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I didn't remember falling asleep, but at some point, sunlight slipped through the curtains of my canopy bed, and I realized that it must be morning.

I peeked my eyes opened as a familiar scent filled my nose.

"Morning, Sleeping Beauty," a voice teased.

I looked over my shoulder to find Mason, a shirtless Mason, laying out on the bed next to me.

I smiled, rolling onto my back, "What are you doing?"

"I'm here to waking you up," he grinned, his eyes trailing down my sheet covered body, "And to tell you that you look...amaaazing."

I smirked, "I look the same, Mase."

He laughed, "The benefit of prolonged youth. See, it's not all bad."

"Yeah," I noted, "But that just means that when we're old, we're old for that much longer."

He shot me a look, "Just take the compliment."

I rose a brow, challengingly, "And if I don't?"

He winked, flirtingly, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

I hid my scoff with a laugh, "Wouldn't you like to try?"

He smirked, "Too bad we can't go for a run. Blow off some steam."

I nodded, "Yeah, no kidding. But there were hunters on the land last night. Probably not safe."

Some clanking sounded from downstairs, followed by a whoop.

I smiled, despite myself, "Sounds like breakfast is being served."

He nodded, "Dad's been at the grill all morning. We should probably get down there before Stefan and Tyler eat all the good bacon.

I groaned at the thought of moving, and pulled the blanket up further.

"Ooor," Mason smiled, "I could just stay up here, in bed with you, all day."

I narrowed my eyes playfully, "Nice try, but no dice."

I freed a hand to shove him to the edge of the bed, "Now, run along, little pup. I have to get dressed."

He got to his feet, but stared back at me, indignantly, "Little pup?"

He said the words scornfully.

I giggled, nodding.

He scoffed, "Please. You've seen the bone I can bury."

With a roll of my eyes, I ushered him on, and got up to close the door behind him.

The noise from downstairs still wafted through though, and I had a feeling that this morning would be interesting.

I dressed in a hurry, throwing on some simple jeans and a ruffled white spaghetti strapped shirt.

I pulled my hair up into a messy ponytail, and gave myself a once over, before picking up my phone from where it had been charging on the night stand.

Since I had a minute to spare, and everyone would be too busy downstairs to listen, I decided to call Matt.

He answered on the second ring.

"Elena?"

"Hey," I smiled.

Hearing his voice grounded me a little.

Reminded me that I did, in fact, have a life outside the Pack.

"I'm glad you called," he said, "How's your cousin?"

Cousin?

Oh. Right, my cover story.

"Uh, we don't really know yet," I thought up a good excuse, "She is stable, but still in a coma."

"Are you at the hospital?" Matt asked, genuinely concerned.

"No, I'm staying at the house with some other family to watch the kids. It's been pretty crazy. I just wanted to call you, real quick, and check up."

He was smiling, "Thanks babe. It's all good here, though. I'm just about to head to work. I hope your cousin pulls through."

I sighed, "Yeah, me too. Look, I gotta go, but I'll text you later?"

"Sounds good," he noted, "I miss you."

I smiled, "You too."

I hung up and slipped my phone into my pocket.

Just get through today, I told myself.

Everything will be fine.

I opened my door to go downstairs and froze. Damon was waiting for me, his expression expectant.

His eyes roamed over me.

"You're gonna hunt a Mutt in those clothes?" He rose a brow.

"Are you admitting that there's a Mutt to hunt?" I shot back.

He didn't answer my question, choosing instead, to continue his, "Or maybe you're leaving."

I eyed him, "You know, you can drop the guard dog act. I'm not going anywhere until after Alaric's meeting."

"No," Damon reasoned, "You're just trying to get this over with as fast as possible so you can take off."

That confirmed that he'd heard me on the phone.

"Great," I muttered, walking past him, "So now you're eavesdropping."

He caught my arm, stopping me, "I didn't hear anything."

"Not for lack of trying," I pointed out, yanking my arm from his grasp.

"Why?" He pressed, "Was there something to hear?"

I swallowed.

No way was I having the boyfriend conversation with him.

"I have people in my life that like to know where I am," I told him, instead, "That's not a crime."

His head tilted to the side, "People? Or person?"

He'd definitely heard Matt's voice.

I rolled my eyes, "What does it matter? It's not as if you care."

I moved to walk away again, but for a second time, his hand stopped me.

I glared at him.

"You never called," he accused, "In the note you left, you said you'd call home. You didn't."

I held his gaze, "Yeah, I did."

I remembered my fifteen minute conversation with Alaric, after I'd left.

"I just didn't call you."

Damon stepped closer to me, ignoring my jibe.

"Every day, for the past year, I've fought the urge to come find you," he told me, his voice quiet, "To hunt you down...just to see you..."

"And yet, you stayed away," I reminded him.

"I had no choice," he insisted, "I was under orders from Alaric."

Like that was an excuse.

My eyes narrowed, "Right. And you wouldn't disobey."

He flinched, and I smirked at the fact that my sarcasm had hit a mark, "It's not in your nature."

His expression hardened, "You think you know my nature?"

I didn't answer.

Just turned, and walked toward the stairs.

I was so distracted by my moment with Damon, I forgot to prepare myself for the reunion.

Walking into the dining room, all heads turned.

"Well, I'll be damned," Stefan grinned, reaching me first, and pulled me into a crushing hug, "Bout time you got your ass back here!"

I laughed as he twirled me, before sitting me back on my feet.

I was pulled into Tyler's arms then, "Welcome home."

I hugged him back, and thanked him, as Mason, who was finally able to properly greet me, crossed the room easily.

"You were gone too long, little sister. Much too long."

Lifting me up, he kissed me.

Whatever his greeting, the kiss was definitely not fraternal, but a deep kiss that left me gasping.

Anyone else would have gotten smacked for it, but anyone else wouldn't have kissed with half of Mason's expertise, so I overlooked the indiscretion.

It's just who he was.

"Well, just make yourself at home," Damon drawled from the doorway he'd appeared in.

Mason turned to Damon and grinned, as George Lockwood, Mason and Tyler's father, pulled me into his arms.

"Good to see you, sweetheart."

I smiled, "Thanks."

Alaric was at the head of the table, watching our interactions with a pleased curve to his lips.

"How did you sleep?" He asked.

"Fine," I assured him, sitting down in one of the chairs, "Where's Enzo?"

"He called earlier," Stefan spoke, also taking a seat, "He got caught up in baggage claim, but he should be here in a few hours."

Alaric nodded, eyes shifting to the paper he held in his hands, and I began to fill my plate from the feast laid out.

One good thing about being home, the food.

Damon, who had moved next to me, reached over my shoulder, snatched a hunk of ham, and downed it in one gulp.

When I glared at him, he gave me a disarming "just trying to help" shrug.
"Keep your fingers off her plate," Alaric said without looking up. "Yours is over there. There's enough for everyone."
Tyler was first to reach for a dish, to fill it. When Mason went to follow, Damon grabbed his arm.

He didn't say a word, but he didn't need to.

Mason nodded and started to fill two plates while Damon took the seat beside me.
"Bully," I muttered.
He lifted his brows, blue eyes flashing innocently.

His fingers darted out to snag another piece of ham off my plate.

Grabbing my fork, I stabbed the back of his hand hard enough to make him yelp.

Ric sipped his coffee and ignored us.

Once everyone had a plate of food in front of them, we all turned to Alaric.

As humans, this ritual didn't matter quite as much, but was still something we did naturally, through instinct.

Whether fresh kill, or full breakfast trimmings, the Alpha eats first.

Ric forked a big bite of his pancakes, then nodded to the rest of us.

We dug in.

There wasn't a lot of talking right away, each of us too busy eating, but once the bigger portion of the meal was gone, the conversation began to flow.

"So I see you took those red streaks from your hair," George noted.

I blushed a little, "Well, when you want a grown up job, you've gotta dress like one."

"And is this "grown up job" the reason you couldn't visit?" Stefan shot with a wink.

I stuck my tongue out at him.

"I liked the red," Damon said from next to me, "It suited you."

I rolled my eyes, "I don't recall asking for your opinion."

"Enough," Alaric stated, calling attention, before our argument could escalate, "We are mostly all here now. When Lorenzo arrives, I'll hold the Meeting, and we'll discuss my plans. But I don't mind telling you all now, that are we are dealing with a Mutt," his tone was heavy, "There have been two girls murdered this week, the latest was found on the property edge. And whatever Mutt is responsible has a scent that is unfamiliar to me."

Alaric's gaze found mine, "You've dealt with the Mutts in the past. I was hoping that perhaps you would recognize it. I may have you and Damon to go to the east side of the property's edge, later. The scent was strong there yesterday. You can see if you know it."

I nodded.

Tracking, I could do.

Tracking was simple, and I did have the best nose of the group.

If I hurried and found this thing, I could go home.

"We can go after breakfast," I told him, but Ric shook his head, "It's too risky to go during the day, especially with the hunting parties looking for a wild dog to blame for these killings. You will go this evening."

I wanted to argue back.

There was no need to wait.

I could track the Mutt without even making the Change, but I didn't say anything.

Enzo wouldn't be here until later anyway, and Alaric wouldn't strategize without the entire Pack.

Especially if he didn't know the threat.

This is what made Alaric a good leader.

He wasn't ruled by human emotions, or wolf instinct.

He had the perfect balance and self-discipline that allowed him to think rationally.

And he loved us.

Each and every one of us.

And we respected him as our Alpha.

Once Giuseppe had been killed, back before I'd joined the pack, there had been no question as to who would take his place.

Anyone was free to challenge Alaric for the title off Alpha, of course, but we all understood that the Pack was safest under his dictation.

Besides, the only one in the Pack that could actually win a fight against him would be Damon.

And Damon would sooner chew off his own arm than attack the man who had taken him in, raised him, and ultimately saved his life.

"What do you want us to do in the mean time?" Mason asked.

"Just rest up," he told them, standing, "And get ready for this evening. Now, George, would you come with me to the study, please? There are some things I would like to go over."

George nodded, and also stood.

The two exited.

"So, do we need to let you rest up?" Stefan teased.

"Hey, go easy on her," Mason told him, with a grin, "She's been away for a long time."

I shot them both glares.

"I don't need to rest," I assured each of them, "And I don't need any of you to take it easy on me."

Stefan laughed, "Okay, then prove it. Outside. Ten minutes."

I smirked, "Fine."

We finished eating and I changed into clothes more appropriate for the tumble I knew was about to go down.

Tyler and Mason were standing on the back patio outside, when I got there, but Stefan wasn't.

I walked out as they smirked, and Stefan dropped from above me.

I used his momentary lapse in balance to gain the upper hand, and pounced him.

He dodged me, though, recovering, and shot his fist into my ribs.

I twisted around his body, kicking high enough that my foot connected with his skull, but he grabbed my leg, and yanked.

My back hit the ground, but I rolled into it, pulling him with me.

He pinned me for a moment, grinning.

"City life has made you soft, baby girl."

I ran my elbow into his knee, and he released me enough for me to flip us, so I straddled him.

He "ooofed", as I pinned his arms down, and used my feet to hold his legs.

"I stand corrected," he huffed, and I laughed, "Corrected, yes. Standing...not so much."

Chuckles from the sideline reached my ears as I hopped off of my opponent, and dusted my hands.

Mason came up beside me then.

"Impressive, but you're moves are a little stiff, slow."

I smirked, "Oh really?"

Acting fast, I attacked him, but he'd anticipated the move, and managed to grab my arm.

With a twist, he turned me so that my back was against his chest, and he locked an arm around my neck.

"Slow," he said again, and I smiled.

I'd missed rough housing with these guys, and it was hard to practice this kind of fighting anywhere else.

He kissed the side of my head and released me, just as Damon stepped up to join Stefan and Tyler on the patio.

"Well, well," Mason grinned, spotting him, "Damon Salvatore, spectating a fight? Now there's a first."

Damon smirked, "Not spectating. Assessing."

Mason dropped into a defensive stance, "Assessing the ass kicking I'm about to give you?"

Damon chuckled, "Now why would I want to humiliate my oldest friend?"

I shook my head at their banter.

"I'm gonna go shower."

"Wait," Mason stopped me, "Don't you want to see me destroy this guy?"

I considered that.

The possibilities of Mason actually winning were slim, but on the off chance...

"Yes, actually," I decided, "I do."

Damon seemed to recognize the challenge from me, as much as Mason, and smirked.

His hands shot to the hem of his shirt, and he pulled it off.

"Now you've done it," Stefan warned Mason with a laugh.

I stepped back as Damon jumped at Mason, tackling him to the ground.

They brawled around, and I went to stand by Stefan and Tyler.

"You next?" I teased Tyler, who shook his head, "Nah, I'm good, thanks."

I chuckled, and turned to watch the fight.

Something primal stirred in the pit of my stomach as I did.

Their muscles tensed and coiled with each move, evidence of power and sexualism.

I fought back my thoughts.

I'd watched these guys go at it enough times that it shouldn't have affected me anymore.

The fight didn't last long.

With a few moves and flips, Damon caught Mason's arm and forced him to his knees, locking his forearm around his neck, positioned to break it.

"Okay, okay," Mason laughed, giving up.

Damon smirked, and Mason sighed, "You couldn't let me win, just once in our lives?"

Damon's eyes shot to me, "Sorry. It's not in my nature."

I rolled my eyes at his remark, as he released Mason, and helped him to his feet.

"Just like when we were kids, huh?" He shot. "Not exactly," Stefan teased, walking over, "This time, you managed not to piss yourself."

Mason flipped him off, but we all laughed.

The four of them, Damon, Mason, Stefan, and Tyler, had grown up together.

Apparently, when they were younger, and Damon had first been brought to Mystic Falls, Alaric had gotten George to bring his sons over.

Stefan had always enjoyed playing with Tyler, and Mason was about Damon's age.

But Damon had had issues relating to other humans, still more wolf than boy, and upon meeting Mason, had attacked him, and pinned him down.

Mason had wet himself in fear.

Damon had released him, deeming him unworthy prey, but soon found other uses for him.

Like target practice, a punching bag, an errand boy, and a devoted follower.

He had eventually forced Tyler into the same roll, only leaving Stefan alone through some recognition of familial relations.

As they'd gotten older, and the other boys made the First Change, Damon had eased on them, as he had with Enzo, when he'd joined them.

Now they were more like brothers, sons of the same Pack.

I smiled, thinking back on what Lexi had told me, years ago, when I asked why she called them the Sons of Mystic.

At the time, it had sounded like a boy band.

She'd told me that they'd earned the name in high school, their bond recognizable to even humans, and their sense of entitlement.

No one really knew them.

But they knew enough.

They knew that these were the rich boys, old money, that lived in the big house, on the private property, on the edge of the forest.

They knew that they kept to themselves, but that they were closer than brothers, and that their families had been here forever.

Truly, the sons of Mystic.

I thought back to my own Change.

Now, Mystic had a daughter.

The guys roughed around a little more, before Tyler announced that we should probably move inside and at least refamiliarize ourselves with the known Mutts, just in case one of them was somehow involved.

With nothing else to do, we all agreed, and began shuffling back to the house.

Damon's gaze lingered on me, as if he wanted to say something.

I moved on before he could.

There :)

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