New Link!!

I will no longer be updating this story on blogger! I still have a ways to go with it and I was approaching my picture usage limit! Never fear though...just switch out the old addy for this one here: http://www.lycantales.com/

It's hosted on wordpress. However, if you're using IE8 you're really not going to be able to appreciate the uniquiness of this design. Firefox users, you know the deal! You'll see what I see! And don't ask me why I have both browsers...I just do!:P

So, if you'd just switch out your urls we continue the convulted story that is Caine and Alana...together!:)

And there's really not more...I just always keep that bit of coding in!:)

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Prompt 083

Title: Lycan Tales
Genre: Drama, suspense
Characters: Caine, Alana, Greg, The Shapeshifters
Prompt: 083~Anxious
Word Count: 2,237~ish
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series
Summary: Greg finds them a temporary place to crash.
Warnings: Language, drug reference

Once again I want to thank Cherie for allowing me the use of Jayden/Greg in my story!


Alana restarted the fire as Greg dug around for some clothes for Caine. Her mind was numb and her body ached. She didn’t know what to make of the last few days. Let alone what had happened in the last few minutes. As quickly as all those wolves had appeared they had disappeared. Greg had said something about them having to stay hidden for a little while longer. He needed to speak to Caine about some things before the pack vied for his attention. She shook her head. This…this was just unreal. It couldn’t be happening.
“Are you decent?” she called out as she dusted off her hands and stared into the flickering flames.

“I’m dressed if that’s what you mean,” Caine said with a laugh as he came around from behind a large tree. He grinned as he looked over at Alana. She still had her back to him and he could see her slowly running her hands up and down her arms. His smile faded. Of course she was cold. She was still in her pajamas and she was bare foot.
“Alana, why don’t you get back under the shelter? It’s still raining out and we don’t want you to catch a chill.”
“Like you care,” she grumbled before turning around. She didn’t even bother to look in their direction. The more she thought about it, the more she realized whatever was going on was all their fault. And she would leave it at that. Because if she thought about it anymore she’d probably have a nervous break down.
Heaving a sigh, she sat under the awning and continued to look straight ahead even as a pair of legs entered her vision. Soon Caine’s face appeared in front of her. He looked…concerned? That was a change from his usual frown.

“Hey, tilt your head back so I could check out your injuries.”
“So, you’re a doctor now? You know, I wouldn’t even have these injuries, or running around barefoot with I don’t know how many germs crawling over me, if you weren't some lunatic,” she snapped.
She resisted as he palmed her head and started to tilt it back but finally relented when a growl rumbled up from his chest.
“I don’t know what you people are but I don’t want any part of it. Look, if you let me go I’ll just pretend none of this ever happened. I’ll go so far away no one will be able to find me.” A pleading note had entered her voice.
“I’d find you,” Caine said gently as he tilted her head this way and that. “How do you feel?”
“Oh, you know…like someone doped me up, then kidnapped me. And let’s not forget that I’m homeless, saw something that’s only supposed to exist in movies, was in a car accident and then rescued by a slobbering man beast. Other than that I feel peachy.”
A small grin tilted Caine’s mouth. “You must if you can still talk shit.”
Alana slapped his hands away as Greg chuckled.
“And just for the record I was not slobbering,” Caine said as he gently brushed a thumb against the corner of her mouth before he stood and walked over to Greg.

“So, all this time you were one of the good guys huh?”
Greg shrugged. “The majority of the pack mourned when your father died. And then to be told by Ethan that you were killed as well…my father knew something had to be done.”
“So, that’s why no one ever came looking for me,” Caine muttered. Alana thought she heard relief in his voice. She couldn’t be sure though. Now that she was sitting down all she wanted to do was sleep. Their deep voices lulled her into a semi-restful state.
“Caine, Ethan had told us that you had died fighting his beta. You were just a pup but I eventually found the place where you had stayed. I tracked down the last owner but he had died so I found his son. After talking with him I began to piece together the puzzle. He said that his father appeared on his doorstep mumbling about the ‘crazy kid’ that he had hit had snapped a wolf’s neck with his bare hands. He then told his son that he had driven for miles before dropping you off at a nuthouse and then he dumped the wolf's body and tried to forget about it. The son seemed to think there wasn’t any truth in the story so when Ethan came around he lied and said that you had ran away.”
“Which probably saved my life.”
“Undoubtedly.”
“I just want to thank you for-”
“Alpha, no thanks are needed. Just seeing you alive and healthy is good enough.”
Caine shifted uneasily. He wasn’t used to this shit. He didn’t know how to respond to that. He was saved from putting his foot in his mouth when a small snore reached them.
“Alana!” he snapped.
“What?” she snapped back before her eyes drooped once again and she curled on her side. “Just give me a couple minutes. Tired is all.”
“Look, she might have a concussion or something. We can’t stay here…and I can’t take her to a hospital either. Not yet. I need-”
“There’s a safe place I know of. It’s in the city though. We’ll only be able to take my car so far before we have to walk. Ethan knows my car.”
“That’s fine. I trust you Greg….I’d trust you with my life.”
Greg’s jaw dropped. “Alpha…you, you honor me.”
“No Greg, I’m honored to have you in the pack. Come on before Alana passes out.”

Hillcrest

“This is it,” Greg said as he looked around. “Thank God, some lights are on. I thought they might be at the club.”
“Where are we at?” Alana asked in a slurred voice. All she wanted to do was go to sleep but Caine kept waking her. If he put his elbow in her ribs one more time she was going to break it. She stumbled and Caien slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her against his side. She stiffened at first but soon a warm tingle spread through her body.
His scent. She could wallow in his scent all day. Why hadn’t she ever noticed it before? It wasn’t a synthetic smell. No, it was all Caine. Manly and dark with just a hint of a spicy overtone. She jerked away when she realized her nose was buried in his neck. His rumbling laugh made her face warm.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled, shuffling her feet.
He shrugged. “You can sniff me any time…anymore.”
She glared at him. “You are such a pervert!”
“Who was sniffing who?”
Pushing away from him she started to walk away. "Who was sniffing whom?" she snapped over her shoulder.
“Alana! Wait!” Greg started to reach for her arm but a rumbling snarl from Caine had him snatching his hand away.
“Right, right. Look, I’ll go first, just to be safe. Alana, you stay in the middle and Alpha bring up the rear.”
“Christ, Greg! Would you call me Caine for fuck’s sake?”

Alana shot a look over her shoulder as Caine let out a heavy breath. He was wiping at his face as his eyes stayed glued on her butt. She whipped back around.
“You know, it might help if you paid attention to what’s going on around you!”
“I’m trying, I’m trying but your ass keeps distracting me. It’s like a pendulum swinging back and forth. Very hypnotic. I’ve always loved your ass Alana.”
She rolled her eyes. “Caine, you don’t even like me.”
“I don’t have to like you to admire your very fine figure."
“Spoken like a man.”
“In case you haven’t noticed I am a man, princess.” He paused before she felt the heat of his body behind her. Geez, he moved silently, she thought inanely.
“And just for the record,” he growled in her ear, “I do like you. Probably more than I should seeing as how you bashed my head in with an extinguisher.”
From in front of her she saw that Greg’s shoulders were shaking with silent laughter.
“You deserved it.”
“Hmm….”
Their banter stopped when Greg held up his hand and tilted his head. Alana held her breath and let it out in a rush when he motioned them forward again.
“Alright, second floor. Wait for me there.”

Caine ushered Alana up the stairs, ignoring her grumbling of him to stop pushing at her, before he started up the stairs himself. He paused on the porch when he realized that Greg wasn’t following him.
“What are you doing?” he asked without turning around as he saw Alana swaying drunkenly on the landing to the stairs before she rubbed her forehead and started up.
“I’m not sure. I just feel as if someone is watching us. I’m pretty sure that Ethan had a tail on me the entire time he had me looking for you. I don’t want to be come too careless Alpha….Caine. Now, let me do my job which is protect you. Get into the apartment and off the porch.”
“I don’t want anyone dying for me.”
“We would all die for you. Get used to it. Now, in the apartment please.”
Caine’s shoulders slumped as his responsibility seemed to weigh down on him. He had been so used to being by himself, doing what he wanted…now he had to readjusted his way of thinking to encompass so many faceless people. People that had always held out the hope that he had survived. He didn’t know if he could do it.

Greg looked down as he went up the stairs. He hadn’t been here in months but it had felt like so much longer. Doing what he did, pretending to work for Ethan, he had created some enemies within the pack. He was used to it but he didn’t want that anger to pass down to the people around him. He didn't want to cause even more trouble for his family and friends so he rarely stopped by their place. But when he did it felt like coming home. They knew the real him. They had grown up with him and understood his dedication to getting rid of Ethan. And they also understood him leaving in the middle of the night and just reappearing months later.
It was a barren existence but something that he had to do. And not just for himself. He had others he needed to think about.

Motioning Caine and Alana out of the view from the peephole he raised a hand and knocked hard on the door. Through the door her could hear the abrupt silence before heavy footsteps came toward the door.
“Who the fuck is it?” A raspy voice came not far from the door. He grinned.
“Who do you think it is knocking on your door at two in the morning?”
The door was yanked open.

“Christ Greg! It’s good to see you! We thought you were the cops again. Our neighbors downstairs are always calling the fucking cops on us. Noise complaints and shit. Almost got busted for smoking that good shit you brought back with you last time. Did you bring anymore?”
Greg shook his head. “Nah. Nolan, I need you to do something for me.”
“Whatever you need bro!”
“Some friends and I need a place to crash for a few days. Will-”
“What friends? Dude, you don’t have any friends beside us. What the fuck are you on? Give me some of it.”
Clearing his throat Caine walked over. Greg stepped away.

“Duuuuude!! Get the fuck out! Are you shitting me? Do you know who you are? Slap my ass and call me Susan. You’re him.”
“Geez, does anyone not curse?” Alana muttered as she leaned against the wall. She straightened suddenly and brushed at her shoulder as she stared in disgust at the wall.
“Who’s the broad? She’s kinda hot in a librarian way.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I said-”
“Why don’t you keep your eyes in your head huh?” Caine snapped.
“Sure, sure. Whatever you say, man!”
“Caine, this is my younger brother Nolan. Nolan, this is-”
“Dude, I know who it is. Man, I never thought I’d see the day. Welcome to our humble abode alpha.” Opening his arms wide he grinned at them before waving them in.
Alana wrinkled her nose as the smell of weed reached her.

Greg grabbed his brother and gave him a bear hug. “I missed you, little brother.”
“I missed you too Greg. It’s not the same not seeing you all the time. I talked to ma the other day. She said to tell you hi and that she loves you.”
“The next time you talk to her tell her-”
“Yeah, yeah! I know what to tell her without using your name.”
“How’s the band going?” Greg asked as he looked around. Nolan nudged him.
“You don’t give a shit about The Shapeshifters. You’re just looking for…” He drifted off when his brother stiffened and he knew that he had spotted who he was looking for.
“I’ll talk to ya later Greg,” he said.
Greg didn’t responded as he took a hesitant step forward.

“I’ve missed you mate.”
Her body fit perfectly against his. He knew those planes and slopes like the back of his hand. He envisioned them a thousand times as he laid in bed at night. He let out a shuddering breath as his arms tightened around her.
“I’ve missed you every moment of every day, my love.”
He nipped gently on her bare shoulder before burying his face in her neck.

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Prompt 095

Title: Lycan Tales
Genre: Drama, suspense
Characters: Dom, Julius, Ethan
Prompt: 095~Pride
Word Count: 2,272~ish
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series
Summary: That thing that comes before the fall.
Warnings: Language, violence


“You’re getting better Julius,” Dom murmured as her son butchered Chopin. At least she knew he was trying to play Chopin. That was an improvement.
He laughed as he banged on the keys. “Yeah right mom! I hate this thing. Why couldn’t I play a cool instrument? Like the drums? Or the guitar? Instead I gotta sit here and play the piano!”
She laughed when he wrinkled his noise and then in impulse reached down and ran her hands over the keys before playing a few notes of Piano Concerto No. One by Tchaikovsky. The hunting strains hung in the air for a moment as her hands fell back into her lap.
“That was pretty mom,” Julius said in a whisper.
Dom shrugged then ran her fingers through his hair. “Back in the day the piano was a very manly instrument.”
“Uh huh,” he said, unconvinced.
Laughing, she got up from the bench. “Are you hungry?”
“I could eat!” he said as he shoved away from the piano.

“What are you hungry for?” she asked as they walked toward the kitchen.
Julius looked up at her before threading his fingers through hers. “I don’t know. What can you cook?”
“Not a lot. How about a lunch meat sandwich? Something light before your father gets home.”
“’kay. How come dad let Mary go?”
Dom gnawed on her lip as she tried to figure out the best way to explain to her son that his father was becoming paranoid. She had made a vow when Julius was born that she would never lie to him. She might have omitted some truths that she felt was too harsh for him but she never lied. There was enough of that going on in this house.
“Your father thinks that someone is out to get him and until he feels safe he won’t allow anyone in the house.”
“That’s silly,” Julius said with a skip to his steps. “Mary’s been with the family since I was little. She’s part of the pack. Why would she hurt dad?”
“She wouldn’t Julius…but your father-”
“Is a nutcase.”
“What?”

Julius nodded sagely as he climbed up on the chair to sit at the island while she went about fixing him a sandwich.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Around. Everyone’s talking about it mom. They say that he’s went off his rocker, that he’s gone around the bend, that-”
Dom smothered a laugh as she slathered mustard on his sandwich. Julius loved mustard. “I get it Julius. Just don’t let your father hear you say that alright? He’s not himself.” Or maybe he’s more himself now than he ever was, she thought sadly.
“If I was alpha I think that I’d be a better one than dad. I wouldn't hurt my mate. Never.”
She froze. “W-what are you talking about Julius?”

“I heard you and dad through the wall last night. There was a sound and then you started to cry. And you’re wearing those shades again. You only wear those after you and dad get into a big fight. I would never make my mate cry. And I would respect every one in the pack. From my beta down to the omega. We’re all family right mom?”
She placed the top slice of bread on his sandwich and slid it onto a plate. “Yes, we’re all family but sometimes families hurt each other Julius. They don’t mean to but they do.”
She handed him his sandwich then trailed after him as he walked into the dining room.
“Dad don’t like me to eat at the island. He says that I need to learn proper etiquette.” He stumbled over the last word as he carefully placed the plate down and climbed into his seat.

“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Is it okay if I love you more than dad?”
He tapped his fingers against the edge of his plate as he waited for her to respond. She opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off.
“Cause I do love you more than him. You’re way nicer and you tuck me in at night. And if I get a cut you tell me it’s okay to cry even though dad says only babies cry. I don’t think he likes me much. He always says that I’m letting him down. That everyone lets him down. I…I just want to be a kid for a little while. All the other kids get to play and stuff but I’m always stuck in the house.”
He knocked his feet against the chair before straightening and taking a bite from his sandwich. Dom blinked back tears. She didn’t know what to say. On one hand it was great that Julius felt comfortable enough to discuss things with her. On the other hand she was sad because Ethan was losing out on really knowing his son. But did he even care?
“Julius, it’s okay if you love me more. I’m better looking,” she said with a small smile.

“Mom?”
“Yes?”
He looked away from her and stared down at his sandwich. “Me and you…we should run away. Go some place where no one knows us. He couldn’t hurt you anymore and maybe you’d smile more again. We could do it. We could run away. I’ve been studying really hard in history and did you know that there are some places that are still undiscovered? We could search for one of those. We would be happy. Would you like that?”
She looked down at the table as he continued to talk with his mouth full. Was he that miserable that at the tender age of ten he wanted to run away from home? And not just home. He wanted to run away from Ethan.
“We can’t run away Julius,” she said softly, cutting into his babble.
“How come?” he demanded.
“Because we both have obligations to the pack.”
“No I don’t. He’s not even the real alpha. I looked it up. He did do all those things that everyone says he did. I don’t want to be nothing like him.”
His face twisted in anger and he shoved the rest of his sandwich in his mouth.

Standing up Dom looked at her watch and was surprised to see so much time had passed. “Julius, hurry and get back to your piano. Your father should be home in any minute and we don’t want him to start complaining do we?”
“He ALWAYS complains,” he muttered as he shoved back from the table. He stopped in front of her. “If you do run away, don’t forget me mom. Please?”
“I would never forget about you, my darling boy.”
He stared up into her face, as if trying to peer beyond her shades before he threw his arms around her and gave her a tight squeeze.
“When I get big I’m going to fight him. I promise I’ll win mom. I promise that you’ll smile again.”
She bit her lip. “You always make me smile,” she said as she hugged him back. “Now hurry back.”

He raced toward the piano just as she heard the door slam downstairs. Grabbing the empty plate she walked over to the dishwasher and hurriedly stuffed it in. Ethan was almost militant on the times Julius could eat and he hated for him to have snacks in between meals. Something about a fat pup was no more than a meal for hungry wolves. She had just kicked the dishwasher door closed with her heel when she heard his footsteps coming up the stairs. Spotting crumbs on the counter she spun around and grabbed the dish towel laying over the faucet. She absently wondered when she had become the poster child for Susie homemaker. A brief smile crossed her lips.

Ethan walked slowly up the stairs, making sure that each footstep could be heard upstairs. If he left it up to those two the house would be a mess, his son would be a pansy and his mate…well, she was nearly a complete waste of his time. She did have her uses though. Besides in the bedroom , he thought with a smirk. Dom was one of the toughest bitches he had ever come across. One of the reasons why he kept her around. If she was crossed not only did she get even, she made sure the person who crossed her didn’t do it to another person. They couldn’t…they were died.

“What is that god-awful racket?” he demanded as he made it upstairs. He spared Dom a glance, she was busy scrubbing at something in the kitchen and instead glared at his son who was hammering away at the piano keys as if his life depended on it.
“Julius! For god’s sake boy! How long have you been practicing the piano?”
“Four years, sir,” his son said without looking away from the piano.
“And you still sound as if you just started. Add on another hour on top of what you’re already doing. A Vanderwall doesn’t do anything half assed. Look at me. My family was content to be side kicks to the alpha but I took him down and now I am the alpha. What do you think about that? Huh son?”

Dom whipped around when the music suddenly stopped. Julius had turned to look his father. She quickly stepped to the side and shook her head. Julius’ eyes met her and for a moment her heart stopped. It just as quickly stared again when he ducked his head.
“That if you put your mind to it you can be whatever you want to be…sir.”
“Exactly! Dom, my office. Now.”
Turning off the water Dom wiped her hands on a towel before following after Ethan. Like a dog at the heels of its master, she thought bitterly. There used to be a time when she had thought they were equals but apparently she had been fooling herself. Now she could barely stand the sight of him.

“You rang?” she asked with a frown as she walked into the office.
He laughed as he walked over to the windows. “That’s one of the things I love about you Dom. No matter how many fucking times I knock you down you always pop right back up. I like that. I really do. What I don’t like,” he said placing his hands on his hips as a snarl entered his voice, “Is to be made a fool of. “ I haven’t heard from Greg since the last time he called.”
“It was only a day and a half ago Ethan. Give the man some time. He had to go through all that rubble remember? For all we know Alana could be dead.”
“She’s not dead. She can’t be dead. She would have made a great bargaining chip with the other alpha’s. Much like my daughter would have…if I would have had a daughter,” he snapped then heaved a sigh as he rolled his neck on his shoulders.
“That’s old news Ethan. Why am I here?”

His hands slowly fell from his waist and she could see his scowl reflecting back at her in the panes from the window before she turned and looked away.
“There are have been some…rumors circulating about me. Even more so now because of Caine’s escape. They’re mocking me Dom and I want them crushed. I don’t want it to seem as if I discourage freedom of speech but you, however, can do it for me.”
“Ethan,” she said on a sigh. “People are going to talk. Especially seeing as how you’ve closed yourself in the house. I can’t go around and-”
“You can and you will. Now get out of my office. I have more important things to do than listen to you whine all day.”
Dom snapped her mouth closed and without another word turned on her heel and left.

Ethan waited for the door to shut behind her before he walked around his desk and sat down.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!! I have to find him. I have to! Why hasn’t Greg called me back? I have to know where he is.”
Running his fingers through his hair Ethan’s hands then dropped to his knees as he stared at the floor.
“When I find him I have to kill him.”

Dom placed her shades on the bathroom sink as she inspected the bruising around her eye. She winced when she poked gently at it and the whole side of her face began to throb. She might like bad but the scratches and bite marks that Ethan carried underneath of his suit were ten times worse. The bastard was just lucky he had knocked her away before she could go for his face. She scowled at the thought then blinked as tears came to her eyes.
When had her life spiraled out of control? When had she became the woman who let a man walk all over her? When did she become the woman who was ashamed to face her own son? She swallowed a sob then before she knew it her vision was blurry. For once she let the tears come as she buried her face in her hands.

Julius stood in the doorway and stared in horror as his mom buried her face in her hands and began to cry. He slowly backed away from the door before racing down the hall to his room. Grabbing his Batman book bag he shoved in a spare set of clothes, empty out his piggy bank, then quickly scrawled out a note for his mom before creeping down the stairs.
He guessed it was up to him to find the alpha of the pack. He just wanted his mom to smile again.

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Prompt 074

Title: Lycan Tales
Genre: Drama, suspense
Characters: Alana, Greg, Caine
Prompt: 074~Home
Word Count: 3,044~ish
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series
Summary: Things aren't always what they seem.
Warnings: Language, some nudity


Greg’s butt started to hurt after awhile so he got up to poke at the now waning fire. He didn’t know how much time had past. It could have been hours or minutes. He had killed some time by going back to the car and grabbing the suitcase that had flown some distance away. He had tried to put out some of the flames as well but the gas kept those alive.
Time just seemed to be moving so fucking slow because he wasn’t used to being idly. Leaning in closer to the fire he straightened when he heard rustling behind him.
“Welcome back to the land of the living, Sleepy Beauty,” he said before placing the poker aside, out of reach. One could never be too careful around female lycan. Human men thought they had it bad. They had no idea.
Turning, he watched as she slowly sat up and rubbed at the back of her head before gently poking at her face. He shook his head when she winced.
“Hell of an accident you got yourself into,” he said in jovial tones then stiffened when her head slowly swung around toward him. A low growl rumbled in her throat before she blinked.
“Where am I?”
“In a little wooded area about two miles out from the city. Hey, I wouldn't do that if I were you!”

Greg watched as she slowly stood and moved stiffly out from under the enclosure. She looked around for a minute.
“Where’s my car?”
“About a quarter mile back. It’s totally trashed so there’s no way you’re going to get out of here…I mean if that’s what you were thinking.”
Crossing his arms he stared back at her as she studied him. Finally, not able to stand the way she was staring at him, as if she were sizing him up for the kill, he gestured for her to sit back down.
“Look, you’ve just been in an accident, you’re bruised and battered and you’re wearing your pj’s. There’s no reason for you to get wet as well. Sit.”

Alana narrowed her eyes. Or at least she tried to. Her face hurt. She could barely see out of one eye it was so swollen and the cut on her lip kept ripping open every time she moved her mouth. Fabulous, just great! She probably looked as if she’d lost a fight…with Mike Tyson.
“Who are you?”
“The name is Gregory. Everyone calls me Greg.”
“So, I take it your not just a good Samaritan?” she asked as she stepped back under the ripped awning. He was right. There wasn’t any need for her to get wet.
“How much do you know about the pack?”
“What pack?”

Greg walked over to her. “Ahh…so nothing. Well, take a little sit down. We have a lot to discuss you and I. I’ll try to squeeze in as much as I can before we’re interrupted.”
“By whom?”
His eyebrows rose at her proper speech. “By Caine of course. Alana, I-”
“How do you know my name?” she asked. Her body tensed in preparation to leap up and tear his throat out. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where in the world had that thought just come from, she wondered in confusion.
“Why Alana, I was sent to capture you.”
It took a moment for his words to penetrate her confusion and when they did she surprised herself by only tilting her head and staring at him with interest.
“Really? And why do you want me?”
“I don’t…Ethan does.”
She groaned. “Duncaine was always throwing his name around. Why does it sound so familiar?”
Greg shrugged. “Probably because he’s a big mover and shaker in this town. Ethan hands out money like it’s water. Keeps the people off his scent ya know?”
“No, I have no idea what…Ethan Vanderwall? I remember he donated money to my school. Something about inner city kids having just as much a right to a good education as private school children.”
“Says the man whose son is in a very prestigious private school. Also, Ethan is Caine’s uncle.”
A hazy memory nudged at her brain until it suddenly became clear. She snapped her fingers. “About a month or so back he was on the news. He was trying to find the whereabouts of Caine-”
“So he could kill him.”
Alana’s upper lip curled in a silent snarl that Greg missed as he paced away from her. He spun around and opened his mouth to say something but the breath was pushed from his lungs as her foot hit him dead center.

“Jesus!” he gasped as he flew through the air. He hadn’t even seen that coming. Hadn’t even heard her move. He sure felt her ninja feet though, he thought as he landed hard on the ground several feet away.
“What was that for?” he wheezed as he tried to suck air back into his lungs. He had underestimated her. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“You were hired to kill Caine?” she snapped.
“Something like that. Look, I-”

Blood filled his mouth when she curled back her fist and punched him.
“Fuck,” he snarled. He hated hitting females. He may be a cold blooded killer to some but he did use discretion. A quick, painless kill for the females but this bitch here was working his nerves. He hid a wince as she grabbed a fistful of his hair and drew back her fist again.
“Hold on, hold on!” he snapped as he spit out a mouthful of blood. “Don’t you want to hear the whole story?”
Alana tilted her head and the low, warning grumble that had been building in her chest died out. She stared down at him in horror. What was wrong with her? She wasn’t a violent person but the thought of someone hurting Caine upset her for some reason. Even thinking about it started her blood to boiling again and her hand tightened in his hair.
Shaking her head she moved away from him and threading her fingers in her hair shook her head to clear it. She could hear him getting up behind her. Turning she saw that he was eyeing her cautiously. Rolling her head on her neck she loosened her muscles before going to sit under the ripped awning. The smell of wet grass drifted upward as she shifted to get comfortable. She made an unknowingly regal gesture with her hand.
“Tell me this story.”

Greg wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand as he rotated his jaw. Walking over to stand in front of her he looked down at the ground before shrugging.
“I guess I should start at the beginning huh?” He closed his eyes as he tried to figure out what was the beginning.
“Forget it. I’ll start at your beginning. Apparently one of your parents was a lycan. And since you grew up with your mom I’d have to say it was your dad.”
“Hold it right there,” she said throwing up her arms. “Just what is a lycan?”
“You watch the movies. You’re a teacher. What do you think a lycan is?”
Alana swallowed dryly. He couldn’t be serious. There was no such thing as werewolves. And since such things didn’t exist there was no way she could be one. Right? Of course she was right. She would know if…her eyes widened as she remembered that brilliant flash of light as she had stood in Caine’s kitchen. Before she had fainted she had seen him sprouting hair and his body seemed to contort.
“Ah, I see that your human precepts are getting tossed to the wayside. Look, being a lycan isn’t a bad thing. My question is why didn’t your mother every tell you unless…she didn’t know about your dad did she?”
Alana wrapped her arms tightly around herself. “I don’t know. He stopped coming around when I was a teenager.”
“Is he dead?”
“I don’t know!”
Greg studied her before he nodded once again. “Anyways, one thing is true in the movies. A bite from a full blood lycan will change you into a lycan as well. But only if you already have lycan blood. So, if one of us bit a full human they’d go to the hospital, get their boo-boo bandaged up and go on oblivious to what had occurred. It’s rare that we go around biting people anyways. Who did you piss off?” He held up his hand.
“Let me guess. Caine?”
He shook his head, bewildered, when she nodded. “I don’t get it. That man killed when he was ten years old. A full blooded beta at that but he lost control with you. What-”
Greg stiffened then took a hasty step back. “No, no. This hasn’t happened for…decades. Are you fucking kidding me? Why now? What…”
Alana scowled as he continued to mumble to himself. “What are you talking about?”
Greg shook his head. “This is bigger than I thought. Your nearing the end of your change and Caine…Caine won’t let you slip away from him.”

Caine wasn’t even out of breath as he raced out of the city limits. He had lost Alana’s scent a few times and had to double back more times than he cared to admit. In doing so he ended up on another side of town. A near empty part of the city. His gait faltered when he saw the smoke. Narrowing his eyes he saw the tire tracks and the smell of gasoline reached him.
“No!” his voice was guttural as he raced forward. “Christ no!”
There were small clusters of fire caused by gas spills. He peered into the woods to a pile of twisted metal that used to be a car.

He swallowed a wail as he bent and sniffed at the ground. Blood. He smelled blood. He couldn’t smell charred flesh. Maybe Alana had been able to ecsape the fire. Maybe she was wondering around in the woods searching for a way out.
“Please let that be what’s going on,” he whispered harshly before straightening. Not even trying to be silent he raced into the woods, slashing at the underbrush and small trees in his path. He stilled when he passed the wreckage. Peering down he saw a pair of boot tracks. The rain had nearly washed them away and if he had been human he would have overlooked them. But he wasn’t human…and Alana was barefoot. There was a man in the woods with her. Tilting back his head he inhaled deeply before a howl ripped from his throat. No, not a man. A male lycan. Near his mate. He issued a challenging snarl as he barreled further into the woods.

Alana jumped as a howl tore through the air a second time. “What was that?” she asked as she turned wide eyed to Greg. He was staring down at her with an indecipherable expression on his face.
“Don’t you know?”
Her heart leapt in her chest. She didn’t know if it was from fear or excitement. Her emotions were in such turmoil. She knew one thing.
Caine had come for her.
Greg nodded as he turned. They could both hear branches snapping and a steady growl grew closer and closer.
“Yes, he’s come.”
Alana stare at his back. There had been a thread of…excitement in his voice. Excitement? No, that couldn’t be…
“Holy crap!” she exclaimed as she scrambled up and backward as a figure burst through the small clearing. He was nearly on all fours and he was snarling. His eyes were locked on Greg…until she spoke then its, his, head snapped around to her.
“Uh…”
She froze as he tilted back his head and howled before launching himself at Greg.

Her face was a mass of scratches and bruises. If Caine had been thinking logically he would have paused and thought maybe she had gotten liked that from the car accident. But he wasn’t and he didn’t. He thundered toward the man who stood staring at him with fear in his eyes…as well as a little awe.
“You hurt her,” he snarled.
The other male hadn’t even bothered to change. Not that it would have mattered. Caine would have killed him either way.
“YOU HURT HER!!!!!”
“I didn’t. I didn’t hurt her,” Greg said as he scuttled backward. There was such fury in Caine’s face. All his life he had heard rumors of the Lancaster clan. Why they were always chosen to lead the pack. When they were hit with strong emotions they transformed into something more than a lycan. They were the true essence of a Lycanthrope in this form.
“She was in an accident and-”

Whatever else the man was about to say was cut off when Caine reached him and with nearly effortless strength began to squeeze his windpipe as he slammed him up against a tree. Greg blinked the stars from in front of his eyes as he tried to suck in a even a little air. Black dots began to swim in front of his face.
“Who are you?”
“My name…my name is Gregory Blade.”
Caine’s eyes narrowed and then he leaned closer and snarled. “You’re the man who wiped out those that opposed Ethan aren’t you. AREN’T YOU?” he roared. Spit flew out of his mouth and his teeth seemed to gleam wickedly at Greg.

Greg tried to knock his arm aside but it was like hitting steel. “Can’t…breathe.”
“That’s the idea. Did you enjoy slaughtering all those women? The children? The men who stood behind my father? The people that opposed Ethan taking over the pack by trickery? Did you?”
Alana placed a hand over her mouth as she listened to the exchange. She was afraid to move. Caine was enraged and Greg’s face was slowly turning red. His eyes were bulging out of his head and soon he was going to be drawing his last breath.
“Answer me!” Caine felt the tips of his claws sink into Blade’s skin. With a snarl he spun around and tossed him.

Greg coughed as air rushed back into his lungs. He took a deep gulp of air before it was knocked out of him again as he hit the empty trashcan.
Damn it, he thought as his head knocked against the tin. He tried to scramble to his feet but he was frozen in fear as Caine walked slowly toward him, eyeing him as if he was wondering which limb he was going to rip off first. He had never thought his life would end like this. Sure, he had done some things he wasn’t proud of but he had done them for the pack. It was always the pack. He blinked when his vision was suddenly filled with green plaid.
“Caine,” Alana said in soothing tones. “Caine, he didn’t hurt me. He was telling me things. Things that I needed to know. As a mater of fact-”
Greg stared in fascinated horror as she placed her hands on her hips and started to tap her foot. The crazy woman was actually tapping her foot. He hazarded a peek around her leg and saw Caine staring at her. The crazed look had left his eyes and he took a shuffling step forward.
“As a matter of fact he was telling me things that you should have told me. This is your fault! You should have been the one explaining things to me. Besides the fact that he talks in riddles. I had to keep dragging things out of him. Maybe I’ve grown accustomed to your straight forward talk.”

Caine reached out with a huge paw and to Greg’s amazement he gently brushed Alana’s cheek.
“He didn’t hurt you?”
“No Caine, he didn’t hurt me. And if you’re going to kill him don’t kill him on account of me.”
Greg stood drawing both their gazes. “If I could say-”
“Shut the fuck up. I am going to snap your neck. It won’t bring back my friends but it will make me feel better.”
Caine took a step forward then stumbled backward as his body jerked. He stared down at himself in amazement as the familiar glow started to come from his body.

Alana ducked her head as the light nearly blinded her but she made sure to keep a tight grip on the back of Greg’s jacket. She didn’t trust him not to do something to Caine as he was…transforming. Geez, transforming. What the heck? Was she going to have a run in with a vampire soon, she asked herself sarcastically.
Caine winced as his body contorted for a moment before he stopped fighting it and went with the change.

“Aaaand…he’s naked again,” he heard Alana say as the last of the light faded from around him.
“Christ, I could have used a warning. The last thing I want to see is another-”
“Don’t even say it,” Alana snapped.
Reaching up Caine touched his face. Everything was back to normal. Rolling his shoulders he looked at Alana. He noticed that she looked everywhere but at him. He found his first smile in what felt like days.
“See something you like Princess?” He chuckled when she snorted. His smile faded when he turned back to Greg.
“You and I have some unfinished business.”
“Yes, yes we do Alpha.”

Caine stiffened when he took a step closer than bowed at the waist.
“What are you doing?” Caine snapped.
“My family has always protected the Alpha of the pack. We had to keep up pretense when Ethan came into power but we always waited for a Lancaster to return. We always waited for you. When my father died I took his place and-”
“Slaughter everyone. You come from that line of Blades? You sicken me. Your father was my father’s beta. One of his closest friends. How could you do this? Why would you-”
“We have waited ten years for you Alpha. Give me ten minutes to explain.”
“Who is this we? There-”
Caine froze when he felt something tumble across his foot. He looked down and his eyes widened.

“These are the Lycan that I’ve ‘slaughtered’. The Lycan that I hid away. There are more Alpha. Many, many more in the surrounding woods. And we have all waited for you.”

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