Prompt 075

Title: Lycan Tales
Genre: Drama, suspense
Characters: Bernard, Caine, Ethan, Dom
Prompt: 075~Heart
Word Count: 2,294
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series
Summary: Caine remembers
Warnings: Language



God, he was so stupid. What had he been thinking? Hadn’t he learned from his own father’s death? Apparently not, he thought bitterly as he laid his head on his arms. Apparently he hadn’t listened to his better judgment. He knew something was wrong with Alana. What kind of person came to an old abandoned house day in and day out to hang out with a dog? And not only that but continued to come back around after he, in his human form, had told her to stay away. The woman wasn’t normal but he had been lulled into a false sense of security by her docile tones and her sweet scent that even now made his body tighten. Growling in disgust he shoved away from the table. Idly he glanced at the contents on the table as his hand grazed a newspaper. He froze when the headline caught his eye.

“No, no, no!” he moaned as his legs threatened to give out from under him. Threading his fingers through his hair he finished reading the article then slumped against the table. The headline seemed to mock him. It was an old newspaper, dating back a few months ago, but the date…he would never forget the date. The day his father died was imprinted on his brain but to realize that it just wasn’t his father’s death date but several other pack members as well left him feeling off kilter.
His father’s beta, his guards and their families. The article named them all and blamed it on a serial killer but Caine knew better. It wasn’t a coincidence that the ten year anniversary of the 'Backwoods Massacre', as they had labeled, was the same day as his father's death. Ethan had wiped out everyone who had stood behind his father. Taking a shuddering breath he trudged into the living room.

Lighting the fire, he leaned against the mantle as he stared into the flame. If he were honest with himself the first few years in the asylum he had wondered why no one came looking for him. After those first few bleak years he had hardened himself against the pack and labeled them traitors. For the most part that hadn’t been true. There hadn’t been anyone left to look for him. And the remained few that might still be loyal to the Lancaster clan had probably went into hiding with their families.
“Family bonds are what keep the pack together Duncaine,” his father had told him numerous times. “Regardless of blood it’s those bonds that make a pack strong…or weak.”
He could hear his father’s voice in his head as if it were yesterday.

May 23, 1999 Lancaster city residence
He could see his dad through the glass. Excitement beat at him as he raced up the porch steps and burst through the door. His dad was sitting at the computer with his legs on the desk staring off into space. When the door bounced against the wall he looked over his shoulder with a smile.
“Duncaine, what have I told you about that? You’re going to put a hole in the wall one of these days.”
“Sorry dad! I got news!”
“And what’s your news? Wait…let me guess. You got your first kiss?”
“Eww, that’s gross dad! Why would I want a stinking girl to kiss me?” Caine scrunched up his face and his father laughed.
“One of these days Duncaine, you’ll eat those words.”
“Nope. I don’t EVER want to kiss a girl. They’re weird and they smell funny.”
Bernard shook his head and got up from his chair. “So if you didn’t kiss a girl what’s the big news?”

Caine was so full of excitement he didn’t know how to contain it. Leaping up into the air, he tossed his arms up and began to laugh. “I got a solo in the band dad! Just me! Ms. Faision said that my rhythm had gotten better and she thought that I sounded good enough to have a solo. Me and my drums! ‘Course everyone else was jealous but dad…I practiced and practiced.”
“I know you did son and I’m proud of you. Come here.”

Caine allowed himself to be pulled into his dad’s arms. Wrapping his smaller arms around his dad’s neck he buried his face against his neck. “Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m scared. Does that make me a sissy?”
His dad pulled back, squatted down and placing his big hands on his small, scrawny shoulders peered into his face.
“A man without fear is a man without a heart. It’s okay to be scared Caine. You just can’t let the fear cripple you. You’re going to be amazing! I know how hard you practiced and I’ve heard how far you’ve come. Let’s go sit down so we can talk about this.”

“Tell me what you’re scared of.”
“What if I mess up? Sometimes…sometimes I think that once I get in front of a big group of people I won’t be as awesome as I am when I’m in my room. I mean, I want the solo but I don't want to screw everything up for everyone else either.”
“So, just picture you’re in your room when you’re doing your solo. Just you and the music. Don’t pay any attention to anyone else.”
They both heard the clicking of nails on the wood floors and them a large white wolf appeared in front of Bernard. Sighing, he turned and the wolf growled.
“Not now Dominica. I’m talking to Caine. Give me a minute.”
Her growl grew and his dad stood up.

“I told you not now.” A growl had entered his voice and to Caine he seemed to tower over everyone. “My son and I are speaking.”
He made shooing motion with his hands. It seemed as if more wolves had entered the house when they heard his father speak. Caine stared up at his dad and smiled. He hoped one day he was as big and strong as his dad. That would be awesome.

His dad bent down when Dominica snarled. He reached out and patted her on the head. Suddenly they heard more nails clicking on the floor and he looked over to see his Uncle Ethan eyeing his dad. He frowned. He didn't really like Uncle Ethan.
“Dom," his dad said in soothing tones, "I don’t mean to disrespect you. You are, after all, a well known physician who puts her knowledge to good use for the pack. And you are the chosen mate of my cousin who is the head of my security. Both of you have honored places in this pack but right now I am speaking with my son. I will speak to the alpha of the Daniel’s pack tomorrow. That is why I came to the city in the first place.”
Standing he motioned for Duncaine to follow him down the hall. Once they were in his room he shut the door and sat down at the drums.

“Are you ready to rock Duncaine?”
Knowing that something was worrying his dad, that was the only time he played the drums anymore, Caine scampered up on the bed.
“Are you ready to rock dad?” He stuck out his tongue like he had seen that weird looking musician do and pumped his fist in the air.
In answer his dad tapped his drumsticks together, Caine was so going to copy that for his solo, and then began a fast tempo. Caine began to jump on the bed in time with the beat. He didn’t know how long his dad played or how long he jumped but he gave one finally jump before landing on his butt and collapsing on the bed. His dad continued to play as his heart thundered in his ears. Once it slowed Caine sat up
“Dad? What happened to mom?” he blurted out.

The music suddenly stopped as his dad spun around in his seat to stare at him in surprise. An unreadable expression crossed his face then he sighed and stood.
“I was wondering when you were going to ask me that. I thought I had a few more years but…you were always ahead of your time. Come on, I think we need to sit at the table for this.”
The table was where they had serious discussions. Caine swallowed. He didn’t know what had made him ask about his mom but…he really wanted to know.

“Do you remember anything about her Caine?”
He shook his head. “Nope.”
A sad looked crossed his dad’s face. “She was a warm, caring, loving, and selfless woman and I loved her very much. You know about the physical side of mating Caine but it’s hard to explain the emotional side of things.”
Caine wrinkled his nose. “You mean that mushy stuff? Like cards and flowers and balloons? That kinda stuff?”
His dad smiled. “Yeah, that kind of stuff.” His face grew serious.

“For us Lancaster’s it’s even more intense. There’s a side of us Duncaine that scares everyone. Not just full humans but our pack mates as well. Something that is whispered about. When you’re a little older I’ll show you the book. That book has been passed down from generation to generation. Anyways, your mom was an amazing woman but she wasn’t very healthy to began with. She was the runt you know, but God that woman was born to be alpha. I never should have gotten her pregnant but she wanted a baby more than anything. After she had you her health started to rapidly fail.”
“I-I killed her?”
“NO! No, son that’s not what I mean.”

He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. Leaning forward he narrowed his eyes. “You gave her life. For the few short years she was here after your birth nothing brought her more joy than to play with you, read with you, cuddle with you until you both fell asleep. Do you understand Caine? I think if she hadn’t had you she would have died sooner.”
“She had you too dad.”
“Yes, yes she did. She’ll always have me. When you finally mate you’ll understand Caine.”
Caine opened his mouth to say he was never going to mate but suddenly a loud commotion came from the front. Caine followed his dad as he raced out the door.

“Ethan, what are you doing?”
Showing this omega his place.
Caine frowned. Uncle Ethan, he wasn’t really his Uncle but Caine had called him that for as long as he could remember, was standing over a smaller wolf who was curled into himself.
“Not in the front yard your not. Not in broad daylight in view of full humans. Ethan, have you lost all sense? Now is not the time or the place.”
Bernard smiled pleasantly as a woman walked by then turned back to his cousin. “Use common sense cousin,” he growled.

Like you, cousin? You spend so much time with full humans I’m surprised you even remember what it is to be a wolf. Always you talk about hiding who we are. I’m tired of hiding, alpha.
Caine saw his dad stiffen slightly. He started to turn but froze when the baleful eyes of the omega met his. He tilted back his head and howled sending shivers down Caine’s spine. He took a careful step back.
“Now is not the time to discuss this Ethan. When you’ve regained your senses then I’ll speak to you. Until then I ask that you remove yourself from the yard.”
Bernard gestured for Caine to proceed him inside the house and then, without even bothering to spare Ethan another glance, he turned and followed.

“Dad, I don’t want to be alpha,” Caine said later that night as he stretched out on the couch.
“And why not?”
“Because. You have to watch over the whole pack, have meetings with other packs and you always have to watch your back. You never get time for fun.”
“You and I had fun today.”
“Yeah, but that’s only ‘cause the Daniel’s alpha switched the time of the meeting. Being alpha sucks. You never get time for yourself.”
“Being alpha is an honor Duncaine. Don’t forget that. Sure you have to watch your back and place others needs before your own but the pack is your family and families watch out for each other no matter what.”

“I still think it sucks…and," he yawned, "…and…I’m not going to mate." He yawned once again making his jaw crack. "…ever…”



Caine woke up sometime later when his stomach rumbled. Rubbing his eyes he got up and hearing typing walked over to his dad’s computer.

"Dad?"
His dad didn't seem to hear him. He was hunkered over the keyboard and typing slowly with a fierce expression on his face. The light from the computer showed a sheen of sweat on his forehead.

“Whatcha doing dad?”
His dad turned and looked at him. He studied him for a moment then blinked. Caine frowned. His dad’s eyes looked funny and it was cool in the house so he wondered why his dad was sweating.
“You okay dad?”
“Yeah, yeah. Must have been those pancakes I ate before you got home from school. As for what I’m doing…your uncle Ethan sent me an email. He wants to apologize in person for acting disrespectful. I was just telling him we could meet tomorrow.”
“Can I come dad? Huh? Huh?”
There was a moment of silence as his dad wiped at the sweat on his forehead. “Sure you can come. Ethan has never been one to grovel so it should be over pretty quickly then I have the meeting with the Daniel’s pack.” He shook his head. “Why are you up?”
“I’m hungry.”
Caine grinned when his dad laughed.
“Sometimes I forget that you’re still a pup and your metabolism burns through food.”
“I am not a pup!”
His dad ruffled his hair as he stood and walked into the kitchen. “Sure you’re not. How about a piece of strawberry cake? I brought some from that bakery you like so much.”
“Awesome!”

"Dad, how come Uncle Ethan doesn't like you? Doesn't like us?" Caine asked as she shoved strawberry cake into his mouth.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," his dad said absently. He tapped the tines of his fork against the edge of the plate.
"Ethan wants what I have. What you'll have one day. He wants to be alpha."
"He can have it."
"Duncaine Malcolm Lancaster! Don't you ever say that again. A Lancaster has always been the head of the pack. Just not by birthright but by might as well. Do you think you're uncle didn't challenge me? I had to maul him in order for him to concede defeat. It's not something I'm proud of but it's something that I don't regret. He isn't fit to lead. If Ethan ever gets control of this pack he will tear it apart and we'll be nothing more than vagabonds. Do you understand me?"
"Yes sir," Caine said meekly.
Bernard rubbed the bridge of his nose and his fork dropped out of suddenly nervously fingers. "I'm sorry to snap at you son. I think I need to head to bed."
Throwing their plates in the trash they walked down the hall to their rooms.

"Dad, you are the coolest dad in the world. You're awesome!"
"Awesome huh? Where'd you hear that?"
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There's reruns on TV. But it's true dad! You are awesome."
His dad patted his head. "Tell me that again in another six years kiddo," he said with a laugh. "I love you Caine."
"I love you too dad."