Okies, big apology number 10...ish? I seem to be making a lot of these lately.

The past few weeks have been a freaking roller coaster. From finally moving out of my parent's house to working 6 straight over nights...my brain is officially fried. But I am writing this note on my last overnight and have two days off following so I'm hoping to get back on schedule with everything.

Once again, you are all amazing for sticking with me!

P.S. I'm going to be cleaning up this story relatively soon, meaning all Author notes and announcements for my DCBB are going to be gone. So in case you see chapter's changing, that's why lol.


Dean didn't want to leave the bed, even after three days being curled up around his family it wasn't nearly enough to sate the need. Leeloo explained to them on day two what happened and that it wasn't Kenton's fault that they were taken. Dean made a promise to be kind to him and made a personal promise to talk with Charlie about him. It was strange that all the pups were shifting except for him. But he would save that conversation until this new immediate threat was taken care of.

The meeting hall had a sour smell of irritation filtering in the room and he honestly couldn't blame the others for feeling cross. All his Alphas were in the room along with Sam, Gabriel, Victor and Nathaniel. Sam had questioned him about bringing in the leopards and hunters but Dean explained gently that if something happened, it wasn't just the wolves that had to pay...it was all of them.

"I'm sorry I had to call you away from your families but the choices I am about to make aren't easy and should not be made without your voices. All of you heard what the Lamias said about this, Uriel. I didn't want to believe them but everything seems to just be, fitting together. Everything they said along with Balthazar's statements about the wolf. This man is extremely dangerous," Dean explained. The Alphas in the room all sighed heavily, their bodies fidgeting with mixtures of aggravation and nerves.

John leaned forward, his hands clasped together on top of the table. He took in a deep breath and held it for a second before letting it out in a whoosh, "We've never come across something like this before. With Crowley and Abaddon, those were old scores waiting to be settled. But this, hybrid business, this is new. Us old wolves...we're not sure how to help or even give advice on this," John said, his eyes tightening when he raised them up to meet Dean's.

"We'll get through whatever this is together," Sam piped in, his fingers running through his hair a few times before placing a thick book on the table. Dean recognized it instantly from Kevin's cabin. Their entire pack and family history was stored in that old journal.

"What are we even assuming may happen?" Michael asked, "We know what he's after but do you really think he'd come all the way here to Oregon?" It wasn't a rude or even sarcastic question, it was honest curiosity and Dean could see the others all nodding their heads slightly.

"He's after hybrids...or someone strong enough to carry his pups to term. From what we know, no one has been able too. All the women and Omegas he's raped, either have been killed in the process, died in childbirth or...cast off to the smaller packs as slaves," Sam answered for him, his voice tight and fists clenched together. John reached over and squeezed his son's wrists.

"So what, we're going to go into war to free them or something?" one of the Alpha's scoffed. Dean let out a subtle growl and the wolf sank back in his chair.

"No, but we need to be ready if he decides to come this way. What you all don't understand is that we have what he is so desperately looking for. Castiel and Keelie are metaphysical hybrids, Claire could be a physical one...we won't know until she presents-"

"So once again we're in a conflict because of the Novak family," another Alpha growled out, his deep voice interrupting Dean. Some of his pack mates grumbled softly and Dean slammed his fist onto the table with a snarl.

"We are a pack...a family. Castiel is your Anamchara and the others are your brothers and sisters. When you joined you swore to protect your family as we would do for you. Now all the sudden you want to start pointing fingers at who is to blame?" Dean bellowed. There was a warm hand on his shoulder and he nearly shook it off but it was his dad; John gently pulled him back to sit on the chair.

"This isn't just about the Novak family...it's about all of us. Including our new friends that we just made alliances with. If Uriel's pack turns this way, Cole's pack is in danger of meeting the same fate as Gadreel's has. Are we willing to let that happen?" John prompted and Dean was relieved to see the same argumentative Alphas shake their heads adamantly.

"What should we do then?" Luc asked, his head bowed and staring down at his hands wringing together on the table. Michael touched his shoulder and the younger Alpha let out a small whine.

"We have some choices...several that I am not even wanting to propose but as I said, we make this decision together. Once we decide, we have to take this to our mates. Ultimately, they are the ones who are in danger and it should be their choice," Dean said. Everyone in the room nodded and silence overtook the room for a moment before Julian leaned forward, his soft but steady voice breaking the growing tension.

"Continue Dean, tell us what you have come up with," he said. Dean looked up at the older man and nodded, feeling his confidence return a bit.


Castiel was still curled up around his children when the door of their house opened and closed with a soft click. He wanted to stay right where he was but he could smell his mate's distress from their bedroom. Leeloo whined softly when he moved off the bed but he watched as she pulled her little brother closer and fell back asleep.

He grabbed up the robe hanging over the edge of the bed and carefully made his way from the comfort of his bedroom to the cold reality. He understood Dean's need to call the Alphas to a meeting but didn't like that not only did his mate leave their bed, but he was back with an even more tense scent.

Castiel found his mate leaning against the counter with both hands, his breathing a little ragged that calmed almost instantly when Castiel touched his side.

"Cas…" Dean started but Castiel shook his head, moving into the space between his mate's body and the counter. Dean had to shuffle back to make room for his belly but neither of them minded, especially not his Alpha who molded around him. A cold nose found its way into Castiel's neck and he gasped a little but allowed his mate to cling to him.

"What happened?" he asked after a moment. Dean sighed heavily, his body pushing against Castiel's a little before he pulled back just enough to look down into his eyes.

"There something I need your help with baby...we have a decision to make but us Alphas, we can't make it without our mate's. C'mere," Dean said, gently pulling him over towards the couch. Dean sunk down and then guided Castiel to sit on his lap. Once they were comfortable enough Dean's hands began to rub anxious circles at the base of his spine.

"And what were they?" Castiel asked softly, nuzzling into Dean's cheek.

"You know what Uriel is after and who's really in danger here in our pack but if he comes here, he's going to try taking everyone. Not just Keelie or you or even Claire. But all of them. One decision we made and completely agreed on was calling Cole and his entire pack back here," Dean explained. Castiel nodded eagerly, his hands curling around in Dean's shirt. That had been on his mind the moment he was able to sooth the almost hysteria from not having Leeloo within arm's reach. All he could think about was Cole's wife Lizzy and what that bastard would do to her. He couldn't stand it. Castiel was just grateful that he had assumed right about Dean's want to take care of the Kansas pack.

"Sam is already in process of getting in contact with them. We're just worried that we won't be able to get them here soon enough, with how far along Lizzy is, she may not be able to travel," Dean sighed. Castiel frowned, the pup in his stomach nudging a bit until Dean slid his warm hand over his belly.

"Maybe we can fly them out?" Castiel said. Dean nodded, pressing his lips to his cheekbone.

"Already in the works baby...don't worry we'll get them here as soon as possible," Dean took in a deep breath before pulling away so they could look at each other, "Now...I'm pretty sure I know what everyone is going to choose but again, this decision has to be made by our mates."

Castiel bit his lip and wiggled around until he could look at Dean clearly before he spoke again.

"One is we leave…."

"Dean-"

"I know sweetheart, I know but just listen please?" Dean asked and Castiel gave him a timid nod. The mere thought of leaving their home, the place they fought to keep safe was just out of the question. It made his stomach twist and the pup get even more restless. And it would also mean their pack would more than likely split up, that he was definitely not okay with.

"We'd have to separate...keep the one's he's specifically looking for away from the other so he can't get you three all at once," Dean explained.

"No, I am not leaving my sister. And I am not splitting up our pack. We're safer together Dean, you know that," Castiel said sternly. Dean gave him a grim smile and nodded.

"I do, it was just a thought and something I had to voice out in case another one of our pack mates may want to do that," Dean said. Castiel sighed and tried to relax back into the couch for the other choices.

"Another is to send Claire away, possibly to Rowena," Dean said. Castiel's body stilled as something cold slithered up his spine. That left an extremely horrible taste in his mouth and he was already shaking his head before his mate even finished.

"My brother was actually okay with that?" Castiel asked incredulously. Dean snorted, shaking his head.

"Of course not. He said if that was ultimately the decision that everyone chose, then he would go with her. Which isn't even possible because it would create tension between everyone here and the remaining Novaks. Leading to even more tension because one of those Novak's is my mate and some of my closest confidants," Dean exemplified. Castiel gave him a pointed nod of his head that made Dean snicker a bit.

"Yeah, not really wanting that kind of fight here at home," Dean chuckled. Castiel rubbed at his eyes, his hands dropping to Dean's chest with a soft thud.

"So what was the final choice then? All these other ones are definite no's."

"We stay here, defend what is ours like we always have. But we have to be more alert, send any unmated willing Alpha's as close to Georgia as we can. Have them keep an eye out to track their movements. If they start comin this way, then we have a chance to make arrangements then. We also keep our friends even closer than we already have...we may even have to come to some kind of stinted friendship with the Lamias," Dean clarified. Castiel liked and hated this plan. Mostly he hated it for sending out their pack mates and he did not want to make friend's with the Lamia's but he did see the reasoning behind it.

Even if half the time the fled before they fought, they were angry enough with Uriel and over ridden with guilt for what they had done to the foxes that now, they owed a huge favor to them. He liked this choice because it meant their family would stay together.

"Who would we send?" Castiel asked. Dean moved around a bit more and Castiel leaned his head on his shoulder once he was settled again.

"Ansem has already volunteered along with several other Alphas. They want to protect our pack to the best of their abilities," Dean answered. Castiel nodded and let out a long breath.

"Dean...what about Jody? If Uriel does decide to come, after he goes to Kansas, he'll go through Colorado just the same," Castiel said. Dean hugged him tightly and he could feel his mate nodding.

"Sam's calling her as well. It'll be her and her pack's choice to come here if they want too. Ansem and the others will be in place hopefully before Uriel even starts to glance this way so if there is any movement, word will go to Jody first, then us."

"Good…" Castiel sat up with a groan, "Gods Dean, it's like, they were waiting for us to make these alliances before letting the shit hit the fan again."

"I know but, the shit hasn't dropped yet. Right now, we're just taking extreme precautions. Everyone will be on high alert until it does or hopefully, will just be a big assumption. We don't even know if they're going to come our way, they may just try Arizona first," Dean said, his finger firmly pressing against Castiel's lips before he could pipe in," Even if they did decide to go towards Arizona first...Rowena has that place locked down so tight, they won't even make past the border. Rowena is one we don't have to worry about," Dean laughed. Castiel grinned, nodding his head a bit.

"Dean...did anyone choose to go to them first?" Castiel asked almost timidly. Part of him, the overly annoyed and infuriated part of his soul, wanted to take the fight to this disgusting Alpha. End it before it began and to free all those Omegas. It was part of Castiel's mission but it would be highly dangerous, especially if the entire east coast was on Uriel's side.

"Yes...Benny brought that up actually. I think a part of each of us wanted that but we couldn't. We couldn't put all of you in danger if we failed," Dean said. Castiel couldn't help whining as he snuggled back into his mate. Of course he didn't even think about Dean going. If their pack was going to go start a war, their entire Alpha force would go, including Dean. His strong amazing mate would never allow them to go alone.

They would lose too many of them if not all and Castiel's eyes burned at that thought. His chin trembled a bit as flashes of the last time they fought a war flew past his eyes. Seeing so many of his fallen pack mates...ones he had grown up with all lying on the ground cold and lifeless.

"Baby, shhh, it's okay," Dean was cooing at him, his hands rubbing all around his skin. Castiel hadn't even been aware he'd been crying or making a high keening noise until Dean pulled him out of those memories.

"That was a definite no so it wasn't a choice we were going to bring to any of you. I'm sorry I brought it up," Dean apologized, his voice soft and warm against Castiel's cheek.

"I-It's okay...I asked. Dean...I think you know my answer already," Castiel swallowed hard. Dean's lips pulled up into one of the smiles that Castiel adored.

"I know but sometimes, I need your voice to confirm it."


Keelie was sitting outside her house when Garth emerged from the woods, his face taut but seemed to warm the moment he saw her. Without another word he was rushing up the steps and Keelie found herself moaning softly as Garth wrapped around her.

"Is he asleep?" Garth asked against her ear.

"Mmhmm," she said, allowing Garth to hold her for a few minutes before pulling away and leading him to the porch chairs. Instead of them taking up the two they had, they curled up in the one.

"So what was the decision?" Garth asked. Keelie rubbed at her eyes, the headache slowly forming in the base of her skull. There was no dead set decision just yet but she knew her pack and she definitely knew her twin brother.

"Everyone is going to decide to stay here. I don't need to hear everyone say it, I know it," she answered. Before Garth could say anything, she scented someone coming closer to the house and she perked up just in time to see Benny coming their way.

"Everything alright?" Keelie asked. Benny gave her a small smile and nodded, his boots thumping on the wood as he joined them, sinking down in the chair.

"Alfie's sleeping...he's so exhausted from everything. Pam said the pup's safe but Alfie needs to be resting most of the time and now that Rhiannon's back home, he doesn't want to leave bed," Benny chuckled. Keelie grinned, her head nodding slowly.

"I hear that...Oz got annoyed with us snuggling him so he kicked us out of the house," Garth grinned. Benny chuckled again and sat back in the chair, his eyes closing a bit as a cool breeze blew past the house.

"Did you ask him?" Keelie asked for a while.

Benny nodded, his shoulder rising up in a lazy shrug, "Yeah, said he didn't care as long as we're together. I told him, I won't leave Dean's side and he just glared at me, sayin that he goes where I go, no matter what. Looks like we're stayin right here sister," Benny sighed. Keelie snorted, nodding as Garth laughed.

"Looks like. No place better to pick a fight," Keelie grinned. Benny opened one eye to stare at her before his lips pulled up into a smirk.