Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural. No money is being made for my having written this piece.

I'm going to be taking a few weeks off from posting so I can work on the plot a bit more. I hope you're all still enjoying the story. See you all in September.

The boys couldn't attempt any means of escaping for another three days and in that time, they did their best not to fall into any old habits that would've derailed their years of hard earned self-control. Whatever the Alpha attempted against them, (sending them "food", sending beautiful men and women) the brothers stayed as far away from it as they could.

Save for Cas.

Dean and Sam both knew that all of this was overwhelming to the guy. He was new to all of it. His self- control, while applause worthy, was still not to their level. They were doing their best to reconnect with him and definite progress was being made. It was. And then every evening it was like nothing had happened and they'd need to start all the way at the beginning again. It was torture for all three of them.

And then on the fourth day, an unfortunate surprise landed at their doorstep that would change the course of everything as they knew it.

Dean did his best to hide his thirst and it was working out to his advantage. So far. He didn't know how much longer he would last though and it killed a tiny little part of him every time that he really thought about it. Jittery, he moved his leg up and down while sitting in his own personal armchair (they were going to look into one for Cas' own room back at their place once they got the hell out of here).

He waited for Sam's knock on his door and...

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Dean took several breaths in and out and answered.

"Ready?" Sam asked.

"Let's move."

The two brothers walked down the flight of stairs, meeting the glassy eyed Castiel at the bottom. Dean was disappointed yet again though he did his best not to show it.

"Morning, Cas," Sam said.

"Good morning," Castiel answered robotically.

The three of them ventured then into the dining room where the Alpha, as always, was waiting for them at the head of the table.

"Good morning, boys," he said almost cheerfully as they took their customary seats by his side.

The Alpha rang his ridiculous little bell and smiled serenely.

"I have a surprise for today."

"No!"

Everyone turned as one and, being dragged into the room by two other vamps, was Charlie Bradbury herself. Sam almost moved to go help her but Dean held him back at the very last second.

"What's going on?" Castiel asked, his hands clutching the sides of his seat.

The vampires brought Charlie to the table and left her standing beside the Alpha who raised a finger. Using his sharp, claw-like fingernails, he dragged a line down the side of her cheek. It elicited a pain-filled squeak from her that caused the three of them to flinch as one.

"I found this little waif spying on my grounds."

"Who're...who're you calling a waif, Fugly," Charlie said through clenched teeth.

The Alpha laughed as he used his nail again, this time to cut a line down her exposed, left arm, leaving her gasping in pain.

Dean looked down to see Sam clenching the side of his chair so hard that his hands were turning white. They all watched as the Alpha ran his tongue along the line of blood that he drew and stand up.

"Well I hate to eat and run but I have things I need to take care of. See you boys later."

Castiel took several shallow breaths, trying not to think about how hungry he was at this very moment. He was almost half way out of his seat when Dean managed to beat them all to it.

"What're you doing here, Charlie?" Dean asked, putting his hands on her shoulders and closing his eyes.

"I was looking for you. Bobby sent me, said he's been waiting for you for days...what're you doing?"

Dean still hadn't opened his eyes yet and Castiel looked to Sam.

"Dean," Sam said, standing up slowly, "move away from Charlie."

He didn't move.

"Dean?"

Dean's fangs extended as he lowered his mouth to Charlie's cut arm and began to drink. Charlie fell to her knees and Dean went along to the ground with her and Sam moved into action.

"Dean, no," he said, gripping his brother and forcing him away.

Dean turned and screeched at him, eyes wide and wild and went back to drinking. Sam moved forward again, physically pulling Dean away from her and then, being the brother that he is, sat down on his stomach while Castiel went to check on their friend himself.

"Charlie," he whispered to her, "Charlie, are you all right?"

"Uhh, could be better. Oh. Hey, Blue Eyes. Glad they found you."

Charlie gave him a weak smile and then fainted immediately after.

"Okay," Dean said to the floor. "I promise. I'll behave."

"You sure," Sam asked.

"I swear on the lives of Belladonna and Rhonda Hurley that I will not eat our friend Charlie."

"Who is Belladonna?" Castiel asked.

"Porn star," Dean and Charlie answered at the same time.

Sam rolled his eyes and got off of his brother. Castiel easily broke the rope and chains binding Charlie and helped her get back up on her feet. Her knees almost buckled beneath her so Castiel had to grab her before that could happen.

"You smell good," Charlie whispered. "Like rainwater and stars."

Castiel stared at her but said nothing.

"Okay, that's it," Dean said with anger and finality, "The Alpha's gone and I don't care what happens here anymore. We're leaving."

Sam blew out a breath of air. "Finally."

Charlie pulled herself from Castiel's arms and walked with them. Everyone stopped at the dining room's entrance and turned back.

"You coming, Cas?" Dean asked.

The Alpha returned late that night and went into his study to look over some paperwork sent to him from several of the other Alphas and nests throughout the world.

"You took your time coming back."

He looked up and, sitting in a chair in the corner of the room under his favorite painting, was his most favorite son.

"Dean," the Alpha said, rising from his chair, "I'm surprised to see you still here."

"Well, the others left but I knew that you wouldn't leave us alone without a formal warning. So, here it is."

Dean walked towards the Alpha and the Alpha walked towards him. They met, face to face, in the center of the room.

"Stay away from me and mine. You might've cursed us but we don't want to live by your rules. We make our own."

"Is that all?"

"Yes. That's all."

The Alpha turned away from him and went back to his seat and sat down. "Very well, Mr. Winchester. You may go."

Dean started for the door.

"But just so you know, Dean, I do know more about Castiel then even you do. He is a very special boy, the likes of which you can only just imagine. Should he discover his truth, your world will never be the same."

Dean clenched the doorknob for a few seconds before turning it and walking outside.

The Alpha looked down at his desk and up again at the portrait. Against a mossy green backdrop, two creatures were locked in a harrowing and eternal fight. One had the other pinned beneath him. One had white wings flush against their back while the other had horns on their head. There was the image of weights in the winged one's fist, a symbol of justice being weighed against the cruel. An eternal, never-ending fight between good and evil. A fight between the two natural enemies – the angels of heaven verses the demons of the pits of hell.

"Ah Castiel, you truly have no idea."