Chapter 1

Prologue

Blood seeped into the soil and up on the long yellow blades of grass. There were clear signs of a fight marking the land with huge imprints of a body being slammed repeatedly into the ground. The familiar smell of gunpowder lingered in the air as Dean carefully tracked through the open field across from the condemned once red barn. A small silver and black colt laid in the dirt still warm from the rounds fired earlier. He picked up the small metal gun and tucked it behind his back. His boots scuffed up the dust of the dry dirt patches. His jeans were painted with wisps of red as his legs pushed their way through the long yellow grass that were drenched in blood. The more he walked the more his heart sank to reality that no one could survive with that much blood loss. For once he prayed silently. Actually, prayed that the blood belonged to the monster he was fighting and not her. His hand tightened on the ivory grips of his silver engraved colt pistol. The silver rounds waiting to be fired into the werewolf that took her.

A moment later he found a body covered in black fur. The oversized wolf looked more like a bear as he circled around the creature to the front only to find that the head barely attached by ribbons of skin on the back of the neck. The werewolf had been decapitated with its yellow eyes glazed over staring into nothingness. Dean gripped his gun with both hands taking aim at the beast before kicking its paws checking to see if it was truly dead. Nothing. The open flesh of its neck had lost nearly all its color as the blood pooled under its carcass and into the soil.

If the creature was dead then she still had to be around somewhere. Dean turned in circles scanning any where a body could lay in this long grass. The wind blew past him and through the grass like someone running their fingers through their hair. There was a dip in the grass where nothing moved. He sprinted over to the indentation in the long yellow grass. The trail of blood thickened as he got closer. He skidded to a stop upon the sight of horror.

She laid in a puddle of her own blood curled into a ball holding her shredded body together. Her legs trembled, pants ripped revealing claw marks on her thighs and her arms clung to her abdomen her skin paler than normal. Blood oozed from between her forearms. Her long black and silver hair feathered out under her head, her chin dimpled and her pale lip trembled holding back the cries of pain. Her icy blue eyes looked up at him. Tears flowed endlessly from her eyes over the cuts on her cheeks dusted with dirt.

After all the years of hunting and time spent in hell they did not prepare him for this. His abs tightened against stomach urging the nausea up into his throat and he ground his teeth holding back the urge to vomit. When his eyes met hers he felt his heart drop from his chest into a black hole of despair. His shaking hands loosened on his gun as his thumb instinctively clicked the safety back on. He tucked his gun in the front of his jeans and removed his coat and laid it over her body. He was not sure if he did it to save her or save him from the sight of seeing her shredded body.

When did his life get so turned around?

*A few days ago*

Dean was half way through a sandwich that he made in the bunker's kitchen. Each bite was like heaven for him washed down by his favorite beer. Last week they had won a case and Charlie was staying with them for a while. She was teaching Cas some new things about the computer. Life was perfect for once.

"Dude check this out." Sam barged into the kitchen holding his laptop.

Dean looked up at his younger brother mid bite of his food. "What?"

Sam sat across from him clearing away some crumbles Dean splattered all over the table before setting his laptop down. "I think I found us a case."

Dean rolled his eyes. "I'm in the middle of this amazing sandwich can't it wait?"

Sam turned his laptop around to show Dean the article. "It says a few days ago two brothers had reported their sister missing and had gone out to look for her in the woods. They didn't return and so another search party was sent out. Except this time instead of a search and rescue it was a murder scene."

"So?" Dean asked washing down the last of his sandwich.

"They found the girl unconscious and unharmed a few yards away from the scene of a bear attack. Her brothers were shredded."

"The bear ate the brothers and left the girl alone?"

"Yup." Sam leaned forward. "The coroner said they died from blood loss and missing hearts."

"Werewolf?"

"Sounds like it." Sam closed his laptop with a smirk on his face.

Dean finished the last of his beer. "What the hell, we have had a good streak for a while. Where is it?"

"A small town in the mountains of South Dakota."

"Let's go."

A few hours later the boys were driving north to the Black Hills national park in South Dakota. Cas and Charlie decided to stay behind and continue their lessons but were on call if they needed them. The Impala purred along the road as Dean rocked out to his usual music.

Sam was still reading up on the case testing all theories. "So following the moon cycle the attacks happened a few days before the full moon and after the full moon there are no reports of any murders or an attack."

"So maybe not a werewolf?"

Sam shrugged closing his laptop. "Don't know but it's the best lead we got."

"The girl was she bitten at all?"

Sam shook his head looking out the window. "It said she was 'miraculously untouched' and has no symptoms of any injury or hypothermia being left in the woods for days. That's the part I don't get is how did she end up there anyway?"

"Maybe the wolf took her and used her as bait. Maybe the thing has a specific taste. Or maybe she is the wolf?"

"Doubt it. The full moon passed and she remained in the hospital."

Dean sped up. "Let's go ask her then."

The town they had pulled into the next day was small and charming. It resembled an old mining town from the 1800's with some new remodeling. Dean pulled into a cheap motel eyeing the diner he passed a few blocks up. His growling stomach could use a double bacon cheeseburger. Dean knew from experience that small towns usually meant big secrets. The boys checked in and changed into their usual FBI suits and headed down for lunch.

The diner was a small outdated café with red booths and silver tables. Something out of a retro 50's show. A cute brunette managed the already full tables. She busied herself from table to table with a never fading smile as her long brown hair was pulled into a swaying ponytail. Her uniform consisted of jeans, sneakers and a cute black tank top. A black small apron wrapped around her slender waist with pockets filled with pens, straws and a worn notepad.

She approached the boys with a warm smile. "Anywhere you gentlemen would like to sit and I will be right over with menus." Then she dashed into the kitchen.

Dean raised an eyebrow at her with a smile. He turned to Sam who cleared his throat trying to ignore the blush on his cheeks. Dean pulled his brother over to a booth to the left of the door trying to get a view of both directions. Dean faced the door and Sam watched the kitchen.

The waitress returned with complementary waters and menus. "Welcome. My name is Laura and I'll be serving you today." Her blue eyes sparkled against her dark hair and her round face was flawless and beautiful.

"Thank you." Sam smiled taking the menu and began to read it.

Dean flashed her a smile. "Is it just you every day?"

She shrugged. "Not usually but my coworker is off for a while. Personal business. Thankfully everyone has been patient and wonderful tippers." Her fingertips brushed the table top. "I'll give you a few minutes." She made her way to the other tables.

Sam watched Laura walk away.

"See something you like?" Dean grinned like a cheshire cat.

Sam gave him his usual glare. "Dude seriously?"

Dean held up his hands. "Hey, you're the one eye banging her. I am simply observing." Dean turned back to his menu with a grin on his face. The food sounded tempting, but the burger kept calling to him.

Laura returned her face a little more seldom. "Did you need more time?"

"Not at all. I will take your double bacon cheeseburger and a side of fries." Dean smiled up at her. She tried to put on a smile, but it withered away. Dean kicked Sam under the table.

Sam covered it up as he cleared his throat. "I'll have the um…chef salad." He too turned with a smile.

Without a word Laura left and put their orders in.

"Dude!" Sam growled at Dean.

"What?" Dean said as the girl went into the kitchen. "That was a bit odd she was fine a few minutes ago."

Sam took a drink of his water. "Until you asked about her coworker."

"Do you think her coworker is the one they found in the woods?"

"Don't know and I won't unless you focus on the case instead of trying to set me up."

Dean tried to defend himself when the waitress returned with their food.

Sam looked up at the girl who set his food on the table. Once his eyes fell on her face his smile faded into concern. "Is everything alright?"

She glanced up at him. "Hmm? Oh yes, I'm fine just worried about my coworker. She is supposed to be getting out of the hospital today."

"Do you mind telling us what happened?" Sam asked with his puppy dogs eyes.

"It's all over the news." She said lowly.

"Is she the one they found in the woods?" Dean asked ignoring his food for once.

Laura nodded. "Yeah. Did you hear about it?"

Sam and Dean pulled out their fake FBI badges and Laura's face got suddenly grim. "We are here to investigate." Sam explained. "Don't worry you're not in any trouble. The news was not very specific on who it was and we just need to ask her a few questions before we close the case."

"Oh." She began to relax again. "Her name is Dakota Silverwood. A few days ago she went on her usual run before coming into work but she never showed up. I called her brothers and they said they hadn't seen her. They reported her missing and went into the woods to find her. Her brothers knew those woods like the back of their hand as did she. So the cops agreed to split up and the Silverwood boys never made it back. They sent a search party and then found them…" She took a moment containing herself. "They said it was a bear attack. They presumed that Dakota was unconscious when her brothers found her and the bear only attacked them thinking Dakota was already dead. It was a while before the cops found their bodies and the bear was nowhere to be found."

"Do you know where we could find her?" Sam asked.

"Yeah," Laura went on. "she lives up north of the edge of the town in a small cabin. You'll see her motorbike outside."

"Thank you." Sam reached in his pocket for one of his cards. "If anything else comes up or if you just need someone to talk to. You can always reach me."

Laura's hand brushed his as she took the card. A small smile returned on her tender face. "Thank you." She left them to eat in peace.

"Real smooth Sam." Dean picked up his burger taking a huge bite.

"What? It's for the case." Sam watched Laura work. A bit of satisfaction settled in his stomach knowing he was able to help her relax and smile again.

"Whatever man." Dean said stuffing his mouth again.