Not gonna waste your time here lol.

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Damon's POV

I threw open the basement door, and all but jumped the stairs in my eagerness.

"Alaric?"

He was standing in front of the cage, but didn't immediately kick me out, so that was something.

"Did she…" I couldn't complete the question, because my eyes fell on the creature in the cage.

"Elena," I breathed, as my legs gave out.

I fell to my knees, just outside the bars, and reached out to steady myself on one of them.

She had completed the transition, and instead of the woman I loved laying before me, there was a wolf.

A beautiful female wolf with chocolate fur, the color of Elena's natural hair.

She was unconscious, but alive.

"She survived," Alaric said, his voice a stunned whisper, "I...I didn't think it was possible…"

I swallowed with relief, "She lived."

The Alpha's hand touched my shoulder and squeezed it sympathetically.

Then he sighed, "Damon-"

"I know," I cleared my throat, and forced myself to my feet before he could tell me what I already knew, "I'll have to leave…"

He shook his head, "She's alive…"

"That won't matter to the Alpha council," I reminded him, "I broke the law either way-"

"But she lived," he pointed out, grabbing my shoulder, "Which means you won't be branded as a Mutt."

Small victories.

He stared back down into the cage, "She's a miraculous creature...I've never heard of another female surviving."

Neither had I, which had made this risk I'd taken so much worse.

She had been a breath away from death, because of me.

I set my jaw, "I want to stay with her until she wakes up...please. Afterwards, you can duel out any punishment you want...just let me talk to her."

Alaric stared at me for a moment, then nodded, his hand squeezing me again, "Very well. Come find me once she's awoken, but do not let her out of that cage, Damon. She won't be ready, and you know that as well as I. She'll have to be taught."

I nodded, "Yes, Alpha."

It was evening before Elena awoke again.

The sun had set, and her body had shifted while she was passed out, turning her back to her human form.

She'd survived the first Change though, and that one was always the worst.

But there was still more to endure.

The transition into another being wasn't an easy one and the suicide rates of new wolves during their first week was about as high as those who died during the Change itself.

But Elena was strong.

She'd pull through.

I stood, getting closer to the cage as she began to move, and I noticed that her body trembled.

Then she sat up, grabbing the blanket I'd thrown over her earlier, and wrapping it around her shoulders.

I let out the breath that I must have been holding, "Elena."

Her eyes found mine, and they were still wide; frightened, "Damon?"
I stepped closer, grabbing a bar, "I'm so sorry, kitten. I can't even begin to explain."

Though I realized with a sharp jolt, that I could now.
"Explain why you bit me?" she asked, her body stiff.

She was angry, scared, confused, and the scents hit me, shaming me for causing this.
"I loved you," she whispered raspily, "I trusted you."

She stood up on shaking legs, her bare body still shivering.

I flinched at the pain on her face; at what I'd done by bringing her to my home.
"I know," I dropped my gaze, "I had to."

It was the only way to save her.

Even though she was only in danger in the first place because of me.

Elena took a step forward, and I glanced up.

She looked so pale, so weak, and her head fell against the bars.

I couldn't stop myself from reaching out for her, sliding a hand between the bars to cup her face.

She leaned into my touch, her eyes closing, "I'm so cold."

Immediately, I wanted nothing more than to let her out, to take her upstairs and run her a hot bath, then wrap her in every blanket I had on my bed until she fell asleep.

But Alaric was right, and the pain wasn't over for her yet.

Changes would still come and she wouldn't be able to control them.

And until she could, we wouldn't be able to control her.

But I couldn't just leave her in this state.

I considered my options, then grabbed the key that Alaric had left with me.

I checked to make sure that we were alone, and then moved to open the cage door.

Elena stumbled forward the second I stepped inside the cell with her, and I pulled her into my arms, holding her head to my chest.

She clung to me as a salty scent filled the air, and I realized she was crying.

I held her tighter, fighting back tears myself as she trembled.

"This is just a dream," she whispered pleadingly, "Tell me it's a dream."

I could only squeeze her body and apologize.

But at least she seemed to relax, her hands clinging to me, as if trying to hold onto the only reality she had left.

I kissed her head, saying "I'm sorry," into her hair.

Then it happened.

A shiver ran through Elena's body and she stiffened again.

Then the cracking started, her bones shifting.

A scream left her throat, and her nails dug into my skin.

"Elena," I tried to get her attention, knowing the kind of pain she was about to endure.

I placed her back on the cot, trying to allow her space, and brushed back her hair.

"Breathe," I told her, "Just breathe. You have to let the Change happen."

"No," she whimpered, grabbing for me, "It hurts! Please..."

I hated this.

Her pain killed me, and there was nothing I could do to ease her.

The Change would happen either way, and as her body began to transform, I knew I had to get out reach.

A new werewolf couldn't always distinguish between person and food, and fighting her was the last thing that needed to happen, but damn it, I didn't want to let go of her.

However, I was robbed of the choice when she rolled over and her teeth elongated.

I would be no good to her torn up.

So with effort, I backed out of the cage, and shut the door back into place.

I sat with outside of the bars, talking lowly to her, until the Change had completed.

She didn't pass out this time, which was an improvement, but her wolf didn't seem to know what to do either.

She paced, laid down, whined, then paced again.

Emotions tore through me at the sight.

The human half of me hated that I'd done this to Elena; that she was now forced to live the same curse that my Pack had been enduring all of our lives.

But my wolf...man, he was feeling a different side of this.

His mate was right in front of him, breathtaking in her wolf form, and he was itching to explode out of my skin to join her.

I fought the urge, forcing a calm to rush through my veins, knowing that Elena would need me to be here, once she had settled enough to turn back.

It took almost an hour for that to happen, and I waited until all traces of the wolf had faded away before entering the cage again.

Elena remained on the ground, her head resting on her hands.

"It'll be okay, kitten," I promised her, "It'll get easier. Just try to fight through this."

She didn't seem to be listening, but her mouth moved.

If it wasn't for my wolf, I wouldn't have caught her words.

"Please," she begged me, a tear sliding out of her deep brown eyes, "Just let me die."

I flinched at the request, and moved to my knees so that I could pull her into my arms.

She didn't fight me, and her body felt dead already.

"Not a chance, kitten," I told her, "Not a chance in hell."

She fell into me, and her consciousness faded.

I sighed, holding her tightly.

This wasn't fair to her, and I wouldn't have her go through the same struggles that I had when I had turned, with no one there to guide me.

Elena would have the Pack.

I pushed back her hair, and wondered at how she would get along with them.

The guys, I wasn't so worried about.

I'd seen her with them.

But Alaric...he was the one that she would have to listen to; the one that she would need the most, if she was going to learn to adjust.

Though how could I get her to trust him? Especially after she finds out why I had to bite her in the first place.

I knew Elena, her heart, her guard, and she wouldn't trust anyone that was about to kill her...if she knew about it.

I stared down at her face, and moved my hand to her cheek, stroking the skin.

The only way she would possibly trust Alaric enough to let him help her was if she didn't know what he had planned to do.

Which meant that I wouldn't be able to explain why I bit her...why I nearly took her life away from her.
God, what would she think of me?

Well, seeing as she'd just found out that I'd been keeping things from her all along, and that I was a fucking werewolf...I doubted she'd be so keen to trust me either.

"Just let me die…"

Her words speared me, and I had to swallow back a sob or two.

Because I remembered that same feeling.

The only difference was, I'd been alone, and I had killed.

I refused to let Elena suffer that pain.

She needed Alaric right now...a hell of a lot more than she was going to need me.

The explanation could wait.

"I've spoken to the council," Alaric said, later in the hall.

Elena had fallen to unconsciousness again, and I knew that I couldn't put off paying the piper any longer.

So, with great reluctance, I'd placed her back on the cot, covered her the best I could with the blanket, then made my way back upstairs to hear what had been decided.

"Am I out?" I asked Ric, that being the only answer I cared about.

"No," he assured me, pouring a few glasses of bourbon and handing one over, "With this resulting in the first female of our species they've decided that the outcome outweighs the crime. They've agreed to let me deal with our...situation."

"You mean deal with me," I guessed, taking a hard swallow of the liquor, "So what's it gonna be, Alpha?"

"Banishment," he said without hesitance, "Temporarily."

I watched him as he moved to sit down in the chair behind his desk.

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean," I asked.

Alaric stared up at me, "You're like a son to me Damon. I don't want to lose you; and the Pack can't afford to, but I can't just let your decisions of late slide by without notice. You've been seeing your female for a while now, you get engaged without so much as a mention of how serious you'd become, you bring her around the Pack, exposing her, then waltz her through our front door before risking her life to turn her."

"I only bit her because the alternative was letting you kill her," I reminded him, "Which I understand is how our law works, but you don't understand what I feel for her, Ric. I couldn't let her die."

"Precisely my point," he noted, "I'm starting to think that your emotions are affecting your actions. You don't think clearly when it comes to her, and right now, she can't afford a loose cannon within these walls. I think it would be best for both of you to have a little distance. I'll allow you back with the Pack when I feel she's adjusted and can handle the emotions that being around you will bring. Everything will be heightened and confusing for her over these next few weeks. There's no need to add to that."

I hated that he was right, and took another drink, before muttering, "Her best interest didn't matter so much to you before I bit her."

Alaric let out a dry chuckle, "Yes well, before you bit her, she hadn't just altered our history. But it's too late to change anything now. She's a part of the Pack, and that means we're responsible for what happens to her now."

I kept my eyes on the now empty glass in my hand, "And what does happen to her now?"

"I talk to her, explain what happened until she believes me, then try to help her control the Change. When I feel it's safe, I'll let her out of the cage, see where she fits in with the rest of us."

I nodded, then felt compelled to add, "It's not going to be easy to win her trust…"

"It wasn't easy to win yours either, son," he reminded me, "But we figured it out."

I smirked slightly, "Sometimes it seems like we still are."

"Perhaps. But if your female was strong enough to survive the Change, I'm sure she can handle the other transitions."

"She can," I said surely, "But she's also scared. She'll need to know she can trust you."

I sat the glass down on his desk, and placed my palm next to it, "Which means you can't tell her that you were going to kill her."

Alaric didn't blink as he held my gaze, as if trying to read my expression.

"You don't want me to tell her what happened?" he asked.

I shook my head, "Tell her the truth. I brought her here, I bit her, and she survived. But that's all she needs to know."

"And you don't think she'll be a little upset about the risk you took?" Ric rose a brow, "If we don't explain to her why you took it...she'll find out soon enough that she's the only female to survive, and then what will she think of you?"

"She'll hate me for it," I reasoned, "But at least this way, she won't hate you. And right now, you're the one she needs. Especially if I'm going to be taking a temporary vacation."

Alaric shook his head, standing up, "We'll figure out another way to explain it, Damon. You love her, and letting her believe that you tried to kill her is-"

"You said yourself that it's my fault," I reminded him, "I may not have meant for it to happen, but in bringing her here, I signed off on her future. That was a choice that I made, and this is the consequence. If her transition is anything like mine was, she's going to need you, Ric. You're her Alpha now, and she's going to have to trust you if she's gonna survive this new life. When she's settled, and I'm allowed back, I'll talk to her and set things straight….but until then…"

"Need to know," he nodded, "Fine. If that's really what you want."

"It's what's best for her," I corrected, "I just have to believe that she'll love me enough to forgive me."

I looked up at the Alpha, "And we should keep this between us. No need in having the others run their mouths around her. Just let them believe what they believe until I return."

Ric sighed, "If that's what you wish...I'm sorry things happened this way, Damon. I really am."

"Yeah. Me too."

I sipped a beer as I sat on the small wall that blocked the back patio from the yard.

Spring time had brought with it a few warmer days, and the Pack was taking advantage of the fact, some of the guys rounding up for a game of football.

The latest group of teenagers had just left, there had been no news of a threat in weeks, or any further information on the Order, despite the fact that I had all the other packs looking into it, so we were all just trying to live our lives with as much normality as possible.

My gaze left the group that were tackling each other over a sixteen ounce ball and drifted across the yard to where Elena and Caroline were sitting on a blanket.

Caroline had her newborn wrapped up and pressed against her chest while the twins and little Michael played in the grass next to them with Jo, who had been visiting more often since the birth of the young.

I smiled at the happiness of my children, knowing that at least I'd succeeded in keeping the stress away from them.

They weren't oblivious to the dangers that could exist for them, but they were so well protected that it wasn't real for them.

And now that they'd learned, for the most part, how to control their abilities, the risk factor had lessened immensely.

Elena was the one to thank for that, since she'd been practicing with them almost every day at this point.

I stared at my mate now, as she laid back on the blanket, stretching out to enjoy the warmth of the sun.

The curve of her body was enticing, and I still found it funny how she didn't even have to try to make me want her.

But she was enjoying herself now, with her friend, and I wasn't going to interrupt that.

Caroline caught my eye then, and smirked a little, before leaning over to Elena and murmuring something, too quietly for me to hear without focusing, which I didn't particularly feel like doing right now.

My mate stared at her, then glanced over at me.

I crooked my head curiously and rose a brow as she smiled, then said something in response to Caroline.

When the blonde replied, Elena nodded, and climbed to her feet.

I watched expectantly as she made her way over.

But instead of greeting me, she walked by, stepping up onto the patio, and headed for the door leading into the house.

My eyes followed her with a confusion that disappeared the moment she winked and crooked her finger at me.

With a smirk, I stood up and finished my beer, then followed her into the house.

The moment the back door closed behind me, Elena threw herself into my arms, and kissed me.

I returned the favor, gripping her waist as we stumbled backwards, bumping into chairs, the table, a counter, and eventually a wall, before she pulled away with a breathy laugh, "You're a little enthusiastic."

I placed my finger under her chin, lifting it, "That tends to happen when your wife steals you away for alone time."

She smiled unapologetically, "Caroline mentioned that you looked a little lonely. She's gonna keep an eye on the kids for us for a bit. I figured they'd be safe with everyone outside and that we could take advantage."

"Kitten, you can take advantage of me any time," I promised her, and she laughed before kissing me again.

We found our way up the stairs, breaking apart only to enter the bedroom and to make sure the door shut behind us.

Then I turned around to grab my mate, but she put a hand on my chest, "Wait."

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head, "Nothing...I just want to enjoy this. Can we go slow?"

I nodded, brushing back some of her hair, "Of course."

She smiled softly, wrapping her arms around my neck, and let me kiss her again.

True to my word, I let our lips linger, tasting her with every breath that passed between us, and a calmness washed through the raging passion I'd felt before.

With all the chaos, moments like these had been slim and far stretched, so I understood Elena's need to enjoy each second perfectly.

I let my mouth trail from her lips, to her jaw, and kissed the line of it to her neck.

She purred against me, and I lifted my hands to her waist, dragging them up to her ribcage, taking the dress she wore up with it.

Stripping the fabric away, and leaving Elena in nothing more than her underwear, had my cock hardening, but I wanted this to be good for her.

I led her back towards the bed, shifting so that she remained beneath me, and I fell into the curve of her body.

We kissed deeply and Elena moaned.

Then her hand was slipping between us, gripping my erection, and I hissed.

She smirked against my lips, as she pumped me with her palm, and teased the tip of my head along her slick folds.

I groaned, pulling back, "I thought you wanted slow?"

She lifted and grazed her teeth on my bottom lip, before purring, "Maybe I changed my mind."

Needing no more incentive than that, I grabbed both of her hands in one of mine, moving them so that they were above her head, and used my free hand to align us.

Her head fell back when I pushed into her, and her lips parted.

We moved together in perfect synchronization, as the passing years had made us experts in the pleasure of each other's bodies.

Elena clung to me as we built and crashed, my name falling breathlessly from her lips as we rode out the sensations, her fingers scraping the skin of my back.

When the tremors were over, I collapsed onto her body, dropping my head in the crook of her neck.

She held me, fingers brushing through my hair, as reality returned.

I could hear the game still being played outside, the children still laughing, and occasional howls ringing out, indicating the change in perimeter runs.

"Fuck," I huffed, rolling over.

Elena giggled, "I figured you might of needed that."

I smirked, looking over at her, and pulled her into my arms, "Thank you."

She rested her head on my chest, her hair spilling out over my skin, and her scent filled my nostrils.

We laid there together, peaceful in the aftermath of our lovemaking, and it dawned on me that I had missed moments like this.

Sure, being Pack Alpha had ended up being beneficial, and I wouldn't trade our children for the world, but the responsibilities had really diminished the alone time that I had with my female.

Before, we'd sometimes have hours to just be together, running, sex, hunting, it didn't matter how we spent the time, but we had the time to spend.

Lately, that hadn't been the case, and it felt really good to just hold Elena in my arms, and breathe her in.

"I love you," I murmured.

She looked up, smiling in that way of hers, "I love you, too...you okay?"

I nodded, stroking her hair, "Absolutely."

She pressed a kiss to my chest, and sighed as she relaxed back into me, "I promised the twins we'd go for a run today...but I don't want to move."

I chuckled, "I understand, trust me."

"It's good for them though," she continued, "The more often they Change, the more control they have, and the more leveled it makes their powers."

"I'll go with you then," I told her, "We can take them to the river, go swimming."

Elena lifted herself enough to give me a disapproving look, "Don't you think it's still a little too cold for that?"

I smirked, "It's not really going to bother them if they're Changed. Come on, it'll be fun."

She considered my suggestion, then shrugged, "Fine, but if they get sick, you're gonna be getting up with them in the middle of the night. Not me."

I laughed, "Whatever you say, kitten."

She smiled a little, and pulled herself up into a sitting position, "So Caroline and I were talking earlier…"

The change of subject surprised me, and her tone made me curious, "Yeah?"

She nodded, "She wants to put Michael in school."

I frowned, "You mean the public school? In town?"

Elena nodded, "Yeah. She wants him to have more of a life outside the Pack, which I can completely understand, but...I don't know. It doesn't feel safe."

Something about the way she said the word had me wondering if she was even thinking about Michael at all.

I sat up, adjusting so that I was facing her, "You mean the twins? That it's not safe for them."

She shrugged, "I don't know. I guess I just hadn't really thought about it, you know? I mean, they are turning into wolves and performing magic, so the whole school thing didn't really feel like it was in the picture...but do we really want to homeschool them the entire time? They'll never get to meet kids their own age, or develop social skills...It scares the hell out of me, but I'm worried that they won't know how to exist outside of the Pack if we don't pre expose them to the human world as well."

Her eyebrows had pulled together, so that the skin between them crinkled, and I sighed, reaching out to pull her against me, "Hey, it's okay."

She leaned her head on my shoulder, "I don't want to mess this up, Damon. The situation is so delicate, and there are so many things that could go wrong, but sheltering them from the world...I don't know what the smart thing to do is."

I kissed the top of her head, "Yes, you do."

She looked up at me, questions in her eyes, and I smiled, "Elena, your instincts have never been wrong. If you think the young need more socialization, then that's what we'll give them."

"And if they use magic in front of other kids?" she asked, "Or, god forbid, Change in front of them? What then?"

"They won't," I told her, "They're smart, Kitten, and they know the rules. And if you decide that you want them to be enrolled in school somewhere, then that's what will happen. We can wait a few more years, make sure they have complete control, then give it a try. Besides, you and Bonnie have been working on that memory spell, so-"

"Working being the operative word in that statement," she pointed out, "We haven't actually managed to figure out how to completely modify memories."

"But you will," I said, "In time. And the young will be fine without the pre exposure for a while longer. So we'll keep doing what we're doing. Schooling them, training them...taking them into town with us, and eventually they'll be ready to do things on their own."

Elena sighed, "I know...I just worry for them."

I laughed a little, "Oh I know. But they'll be okay, kitten. Now come on, let's go shower, and we'll take them on a run."

She nodded, and reached up to kiss me, "Thank you."

I smiled, pressing my forehead into hers, "We're in this together, remember? You bring me back when I'm stressed about outside threats, and I'll level you when you go too far into your own head and get unnecessarily worried."

She laughed at that, "Quite the pair, aren't we?"

"It's worked so far," I pointed out, then stood up and reached for her hand, "No reason it shouldn't continue to."

Elena nodded and let me pull her to her feet, "I didn't realize I married such a wise male."

I smirked at her teasing tone, "I like to keep some surprise in our relationship. Wouldn't want it to get boring, you know."

She shook her head, "Damon, you're the Alpha of the Supreme Pack, and we have werewolf children who also have witch blood. I don't think our lives will ever be boring."

I gripped her waist and dragged her body against mine, "Doesn't hurt to be sure."

She smirked as I kissed her, and that was all it took to make sure that the next fifteen minutes were not boring in the slightest.

My babies...*sigh*

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