Bonnie gave Logan a sidewards glare, he said he had told them they were coming but that seemed doubtful now given their alerted reaction to her presence.

"I thought you said you told them?" Bonnie asked him quietly.

"You said there was a problem," the taller of the two men spoke with a gruff voice, Clay, Bonnie recalled Logan said his name to be.

"There could be a mutt problem in Toronto," Logan said carefully, not wanting to raise any alarm for an issue that very well have been nothing but an unfortunate one off. "Hence why I am here with Bonnie," he continued. "She was bitten by a mutt but we don't think it was intentional. According to Bonnie, he wasn't fully turned when he bit her. It was probably an accident."

Clay's attention turned to Bonnie who was trying everything not to slowly back out of the room and make a run for it. She had started to think Logan and Elena were full of shit by thinking it was for the best for her to come here. She had never felt more out of place and she just turned into a goddamn wolf in a freaking abandoned warehouse.

"You survived the bite?" there was a hint of accusation in his tone and she couldn't understand why.

Would he have been happier if the bite had simply killed her?

She nodded her head. "Elena explained afterwards about the whole women rarely surviving the Change thing so I guess I get why you're surprised…if that's the right word to use," she answered him and put her hands in the back pockets of her jeans.

"Elena was a part of this, too?" There was annoyance in his tone.

Logan answered for Bonnie which she was completely okay with, the less she had to talk in this situation the better. "Elena and Bonnie live in the same building. Elena found her after she was bitten, noticed the signs and called me. We got her someplace safe and away from the public and Elena helped her through the Change."

Logan's eyes went to Jeremy and the younger wolf had to hide his smile when he saw the flash of pride in the Alpha's eyes when hearing about Elena's part.

"Why isn't Elena here?" Clay questioned, glaring at Logan.

"Take a guess, Clay," Logan returned his glare. "If you want a hint, it's the same reason she left in the first place."

Bonnie looked between the two glaring men and immediately put the pieces together. Clay was the ex that Elena spoke of.

Clay growled and took a step towards Logan but Jeremy's warning 'Clay' stopped him in his tracks.

Jeremy took a few steps forward, passing Clay's looming form. "Elena's absence is not the current issue at hand here," he stopped just a few feet from Logan and Bonnie. "We have a newly turned wolf and she'll need help and guidance."

Jeremy then looked between Logan and Clay but eyes settling on Clay. "Why don't the two of you head to the kitchen and get a start on lunch? I'm sure Bonnie and Logan are starving after their long trip."

"Then why do I have to help?" Logan protested with what looked to be a pout on his lips.

"Because I told you to."

Logan sighed and Clay moved passed him, clapping him on the back, and pushing him out the room with him. "Still better than Jeremy cooking," Clay muttered to Logan as they left the room.

Jeremy had a tiny smile playing at his lips and shook his head. "I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear that."

"Can't we just call Antonio back?" Bonnie heard Logan say back to Clay and Bonnie was surprised she actually heard him since he wasn't even in the room or even talking particularly loud.

"As I'm sure you've gathered, your hearing is enhanced now," Jeremy told her and led her over to one of the couches, the two of them sitting down. "As is your sight, sense of smell, strength and speed."

"I guess I haven't really had a chance to explore what else has happened," Bonnie said and pushed her hair behind her ear, one of her tell tail signs of being nervous. "It's all happened so quickly. Turning and having to leave. I don't even think I fully understand what's happened."

She had been bitten all of two days ago having to leave so abruptly and not having any time whatsoever to adjust to what had happened, she didn't think being bitten had really hit her yet. Elena had said it took her nearly a year to accept what had happened to her, told her it was a hard year and Bonnie didn't want to have to go through that.

Jeremy nodded his head. "That is understandable. It also doesn't help that you haven't had a safe place to explore what you have become but now that you're here you can do that. Have you Changed by your own will yet?"

Bonnie shook her head. "I've only Changed twice; after I was bitten and yesterday night. I wouldn't even know how to bring it on."

"You'll learn and eventually it'll become second nature for you. Clay will teach you about the Change and how to control yourself when you become your wolf."

Oh…that sounded like a heap of fun.

"He may come across as brash and unfriendly but he's just very protective of the Pack and weary of strangers. He'll warm up to you when he decides you're not a threat," Jeremy assured her, obviously noticing her discomfort of having to be taught by the guy who seem upset that she didn't die during the Change.

Bonnie gave him a small smile and a nod, unsure of what to say. Sure she had a ton of questions but honestly, she was too tired to even think of where to start and Jeremy noticed that.

She guessed it was why he was the Alpha, he seemed to have a knack for knowing things without being told them.

"After we eat, I will show you around Stonehaven and then you can go rest because you will certainly need it," he put a hand on her shoulder, something she found comforting. "Tomorrow I will teach you some of the history of our kind and Clay will take you out on a run."

Bonnie remembered something Logan mentioned about Jeremy not really liking to run with others, that he was more private and preferred to run on his own unless it was a Pack matter.

"I know you're nervous and completely terrified," he said and placed his hand over hers in a comforting manner. "But it will get better and soon enough you won't feel so different and we will help you get there."

"Thank you for this," was all Bonnie could think of saying.

He very well could have kicked her to the curb and tell her she was on her own but he was going to help and teach her.

Jeremy had asked her a few questions, nothing too personal, just wanting to know where she was from, what she did and the people she had in her life. She told him that she had already called work and told them her father was sick and she had to return to Mystic Falls to take care of him, told Matt that another hospital needed her for a while and Jeremy seemed satisfied that Logan and Elena had managed to help her take care of those issues before she had arrived at Stonehaven.

"So is it true what Elena said, that most women don't survive the Change?" she finally asked him. That little bit of information had been weighing on her since Elena mentioned it. When Jeremy nodded she asked him why that was.

Surely there was another reason other than their bodies apparently not being strong enough which Bonnie found kind of offensive and ridiculous.

"Most people in general do not survive the bite, it is far too gruelling –mentally and physically- for most to endure," Jeremy told her. "There are not many of us out there and there are only two ways to become a wolf, the first is the hereditary gene which is how Logan, myself, Nick and Antonio became wolves and the second is to be bitten by a wolf which is how Clay, Elena and Peter became wolves and now you as well. There is a long history and I will explain it all to you in time but the reason there are less female wolves is because the gene is passed down only to the son and never to the daughter. We have never found a reason for that, it's just believed that perhaps their bodies are not equipped for the Change but we know that's not the case since both you and Elena have survived."

Bonnie thought back to her first Change, thinking past the agonising pain and to Elena's voice that echoed through her head, telling her not to fight what was coming, to let it happen. She had no idea how she would have turned out if Elena hadn't have been there to coach her through it. She probably would have passed out in the elevator and God knows what would have happened after she woke up.

"Elena talked me through the Change," she told Jeremy. "I still really had no clue what was happening but I just knew I had to listen to her."

"I won't lie to you, Bonnie; this is going to be a difficult process and there may be times where you may want to give up but you can't," he warned her gently.

Seven years ago, Bonnie made the decision that she wasn't going to let the supernatural side of her define who she was. She had worked damn hard to create a life – a normal life- for herself and she wasn't going to let this get in the way. Elena and Logan obviously hadn't. They both had lives outside being wolves and if they could do it, then eventually so could she. She could go back and live with Matt, go back to her job and continue on her life just with the occasion wolf turn.

Easy, right?

"I want to learn how to control it," she replied with a determination that made Jeremy smile.

"I can see that you have a lot of fight in you and that will help you greatly," he patted her knee and then rose from his seat, offering his hand to her. She took it and he gently pulled her to her feet. "Welcome to Stonehaven, Bonnie."

XXX

Bonnie and Jeremy soon joined Clay and Logan in the kitchen just as the two of them finished setting a heap of food on the table. Logan sent her a friendly smile when he saw her while Clay basically ignored her existence which got him a glare from both Jeremy and Logan but he ignored that, too.

She hoped what Jeremy said about Clay warming up to her eventually was true because she didn't know if she could deal with a moody wolf man when all she wanted to do was learn how to control her own wolf and apparently she needed him to do so.

He'd just have to suck it up.

The four of them ate most of the food prepared while Logan caught Jeremy up on what he had been up to in Toronto and how his work was going and Bonnie took notice of the prideful look on the Alpha's face as Logan talked about his booming Psychology Practice. He also mentioned that he had to head back out to Toronto tomorrow morning which Bonnie was a little bummed out about but she understood. He had a life he needed to get back to. He couldn't stay here and keep her company and while she was extremely cautious of Clay, she knew she could trust Jeremy.

He just had that warm, fatherly feel about him.

Logan's talking continued well after everyone had finished eating. Bonnie didn't know if it was because he had a lot to say and tell or if it was to prevent any silent awkwardness to take over, either way, she was thankful for his nonstop talking since it took focus off of her. However, she still felt Clay's watchful gaze fall upon her every now and then, looking like he was ready to pounce if she so much as made a move he found threatening which Bonnie thought could be just about anything to him.

He was an extremely unnerving man.

Even though Bonnie had only known Elena for less than three days, she seemed too sweet for a man like Clay but opposites attract, right?

XXX

Bonnie stood on the back patio, phone to her ear as she waited for Matt to pick up, almost in awe of the view, the well-kept lawn and the woods beyond that offered a sense of seclusion and privacy. It was beautiful and seemed perfect for a pack of werewolves.

"Nice of you to finally ring, Bonnie," Matt's short tone came through the receiver. "What's with the up and go without even so much as a goodbye?"

"I'm sorry, Matt," she apologised. "I know it was sudden but they needed me as soon as possible and I couldn't pass this opportunity up."

Nothing felt more wrong than lying to your best friend, it made Bonnie feel sick to her stomach. She knew that Matt could handle the truth but she also knew that she didn't want him to have to handle it. The whole point of him moving out with her was so the both of them could live a normal life. She wasn't going to wreck that for him.

"How long will it be for?" he asked her.

"I'm not really sure, maybe a couple of month," she answered unsurely. She knew they wouldn't let her return back home until she had fully learnt to control her wolf and she had no idea how long that would take, hopefully no more than a couple of months. "I'll try and get out there on my days off and weekends," she added just to try and make him feel better but knew the odds of them letting her were very slim.

She just had to keep reminding herself that this was for Matt's own good as well as her own. She'd never forgive herself if she let something happen to him, or even worse, if she did something to him. He was all she had now and she'd keep him safe no matter what.

"I really am sorry, Matt," she said again and dug her nails into her palm to stop the tears she could feel forming behind her eyes, "but I couldn't pass this up."

She heard Matt sigh on the other end. "No, I get it," he said, "I just wish you didn't have to rush out. We could have celebrated."

Bonnie smiled. "I wish we could have but it'll have to wait until I can get back home for a day or two."

Matt chuckled before he asked her the question she'd been dreading. "How'd the date go anyway?"

She paused, knowing she couldn't tell him the truth about what happened that night. Jeremy made it quite clear about what happened to humans who knew about their secret and there was no way she was risking Matt's life. "Eh, it was alright," she said nonchalantly. "Don't think I'll see him again though. You were right, a date with a stranger wasn't such a great idea," she tried to laugh it off. "We had nothing to talk about and it was totally awkward."

"It just proves that you need to listen to me more often," he teased light-heartedly. "It's going to suck not having you around," he added, his teasing gone making Bonnie's heart feel heavy in her chest.

Bonnie frowned and leant back against the stone wall behind her. "Yeah," she agreed and swallowed the lump that was beginning to form in her throat, "I don't know how I'm going to get through this without you."

Neither of them was ashamed to admit that they had become rather dependant on each other over the last few years and since Matt moved in with her the longest they'd ever gone without seeing each other was a weekend here and there.

"You'll be fine," Matt encouraged, "you're great at your job."

God, she wanted to tell him, so bad. She needed to. This was such a huge change, one she didn't see coming, one she never imagined happening and she needed her best friend. She needed his comfort and his support. She needed him, not these strangers.

"Let's hope these people think so," she responded and pressed the heel of her hand into her eye to stop any tears from falling.

"They will. They're lucky to have you there," he told her and Bonnie just wanted to laugh but couldn't bring herself to, instead she felt the agonising pull inside of her that signalled the Change was about to happen.

She tried to push it back, tried to ignore it but every time it came back even stronger.

"Matt, I got to go," she tried to keep her voice steady and clenched her fist against her leg. "I got to get ready for my first shift."

"Alright," he said, "give me a call when you can and good luck. I'll miss you."

"I miss you already," she replied and wrapped her arm around her stomach as if that would prevent the Change from happening.

She had managed to hang up the call when the phone fell from her grip and she let out a short, pained cry. She heard the back door of the house being thrown open and she fell to her knees but a tight grip around her arm brought her back up to her feet.

"Am I…?" Bonnie grunted and she saw Logan nod.

"We should take her downstairs," she vaguely heard Clay say. "We don't know what she's like when she Changes."

"I know what she's like and believe me there is no need to throw her in a cage," Logan rebuffed. "If someone Changes with her she'll be fine. The cage will just scare her and that won't be good."

"Cage?" Bonnie questioned wide-eyed. She did not like the sound of that; she did not want to be caged up like some kind of wild animal (even if she now kind of was one).

"It's just a precaution for new wolves," Jeremy assured her before he looked to Clay. "Change with her and keep an eye on her."

Clay nodded and took the arm Logan wasn't holding on to support her and dragged her towards the trees.

"I could have done it," Logan said to Jeremy as the two watched Clay lead Bonnie into the woods. "I changed with her before; she'd be more at ease with me than with Clay."

Jeremy started to walk to where Clay had taken Bonnie and Logan followed. "You're going back to Toronto tomorrow aren't you?" the Alpha asked him and he nodded. "It's important that she is at ease with other Pack members, me and Clay especially."

"Yeah but making her Change with Clay is like a parent throwing their child in the deep end of the pool just as they're learning to swim," Logan said and Jeremy chuckled.

"I must admit, this is more for Clay's benefit," Jeremy confessed. "He's concerned that she could be a danger but I don't think she's a threat, just unfortunate that she crossed paths with a Mutt."

The two of them neared the tree line where they could hear Clay coaching Bonnie.

"You need to stop resisting it," he told her, standing a few paces back to give her some room. "The more you resist the more it's going to hurt, the longer it's going to take. Give in and embrace it."

"She's a fighter," Logan said. "But she also hasn't had any time to adjust to what's happened to her. I'm not sure how she'll react when it finally does sink in that she'll never be normal or even be able to have a truly normal life anymore."

Being a werewolf and being part of the Pack meant responsibility. The Pack always came first, no matter what. If they needed you, you needed to be there no matter what. And if you weren't part of the Pack you were a Mutt, could never settle in one place, always having to be on the move. Her life was never going to be the same again.

The life she built for herself was gone now and Logan didn't know how she might respond to that realisation.

"What if she doesn't react well to it in the end? What if she doesn't fit well with us?" Logan's voice was low even though he was certain Bonnie wasn't listening in to what he and Jeremy were saying.

Jeremy didn't answer, just watched with keen interest as Bonnie followed Clay's instructions, watched as her body changed and contorted to accommodate her wolf.

"I don't think we'll have to find out," he answered with a small smile as he watched Bonnie complete her Change and in her place was a beautiful black wolf. He looked to Clay who was already shedding his clothes. "Keep an eye on her."

Clay gave a nod and started to Change while Jeremy slowly backed away from the two wolves, leaving Bonnie to get more acquainted with her new surroundings.

Logan grinned as he watched Bonnie and Clay run off into the woods and shed his jacket and hung it on a nearby branch before he followed Jeremy back towards Stonehaven.

XXX

Bonnie had Logan's jacket tightly clutched around her body as she walked back into the house. Clay followed a few steps behind, not bothering to put his clothes back on. Obviously the pack was close enough that nudity didn't bother them but Bonnie wasn't quite there yet and being naked in front of strangers didn't exactly appeal to her right now, which would be why her clothes were now torn from her Change and needed Logan's jacket that he thoughtfully left behind for her.

"You did well, a little clumsy but you'll get the hang of it eventually," Clay said from behind her as they neared the large house. "It won't be so exhausting after a while and your body with adjust to it more easily."

She nodded and ran a hand through her messy hair, frowning when she pulled out a small twig. "Will it always hurt that much?"

"Depends," he answered. "At first it does but as long as you Change regularly the pain doesn't last long but if you ignore it, it'll come out eventually and you won't be able to stop it, no matter where you are."

Bonnie smiled weakly when Logan opened the door as they neared it.

"Put some clothes on, man, jeez," he groaned at Clay who just shrugged shamelessly and wandered down the hall. Logan shook his head but had a smile playing on his lips. He turned his attention back to her. "We've put your stuff in Elena's room," he told her and motioned for her to follow him to the stairs. "You can stay in there until Jeremy can get your room sorted out."

"He doesn't have to do that," Bonnie said but was grateful nonetheless.

"He's happy to," he replied and led her up the stairs, "we all are and we're here to help so whatever you need just ask. I'm sure he's contacting the others as we speak to let them know the good news."

"Good news?" Bonnie arched a brow at him. "This is good news?"

"Come on," Logan nudged her with a grin as he led her down the hall. Logan opened the door to Elena's room and let Bonnie walk in first. "And yeah, it's good news. A new member of the Pack is a cause for celebration."

Bonnie wish she felt like this was a cause for celebration but since she Changed back with Clay, she felt…wrong somehow.

Logan noticed her mood and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, when the shock wears off it won't seem all so bad. There are some real perks, believe me."

Bonnie nodded and tried to muster up a smile. "I think I just need to shower and sleep for a couple of hours…or days."

Logan smiled, knowing the feeling. He pointed to a door to their left. "Elena's got her own bathroom so you can have some privacy. Jeremy is planning on putting in another door in it leading to the next room which will be yours when he's fixed it up."

Bonnie nodded her thanks and unzipped her suitcase. She grabbed out some clean clothes and turned to Logan before he left the room. "Thanks, Logan. I really mean it, I don't know what I would have done without you or Elena."

He gave her a bright smile. "While you shower, I'll get you something to eat."

Even though she had eaten a massive lunch not even two hours ago, at the mention of food she realised how starving she was.

XXX

After showering and putting on a fresh pair of clothes, Clay met Jeremy down in the basement. He found his Alpha slumped over the table, intently eyeing the photograph that lay in front of him.

"How did she go?" Jeremy asked and straightened up when Clay stood next to him, his eyes also going to the picture.

"She did well," Clay answered. "She's still got a long way to go but she's committed to learning how to control it. In time, I believe she'll adjust."

The corner of Jeremy's lips tipped upwards in a smile. "She has your approval, then?"

"We'll see," Clay replied and held back his own smile. "Have you told the others yet?"

Jeremy nodded his head. "Needless to say, they are intrigued about our newest addition to the Pack, but I have requested they stay away for a time, just until she settles in a bit more. I don't want her too overwhelmed by this sudden change in her life."

"Probably for the best," Clay agreed.

"We can't let word get out about her," Jeremy said and picked up the photograph. "She shouldn't have to worry about most of the Mutt population wanting to get their claws into her while she's still trying to control the Change."

Clay nodded, agreeing with his Alpha and looked at the picture of someone he'd be happy to never see or hear from again and if he had to, he'd rip him to shreds and not think twice about it. "He was staying in the hotel across from their apartment building. He was there watching Elena, no doubt."

"He may be a lot of things but sloppy isn't one of them," Jeremy said. "She escaped after he bit her, he'd be retracing her steps, expecting to find either a mutilated corpse or a brand new werewolf."

"It was pouring with rain that night," Clay recalled what Logan told them of the evening. "Any scent would have been washed away so he's not going to find anything that way."

"We need to keep it that way," Jeremy said and put the picture back in the folder. "I know you remember quite vividly what he was like when he met Elena for the first time and we can only imagine how Santos will react when he discovers that Bonnie survived his bite."

XXX

Yeah, I may be kind of taking that little storyline away from Elena…don't hate me. I love Elena's character and I'm not trying to replace her with Bonnie, I just thought it could make things a little more interesting. Elena's still going to have a huge part, though! I just didn't really want some random made up mutt that would have no place in the story and Santos annoyed me so much that I loved him.

I'm very, very sorry that this took FOREVER for me to update, I really have no excuse other than me losing interest and just all round being a terrible updater.

I've also been asked many times about Bonnie's witch status. She is still technically a witch but her powers were dormant from her not using them for years. I do want to bring it into the story, whether it's just her telling them or her powers somehow merging with her new wolf, I'm just trying to figure out what fits my story best.

Next chapter, we meet another member of the pack.

XXX