then she tells me that there's a chance that I'm not even human and that you knew about it. And I believe her," he stated, "Without question or substantial proof, because I trust her more than I trust anyone. Because overnight she became the most important thing to me. Every part of me wants to be with her right now and I feel like I going to explode out of my skin because I fucking I left her scared and freaked out so I could come over her and interrogate your dumb ass. I can't even be mad at her for any of this. Just you and the stupid fucking Salvatore brothers because apparently they're a part of the reason she was involved in what happened to dad in the first place and I want to fucking kill them. I want to kill them not just because of dad…no because of Bonnie. Because they upset Bonnie and they were involved in what happened to Miss Sheila and because I know if they're dead she'll feel safe. It's my job to make her safe but I don't fucking know why. So tell again to calm down."

"Are you done?" Mason asked. Tyler looked ready to attack him but Mason held up his hands. "Maybe you've forgotten but your mom is the head of the town council and I know you're not aware of this but they have this little objective to protect the town from anything supernatural," he said, "That includes witches. These are the same kind of people who incinerated Bonnie's ancestor and people like Bonnie for being what they are years ago. So if you really want to keep Bonnie safe then I suggest you listen to me and calm down. Then you can ask what you came here to ask."

Tyler felt himself deflate immediately. He knew that Mason was playing him. That his uncle knew that using Bonnie would get to him somehow but he couldn't bring himself to call him on it. It wouldn't take much for him to get confirmation about the council and the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Why else would Damon Salvatore want to endear himself to his mother? What better way to hide his own secret than to pretend to be fighting against beings like him?

Bonnie had mentioned it too hadn't she? He felt himself get even angrier as her realized the bastard and his brother had managed to get an open invitation into his home. He would have to fix that somehow. If they came after his Bonnie or his family in the meantime, they would regret it.

"What the hell is going on?" Tyler scowled, running his hands through his hair, "What's happening to me?"

"What was always meant to happen," Mason said, "Sit down. I'll explain everything."

Reluctantly Tyler sat down on the edge of the couch. He still looked ready to pounce at any many. His position was slightly crouched as if readying himself for a potential attack. His knew bounced up and down in agitation and he clasped his hands together in an attempt to keep calm.

"This is all insane," Tyler muttered. He glanced at Mason as his uncle sat down next to hime. "Tell me…," he began and then started over, "Why did you let me walk into whatever this is blindly? Why didn't you warn me? Even if I didn't believe you, having it put out there as a possibility would have been better than this."

Mason frowned. "I'm sorry," he said, "I needed you at your best. I needed Bonnie at her best. You guys are about to be involved in some heavy shit with or without me involved and you couldn't handle as you were. Well….Bonnie might have been able to but…she would've had to do it alone and the spirits…the witches on the other side…has she told you about them?"

Tyler nodded. "Vaguely," he said.

"They guide the witches on this side," he said, "Sheila is there now as well. They saw what would happen if Bonnie didn't have you and it wasn't an option. It would've led to her death Tyler."

Tyler felt sick to his stomach. The thought of Bonnie dying…but she was alive. She was with him. She was fine. He would think about anything else. "So," he said, "They orchestrated this whole thing?"

Mason shook his head. "Only in a sense that they asked me to make sure it happened," he sighed, "But you and Bonnie…you're supposed to be together. If I had told you that you probably would have called me crazy and did everything you could to stay away from her and the bond might not have happened before Bonnie died because she was alone in all of this."

Tyler stiffened. "Bond?" That sounded it right. He was bound to her in some kind of way, but that was the wrong word wasn't it? Mate, his mind supplied, she was his mate.

"In order for you to understand it," Mason said, "You have to understand what you are. What we are and the curse that is upon this family."

"Bonnie's been blaming herself for this," he said, "She tings she still some kind of spell on accident because she was lonely and wanted to tie herself to something. She recognized the rings and symbols but she couldn't place them. It isn't just about her being a witch though right? It's about whatever we are. Last night after we…I could feel her power. I didn't know what it was at the time but she blacked out after I bit and t hen I felt my body change. Like something was ripping me apart from the inside and then everything went black. When I opened my eyes she was there and I wanted to ask questions but I couldn't focus on anything else but and we…a few more times and then this morning…I couldn't finally connect the dots that something was different."

Mason had been listening intently. When Tyler stopped talking he nodded as if he understood. "Witches draw their powers from nature," he said, "What we are…is of nature. We're werewolves Tyler."

Tyler opened his mouth to object but it snapped shut. The biting. The marking. The need to claim. The thought of Bonnie as his mate. The anger. He had called Bonnie, "beautiful moon" in Latin for fuck's sake. "Keep going," Tyler said, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I want to know everything."

Tyler stiffened as Mason sat down next to him but listened as his uncle spoke of their family history. Listened as he told him all that being a wolf entailed. Enhanced senses. The need to mate. Speed. Agility. Anger. Transformation on the full moon. Tyler wasn't prepared to hear anyone it, but he had promised Bonnie that he would find out the truth so he stayed and listened.

"You are a special case," Mason said, "You're an alpha, descended from the first of our kind. It's in your blood. You are destined to be the strongest wolf in this line and your bond with Bonnie is the reason. There are things that tie wolves and witches together. Things that are in our nature. When we first came into existence it was to act as a witches familiar. To aid them in their power and act as a companion, but the wolf…for the wolf it wasn't enough. It required a deeper bond. It's in a wolf's nature to mate and it's in a witch's nature to take a familiar and when those things came together new kinds of bond were formed. However, since magic is about balance…there are different kind of bonds…not every bond is right for every pair. Some pairs aren't compatible in enough ways to form certain kinds of bonds so the magic and the wolf with only tie them in ways in which they are compatible."

Tyler watched as Mason pulled up his sleeve to reveal a mark on the inside of his wrist. It wasn't like his mark or Bonne's. I looked like a cross made up of curved lines that was encircled in the middle.

"It's a witch's knot," Mason supplied, as if Tyler would know what that meant, "It appeared after my first time with a witch named Lucy. The two of us share a bond of the body. It's open and allows us to seek companion ship in others. She has another bond mate but its a bond of the mind. The three of us make it work, but not all of the bonds allow for ties to other people. Some bonds are different. Not like ours. They form between those who find the perfect match in each other, they become tied in almost every way possible and it doesn't leave room for anything else or anyone else."

"So you got bonded to her by force," Tyler frowned, "Just like us and you still didn't say anything?!"

"It isn't forced," he said, "Its natural and it's a gift. It's something that can only happen if the desire is there from both sides. Even if it's just subconscious. Its seems like it's something crazy and unmanageable now but the more time you spend together, the more it'll settle in. The more sense it will make and you'll understand that it was always there underneath the surface and all you did last night was let it out. The bond is a beautiful thing, something that the parts of you that aren't human created, but still natural for what you are underneath it all."

Tyler was silent. A part of him believed what Mason was saying. That they had just been speeding up the inevitable. He still felt that if they had known, if they had been given some kind of choice or warning, it never would have happened.

"Your mark," Mason said, "The one on your chest. Can I see it? I just need to verify something."

Tyler sighed and unbuttoned his shirt. He pulled it open enough for his uncle to see the mark on his chest. "You said some of the bonds don't leave from for anything else," Tyler said, watching Mason's reaction carefully. Again Mason's expression was one of shock and awe, just as it had been when he had seen the ring. Tyler quickly buttoned his shirt back up.

"I…" Mason blinked several times. "There are bonds that form enough ties that allow those that are bound to have every need that they have satisfied by one another and so they don't seek outside relationships. Sometimes they can't, there's physical and mental pain involved at hurting and betraying their bond mate in that way."

Mason ran a shaking hand through his hair as he spoke. He seemed unsettled. That made Tyler even more afraid of what it was that he had Bonnie had unknowingly gotten themselves into.

"There is one bond in particular," Mason continued, "that is the most rare that happens between those who are compatible in every way possible. It then binds them in every way possible. A bond that is meant to be eternal. Mind. Body. Power. Soul. Spirit. Blood. Everything in them is made to complement each other and during the bonding those things are woven together in a way that sort of marries those pieces to each other, tying them together so intricately that their connection runs so deep that it's almost impossible to break. If the bond were to ever be broken it would be extremely difficult, painful and traumatic and likely cause insanity or death or both. It's the most pure thing that can exist between two supernatural beings. That bond is called the Ad Infinitum."

"To infinity?" Tyler blinked and then scowled. "I don't understand," he said. But he did. He understood all too well what Mason was trying to say.

"You understand Latin because Bonnie understands Latin Tyler," Mason said, "Your minds are melded now. You can share knowledge, thoughts, and emotions. You can feel her power because it's your power too, you build and enhance each other. Your blood is her blood. So your family is her family and vice versa. Your body is her body, all your sense will always be in tune with hers. Touch. Taste. Sight. Sound. Smell. Have you noticed things about her? The sound of her voice? The way she smells? Each time her pulse quickens when you get close to her…?"

"Stop it," Tyler said, standing. He ran a hand over his face. He was describing everything he had been feeling over the past twenty four hours and Tyler felt sick. "Infinity…the bond it's never ending right?" At Mason's nod Tyler tugged at his hair. "I can't believe this shit," Tyler spat after a moment, "I can't believe you didn't warn us about something this fucking big."

"I thought it would be a more open bond," Mason sighed, "All I knew is that your wolf chose her and her magic responded to it. I didn't know it would be this. I told you it was rare. But is also one of the most coveted bonds in the supernatural community. Do you realize you two are the stuff of legends? The last time one of these bonds happened was over four centuries ago, Tyler!"

"I don't care!" Tyler shouted reaching the end of his patience. He couldn't stay calm, not without Bonnie. "Who gives a fuck about the supernatural community? This is my life and Bonnie's life you fucked with! Even if it was any kind of bond I would pissed but you knew this one was a possibility no matter how small and you didn't say anything. How can you not get how fucked up that is?" Tyler ranted, his voice raising. He closed his eyes and tried to calm down. He couldn't handle this, not alone. He had to get back to Bonnie so they could figure out what to do next. "I'm going to pack a few things and disappear for a couple of days. Hopefully I can stay with Bonnie and we can figure this out but if not I'll be at Matt's. I can't stay here. Don't contact me."

He couldn't stay in this house. Not with the ghost of his father haunting the walls. Not with having to keep the fact that he was a fucking werewolf that had managed to get himself bound for life to a witch from his mother. Not with an uncle who was a stranger and had saw fit to keep secrets for whatever reasons and play games with his life and the life of someone who Tyler had once considered a friend of sorts and who was not the very reason for his existence. "Tyler," Mason said, as he started to walk away, "We need to talk about all of this. There are things going on that you don't understand. Besides that Carol isn't going to let you-"

"Now you want to talk and worry about my mother?" Tyler laughed, "Screw you. I need to get back to Bonnie. You are going to cover for me. I don't want to deal with his shit right now. It's bad enough I have to go and tell Bonnie that she's stuck with me for the better part of eternity which will lead to inevitable rejection, even without this werewolf bullshit. I wouldn't be surprised if she preferred death at this point. We will talk when I'm ready and when she's ready. Not before."

Mason felt his own anger rise and Tyler watched as his eyes yellowed. They didn't have time to coddle them. He could give them time but he had to find the moon stone at least. "I need you to listen to me," Mason demanded, "I'll make you if I have to."

Tyler stood his ground. "Try it." Mason took a step back as he suddenly felt power permeating from his nephew and Tyler's eyes began to glow brighter than he had ever seen in any wolf before. Mason held up his hands in submission. It was a bad sign. He was older and should have been stronger but with the bond and Tyler's alpha blood there was really nothing that Mason could do to stop him.

He had hoped the bond would be one like his own. That Tyler would come to him for help and he could convince him to help Katherine and Lucy in turn but things had gone pear-shaped. He was too tied to Bonnie. His loyalty lied where Bonnie's did, but there was still a chance. Still a chance

"That's what I thought," Tyler said.

After Tyler left the room without looking back, Mason pulled out his phone and called Lucy. When she answered, before she could speak, Mason spoke first. "Babe you're not going to believe this shit…it's an Ad Infinitum."

:::

Bonnie ignored another call from Elena as she sat on the couch in her living room and flipped through a book on symbols in pagan witchcraft. She was supposed to be helping Elena set up for the carnival being held at school. They were taking the reigns since Caroline was still in the hospital. Damon's blood had worked in healing her but the doctor's had kept her under observation just in case her miraculous recovery had been a fluke and she wasn't being released until later that night when the carnival was scheduled to take place.

Bonnie didn't feel bad for breaking her commitment. She had more pressing things to worry about and more than that Tyler had asked her not to leave the house. He would feel better knowing she was safe and so Bonnie felt compelled to stay exactly where she was.

Frowning Bonnie put the book down. She had showered and dressed but she couldn't get rid of the marks on her skin no matter what spell she tried and then she had felt guilty for trying and she had gone to researching instead.

She looked down at her cell phone. Three missed calls from Elena. Two from Caroline. One from Matt. None from Tyler.

Sighing Bonnie moved on to the next book. She froze as she opened the pages. She felt something tickle the edge of her mind. "What the hell?" she muttered as she felt as if her head were being infiltrated.

"Bonnie?"

Bonnie's head whipped around but she didn't see anything or anyone. But that voice. She knew that voice. It made the hairs on her body stand on end. "Tyler?"

"Yeah," he said, his voice an odd echo in her mind, "Mason said our minds were linked. I wanted to try something. Guess it worked. Don't freak out I'll be there as soon as I can. Look up Ad Infinitum."

A moment later the feeling was gone and Bonnie felt calm knowing Tyler was coming and uneasy all at once. She had been second guessing whether or not he would come back and she was sure he knew that, that that was the reason he had been able to contact her. To reassure her. He had sounded so calm just then.

To give her guidance, direct her actions so that she would be occupied until he got back. He was projecting dominance. The sign of a true alpha, her mind supplied. "What the hell just happened?"

Bonnie looked at the books piled in front of her and sighed. There was something telling her that there was an easier way that this could be done. It wasn't as if most of these things had a glossary or an index, however.

Still a voince in her head that sounded suspiciously like Tyler seemed to say, "You have the power to get this done quickly so use it." She thought about the bursts of magic from that morning that she had used to repair the damage to her room. She hadn't known how she had done. It had just been a thought, pure panicked emotion, frantic movements and will power.

Still she would try, maybe this time using thought and will power only. Bonnie held out her hands over the books and concentrated on her powers and her search. "Show me Ad Infinitum," she whispered.

She was surprised to find that one of the books came floating up from the stack and into her lap. She watched as the book opened and the pages began to flip until they stopped and Bonnie looked down to see the words Ad Infinitum written in bold at the top.

Her powers had been enhanced somehow or at least changed. She didn't know what she was going to have to do now to learn to better control it.

Wondering why anything was able to shock her anymore Bonnie read the definition on the page aloud. "The most powerful and intricate bond that a witch can have with another being of supernatural nature," she read, "While the bond is meant to be strong by nature as it is a bond between the entire essence of two beings; mind, body, blood, soul, and spirit, it is stronger when between a witch and some creatures than others. The bond is the most diluted between witch and vampire. Because their natures are opposing the bond of that nature which requires ultimate compatibility is nearly impossible. The bond is second strongest between witches and warlocks or any other combination of the two. However, if one practices an opposing form of magic that compatibility can be compromised as well. The bond is actually the strongest between a witch and a werewolf. The witch draws her powers from nature and the werewolf is of nature. It is in the nature of the witch to take on a familiar spirit, which was the first purpose that the cursed ever served. It is in the nature of the werewolf to mate for life and the bond is eternal…"

Bonnie stopped reading as the gravity of the situation finally hit her. Suddenly a conversation between Tyler and Mason that Bonnie hadn't been there to witness played out in her mind. The conversation that Tyler had had with him about his heritage and about the bond.

"This is crazy," Bonnie frowned. She continued to read as she needed to focus on something else besides all of the weird ways in which this bond was affecting her.

As she read that the bond was a natural occurrence between compatible souls or soul mates, she felt her guilt lessen. So it wasn't her fault, but they would still have to deal with the consequences.

The breaking of the bond was difficult and painful and traumatic. It could lead to insanity and death and Bonnie didn't want that for her or Tyler so it wasn't an option. Though, for all she knew Tyler was willing to risk it.

Bonnie looked at the sketch of the symbol that was still on the front on her shoulder. The eternal knot or the endless knot. It was an outward presentation of their bond and all of the ways in which they were tied together. The bite had been for the sake of the wolf and the knot had appeared for the sake of the witch.

The knot represented the union and harmony of two dual and sometimes opposing forces. The colors had meaning as well. Tyler's was green because he represented Bonnie. Green was the color of nature. It represented harmony and balance. Growth, freshness and fertility. Green was associated with emotional safety, healing and protection.

Bonnie's was red because of the nature of Tyler's wolf. She still couldn't believe it. A werewolf. She was bound to a werewolf for the rest of her life. But it wasn't just some werewolf. It was Tyler. Tyler who was Matt's friend and a varsity athlete in three different sports. Tyler who was kind of an asshole but who made her laugh and at the end of the day was one of the few people who understood her losses. He was the only person who had ever called her beautiful. He was the only person who she could really talk to. The only person who didn't seem to let the fact that she was a witch change his perception of who she was. He was just as willing to be there for her as he had been the night before and years ago when they were kids.

Bonnie looked back down at the book, forcing her thoughts back to the task at hand. Red was the color of blood. The color of a predator. It was associated with energy, anger, war, danger, strength, power, and determination. But also passion, fire, desire, sexuality and love. Red was an emotionally intense color. The color rage but also courage. The color of leadership but also longing.

Red was the color of wrath and green the color of peace. Bonnie thought about what Tyler had said to her before the mating had occurred. He said he was angry all the time but around her he was calm.

While Bonnie put up a good front she had lost her will to be angry anymore and she was losing her will to fight. She was losing her will to feel anything and was beginning to go along with Elena and the Salvatore all over again. Her wrath after the death of her grams had been short lived and all she was able to feel was a muted sense of guilt fear.

However, with Tyler she felt safe, protected. More than that he ignited a passion inside of her that she hadn't been aware that she was capable of. She had never wanted anyone life she wanted him. Even now, she was mentally counting the seconds until he got back and she see him…touch him…kiss him… But would she be able to. This thing was bigger now. Bigger than an intended one night stand. Bigger than Bonnie's attempt to feel something. Bigger than the need to be there for someone who had suffered as much loss as her. Now that Tyler was blinded by a heritage that he didn't know he had they had even more in common.

Wanting to know more, Bonnie skipped over the other possible colors listed until she got to the last color that was actually a part of their marks. The black that outlined the interlaced lines.

Black was representative of their union. Black represented both their power and the unknown depth of it to the outside world. Black stood for power, strength, elegance, and authority. Black was a barrier between them and the outside world, covering the secret of the power, their heritage, and their ties to each other. The wolf kept the secrets of his pack with the same intensity that the witch shielded the secrets of her coven. Black was the color of intimidation, danger, self-control and disciplined. It implied that they would lead and destroy anything that opposed their path.

"Lead what?" Bonnie asked. There weren't any other witches in Mystic Falls. No other wolves but Mason. They were outnumbered by vampires, but did this mean that they wouldn't be for long?"

Looking for more information Bonnie flipped the page and noted with confusion that even the metal making up their rings had meaning.

Copper, ruled by the goddess Venus. The goddess of love, beauty, art, balance, harmony and peace. It transferred warmth and electricity. The metal copper had great connecting power and was used in spells and rituals to promote love, sensuality, friendship, positive relationships of any kind, and peace.

Silver, ruled by the moon, called Luna by alchemists. The symbolism of the moon represented reflection, receptivity, and reaction. "The moon acts as a mirror reflecting the light from the sun," Bonnie read aloud. Tyler had called her "luna", hadn't he?

Silently Bonnie kept reading. The metal silver was used in rituals to reflect and neutralize negativity, and balance emotional imbalances. "Like excessive feelings of anger," Bonnie murmured, thinking of Tyler's mention of rage to Mason in the conversation that she had somehow manage to unintentionally pick up on by whatever means.

Bonnie moved on to the next metal before her mind gave her a chance to dwell on the discoveries.

Gold, was ruled by the sun, and represented wisdom, comfort and longevity. Gold amulets were used by witches as cures for depression. They were also used for comforting and strengthening the heart, protection and healing. Gold was used in rituals concerning the sun deities, self-confidence, fortune, hope, and the building of worldly and magical power. Gold was worn to improve inner strength.

Copper was the bond. Silver, the moon, was Bonnie. Gold, the sun, was Tyler.

She looked back up the page to the description of the bond between witch and wolf and found the confirmation of their thoughts. "Mother nature thrives due to the light of the sun," Bonnie read, "The moon has always been the catalyst for the wolf's transformation. In this way there could never be a more perfect pair."

Bonnie closed the book. She wasn't sure what to do with any of the information she had just read and so she stared into space until her phone rang again.

When she saw that it was Elena again, she ignored the call. Bonnie tried to piece together the thoughts in her head. Being with Tyler wasn't the problem. Even though they had barely starting speaking again, she liked being with. Even before the bond she had liked the way he made her feel, but had that just been a precursor, what had happened in his father's den at the memorial? It was all so messed up. The only thing she knew was that she had liked being around him when she was younger before they had started running in different directions and that she had always found him attractive, but she couldn't build an eternity on that.

Even if they found out that they could if they spent more time together and discovered that they were in fact perfect for each other, why couldn't that happen before the bond? Why couldn't they have just at least dated first and made the decision as to whether or not to make a lifelong commitment like normal people. "Because we're not normal," Bonnie sighed, answering her own question.

Still, the lack of being able to choose bothered her and she was sure if they had an actual choice, that Tyler wouldn't willingly choose her. There were a million other girls he could be with and probably more that he would rather be with, let alone be tied to for the rest of their existence and if the book was right, in death as well.

Bonnie bit her bottom lip, worrying it with her teeth. She didn't know what to do next. She had found what they had needed to know for the most part, but Tyler still hadn't returned. She decided to look up information on just werewolves instead.

She was halfway through the werewolf section of one of the grandmother's old text books when she felt Tyler's presence before the knock on the front door even came.

Bonnie tossed the book back onto the stack on the table as she stood. She smoothed her hands down her front, surveying her outfit. She had changed five times that morning before settling on a maroon draped skirt that Caroline had gotten her for her last birthday and long sleeved black lace top. It seemed a bit much to be sitting around the house in but her mind kept telling her that Tyler would be seeing her and so she needed to look her best.

Sighing and feeling foolish Bonnie left the living room and went to answer the front door. She took a deep breath as she gripped the door knob. She didn't know what to expect. She could feel what he was feeling and although there was anger there, it wasn't directed at her and so she felt that was at least plus.

Deciding to bite the bullet, Bonnie opened the door. Tyler was standing on the other side with a duffle bag in one hand. Bonnie stood in the doorway her hands clasped together self-consciously as he stared at her. "Hey," Bonnie said, into the silence.

"Hey," Tyler smiled, but he still looked uncertain, "Sorry it took so long. I…had to pack some things. I don't think I can stay at home for a while. I called Matt but he's still at the hospital with Caroline-"

"Stay here," Bonnie interrupted. She didn't see the point of them being away from one another. They would have to deal with the fallout of the bond and prolonged separations, even for a few hours seemed to take a heavy toll on them both.

"You sure?" Tyler asked. He was tense and Bonnie was sure that he had been on the verge of a break down ever since he had left her house that morning.

"I want you here," Bonnie said, feeling more confident than she had before he had arrived, "With me." When the tension left his body, Bonnie stepped to the side and gestured for him to come inside.

Tyler walked inside, dropping his bag on the floor. Bonnie closed the door and as soon as she turned around she found herself backed into it. "You look beautiful," Tyler said as he wrapped his arms around.

"Thank you," Bonnie whispered. She smiled at the thought that she had pleased him and then tried not to dwell too much on the odd feeling of accomplishment. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned back against the door so that she could look at him. "I missed you," she said, honestly.

"I missed you too." Tyler leaned forward until his forehead was resting against her. "Thank you for trusting me enough to stay here."

"You're upset," Bonnie said. He was holding himself together on the outside but she could feel his turmoil. She ran her hands down his chest, trying to project calmness. She watched as his eyes closed and then opened again, glowing yellow. "Just breathe," she murmured.

"I've been going out of my mind all day," he said, "I probably would've killed Mason if I hadn't been so focused on getting back to you."

"Don't think about it," she responded, "Just breathe and focus on me." She felt her own uncertainty and fear of rejection disappear, giving way to the need to take of him. Wrapping her arms around his neck again, she pulled him closer, into her body.

Tyler responded by holding her tighter. "I know we need to talk," he said, "But let just stay like this for a while. Just…don't let go."

Bonnie rested her head on his shoulder as he buried his face in her neck. He wasn't just talking about letting go in that moment, she knew. "I won't," she answered and she meant it.