Chapter 2

"Don't get me wrong here; we label ourselves as gens by the abilities we have, not by when we were born so I haven't walked the Earth since my people first hit the ground running, but I date back further than anything you know of. I have all first gen abilities and our one weakness," she rested a hand over her heart while she stared up at the sky. "I hunt all my people as if they had the same weakness but in truth, they aren't immortal anymore and can die of any mortal wound. I just don't like to risk them getting up again and catching me by surprise."

'How did they lose their immortality?'

"Breeding, I suppose. I mean the full bloods began to die off when we went to war against the gens that abandoned our oath. They began to breed with humans and their inherent abilities were lost over the years," she sighed and Dean could feel her sadness.

'Wow, you're an immortal,' he inched forward on all fours, resting his head on her chest and listened to her heartbeat. 'That makes you pretty old huh?' he laughed when she flicked his ear.

"Yes, it makes me pretty damn old. You sure are a flirty pup. Are you comfy?" she chuckled when he nuzzled his head against her breasts.

'I can't help it; your scent is very appealing and these are the best damn pillows in the world,' he sighed when she ran her fingers from his forehead back down to his neck. 'So Wonder Woman, you were saying something about how everyone hunts here?' he asked; redirecting her attention off of her people and their bloody past.

"Well you haven't seen it yet but there is a river that runs through this land from Malakai's place all the way down, and everyone is given land along it so there is a water source and fish. The river bank is neutral territory that everyone can traverse to get to the acreage that is set aside for hunting regular game. If things get tight, I have deliveries brought in and distributed among everyone. The Alphas can even request certain items if need be. You don't live as long as I have without amassing a nice fortune," she answered him before he had the chance to voice his thought. "It's all very tricky but as long as everyone keeps their cool then the peace is maintained and I don't have to get all Hunter on anyone's ass," she made spooky hands, giggling with him a moment later.

'You're so scary…I'm terrified you might suffocate me between these things,' he rubbed his nose along her cleavage; closing his eyes and inhaled deeply before he sat up suddenly, looking down at her with wide eyes; snow falling off of his head. 'You just wait until I shift. You're in for the mother of snowball fights,' he shook his head, the white powder raining down all over her.

"I haven't laughed this hard in a long time," she sat up, placing a hand on the side of his jaw. "You've been a breath of fresh air, Pup," she smiled and then pulled a face when he licked from her chin to her forehead. "Oh no, you didn't! How do I know you haven't been licking your balls or butt?" she sputtered, drawing the hem of her sweater up to wipe her face.

'You don't but if I was, at least you know they're clean,' he chuckled; lowering his upper body to the ground, his hind end up in the air and pounced on her once again.

"In all the years we've been here, have you ever seen her so happy?" Erik asked Xavier from down the hill.

"Not once, my friend. That pup seems to have brought some life to our immortal guardian," he laughed, watching the two roll around in the snow. "Who knows? He might be the one," he chuckled again when Dean pinned her down and licked her face. "He's picked up her scent and can't stay away from her," Xavier smirked.

"That would be interesting. She would reach her true potential and be bound to us forever," he stroked his chin in thought. "Have you sent your runners out to inform the other families?" Erik asked his friend, taking in his nod. "She's all alone, Xavier. She'll need help," he smiled sadly at the woman and wolf playing in the snow.

"She'll have it, my friend," he patted the bear Shifter on the shoulder, enjoying the sound of her rare laughter. Xavier noted that Erik managed a chuckle when Dean attempted to mount Cass from behind when she rolled over to regain her feet. "Our destiny awaits right there," he laughed when Cass squealed a loud "eeww!"

"Ugh, why did it have to be a wolf? That is disgusting," Erik rolled his eyes.

"Oh please! Your people do it the same way but one of you would crush her. Besides, the humans like it enough to call it doggy-style. Just doesn't sound right to call it bear-style," Xavier grinned at his friend, phasing quickly once Erik did and ran from him back towards their lands.

'He crossed the border into Canada here,' the brown wolf told his companion. 'Can you pick up his thoughts yet, Rome?'

'No, he could still be out of reach, Seth,' the big, sleek black wolf told his companion; trying to convince him that their worst fears had not come to pass. 'I'm not giving up until we can no longer find his scent,' his gray eyes narrowed on brown; who nodded his head once.

'I'll track him until I can't,' Seth turned and sniffed the trail before taking off at a dead run.

'One of you stay here; the rest come with me,' Roman turned to the handful of wolves behind them. 'We need to keep the line of communication going and the only way to do that is to leave one of us behind at the mark where the one behind you can still hear you. Yell out if you spot or sense anything,' he ordered Antonio before following after Seth with the rest of his pack.

Dean felt one hundred percent better after a hot shower; finally feeling clean with his hair shampooed and conditioned. He wandered into his fireplace-heated bedroom, brushing out his hair with a towel slung low on his hips and smiled when his stomach growled; the delicious aroma of breakfast hitting his nose. He left his room, taking in the photos and antique accents that adorned the walls of the large wood cabin that Cass called home.

The place was huge for one person and he might have been slightly remiss in calling it a wood cabin when he was positive the logs it was made of rivaled the size of Redwoods. Reaching the loft area, he glanced down to the first floor to see if he could spot her while he made his way downstairs.

"I'm in the kitchen," she called out to him.

"I'm in human form. You can stay out of my head," he called back with a laugh.

"I wasn't in your head; I heard you coming down the stairs," she grinned when he walked into the kitchen.

"So you used your super-hearing instead, huh?"

"You are such a movie nerd for a wolf. Sit your ass down so I can check your stitches," she rolled her eyes; snapping her dish towel at his butt. She knelt after he sat; holding his muscular thigh between warm hands and nodded her satisfaction with his sutures. She grabbed the tube of antibiotic ointment from the table and gently applied it with her fingertips; smiling when she noticed Dean squirming in his seat. "Something wrong, Pup?" she asked with a knowing grin.

"What? No," he answered defensively, trying to hide his growing erection and praying it didn't make an appearance between the edges of the towel. 'So pretty and so close,' he let his eyes fall closed; thinking of her pouty lips, before snapping wide open when she giggled softly. "Oh fuck, it sucks that you heard that," he groaned; covering his blushing cheeks behind his hands.

"It is irritating to be around a reader huh?"

"I'm sort of used to it because of the pack but I'm just not used to it yet with you," he avoided her dark eyes like it could hide his thoughts.

"So you haven't had any inappropriate thoughts about pretty mouths around your female pack mates?" she chuckled when he groaned louder; his face turning a dark crimson.

"No, none of the women in my pack interest me. I haven't found one I want to take as a mate yet," he sighed, dropping his hands to his lap. "Would you make me sleep outside with the dogs if I told you I think you're beautiful?" he asked softly, glancing up through his eyelashes at her.

"No, and I think that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," her cheeks flushed and she carefully finished applying the ointment before moving to stand. "Your stitches are holding up well. The way you're healing, you should be without a scar by tomorrow. That doesn't mean it won't be sore anymore," she gently took his chin and tilted his head, brushing his hair back to look at his temple. "And this swelling is going down nicely," she added, focusing on his face when he reached up to take one of her hands in his.

"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to you?" Dean stood, cupping her chin in one palm while peering into her obsidian eyes. "I don't mean to be rude, darlin, but it's a safe bet to say you're a couple of centuries old, right?"

"Yeah, that's a safe bet," she nodded, averting her eyes until he lifted her chin higher, forcing her gaze back to his.

"You've been beautiful for centuries, Cass, so why is it nice to hear now?"

"Maybe because it's the first time I've heard it," she gave him an awkward smile before stepping back and turning to the stove. "I put some clothes that will fit you in your room and there's a pair of shorts lying on the back of the couch in the den. If you want to get comfortable in there, I'll bring in breakfast," she began to fix their plates, piling plenty of bacon, sausage and a steak on his along with eggs and hash browns.

"Would it be cool if we eat in the library? If it's okay with you, I saw some books about different Shifters in there when I was wandering earlier and I'd like to read a bit afterwards," he asked hesitantly, not knowing what was off limits in her home.

"Of course, I don't mind at all. Go get changed and I'll bring your food in," she nodded with a smile.

'He veered towards Alaska, Rome,' Seth told his Alpha with a wary look in his chocolate eyes.

'Alaska? The only reason he'd go there and not come home is if…' he trailed off, staring at Seth for the confirmation.

'He had…has Hunters on his trail,' Seth's countenance turned fierce; his fur standing up on his back. 'Are you ready for this, bro? Because this will be like running a gauntlet,' he paced, keeping his gaze focused on Roman. 'If we're doing this then you better call the others up cuz once we get through; if we get through, there will be no coming back this way and the others will be cut off from us.'

'We go as a pack or don't go at all,' Roman nodded before throwing back his head and releasing a howl. He mentally sent out word for the others to close ranks and catch up with them as fast as possible, along with the details of what they could possibly be facing. 'At least we're headed towards the preserve, right?' he asked Seth; trying to keep a positive attitude.

'That is our only saving grace here, Rome. I just hope the rumors about that place are true or we're fucked.'

Over the course of the next week, the two of them got closer. They spent time wandering the property, hanging out with Xavier and Erik's people or playing around in general. Cass babied him while he recovered the full use of his leg; waiting on him hand and foot, and Dean ate it up.

He was extremely tactile with her; always finding a reason to touch or be as close to her as possible. It was a foreign feeling to him but undeniable like there was a force pulling him to her.

"I wish I knew what he is thinking," Xavier narrowed his eyes on Dean tossing Cassandra over his shoulder and spinning around in a circle.

"Please! It is obvious what he is thinking," Erik laughed when Cass took him down to the snow-covered ground only to be surprised when the young wolf slotted himself firmly between her thighs. "He wants into her panties something fierce, and is losing his battle against her scent. The pheromones she's putting off have had him hard for days," he shook his head laughing harder when Cass flipped Dean over her head onto his back. "Come on, Xavier, it is hard enough having your own pack mates' thoughts in your head. You don't need every wolf's thoughts in there. It would drive you mad," he elbowed his friend.

"I don't know how she does it," the wolf Alpha sighed, breaking a small smile at the sound of the huntress and her wolf's laughter.

Cassandra watched Dean throw himself into the old texts in her library during their relaxing time. The only way she could describe his interest in their history was voracious. He was thirsty for the knowledge he was taking in and went through one book after another. He asked a lot of questions and she answered; all the while sitting at the window. He was a comfort to her crowded mind and she focused on the sound of his voice; his presence, to keep her grounded.

"Have you read all of these?" he asked; glancing up at her from between stacks of old dusty volumes.

"I read all the ones pertaining to Shifters. I've had nothing but time on my hands when I'm not out walking the land," she said absently, staring out the window when a light rain turned to sleet before her eyes.

"What about the ones on Hunters?" he returned his gaze to the journal before him. It detailed the early days of the war between the gens and; while he found it fascinating, it was also terribly heart-wrenching.

"Some; you forget I was there for most of what you're reading about," she said in a subdued tone; keeping her focus on the rain. "In fact, I wrote the one you're reading now," she whispered, not noticing Dean's head snap up to look at her.

Tears came unbidden to his eyes as he read a young Cassandra's accounting of the war that decimated thousands of first gens and tens of thousands of the other gens; and that was just the initial onset of the war. Thousands upon thousands killed each other over the centuries when they came across one another; usually when a later gen was threatening a Shifter. Cass' generation remained dedicated to their purpose despite knowing they possibly wouldn't survive the confrontation with the younger Hunters. The safety of the Shifters were their priority above all else; including their lives.

"Why was the safety and continued existence of my people worth all this death?" he asked in a broken tone; instantly capturing Cass' attention. "See! Even now, you see my pain and come running to me," he looked down at her when she knelt before him; his tears cascading down his face into his scruffy jaw-line.

"Dean…I run to you because I feel it; I hear it, your pain is all I feel. If I stop your pain then I feel better. If you're happy then I'm happy. You're special…"

"What makes us so special that it's worth the extinction of a race of immortals? How can Shifters be more special than your kind? You killed thousands of your people; their blood on your hands, and what do you have to show for it, Cass?" He saw her wince at his harsh words but was so confused and upset that he just couldn't stop. "You're alone, surrounded by my kind, all of their thoughts pounding away at your head, and I know you mourn the loss of your kind, especially the ones you killed. I know you barely sleep; in fact, the longest I've seen you sleep in a week was our first night together when you shared your body heat. You patrol this land, kill more of your people to keep us safe and repeat the process over and over with no end in sight. When do you get to have something other than your oath, Cass?" he grabbed her wrists when she went to dry his tears, and slid off the chair to his knees.

"You're not just an oath," she shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes. "You aren't a job to me, Dean."

"Then what am I?" he palmed her cheek; his eyes darting between hers.

"You're the future and I have to protect that future," she ran her free hand into his silky hair, twining her fingers in the strands.

"Have you ever done anything just for you?" he whispered; leaning down until his lips hovered over hers.

"I don't understand," she breathed out into his mouth. Dean was left in awe of the look of innocence in this centuries old immortal's eyes.

"Fuck, Cass," he closed the distance and took her lips in a hard kiss; pulling her body flush to his chest. She wilted against his oral assault, letting him lower them to the plush carpet; his body settling over hers while his hand cradled her head and his tongue explored the recesses of her warm mouth.

"What are you doing, Dean?" she gasped when he let them come up for air. Her hands clung to his naked back; her eyes clouded with desire while her tongue tasted him on her lips. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was an innocent seductress and he was helpless in her thrall.

"I'm making my interest known to you," he panted next to her ear, grinding his hard length against her mound. "I've wanted you since I woke up in the tent. I shifted that morning because I was hard as a rock lying on top of you. So soft and hot, darlin; I can only imagine how good it will feel to be inside of you," he buried his face in her neck, inhaling her scent while rubbing his body against hers. "Please, Cass, I'll make you feel so good," he purred low in his throat, still grinding his length between her legs.

"Dean, I've never…" she moaned; her eyes falling closed and failed to notice the instant surprise on Dean's face before it shifted to satisfaction.

"I'll be so gentle, darlin," he scrambled to his feet, lifting her up in his arms like precious cargo and made a mad dash for the door. "I'll take real good care of you, Cass," he murmured against the top of her head, running upstairs and into his room; setting her down in the center of his bed. "Baby, can I?" his hands rested on the hem of her t-shirt; his chest rising and falling sharply while he awaited her answer.

"Okay," she whispered with a short nod.

He could feel her tension as he pulled her shirt up and off her raised arms; tossing it aside. Reaching behind her, his fingers deftly unclasped her bra, pulling the thin straps off her shoulders. "So fucking beautiful, Cass," he gasped, staring at her full breasts. He felt her jump when his palms skimmed her nipples, turning them into hard peaks that beckoned his mouth's attention. His hands cupped the twin mounds while he traced his tongue around one hard bud before sucking it into his mouth.

"Oh Dean…" Cass moaned; running her hands into his hair.

'Does that feel good, baby?'

"So good," she gasped when his teeth bit down on her sensitive nipple, tugging on the tender flesh. She froze an instant later when his hand tugged her shorts and panties aside; a single digit running down the length of her slit.

'So wet for me, Cass,' he thought into her mind before sitting up and taking that glistening finger into his mouth. "You taste so fucking good, darlin, and smell absolutely heavenly," he growled low in his throat, inhaling deeply before easing her shorts and panties down her legs; leaving her bare before him. "You're perfect," he whispered, trailing his gaze over her heaving breasts, tight abs, and trim waist; licking his lips when he focused on her bare, wet pussy. "I have to get you ready for me, sweetheart," he stripped his shorts off, smiling at her when she gasped at the sight of his hard cock. "You've seen me naked before," he grinned with an arched brow.

"It didn't look like that then and wasn't aimed at me like that," she pointed at his hard-on; glancing up into his eyes when he caught her wrist and pulled her hand to his cock. "Oh, your skin is so silky," she said in a breathy tone, sliding her palm over his hardness before hesitantly wrapping her hand around him. "This thing is hard as steel, Dean. You're going to tear me apart," she shyly glanced up at the sound of his chuckle while he pumped his dick into her fist.

"Eventually but not this time," he smiled down at her. "This time I'm going to be so tender because you're giving me a special gift. It isn't every day a wolf gets to deflower an immortal," he groaned when her hand reflexively tightened around his cock. "You're making that a difficult promise to keep when you do things like that, darlin," he pried her hand off, moving it and the other up to rest beside her head. "Now I have a pretty pussy that needs my attention so stay put," he backed down her body, lying between her legs and blew on her dripping folds. "I know it sounds so fucking cliché but you smell good enough to eat," he groaned before touching his tongue to her clit.

That simple contact sent a current so strong through Cass' body that her back arched off the bed like a high-strung bow. "Oh Dean…" she moaned; digging her fingers into the pillow and holding on for dear life.

'Do you like that, baby? Do you like my tongue on your pretty little pussy?' He lapped along her folds before holding them open with two fingers to lick at her silken flesh. 'So fucking good, Cass,' he groaned, dipping his searching tongue inside of her. 'I'm going to put a finger inside of you, darlin. I want to feel what will be wrapped around my cock in a minute,' he returned his attention to her clit while he slowly slid one long digit into her body. 'So tight, Cass, and I'm the first man to ever feel this,' he pumped his finger into her at a steady pace; adding a second after a few minutes, and finally a third, while his tongue rapidly worked on her clit.

"Dean…I feel…I don't…" Cass rambled out; thrashing her head back and forth while an unknown pressure built up within her.

'Don't fight it, baby; just let go,' he thrust deep and bit down on her clit, sending her screaming into an orgasm. "That's my girl," he purred at her, crawling up her body like the predator that he was.

"Will it hurt?" she asked through heaving breaths; a hint of fear in her eyes when she felt the head of his cock probing at her entrance.

"Honestly, it will for a moment but then you can feel what I feel to distract you from it. I promise you, I will make it as easy on you as possible. Do you trust me?" She nodded her head without hesitation. "Wrap your legs around my waist and stay right here in my eyes. I want to see you when I do this," he stared deep into her eyes when he pushed the head of his cock into her tight heat. He kept up the pressure of slowly but steadily entering her until he reached her barrier. "Mine," he growled, pushing through it and claiming her womanhood. "A perfect fit," he sighed with a smile of male pride. "Easy, sweetheart, I'm all the way in and I'll wait until you're ready before I move," he gasped against her forehead when he finally bottomed out within her; struggling to remain still while she gripped him like a vice.

Cass whimpered, grasping onto Dean's back while she buried her face in his chest. The pain that sliced through her was sharp and piercing but on the flipside of that, she felt the sheer bliss she gave Dean. The discomfort began to fade into a sense of fullness. He was a well-endowed man even by Cass' limited knowledge in the area, and he stretched her, filled her to a point of completion.

"Move," she exhaled into his sweaty chest. Pulling back to stare up into his blue orbs, she laced her hand into his hair, holding the back of his head and rolled her hips to glide up and down his length.

"Oh fuck! Cass, baby, let me do the work, please," he gasped through heaving lungs. "You're so tight…if I don't maintain control, I'll fucking cum faster than I want to and ruin this for you," he blushed shyly before biting his bottom lip; pulling his cock from her and thrusting back in oh so slowly. "Stay with me, Cass," he hissed between clenched teeth; watching her move her hands to his straining biceps, staring into his eyes while her body arched with every inward thrust. "Stop feeling me and tell me how you feel," he wrapped an arm between her lower back and the bed, lifting her to bend back; her breasts offered up to him, and took a nipple between his teeth.

"Every nerve-ending is on fire," she whined; holding his mouth to her breast. "I feel…like you were made to be inside of my pussy," she cried out when he bit down on the flesh between his teeth; her words sending a rush through him. "I need more, Dean," she pulled his mouth away from her breast and stared into his darkening orbs.

"Are you sure, baby?" he took in her shaky nod before slipping both hands up her back to her shoulders and held on, pulling her body down into his penetrations.

Cassandra cried out with every thrust of his hips; using her calves crossed over his ass to pull him in deeper. Her hands mapped out every contour, dent and hollow of his well-defined body. "You're beautiful, Dean," she said in a hitched breath before pulling his mouth to hers. They kissed hungrily; tongues dancing, lips sucking and teeth clashing, while their pelvises clapped together frantically; chasing their impending orgasms.

Cass dropped her head to the pillow; kiss-swollen lips still pursed, obsidian eyes getting a faraway look before she threw her head back and screamed his name. Her pussy clamped down like a vice around his thrusting cock and pulled his release from him. Dean could almost swear he howled in human form before he collapsed on top of her and rolled them over; Cass splayed out on top of his body, still intimately joined together.

'You're amazing, sweetheart,' he kissed the top of her head, gently running his palms over her back and ass while his girl drifted off into a content slumber.

'There are Hunters all over the borders. This is the thinnest group I've seen so far, and luckily we're downwind of them so they haven't picked up our scent,' Seth paced back and forth, addressing his pack but keeping his eyes trained on the enemy. 'This also happens to be the easiest spot to cross over because it is open and flat. I assume that's why they are stacked up elsewhere; we would be harder to spot and follow.'

'We know for a fact that Dean's scent crosses over on to the preserve but we know nothing beyond that. If he's in there, he's still outside of our range to speak to him,' Roman informed the others of what he learned from Seth and what he'd discovered on his own.

'We go full speed together but don't bunch up, and veer as much as you can,' Seth gave his last instructions before glancing at Roman. 'Are we ready?'

'Yeah, I just hope that lady is real and listening because we're coming,' he glanced among his pack, nodded and they took off running.

Cass' head snapped up and her body went on instant alert; listening to the voices in the distance. "Cass, are you okay?" There were several wolves approaching her property and by the time she jumped off the bed, she knew their point of entry. "Baby, where are you going?" She left his bedroom; choosing to vault over the railing and deftly landed on her feet on the first floor of the house. "Cass!" Dean followed her over and by the time his feet touched the ground, she had just entered the library.

When Dean rushed in, she was standing in a room beyond one of the bookcases. 'A hidden room; very cool,' he thought, moving closer to find the walls and shelves loaded down with weapons. Cassandra was pulling on a black Under Armour tank, butter soft leather pants and boots before adding a belt laden down with throwing knives. She pulled on a harness that held a sword over her left shoulder blade before picking up her crossbow and turned to exit the room.

"You're staying here. I have incoming and need to get as many of them over the property line as possible," she said quickly, moving through the house.

"I can help…" he slid to a halt when she abruptly turned to him.

"I cannot have you out there. My attention would be divided between your safety and theirs; that I cannot allow. I need you here and safe," she pulled his head down and kissed him; silencing his arguments. "If you come out there, I'll have your ass, Pup."

Gone was his hesitant little virgin and in her place stood his people's defender. He bit his lip, clenching his hands at his sides while he watched her run out the door, whistling for her dogs before she vanished into the night.