His Muse (Klaus Mikaelson/The Vampire Diaries)

Chapter Eleven

Klaus had ensured that the room they would be sharing had two beds in it, and he could see that Bethany was relieved upon entering the room. Which was disappointing for him.

"So, talk to me." She said, sitting down on the bed that she was obviously claiming as her own.

Klaus closed the door, and popped their bags down with a sigh. "Why don't you go and have your shower, sweetheart? I'll tell you everything you would like to know, once you're done."

She agreed, and opened her bag to retrieve a few toiletry items, a towel and some clothes to change into.

As soon as she had closed the bathroom door and he heard the water start up, Klaus sat down on his bed (the one nearest to the door). How was he going to explain to the young woman that they were mates? That the alpha within him had chosen her as his companion? To be honest, Klaus didn't know much about it himself. He only knew what he had overheard throughout the years. If he had been allowed to be who he really was from the very start of his life, he could've run with a pack and learned about the concept of mates throughout his many, many years.

While Bethany showered, Klaus extracted a map from his own belongings and set to work at planning their route across the country. Where they were now, he knew there would be someone who could point them in the direction of a pack. He had compelled a few vampires to start a search for him, and one of his lackeys was a couple of hours ahead of them; keeping their keen ears out for information.

Klaus heard the water stop, and he glanced towards the bathroom door for a moment before returning to his map.

When Bethany emerged from the bathroom, in a pair of tracksuit bottoms and a strappy top, he couldn't help but admire her slender body. He grinned at her unashamedly, having been caught looking as she towel dried her long, wet hair.

She moved over towards her own bed, to grab a hairbrush and when she turned around to head towards the mirror on the wall above the dresser, Klaus saw that her back was perfectly smooth.

The image he had had when he had held her hand, of the werewolf scratches on her back staring angrily towards him, had him even more concerned that he was going to be the cause of them.

"So? Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Her voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"You were trusting of me, to start with, when you thought I was just a vampire. Why?"

"Because you didn't try to compel me, when we officially first met at the park." She said, "And not all vampires are bad; my little sister is one, after all."

"And as soon as you found out that I was, well, me. What changed your mind?"

"Because you're, well, you." She replied.

Klaus wasn't phased by that in the slightest, it was a valid explanation, after all. He was known to be a ruthless, unforgiving murderer. And of course, he sacrificed her sisters best friend, her teacher-friends girlfriend, and a wolf, for his own personal gain. "How much do you know about werewolves, love?"

"I dated one, so, probably a fair bit." She informed him, "They turn when the full moon reaches its highest peak; they're stronger for the couple of days leading up to it; and they move in packs."

"Anything else?"

"Some of them have a significant bond with other wolves or humans, but it's quite rare."

That piqued his interest, perhaps she did know about mates? In which case, he didn't have to explain much. "And do you know what that 'significant bond' is referred to as?"

"Mates, I think." Bethany replied with that endearingly sweet expression of confusion. She moved away from the mirror, and stuffed her hairbrush into her bag before grabbing the towel she had been drying her hair with, and moving off to fold it over the radiator. "Why?"

"Because, sweetheart, I have reason to believe that you are mine."

He watched as she froze, and he heard her take in a sharp breath. He thought that, maybe, he could've eased into that a little better. Oh well, it was done now.

"But you're half-vampire."

"I am still half-wolf."

"What reason do you have?" She asked, "We don't really know each other, that well."

"That doesn't matter, love." He said, "My inner alpha has chosen you. As soon I first saw you; when you popped your head around the door during that boring history lesson I was teaching, I had an inkling. But when we shook hands at the park, that day, I knew."

"But how do you know?"

"Because I've never had a vision before." He said, "It's something I overheard during my years on this earth. That's how you know."

"What did you see?" She asked then, and Klaus found himself enchanted by the way her eyes darkened slightly; when she was curious.

Did he tell her what he saw? He didn't want to frighten or worry her. Klaus rolled his eyes at his thoughts, "I saw your back." He informed her, "Bloodied and raw from a wolf scratch."

"And so, you thought it would be a good idea to bring me along on your wolf hunt?" She shook her head, "Well, thanks."

"I asked you-"

"-Forced me-"

"-To come along, because I cannot deny my inner alpha what it wants." He said, "And it wants to be close to you."

Bethany seemed to be satisfied with his explanation. From dating a wolf, she would know that it was near impossible to deny an alpha what they wanted. And for an alpha to deprive themselves of something, well, it was self-destructive.

Klaus watched as she made her way towards her bed and grabbed the room service menu, before taking a seat with her back against the headboard. He waited for her to say something, anything - but she didn't.

"Do you want to ask me anything?

"Yeah, in your millennia of life - have you ever eaten motel food? I'm starving, but the thought of eating something that tastes like cardboard makes me feel a little queasy." She looked up at him when he didn't answer, "I know you meant about us being mates, but I can't think straight on an empty stomach."