I'm Not The First--I Pray To Be The Last Part I

[yansadracan]

Title: I’m Not The First—I Pray To Be The Last
Author: YanzaDracan
Artist: bluefire986
Fandom(s): RPS —KANE, SPN, Leverage, ATS
Characters/Pairings: Christian Kane/Steve Carlson/Jensen Ackles; Jim Beaver/Samantha Ferris; Steven Williams (Rufus SPN); Members of KANE; Tim Hutton/Gina Bellman; Jared Padalecki/Matt Cohen; Jeffrey Dean Morgan; Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia ATS)
Rating: R; SEE WARNINGS
Word Count: 23,061
Warnings sexual context, non-con, violence, strong language, characters death, use of Christian icons, i.e., God, angels, demons, some as they have been used on Supernatural.
Summary: The Archangel Raziel (Secrets of God) creates The Hounds of God, humans who can shift into wolves, sense Evil and the supernatural. Through the generations these families have hunted in mated pairs. Christian and Steve are one such a mated pair. What happens when they meet unmated Hound, Jensen Ackles, who has a very murky past?
Based on tidbits on Wikipedia: Omnes angeli, boni et Mali, ex virtute naturali habent potestatem transmutandi corpora nostra - "All angels, good and bad have the power of transmutating our bodies"). St. Patrick was said to have transformed the Welsh king Vereticus into a wolf. Rare and lesser known account of an 80-year-old man named Thiess. In 1692, in Jurgenburg, Livonia, Thiess testified under oath that he and other Hounds were the Hounds of God. He claimed they were warriors who went down into hell to do battle with witches and demons.
Author’s Notes: Special THANKS to bluefire986 for the wonderful artwork, and for beta reading for me. Her help on this story has been a huge Blessing.

In The Beginning
Joshua walked through God's garden searching for the reason the scent of decay permeated the air. Coming into the rose garden, he saw several of the hardiest bushes beginning to die. That should not have been possible in this place.

Looking beyond the flower and into the roots he 'saw' those who had 'Fallen' with Lucifer roaming the Earth at will, living among humans taking the best and the brightest along with the lowest and the darkest and quickening their bodies with children.

Aghast at these events, he turned away to ask God as to what he should do. At the most critical time in the birth of a universe, God told Joshua to do as he saw fit, and they would handle it later. Following the roots of the dying roses, Joshua marked each of the women with star shaped birthmark that would be carried by all the children of her line until such time that God turned his attention back to the affairs of man.

When Joshua turned away from the garden and turned towards God, one rose of the purest white had been plucked, and when the angel turned back to leave his mark on the dying flowers, this one went unnoticed as it was the hardiest of the lot and had not yet begun to wither. Thus did one line of 'Fallen' and human go unmarked.

Fretting over the rose garden where some of the vines had mutated and twisted while others had regained their health, Joshua felt the presence of God and one other enter his domain. Looking at the roses, it was agreed that a countermeasure needed to be put in place. Turning to the holder of his secrets, God beckoned him forward.

"Raziel, here is what I want you to do…"

The Angel of Secret Regions and Supreme Mysteries sent out a mental call then settled down to wait. It didn't take long before thirteen women in various stages of pregnancy appeared in front of the angel.

He explained how they had been chosen to birth a race of warriors that would be known as the Hounds of God and feared by all the creatures of evil across the world for they would each carry a piece of Heaven. They would have all the abilities of the great wolves that roamed the world and would be able to walk as human or as wolves. He asked each of the women to choose a symbol that would replace the star that every child of their line would carry that symbol on their backs.

Amazed that all the women had complied with little fuss, he came to the last of the women to be touched by his call. A beauty with dark red hair and eyes the color of summer leaves, she bore no star on her shoulder.

"What is your name, Mistress, and what do you wish to be your line's symbol?"

She looked at Raziel with a knowing smile. She knew her child had been begot from a 'Fallen'-she knew what she was setting in motion. She had 'seen' it all.

"My name is…Lili…," She clamped down on the last syllable of her true name, "and I wish for wings-one for each shoulder."

He was surprised but Raziel did as she bid. The angel was glad this was the last. What he was doing had taken a toll on his grace. He had finished, and was about to send everyone on their way when something caused him to look back at the red-headed woman.

The angel's grace had shredded the illusion she'd been holding around her true self so that when Raziel turned and looked at her, the angel 'saw' what her child had been before the change. Not knowing what to do, Raziel quickly sent them all on their way and returned to Joshua.

"I did not know she bore no star!" He exclaimed.

God and Joshua tried to soothe the distressed angel.

"You said all that lain with the 'Fallen' bore a star on their left shoulder."

"While God continued soothing the Keeper of his secrets, Joshua hurried to the rose garden where he found one white rose withered.

Present Day

"He's tryin' ta fuckin' kill me."

"'He' anyone we know or just some random 'he'?" Steve Carlson asked his mate Christian Kane as he walked into their home office.

"Eric."

Steve chuckled as Christian lifted his head off his desk and handed Steve a sheaf of papers. Reading, he had to agree with Christian's assessment.

"Maybe we should just hunt down all the program directors doing all these TV shows about ghosts, witches, vampires, and the supernatural. Probably cut down on the number of amateurs out there conjuring shit they can't control."

"I think that's on the schedule while I'm doing the promotional tour for movie number two." He leaned back in his chair and yanked the blond down in his lap. "How was your day, dear?" He ran his nose along the tendon of Steve's neck, the smells telling him everywhere his mate had been.

"Very unstressful day helping mom get ready for dad's birthday."

"Then you can sit down and start stressing with me over what we're going to do about replacing Jason, and getting a little clarity on the our drummer…Ryan…mfmph…" The tirade was cut off by the simple act of Steve covering Christian's lips with his own.

"That's fightin' dirty, Carlson." Christian's voice held little bite as he sprawled across his naked mate.

"Got your mind off all those stressful things." Steve chuckled as he ran his fingers through Christian's sweat soaked mane.

"Thanks for reminding me." Christian growled as he flopped over on his back.

"You gonna lay the lead guitar tracks when we get to Nashville since Jason's out?" He asked as he headed toward the shower.

"What about Nutter?" Steve asked.

Rhythm guitar had been his place in KANE for thirteen years. It was a comfort zone he loath to give up.

"I love Brian like a brother, but I want the KANE sound, not the Keith Urban wannabe sound." Christian groaned as Steve started working the shampoo through his hair, massaging his scalp.

"Why don't we hold auditions? Maybe we can get a lead guitar and another hunting pair to divvy up some of these hunts Eric keeps finding for us."

Christian rinsed his hair before clearing the water from his eyes.

"Why don't you want the lead spot? It's not like you don't already know all the rips."

They were getting dressed before Steve answered Christian's question.

"Because my place is always at your right hand." He blushed at the sentimentality behind the words.

Christian pulled him tight to his chest.

"You're such a sap." He grinned.

%%%%%

"With all these changes in the band, how're you boys doing for support on your hunts?"

"It's your birthday, dad. Can we not worry about this right now?" Steve cajoled his father.

"Exactly. What I want for my birthday is to know my boys have everything they need on their hunts." Chris Carlson said stubbornly.

"Dad…"

"Your mother and I hunted for a few years before you kids came along. It's a lot to take on alone."

"Dad, we're not alone. We have Will, and while Ryan won't be with us in Nashville, he'll be with us on tour, plus whoever we hire to replace Jason."

"I may have just what you're looking for…" Chris went to his computer. "A young man was sent to us a couple months ago to finish recovering from injuries caused by a demon attack. He's a hunter who was visiting his guardian…a Steven Williams who died when they were attacked."

"A hunter? Where's his mate?" Christian asked.

"Doesn't have one. Hunts alone. He's a heck of a fighter. He's been doing some teaching as the last of his wounds finish healing."

"What makes you think we should audition him?" Steve asked.

"I've heard him play. He'd give you a run your money, Stevie." His father gave him a smirk.

"Seriously?" Steve huffed as he accepted a file from his father.

Jensen Ackles - Wing Clan

"Holy shit!" Christian exclaimed. "Wing Clan. But even they hunt in pairs. What's the boy's beef?"

"No beef. The clan's simply wary of the circumstances surrounding his birth. Apparently the only ones who know the whole story are dead except for Jensen."

"Morgan might be an ass, but he's not usually one to act on wives' tales and nonsense." Christian pointed out a well known fact about the patriarch of the smallest of their clans. "He and Jensen should be as close as brothers."

"If he's carrying some kind of taint should we be associating with him?" Steve asked.

A gasp from the doorway had three heads turning to see Sandy Carlson standing with her hand over her mouth, appalled at her son.

"Steven Paul Carlson!" She exclaimed before heading out the back door.

"Jensen! Wait! Stevie was just being an idiot." She chased after him as he headed out into the yard.

"Well that was an auspicious beginning." Chris said sourly as he followed after his wife.

"What?! I just said what everyone else was thinking." Steve defended. "No one hurts solo by choice."

"That's an awful broad statement, Hoss." Christian said as he and Steve followed behind the elder Carlsons. "Not like you to go spoutin' rhetoric. Maybe he hasn't found his mate yet."

Steve held his silence, but a dark flush rose over his face from his collar.

"Fuck! You're jealous. Your dad had something good to say about a stranger and you got jealous." Christian's chuckle grew louder.

"Shut up." Steve said sullenly as he flopped down in a patio chair watching his parents talking to a handsome man with reddish brown hair they assumed was this Jensen person.

"Maybe we should call Jeff." Steve suggested.

"Don't let me stop you." Christian walked over to the where the Carlsons were frowning as Jensen walked to a charcoal colored SUV and drove away.

Steve blinked as he was left standing alone on the deck, birthday guests forgotten over the hurt feelings of one lone wolf. He turned to go back into his dad's office to finish reading Jensen's file.

%%%%%

Jensen Ackles drove away from the Carlson house blinking back the hurt at Steve Carlson's words and insinuations. Sandy and Chris' acceptance of him had let him forget for just a little while-had made him feel almost normal. He would not be caught off guard again.

When he'd gotten well enough to begin rebuilding the muscles that had been damaged in the demon attack, he'd decided on Carlsons' because of the obstacle courses they'd built in the California hills close to their home. Today was the day he'd set for himself to run their extreme course changing back and forth between his human and wolf form.

He took a little extra time to warm his muscles and stretch the scar tissue that ran down his left side. Checking his watch he made note of the time and headed for the first obstacle.

Twinges of pain in the scarred muscles were ignored as he transformed into a mahogany wolf half again the size of an ordinary Hound. He pushed aside anything that was an impediment to finishing the course. When he could make it through without stopping, and still be able to function at the end, it would time to leave.

All he wanted to do when he finished was to throw himself down and sleep for a week, but knew if he sat or lay down his muscles would stiffen and he'd be in a world of hurt for trip back to his vehicle. He walked, sipped water, and stretched. Instead of running the obstacles on the return trip, he simply jogged moving from two legs to four and back.

Checking his watch, he had plenty of time to shower and get to the class he was supposed to teach at Carlsons'. He hoped sonny boy wasn't there with his hot mate to turn what was so far a good day, sour. If the spoiled brat was too much of a pain in the ass, he'd pack his bag and hit the road. He could do his strengthening exercises while he hunted. No need to stay in California and be abused, he could do that anywhere in the world.

%%%%%

Steve watched fascinated at the play of light around Jensen Ackles. Red and blond in his brown hair, the flash of green eyes, the changing light and shadow as he moved around the students teaching, encouraging, using hands on when someone was particularly dense. Watching the younger Hound move he would never have guessed Jensen had been so badly injured, and had lost his only family…Steve shook his head at what an ass he'd made of himself with Jensen yesterday. He was startled out his reverie when a strong arm circled his waist.

"Ya call Morgan?" Christian asked as he sniffed then kissed the side of his neck.

"No. Mom called and invited me to breakfast this morning then when Dad left to check the academy she let me have it for acting like a spoiled brat.

"She tell you anything about the pretty boy?"

"A little. The reason he and Morgan don't get along is more Morgan than Ackles. Worried about his position as Clan leader, he stepped over the line with Jensen and Jensen called him on it."

"Clan leader! The boy can't be more than 30, 32." Christian stepped back astonished.

"Actually, he's 34. I read the rest of the file. Wing Clan is very small. Their line has always had a very low birth rate, and Jensen is apparently the only one near enough in age to be a challenger."

"Anything else?"

"Orphaned. Raised by the retired Hound that was killed in the attack that injured him, lives alone, hunts alone-he always seems to be alone."

"I was going to ask him to play for us before you had your little hissy fit last night."

Steve had the good grace to blush. "Sorry."

"So what are you goin' do 'bout it, Boy?" Christian growled.

The blond shivered. The voice did it for him every time.

"I was going to apologize when he came to work this morning, but he didn't have anything scheduled 'til this afternoon." Steve leaned back into the warmth of his mate.

"He's good… he'll make a good addition if he plays as well as he fights." Christian rested his chin on his mate's shoulder.

Dismissing his students, Jensen was toweling off the sweat when the breeze carried Carlson and Kane's scents to the younger Hound's sensitive nose. With a sigh he pulled the towel off his head.

"I haven't been here long enough to offend your tender sensibilities…so what do you want?" He practically snarled at Steve.

Steve ducked his head and exposed his throat to signal Jensen that he didn't want to fight.

"I wanted to apologize for being a jerk last night and see if we could start over." He held out his hand. "Hi. I'm Steve Carlson this is my mate Christian Kane."

Jensen shook hands with both men. "Now that we're all friends…" Jensen's drawled, "what's the next step."

"Steve's dad mentioned you play guitar, and we're looking for a guitar player." Christian gave him a wide grin.

Confused Jensen rubbed the back of his head.

"What does a hunting pair need with a guitar player?"

"Seriously, dude? Christian Kane-Steve Carlson-KANE? Ring any bells?"

Jensen shrugged. "Not really." He stopped as though he remembered something. "Did you play a beer joint in Portland? Dave's…Dan's…Dante's?"

"Dante's and Duke's actually." Steve added.

"Okay. Yeah. I was in there grabbin' a burger one night, and you guys were playin'. Girls going totally batshit crazy. Good sound."

"Thanks, but the reason we need a guitar player is ours moving on to some other projects."

"And you want me to play for you?" Jensen's voice sound incredulous.

"Yeah. Yer good lookin', a hunter and Chris said yer a helluva guitar player." Christian prodded.

Jensen's expression was skeptical, but he was willing.

"So where do you want to do this audition?"

"We've got some studio time tomorrow." Steve said as he wrote an address on a business card. "We'll be there from ten to twelve."

"Electric or acoustic?" Jensen asked.

"Both." Christian grinned.

"Naturally." He turned to leave.

Two sets of blue eyes widened in surprise when his clan marking showed through the sweat soaked t-shirt. A black angel wing showed on each shoulder. All Hounds were taught clan symbols, but they had never seen anything like what they saw on Jensen's back.

They quickly made their goodbyes to Chris and Sandy before heading out to see an old friend before they went home.

%%%%%

Not everyone born into the Hound clans became hunters. Many were doctors for mind and body, archivists, researchers, and many simply formed a loose network of support for those that hunted the supernatural. They were a fringe society that mixed with humans, but seldom did humans learn of their true nature. On occasion a young Hound would be indiscriminate, adding new blood into the gene pool of the original thirteen clans.

Jim Beaver looked out his office window when he heard a vehicle coming up the drive. Checking his camera feed he grinned as he recognized the silver pickup.

"We're having two more for lunch!" He yelled toward the kitchen as he headed for the front door.

"Two-who?" Jim's partner, Samantha Ferris asked.

Sam had started to work for Jim after his mate had been killed in one of Los Angeles' multi-car accidents in which having Hound healing abilities could not save her from the piece of pipe that came through the windshield and punctured her heart.

With a lot of prodding from friends and family the two fell into a comfortable relationship. It didn't have the fire they'd had with their true mates, but it went a long way toward keep Jim from pining away for what he'd lost.

"Steve and Christian." The researcher came to stand beside Sam as she watched out the living room window.

"It's been too long." She said with a fond smile. "I better get back to it if we're going to have enough." She gave Jim a quick kiss before heading back to the kitchen.

After welcoming the younger men, Jim led them out on the patio, refusing to talk business until after lunch so they caught up on the happenings since their last visit, then retired to his office after lunch.

"So. I know you boys didn't just drop by for lunch…" Jim prompted.

Both men blushed.

"What do you know about a clan marking that's black angel wings?" Steve asked.

Jim looked confused. "Black? You mean like those tribal designs tattoo artists do?"

They both shook their heads.

"I've never seen such detail in a clan marking, and that was seeing them through a wet t-shirt." Christian offered his phone to the older man.

"What's this Hound's name?"

"Jensen Ackles, Wing Clan." Steve offered.

The picture wasn't the best, but the wet material was just translucent enough to see some of the intricacy. Jim's eyes went wide as he copied the picture to his computer trying to make it clearer. While he worked he talked.

"What do you boys know about the Wing Clan?"

"Not much." Christian started. "Small clan, low birth numbers, kickass hunters…" He looked at Steve.

"Other than that just some gossip." Steve finished.

"Legend has it," Jim started as he frowned at the picture, "that the angels that fell with Lucifer mated with human women and created the Nephilim. It's said God's gardener, Joshua that noticed some of his roses dying, and that these roses were connected to the women that became pregnant by the 'Fallen'. He marked each woman with a star shaped birthmark that would be passed on to her child if the babies were born before he returned from reporting to God so they'd be able to find them."

He paused to smile at Sam as she brought a tray of drinks, and sat down to listen.

"In his haste to find God, Joshua missed one woman. Seeing what was happening, God and Joshua decided there needed to be a countermeasure so he called the angel, Raziel, Keeper of his Secrets, and gave him a mission. He was to find the thirteen women and transform their babies into weapons that could be used in the fight against evil. Raziel didn't realize until it was too late that the last baby he transformed was the woman Joshua had missed marking. When he asked for her clan mark she asked for wings, but like all the other clans it was a mere outline. Never have I seen detail like this."

"We've never been around anyone from Wing Clan. What makes them so different?" Sam asked.

"Their wolf is bigger, stronger, faster than the rest of us, can take more punishment, heal faster." He paused. "There's no confirmation of this, but legend says they can see evil-not just feel it the way we do, but actually see it." Blue eyes lit up. "There's always been speculation that Lilith possessed the unmarked woman, and that Wing Clan has both angel and demon DNA. Think he'd talk to me?"

"Jim!" Sam scolded.

"He talks less than Christian." Steve cracked, dodging his mate's slap.

"He's auditioning for us tomorrow. Could be we get to know him, he'll open up."

Jim looked at something on his computer screen.

"There's a lot of information missing about the last hunt his parents did together. His father, Alan died along with the demon they were hunting. His mother, Donna didn't return home for a month after her mate was killed. When she returned she had a newborn with her. She stayed with Steven Williams until Jensen was five, when she died. It was said she was never the same after Jensen's birth and her mate's death. She made Williams Jensen's guardian and he trained Jensen to hunt."

"It's a shame you don't know much." Christian snarked.

"Keeping records of your hunts is the only way to help keep you hunters safe. The more information we have about what's out there and what kills it the better you can function."

"He might not appreciate having people digging into his past." Steve pointed out.

"It's his duty to the clans." Jim pointed out.

"Boys," Sam's voice stopped the conversation. "Jim, what's research to you is a very painful part of someone's life. You can't just expect them to walk in and bare their soul."

Jim looked sheepish at Sam's chastisement.

"You're probably right. Still…"

"Jim Beaver!"

"Oh, alright. Sheesh woman. He's a hunter, not a teenage girl."

On that note, the visit broke up with Steve and Christian promising to bring Jensen by for a visit if he lived up to Chris' high praise.

%%%%%

Waiting for Jensen to show up at the recording studio was not conducive to getting much work done, but they actually managed to get a couple good tracks recorded when they saw the younger man enter the studio with two guitar cases.

Christian couldn't resist teasing Steve as he watched him practically drooling over Jensen's SRV Stratocaster.

"You wanna back up a little there, son before Jensen begins to wonder if your intentions are less than honorable?"

Blushing a bright red and with a mumbled 'Sorry' Steve nearly tripped over his feet to back up.

The expression in the green eyes was confusion at Steve's rapid backpedal.

"I don't bite, unless you say 'please'." Jensen teased, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.

"So." Christian tried to break the awkward silence that fell after his comment. "What are you gonna dazzle us with today?"

It was Jensen's turn to blush.

"I…uh…well…I went on YouTube and watched some of the fan videos. Since House Rules was one of the most prevalent, I worked on picking it up by ear and watching Jason…" He hid his embarrassment by adjusting the strap on his guitar.

"Give it a shot." Steve encouraged.

By the end of an hour he'd played his electric and acoustic solo and with Steve. The mates exchanged a look then turned back to the younger were.

"You've got yourself a job. How do you feel about goin' to Nashville next week?"

%%%%%

They worked with Jensen until it was time to fly to Nashville. Christian had offered for Eric get him a plane ticket, but Jensen declined. Steve gave him the address for their house and the recording studio in Nashville while Christian was on the phone with Eric.

"We've got a spare room if you need a place to stay." Steve offered.

"No man, I don't want to cramp your style." Jensen hedged.

"Not a problem, the guys always stay at the house when we're recording. We have plenty of room."

"There is one rule we have." Christian interjected. "When there's studio time booked-No Hunting. Any other day, no problem, but studio time is too expensive to piss away 'cause you got hurt on a hunt."

"No problem. I've got to get back in shape and there's still a few things that need to be handled before I can think about hunting again." Jensen's tone was matter of fact.

"I guess we'll see you Tuesday in Nashville."

"Sure. You want me to meet you at the studio or the house?" Jensen asked as he packed away his guitars.

"You get into town on Monday, come to the house and get settled. If you don't get there 'til Tuesday we'll see you at ten in the studio."

%%%%%

Jensen had been mentally kicking himself since he'd gotten hired to play with KANE. His whole life had been lived under the radar, trying to draw as little attention to himself as possible. For thirty-four years he and Steven had been mostly successful. Now here he was standing up in front of the legions of Kaniacs. He could hear Steven's voice in the back of his mind asking him if he'd lost his fucking mind. He was beginning to think he had, but every mutated cell in his body was telling him that things were shifting-moving-being manipulated by the true power living in and on the planet. He felt sorry for the humans that would become collateral damage, he just hoped he was strong enough to fulfill the purpose for which he was born.

February 1978

For their first vacation since their mating, Alan and Donna Ackles were on a tour of the United Kingdom to visit their ancestral homes when the head of the Hound clan in Ireland had asked them to join in the hunt for a Class Two demon.

There were three classes of demons-Three's were the foot soldiers, two's middle managers-souls cursed to Hell that had managed to rise through the ranks to the next level. One's were the 'Fallen' themselves with only one other and the Morning Star himself above them.

Though Alan was Horse Clan and Donna, Wing Clan, etiquette among the clans said if you were asked for help, you helped. The search area had been broken into quadrants for each team to search. In wolf form, the mates had nearly finished their section when the stench of sulpher filled sensitive noses.

Seeing a young woman moving toward the ruins of a foundation, the wolves moved to cut her off. Donna kept her pinned to the ground while Alan transformed so he was half wolf half human, using the added strength to hold the possessed girl so Donna could perform the exorcism. As Donna began to shift all hell broke loose.

The woman's body went limp in Alan's hands as the demon poured from her mouth, the cloud swirling over their heads then enveloped Donna as she shifted, unable to stop.

It was thought that Hounds could not be possessed since they were created by an angel, but there was just a breath of time in their shift when they were neither human nor wolf that a clever demon could possess them, but only for a short time as the angel touched wolf waged war on the demon once the shift was complete.

Alan dropped the unconscious girl and turned to look into the solid white eyes of the only demon with no classification-Adam's first wife-Lilith.

Before he could formulate a plan of attack, Alan found himself pinned to the ground, his mate's Hound strength combined with Lilith's telekinesis left him helpless to fight back. Stripped of his clothing he tried to resist as Lilith used her hands and mouth to arouse his body while his mind resisted.

He tried to ignore the touches, willing his body not to respond, but all he could see and smell was his mate. Then Lilith's words were whispered in his mate's voice.

"She's ready, you know. After this hunt was finished she intended to seduce you until she carried your cub in her womb."

Alan's body became even more aroused at the demon's words. Donna had been planning to give him a child. He'd closed his eyes when Lilith had lowered her head. He hadn't wanted to see the white eyes on his mate's face, but his eyes flew opened when Lilith lowered Donna's body onto his hard cock.

"This is perfect." She crooned as invisible hands moved along with Donna's over his body. "A child carrying the blood of a 'Fallen' angel once more mixing with mine, how simply delicious is that? I'm sure the heavenly host is just all twisted in knots at that thought."

She threw back her head as she and Alan orgasmed. A satisfied smile lit her face as she felt the new life in the womb of her host. Transforming one arm she plunged the clawed hand between Alan's ribs and ripped his heart from his chest.

Standing over the dead Hound, she watched as the heart ceased to beat. Throwing it on the ground her expression was one of satisfaction.

"Poor thing died of a broken heart."

As she started to laugh, she was driven to her knees as Donna's wolf began trying to expel Lilith's presence, and the child had begun to rapidly develop. Lilith fought to maintain dominion over her host and the wolf, but as the fetus' wolf developed it joined with its mother to fight the demon presence.

Unlike most humans, Donna's psyche had been awake and aware the whole time. With all she was she prayed to Raziel, patron angel of all Hounds, for deliverance. There was a sudden surge of a powerful presence, and her body fell to her knees.

When she woke, Donna was warm and dry. She ran a hand down her body feeling her abdomen distended as though she were six months pregnant. Opening her eyes, she looked into a pair of sparkling blue ones.

"Hungry?" The beautiful young man was entirely too cheerful for everything that had happened since the hunt started.

"Not really." As she levered herself upright, the baby gave a strong kick. "Did you drive out Lilith? Why am I still carrying this abomination?"

His glow diminished at her words.

"I did not drive out Lilith. It was your son that accomplished that little trick."

"My son?"

"Yes. Your-abomination as you called him."

"If you're who I think you are, I would think you would be the first one to get rid of something tainted by demon blood." Donna argued.

"Oh no. It's very important he grow up to his potential. He's very special-only one or two are born every few generations. He will be involved in maintaining a very delicate balance in the years to come."

"Balance?"

"Yes. That is all I am at liberty to say. I will see to your comforts until we can get you back to the Castle seat."

March 1, 1978

Seeing to her comfort meant playing midwife as she gave birth to her demon child.

"He is so much more." Donna heard Raziel croon to the child.

"Then you raise him." Donna spat rolling away. "I want nothing of him."

"Will you give the lad a name?" A soft Irish lilt colored the angel's voice.

"If I name it will you grant me a boon?" Her expression turned sly.

Knowing what was on her mind, Raziel paused as though considering.

"On one condition."

Donna looked at the hard set of the handsome face. If he thought the infant was so wondrous, he could contend with it.

"Done."

She looked down into the clear green eyes that looked a thousand years old. A shudder passed through her making her long for the strong arms of her mate.

"Jensen. Jensen Ross Ackles." She pulled her eyes away from the baby's to look into the angel's…then knew no more.

%%%%%

When he was five, he remembered crawling into his Razzy's lap and laying his head on her chest. He knew he wasn't the same as the other Hounds in their Clan. He knew his mother was really an angel wearing his mother's meat suit, he knew Steven loved him, but feared for his safety and sanity. He knew a lot of things no five year-old should ever know, and he remembered every moment of his life from conception until now.

Now, his 'mother' was going to leave him. He'd heard her talking to someone called Joshua after she'd put him to bed. So he sat savoring the last few moments he would ever have a mother. Raziel's parting gift had been to make his clan markings into a pair of beautiful black wings that looked incredibly life like.

When Jensen came of age to learn to hunt, the knowledge was there like someone downloaded the information into his brain like an updated hard drive. Finding his claws and teeth could kill a demon, like their bespelled blades, certainly made hunting easier, but also put him at the top of the demon hit parade.

It made him nauseous to think he should thank his 'mother', Lilith, for making him a walking encyclopedia of all the monsters that she had ever birthed, and how to kill them. If that wasn't enough to make him an outcast among his own kind, Lilith had possessed Donna Ackles just long enough for him to be telekinetic.

Raziel and Steven had both nearly swallowed their tongues the first time Jensen's bottle floated across the kitchen into grasping fingers.

Pulling in the parking space in front of his motel room, Jensen wrenched his thoughts back to the present. If he was going to be in Nashville by Tuesday, he had a few details from Steven's will to clear before he left. He hoped by the time he returned from Tennessee the ghosts were settled.

%%%%%

Christian stood outside the sound booth watching the band. They'd just returned from lunch and he'd stopped by the bathroom while Steve had continued on to the booth to join Will and Jensen who were going over arrangements with the studio drummer. They would play then stop then play again pausing to make notes on the score sheets.

Jensen had settled in quickly, both at the house and at the studio. Everyone was taken with his easy going personality. He accepted criticism well, but had some good suggestions, too. Christian frowned for a moment. Though the three of them were together nearly 24/7, Jensen had revealed very little of a personal nature.

He was a quiet and neat house mate with most evenings spent going over the music for the next day sparking impromptu jam sessions. They'd talk about the information Eric passed on to them about hunts. He and Steve had handled a demon and a cursed object while Jensen had checked out several poltergeists.

The three Hounds had winched in sympathy when Jensen had come out of the bathroom holding a pad of gauze over a gash on his ribs where one of the poltergeists had thrown him against the spiked iron fence of the cemetery. Will had grabbed the first aid kit and moved toward their newest member. Wide brown eyes took in the beautiful wings tattooed on his back, but he kept his words behind his teeth and tended to the gash.

"I'm just going to butterfly this. It should be healed by morning." Will was quick and efficient in his work.

Jensen visibly relaxed when Will finished, and with a quick, "Nice tat," disposed of the trash and pulled off his gloves.

"Thanks, man."

Jensen released the breath he'd been holding waiting for questions about his Clan mark. He pulled on a t-shirt before heading outside to smoke a cigarette. After the door closed, Will turned to look at Christian and Steve.

"Jensen's the only one that knows and he ain't offerin' anything." Christian said turning back to supper preparations.

Steve had grabbed a couple beers and his own cigarettes as he followed Jensen.

"Thanks, man." He accepted the beer and took a healthy swallow.

"You okay, Jen?" Steve asked.

Surprise crossed the younger Hound's face before his customary expression of pleasant blandness settled back in place.

"Yeah. What's on tap for tomorrow?"

"Christian's got a couple radio shows so you and Will are on your own."

Jensen nodded.

"Might just spend the day stretched out in the shade."

"Good choice." He looked back toward the house. "I better go help Christian with supper."

Jensen nodded.

Steve found he'd like seeing Jensen's real face those few times he allowed his true emotions to come through. He had watched over the past month how many people the younger man touched without allowing them to touch him. He stopped and laid a hand on the broad shoulder giving a light squeeze.

"Glad you didn't let me acting like an ass keep you from taking a chance with us." He said quietly.

Green eyes went wide with surprise as he looked up at the blond Hound. Unable to find the words, Jensen nodded before looking away to collect himself. Steve gave another squeeze before heading inside.

%%%%%

Christian watched the interaction between his mate and Jensen. The younger Hound always seemed so surprised when one of them took the time to seek him out, and act like a genuine friend. The first time Steve had thrown an arm around his shoulders while they studied an arrangement it had startled Jensen so badly he'd dropped the bottle of water he was holding. It angered Christian to think that Williams might have abused Jensen, but there was no whisper of any such behavior so all they could conclude was that Jensen hadn't had a typical clan life.

Christian's family had moved a lot, but they'd always made a point to find other Hounds wherever they lived to have a semblance of Clan life. The combination of Wolf Clan's Native American blood from his father and his New Orleans raised mother's conjure teachings blended well with Christian's role as a hunter.

Songbird Clan produced top flight researchers and weapon smiths for the Clans so when Christian had met Steve in the Los Angeles bar where he'd been performing, and discovered the blond Hound was his mate, they'd developed into a formidable team of hunters.

No matter how many tour dates they had or how many hunts, they always maintained a semblance of clan life with the members of the band. There'd been many nights they'd shove beds together and end up in a pile of arms and legs and fur to strengthen the bond between them as friends and band mates. When Jensen was shocked or shied from their casual touches, it made Christian determined to teach him what it meant to be Clan.

Christian wasn't giving any thought to the reason why he was determined that the unmated Hound feel like he belonged with them. He had a reputation for taking in strays and orphans, his big heart often bruised when they bit the hand that had fed them, but there had been something the first time he'd seen Jensen that whispered in the back of his mind that he needed to keep the younger Hound close. Jensen becoming their guitar player had quieted the voice, but there was still an occasional nudge of…something.

He'd wanted to ask Steve if he'd felt anything, but he was afraid his mate would react badly if he said anything about what the spirits were whispering in his ear so he'd have to wait for Steve to say something. If he didn't and the whispers got louder he'd have to reconsider talking to Steve. Members of the Wolf Clan were known for their affinity for communicating with the spirit world, and it was never a good idea to ignore them.

Seeing Steve heading toward the door, he turned back to his supper preparations.

%%%%%

Jensen ran through his usual training routine. By the time he'd showered and headed to the kitchen, Steve and Christian had left for their promotional appearances. He grinned when he opened the refrigerator. Hounds weren't big on processed foods-they weren't very palatable to their sensitive taste buds. He fixed himself a bowl of yogurt with handfuls of fruits and nuts from the crisper drawer.

Tucking a notepad under his arm he gathered his breakfast and travel mug and carried them out onto the deck. The past six weeks spent in the Kane-Carlson household had left him feeling confused. Williams hadn't been much for socializing with others. Raising a Hound with Jensen's unique qualities made him even less inclined to mingle. Jensen had been home schooled, his education running the gambit from classical to modern. When something had confused him Steven always had him write out what was confusing him and to think it out logically so as he ate he wrote.

Two mugs of coffee, and four cigarettes later he felt lighter, calmer, but still confused. Even after reading what he'd written. He closed the notebook knowing staring at the words weren't going to make them fall into anything that remotely resembled logic. After securing the notebook, he shifted and stretched out in the grass, letting the mid morning sun warm his rich mahogany pelt.

Later he lifted his head enough to give Will a welcoming nuzzle before the brown wolf stretched out beside him, both enjoying the warm sun and cool spring grass.

When Christian and Steve got home they were drawn to the sounds of growls and the scrabbling of claws on the wooden deck.

Not hearing any signs of distress or anger, they stowed their guitars before heading into the backyard to see Jensen with Will pinned to the grass, the smaller Hound trying valiantly not to shift as Jensen tickled him unmercifully.

"UNCLE!!!" Will shifted to human form while trying to catch his breath.

"You could stand another pound or two," Jensen teased, "even your wolf is skinny."

"We're not skinny!" Will groused. "We're wiry."

"Keep tellin' yourself that, Will." Christian laughed as he and Steve sprawled in the deck chairs.

"So how was the schmooze-fest?" Jensen asked as he tossed a bottle of water to Will from the wet bar.

"Animal magnetism wins the day once more." Steve snickered at his mate's blush.

Before the teasing got any worse, Christian's phone rang.

"Kane."

Christian said very little during the course of the call. Short yes and no answers with a final, "Sounds good, we'll be there."

Sticking the phone in his shirt pocket, he looked up to find three sets of eyes watching him expectantly.

"Dinner at 'The Farm' tomorrow. Eric wants to go over last minute prep for the tour, and then take a run before being cooped up on a tour bus for next six months."

"What time?" Steve grinned at the thought of good food, listening to Eric bitch over details before a chance to spend the rest of the night enjoying the wildlife preserve outside Nashville.

"Soon as we get there."

"Anyone else?" Will asked.

"No, but Ryan and Hashana arrive in the morning, and we'll be pulling out the day after."

Jensen watched the other's faces light up at the mention of the drummer and his mate so took the distraction to head for the shower.

"What was that about?" Steve looked at the other two.

"New boy moment." Will shrugged. "It's how I felt around you and Jason for a couple gigs after I joined the band. Shared history and all that…but a shower is a good idea. One Hound should not have that much stamina." He snarked as he headed in the house.

Too preoccupied to ask what Will meant, Steve ordered Chinese and started an impromptu jam session before bed.

After picking up Ryan and Hashana they piled in the vehicles and headed to Eric's. It didn't take long for them to demolish the steaks and veggies their manager had grilled. They'd been joined by the men Eric had hired as their road crew.

Ryan's mate, Hashana would keep the bus clean and stocked. Misha Collins would be their driver since his mate was at home taking care of their cub. Eric had found mated pair, Jared Padalecki and Matthew Cohen to take care of the equipment, and act as roadies. They would be the opening act Keith Urban, a human with several Hounds in his entourage. His lead guitar player, Brian Nutter was also a member of Songbird Clan. He, Christian and Steve were good friends and would often playing together when Urban wasn't touring.

Once the last few issues were ironed out-it was time to play.

%%%%%

Part 2

This entry was originally posted at http://yanzadracan.dreamwidth.org/78837.html. Please comment there using OpenID.