Little Salvatore

¢нαρтєя 11

THE WEREWOLF'S BREATH BLASTED OUT, thick and hot, with a stench that was horrendous. I'd smelled diapers, spit-up, and everything in between, but this? This was next level, as in rotting corpse left out to bake in the sun bad. Was this really how I was going to die? By way of some rabid dog with absolutely vile breath? I mean, what kind of luck was this?

And then, finally, a miracle. Damon let out a low, taunting whistle that caught the werewolf's attention. "Here, doggie, doggie," he drawled with a smirk that made the beast growl, the kind that probably meant "I'm going to rip you to shreds." Damon took off at full speed, and like clockwork, the beast charged after him.

Thank God. I let out a sigh I hadn't even realized I was holding. Another second of that mess, and I'd be nothing more than an appetizer.

But then Alaric tugged on Elena's arm, nodding toward the trees. "Come on. We need to keep moving."

Wait, what? And leave Damon? Uh, no. Elena, say something. I'm begging you, do not let Alaric drag us away right now. And, as if she'd heard me, Elena whipped around, her voice rising. "We  leave Damon!"

Alaric scowled. "He can handle himself. Let's go."

Elena dug her heels in, her voice sharp and fierce. "No. If he gets bit, he'll die. I'm the reason he's out here!"

Alaric just tightened his grip and gave her a hard look. "No, it's my fault. I told him where to find us, and now I'm telling you to keep moving. Elena, now."

And that was that. With an exasperated huff, she surrendered, and we were soon stumbling through the trees with me dangling from that ridiculous carrier sack, like some accessory to be dragged through a horror movie.

Finally, we reached the clearing, where the car sat waiting like a beacon of sanity. Elena strapped me into my seat in the back, my view reduced to, well...nothing. Great. I was stuck in the back, staring at the car ceiling while they sat in the front, fidgeting like nervous wrecks.

"Stefan's out there somewhere. And now Damon! And we're just sitting here?" Elena's voice cut through the silence, full of worry and frustration.

"Let the vampires handle the hybrid zombie freak. I'll take care of keeping the humans safe." Alaric's tone was stone cold.

Elena rolled her eyes. "I thought you were done with that whole 'taking-care-of-people' thing."

Alaric let out an annoyed sigh. "Don't. I know what you're doing, and I'm not in the mood for a lecture."

She softened, her voice a little more gentle. "You're better at it than you think, Ric."

"Oh, please. You're such a sucker for lost causes." He huffed.

Jesus, for a guy who spends his days staking vampires, Alaric had zero faith in himself. Maybe he needed a pep talk—or a kick in the ass.

"You're not a lost cause, Ric," Elena continued, her voice full of that unbreakable compassion of hers. "You're just...lost. So am I. So is Jeremy. Our family's gone, and you don't have anybody either." She looked at him meaningfully. "We're good for each other."

There was silence in the car for a long, drawn-out moment before Alaric finally muttered, "Fine. I'm keeping the ring, then."

They sat there, wordless, until Elena suddenly perked up, her gaze snapping toward the treeline. "Damon?" She leapt out of the car, Alaric right behind her, leaving me strapped in the back, helplessly craning my neck to see anything. I let out a loud, exasperated cry—come on, I was not missing this reunion.