Come morning, Dean knocked on Sam's door.
His mom, Allison Uley, answered.
"Morning, Ms. Uley. Is Sam home?" asked Dean.
"Morning Dean. I didn't know you and Sam were friends. He's out back with Emily. Fair warning, they seem to be having a bit of a fight, " said Ms. Uley.
"Thanks, I'll go and make sure everything's okay," said Dean.
Opening the back door, he greeted the unhappy couple, "Morning, Sam, Emily. Mind if I borrow him for a bit?"
"He's all yours," Emily said, walking away feeling frustrated.
"Emily, Emily!" Sam called out, intending to follow, but Dean grabbed his arm.
"Let her go. We have things to do today. I plan on showing you the borders, and then we'll see from there," said Dean.
Sam angrily pulled his arm free. "This is all your fault."
"How?" asked Dean, genuinely confused.
"She doesn't like how I keep avoiding her questions and brushing her off, and your girlfriend Leah isn't helping things either, which wouldn't have been a problem if you didn't tell her what she shouldn't know," Sam seethed.
"Or you could just man up and tell her before she leaves your lying ass," Dean scorned.
"It's supposed to be kept secret," Sam stressed through gritted teeth.
"Yeah, let me know how that goes for ya. Now get your ass over here and let's go," ordered Dean.
"We're not done here!" said Sam defiantly.
"Yes, we are. It's not my problem you can't trust her. Now let's go; I won't be telling you again," said Dean, squaring up.
Sam didn't budge.
"Think you're brave? Want to challenge me, little pup? Think you would make a better Alpha?" asked Dean.
Sam's eyes narrowed. "Harry told me about you."
Caught off guard, Dean's face went blank. He knew Harry didn't like him, but going out of his way to instigate problems was something else entirely.
Dean grinned a moment later. "Did he now?" he stepped closer, leaning in towards Sam, who braced himself.
His head swerved to the side, next to Sam's ear. "Then you should know not to fuck with me," whispered Dean intimidatingly, returning to stare him down.
Fists and teeth clenched, Sam scowled to no avail, lowering his head in defeat to avoid the foreboding feeling he got from staring back.
Dean chuckled and clapped Sam on the shoulder, making him flinch. "What's with the tense atmosphere? You would have found out sooner or later, not like I was going to hide it." His tone then turned dangerous. "After all, I don't lie; lying is for the weak, and I refuse to be weak. Sure, I understand the need given the circumstances, and you should keep the secret as best you can from those who don't need to know, as will I, but if you think for one minute I'm going to lie, you've got another thing coming. At best I'll avoid situations or refuse to speak, but I'll die before I lie," he said resolutely.
"Are we clear?" asked Dean.
"We're clear," came Sam's lackluster response.
"Good. We'll shift in the woods," Dean said, leading the way. "Hmm, remind me to get you clothes like mine," he said, seeing him strip.
"Like yours?" asked Sam.
"Check them out," Dean said, shifting as his clothes came apart.
Sam paused, taking in his golden form, and slowly walked over to inspect the clothes.
"Velcro, smart," said Sam softly, shifting into his wolf.
(We made enough for spares, though more will have to be made. I'll show you our borders; I'm sure you've seen, or at least know about, the dogs we keep out there, our early warning system. It'll help to know where everything is visually, and we'll mark it as we go,) said Dean.
(Mark it how?) asked Sam, hearing a chuckle echo in his head.
(There are the dogs; introduce yourself so they know you and your scent.) said Dean, moving in first.
A few happy barks greet him as they playfully run around and under him, tails wagging, while a few cautiously approach Sam's unfamiliar giant black wolf.
(Good,) said a pleased Dean, seeing the dogs responding positively.
Trotting to their next stop. (Here along this ravine is where it starts, from the Ocean to here and around,) Dean said, lifting his hind leg next to a large tree.
(What are you doing?) asked Sam, scrunching his nose in disgust.
(Marking,) said Dean, amused. (The smell alone keeps most vamps out. Go find a tree and let it rip, though be sure to save some for other areas.)
(What?) asked a dazed Sam.
(You heard me; I'm teaching what you need to do. We're wolves now, protectors of our people. So find a tree and take a little piss.) ordered Dean. (Preferably far enough away from mine, to the point where my scent begins to fade so there won't be any gaps.)
Sam complies reluctantly.
They continue this all along the border.
(And that's the entire border,) said Dean.
(We done now?) asked Sam, surprised he could pee enough.
(No, it's time for you to gain some hands-on experience dealing with vamps. They were rare enough when the Cullens weren't here, probably thanks to them having set up here in the past. Which means with the Cullens back, most Nomads will once more avoid this area when they realize there's an established coven. However, I know an area we can still find some, come on,) said Dean.
They'd been running for miles when a concerned Sam spoke up. (I don't think coming out this far from the tribe is a good idea.)
(I agree, so pick up the pace and we can get there and back before anything happens.) Dean goaded.
Sam growled unhappily but complied.
Dean slowed when they reached an abandoned factory.
(Fuck, what's that damn smell?) Sam whined, pawing at his nose.
(Vamps,) said Dean.
(How the hell did you find this place?) asked Sam.
(Came upon this place a while back during one of my bored days, when I went exploring. Smelt them then but couldn't find them, figured they would be back sooner or later, so I always check up on it, and what do you know, it must be your lucky day. A smell this strong can only mean one thing, they're here,) said Dean.
(Right, lucky,) said Sam sarcastically.
(Better to fight them under controlled conditions and gain a little experience than when you're forced,) said Dean. (Stay here, I'll scout them out. I don't think it's a coven, but they've been coming here off and on for a while now.)
(And if it is? How many are even in a coven?) asked Sam, looking to his side, only to find him gone.
(Then we'll need to be extra careful. I don't know about others, but I consider 6 or more a coven.) said Dean, surprising Sam, who momentarily forgot this was all happening in their head, as he looked around for where he had gone.
(Uh, what's the range on this?) asked Sam.
(You mean our mind talking? Not sure, we'll have to test it.) said Dean.
(6 or more, huh? How many Cullens are there?) asked Sam.
(7.) answered Dean.
(A small group of four, looks like they're decorating, probably using this place to set up parties where they can feast on whoever they like, with humans being none the wiser,) said Dean. (Two for you, two for me, wait for my signal.)
Sam stiffened, not at all ready to go against some supernatural creature he could still hardly believe was real, wondering how the hell things ended up this way.
(Okay, start crawling over. Make sure to stay downwind and out of sight. Let me know when you see them.) ordered Dean.
Staying low, Sam moved forward, eyes peeled for the slightest movement. Stopping when spotting one of them for the first time through a hole in the wall.
Creeping a bit closer, Sam found a bush to hide behind. (I'm as close as I think I can get.) He told Dean.
(Not sure if any of them have powers. I'll attack first, then you can when you see an opening. If you see one using powers, go for them first.) said Dean.
(Dammit, Dean, are you sure you can handle them? Isn't this a bit risky for my first time?) Sam groaned.
(You'll be fine; I can handle them,) said Dean confidently.
(How many have you taken at once before?) asked Sam.
(Two,) said Dean, laughing to himself as the groans in his head got louder.
(You're being reckless. Did you even take two, or did you ambush one and then fight the other?) asked Sam perceptively.
(Actually, jackass, I ambushed one and fought two. I told you I never lie.) Dean growled, (Now shut up and get ready; I'm going in.)
(Yeah, but what about powers?) Sam pressed when one of the vamps yelled, "What the fuck!"
Hidden on Sam's opposite side, Dean seized his chance when he saw three of them present their backs through the window to talk amongst themselves, pointing out where they wanted things to go.
Smashing through the window, he charged them, angling for two. He lunged, jaws open, claws extended, taking the first one's head with his teeth, barreling through another as his right claw swiped across the female's face, tearing off the entire right side.
"JACK! BETTY!" came the surviving cries as Dean circled back around.
"Tim! Watch out, it's coming back!" shouted the Vamp holding the injured female.
"I'LL KILL IT!" yelled Tim, jumping back to his feet in a flash, zooming towards Dean's waiting jaws, foolishly thinking he could outmaneuver him.
With one quick crunch, it was over.
"TIM! DAMN YOU!" yelled the last one, picking up his broken friend and zooming toward the front door, only to be cut off by another giant black beast.
Sam entered expecting a tough fight, only to find one left standing.
(Sorry, I got a little carried away.) said Dean with mock sadness. (See if you can take care of the last one.)
Sam didn't know what to say as he eyed the pale vamp. God, the stench was awful.
"Betty, I'll hold him off; you need to run," the Vamp whispered to his broken friend, whose good eye conveyed nothing but sorrow.
"Now, Betty! RUN!" shouted the vamp, zooming at Sam, who let out a ferocious growl and charged.
Dean watched on, unconcerned, as Betty went for the door. It seemed that, in their fear, they forgot about the daylight as an unearthly scream was let loose from her torn jaw as the sun hit the open wound, igniting the venom, sending her out in a blaze.
"BETTY!" cried the last vamp as he dodged Sam's deadly teeth, kicking him away, and ran to the burning remains. "How?" was all he got out as Sam came bouncing back, tearing his head off from behind.
Sam quickly spat out the head and dragged it outside, watching them burn before slowly walking back inside to find Dean chowing away on the other two.
(You do eat them! How can you stand it?) asked Sam. (The god-awful smell and taste, I don't understand.)
(I'm built different,) said Dean, not bothering to go into details as he finished and dragged the bottom parts into the sun.
(Why didn't you eat those?) asked Sam.
(I only eat pussy,) Dean laughed. (Shame the female burned,) he said, sending a shiver through Sam.
(Speaking of, why did it go out into the sun like that?) Sam asked, glancing at the scorched patch of earth that was once them.
(Either they forgot what time of day it was due to fear, or they were never taught. It's not something they would instinctively know; only vamps who've survived conflict would and could teach others," said Dean.
(You did good today, for the most part; let's go home,) said Dean, missing Sam's tail wagging as he led the way home.