Chapter Text
Cas wanted to be alone. His pack was getting on his nerves and he just needed some time. It happened to him from time to time. He was the only unmated adult in the pack and his brother, who was also the Alpha, worried about him. Gabriel had begun to get very vocal with him on the subject and it really got Cas’ hackles up.
He just didn’t like any of the available females. He couldn’t help it. If he was going to be mated for life to someone he needed to not only like them, he needed to love them and desire them. And the females around just didn’t do it for him.
So he told Gabriel that he was going hunting and he loped off into the forest. He ran for a while until all he could smell was the forest, and stopped, taking a huge breath and letting it back out. At last he could relax for a bit. He had no intention of hunting, well, unless some rabbit ran directly in his path or something.
He ran in the direction of the stream. He always liked it there. It was peaceful and he could roll around in the water. He loped along, taking his time and just enjoying the solitude. When he got close to the stream, an unfamiliar scent hit his nose.
He stopped, sniffing the air. It was sort of sickly, but it was definitely another wolf. An injured wolf. Cas sniffed the air cautiously and then followed the scent. When he got near the stream, he saw it.
The wolf was large and sort of the color of red sunshine. He was laying on his side, and Cas wasn’t even sure he was alive. He walked slowly up to the body, sniffing. When he got close, he saw the blood on the wolf’s hind leg. It looked like he had been bitten by another wolf. But he was alive.
Cas sniffed the unconscious wolf carefully. He smelled bad but under the sick smell, he actually had a scent that reminded Cas of the forest itself. He nudged the wolf with his nose, trying to get him to wake up. The wolf just moaned. Cas sat down next to him and tried to decide what to do.
Cas decided to shift. It was sort of dangerous, out here alone, but the wolf needed help and Cas wasn’t about to abandon him. He shifted and listened to the sounds of bones cracking and muscles shifting. In moments, he stood up and stretched.
He walked to the stream and collected water in his cupped hands, carrying it carefully back to the injured wolf. He let the water dribble into the wolf’s mouth. For a few seconds, the water just ran over his muzzle, but then he began to lap at it. Cas put his hands near the wolf’s mouth and the wolf lapped all the water from his hands.
A couple more trips and the wolf seemed better. He still hadn’t opened his eyes but he was breathing better. Cas shifted back, feeling that it would be better if the first thing the wolf saw was another wolf, and not a were.
He sat back on his haunches, watching the wolf carefully. After a few minutes, the wolf opened his eyes and looked at Cas. He had beautiful green eyes that reminded Cas of a green grove. The wolf whimpered and Cas just said, “You’re safe. I mean you no harm.” The wolf eyed him cautiously. Cas just sat and waited.
Finally the wolf relaxed, as he saw that Cas made no movement towards him. He struggled up to a sitting position, but winced at the pain it obviously caused his back leg.
Cas simply said, “You’re injured. Let me help you.”
The wolf sighed. “Yes, I am. I can’t shift. I don’t think I can walk.”
Cas thought a moment. “If you allow me to, I could shift and carry you. There is a cave nearby where you would be safe.”
The wolf hesitated, but at last, he nodded. Cas shifted again, feeling the pop of bones. He walked to the wolf and lifted him as gently as he could. The wolf gritted his teeth in pain but didn’t make a sound. Cas began to walk.
They came to the cave quickly. Cas walked inside, stooping slightly to not hit his head, and walked to the back of the cave. He laid the wolf down and quickly shifted back. The wolf just laid down, but still looked at Cas.
Cas wanted to know more about what happened. He said, “My name is Cas. My pack is not far from here.”
The wolf answered, “My name is Dean. I don’t have a pack.”
Cas was expecting this. Dean wouldn’t be out alone, injured, if he had a pack. A pack would have searched for him until they found him and nursed him back to health. The fact that he was alone and hurt said he had no pack.
“What happened to you, if I may ask?”
Dean sighed. He was unsure of just how much to tell the stranger. But he knew he had to say something. “I was driven from my pack. They didn’t want me anymore.”
Cas was shocked. No wolf had ever been driven away from his pack. He couldn’t imagine what Dean could have possibly done to warrant that kind of behavior. He just sat and waited to see of Dean was going to tell him any more.
Dean sighed again. “I’m not a good wolf. I didn’t fit in. They had plenty of males and didn’t need me there. They attacked me and drove me away.”
Cas blinked and cocked his head. “I don’t understand. Why didn’t you fit in? You seem fine to me.”
Dean looked away. “I didn’t want to mate. I didn’t like any of the females. I’m… I’m wrong somehow. Inside.”
Cas smiled. He understood this perfectly. “I don’t want to mate any of the females in my pack either, but my pack accepts it.”
Dean jerked his head back to look at Cas. “They do? This… this is new to me. Don’t they want pups?”
Cas laughed. “There are plenty of pups in my pack. It isn’t an issue.”
Dean looked amazed. Then his stomach grumbled.
Cas jumped up. “How long since you’ve eaten?”
Dean looked thoughtful. “I’m not sure. A couple of days, maybe…”
Cas just said, “I’m going to get you something to eat. I’ll be back.” And he turned and ran out of the cave, leaving behind a very confused Dean.