The moon was high in the sky, the light bathed the courtyard outside of Winchester manor, giving fuel to the already burning fire within each wolf. The whole pack had gathered, from the eldest couple with a total age of five hundred and seventy two to the newest born pup who was only two hours old. They all stood standing tall as a unit, lined up in front of house waiting for their Alpha's word. Sam's eyes roamed each face trying to commit them to memory, as second in line to be beta if you like he would need to make sure to know every member of the pack. A daunting task but one that Dean seemed to have mastered already. There was no were here that didn't love their crown Alpha, well soon to be crowned crown Alpha.

John stood tall, his head tilted back with a bright smile on his face. Mary was at his side her hand in his while she mimicked his movements. In fact every were seemed to be scenting the moon, feeling the enchanting pull and need to run free through the woods that Dean and John had secured the previous night. Sam stood beside Dean, he could feel his wolf vibrate underneath his skin itching to be free so he could play with his mate underneath the moonlight. He felt happiness, love, content and peacefulness all around him and it was the one time of the month that the whole pack could feel genuinely free. Then he glanced at Dean.

Dean was standing to his father's right, his hands were pressed tight against the Alpha chair, and he had a smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes. His usual vibrant green were almost dull like the life had been drained out of him. On the table beside him sat a wooden box which Dean had told him contained his stash of silver bullets, his favourite Colt 1911 was hidden in the waistband of his jeans, along with a machete strapped to his ankle and another silver blade wrapped tightly in a holster to his thigh. Sam had asked him whether that was too much but Dean declared that he couldn't be too careful. Apparently the full moon was the only time that Dean literally could not shift, he had no urges, and no connection to his wolf, and it was the one time when he felt human as he put it. The one time where were's were meant to be Intune to their spirit animals was the one time Dean was human.

Sam felt sadness wash over him, he wanted nothing more than to enjoy the moon with his mate but that wasn't possible. Dean would be left behind with the elderly and the young, those others who couldn't or who was deemed unsafe to shift. He would be their protector or that was what John told him to make the sting of being left behind more bearable. As Dean said he was basically a glorified baby sitter.

Dean shot him a small smile as he reached for Sam's hand. Sam entwined his fingers with his mates and caressed his hand with his thumb. He tried to put soothing thoughts into Dean's head however he knew that the Alpha wouldn't be able to hear him, not until they had properly been mated whenever that would be. All he could do for the moment was to be by his side and to show the pack that he would be standing by the young Alpha no matter what. He tried to ignore the glances that the other weres kept shooting his way, he knew they were probably trying to suss him out to see what he was like. Others kept shooting Dean sympathetic looks to which he hoped his mate didn't see, the last thing Dean needed was their sympathy.

John let out a deep breath as he turned his head down towards the pack with Mary following in sync. His smile widened and his dark brown eyes glowed in the moonlight. He held his hands out to the side as he looked from were to were. "My family the moon is calling and we shall answer!" he declared opening his mouth to show his descending canines. His nails started to stretch out and his beard thickened with the hair moving down the rest of his body. Where he once stood on two legs he landed on four. His snout raised to the air letting out a haunting howl which echoed throughout the forest. Mary was next, where once stood her petite form was now a blond wolf, she was lighter in colour to Adam and she had brown flecks to her fur signalling her status and who her mate was. She added to the howling as the pair answered to the call of the moon.

Dean released Sam's hand as he took a step back so that he blended in with the shadows behind his wolf parents. He inclined his head to Sam and signalled. He had told him that when his parents had shifted it would normally be the Crown Alpha next to lead the rest of the pack as he wasn't able to that job would go to Sam.

Drawing in a deep breath Sam took a step forward. He held his hands out to the pack and allowed the moon to wash over him. He felt the pull and his body answered until he was standing beside Mary and John in his wolf form. He howled as loud as he could voicing Dean's call as well as his own, he prayed to the moon that one day his mate would be able to experience this for himself. That he would be able to lead his own calling.

As one the rest of the wolves shifted adding their voices to the howl until the forest was alive with the sounds of the wolves. John's voice faded out with everyone else following suit. Sam's own howl died down and he turned his head to watch his mate. He could feel the sadness radiating off of the man, he could feel how much Dean wanted to be able to join in and it was breaking his heart. He trotted over to the Alpha, he bowed his head and nudged Dean's hand. Dean smiled at him and scratched him behind the ears. Sam tilted his head enjoying the touch as his tongue reached out to give him a kiss the wolf way. His eyes looked behind his mate to the gathering of those who were not able to shift, the old and the young were making their way inside knowing that staying outside human during a full moon in the pack lands would be too dangerous.

'My family let us run with the moon' John's voice echoed throughout his head as he and Mary turned to lead the pack off into the forest. 'Dean will protect our home and our lives' he added to which the were's all echoed their thanks like he was doing them some kind of favour not being able to shift. Sam watched as the pack began to filter away into the woods and he knew he couldn't avoid following them. He turned his attention back to Dean who was watching them with longing in his eyes.

"Go Sammy," Dean whispered his hand scratching him once more. "I'll be here when you come back," he added to which Sam licked his hand once more. He turned his back and started to follow the pack, shooting Dean one last fleeting look before taking off into a run the moon fuelling his movements.

…

Three hours had passed since the pack had vanished and they probably wouldn't reappear for another four if the last moon was anything to go by. Dean could hear them howling in the woods, could see the birds fleeing the sky and could practically taste the air of freedom around the lands. Well freedom for those who were able to have it. He had been used to being left behind for the whole of his existence and yet it hadn't hurt as much as it had tonight. His mate was off in the woods and he couldn't even go with him. He would never experience that moment.

Scrubbing a hand across his face he pushed those thoughts away and took a look around the meeting room. Makeshift cots had been set up as most of the occupants preferred to sleep the night away. Pups were huddled together with the youngest being nursed at his mother's breast seeing as new mothers couldn't leave their pup while they were still nursing. The elders were asleep and the only one who was awake was Dean himself. He was sitting by the door with his colt in his hand, he had the silver bullets beside him and a vial of grounded down wolfs bane tucked in the folds of his jacket pocket. He wasn't taking any chances not after finding a were so close to their perimeter.

He sighed as he looked at his watch, just another three hours and fifty five minutes to go at the very least. He blew out his breath and began to rock on the wooden chair, the legs tapping on the floor every couple of seconds. He continued rocking for five minutes until a single look from one of the elders made him stop. He rolled his eyes and placed his gun on the table, he pulled it apart and then put it back together doing this three times before he tired of that as well. Man he was bored.

Dean closed his eyes and settled his hands across his stomach, his gun resting on the table beside him. He was going to doze when a feeling of unease washed over him. He could feel the hair stand on the back of his neck and his wolf growled inside. His eyes snapped open and he looked around the room, everyone else was still fast asleep. He paused as he strained to listen. He could still hear the wolves but there was something else…footsteps…he could hear footsteps. It sounded like…

Slowly Dean pushed to his feet, he grabbed his gun and the silver clip, and he thumbed off the safety and walked to the doorway pushing himself up against the wood. He held the gun in front of him a stance he had adopted the previous night. Could he not just have a night off? The last time he had had any issues on a full moon was when a drunk wolf had come stumbling into their pack lands claiming to be their king. All Dean had to do was knock him out and allow him to sleep off his drunken stupor and in the morning the were was more embarrassed than regal. Since that incident six years ago the full moons normally passed by quietly.

Dean hesitated as he heard the sounds of the door knob rattling, ok it was someone with hands and not a wolf that was not good. He pressed himself tighter against the door frame and pointed his gun towards the door. The rattling increased and he could feel the rest of the weres begin to stir there was no way they hadn't heard the intruder. The intruder tried once more with the door before seeming to realise that it was dead bolted, the person gave it one more shake then seemed to walk away. Dean listened to the footsteps echo on the gravel path out the front, he wanted nothing more than to give chase but he had a responsibility to the people he was meant to be protecting, he was not about to leave them for a wild goose chase.

He turned to talk to the were's when the window by the door shattered. An object came flying into the room and all of a sudden a stream of smoke filled the air. Dean coughed as he covered his mouth with his hand, his eyes begin to sting and when the smoke touched his skin he could feel it tingle. Horror dawned on him when he heard the kids begin to scream. This smoke grenade was not an ordinary one…it was laced with silver…

…

Sam bounced off of the log and landed playfully in a puddle, the water splashed at his fur and he shook his whole body to expel it. He could hear Mary laugh at his antics as she was perched on the trunk of a tree with John sitting beside her. The trio had broken off from the rest of the pack as they had all decided to go hunting further in the woods. Mary didn't want to go too far away from the pack lands in case Dean needed them and John followed his mate wherever she went. Sam didn't really know anyone else and he didn't want to be too far away from Dean either. Every so often he would try calling out to his Alpha to no avail. He wanted the connection between them, he wanted to be able to feel Dean no matter where he went. He would try to convince the Alpha of their mating taking place sooner rather than later.

'Enjoying your first moon with us?' Mary's voice called out to him, her wolf was looking at him with bright eyes and he knew if she was human she would be smiling.

'Yeah just wish Dean could be here' Sam replied padding over towards the log she was sitting on. He licked at his paw trying to get rid of the mud that was starting to dry in his fur, when he had two legs he was taking a long hot shower.

'It's never the same without him' Mary agreed jumping down and standing by Sam's side.

'Do you think he will ever be able to join us?' Sam asked.

'One day Ace will be able to' John replied instead as he joined the pair. His wolf was larger than any Sam had ever seen by fair. Naturally he was meant to be bigger than the average were but the sight of his wolf was imposing and intimidating. If Sam wasn't a part of the pack he would have been scared of John. Just to think that Dean would almost be the same size, that his wolf would grow larger the moment he took over as pack Alpha.

Sam nodded and was about to reply when a strange sensation washed over him. He froze on the spot, his eyes narrowed and his hackles began to rise. What the hell? He lifted his head and sniffed the air, he couldn't smell any danger. Mary and John were looking at him in concern, ok if they hadn't felt anything how could he? He felt uneasy, he felt like he was being watched like there was something stalking him. He could smell smoke wafting up his nose but it wasn't normal, there was a different smell lacing it…something metallic…blood…no…something else…iron….silver. He could smell silver. He turned his concerned gaze to the Alpha who was looking at him with a strange expression on his face.

'Dean' Sam thought….suddenly it hit him…he was sensing Dean…and Dean was in danger.

'DEAN!' he yelled breaking out into a run. 'They are in danger' he projected to John who caught up with him instantly.

'I got Ace!' John declared breaking out into a full on sprint leaving Sam sprinting after him.

…

"Get down!" Dean shouted pulling his jacket up over his nose though there was nothing he could do for his eyes. He blinked through the tears and started to direct the other were's into the far corner of the room where the fan from Adam's visit was still standing. The pups were screaming and the elders were grunting where their skin began to burn. The atmosphere was filled with the smell of silver and Dean knew just what they were dealing with. There was only one type of person out there who would have access to the knowledge of where they were and what they were. Hunters.

Dean grabbed the arm of the nursing mother and placed his jacket over her and the pup. He settled them into the furthest corner with some of the elders covering her with their own bodies. In a pack there was nothing more important than a new life, even if it meant sacrificing an old one. He pulled his jacket back over his nose and walked over to the fan, he plugged it into the nearest socket, set it on high and turned it on. The fan pushed at the smoke, forcing it away from those who cowered behind it. He ignored the cold chill that spread over his body as he stood in front of the pack that had been left behind. He could make out a silhouette standing in the doorway but it was obscured by the smoke. He held his gun out in front of him and fired a warning shot into the wood. The person ducked behind the doorway seeming to dodge the bullet.

"Stay here," he told his pack as he pulled his jacket down once more. He checked the ammo that was loaded into his gun before taking a step out into the smoke. His eyes began to stream and his vision was wavering. He might be immune to wolfs bane and direct silver but he didn't want to test his defence against silver powder. He saw the figure appear around the doorway and something was poking out. Without thinking he dived for the nearest table and heard rather than saw the bullet ricochet off of it. He stuck his own gun out and fired a shot, hearing a grunt as it seemed to have hit its target. Without hesitation he jumped to his feet and ran towards the doorway. He saw the figure hunched to the side, one of his hands was wrapped around his arm. The smell of blood filled Dean's senses, a shoulder shot.

The figure jumped through the window and rolled along the gravel. Dean followed suit landing on his feet on the ground outside. He held his gun up and instantly it was knocked from his hand. A blow landed on his jaw and he felt the barrel of a gun press in between his eyes. Dean growled as he stared up at the intruder, or should he say intruder's friend.

The hunter grinned at him, his dark eyes glistened and it was clear he was having fun. He was wearing all black which matched perfectly with his dark skin making him as opaque as a shadow. His berretta was pressed firmly to Dean's forehead, lined with his brain, one false move and it would be all over.

"I told my friend that we could smoke out a wolf," the hunter laughed flashing his full set of teeth. "Pleased to meet you."

"Pleasure's all yours," Dean smirked his eyes darting around trying to find some way out of this situation.

"I'm sure it is," the hunter grinned reaching into his jacket pocket to retrieve something. He pulled out a piece of paper and threw it at Dean's feet. "I'm looking for a friend, I have been reliably informed that she has been last seen in those woods of yours."

Dean glanced down at the picture not willing to take his eyes off of the gun for too long. His heart skipped a beat and sick slithered up his throat though he tried to keep a stoic expression on his face. The photo was the exact same one he had taken from the poor victim of last night's rogue attack. He wouldn't be forgetting that face anytime soon. So that meant…

"Cat got your tongue?" the man joked reaching into his pocket to throw another photo down.

This one showed Dean standing over the woman's body, with his eyes pure green, his canines extended and his nails elongated into claws…His clothes were covered in her blood and there was no other wolf in sight.

"Seems we have a wolf problem," the hunter joked clicking off the safety of his gun.

If Dean didn't have a gun to his head he might have found the funny side of the fact that the wolf problem was him. "Look pal I didn't kill her."

"No?" the man tutted. "A dead wolf is a dead wolf at the end of the day doesn't matter to me which one is in the ground."

It had to be Dean's shitty luck that the rogue he came across had to be one that killed a hunter, guess that explained all the fake IDs. "You're making a mistake," Dean said his eyes darting around trying to find a way out of this.

"Any last words?"

"Yeah," Dean smirked his eyes staring at something over the hunters shoulder. "Duck."

TBC (Oooo cliffhanger, I know evil of me. Thanks as usual to you lovely lot for reading, and special thanks to those who review. I will see you all in chapter twelve)