"Caroline and Kol are linked together after a spell goes wrong."–P.M

Sequel to 'we're howling forever'.

A few weeks after her disastrous birthday and Caroline's life is slowly going back to normal (as normal as it could be after accidentally getting mated to the alpha's son of a rival pack) and while Anna and Jeremy try their best to act like absolutely nothing has changed, Stefan is a slightly different matter. It isn't too obvious to anyone else but her but the too-friendly touches and stares they used to share have gone. Stefan gives her the same respectful distance he gives Anna, as he would give another man's mate.

The knowledge of that makes Caroline's stomach churn. While she's always fancied herself silly for thinking Stefan would see her beyond platonic feelings, at the back of her mind she's always seen the end of this story with her as his mate. It's an image of the four of them, her and Stefan, Jeremy and Anna. And it's now shattered by a night of heightened hormones and a wolf boy who can't seem to take a hint.

Kol Mikaelson, her unwanted mate, has been relentlessly trying to get her back in his dastardly clutches again. While negotiations between the two packs are still very much going on with what to do with her 'situation', Kol takes every opportunity to use the mate bond between them to persuade her to return to him like a lost lamb back to her shepherd. It starts of as phantom emotions, memories of their short time together flashing before her piece by piece to joggle her memory to remember and not forget then evolves to living under his skin for brief moments, her senses so in tune with his it's like they are one being.

Then the dreams come, him there as always, handsome and maddening all at once as he manipulated the world in their heads to his will. Walks on the beach, dinner at Paris, the place in the forest she surrendered her maidenhead – the setting always varied as he tries to coax her to fall for him with easy smirks and sweet words.

Wolf-girl, won't you submit? He kisses her lightly until she trembles underneath his touch. Come home to me.

She wakes up cranky and dissatisfied, aching for him and wanting to hang herself for it. Her nights aren't safe from him and so did her mornings. As the mate bond continues to strengthen itself, his voice in her head now, talking to her by a connection only they can hear. A private phone line for him and her. How fucking precious.

"Full moon tonight!" Jeremy whispers with a large grin as he and Anna saddle up to her by her locker. "You antsy for a run, Care?"

"Totally," Caroline sighs as she closes her locker with more care than she usually did. Her nerves shot, she fears ripping it off its hinges and making a scene among the much larger crowd of humans in the hallway. "Where's Stefan?"

"His dad pulled him out of class earlier," Anna explained. "Pack business."

Her tone obviously says 'Didn't you know?' and Caroline blinks at her as she takes this information in, confused. If Giuseppe pulled out Stefan for an adults-only pack meeting, why was Caroline not included as well? Caroline is already at the age of consent in Lycan Law, by that alone she is supposed to be at that meeting. And her father is Giuseppe's beta, giving her rank in the pack.

"I should be there," Caroline is in disbelief, shaking her head. "Why didn't they take me too?"

Anna and Jeremy share a look before shrugging. Caroline knows that look. She's seen it from practically everyone in the pack ever since the pack saved her from being bound forever to Kol. They all know that what she had though inadvertently done is causing problems for the pack and the reason she isn't at the pack meeting right now is because they know whatever they're planning, she's not going to like it.

Caroline frowns and walked past her friends as she tries to gain control of her temper. They're all treating her like a pariah because of a mistake. Being mated to a Mikaelson has never been Caroline's intention. Heck, she'd sooner marry a human than have to marry into the enemy pack.

That's going a bit too far, love. You might hurt my feelings with that kind of thinking. Kol's voice echoes inside her head and she bites back a growl of frustration. Testy, lovey, watch your blood pressure.

Out! She practically barks in her head. Out of my head!

And why would I do that, darling? I like it in your head. His voice purrs. I especially liked it last night in our dream when you let me-

Out! She gives him a mental smack for good measure. Get out!

Alright! Alright! I get it, darling. You're in a mood. He sighs. I'll just see you later.

No, you won't. She rolls her eyes at his arrogance, thinking she'll give in to him sooner or later. Caroline Forbes is a she-wolf, she bows to no wolf-boy who cowers behind his father like a weak pup. If he wants her, he would need to chase and capture her like a real predator.

Caroline is in her room, doing the last of her homework when her mother enters from the doorway, looking worried. She must've come from the impromptu pack meeting because she smells of mint and tobacco, the aroma of the Salvatore house for as long as she can remember. Her father is not yet home and Caroline wonders if the meeting is still going on which is odd for they would be hunting tonight and most wolves spent the daylight hours like this resting up.

"Sweetheart," Liz Forbes enters the room dressed in her sheriff's uniform and takes a seat on the bed, trying her best to look nonchalant. "How was school?"

"Fine," Caroline puts down her pen to look at her mother. "Why are you deflecting?"

The older wolf stares at her in surprise for a moment before schooling her expression. She looks ready to deny what Caroline is alleging her of before changing her mind with a slight shake of her head. She looks exasperated and tired all of a sudden. "You really are your father's daughter."

"And you're still deflecting," Caroline stares down at her mother until the other blonde gives her a look that said 'Don't try those games with me, dear'. "What happened at the meeting?"

"We were discussing your…marriage," Liz practically cringes at the word. The thought of her only child mated off to a boy of the rival pack isn't an easy pill to swallow. "And after weeks of consideration, Giuseppe and Mikael are ready to sign a new treaty."

Caroline stiffens in shock. A new treaty? They are replacing the treaty that has kept peace among two packs for years? She's almost too afraid to ask, "Is it because of me?"

Liz looks like she wants to deny it and spare her daughter the pain but answers, like a good wolf mother would teach her pup to be strong. "Partially. But it's an issue that has been brought up for a while now, intermarrying between our packs."

Caroline waits for her mother to elaborate and the sheriff obliges, looking bemused. "Mikael is even more selective than Giuseppe about whom he lets join his pack, as a result there has been a lack of new blood for them in quite a while. Which means intermarrying with our pack that has fresh genes would ensure-"

"Less unstable werewolves," Caroline finishes unhappily, already knowing where this is going. "I'm going to be one of the lambs for this new endeavor then? You're just marrying me off into the very same pack your grandparents fought against for puppies?"

Liz stares her down with a frown. She looks hurt but still firm. "Yes. Because you are our future and there will be none if there is no sacrifice."

Caroline closes her eyes as she tries to swallow the pain overcoming her. To be severed from her family, her pack and sold into a new one, one she's brought up to fear and despise is a hellish turn of events. Her dreams of her own children with Stefan's green eyes shatter at her feet and she holds back her tears.

Liz is at her side, her fingers on her shoulder blades until Caroline shrugs her off. "Sweetie, I'm so sorry-"

"No, you're not," Caroline hisses back, eyes wet but the tears have not fallen. Liz recoils at her daughter's words but does not reprimand her, looking lost as she watches her daughter get up and go to her closet, taking out her suitcase and dropping it open on her bed.

Liz watches with some misplacement as Caroline grabs hangers of dresses from her closet and starts stuffing them unceremoniously into the large suit case without any finesse. Caroline sniffles and holds back her tears but she is clearly upset, packing with tense energy. The older wolf watches this for a moment before beginning to help her daughter.

"I'm sorry. I really am." Liz whispers and Caroline says nothing. "We don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose you."

Caroline closes her eyes. "I don't want to go."

"I know," Liz pulls her into a hug. They've never been that affectionate compared to Caroline and her father but this moment requires it more than anything. "I wish you could stay."

"Too bad I can't."

The two are quiet as they try to pack up Caroline Forbes' old life for her new one.

Caroline doesn't want to get out of her dad's car. She wants to close her eyes and awaken from the living nightmare that her life has become. This isn't how it's supposed to be. It's supposed to be her and Stefan, little children with green eyes and a white picket fence but instead she gets none of those (even though the Mikaelson home is possibly the largest house she's ever seen in person).

"Caroline," Her father starts but then falters, unable to say more.

Her mother looks ready to cry but the wolf in her is too proud to show off too much weakness. Instead, her mother hugs her so fiercely Caroline can feel her bones ache from the older woman's strength.

"Mommy," She murmurs into her mother's blouse. "I don't want to go."

"I'm sorry, Caroline," Her mother pulls back to grasp her face in her hands. "But there's nothing we can do now."

Caroline swallows to try and keep her tears at bay. I am a wolf-girl. They cannot make or see me cry. Hear me howl.

She pulls away from her mother's touch and opens the car door and all at once she can sense Kol, him so nearby a light buzzing is pacing through her head as she sees him outside the front door of the large house. She stands still, not wanting to move closer but her biology, the wolf in her that submits to his urges her to move so she walks slowly and leisurely.

He would not make her come like some submissive bitch. He had to chase her. She isn't running but she isn't caught either.

She stops at the foot of the steps of the porch and looks up at him with narrowed blue eyes. She would growl if she could, if it wouldn't disappoint her pack to see her not try. She has a duty and she will fulfill it. No matter how much it will cost her.

"Caroline," Kol finally greets her, moving leisurely down the steps like they have all the time in the world for their game of cat and mouse. He's enjoying himself clearly. "Welcome back home."

She grits her teeth and fists her palms, wanting to hurt him, wanting to see him bleed. She'd smack him in the mouth and lick the blood off her fists. She wants him to hurt like he is doing to her, stealing her, letting her become a lamb for the sacrifice. She wants him begging at her feet, she wants him weak.

"Caroline," He's grinning at her thoughts. He likes her when she's bloodthirsty it seems. "Where are your things?"

"In the car," She answers him curtly.

"Good, good," He gestures to something behind him and two young wolves walk out of the room and head to her father's car, collecting her bags and boxes casually. Omegas, easily pushed by the stronger, like an alpha's son.

She watches the younger wolves go inside the large house but still doesn't move, not even when the car peels out of the driveway and she's left alone with Kol.

What now? Oh, wolf girl, you're in way over your head.

I missed you, Kol whispers into her mind. Come in and we'll get you settled.

Keep out of my head! She growls within and he grins widely, obviously not planning to acquiesce at all.

"Come on in," He doesn't reach for her, doesn't touch her but he merely steps back and goes inside, expecting her to follow.

She's left with no choice but to obey.

I do not yield to you. She thinks as she sits at the dinner table with her new pack. I may have surrendered my freedom but I am still not one of you.

Kol has siblings, all of which try to engage her in conversation and she ignores them, playing with the scraps of her steak on her plate. She feels small and cornered, like prey and it frustrates her. She wants to be boundless, she wants to disappear.

Kol grasps her hand nearest to him and intertwines their fingers. She wants to pull away but he won't let her. He's strong and she can't take him in a fight so she settles for glaring at him as he smiles at her like he's won.

He lifts her hand to his lips and she shudders at his warm breath. Flashes of their night together conquer her mind and she's on edge for the rest of dinner.

She's mated to him so they must share a bed and she's left staring at a white ceiling underneath red sheets as Kol is spooning her from behind. She tries to imagine the glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling of her bedroom at her parents' house and sleep comes too late.

The next morning, she wakes to Kol in the shower. She's disoriented at first before she remembers and her blood boils at the situation she finds herself in. She burrows deeper into red sheets and closes her eyes, trying to forget.

Kol exists the bathroom a moment later with nothing but a towel around his waist and she remembers his skin against hers, his mouth on her pulse and she shudders. He smirks at her as she tries to hide under the covers but he pulls them back and hovers over her, moving closer to her to kiss her hair.

"Good morning," She watches him warily as he moves away and goes to open one of the drawers in the dark wood armoire. "You should get ready. We leave for school soon."

What school? She can't possibly still go to her school at the other end of town. He doesn't want her out of his sight and all she wants to do is flee.

He sighs when he sees she has no plans of moving and pulls out something out of the wardrobe, a girl's uniform with the crest of Mikaelson Prep on the blazer. He throws it at her on the bed. "Get dressed. We'll be late."

Caroline feels awkward as she steps out of Kol's black vintage car. All eyes are on her as she walks from the parking lot to the entrance of the posh private school Kol's pack and now she attends. But she doesn't fidget though she's nervous. She is still a wolf girl after all and she yields to no one.

They enter the school and she walks foreward, head held high.

You cannot make me into prey. I fight like a she-wolf. I will tear you apart before you can even try. I will feast on you, your blood on my tongue.

"Welcome home," Kol says to her as he guides her through the school like a shepherd. "Everything's going to be perfect now."

No it isn't, wolf boy. No it isn't.

Still she smiles and lets him hold her hand.

I am a she wolf. And I will kill you.