Leaving Lawrence was by far the most painful thing Dean had ever done. Though he did not want to stay, the faces of the townsfolk watching them trot away on horseback broke his heart. Everyone had learned he was the rightful heir and they desperately wanted him to stay.

"Please, King Dean!"

"Stay!"

"We need you! Lawrence needs you!"

"Long live the King! Bring him home!"

"You are our only hope! Please!"

The faces of men, women and children with tears streaming down their cheeks was almost impossible for Dean to leave, but he just couldn't bear to stay. He gave Cas a firm kiss on the forehead as they walked through the giant doors to leave the city for good.

"You've made this choice very fast, Dean…"

"I know. I had to. We had to."

Cas kept his arms snug around Dean's waist not just to hold himself in place but so he could touch the egg, now strapped to the alpha.

"We learned so much in the last day. I'm just…I'm concerned that you haven't thought it through enough. I mean, you're probably their king. They king, Dean. We could live a good life…"

"We won't," Dean said sternly. "I know you keep thinking that, but remember how the Azazel guy is out to get the royalty. Sure, we would be in good shape for a while, but then he'd come and kill us. That's not worth it. Let's go back to the pack and forget about it."

Cas sighed. No matter how much he tried to argue Dean's explanation, he found himself unable to retort. The city seemed safe but only as long as Lord Azazel stayed put. They couldn't possibly guarantee that, and it wouldn't be fair to his child to stay in such a danger zone.

There wasn't much to say as they rode out into the plains. Ammy trotted and trotted, lugging the heavy cart behind with surprising ease. There was a bridge over the river heading west. This would hopefully take them to the small town that Dean's pack was now residing.

Halfway through the journey, they stopped among some low trees and set up a camp for the night. It was nice to be living off of the land again. Dean caught a couple of rabbits and they stewed them over a fire.

"This is the way I want to live," Dean said, smiling at Cas over the flame.

They were both sitting on the grassy prairie, Cas with his arms around their egg. He was silent.

"Cas? Something wrong?"

"I don't really want to leave the city…"

Dean sighed. He looked down at the fire sadly and took a deep breath.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I wish we could stay. You're happy there, and that means more to me than hunting and being with my pack and any of that shit. But you gotta understand that I'm not being difficult because it's 'displeasing' to me. I'm not having a tantrum because it's something I'm unfamiliar with…our lives are in danger in Lawrence. Please, please understand, Cas."

Cas peered across the fire and stared at Dean.

"I do understand," he admitted sadly. "I know you're right. That doesn't stop me from feeling badly about it, though…"

"I'm sorry."

Dean moved over so that he was right next to Cas. He put his arms around him and held his body close, kissing his messy hair. Cas closed his eyes.

"We have to put the child first, all of the time," Cas whispered.

"I know."

"Being with the pack is best."

"Yeah…"

"But, Dean—I was thinking about something else, too."

"What?"

Cas moved away just enough so that he could look up into Dean's eyes. He had a funny smile on his face.

"Your brother or sister…"

"They could be anywhere. They could be dead."

Dean frowned.

"Maybe they weren't even born."

"But if they were?"

"It wouldn't matter. If they're still alive, they're in a safe place and they should stay there. Why? What's got you thinking about this so much?"

Cas pressed his lips together.

"I remembered a little story that I heard in the forest," he said. "The first fairy that I found, Ruby, she had a mate who was a hunter."

"Uh, right."

Dean didn't recall the details too well, especially since Cas mentioned them only in brief.

"I thought it was strange that a hunter was there all by himself, and when I asked him, he said that his mother had come into the forest, left him as an egg and died. Do you think…"

"It doesn't matter," Dean answered quickly.

"What?"

Cas' heart sank. He thought he was on the brink of making a positive change in Dean's life.

"Why doesn't it matter?" He asked, painfully.

"Because if he's my brother, then he's found a safe place. I'd hate to tell him about this shit with Lawrence and royalty and Azazel, only to get him curious and eventually killed. That's not nice."

"But—but—but you don't have to tell him. You can at least meet him."

"Why?"

"I…"

Cas' voice faded. His chest heaved and tears began to well up in his eyes.

"Cas?!"

Dean snapped out of his bitterness and took Cas' face in his hands.

"What's wrong? Why're you crying?!"

"It's…it's because I had siblings but I never had the chance to know them."

Dean swallowed a tight lump in his throat. He breathed through slightly-separated lips with his eyes darting back and from across Cas'.

"A big clutch?" he asked gently.

"Four."

"What happened? You never talked about your family before."

"My father died when I was quite young," Cas explained with teary eyes. "I never knew or remembered him. One of the eggs in my mother's clutch never hatched, then two more got sick after they came out. I was the healthiest and the only one that made it. Poor luck…I'm fortunate enough that I was too little to remember any of them."

"Oh, Cas, I'm sorry…I'm so sorry."

Dean hugged Cas tightly. He pressed his lips against his forehead and sighed.

"Mother died when I was 13, so I of course remember her. She was sick, too. We were always unhealthy except for me."

"Cas…"

"If I ever had the chance to meet my brother, I would take it," Cas said.

"But don't you understand?" Dean asked, trying to sound gentle. "If you know the pain of loss, don't you get why I don't want to get mixed up with him? I could never be responsible for my brother's death. I couldn't deal with it. It's easier to stay away and always wonder what could have been."

Cas sniffed loudly.

"I suppose you're right."

"Assuming he is my brother, he has a mate and children, right?"

"Yes."

"Then his life's good. There's no reason to destroy it."

"I understand," Cas nodded. "You are right. Painful, but right."

Nothing more was said about Dean's possible brother for the rest of their journey. They were up early and on their way towards the town, in generally good spirits since they would be with the pack again soon. Ammy carried them happily.

At last, there came a cluster of mud houses on the horizon. They resembled Cas' old herd in the valley. Smoke rose from behind a few and people were seen walking here and there. They approached and soon saw a familiar figure.

"Dean!"

It was Meg. She came running towards the horse with her arms open.

"DEAAN!"

Dean hopped down and then helped Cas and handed the egg over to him. Meg was ecstatic to seem them both and hugged Dean firmly.

"I thought we'd never see you again!"

"Nope, here we are."

Meg smiled at Cas, too.

"Where did you find him?"

"In the mountains," said Cas. "He was safe."

"That's amazing! I'm so glad you're—"

"Where's Cain?" Dean interrupted.

Meg's face suddenly dropped and turned pale.

"He's…"

"He can't be," Cas gasped.

"He's not doing well. We never found the unicorn hair, and…well…"

"Take me to him," said Dean. "Please, Meg."

"Okay."

With the mood suddenly somber, Meg turned and motioned for Dean to follow her. They walked quickly through the little village, which looked nice and comfortable, and to a small house near the back.

"Here," said Meg. "He's not contagious but we still only like one person at a time."

"Sure. Thank you."

Dean gave short nod and entered the house, leaving Cas and Meg outside.

"Cain?"

The house was mostly dark except for a thin ray of light that sparkled through a narrow window. A large nest in the back had the alpha leader curled up in it. Different herbs and tonics sat around him and his face looked terribly bleak. Dean stared at him, feeling his heart pumping in his chest.

"Is that…you, Dean?"

Cain's voice was brittle and weak. Dean could hardly hear him.

"Yes, I'm here. Cain…what…"

Dean knelt beside the nest and stared at the leader with deep concern. He looked terrible. There was no color in his face. His body was thin. He wasn't at all the man he had been, and considering how little time it had been, the disease must have been taking a quick and brutal toll.

"I'm glad," Cain whispered. "Where…"

"Lawrence."

Dean heard Cain gasp softly. The older man turned his head and looked him straight in the eyes. There was some worry.

"I know, Cain. I know about everything. Do you think you could, erm, maybe…did you know about my mom?"

"Mary," Cain whispered.

Dean held his breath momentarily. His heart was going to jump out from his ribs.

"I was…I was vying for her love, you know…"

"What?"

"Almost…almost mated with her…good beta of our pack…"

Dean listened attentively.

"Then John, that king…he came and…and Mary loved him. Truly loved him…we had no idea…left…both left…"

Cain paused here to cough. It was terrible and wheezy, sounding as if it caused him great pain. Dean winced at the noise and wished he could help.

"She came back, years later…had you…just a boy…she was…she was scared. Something was wrong…wouldn't tell us. Said John was gone…said a demon was tracking her…said she was going to die…left you here."

"Um, did she, did she have another egg, too?"

"Ah, yes…the other…the other egg went with her…maybe she had plans to chase the demon…don't know…never knew…never found them."

"So you always knew?" Dean asked. He took a deep breath. "You knew I was the rightful king, why didn't you tell me?"

"Dean…it was….it was too dangerous. If the demon…Mary's demon…if she did not kill it, then it would…it would find you."

Dean nodded. He wasn't asking Cain to be aggressive, but rather to confirm his own opinion.

"If I…if I told you about…kings…queens…Lawrence…curiosity would…have you leave the pack…couldn't have you get killed…"

"I understand."

"You aren't…aren't mad?"

"No. In fact, when I found out who I was, the people of Lawrence wanted me to stay and be king. But I figured it would be too dangerous. I couldn't risk Cas and our egg's lives like that. I want to stay here."

Cain nodded very slowly.

"Different now," he said.

Dean paused.

"What?"

"Different now," Cain repeated. "If…if the demon is still alive…then…it knows you were in Lawrence…"

"What? Why? How?"

"Smell…sight…it knows…it will find…will find you."

Suddenly, Dean's heart was racing but with a different fear. His palms grew sweaty.

"No," Cain muttered. "No reason to be afraid."

"But…but what do I do? I thought I was getting away from all of that!"

Cain coughed again. He hacked something fierce and groaned.

"To the west," he said with a tired sigh. "To the west."

Cain said nothing more. Ever.