The sun had just risen, casting its golden light over Bonnie's porch as she and Damon stood outside, staring at the mess in front of them. Ravens—dozens of them—were sprawled across her front step, their dark feathers contrasting with the pale morning light.

"Looks like someone's trying to send a message," Bonnie muttered, her voice flat, her gaze hard as she looked at the birds' lifeless bodies.

Damon didn't say anything right away. Instead, he crouched down, carefully picking up one of the birds. "Yeah. Whoever did this is trying to get your attention," he said, his voice thoughtful but with an underlying tension, as if it wasn't the first time something like this had happened.

Bonnie sighed, grabbing a trash bag and starting to gather the birds. "I don't care about their messages," she muttered. "It's just… unsettling."

"I'll help," Damon said after a moment, his voice softening with a rare warmth. He started picking up another raven, his movements methodical, and yet, his usual smirk was absent—replaced by something darker. Something concerned. It was clear he wasn't just worried about the ravens; there was something about the whole situation that had him on edge.

Bonnie paused for a moment, watching him. There was something oddly comforting about having him here, helping her. It was simple, yet, it meant more than she was willing to admit.

"Thanks," she said softly. "I'm glad you're here. I don't know how I would've dealt with this… alone."

He looked at her with a gentle smile. "You wouldn't have had to, Bonnie. I'm always here."

They finished the task quickly. As Damon tied up the bag, he stood and dusted his hands off, his gaze lingering on her, though his playful edge had faded. "All done," he said, his voice carrying a quiet sincerity.

Bonnie gave him a small smile. "I appreciate it. Really. But, I'm okay now."

He hesitated for a moment, looking like he wanted to say something more, but then shook his head, standing up straight. "I'll check in on you later. I'll swing by after lunch."

Bonnie nodded. "I'll be fine. I'll see you later."

Damon hesitated, his eyes lingering on her a bit longer than usual, but then he gave a small nod and turned to leave. As he walked away, Bonnie's phone buzzed in her pocket. Pulling it out, she saw a text from Elena.

Elena's Text: We need to talk. I'm sorry, Bonnie. I need to get this off my chest.

Bonnie's heart sank. The last thing she wanted to do was have another emotional conversation with Elena. But she knew it was coming. After everything that had been happening between them—Elena's jealousy, her own feelings for Damon—Bonnie wasn't sure how this was going to go. She had her own hurt to process, but Elena wasn't the only one who needed closure.

She stared at the message for a moment before typing a quick reply.

Bonnie's Text: Okay. I'll meet you. Just… don't take it personally.

She hit send and sighed. Her emotions were already tangled, and they hadn't even started talking yet. But she couldn't back down. She knew what she felt, and now it was time to say it out loud.

A few minutes later, Bonnie met Elena at a nearby park. The tension between them was immediate, hanging thick in the air as they stood face-to-face.

"I just don't understand, Bonnie," Elena began, her voice tight. "What's going on with you? You've been so distant lately, and then Damon—"

"I'm not distant," Bonnie interrupted, her frustration rising. "You think this is easy for me? I'm dealing with everything too. But Damon… he makes me happy. I gave him up for so long, and now I don't want to lose him."

Elena's face shifted from hurt to something more guarded. "But I don't want to lose you, Bonnie. You're my best friend."

Bonnie closed her eyes, feeling the weight of Elena's words, but she could no longer ignore the truth of her own heart. "I understand, Elena," Bonnie said, her voice steady though the words were hard. "But I gave Damon up. He's not just a choice; he's someone who makes me feel… seen. For the first time in a long time."

There was a long pause before Elena spoke again, her words soft and trembling. "I just hope you're not making a mistake."

Bonnie swallowed, her throat tight. "I'm not," she said firmly. "And I'm not asking you to understand, but I need you to accept it."

Elena hesitated, looking like she might say something else, but instead just gave Bonnie a stiff nod. "Okay. I guess I can try."

Bonnie felt a strange mix of relief and sadness as their conversation ended. She had said what needed to be said, but she knew it wasn't over. The distance between them had already widened.

Before she could turn away, she heard a familiar voice.

"Well, well, well. Looks like Bonnie's found herself a new lover, and I'm just over here… chopping liver."

Bonnie's heart skipped a beat as she turned, her eyes narrowing in immediate recognition. Catherine was standing there, leaning against a nearby tree with that infuriatingly smug grin on her face.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Bonnie snapped.

Catherine stepped forward, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, calm down, sweetie. I'm just here to see how the second string is doing. I'm totally cool with you having your turn with Damon… I'm sure he's just so good at taking care of women who need to be saved. And, hey, if he's busy with you, I'll just go ahead and take thirds, right?"

Bonnie clenched her fists, her temper rising. "Don't push it, Catherine."

Catherine grinned wider, her eyes flicking to Bonnie's necklace. "Oh, don't worry, I'm not pushing anything. I'm just here for a favor, and I think you'll be oh so happy to oblige. You see, Klaus is after me, and I need your help with a little spell to keep me hidden. Do that for me, and I owe you one. A big one."

Bonnie's stomach twisted. The mention of Klaus—one of the Originals—was enough to make her blood run cold. She took a step back, her gaze hardening. "I don't trust you, Catherine. You're dangerous."

"Oh, sweetie, you don't have to trust me," Catherine purred, her voice turning dangerously sweet. "You just have to help me. And trust me, you'll want to. Klaus is no joke. If you help me, I'll owe you a favor. And I'm very generous with my favors."

Bonnie shook her head. "I don't get involved in your messes, Catherine. You're on your own."

Catherine's smile faded slightly, but she didn't back down. "Oh, but you will, Bonnie. You will. Because if you don't, Klaus will come for you next, and you're not ready for that kind of fight. Trust me."

The air around them crackled with the weight of Catherine's threat. Bonnie could feel the pressure building, but she wasn't going to give in—not yet.

Just as she was about to turn away, she heard her phone buzz. Damon's name flashed on the screen.

She answered immediately, her voice tense. "Damon, she's here. Catherine. She wants me to help her hide from Klaus."

Damon's voice came through, sharp with concern. "Bonnie, listen to me. Klaus is an Original. He's dangerous, and Catherine… she's not someone you can trust. If you get involved with this, you'll be in way over your head. I won't let you get hurt."

Bonnie exhaled slowly. "I know. But I have to. Klaus is too dangerous to ignore. I'll be careful. But Catherine's favor could be something we'll need in the future."

Damon's voice softened, laced with worry. "Promise me you'll be careful. And if things get out of hand, I'm there. Don't do anything without me."

Bonnie nodded, even though Damon couldn't see her. "I'll keep you updated. I won't do anything without you."

She hung up, her mind already racing. She didn't trust Catherine, but Klaus was a bigger threat than any of them had anticipated.

The stakes were higher than she realized. And she didn't have a choice now.