Klaus POV

Earlier that morning (While Leah's running 'round in the forest)

I could feel the time pass slower than if had done in my past hundred years, not even watching Rebekah fall in and out of love had made my mind so conscious of each passing second. I blamed it solely on Ms Clearwater and her rather unprompted confession a week ago. Granted her presence did little to my everyday life, in fact it hardly seemed altered. If the shifter hadn't come perhaps I may never have noticed it, day light was as bright as it had been before and the night as dark.

Why, then, did time seem to have stalled? Hayley appeared not to be affected by this clear fluctuation in my world. The hybrid might even like Ms Clearwater, er Leah, but that hardly prompted me to raise a brow. Hayley had the habit of befriending strange people – Tyler being my number one example, of course. I couldn't blame her though; she had been alone for some time now – once again Tyler being the cause – and perhaps for Hayley it was agreeable to have someone here that wasn't me.

Passably I'm sure I was good company, yet it seemed appropriate for the hybrid to have a female companion to confide in. The thought made me shudder in my seat. As much as I appreciated Hayley staying at my side, I have no interest in her personal grievances. Females in general were bad news – this I could point out might have been a side effect of my mother trying to slaughter her children at the reunion ball only a year or two ago.

I was not deluded; females were powerful and terribly dangerous. After mother and Rebekah had removed themselves from my life I was more than glad to be left with only Hayley as a female companion. Granted, I lost many male acquaintances in the process as well, this I blamed purely on their own stupidity.

Beneath my hand ink smudges and I shake my head. I crumple the picture and chuck it to the bin Hayley had insisted on placing in my study since the fire incident. I draw out a new page and close my eyes, forcing my mind from Hayley and Ms Clearwater. Instead I focus my mind's eye on a face I know better than my own. My hand starts moving and I allow my eyes to linger shut a moment longer, somewhat curious to see the results of this unseen drawing.

When I open my eyes several moments later and glance down at the sketch I feel disappointed. Although I might have drawn it with my eyes shut, it was well done, yet something about it wasn't right. I'd drawn it a million times before and every other time I'd tried to fix it. I remember with uncertainty the first time I drew Caroline's pretty face, she was standing with a horse, an image I'd conjured from my mind not from sight. The one thing I'd done right.

I shake my head and purse my lips, consider throwing this one in the fire. It manages to make me angry for an unknown reason.

The door creaks and before I look up I know it is Hayley, only my dull hybrid would interrupt me at this hour. I sigh and look up at her, see the slight frown between her brows. She looks better with a smile, but I'll never tell her that. "She's not back yet?" I ask, ignoring the dread that had been building in the pit of my stomach for the last hour – such a long, tedious hour.

My hybrid shakes her head; she waves a hand in the distance between us. "No, her shift ends-"

"I know when it ends," I snap and force myself to take a deep breath, it isn't Hayley's fault. It's Ms Clearwater, I assure myself, the woman is bound to be chatting up Tyler or Damon at this point, I really wouldn't be surprised anymore.

Hayley looks at me, her lips pursing, "Do you want me to follow her trail?"

I shake my head – almost roll my eyes. As much as my gut was telling me to give her permission, because this waiting was torturous, I wasn't used to waiting, I couldn't. Hayley was trustworthy to an extent, but there were too many people who hated me and wanted to see me suffer. Taking my last loyal hybrid would surely be dreadful enough, Hayley meant too much at the moment. Even if Ms Clearwater bothered me into fond irritation, Hayley was simply more important. "Don't bother," I take Caroline's picture in my hand and crumple it in one fist. It eases the tension for a moment and I consider straightening it just so I could ruin it once more.

Hayley opens her mouth and closes it, looks nervous before attempting to speak again. Just spit it out, I want to growl. "Klaus, it might not seem like it to you, but Leah's a weakness for you as well now." She cringes at my glare, hasn't she learnt when to shut up yet? "If the other day is any indication, people can use Leah to hurt you. If Tyler figured that out about the imprint and that you are her imprint-"

"He'll what?" I snap with a raised brow.

For a moment the hybrid's mouth opens and closes silently and just as I believe she has given up, she steps closer and plants her hands on my desk. I scowl in annoyance. "Leah is an emotional mess, if you haven't noticed," I open my mouth but she shushes me, my brows arch higher at her tone, "Girls are like a fragile layer of glass between water and oil. All it would take is a little push and she could break. God only knows what the outcome would be. Don't play stupid with me Klaus, I know you can see how much she can accomplish – she has something the rest of us never had when you made us hybrids, she has a purpose."

I lean back and shake my head, "What does this have to do with anything?"

"Think about it," Hayley hisses and I almost hiss back at her. "If Leah for a split second thinks that something's happened to you and she couldn't do something about it – say Tyler implants a whisper that you were hurt. She said so herself; didn't she? She'll be by your side, she'll protect you. Can you imagine a crazed wolf – something we don't even know the strength or ability of – running around Mystic Falls?" She shakes her head, "She'll be forced to leave if someone doesn't kill her first. I don't know about you, but I'll get sick staying here in silence again. You don't answer well to my snide remarks, Klaus, who is going to snap back at me and call me names? And for once I don't feel alone in this forsaken place. You're too proud to say it, but I'd rather she stay and bother us senseless."

Hayley straightened and looked pretty proud of herself. I gazed at her deadpanned, not willing to comment on that or show any reaction. At least I knew Hayley liked the shifter – maybe not in the way I expected, but it was all the same and my previous assumptions had been correct.

She groans and pushes away from the desk, shaking her head. "You're a dick,"

I cock my head, "Thank you," I try not to let the boiling fury in my chest seep through and I know I fail when Hayley's shoulders drop and her eyes gentle.

"I'm going to wait up stairs and keep an eye on the road. When she's back I'll let you know."

I nod and lower my gaze back to the desk, the unused paper. I don't necessarily feel like sketching anymore. "Do that,"

"Of course," I can hear the grin in her voice and snarl at the air in warning. The hybrid leaves without another word and I sigh.

Time drags by slowly, but if feels like only moments later that Hayley calls out, "She's back."

I rise from my desk and make my way into the foyer and no less than a few seconds later Leah pushes her way through the door. It isn't relief I feel when I see her. It isn't.

No, I'm positively livid, maybe amused. I don't know, but I know for certain I'm not relieved. At least I'm not sure until I get a good look at her, then I'm quite amused. Or shocked, again I'm lost in confusion.

I want to demand what she's wearing or simply inquire if she was attacked by some wild beast. Yet even with the distance between us I know; I can smell the wolf as if it were standing in this very room. I can feel it with every fibre of my being, as if somehow we're linked and I know, I just do, that Leah and the wolf are one. In my mind's eyes I can imagine Leah's eyes set above a silver muzzle, I'm not sure how I know it is silver… but I do, it makes my chest pain to think about it.

Involuntarily my lips twitch into a smirk, my confusion managing to amuse even me. Leah does look truly ridiculous, with her clothing shredded and her cheeks coloured in a blush. She clutches her arms around her body like a shield, trying to piece together her attire to the best of her ability. I could tell her that it's pointless and that she's practically nude without holding the clothes together, but I don't. I find a sort of twisted humour in this absurdity, really it's nothing new.

My chest feels warmer, lighter than it had earlier that evening.

"Hi," she murmurs and cringes slightly, shrinking into herself although her eyes don't leave my face for a single moment.

I feel overjoyed by the nervous behaviour; Leah could be rather chatty and annoying with her insistent questioning and advice, yet this was a new side to her for me to see. My smirk stretched wider until I felt rather silly. I have the overwhelming urge to tease her, so I do. "New fashion, I presume, Clearwater?" Instantly heat rises in her eyes and I'm giddily waiting for a retort or snarl, any reaction really. The tension is still there in my lower back, I'm geared for a fight as long as she will humour me with one.

Her eyes merely narrow and her lips tighten, she doesn't seem happy, but then again I'm not particularly impressed with her response either. I expected more, annoyance starts a blazing trail through my chest and I draw a deep breath, pinning her with the most mocking look I can summon. I goad, "The silent treatment? How adult,"

Something in her gaze slips and I'm almost sure I'm going to have my outburst when her brows hike up and she looks positively put-out, "It's called 'Wolf couture',"

I fight back a snarl and instead I smirk, trying for something more demeaning. I walk toward her, watch her stiffen ever so slightly, "I see," Not really, but I don't let her know that. I assume that's supposed to be some kind of fashion, Rebekah would have laughed at me. I didn't particularly care about these things. I circle Leah, trying to dominate, to force her to crack, "Let yourself go in the woods, then?" I pause for a moment, a spark of amusement lighting the dark annoyance in my chest. The back of her head is a tangle of leaves and silky black hair, it's ridiculous. I pick a leaf from the jumble, the dry matter crunching slightly in my fingers; I show it to her, trying to keep my face devoid of the emotions roiling in my belly.

She sighs and turns her eyes away; the leaf crumbles in my fingers. Why was this so difficult? Hayley was much easier to goad into a fight.

"You should be careful," I utter, whether to her or myself I'm not too sure, but I shrug it off, take a soft breath. Her scent, that distinctive oceanic, warm aroma fills my head, I frown. "That scent is unmistakable."

Leah turns her eyes toward me, the dark depths brimming with shock and confusion and for a moment I'm drowning in that intent gaze. It feels like she's trying to suck the air right from my lungs. Her arms tighten around her exposed body and I'm almost tempted to look her over again, but my jumbles of thoughts are interrupted by a soft snicker.

My head snaps back and I scowl at Hayley from her perch on the stairs, but her eyes are on Leah and not me. I take the opportunity to shove away the muddle of my mind, shaking my head and sucking in an exasperated snort of sorts. When I glance back at Leah she is busying herself with glaring at the hybrid and it manages to ease the greatest sum of the warmth in my chest.

"Hayley," Leah growls, I admire the sound. She sounds closer to losing her cool with Hayley's mere presence than when I had openly taunted her. I scowl at this revelation and send Hayley my own offending glare.

When the hybrid snickers again, I know this one is meant for me and I bare my teeth at her in warning.

Hayley had a way of seeing through me, I didn't appreciate it in the least, especially as she tended to use what she saw to torture me. She's made a special effort to leave teasing hints about Caroline when she left my presence. Hayley even pulled ridiculous kissing faces while I was busy with my drawing, it had gotten so bad that I banished her from my study when I felt like sketching. I knew she meant it in good faith – most of the time at least – but that didn't stop me resenting her for it. In some ways she reminded me of Rebekah, her weird mannerisms and quirky sense of humour.

There were days when the hybrid brought back painful memories and it was on those days that I found myself more inclined to shattering desks and tearing apart anyone in my vicinity. It wasn't one of my best characteristics, mind me, yet I continued to keep Hayley around. It was mostly because she was my last loyal hybrid and also slightly because sometimes the memories weren't too painful. I could enjoy remembering my siblings playing hide-and-seek in the woods, Kol and Rebekah squabbling over who got to sit next to me by the fire that evening. At times I let myself linger on how we grew up and realised the world wasn't so kind, how despite the pain and loss Rebekah grew into a pretty creature and Kol into a handsome devil.

Hayley, I had realised, was a testament to that which I had been seeking – a family.

There's a choking sound from behind me and I turn just in time to see Leah's face crumble into anguish. I only have time to blink once before she shoves past me at a speed that is simply not human – I mentally berate myself, Leah isn't human.

She hurtles up the stairs and knocks Hayley aside, the hybrid looks at shocked as I feel and calls the shifter's name. Either Leah doesn't hear or she doesn't care because a door slams shut a moment later.

Silence stretches through the air and Hayley eventually turns to scowl at me.

"What?" I snap defensively at the accusing glare.

"You pushed her too hard," she accuses hotly and places her hands on her hips, "I warned you: glass,"

I roll my eyes and turn away, hiding the burn of my face from the hybrid, "It can hardly matter,"

Hayley scoffs, "Like hell it doesn't, you know some of the stuff she's been through."

"And she knows some of mine," I scoff right back, suddenly burning with rage. Why should a little teasing make Leah breakdown? We've both been through some serious shit; I didn't curl up and cry every time someone called me an asshole. You suck it up and move on, accept it and use the rage for something worthwhile. "She's being trivial," I growl and stomp off toward my study, intending on doing…what? I don't know; something to take my mind off this nonsense hopefully.

Hayley doesn't bother to scold me or run after me and make me see things the way she does. She knows I won't listen and I know she doesn't like the hassle of squabbling with me.

For a long time the house is silent, if I focus really head I could hear Hayley in the upstairs study, possibly stomping around in frustration, and maybe the soft sound of sniffling. I don't know why Leah's meltdown makes me so livid, but it does. I end up pacing around my office like a caged lion, growling at the mantle and desk as if one of them will put up a stress relieving fight.

Neither of them does.

If anything, my pacing fuels the fire and before I know it I'm seething in rage, the room practically burning red out the corners of my eyes. My hands are trembling, needing to smash or hurt or simply maim. I can feel my throat drying, the thirst for blood – something I was in control of most of the time – making my head spin.

I pick up the sound of a thud, something hitting a wall. My fingers twitch, feeling the urge to join in of the fray. Next comes a vicious snarl, a door snapping from its hinges, forced to open. I move before I can think about it. There's someone out there looking for a fight and damn if I'll deny them or myself it.

Later I'll be amazed and thunderstruck by what I see now, but my mind is too busy thinking of a lovely brawl to understand the significance.

Leah stumbles to the landing, her body morphing from two legs and golden skin to four legs and silver fur. She's magnificent. Her lethal body flows like water, almost sliding down the stairs in one shimmering movement. My breath would have faded from my chest if I could process it. She's large, larger than any wolf I'd ever come into contact with. Larger than my own wolf. She's a complete mystery and a brilliant discovery. I'm sure it will make me green with envy when I have my head on straight.

But as it is, all I register is that my sparring partner has arrived and they're as worked up as I am.

I see a glimpse of white fangs, ears drawn back. Snarls rent the air, her's and mine combining in a wild song of frustration. Her tail twitches.

Suddenly she's lunging through the air, her teeth aiming for my shoulder. Air rushes my lungs, I feel giddy, my torso twists and Leah's teeth catch only air. My body buzzes with adrenalin as her head follows me, fangs snapping. My hand swings down, catching in fur; I can feel the muscles in her neck bunching under my gripping fingers.

She twists with a snarl, strands of fur catching on my fingers as she slips away. My heart thuds in my chest, the entry to the house is bathed in red. All I can hear is the erratic pounding of Leah's heart, the rush of her blood. My mouth longs to sink fangs into her skin.

Win, comes a dark snarl at the back of my head. I will, I will win.

I step back and her teeth ghost over my skin, her fangs just barely leaving a mark. My chest swells with fury. I can't let her win! I growl. The air around me feels thick and disgusting. Leah trembles, her legs shaking momentarily.

We lung at each other. My hands find their way back into her fur, clawing at her skin, drawing blood, sinking deep. Her scent explodes in my head – warm and salty like the ocean. I falter. Her teeth clamp down on my leg, tearing muscles, spilling blood.

A pained cry parts my lips; that hurts! I snarl wildly just as she does; our pain is mutual. My mind races past my rage to register the feeling of her fangs deep in my leg. My body jerk, trying to find release from the agony, Leah follows suit.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Hayley's frantic cry fills my ears, I barely spare her a glance but I know she is coming for us at a speed.

For a split second I feel the pressure of Leah's teeth loosen and I yank my leg from her grasp. My skin tares, agony washes through me – I cry out. In shock I sink my claws deeper. Leah yelps and twists her body flinging me beneath her and with force against the ground.

My shoulders jar, my fingers slips and my arms fall from her fur. She springs onto all fours, scrambling away from me, her large head lowered and her gait wobbly. I push to my feet, my leg's protesting futile, it'll heal, I ignore it.

Leah snarls at me, her ears lowered. My rage had simmered away and I'm more in awe than anything else, I can just stare at the beast before me. When her lips draw away from her teeth a threatening snarl explodes from my mouth even though I no longer have the urge to fight.

I can smell her blood coating my fingers, it makes my stomach roil.

Her ears twitch up, slam back down and she's flying through the air, aiming for my neck this time. She never reaches me. Hayley is suddenly there, moving with purpose, her arms sneaking out with lightning speed to snap around Leah's neck. They fall to the ground. Hayley saddled on the wolf's back, arms crushing around her neck.

A pained howl tears from Leah's throat, she thrashes under Hayley's hold. She's crushing her.

I know I need to stop her, but I can't move. I'm enraptured by the large creature's struggles and the red tinging Hayley's face as she fights for control. I want to see who will win. I curl my fingers and Leah's blood coats my palm.

Leah withers and thrashes wildly, her cries of distress a soft hum at the back of my head.

"Leah!" Hayley snarls, her voice unnaturally high. She looks at me pleadingly and my heart contracts, I know what she's going to do and yet I know I can't stop her.

The wolf suddenly shifts and Leah falls to the ground, all supple limbs and golden skin. Her arms clamour as Hayley pushes herself up in shock. Leah's hands slide and she skids in a puddle of my blood, her chin slams against the ground and she cries out. I take a step forward, but suddenly Hayley is back on Leah. Her fingers curl around that caramel neck, pressing into skin. The indents of her fingers, making dark hollows.

I find myself moving, mind curiously blank, the only think I can do is rush forward.

Leah stops thrashing, her eyes close.

Hayley's hands twist just as I reach them.

My fingers grab onto the back of Hayley's shirt and I yank her away from Leah.

My mind is suddenly in chaos. Did I make it in time?

Hayley sprawls on the floor, gasping.

I crouch over Leah, the chaos in my head creating a painful twist in my gut. I can hardly believe my eyes.

What have I done?

I reach forward, hands shaking, and eyes wide. I can see the bodies of my slaughtered pack strewn across the forest, their blood coating my hands.

Leah's blood was on my hands…

Air rushes from my lungs and my hands shake so much that I it takes me a minute to turn Leah over.

Her head flops to the side.

I press a hand over my mouth, sure I'm about to throw up.

I'm sorry I exist. Don't hate me too much. This story isn't over yet…

(PS: PLEASE CALM DOWN! I know you're all excited and stuff, but note that what happens next is merely to annoy the shit out of you - happiness is a LONG way off XD)