Bonnie felt ready to climb out of her own skin and it was only 8 o'clock. As a witch, the moon phases always had a profound effect on her but this was something different. She could feel her wolf half demanding the freedom to run underneath the full moon. Other werewolves on the edge of transformation were roaming the farm and it seemed to exacerbate her problem. Tyler had explained that the urge to shift was always stronger in the presence of a pack. Werewolves were communal by nature and the moon further bonded them. To make matters worse, she was anxious about the night ahead. She was not looking forward to being apart from Tyler. He had warned Bonnie that he probably would not return until the very early morning. They had not been apart more than a couple hours since the night he bit her.

Bonnie would not have Tyler to keep her company tonight but she and Mari would not be alone. As was tradition, his entire pack had gathered at the farm to celebrate the full moon. The wolves that had already triggered the curse would hunt together for the majority of the night. Meanwhile, children, pregnant women, non-wolves, and anyone that had yet to trigger the curse would remain in the house. In the morning, they would all meet in the barn to share breakfast as a pack. Tyler encouraged Bonnie to use the time apart to become more familiar with the pack. Last night's blunder aside, he wanted his mate on good terms with his pack. If anything happened to him, it would be Bonnie's job to lead them in his place.

Tyler had asked everyone to arrive a half hour earlier than normal. He needed to address last night's situation with the pack. Tyler and Bonnie had already spoken with Dakota. She apologized to the couple and promised to fall in line. However, Tyler knew that she was not alone in questioning Bonnie's addition to the pack. He had realized too late that the introduction last night had been too casual. The young man did not enjoy ruling with an iron fist but he had learned through trial and error that sometimes it was necessary. Werewolves were warriors by nature. Therefore, the threat of a power struggle always loomed in the shadows. Tyler wanted to extinguish the fires of rebellion before he had to do something that they would regret.

Bonnie stood at the attic window and watched the stars shine brightly. She was worried about her friends. They were preparing for an interesting night, too. The hex bags had worked as expected. The members of the Augustine Group were as dead as proverbial doornails. Tonight Damon, Elodie, and the Scooby Doo gang would scour Whitmore's campus. They hoped the late hour would reduce the chance of running into hapless humans. The best-case scenario was that the search turned out to be fruitless. However, Bonnie knew better than to hope for the best where they were concerned. It seemed as if someone had placed a curse on all of them. Once upon a time, Bonnie thought that the curse was limited to Mystic Falls. Yet their misfortune seemed to follow them well beyond the town's borders.

Tyler had been watching Bonnie brood for the last fifteen minutes. He could feel the worry she felt for their friends through the bond. Frankly, Tyler was worried about them, too. There was no way of knowing what horrors they might find lurking on Whitmore's campus. However, Tyler could not abandon his pack during a full moon. His presence was necessary to keep the pack safe and from leaving his family's property. Straying away from the farm could be dangerous to innocent humans living in the area. He walked over to his mate and pulled her into a smoldering kiss.

Bonnie was startled out of her thoughts by the kiss. Her mind went blank when she felt Tyler's unbridled desire through the bond. She had sensed his want for her before but it had never been like this. Bonnie grabbed onto his sweater and pulled him closer. A little voice in her head encouraged Bonnie to devour him. She growled possessively against his lips and did not feel the tiniest hint of embarrassment.

He wound his arms around Bonnie's body and cupped her backside unabashedly. Being on the run with Mari meant the young couple didn't exactly have much time alone. They had managed a quickie in the shower that morning but it had not been nearly enough to satisfy him.

Bonnie was a little lightheaded after the kiss. She looked up at him with a small smile. "What was that for?"

Tyler nuzzled her neck and murmured, "Do I need a reason?"

She squirmed in his embrace and said, "No."

He slid a hand up Bonnie's skirt. His fingers sought out the lacy material of the panties he had watched her put on earlier. He had been thinking about them all day. "I really like this skirt."

Bonnie bit her lip as Tyler's fingers slipped beneath of the waistband of her panties. She asked, "Do you like the skirt or the easy access?"

"Both," he confessed.

A loud knock on the attic door startled the young couple.

Tyler growled and removed his hand from Bonnie's underwear. He yelled, "What?"

Bonnie gently slapped his chest. She whispered, "Don't be rude."

There was a hint of amusement in Gabe's voice as he yelled up the stairs. "I just thought you would want to know that everyone is here. They are waiting on you."

The hybrid grumbled petulantly and said, "I'll be down in a minute!"

"I'll let everyone know, Alpha."

Tyler waited until he heard the older man's footsteps depart. He pecked Bonnie's lips and asked, "Rain check?"

She nodded shakily. "Yes…"

"We should head downstairs. I want you by my side when I address everyone," he explained.

Bonnie hadn't expected anything less. It was the reason she had chosen a tank top despite it being wintertime. The bite mark Tyler left on her back was large and too obvious for anyone to miss. She said, "Just let me freshen up. Then I'll grab Mari and meet you downstairs."

Tyler patted Bonnie on the butt and said, "Don't take too long. Everyone is eager for the hunt to begin. It wouldn't be smart to delay the shift much longer. Nature will take over for everyone else soon enough."

"Okay."

He reluctantly let Bonnie go and went downstairs.

Bonnie walked into the bathroom and took a moment to touch up her makeup. Once she was satisfied with her appearance, she picked up Mari from the portable crib in the bedroom. She put a jacket on the infant before going to join Tyler.

Tyler was standing on the porch chatting with Gabe. He looked towards the door when he heard Bonnie step outside. "Are you ready?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yeah."

He wrapped a possessive arm around Bonnie's waist and walked out to the barn. The converted space served as a staging area during the full moon. It was a good place for everyone to disrobe and leave their clothes. They walked through the throng of people and stopped at the barn's entrance.

Bonnie watched how everyone stopped moving around and talking without Tyler having to say a word. He practically oozed confidence and authority. Bonnie tried to ignore the heat coiling deep in the pit of her stomach. It would be ten to twelve hours before Tyler could scratch that itch for her.

Tyler was in alpha mode but Bonnie's arousal did not go unnoticed by him. However, he kept his expression stern as he surveyed his pack. He could sense the nervous energy in the air. He tightened his grip on Bonnie's waist so that she was pressed securely to his side. Tyler said, "Last night I introduced my mate to all of you. A mated alpha makes the pack stronger. I made the mistake of assuming that everyone would be happy for me. I was disappointed last night to learn that some of you were unhappy that I have mated with Bonnie. However, I was pissed off when I learned that some of you disrespected my mate. Dakota might have been the only one foolish enough to express that disrespect directly but she did not act alone."

Bonnie had never heard Tyler's voice quite so cold and unforgiving. Her sharp green eyes casually scanned the crowd as everyone became increasingly uncomfortable. The pack had witnessed Tyler's ferocity when he slaughtered Gonzo and his thick-necked comrades. The pack wisely wanted to avoid the alpha directing that sort of rage at them. She easily zeroed in on Dakota. The woman wisely refused to look Tyler and Bonnie in the eye. Her place within the pack had been diminished. It would take time for Dakota to regain her former status.

He continued, "I realize now that some of you are made uncomfortable by Bonnie being a hybrid. She is as much a werewolf as she is a witch. I am as much a werewolf as I am a vampire. If she is unworthy of being an alpha of this pack, then you must think that I am unworthy, too. I urge anyone that believes this to step forward. Have the courage of your convictions and challenge me to become alpha. You also have the option of leaving the pack."

The assembled group's anxiety had reached a near fevered pitch by the time that Tyler challenged any detractors. Everyone knew that a challenge meant a fight to the death. They also knew that none of them had a chance of winning a one-on-one battle with the hybrid. He had toyed with Gonzo before ripping the man to shreds as if it were little more than child's play. It had been jarring to see the man that had terrorized them dispatched so easily.

"Should I take your silence to mean that no one wants to challenge me?" he asked.

The shifting of the crowd was audible now.

"What about you, Kevin? Do you want to challenge me?" he asked.

A large brunette man in his 30's shifted uncomfortably. He lowered his eyes respectfully. "No, Alpha."

Tyler looked toward a woman that was a few years older than he was. "What about you, Claire? Do you want to challenge me?"

The young woman swallowed thickly. She had been part of the group that encouraged Dakota last night. She lowered her eyes as well. "No, Alpha."

"Tina…"

A curly haired woman that looked to be nearing 40 looked up when she heard her name called. "Yes, Alpha."

"Perhaps you want to challenge Bonnie because you think there is a better chance of winning against her?"

Bonnie's eyes turned gold and black but she remained silent at Tyler's side.

Tina quickly shook her head. She had watched Bonnie easily subdue Dakota last night. She had never seen a werewolf move that fast without shifting first. She had mentally prepared herself for Dakota's death while watching Bonnie dig her claws into the girl's chest. Tina had fully expected to see her niece's beating heart. "No, Alpha."

Tyler motioned to a muscular man standing towards the back of the crowd. "What about you, Travis?"

The man gritted his teeth but he said, "No, Alpha."

"Some alphas would kill or exile anyone stupid enough to show disrespect to his or her mate. Bonnie has asked that I show mercy in this instance and I am inclined to listen to her wise counsel. Bonnie is my mate and we have completed the bond. We will begin living together soon and she is pregnant with my child. Know that when you see Bonnie that you are looking at me. When you speak to Bonnie, you are speaking to me, too. You all are to treat her with the same respect and deference that you show me. If that is not possible, then you are welcome to leave now. However, make no mistake the next person that disrespects Bonnie will not get the option of exile. I will rip your heart out—no questions asked," he bellowed.

Afterwards, Tyler pressed a kiss to Bonnie's temple to drive home his point.

Bonnie handed Mari to Tyler and stepped forward. Her gold and black eyes practically glowed in the growing darkness. She said, "I think it is safe to say that we didn't get off to a good start last night. I understand some of you have reservations about me. However, you should know two things. First, I am not going anywhere. Second, I will protect this pack just as Tyler does. You all are my family now and there is nothing more important than that. We do not want to lose a single one of you. I look forward to getting to know everyone in the coming weeks. However, it would be wise to heed Tyler's warning because I will defend myself and my mate against anyone that tries to harm us."

Tyler watched Bonnie with pride as she addressed the pack. Gone was the nervousness that she had displayed privately. She was the leader that he knew she could be.

She returned to Tyler's side and took Mari once again.

Tyler squeezed Bonnie's hip lovingly. He said, "Now if no one has anything else to say…I think it's time to prepare for tonight's hunt."

Some of the tension began to die down. Everyone said goodbye to the members of the pack unable to join the hunt.

Tyler walked with Bonnie back to the house. When they reached the porch, he kissed her softly. He tucked a loose curl behind her ear and said, "I will see you in the morning."

She said, "Okay. The wards seem to be working but please be careful."

He smiled and said, "Always, Bon…"

Bonnie playfully rolled her eyes at the cocky expression on his face. "Good night, Ty."

"Night," he replied.

Bonnie sat down on the porch swing with Mari in her arms. She was not ready to go in the house just yet. She might not be able to shift with the rest of the pack tonight, but she wanted to enjoy nature for a little longer. More than anything, Bonnie wanted to be back in Mystic Falls. She missed being able to meditate near the waterfall. She never felt closer to nature than in those quiet moments.

As she sat on the porch, several members of the pack walked by to get into the house. Most of the adults showed respect by speaking to her as they passed. She hoped the change in attitudes would be permanent. Bonnie wasn't actually looking forward to ripping out anyone's heart—but she would. She had not asked Damon to teach her how to fight for fun. In fact, sparring with the vampire was the exact opposite of fun. Damon had taken great pleasure in knocking Bonnie on her ass repeatedly. However, she had become an above average fighter because of his efforts. Bonnie's fighting prowess combined with her magic and hybrid abilities made her a formidable opponent.

She looked down at the little girl in her arms. Mari had been agitated all day and now was not any different. If the infant were a few years older, Bonnie would accuse her of brooding. She cooed softly at her cousin, "What's wrong, Mari?"

The infant looked up when she heard her name. She scrambled upward and laid her head on Bonnie's shoulder.

Bonnie's heart broke a little more for the baby. She rubbed her back. "I know that you miss your mama. We are going to get her back soon. I promise. In the meantime, I promised to take really good care of you."

Mari played with Bonnie's hair as she talked.

In the distance, Tyler's howl disturbed the brisk night air.

"Grams used to sing this Irish drinking song to me when I was little. It always helped me fall asleep. But I have to confess it's not really a lullaby. Frankly, it is probably better if you never tell your mom that I sang this to you," she whispered.

Bonnie rubbed Mari's back and sang, "I'm a rambler. I'm a gambler. I'm a long way from home and if you don't like me then leave me alone. I'll eat when I'm hungry and I'll drink when I'm dry. And if moonshine don't kill me I'll live till I die. If the ocean was whiskey and I was a duck I'd swim to the bottom and drink my way up. But the ocean ain't whiskey and I ain't a duck. So I'll stick to wild women and trust in my luck."

Mari babbled rhythmically as if trying to imitate Bonnie's singing.

She grinned at her younger cousin. "You like that song, huh? Me, too. I don't remember the rest of the words but I bet I could find the song on YouTube."

Bonnie sat on the porch replaying the song until Mari dozed off to sleep in her arms. Her battery was nearly dead but it was worth it. She stood and walked into the house.

The house was much quieter than Bonnie had expected. Most of the children and all of the teenagers were in the basement's recreation room. The rest of the adults were spread between the living room and den. Most had trouble sleeping during the full moon. Moreover, the pack was at its most vulnerable because the strongest were away on a hunt. Bringing everyone together was a practice started by Ruby's father.

Bonnie considered going up to the attic. However, she also knew it was important to spend time with the pack. Besides, she was interested in learning about the diverse members. Tyler's pack differed from most others because they did not believe in being insular. His great-grandfather had believed that the survival of werewolves meant reproducing. For obvious reasons, it was simpler for two werewolves to mate. However, it greatly reduced to overall pool of suitable partners. Things became even more complicated when considering bloodlines. Fortunately, a child only needed one werewolf parent to inherit the gene.

She settled for an empty chair near a window. Bonnie tried not to shift Mari too much as she situated the sleeping infant on her lap.

A woman that looked a few years older than Bonnie came to sit beside her. She smiled warmly. "Hi. I'm Tori."

Bonnie had met her the previous night. It took a moment for her to remember her relation to Tyler. She said, "Hi. You're Ruby's daughter, right?"

"Right," she replied. "How are you liking the farm so far?"

"I have to confess that it isn't as rustic as I had imagined when Tyler told me how long the property has been in your family."

Tori laughed goodnaturedly. "Oh, that is all down to my mother. She updated everything several years ago. Mom doesn't mind living in the middle of nowhere but she needed certain amenities to keep from going crazy."

Bonnie laughed with her. "I can imagine."

"Do you go to school with Tyler?"

"Oh, no. We grew up in Mystic Falls together but I am taking a gap year-or two," she explained somewhat sheepishly.

Tori nodded and said, "I did the same thing after high school. I was a complete cliche and decided to backpack through Europe."

Bonnie perked up when she heard that Tori had spent time in Europe. "I have always thought about doing that. Did you enjoy yourself?"

She huffed out a laugh. "Sure. I had a blast for the first two months. Then I ran out of money. I was home sick, too."

"Did you come back home?"

"No, I was too stubborn to admit defeat that easily. My dad actually put me in touch with a pack in Larissa, Greece. The Alpha helped me find a job at a local bar and let me hang out with his pack."

Bonnie hadn't thought to ask because it was none of her business. However, she wondered if Gabe was the father of Ruby's children. They had been married once upon a time. "That sounds amazing."

"It was," she agreed. "I didn't want to come home when my year was up but I promised my mom that I would go to school. I figured that she would send my dad after me if I didn't keep my word. What about your family? What do they think of you taking a gap year?"

The young woman deflated just a little. Tori had no way of knowing that she had just stepped onto a land mine. She smiled a little. "I don't really have much in the way of family."

Tori winced because she had just put her foot in her mouth. "I'm sorry."

Bonnie shrugged her shoulders. "No apology necessary. Death is an inevitable part of life. What was your major in college?"

She was glad that the girl smoothly moved them off the morbid topic. She flashed a self-deprecating smile. "I majored in agricultural economics. Someone has to make sure this place continues to turn a profit."

"I have thought about double majoring in occult studies and history at Whitmore. I have also thought about not going to college at all," Bonnie said.

Tori nodded in understanding. "I get it. Despite popular belief, college isn't for everyone."

She said, "I have been thinking about opening a little apothecary shop to sell homeopathic and herbal remedies."

Bonnie's phone started vibrating. She looked at the screen and said, "Oh, this is my friend. I have to take it."

Tori nodded and said, "Okay."

Bonnie answered the phone. "Hey, Care. How is everything going at Whitmore?"

"It was going good until Damon went psycho and snapped Stefan's neck. Then he just took off. I figured that I should call you since the two of you are...friends."

Bonnie wasn't exactly shocked that Damon had snapped Stefan's neck. The Salvatore brothers showed no qualms in temporarily incapacitating each other. However, Damon leaving without a word was worrisome. He had been looking forward to killing Enzo. He was a little sore about using hex bags to kill the Augustine members instead of his bare hands.

"What happened before Damon attacked Stefan?" she asked curiously.

"I don't know. We were loading the bodies of the Augustine vampires into the back of Matt's truck. Your aunt insisted that we burn the bodies because they are toxic. Damon dumped Enzo's body and then turned on Stefan without even saying anything," Caroline explained.

Bonnie chewed on her bottom lip. Something about the situation didn't make any sense. She said, "Well, at least he only snapped Stefan's neck."

"What?" Caroline squawked indignantly.

"I am not saying that Damon did the right thing. But I think we both know he could have ripped out Stefan's heart if he really wanted to kill him. Stefan being knocked out for a bit is really the best case scenario."

Caroline was quiet for a moment. Her silent displeasure was practically audible. Finally, she said, "Anyway, I just called because you talked him down yesterday. I was hoping that maybe you could do it again. Stefan is going to feel guilty if Damon hurts innocent people because of some disagreement they are having."

"Yeah, I get your point. I'll try getting him on the phone. I will call if I find out anything," she replied.

"Thanks, Bon."

"You're welcome, Care. Bye," Bonnie said