This is Love

“May I sit with you for a while?” Deaken asked me barely above a whisper.

I nodded, lifting the edge of the blanket as I moved over to make room for his large frame. The bed creaked under his weight; he threw his arms around me pulling me into his chest. I breathe in a deep breath pulling in his scent. A scene of clam washing over me as I laid on his chest. I could hear his heart beating like a drum as I counted the thumps.

“I thought I had lost you last night,” his arms squeezed me a bit tighter as he confessed his fears. “I can’t lose you Caroline, I love you.”

The warmth of Deaken's embrace enveloped me, a stark contrast to the chill of the vampire's existence. "You won't lose me," I murmured, my voice muffled against the fabric of his shirt. "I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere. I love you too." I haven’t said those words in so long, but they have never felt so right.

He relaxed slightly; his hold still firm but no longer constricting. After a moment he added, "Promise me. Caroline, promise me you'll stay safe. You are strong but you can still die."

I tilted my head up to meet his gaze, the intensity in his eyes sending a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold. "I promise," I said, sealing it with a soft kiss. "But you have to promise me something too."

"Anything," he replied, his voice a low rumble as we traded kisses.

"Promise me you'll be by my side, no matter what comes our way. Promise me we'll face it together." I kissed him again this time more need than the one before.

His lips curved into a smile, the kind that made my heart flutter despite its stillness. "I promise, my Queen. Together, always." He pulled me on top of him, so I was straddling his thighs. His hands got lost in my hair as he pulled my lips back down onto his own. A low moan escaped me as he tugged lightly on my hair. He let out a grown, “Caroline. If we don't stop soon, I won’t be able to.”

He bit down on my lip sucking on it making my body grind against his. “Then don’t,” I yanked on my shirt pulling it over my head. With nothing underneath my breasts are on full display for him.

Deaken sucked in a sharp breath, “Caroline you are my mate. I know you don’t know much about wolves but if we do this you will never be able to break the bond between us.”

I never want to live in this world without Deaken, I want this. I want him more than anything. A single tear ran down my cheek, “I want you Deaken.”

“What will you say to the lord? Once we mate you will bear my mark. There will be no hiding it from him or anyone else for that matter.” He said shaking his head like he has fully thought this through.

I don’t know what to say, I want them both. Is that so wrong? They both mean so much to me. Deaken is my mate and there is a connection there I will never be able to find anywhere else. But Damon is my husband, and I have a found a since of longing for him I can’t name. They are both so different and complete different parts of my life. What am I going to do? I can’t choose between them.

“I am sorry,” I say in a soft voice covering my chest with my arms. I can’t believe I did it again. First with Damon and now Deaken.

“Hey,” he said in a comforting tone brushing the hair away from my face. “I am in no rush, take as much time as you need. No matter what I will always be here with you Caroline.” He pulled me back down onto his chest rubbing small comforting circles on my back now that the moment is gone. We need to sit down and talk about this as a group, but I don’t even know where to start. How will Damon react? He was upset in the hallway the other day much like Deaken is now. There has to be some way to make everyone happy.


As we lay there, the world outside our sanctuary faded away. The dangers lurking in the shadows, the responsibilities that weighed heavily on my shoulders, they all seemed distant. In Deaken's arms, I found a peace I hadn't known I was searching for a moment of tranquility in a life filled with turmoil.


The room was silent except for the soft crackling of the fireplace as I gathered the courage to speak. Deaken's hand was still on my back, a steady presence that grounded me. "We need to talk about us," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Deaken nodded, his eyes serious. "I know. And we will. All of us."

The door opened with a soft creak, and Damon stepped in. His gaze was intense, a storm of emotions swirling within. He took a seat across from us, his posture rigid, the epitome of controlled strength.

"I'm here," Damon said, his voice firm. "Let's settle this."

I sat up, pulling the blanket around me like a shield. "I care for both of you," I began, my heart racing. "But this... tension between us, it's tearing me apart."

Deaken's expression softened. "Caroline, you don't have to choose, not in the way you think. We're vampires and werewolves; our lives are complex, our relationships even more so."

Damon nodded in agreement, a rare moment of solidarity between the two. "He's right. Our kind, we have... different ways. Ways that the human world might not understand. Besides Deaken won’t live forever, one day you will outlive him. Vampires are known to take many lovers in their lives."

I looked between them, the two pillars of my new existence. "Different how?" I asked, the question hanging in the air like a delicate thread.

Deaken reached for my hand, his touch warm. "We can be together, all of us. It's not unheard of in our world. Bonds can be shared, love can be... multiplied, not divided."

Damon's eyes met mine, and in them, I saw the possibility of a future I hadn't dared to imagine. "It's about trust, Caroline. Trust and respect. If we can agree on that, we can navigate this together."

The idea was unconventional, yet it resonated with something deep within me. A solution that didn't require sacrificing a part of my heart.

"We'll need rules," I said, the practical side of me surfacing. "Boundaries. We can't let jealousy or possessiveness get in the way."

"Agreed," Deaken said, and Damon gave a curt nod.

"We'll also need to communicate, openly and honestly. Always," I added, looking at each of them in turn.

"That's fair," Damon replied, his voice softer now.

"And one more thing," I said, my resolve strengthening. "No matter what happens between us, it can't interfere with our fight against the king. We have to remain united against him."

Deaken and Damon exchanged a look, an unspoken understanding passing between them. "You have our word," Deaken said.

Damon stood, extending his hand to Deaken, who took it firmly. "To a new beginning," Damon said, his voice steady.

"Together," Deaken agreed.

They both turned to me, their hands joined. I placed mine on top of theirs, the three of us connected in a pact of unity and understanding.

As the fire crackled and the night deepened, I felt a sense of completeness envelop me. With Deaken and Damon by my side, I was stronger, we were stronger. And together, we would face whatever the dark world threw at us.