Obsessions

[caleb]

The large, fierce 'Beware of Dog' sign on the door already gave warning to those who were thinking of trespassing into the basement room that belong to a particular blond werewolf.

Part garage, part training gym and part bedroom, Caleb had knocked down one of the walls to create this living space. A concrete arena with posters of fifties pin-up girls, vintage strong men and wolves pasted up on the walls. He was especially proud of his Jessica Rabbit poster pasted just above his work bench which was constantly covered in tools.
Tools that were obviously meant for both his cab and his new baby which he was still working to piece back together bit by bit; A Cruiser hybrid.

Hanging from the ceiling was a well worn punching bag whereupon Caleb had painted a pair of vampire fangs. Even his target board which he used for practicing his dagger throwing, was a cheesy Bela Lugosi 'Dracula' poster, stabbed and warped at the edges from usage...

But it was the table next to the sofa bed that didn't seem to really fit in with the rest of the room. A study table of sorts, littered with papers and books, albums stuffed with newspaper clippings . And over and over the headlines sang the same tunes of murder and mayhem, bloodshed at the hands of fiend who drained his victims dry.
The San Francisco Times had heralded this killer as 'Dionysus' or 'Bacchus'.

The very same creature who murdered his father.

And it was here that Caleb was no longer the jester of the pack, or the carefree lout that he presented himself to the rest of the world... Here he was a scholar,a sleuth and a son seeking revenge.

"Bleedin feck," he cursed softly, crossing out the name of another vampire on the list and tossed the red marker back onto the table with a frustrated growl, "Another feckin dead end..."

Caleb had been tracking 'Bacchus' for years, globe trotting and driving people around in his cab; they had proved to be some of the best and the worst sources of information. Humans especially with their inability to separate fact from fiction which could turn news into gossip. Soon his world-wide trek came to an end when he met Patrick and Ella, who'd found him near death behind one of Paris' many nightclubs. A lesson learned that it was never wise to piss off a group of vampires when alone.

Now he had created a sort of base for himself, where he could do his research within the safety of the Pack house. Even managing to acquire a small laptop for internet references, thanks to a lovely thing known as hacking. Everyday he came one step closer, almost to the point where he could smell his quarry just at the next corner... Only to find that he'd been gunning after a red herring.

The blond wolf turned to the world map pinned on the wall and let his fingers walk from where he'd dotted lines on Europe to America, and he frowned at how almost inconsistent the trace went. It was at times like this that he felt lost, foolish and that made him angry. He could feel a pair of eyes on him and he looked over to the poster of 'Bacchus' by Caravaggio, the god with slumberous eyes mocked the wolf in his feeble attempts, openly ridiculing his weakness.
It was the closest thing he had to knowing what the vampire would have looked like.

"Laugh all y'want y'bleedin pansy," Caleb growled and poked a finger directly on the glossy paper chest, "I'll find ya, just you wait... I'll be havin your dead heart in my hands before I die. Swear on it."

Picking up one of his daggers from the table he whipped around and flung it with perfect precision ,straight between the eyes of the Dracula poster.

Obsessed?
Maybe he was, and he wasn't going to stop until either he, or the vampire was dead.

[*James Silvius]

(( Hops in bunny-styled. Hope ya don't mind! The subject didn't say closed! If it is I can always delete this post ))

James couldn't sleep. He was tossing and turning for an hour before he'd given up all hope. First thing tomorrow he was going to go purchase a decent bed. James got up, pulled some sweat pants on, ignored his shirt, and padded softly down the hall. Perhaps someone in here was awake.

His prayers were answered when he heard a very soft curse from the basement. Caleb was awake. What the hell, he thought, I'll go see what he's up too.

James wasn't particularly fond of Caleb's room. It wasn't tasteful to him. But he had to admit, every time he ventured down the basement he found something knew each time. James poked his head in the door way to find Caleb reading a map intently. He then appeared to be talking to one of his posters.

James never saw his brother like this. He knew his history and he also knew he had the right to be angry like this. James opened the door to reveal the rest of his body. "Caleb, are you ok?"

[caleb]

((*snags and huggles the Fangy-bunny* Stay'n'Play! XD ))

The dagger came away from the wall with barely a sound, deft hands wielding it carefully, contemplatively... As if wondering where to stick it next.

"Caleb, are you ok?"

Once upon a time he'd have jumped in shock or retaliated somehow to the sudden arrival of another in his room, but he had gotten used to it, staying here in the pack house where 'privacy' tended to be questionable. But not unwelcome. Any more of this and he'd be worse than Patrick and Katra on their most low days, and that just wasn't supposed to be Caleb's style.

Somber blues looked up to find the concerned gaze of James watching him from the doorway, and he just managed a soft snort and something close to his trademark smirk. Before James there had only been the Head Honcho and one other Michael, both whom were usually to busy to bother with Caleb and his juvenile antics. Otherwise he was near smothered in estrogen. And while no man (or wolf) would complain about that, he did feel like he was lacking in companionship. The dark haired boy was closer to him in age and spirit, providing him with the brother he'd never had.

In that way, Caleb trusted James with most things.

A sigh and he shook his head, looking back at his study table in frustration.
"Seven years James."
He sheathed the dagger and sauntered towards the map.
"Seven years I've been tracking this bastard and still I end up with red crosses..."

The sharp point of the dagger hit the table's edge with a soft 'thunk', the wolf scowling back at the poster that still laughed at him in silence.
"Y'ever read up on Greek mythology Scrappy? Dionysus , Bacchus, the god of wine and inspirer of ritual madness and ecstasy... Also known as Eleutherios ,the Liberator freeing someone from their usual selves through insanity, wine and euphoria..."
Cultured words were ended with a derisive snort.
"Too feckin right. The sot's been around the world gathering followers like blind sheep. His Thiasus, his followers of 'Maenads' and 'Satyrs'. Really, just a buncha lost kids treatin him like some kinda patron saint. They think he's bringing em paradise when he's leadin em all to hell. Feastin on innocent blood instead of wine."

An album was flipped open, revealing newspaper clippings that dated back up to the early 1900s.
"I've been keepin tabs on him, watchin him, just waitin for the next clue... All I know is that he's a cruel sonovabitch with a particular taste for the young'uns. And a certain special place in his rotten heart for , h-holy men."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Caleb lifts up a framed photo; A priest with his arm around a punk-looking boy, both of them polar opposites and yet, they fit perfectly together. Squeezing his eyes shut to block out the screams ,the wolf takes a deep breath and places the picture down flat on the table, covering the image.
"Always so close, I can practically taste his filth on my tongue... And yet..."

Frustration makes him run fingers through his short hair, making blond spikes stick out even more. One last sigh and he moves towards the mini fridge covered in cartoon magnets, "Drink? I sure could use one."
No alcohol to be found here of course.
Once the pack had discovered a certain thirst Caleb had, someone replaced all his beer and whiskey with ginger ale and soda. Not that the young wolf didn't have other ways of getting his much needed high, but here in the pack house he indulged them when he could.

"Whatcha doin up anyway? Ain't ya supposed to be all tucked up and shite?"
Caleb was just being concerned, really.

[*James Silvius]

(( Lol, I wouldn't want to dissapoint now, would I? *Noogies Oli* ))

James closed the door behind him and maneuvered his way through Caleb's room. He had no idea how he came to have the money for half of this stuff. A lot of it was actually junk. James was living on a thin thread. His little money came from working early mornings at a department store. He saved his nights for vamp hunting.

James stood, back straight, arms crossed, watching Caleb with quite a lot of worry in his dark eyes. He would never allow any harm to befall the pack's members if he could help it, both mentally and physically. A lot of them have already helped him. Saved him on countless occaions. It was painful to see his older brother like this, in so much angst and hurt.

James listened to every syllable Caleb spoke. Soaking it all in. Knowledge was power. What Caleb told him was important. James knew very well that there had to be a lot of trust between them for him to reveal such things. James was honored. He already knew some things about Caleb.

James knew that his father was a holy man. Ironic, eh? His mother gave her baby up to the church to take care of. The little tyke was mischief. At the age of 16 his father was murdered by a vampire nonetheless. Also ironic. Caleb wanted to avenge his father just like James wanted to avenge his own father, his twin sister, and little brother. Caleb was drunk when a werewolf bit him.

Caleb has two personalities. Sometimes James thinks that this is what maddens him. His strong outer shell masks a lost boy. James shared common likes and dislikes with him. Though he didn't smoke and drink like Caleb, he trots through the world with a smile on his face just because he knew one day it would all be over. Werewolves were not immortal.

James didn't know that the vampire who murdered his father masqueraded around as the Greek god of wine. This was all new information to him and it did shed some light on Caleb's state of mind. "Couldn't sleep. I'm going to have to find myself a new bed."

James placed a hand on Caleb's shoulder. "I'll help you find him. Once this whole affair with those vamps are taken care of, we can leave this place. Start our own pack and avenge both of our families. There are plenty of wolves out there and some humans who will do anything for revenge who will follow us. You don't have to do this alone, Caleb. And even if you decide to go sneaking off into the night, then you can bet on it that I'll be right behind you. Brother's look out for each other," he said firmly.

[caleb]

((*squees under Noogie of Doom*))

When it came to Caleb and his wolf, things worked out pretty smoothly despite the fact that it had all happened without prior consent. Both man and beast agreed that they could co-exist without too much conflict, they had similar goals and a near similar train of thought.

Vampires.
Both of them hated vampires with such a burning passion that it boiled down to a hatred that fed the flames of rage. Caleb knew that when it came to his anger, he tended to lack control, blinded by just that one single need to hurt, maim and kill. But he was trying to learn, and through his research and study he found that there was much more to this than just running head first into a fight. (Though those kinds of brawls were just as fun)

The stark difference between a newly made fledge and a viciously trained nightwalker; the ability to control their bloodlust and hunger. Which made them even worse than a mindless minion. Calculating ,cruel and sadistic in the way they reveled in the pain they could inflict. These were the true cold-blooded murderers.
With full knowledge and intention for every kill.

That was why there were thousands out there without family members, people like James. Caleb just preferred not to think about them too often, or he'd never find any rest.

"Couldn't sleep. I'm going to have to find myself a new bed."

Blink.
"Ah, yeah s'true."
Caleb winced at the memory of the last time he tried pouncing on James for a lark when the wolf had been asleep. Too giddy with glee and thoughts of James' reaction to time his jump just right, and he ended up landing on the mattress instead when the dark haired wolf rolled over in slumber.
It was like falling on a cloth covered rock.
His hands ached for hours after that, although many had said with much conviction that it had been his fault for even trying.
"Dunno how ya sleep on that thing at all really."

His voice was distracted, lacking its usual dose of mirth and dry humor.
Thoughts still running with memories of his father, caked in blood and doused with wine... crucified.
"It wasn't even just a killing y'know. The bleeding bastard humiliated him, degraded him a-and... Not a trace. Not a fingerprint, not a mark, just a rosary." he said ,indicating the dark beads coiled up in a plastic bag on the table, labeled as his only evidence.
"I hate to say it James, but I'm stuck. Lost."

He really hated looking weak in front of anyone.
And when a hand came to curl over a tense shoulder in comfort, Caleb released the sigh he'd been holding back, hanging his head in shame.

"I'll help you find him. Once this whole affair with those vamps are taken care of, we can leave this place. Start our own pack and avenge both of our families. There are plenty of wolves out there and some humans who will do anything for revenge who will follow us. You don't have to do this alone, Caleb. And even if you decide to go sneaking off into the night, then you can bet on it that I'll be right behind you. Brother's look out for each other,"

"But that's just it, don't ya see?"
Caleb raised his eyes to look at his pack brother, sadness making bright blues look dull.
"It will never end. They'll just keep commin, like roaches under the woodwork. Over and over again, living out their countless years while we rot and decay. And they know it, the bastards."

His own hand, callused from work and fights came up to rest over James' own.
"I'm glad ya got my back bro, more than anythin, but i can't drag ya down with me, this guy... he ain't nromal in the head..."
An image slipped unbidden into his mind; James with his eyes blank in death, dripping in wine and blood...
"No, I couldn't. And ya shouldn't leave this pack, ya shouldn't leave home."

It would hurt, the day he'd have to go.
James and the pack, had become so easily integrated into his life he almost couldn't imagine living without them. But for the sake of their lives, however brief, he couldn't get any of them involved.

"Anyways, y'still goin out with that bint... What's her name? Libby? Lotte? Light bulb?"

[*James Silvius]

The looks, the sighs, the... dullness of it all. It was killing James. This was just not Caleb. James had his bad days. The days where he would take a walk back to his old house where it all happened. He'd remember everything and every detail. But seeing Caleb like this... it was just too much.

He couldn't even remember a happy Caleb when he was in this state, and he and James had many happy memories together. Pranking each other, hunting together, late night runs, Caleb always cheered up the always solemn wolf. They were brothers. He had to help him. How could he just walk away and do nothing?

James spun around and faced Caleb, big browns gazing straight into Caleb's bright blues that looked stormy gray. He didn't let Caleb take his eyes off of his own.

"Hey, don't say things like this. We'll find him. Both of us together. I've dragged you into enough trouble. Come on Caleb! How many times have you saved my hide? Huh? A lot and you didn't have to, even though I pulled you into the fray with me. My whole family is dead. The vampire responsible is dead. I will help you and I won't take no for an answer. I have to leave this pack someday. You know that. I will follow you wherever you go. Don't worry about me. I'm more concerned about you," he reassured him.

However, Caleb's next words made James' fist tighten. Bint? Litte was not a bint. James would let him off just this once. He began pacing in front of Caleb. "Litte. I know, Caleb. She's a vampire. I want you to understand but no matter how hard I try you won't. She's my girlfriend. I saved her life. I love her," he said simply.

[caleb]

Those large chocolate irises held him still, as if he were forcing him to face the truth in his words. And somehow despite his inner protesting, Caleb just couldn't help but listen.

"Hey, don't say things like this. We'll find him. Both of us together. I've dragged you into enough trouble. Come on Caleb! How many times have you saved my hide? Huh? A lot and you didn't have to, even though I pulled you into the fray with me. My whole family is dead. The vampire responsible is dead. I will help you and I won't take no for an answer. I have to leave this pack someday. You know that. I will follow you wherever you go. Don't worry about me. I'm more concerned about you,"

And wasn't that just a whole mouthful of emotion right there.
Vulnerability was something that Caleb tried very hard to bury deep down within, not trusting anyone to see it for what it was. But he never could pull the wool over James' eyes. Right from the beginning, he seemed to be able to read him just as easily, every nuance and every smart-assed comment. Wolves usually depended on scent to detect mood changes, different pitches of whines and growls that depicted delight or displeasure.
Somehow with this pack brother, it was not really that simple. But not all that complicated either. It was the kind of companionship where they could sit together for hours and not say a word.
Easy.

"Yeah, we're really stuck in deep together aye?" he chuckled and patted a bare shoulder as he swaggered past James to absently push his punching bag, "So, about this vamp girl of yours..."

"Litte. I know, Caleb. She's a vampire. I want you to understand but no matter how hard I try you won't. She's my girlfriend. I saved her life. I love her,"

Caleb sighed and wrapped his arms around the bag, sort of swinging from it.
"I want to understand James, really I do. You're my brother. Ya know I'll had your back for everything ya do, even this... sort of."
He swore not to say anything nasty about her or sniff her out and do the 'Protective Brother' act. He didn't even tell Patrick or Michael about this, in fact he'd kept completely mute about the whole affair. Bringing it up always got James tense, but as brother and friend and sidekick, Caleb felt that he just had to check up on things.

"Look, ya say y'love the bird, that's all well and good. But she's still one o'them, still a vampire James and no amount of love can change that."
One finger trailed down the painted fang on the bag's leather surface and the blond wolf looked to his pacing brother imploringly.
"I just need t'be sure that ya know what ya gettin into here aye? Ever since ya met her, it's like she got some hold over ya, like ya been hooked, blinded... Like you're..."

Obsessed.

But he didn't say it, just buried half his face into the punching bag, one blue eye watching James while he tried to find a way to express his inner most fear of finding James bloodless in the streets one night. Heaven and hell forbid.
"Please."
he said softly.
"Just, promise me ya will come outta this alive aye? Ya know I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to ya."

[*James Silvius]

James lowered his gaze when Caleb finally surrendered. They would argue more about this another time. Right now, there were more pressing matters to discuss. As his brother, James desperately want Caleb to understand everything about Litte and maybe even become friendly with her. It would certainly mean the world to him.

He leaned against a strange looking table, he wouldn't bother to ask Caleb about it, and listened thoughtfully to his words. It was time to explain more of this to him. He was worried about him! Caleb didn't have to worry about Litte, she was just a little angel. It was the vamps that didn't like their relationship too much. That he should worry about. James sure did. He'd fought for his life and Litte's on a few occasions.

"It's true. Things have changed with me since I met her. Caleb, trust me, when I first laid eyes on her I just wanted to kill her. But I spared her life, got to know her, and now..." he loved her to death. Those were the words.

"I'm scared for her more than me. When I loose control, all I can think and focus on his hurting her, killing her. I can never let that happen. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I taught her how to hunt animals. I figured a while back that we don't have to kill the animal eaters. It would save time and energy. And if we could maybe convert some vamps... that's even better. I threatened to kill her if she ever attacked another human again," James paused and glanced at Caleb, wondering what he though of this.

"I saved her from the sun. We spent the day together in a shack and... I don't know!" he covered his face with his hands, he didn't want to look at Caleb now. "When I saw her I just didn't see a vampire. She was a living, breathing, human girl. I couldn't kill her even if she did attack a human. I fell in love with her and I didn't know why. It was all so confusing and it happened so fast. I mean, how can I fall in love with a vampire? I hate vampires, you of all people know that," James sucked in a breath, bracing himself for his last few words.

"I appreciate it that you look after me, Caleb. I honestly don't know where I would be now without you. But if you really care about me, then you will protect Litte like you protect me. Trust me when I say I cannot possibly live without her. I'm engaged, after all," he said in the tiniest voice.

There it was. He finally told Caleb. He was engaged to be married and he couldn't be any happier.

[caleb]

It had been hard on him.
He could tell.
There were lines that crossed over his face, lines that shouldn't be there. Exhaustion and stress that was taking a toll on what should have been a more carefree life. That's why this made it so much harder, when they could all have been just happy and safe with the knowledge of a pack. When brothers ran through the woods just because they wanted the wind in their fur and not because they were running towards another fight.
No mistaking that he loved the brawls, but he hated the vicious fights that had people hurt, dying.

So he would listen, keep his smart mouth closed just this once and let James talk it out. The guy deserved that much. Caleb has no idea how many others knew of this little affair, had no clue as to whether James was the cause of the stirring rumors, but he did know one thing.
James was family.

The blond stayed silent, only now and then frowning a bit more as James told his tale. For Caleb, it had taken years to realise that vampires were just vampires. Once he had hesitated in the killing of a young female vampire, only to get led into a trap, fooled by her appearance and almost drained had he not had his lighter with him. She didn't look any older than twelve but had all the canny cunning of a creature who'd lived long enough to understand the art of manipulation.
He had to watch her burn.
He had to learn his lesson the hard way.

He didn't want that for James.

They were the real wolves in human clothing, and they used their charms to the best advantage. But as much as his mind protested, he forced himself to stay mute, until the James dropped the bomb.

"I appreciate it that you look after me, Caleb. I honestly don't know where I would be now without you. But if you really care about me, then you will protect Litte like you protect me. Trust me when I say I cannot possibly live without her. I'm engaged, after all,"

Blink, blink.
"Eheh, I'm sorry but I thought ya said... Did ya? I must be havin a lot more fluff in the ear to... You're yankin my crank, but ya ain't laughing..."

Not at all, in fact he'd never seen James so serious in his life.

"Oh feck me runnin sideways..." he muttered and dragged a hand down his face, "You are gettin hitched to a vampire. A bleedin bloodsucker, a nightwalker."
A hysterical laugh bubbled from his lips as he looked at James with a mixture of incredulousness and confusion. Light blues pleading with dark browns for some sort of explanation.

Caleb snorted, shaking his head and folding his arms, "Well ain't that just a fine kettle of fish James..."
Then he lashed out at the punching bag.
"What in Abraham's jumpers were you thinkin?! Sorry if I don't congratulate you on your unholy matrimony right now but in case ya weren't aware, we're in the middle of a war! A war James, not just a sandbox tussle alrigh? And Patrick! Our head honcho, remember him? Our Alpha? What's he gonna say when he finds out about this little tidbit? Hold the flowers and bubbly folks cos here comes Patty! He's gonna go spare! Gonna piss atomic bombs!"

He was ranting, waving him arms about dramatically while he babbled on. But there was more fear than anger in his words, more worry than rage. In a way he had expected them to do more than just cuddle under the moonlight, but this was more than a second date.

"Love, love it's always about love! Did ya ever stop to think about where the 'James & Litte' show was gonna go after the honeymoon? She ain't gonna be able t'bear your pups, she ain't gonna be able to live with ya in a nice picket-fenced house by the sea. And you... You will grow old and die and she will just remain this sweet little chit with fangs forever. Meanin even if she never munches on another human again... You'll kill each other from the hurt!"

It was his turn to pace, casing the room for his cigarettes and even when he found the crumpled packet, it was empty. Trembling fingers gripped the edge of his work bench while he took in deep breaths, trying to regain his composure... Or what was left of it anyway.

"James..."
His voice was more hushed, subdued.
"I... I'm tryin to get all this stuff in my head sorted I am... But Christ, this is crazy. Converted vamps? Marriage?"
With a lethargic slump against the wall, he slowly slid to the ground until his butt hit cold concrete, his eyes searching the room as if they held answers.
Then he took another deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"Suppose y'already thought about all this aye."
The wolf chuckled humorlessly and looked up to his pack brother.
"What would ya have me do?"

[*James Silvius]

He had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. Classic Caleb, denial first, beating the crap out of him verbally later. A protective brother would do no other thing. Caleb was just worried, thinking that James was being seduced, mind controlled. But he was completely serious and he let it show abundantly on his face.

He let Caleb get his words out. He didn't interrupt and waited patiently. But Caleb was frantic, he was really freaked out about this, trying his best to talk himself though the denial. He just kept talking and none of it made much sense to him. James couldn't help but be a little worried.

It was strange, the girls and women he told didn't act like this. They just accepted it and left the topic alone. Caleb was... Caleb. He didn't know what to think of James and he was really wigging out. It was just too much when Caleb scrambled for a cigarette. He was almost sorry he couldn't find one.

Finally he stopped, slowed down a little and spoke in quieter tones. "Oh Caleb, you have no idea how much I've thought about this. Now Sevanni and Aubrey, they know everything. Don't you understand how serious this is? The alliance that Patrick made with Xavier... it's broken. Those vamps want to murder me now! I don't want you to do anything. I don't want you to fight them for me. I don't know what I can do myself. My fate is sealed, I could be dead by tomorrow! Patrick doesn't know yet. When he does he'll disown me. I can't ask you to leave the pack just for me!" these words were spoken with raw feeling behind them.

He couldn't let Caleb leave. He wasn't even sure if he would follow him. The pack was him home but James was his brother. For all he knew, he could very well be murdered by tomorrow.

[caleb]

His head snapped up sharply from where it hung, eyes boring into James' own.

"No..."
He said softly.
"No, y'can't."

Slowly he got to his feet, a frown marring his face as he thought things over, about everything that James had said, from the broken alliance with the vampires to the impending doom that was to be James' fate when this all got out into the open.
There was no leniency for such an act.
The penalty was death, swift and without trial.

It was killing Caleb.
The strong code of the wolf law tearing him in one direction while compassion and loyalty to his pack brother tugged him in another. What he said was true, Patrick would disown him if he were kind enough, and not met out any corporal punishment. But at the same time, the thought of leaving James to the mercy of something so uncertain was completely mind boggling.

It was all just pear-shaped around the ears.

"I make this one thing clear James," he said in a low voice as he reached his desk, a hand toying with the blade he'd so recently left there, "You will not make me choose between my loyalty to the pack and what I feel ,nor will ya make things worse by throwing yourself head first before y'look. Ya know better than that."

Gleaming metal glinted in the light, reflecting cold blues that stared so intently into it.
"And I want ya to remember this, no matter where ya go, no matter what ya do or whomever you're with..."
And with a good flick, the sharp edge cut deep into the flesh of his palm, his face remaining placid, without even a twitch.

"You've always had my back, and I promise, in my own way, I'll always have yours. I may not agree to you're decisions, but i won't hate you for them either."
The bloody hand was held out, a hint of a familiar smirk lining his lips again.

"Brothers forever aye?"

[*James Silvius]

James blinked. Did he really want to make it so easy for him? Forgive and forget? James did nothing to deserve this! The companionship, the brotherhood... it was just a bond that they both underestimated. Out of everyone in this pack, Caleb was the one he could most relate to and sympathize with... and even fight for!

He stared at his bloody hand. Could he really take it? Caleb wanted him to. James took the knife and made a clean cut of his own, the blood came fast. It would leave a scar there forever. A scar he was most willing to keep.

James gripped his hand and looked him in the eye with chocolate brown sphere's. "Brothers," he agreed simply. So James would leave this pack and Caleb would stay. This was not a good-bye he was looking forward too. They would remain brothers forever. James would just have to keep in touch out of the pack.

He didn't want to leave, he wanted to stay. It was just too soon. He would miss everyone but they would not miss him in the least. He wouldn't say good-bye to them. There would be no hugging and good lucks. But he saw no other choice. Patrick was the leader and he would want him far away from his pack who he protected fiercely. James was a loose cannon he couldn't afford to allow in his pack.

[caleb]

Blood to blood.
Brothers in every sense of the word as the dark red mingled in between their grasp. He grinned and gripped tight, no caring that there were now drops of their life-source dotting the cemented ground.

"Brothers,"

And really that was all there was to it.
They would each go on their separate ways, following the paths they chose and lying in the beds they made. But for as long as they had this oath, the scars that would remain like twin crescent moons in their palms, they'd never forget that somewhere out on the hunting grounds...
Someone had their back.

"Well ain't this a crooked penny."
He chuckled as he withdrew his hand.
"Always knew you'd settle down before I did."

Truth hidden in jest. Because until he could get revenge out of his head, sate the rage that ate away at his very soul and rid the hate that resided in his heart... There would be no room for any other.

"Guess I'd better give you your pressie early then aye? Since you're flyin the coop so soon and all... Dang if ya haven't grown up so fast I'd thing ya were solar powered..."

Mindless chit chat as he searched through the mess that was his work bench, sifting through random bits of steel and tools. Shifting aside a few blue prints, he grinned as he finally found what he was looking for and turned back to James.

"S'not much really, but you bein married and all, should at least have somethin to sweep your bird off her feet without needin a broom aye?"
That said, and all with his eyes cast down in a moment of sheepishness. He slapped a key into his pack brother's uninjured palm. The key was silver, almost artistic in its design, hanging from what looked like a vampire fang.
And it was.

"S'just for laughs."
The vampire fang had been yanked out a while back from one of the many brawls he and James had gotten into. Caleb couldn't even remember who he played toothfairy too, but it made for such a great key ring, set in steel and coated in varnish.

"She's yours now Scrappy."
He said with a jerk of the head to the sleek black bike standing next to the work bench.
"Y'take care of her for me aye?"

[*James Silvius]

James looked at Caleb sadly. When he mention settling down, he knew that Caleb was far from that. Now, Caleb obviously wasn't going to go out and find a vampire, but if a wolf who was anything like Litte met him, then he would find that settling down was easier than it seemed. But Caleb was set on his revenge. James stood by his word, he would help his brother. Someday, when Caleb was ready, James would be there, cheering him on and helping him bring down the so called God of wine.

His brows furrowed at Caleb's words at a present. Is he mental? I don't need anything from him! James observed him quietly as he went hunting through his junk. He was curious... very curious. When the key was so suddenly slapped in his hand, he stared at it blankly, not knowing what to think of this.

When Caleb explained, however, his eyes widened and he got ready to protest. But he recognized the fang. A smile broke over his frown as he remembered the night Caleb and himself put down those leeches. When Caleb nodded toward the bike, his eyes flew over it, taking the beautiful thing in. His mouth opened and closed. It might offend Caleb if he denied it. When was the last time he rode a bike? Back in New York City, while he was still in Gavin's pack. He loved the thing, but an accident crumpled it into a sad little ball.

"Thank you, Caleb. I know what that bike means to you," a hell of a lot it did. "When Patrick knows about her," he started carefully, referring to Litte, "I don't want you to defend me. This is still your family and I don't want me to be the end of it for you," he finished those words firmly.

[caleb]

They'd been through heck together.

From simple bar top brawls to epic battles with the evil undead that had them both bruised and bleeding from top down. They had both braved the 'look' Patrick had whenever they tried to sneak in undetected, clothes torn in different places and matching marks that had the head honcho sighing in frustration at his errant pack males.
It gave them something to laugh over when they finally managed to get away with their tails intact.

But this wasn't going to be like those times.

And if James needed a good getaway, there was none better than the sharp thing on wheels just a few feet away. Something that Caleb felt he could actually contribute to his pack brother's safety, even if he had no right to stand up for him, defend him when the time came for Patrick to make the hard decisions.

"Thank you, Caleb. I know what that bike means to you,"

He shrugged and made some nonchalant noise that was a half murmur and half grumble. Sure he cared, he just didn't like to show it... too much. Bad enough they were both as emotional as the girls.

"When Patrick knows about her, I don't want you to defend me. This is still your family and I don't want me to be the end of it for you,"

"Your family too aye?"
Caleb said as he causally licked the side of his wounded hand.
"I can't say I will be able to say much or do much when Head Honcho comes a huffin and puffin, but I won't leave ya to the wolves... No pun intended."

Trademark smirk and a waggle of brows just to keep things light. There would be plenty of time for tragedy later when the other shoe fell hard.