Hello there!
Just a couple of reminders/notes:
*Once a wolf (or any of the were-animals) reaches adult hood, they will physically age much slower than humans. For every 2-3 years equals about 1.
*I messed up somewhere and will be going back to fix it...but the male leopards name is supposed to be Link not Luke lol. I will go back and fix this some time tomorrow.
Happy reading!
Keelie stared at the young girl in front of her, her heart hammering hard in her chest. Claire Novak...Novak...it kept ringing in her ears like low whine. The girl...Claire...was fidgeting, her fingers laced together in front of her as her large blue eyes kept flicking around, trying to find an escape no doubt. Keelie's head was hurting again and she really just wanted to lie down. She swallowed down past the nausea as she pushed down the wall between her and her twin, telling him where she was.
She didn't need to wait for a response, Castiel would be there soon along with the others. Claire was growing more and more nervous, even trying to bolt past her but Keelie snatched up her arm and crowded her against the wall.
"Why won't you let me go? My...my brother needs me!" she stammered and Keelie frowned, the gut clenching vibrations making her feel even worse. The girl was lying...about how much she had no clue but the brother was definitely a lie.
"Keelie?" Castiel asked softly peering around the corner. Claire froze, her eyes growing wide and trying to bolt again but this time Keelie shoved her hard against the wall.
"Just stop...who are you really?" Keelie asked. Castiel moved up behind her, making sure to keep quiet. She couldn't see him but Dean's scent was strong, his breathing a little heavy as he kept guard. This could easily be a trap...but how this girl even got this far was beyond her. Her scent had something to do with it, it was all wrong. Like a mix of different animals blended together making her head spin rather quickly. Although there was that one constant...family.
"I already told you!" Claire shouted, a slight growl edging her words. Keelie took a step back but made sure to keep in front of her brother. If this was somehow a trap, she'd kill this girl before she touched Castiel.
"I know you're lying about having a brother..." Keelie said slowly. Claire swallowed hard before rolling her eyes, one hand going through her messy blonde hair.
"Well I was hoping you'd take pity and just let me leave. Look, I just need enough money to get to Arizona alright? Then I'm gone...you won't have to worry about me..." she said her voice tight and her face set in a petulant scowl. It would actually be quite adorable if Keelie didn't know what the girl's end game was. Castiel moved out from behind her to get closer to Claire, the warm energy that always surrounded her brother began to pulse out. It spread out along Claire and she visibly shuddered, her arms quickly wrapping around herself to keep it out.
"Will you give us a second and promise to not run? We can help you if you let us..." Castiel said sweetly. Whatever armor Claire had worked up around herself seemed to shift just enough to believe her brother. She gave a cut nod and Keelie moved just out of ear shot.
"What's going on?" Castiel hissed, his eyes set in a bit of a glare. Keelie sighed, fingers rubbing into her temples to keep the migraine at bay.
"Cas...take a deep whiff...she has our fucking family scent and you know it. She also said her name was Claire Novak..." Keelie growled. Castiel's eyes widened as his head snapped to stare at Claire, he gave her an apologetic look that Keelie shrugged off. It wasn't the time to get into a pissing match with her brother but his little jumps to instantly be angry with her pissed her off.
"How...the only other family we had was dad's sister...but she died before she was able to have any kids..." Castiel whispered, turning to look over at Dean who had the same shocked expression.
"No idea...but since you seem to be getting through to her more than I can...you talk to her," she said gruffly. Castiel sighed and grabbed her hand, squeezing it until she gave him a small smile.
Castiel took in a deep breath before stepping back over to the slightly pacing girl. She was a mess, there was no doubt she was truly a runaway. Her blonde hair was in tangles and half of it was braided on one side...most likely trying to give off a more "tough" look. The clothes she had on hung loosely around her small frame and the liner around her eyes looked days old.
"How old are you?" he asked softly. She stilled, swallowing hard as her eyes darted back between his sister and Dean. He took another step closer, filling her vision with just him and it seemed to relax her a bit.
"15..." she whispered. Castiel bit hard on his lip and nodded...the girl was going to present soon...if not already but he couldn't catch that scent on her. All he could recognize was the family one and a mix of several different types of animals.
"Will you tell me what's going on? Why you're here alone?"
"My mom...she was...she died a few months ago..." she stammered. Tears began to pool up in her eyes and she turned away angrily, her hands rubbing her face a little too hard. When she turned back around Castiel's heart broke for the anguish shining in those bright blue eyes.
"She was fucking murdered okay? Is that what you want to hear? Now will please let me go?" she cried. Castiel swallowed down the lump in his throat and shook his head slowly.
"You're name is Claire right?" he asked, at the nod of her head he continued, "Listen...we want to help you but you have to be honest with us..."
"You wanna help me so bad? Get me to Arizona then," she growled out. Castiel wracked his brain quickly, trying to get any kind of idea why this girl would be running there. It was one of the very few states that was heavily populated by were-cats...not wolves. But this girl didn't have a trace of cat anywhere in her...
"Just talk to me..."
"Ugh! Fine...my mom, Amelia was murdered in the last pack we were in. She refused to let one of their disgusting Alpha's take me as a mate...so she gave me this...stuff to take to confuse my scent and told me to run while she took them on. She was only a Beta! Before I left, she told me to use my father's last name and maybe, that would help smooth some of the way through Oregon. My grandmother is in Arizona and I just...it's the only place I can go to okay? Happy now?" she said miserably, wiping furiously at the new tears making tracks through the mess of old eye liner. Castiel's heart slammed against his chest hard.
"F-Father? Your father's last name is Novak?" Castiel asked nervously. He could feel the warmth of both his sister and Dean growing closer and he held out a hand to stop them, wanting Claire's focus on him.
"Yes...did I stutter? Look, my mom didn't beat around the bush, she told me from the get go that my 'dad' was just a sperm donor...she only wanted a baby, not a mate. She didn't want to deal with an Alpha trying to take over her life. My dad...was the only one who agreed...the only thing she really knew about him was that he was named after the most beautiful angel in Heaven...Lucifer," she explained with a huff. Castiel stumbled back, his vision going a bit blurry as his head swam.
"Cas? Shit...Cas are you okay?" Dean's voice was warm, comforting his wracked nerve endings until he was able to see straight. Claire was staring at them as if they had sprouted several heads. He was going to try and explain but Keelie took a step forward.
"Claire...my name is Keelie...and this is my twin brother...Castiel Novak..." she said softly. Claire's eyes widened and she too stumbled back until her back hit the brick wall.
"So...you know my dad?" she asked in a rush. Keelie let out a soft laugh and nodded slowly.
"He's...he's actually one of our older brother's," Keelie said. For the first time since he'd seen her, the angry mask the young girl had on lifted and she smiled...her entire face lit up. Castiel couldn't help smiling because of it.
"Wait...one of? How many are there?" she asked. Dean let out a chuckle, his arm wrapping around Castiel's waist to help keep him steady.
"Well...six in total...not to mention the little ones," he answered. Claire bit her lip hard, buzzing with excitement.
"I have cousins?"
"If you're story is for real this time...you even have a little brother," Castiel said, grinning at the huge smile radiating off Claire's face. Keelie stepped forward and this time Claire didn't flinch when her hand touched at the base of Claire's throat. There was an instant vibration and the young girl gasped in shock but didn't pull away.
"She's telling the truth," Keelie said, taking a few steps away from their newly found niece. Castiel still couldn't wrap his head around it. He knew his brother wasn't a saint and it really wasn't a secret how badly Luc had wanted a family...even at a young age. Keelie had tried to keep it from him that their brother had even taken part of one of their older base customs. The Claiming Run. Something he and Dean had abolished the second they took over. It was archaic and degrading. And if they wanted to exude the safety they always promised that tradition would ruin it.
"Claire...this is Dean, he's my mate and our Conri...wolf king..." Castiel explained, moving out of Dean's arm to let his mate move closer. Claire's eyes widened and this time did shrink away.
"He won't hurt you Claire...no Alpha in this state will ever touch you unless you deem it okay..." Keelie started.
"But what if one does?" she asked quietly, her eyes frozen on Dean. Dean knelt down on one of his knees, practically debasing himself so Claire wouldn't feel so threatened. It seemed to work, she took in a deep breath and relaxed a touch.
"They would have to answer to me...this is probably the safest place for you but we won't force you into staying. All I ask is that you come with us, meet your father and then you can decide where you want to go from there. If you still want to go to Arizona, we'll get you there safely. If you decide to stay but not join our pack...you'll still be protected as long as you stay in Oregon..." Dean explained holding out his hand. Pride swelled in Castiel's chest for his mate, the patience and understanding wafting from him made his heart sing. Claire even took a step closer and smiled as she reached out. At first Castiel thought she would just take his hand but was happily surprised when she took his forearm instead. A gesture of trust.
"And if I want to join?"
"Then we'll welcome you to the family with open arms," Dean stated. Claire nodded quickly, her "tough" composure completely melting away as she nearly collapsed into Dean's arms, crying. Castiel covered his mouth and wanted to reach out and hug the girl as well but stayed back. Dean hugged her close and cooed soft things into her ear, things he couldn't make out. It didn't matter though, it was just for Claire and it seemed to be calming the poor exhausted girl. Dean picked her up bridal style and whispered something to Keelie before nodding his head towards Castiel.
"We'll take care of it Dean," Keelie answered and she was gone, hurrying out of the alley. Castiel followed after Dean closely, his eyes having to blink at the sudden brightness as they came out onto the street.
"Cas, Keelie's going to take the kids home...I think you're gonna have to drive back to the compound," Dean said softly. Castiel laughed softly, Claire was practically clinging to his mate, her face hiding in his shoulder. He nodded before glancing over towards the park where the other members of his pack were staring, all anxious and still, just waiting to know what was going on. Vic was still there, trying to keep the kids preoccupied but his daughter was not fooled. She was standing on the bench next to Benny, her eyes trained in their direction. Her little body relaxed when she finally saw them, a little smile growing on her lips before she hurried off towards the other little ones. Castiel took in a deep breath and quickly followed after Dean towards the car.
Luc stared at the girls dancing in front of him and really couldn't help being incredibly bored. Ever since he lost Anna as his number one dancer...he couldn't seem to find the same passion in another. These girls were gorgeous...and so beautifully...human. They didn't have the same grace or move in the same way an animal could. He smiled at them and promised to call once he had his answer. Once they left he dropped his head into his arms with a loud groan. The club was having a huge party this weekend, trying to kick start his new venture of having a live band playing upstairs while the bottom level would retain the club like feel. If it was successful...he would have the means to open up three more locations...he already had the land and foundation claimed in Portland...the other two were promising. One in Bend and the other being in Baker City.
He couldn't wait...with these three new locations...they'd be stretched across Oregon reaching others on the far side of their state. He wasn't as ambitious as his little brother Castiel...but he did have the same need to reach out and help others where he could. Even if they weren't of the same species.
The door dinged and his head shot up. The club was closed at the moment and the only other people here with him were Meg and Charlie. He saw movement around the corner and was about to stand up when the were-leopard twins Link and Lyra came into his vision.
"Oh...Gods you two scared the shit out of me! What are you doing here?" Luc laughed hurrying over to embrace them.
"We heard you were having trouble finding dancers for this weekend?" Lyra questioned, a slight purr edging her words. Luc eyes widened and glanced between the two.
"You...you guys want to audition? For real?" he asked with an excited grin. He never even thought to ask them if they'd be remotely interested. Link gave him an impish grin and nodded, taking his sisters hand towards the small stages. The long black peacoats that both of them had on dropped to the floor, leaving them in very revealing clothes. Luc had never felt anything sexual towards a male before but Link was making him rethink that a little bit. They were breathtaking once the music started, all fluid and grace. Both of them had strong lithe bodies that just flowed with the pounding bass. It was everything he was looking for and even he found himself getting a bit hot around the collar.
"Wow..." Luc jumped, turning to see not only a wide eyed Charlie but his own mate staring almost hungrily at the two. Luc grinned wide, letting them continue until the music stopped before clapping his hands.
"You two are hired..." he laughed almost breathlessly. The twins beamed, Lyra bouncing with excitement.
"We were wondering...well...we heard a rumor of you opening up another club in Portland...we wanted to know if you'd be willing to hire us to work it?" Lyra asked. Luc's mouth dropped open, nodding his head before he could even think otherwise.
"We'll definitely have to go over details once it gets closer but...hell yeah! Come back tomorrow afternoon for costumes and set up?" Luc asked. The twins nodded, hugging both Meg and Charlie before scurrying out of the building.
"That was unexpected," Meg laughed pulling her dark hair up into a bun. Luc nodded with agreement, his mouth opening to say something but got interrupted by his cell phone. He couldn't help smiling when he saw his little brother's name, excitement pouring through him to tell him about Link and Lyra.
"Hey Cas..."
"Luc...we need you to get to the compound. It's important."
The excitement quickly morphed into worry as his brother in law's voice came through the phone. He gripped it a bit tight and moved away from the two women now staring at him.
"Is Castiel okay?"
"He's perfectly fine...this actually concerns you. Please get to the compound as soon as possible okay?" Dean asked. There was a muffled sound...like a girl talking when Dean shushed them.
"Dean...what's going on?"
"I'll explain when you get there," Dean said and hung up. Luc swallowed hard and turned to look at Meg watching him with a calculating stare.
"Charlie...do you mind watching things for a bit? We have to go to the compound..." Luc said not taking his eyes off his mate. Meg frowned but didn't say anything. She grabbed up her purse and headed for the door.
"Of course...everything alright?" she asked. Luc gave her a shrug, not really knowing how else to better answer that. He gave her a little hug before he followed after Meg.