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George and Mason stayed behind, to wait at the gate for the sheriff's arrival.

I made a quick call to the cab service, canceling my request to be picked up, as we all moved into Ric's study.

Alaric let out a heavy sigh, "These next few days are going to be difficult."

Police involvement did tend to complicate things.

"I'll stay," I told him, "The Mutt killed a kid. I'll stay, and help you hunt him down."

Alaric nodded, "I'm glad. Clever thinking, by the way, antagonizing the dog."

"No it wasn't," Damon disagreed as he entered the room.

He strode over to me, "You could have seriously been hurt. That dog was trying to attack you."

I faced him, squaring my shoulders, "You talk as if I've never been bitten before. How ironic."

Damon's nostrils flared, "If you're angry at me, come at me. Right at me, don't talk around it."

"Enough," Alaric cut, the Alpha command apparent.

I immediately felt guilty.

There was a dead child on our property.

I shouldn't be wasting energy starting a pointless fight with Damon.

"Sorry."

Mason strolled in, "The hunters are gone, for now."

"At the rate this Mutt is going, that's not going to last very long," Ric noted.

"So we catch him," Tyler said.

"We need to figure out what his plan is," Stefan told him, "Why he's dumping bodies on our property."

"There's no way to understand the psychological process of a new wolf," Alaric sighed, "But it does seem like he's turning up the heat, bit by bit, drawing attention to us."

"He's upped the stakes by killing a kid," Enzo injected.

"But why is he targeting us?" Mason asked.

"Maybe he just likes killing women and children," Damon offered, "And is flaunting it on our territory."

George walked in.

"The sheriff is here. She's out with the body now."

Alaric nodded, "Alright. You and I will stay here and deal with the police. Elena," he turned to me, "I want you and Damon to go into town. See if you can pick up the Mutt's scent anywhere else, other than his apartment."

I groaned internally at having to be alone with Damon, but outwardly, I nodded.

This was more important than our pettiness.

"I'll be ready in five minutes."

Alaric gave a nod, then shifted his attention to his adopted son.

"I want him alive, Damon. I mean it. I want him questioned before we deal out punishment. We need to find out who turned him, or determine what wolf family he comes from."

"There is someone who knows the Mutt rumor mill better than any of us," George suggested, running a hand over his head.

"Elijah Mikaelson," Mason straighten.

"If he's even in the country," Stefan added.

Alaric considered that.

"It's possible he might know something...the two of you should look into it."

Stefan and Mason both nodded.

"And us?" Enzo motioned to himself and Tyler, "I suppose we could sit back, maybe prepare dinner, clean the fireplace..."

Ric actually cracked a small smile.

"You can accompany Stefan and Mason. Just in case a show of force is needed to make Elijah more...compliable."

"Show of force?" He grinned.

"Yes!" Mason cheered, "That's what I'm talking about!"

The two bumped fist.

Alaric rolled his eyes, "Tyler, you will stay here with your father and myself. We need to keep a tab on the case. Especially if the Mutt is trying to make us appear guilty of something."

He nodded.

Mason clapped Stefan's shoulder, "Let's do this!"

Leave it to these guys to be pumped about something like this.

They filed out, and I made to follow.

Ric stopped me, "Wait...I want you to come outside with me for a moment."

I was confused, but agreed.

He shot a look to Damon, "You stay."

I smirked that the affronted expression that crossed his face, and had to resist adding "Good boy", before falling into place behind Alaric.

We walked through the house, out to the back patio.

"What is it?" I asked.

Ric, walked over to the stone wall that surrounded the porch.

A bouquet of flowers rested there.

He picked them up, "These came for you this morning."

I blinked, "They did?"

He nodded, "From someone who knows you well enough to know that lilacs are your favorite flowers."

I took the bouquet from him, blushing.

He leaned against the wall, "So, is it serious?"

I shrugged, not really wanting to explain Matt to anyone in the Pack.

"Serious enough, I guess. But don't worry. I know how you feel about long term relationships with humans."

Alaric didn't say anything.

I held up the flowers, "I had to make up an excuse for coming back out here. I told him that a cousin had gotten in an accident, was in a coma."

"Hence the flowers," Ric noted.

I nodded.

He gave me a little smile, "I'm happy that you've found someone that cares about you."

"He does," I sighed, "And he's a great guy...but I know that I can never be honest with him. I can never be myself, without the lies and excuses."

Alaric only nodded, "It is a harsh reality we all must deal with...may I suggest though that you dispose of those. I'm sure the last thing you want is questions."

I looked at the flowers, and nodded.

We both understood that he meant Damon.

"He doesn't need to know about this."

Ric smirked, "Not if you value Matt's life."

I shot him a look.

"The name was on the card," he explained.

Oh. Right.

"True all the same," I sighed, handing the flowers back over to him, "Get rid of them, please."

"Of course."

I straitened, "Well, I still have a job to do. So, I'm going to go change clothes, then Damon and I will head to town."

"Sounds good," Ric agreed.

He kissed my head, and we went back into the house.

Once I was upstairs, I changed quickly, then took a moment to call Matt.

He answered almost immediately, "Elena."

"Hey," I smiled.

"You're alive," he teased, "Everything okay?"

"As well as it can be," I assured him, "I got your flowers. They're beautiful."

"Good," he said, "I wasn't sure where to send them, but I mentioned the Salvatore manor, and the florist knew the name."

Oh I bet she did.

"Well, they made it," I told him, "Thank you."

"Of course," he said lightly, "How are things going?"

"Um..." I thought fast, "Unchanging, as of now. She's still in a coma, but everyone's coping."

Concern filled his voice, "You know that if you need me, I can fly out. Just say the word. I'll switch my shift and-"

"No," I said, almost too quickly, but the idea of Matt anywhere within the same vicinity as Damon terrified me.

Damon's instinct to lay claim on what's his was just too strong, and unfortunately, his brain put me in that category.

Better not to chance it.

"It's just, it's fine," I corrected, "There's nothing really to be done, and I'm not sure how things are going to work, and it's just better if you stay there."

Thankfully, he accepted that.

"Okay, just let me know if you change your mind."

"I will," I told him, "But right now, I kind of need to go."

"Of course," he agreed easily, "Call me when you can."

We said goodbye and hung up.

An uneasiness pulled at my stomach.

Matt was such a good guy, too good, really, and in the end, I was going to break his heart.

It just wasn't fair.

Before I could feel too guilty though, Damon's horn blared from outside, and I returned my thoughts to the focus at hand.

Right.

Killer Mutt now, inner reflection on how horrible a person I am later.

This chapter was on the short side, but there are some pretty long ones coming up!

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