Chapter 38: Part 2 — Corks and Claws

Author's note: To Shadowhunter76: To answer your question regarding Chapter 29, the line is "While she'd never met the Original before, the volatile hybrid's reputation preceded him." Caroline was stating she had never met Klaus before. Thanks for the ask!

Here's the sequel to Chapter 37 in this series. Thank you for your patience! As alpha of the Crescent Clan, Caroline is used to protecting her pack. However, a certain temperamental hybrid has brought his problem to her doorstep that may turn out to be her pack's problem after all.

Warning: Some adventurous sexy times ahead...peaches are in season right now and I got a bit carried away. :)


"In wine, there's truth."
― Pliny the Elder, Natural History


"You're here to kill me." Caroline raised a surprised eyebrow at Hayley's blunt statement, taking in the tense line of her small frame and the overpowering smell of fear coming off of her in waves. "You figured out the baby isn't Klaus'," she added in a weak voice, a note of resignation creeping in.

Caroline exchanged a brief glance with Klaus, who seemed content to allow the wolf to cower before them if his disdainful smile was any indication. She didn't relish the fear she saw in the girl's eyes, and couldn't help but hear the rapid heartbeats that announced both mother and child were in distress. She kept her voice even as she answered calmly, "My pack doesn't harm pregnant women or their children. It isn't our way."

She nodded toward Tyler who began setting out a bag of aromatic sumac leaves, a shallow wooden bowl, bloodroot petals, and black and white ribbons. She began crumbling the leaves into the bowl while Tyler added the white petals. "Should I send for Bonnie," he asked her quietly.

She smiled at her pack beta as she dipped the black ribbon into the mixture. "No. Your magic is strong."

Klaus huffed as Tyler preened under his alpha's attention. "Pompous git," he muttered under his breath.

Ignoring him, Caroline reached for Hayley's wrist, wrapping the black ribbon around it and then dipping both hands into the bowl to let the mixture cascade through her fingers. "You'll want to stand still during the ritual," she told Hayley, whose eyes widened comically.

"Wait. You guys are witches? But I thought you were wolves," she asked in confusion as she looked down to study the ribbon more closely.

Caroline rolled her eyes as she questioned, "Why can't we be both?" She jerked her chin in Klaus' direction, adding teasingly, "Hybrids always make a big deal about being two things. Like multitasking is hard or something. My pack has magic but you don't see us going around bragging about it." She bit her lip to hide her grin when she heard Klaus' irritated grumbling.

Refocusing her energy, she grasped Tyler's hand and together they pushed their power toward the concoction until the ribbon began to glow. Very carefully, Caroline allowed one claw to delicately peel back the black ribbon while Tyler quickly tied the white ribbon in its place. Chanting together, they felt the spell release its hold, and as the ribbon fell away, so did the crescent-shaped birthmark on Hayley's skin.

Her brown eyes filled with tears as she looked down at her smooth olive skin, now bare of her mark that claimed she belonged with Caroline's pack. She seemed to fight down a sob and instead tears fell silently down her face as she waited for someone to speak.

"Tyler, leave us. Go see how Matt's doing with the new irrigation system installation," Caroline quietly commanded.

The pack beta had barely closed the door before Klaus rested his palms on the long oak table, leaning over so that he could look down threateningly at Hayley's huddled form on the bench seat. "My, my, how the tables have turned, little wolf. I recall not so long ago how you dangled your so-called leverage over my head, and now that the tables have turned, however will you recover?"

"Katherine convinced me to help her take down the Originals. Once she knew I was pregnant, she came up with this plan where I sleep with Klaus and make him think the baby's his. Then, she had a witch create a glamour spell so it looked like I was a part of the Crescent Clan." Hayley swiped angrily at her cheeks, staring blankly into space as she revealed in a choked voice, "The real father doesn't want anything to do with me or the baby and I needed the money Katherine offered me."

Caroline quickly cut off Klaus' answering snarl, sharply asking, "Why bring my pack into it? What does Katherine want with the Crescent Clan?" She could feel her claws digging into her clenched fists, her wolf anxious at the thought of her pack being targeted.

Hayley's fearful brown eyes flicked to hers briefly before she returned to staring at the table in front of her. "Katherine knew about the alliance between Klaus and the Crescent Clan. She said that Klaus was drawn to one of its wolves, so if I showed up supposedly pregnant with his child, it would cause trouble for him and possibly break the alliance. She said that losing such a powerful alliance would ensure the Originals lost their war with the witches."

Hayley had barely finished speaking before Klaus let out a tremendous roar, flipping over the enormous oak table in his rage. He stormed over to the trembling wolf, gripping her neck tightly with one hand as he hissed, "Foolish little wolf. Do you know what happens to those who betray me?!" His eyes were a feral gold, glowing angrily as he threatened, "I may not harm one who is in your delicate condition, but once you give birth, start running, little wolf."

Caroline's wolf clawed just below her skin, drawn to the violence within Klaus and eager to force him to submit. Her wolf's silver bled into her gaze as she growled, "The wolf is mine. I claim her as pack."

Startled by her unexpected words, Klaus released his grip on the girl who scrambled away from him to cower in a corner. "Have you lost your bloody mind, Caroline?! That filthy traitor is loyal to no one but herself. She will betray you at the first opportunity!"

Caroline kept her gaze on the girl who seemed just as surprised as Klaus, but with a healthy dose of fear that kept her body trembling in the corner. Caroline declared, "She is a survivor — a trait my pack honors. She will earn her place in time."

"I will not allow this to come to pass," Klaus began, stomping over to Caroline with black veins crawling under his golden eyes as his fangs unsheathed.

Her own wolf snarled in response at his challenge, her eyes glowing silver as her curved fangs released. "On my land, you only possess the authority I allow, hybrid. Learn your place before I put you in it," she warned.

Sensing his alpha's anger, Tyler quickly returned, her pack beta starting to shift into his wolf, but she stopped him with a single gesture before he launched himself at the furious hybrid. "Tyler, stand down. Let Bonnie know that the conclave will happen tonight." She glanced briefly at Hayley, who wore an expression of disbelief on her tear-streaked face. "Tell the pack we're welcoming our newest member." Tyler nodded once, glaring at Klaus as he left.

She turned to Klaus who was still seething with rage. "Take a walk. We'll have things to discuss later." He stormed past her, ripping the heavy wooden door from its hinges as he stomped out of the dining hall.

Caroline sighed in irritation as she watched the splintered pieces of hardy redwood clatter to the floor. "I'll take that out on his ass later," she muttered, feeling her wolf recede within her as she took a calming breath.

Hayley scrambled to her feet, brown eyes calculating as she quietly asked, "Why are you helping me?"

"I meant what I said. You are a survivor, something my pack values in its wolves." Caroline's eyes returned to their normal blue, but appeared no less threatening as she told Hayley, "Do not mistake my generosity for weakness. You will earn your place here just like everyone else."

The other wolf nodded in agreement. "I understand." She watched in awe as Caroline easily tipped the heavy oak table right-side up only using one hand. She fidgeted, as though unsure of what to do with her hands. "Katherine thought I just went along with her plan for the money," she began hesitantly. "But I listened to the stories she told me about the Crescent Clan and its fierce alpha. How you faced down the Brotherhood of the Five and ended their centuries-old line of supernatural hunters. Or that time you took out these sirens that supposedly served the devil."

"You'd be surprised by how easy the siren thing was resolved. Truthfully, it felt a bit pointless by the end," Caroline chuckled, bending over to scoop up the spell ingredients that Klaus had spilled during his temper tantrum.

The eager expression on the wolf's face revealed that she was hoping for Caroline to elaborate, but when she didn't, she said, "But my point is that Katherine had all these awesome stories about how tough and smart your pack was, but what really got me was how the pack was a family. That all of the pack members were fiercely loyal to each other and would fight to the death to protect its own." Her voice caught as she finished quietly, "I never had that before and I wanted it for me and my baby. Somewhere we could belong."

Caroline straightened, placing the wooden bowl and other ingredients back on the table. "You have it now," she acknowledged with a reassuring smile.

Hayley blinked back tears as she cleared her throat. Glancing up at Caroline, she blushed a bit as she said in embarrassment, "Katherine told me the alpha was a guy, and I kept picturing all of the crazy battles you fought to protect your pack and I...I kinda had a thing for you...you know, before I knew you were you."

Caroline threw back her head and laughed, blonde curls bouncing as she said with a twinkle in her eye, "While you're not the first pack member to try to get in my pants, you're definitely the first one to tell me it's because you thought I was a guy." She glanced at the large picture window, catching the faint outline of Klaus' tense frame as he stomped past a few pack members who were pruning Carignane grapevines. She frowned, making a mental note to have his hide if he damaged any of those grapes as they were part of a special blend that was cultivated exclusively for the vineyard's spicy, velvety cabernet.

Noticing Caroline's attention, Hayley obviously misinterpreted her expression as she awkwardly remarked, "Um...so what happened with Klaus...it was just a one-time thing. I promise it's not like that with us." The alpha's silence inexplicably seemed to entice her into further confessing, "Actually, I'm uh...kinda into Klaus' brother, Elijah. Which I know is kinda squicky because of what happened with Klaus."

Caroline arched an eyebrow, her voice matter-of-fact as she said, "We once had a foolish pack member who toyed with two brothers in our clan." Her smile was a merciless blade as she shrugged nonchalantly, "We ate her."

Gulping loudly, Hayley squeaked, "Oh."

"Not because of her terrible romantic choices," Caroline elaborated, "She was executed because she betrayed our pack to a hunter named Alaric." Her gaze turned fierce as she watched the wolf shiver slightly at her words. A hint of a growl entered her voice as she said, "Never forget — you're a part of our family — unless you betray us."

Her expression cleared as a lovely, dark-skinned woman entered the dining hall. "Hayley, this is Bonnie, our pack's healer. She's here to walk you through tonight's conclave and dedication ceremony." Nodding once at Bonnie, she left the women alone, walking back into the stifling Oklahoma heat to find her wayward hybrid.

A rustling noise caught her attention and once she realized it was the rough fabric of Klaus' jeans as he moved through her orchard, she headed that way as well, her lips curving into a small, pleased smile as she could hear how his footsteps had lightened and were no longer as aggressive. The arrogant hybrid had calmed down since their disagreement, and by the pattern she could make out, it appeared that he realized he had company. She let out a tiny rumble of pleasure as she realized he was purposely leading her deeper into the orchard where they could be assured of no distractions.

Caroline inhaled the sweet aroma of ripening peaches, thinking that they smelled of summertime, which was the inspiration behind her combining them with Chardonnay grapes for the vineyard's wildly popular white wine sangria. She came to a cluster of peach trees, finding Klaus casually leaning against a thick branch of the oldest peach tree in her orchard.

Crossing his arms in a huff, he finally spoke. "You've welcomed that deceitful jackal into your pack. Very careless of you, sweetheart."

"Pack business doesn't require your commentary, hybrid," she countered, a hand on her hip as she playfully glared at him. "That said, it appears we're going to need to fight a war together, so apparently some aspects of my pack business will intersect with you."

Steel flashed in his gray gaze as he answered, "Don't assume I will passively allow you decide which areas of business to discuss with me, love." His eyes darkened as a sly smirk spread across his face, "However, I do look forward to our intersecting," he finished with a low growl.

She felt her wolf lunge at his words, anxious to accept the hybrid's challenge. Slowly stalking toward him, she rumbled, "You challenged my authority. And you owe me a door." She allowed the tip of her tongue to tease an emerging fang, telling him, "I'm taking that out on your ass."

"Oh, I certainly hope so, love," Klaus countered, gold flaring in his gaze as he followed the seductive movement of her wicked tongue over her fangs.

She landed against him with an excited snarl, grabbing his strong shoulders and whirling him around until one dimpled cheek was pressed against the broad trunk of the peach tree. Her claws tore at his jeans, anxious to sink into his pale flesh. Once he was exposed, she grinned in delight at the way his skin seemed to quiver in anticipation. She sank to her knees behind him, roughly massaging his ass as he groaned in pleasure. A wicker basket lay on its side near her feet, spilling freshly picked peaches, and she leaned over to select a large one. As she held it in her palm, she could feel the fuzz-covered flesh slightly give, indicating that it was ripe and that its juices would be very sweet. Sweet indeed.

With a playful smile, she held the peach over his firm cheeks, crushing the blush-colored fruit so that its juices would stain his pale skin. Klaus let out a surprised gasp at the first touch of the cool liquid, then groaned as he felt her start to smear the juices over his ass, her sensual touches setting him ablaze. Caroline moved closer, allowing her breath to softly caress his pale skin, inhaling the heady aroma of his obvious arousal. With a possessive growl, she slid her tongue across his cheeks, chasing the sticky syrup of the peach, and playfully nipping his skin as he called out her name hoarsely.

One of Caroline's hands scrabbled for another ripe peach from the overturned basket, and her voice rough with want as she commanded Klaus, "Turn around." She caught the sexy gold in his gaze as he watched her hungrily. Blushing under his blatant perusal, she quickly turned her attention toward his cock, thick and aching as it awaited her touch. She crushed the peach's flesh over his erect member, smearing its sweetness with both hands as she teased him mercilessly. The silver of her wolf flared in her blue eyes as she looked up at him, continuing her seductive strokes under his greedy gaze.

"Tell me what you need," she told him, slowing down her movements as he let out a frustrated groan.

"You know what I need," he growled lowly, stubbornly clenching his fists as he watched her with blazing golden eyes.

Caroline gave him an impish grin, lightly swirling her index finger around his swollen tip. "Yes, but I told you to tell me. Beg me."

The commanding tone of her words seemed to spark something within Klaus, and, licking his lips at the sight of her playfully toying with his aching cock, he ground out, "Put those pretty lips on my cock and suck me." At her sharp glance, he softened his voice, panting, "Make me come for you, love, please."

Wolf-silver eyes alight with amusement, she surprised him by suddenly taking him fully into her mouth, sucking off the sticky peach nectar and sighing pleasurably at the taste of his savory arousal mixed with sweetness. He let out a string of curses as she flicked her tongue along the sides, feeling how his body twitched delightfully. He bucked his hips eagerly against her mouth, moaning as she took him deeper, and at that final, delicate nip of her teeth, Klaus became lost in the delicious moment as he spent himself with a shudder.

"Your turn," Klaus said with a ferocious snarl, ripping off his dark henley and attacking Caroline with a filthy, punishing kiss that left her writhing on top of the soft clover. He quickly stripped off her sage-colored halter top and ragged jean shorts, his hands desperate to touch her soft skin. She couldn't help the sigh that escaped her at the feel of those determined fingers, watching with interest when he stopped his explorations to pluck another peach from the overturned basket.

Smirking down at her, he squeezed the ripe, rosy flesh until it burst over her hips and stomach, smearing the sticky juices along her torso. He slid his tongue in wide arcs over her form, lapping at the bits of fruit and nectar. "You taste divine, sweetheart," he groaned, his talented tongue taking a wick detour over her mound before pausing to add with a possessive growl, "But my favorite flavors are here," and then plunged the tip into her dripping core.

Caroline felt herself unravel as he swirled his tongue within her, stroking the slick walls and groaning at the taste. She could feel herself getting close, and began to grind against his sinful mouth until he pulled back with a smug smile. "Klaus," she shouted angrily, unable to help the way her hips tried to chase after him.

"Say it, love," Klaus teased, "Tell me what you need." He allowed one finger to lightly touch her aching clit. "Beg me."

She groaned, in her lustful haze realizing she should have known he would get his revenge. "Fine," she seethed, feeling how her body was near the edge and needing that final push he could give her. "Take your cock and fuck me. Spread me wide and fuck me deep. Now. Please."

The surprised look on his handsome face was priceless, but he quickly recovered to shoot her a heated gaze full of gleaming hybrid gold. He grasped her thighs, pushing them apart as he exposed her quivering center. He positioned himself at her opening, digging his fingers into her inner thighs as he spread her legs wide. With a snap of his hips, he buried his cock within her, causing her to let out a delighted squeal.

Caroline was surprised to find how much she enjoyed allowing Klaus to take control. Her body responded eagerly to the way he pinned her down with his hybrid strength, and while she knew she could overpower him if necessary, she allowed herself to let go and enjoy the delicious fun of the powerful hybrid between her thighs. His thrusts were masterful, calculated to bring her to the precipice of pleasure, and his strangled moan as she purposely tightened around him made her flush with pleasure. He angled his hips in a way that rubbed her clit just as she needed and she groaned as her orgasm overtook her, clenching around him as he rode out the remaining waves of their combined release.

Klaus collapsed on top of her, panting, his fingers possessively tracing her jawline all the way down to the crescent birthmark near her shoulder. She was taken aback when he placed a delicate, reverent kiss on top of it. She had a feeling he was about to make their alliance in the upcoming war with the witches more...complicated. Perhaps she would let him. Her wolf seemed to be on board with that idea, lazily basking in the intoxicating scents of their playful sex mixed with sweet nectar and damp earth. She stretched her lean body underneath his, enjoying the effortless way they fit together. She reached up to kiss him firmly on the lips, allowing her tongue to linger along the traces of their passion.

Finally breaking their kiss, Caroline cupped Klaus' face, a wicked gleam in her eyes as she asked, "So, ready to start a war?"