I Don't Bite [Dean Winchester x Reader] Book 2

Capture

"What are your thoughts?"

"My thoughts?" Caeden asked as he pulled down a bottle of bourbon from the bar – his drink of choice. I watched him from atop the counter in the main hall. He moved slowly, contemplatively, as if he hadn't expected me to ask for his opinion. Even after nearly two years together, he still didn't expect his opinion to be valued.

Caeden turned and slid the bottle towards me, along with three glasses. I gathered them and lifted my heels, spinning quickly atop the counter to face Marcus, who sat at one of the many tables in the room, dust free and clean of the meager meals the pack had devoured that night. I passed him a glass and the bottle.

"I think we should wait until Booth is back," Caeden finally answered as he strode from behind the bar to take his seat beside Marcus. The blonde uncapped the bottle and began pouring into the glasses, humming as he worked. "He's your second."

"I already know Booth's answer. I want to know yours."

Marcus' humming ceased for a moment as he raised the glass to his lips, eyes fixated on his partner. His green eyes held a hint of excitement and mischief, eagerly awaiting Caeden's answer. The latter stared down at the drink, swirling its contents thoughtfully.

"I don't think splitting the pack is the right choice," he finally replied, brows knit in concentration. "It will solve the winter food shortage, but moving everyone now, when winter is just starting, and setting up somewhere new... it's not the right call. Who knows what other problems it will cause with leadership," he spoke, his eyes meeting mine in a pointed gaze.

"We have too many mouths to feed for everyone to stay here," Marcus argued, setting his glass gently on the table. "As it is now, we either starve, or our food supply dries up. Either way, we wouldn't make it to summer – not with the camp being as underdeveloped as it is."

"And camping in tents is better?"

"Half the camp is already in tents," I reasoned as I swung my feet over the edge of the bar, allowing them to dangle. "We can't keep everyone here for the winter if we want this pack to succeed. Come spring-"

"Come spring, the group I take won't want to come back," Caeden snapped as he leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. "I know how this goes. The ones that want a woodland life will not come back."

"So?" I questioned, seeming to surprise him. "If they choose not to, that's their decision. I'm not going to change their minds." I huffed and motioned for Marcus to pass me a glass. The cold surface made my fingers tingle as I wrapped my chilly fingers around it. "We need to come up with something – even a long hunting rotation would work. But we can't keep everyone here through the winter. There's too many of us. Next year will be different."

"Where would we go?" he asked with a scowl. "South?"

"Or any other direction," I replied with a lazy smile. "Not too far hopefully, but far enough to not be in the same hunting territory."

"Yellowstone?" Marcus asked, lifting a brow in contemplation. I shook my head.

"Too busy. You're bound to be seen, either by a tourist or some curious scientist."

He swore under his breath. Yellowstone would've been the perfect spot, potentially for the full pack if it wasn't so damn busy. Instead, we were stuck at the base of the Rockies, wedged against the range and, thankfully, protected from the worst of the snow. But that didn't stop the cold and the animal migrations.

"Then what do you suggest? Group hunting rotations? Send out thirty at a time to, what, collect food, kill rogue monsters?" Marcus grumbled, leaning back and folding his arms over his chest. "We sure as hell can't set up a flimsy camp in some new spot in winter – not unless we move every few days."