**Author's Note: _

I don't know what it is with me and stories- but they keep coming.
I guess that's alright...

Anyways, I've always had a soft spot for a/b/o fics where there's werewolves and pack dynamics- and I've often found that most of these verses/genres are mostly PWP and lacking any plot/serious emotion. I'm aiming to change that.
Some of you already know about my plotted and thick-skinned a/b/o fics, but, honestly- I just want everyone to know that there's more to come. I love this verse, even with its kinks, without its sexism and sometimes non-con elements, and I aim to write stories based around it because I find the whole dynamic of it to be interesting for the SPN characters.

Thus, this story was born.

I kind of wanted a story where circumstance forces Dean to reconsider a lot of things- from letting his pack mold into another, to whether or not the blood in his veins runs Homo Sapien or Canis Lupus- and that there's more to him and things than just what skin he's in. Get ready for a fic where Dean has a heavy heart and conscious, where Cas is trying hard to make someone with a broken heart love again even though he himself has unhealed wounds of his own, and when more than just one person is running from pasts that compose inches of their imperfections and scars.

There's more plot too, but... that'll wait till later.

Sorry that it seems as though I was working on this instead of my other fics- it's just that this week, my brain has refused to work with me on writing. So, I found this old work of mine stored away and decided to publish it.

(See bottom for links to music that I listened to while writing this fic- it'll help you gain a better grip on the writing and its emotion. Then again, it is just a suggestion. So, if you like to listen to One Direction instead, I'm not stopping you.)

Enjoy!~

When the days are cold,

And the cards all fold,

And the saints we see,

Are all made of gold.

When your dreams all fail,

And the ones we hail,

Are the worst of all,

And the blood's run stale.

I want to hide the truth-

I want to shelter you,

But with the beast inside,

There's nowhere we can hide-

No matter what we breed,

We still are made of greed-

This is my kingdom come-

This is my kingdom come.

...

After the sixth wolf pack leaves the Winchester's lands with all of their tails in between their legs, Dean can no longer ignore what is happening. He understands it's a little unusual to have a human running a pack- he really does- but god dammit it shouldn't mean the end of the world. Just because he can't shift into a wolf doesn't give them the right to come parading around his territory with their snouts held high. The thought alone erks Dean.

"Dean," Sammy is behind Dean now, following his older, more-human brother into the living room of their inherited house, "I understand if you're angry about this, but there's no need to threaten cutting someone's tail off-"

"Yeah, Sammy- there is." Dean hisses, "If these sons of bitches think they can just waltz up in here and claim over our territory and me without a fight, they have another thing comin'."

Sammy sighs, and Dean knows that if he were in wolf form, his large, fluffy ears would be held back in annoyance, "I understand if their approach is bothersome, but the idea of combining packs isn't something you should be shying away from…"

The older Winchester groans, rubbing a hand over his face and through his hair, "Yeah- I know- we're neck deep in shit down here… Things aren't perfect, yeah, but that doesn't mean I'm rollin' over to some knot-headed alpha…"

"I never said you had to do that-" Sammy assures, following Dean as he rolls his eyes and begins walking into the kitchen, "just that maybe the whole thing isn't so bad overall."

"Can it, Sammy. I'm not budging on this-"

The younger Winchester growls, and it causes Dean's back to straighten in shock- Sammy never does that unless something is really wrong or is pissing him off- "Dean, we're running low on everything imaginable… Money, food, medicine… We barely had enough ibuprofen to give out when Bobby had his headache yesterday…"

Dean stops arguing then, flopping down into the nearest chair that was open, and he puts his face in his hands, "Yeah, I know, Sammy- things aren't lookin' up for us at the moment… But I promise that things will change for the better."

"How long will you be using that excuse until it sounds like a loop on you, Dean?" Sammy sounds sincere, like he's one more sentence away from bursting into tears- even for an alpha he's always been so damn emotional- "You always said that when John was in the hospital, and look where that got us…"

"Just- … We can't let this beat us, Sammy… Life has its ups and down, we just need to learn-"

"When to give in and when to roll with it…" they murmur in unison, Sammy adding, "Yeah, Dean, I know… It's all you ever tell me anymore…"

The eldest Winchester looks towards the worn floorboards beneath his too-old boots, "I'll see if we can get some jobs here and there… I dunno… I just- I don't think dad wanted us to sell out to someone, is all…"

Sammy sets a hand on Dean's shoulder, fingertips slightly lingering for a split second before lifting themselves away slowly, as though they were uncertain in their placement, "Dad wouldn't have wanted us to starve or wither away, either… Just stop thinking about a dead man's pride and take care of the living, Dean. Especially before we all end up just like him… Sick- or gone…"

Dean closes his eyes as he hears Sammy's footfalls leave the room, and he can't help but bite his lip in frustration. He knows that Sammy is right- that things, no matter what he says, aren't getting better. They're just getting worse, and worse, and before Dean knows it- tragedy will strike their pack again. Dean shudders at the thought of having another funeral to arrange, and decides to take Sammy's words to heart.

Dean heads into his room, opening the outdated laptop his father owned, and lets the screen take a few minutes to whir to life. The steady buzz of the aged thing keeps Dean's mind from wandering off too far, and he finds himself absently clicking onto a few sites focused on getting employment for packs.

John would probably roll over in his grave if he found out what Dean was doing, but like Sammy said, he doesn't have much of a choice. Dean goes under the certain tab John always strayed from clicking on, and begins to fill out the necessary information. After all the blanks are filled, Dean clicks 'submit' and awaits for the inevitable to happen.

...

"Hey, Cassie- come look at this!" Gabriel calls from over his shoulder, "Some new pack has declared that they're in a state of emergency!"

The alpha of the Novak pack enters the room with his brother, the omega preening on the couch, "It says here that… Holy shit- Cassie, it's the Winchesters!"

"The Winchesters?" Castiel echoes in impassive disbelief, "I believed that they would be the last pack to file themselves as such…"

"You're tellin' me…" Gabriel murmurs, clicking around on the page, "It says here that John passed away about a month or two ago… Seems like the losses are still comin'..."

Castiel stands back up, spine straightening, losing interest in the situation quickly, "Yes, I suppose they are."

The alpha begins to leave when Gabriel gawks at him, "You're just gonna walk away from this?! You're just gonna leave them out to dry?!"

"Gabriel, it is none of our concern. The Winchesters are in a rough position, that it true, but it does not mean that we need to outstretch a hand when we know others shall do so."

"That makes you sound heartless, Cassie. When did ever believing in people doin' the right thing actually accomplish somethin'?"

Castiel ponders over the words for a moment, nodding, "I suppose your words hold some merit… Tell me more about their situation."

Gabriel smirks widely, knowing that he has changed Castiel's opinion on the matter so easily, "It says here that money began runnin' a little low after the bills from the hospital came through… Food's a little hard to come by now, and medicine is scarce between them all… Shit, Cassie- they don't have enough to make it by the end of the week, if that…"

"Who is in charge now that John is deceased?"

"Dean Winchester, his eldest son."

"I'll need to discuss with him how to settle with me being the alpha-"

Gabriel holds up a finger, silently quieting his brother, "Seems like you don't have to… Dean-o's apparently human…"

Castiel tilts his head out of newfound interest- in his mind, his wolf perks to attention- "Human? … Dean has no wolf? …"

"Nope- but he's ironically the only one like that in the whole pack. Lil' weird, when you think about it… A human running werewolves around and stuff… It's gotta be like some cheesy bar joke, or somethin'."

"I suppose at some level it is humorous, but for now I am far too concerned with their condition of living to chuckle at an unusual occurrence. Talk to Anna and tell her that we are going to make way over to the Winchester's territory."

Gabriel nods and grins widely, "Alright, Cassie. See what being kind-hearted gets you?"

Castiel is already gone by the time the end of the question is uttered.

...

It's four in the damn morning when Dean is woken up.

Normally, Dean would tell whoever the fuck it is to fall on a cactus, but he soon finds that his hostility has to take a back seat. There- on his porch and front lawn- are about five wolves waiting to be seen by him.

Dean groans as he hears the small huffs and whines from the unfamiliar wolves, all of but one shifting uneasily on their paws. He stares at them through the window of his room, wondering about if he can go back to sleep or not. Dean eventually decides that he better not keep them waiting, and begins running a hand through his hair as he makes his way groggily down the steps. When he opens the door, however, he is given an energetic welcome.

Several fur-covered bodies fall onto his as Dean trips over with the momentum thrown onto him, and the eldest Winchester soon finds that several tongues are already licking his face as numerous tails wag heavily with pure, unfiltered happiness. Dean holds up his palms in defense, finding the wolves retreating when a warning growl rings in the air.

Dean finds himself barren of any tongues now, and he sits up to see a large black wolf staring at him with nearly azure eyes. Even when sitting down on the floor, the creature's head is above Dean's own. It causes Dean to swallow nervously, eyes shifting to the floor for a moment as he picks himself up.

"I, uh- hi…" Dean rubs at the back of his neck, the strange, dark wolf being a little over the height of his hip bone, "Wasn't expectin' you guys to show up so late, but, hey- I'm okay with surprises…"

The light above them turns on as Sammy rubs his eyelid, and the raven-haired wolf immediately stands up straighter and puffs out his fur to seem even larger, "What's going on?"

Dean keeps watching the black wolf, its blue eyes never leaving his baby brother, and the actions all scream 'alpha'- "I, uh, took your words to heart, Sammy… I put us up on the employment website- declared a state of emergency… These guys apparently found us and are interested… Just go back to sleep- I'll deal with this for now."

"Alright…" Sammy lingers on the stairs, "Call me if you need anything…"

"Will do."

Dean waits till Sammy is up the stairs before he sighs, tousling his short, spiky hair for a moment, "Yeah, uh- sorry about that. Sammy's no threat or anything, he was just curious as to why you're here on our porch at nearly five in the morning…"

The black wolf gives a snort, tongue flicking out over his nose for a moment before he returns his gaze to Dean. Immediately he seems to relax from his assertive posture.

"Look, I'd hate to ask, but- I need you to shift back… I'm not exactly… equipped- for goin' canine…"

The wolf seems to nod, and he goes outside for a moment. However, this leaves Dean to be with the unknown pack of wolves by his lonesome- sort of. They all stare at him with different shades of irises, and it causes Dean to rub his arms in some attempt to quell his uneasiness. Seconds later, a partially dressed man walks through the doorway before stopping.

"You must be Dean, leader of the Winchester pack." he announces, voice low and gruff, alpha in its entirety.

"I am…" Dean trails off.

The man tilts his head, "Would you like my pack present while I speak to you?"

"This is all of them? …" Dean murmurs, looking at the other four wolves who stare back without much of a care, "That's a little… small-"

The other man snorts, despite himself, Dean grits his teeth in annoyance, "My pack is composed of over thirty wolves in total- bringing them all here would be asking for all sorts of mischief. What about you, Dean? How many members do you have in your pack?"

Dean swallows, flushing awkwardly, "Fifteen…"

"Hm…" the man hums, smirking, "That's a little… small."

"Alright, I get it- but bein' some cocky alpha ain't gonna get you anywhere, bubba." Dean hisses, "Even if I am in a 'state of emergency', I can still turn your ass down."

The man smiles, teeth white even though Dean knows they've probably seen a fair share of dark, staining blood- "Feisty even to the end? I must say, the reputation your family has is not one of false words."

Dean huffs an impatient breath, wishing he could go back to sleep, "Yeah well, that's us Winchesters… We never go down without a fight…"

"Indeed, as far as I am noticing. It's what surprised me when your state of unrest was brought to my attention."

"What? Want me to beg for help? …" Dean's voice drops in volume and anger, "Jesus- I might just have to-"

The guy steps forward then, holding out a hand, "I am not a man who gets pleasure from seeing others kneel and plead for my involvement. I am Castiel, alpha of the Novak pack."

Dean slowly outstretches his arm, taking Castiel's palm onto his own and gingerly shaking it, "Yeah, uh, nice to meet you…"

"It is a pleasure…" Castiel keeps the eye contact between them constant, even as he removes his hand from Dean's, "Now, I believe we have business to discuss?"

"Oh, yeah- I guess we have to talk about that… I, uh, look, I know that it's a little bit of an emergency-" Dean winces at the word, "I'd kinda like to get a little shut eye before I go puttin' my life and my pack in someone's hands… If that's alright with you."

Castiel nods simply, "Of course. Maybe some rest would be a good idea, as I am sure my pack mates are tired after the trip here. Do you mind if we sleep outside? We can also keep watch while you and your pack rest as well." he suggests, and already he's acting like he's in charge.

However, Dean's too tired to argue or debate, and he just nods his head, going back up the stairs, "Yeah, sure. Whatever doesn't ruffle your fur…"

As Dean makes it to his room, he checks outside of his window one last time before he goes to bed. Outside- a large raven wolf stands guard.

...

Castiel watches as the night breeze rustles the world around him.

His pack mates sleep with their tails curled around them, one eye open subconsciously to stay on alert. However, it's different when it comes to Gabriel. The omega pads up to his brother, his slightly smaller, golden frame sits down with a small panting noise.

"If you keep making those sounds, I might not be able to hear any threats." Castiel huffs.

"Oh, stop whining-" Gabriel replies, flicking a paw over his ear, "There's not much out here that can hurt the Winchesters… Besides- they may not even join us-"

Castiel growls slightly to quiet his brother so he can speak, and he sits up in an almost military-like fashion as he responds, "We do not know for certain if Dean is willing to accept us and infuse our packs together, but the least we can do is give them one night of peace. Even if it seems pointless in many ways to you and others."

Gabriel licks his nose for a moment, scenting the air, "Yeah, I suppose you're right… But, hey- maybe this'll earn Dean's trust or somethin'."

"That was one goal."

Gabriel gives a mock laugh, just a snort in his wolf form, and Castiel is slightly glad for it being so toned down, "Look at you- already protectin' the Winchesters like they're your own… I saw how you looked at Dean, Cassie. I know what gears are turnin' in that insane, too-formal brain of yours-"

"And it is on nothing but the relative subject of negotiation for ourselves and Dean's pack. There is no certain way that my eyes have rested on Dean other than normally. I am afraid you are just imagining things, Gabriel."

"Says the one who was scenting him while we were standin' there." when Castiel turns to look at him, Gabriel's mouth pulls up in a wolfish grin, "Ah- there it is! The denial! Wow- barely an hour in with meetin' Dean and you're already tail over paws with the guy!"

Castiel growls a warning to his younger brother, "Gabriel, quiet. Not only do I need to listen for threats, I am not going to listen to your ranting and theories that are not true. Go sleep with the others, or stay awake while I patrol the grounds. Take your pick."

Gabriel ducks his head in submission, standing up, "I'll go curl up with Anna for now, but, I'll have both eyes open…"

"Thank you. I will be back in some time."

Castiel's paws carry him on a medium trot, his nose mainly guiding him. He uses old scent trails from the Winchester pack members as a trail to follow- the scents are mostly unfamiliar, but they create a pathway nonetheless. The whole time Castiel keeps his mouth slightly open, scenting the air and watching for threats. A few minutes in, Castiel finds a rabbit's burrow but nothing else, and he decides that he can return to the house now that he has a better grip on his surroundings.

As his pack mates come into view, still sleeping among one another, the sun is beginning to rise of the roof of the Winchester's home. In the new lighting, Castiel can see its rough condition, and the human part of him remarks in how the structure has not rotted away while it was in use.

"Cassie!" Gabriel jumps up away from Anna's form, paws kicking up some clouds of dirt, "How was the patrol?"

"Thankfully, it was uneventful. Anything to report?"

Gabriel pads alongside him now, his legs moving slightly faster to keep up with his larger brother, "No, not really… But I think the house has rats underneath it…"

Castiel growls lowly, his instincts rearing their head, "No member of our pack should be around such filth."

"Thought that you needed to talk to Dean about that." Gabriel smugly bumps into Castiel's flank as they jog back up to the house, "Seems like his little group's grown on you anyway… like a fungus."

"Thank you for the mental image, Gabriel. Now, I must see if Dean is willing to speak of our pending agreement." Castiel shifts immediately, slipping into his clothes that were placed on the peeling banister of the porch, and his jeans hang loosely on his hips as he turns to the omega, "Make sure everyone stays in line, Gabriel. I do not want to deal with you all behaving like a nest full of immature pups here."

Gabriel solutes with his paw, a silent promise to carry on with his orders.

Castiel opens and shuts the door quietly, his tee in his hands as he cautiously steps forward. The alpha tilts his head upwards slightly, scenting the air as much as he can as he puts on his shirt. He can smell coffee brewing in the kitchen, and the sound of some eggs frying in a pan gently reach his ears. Castiel steps forward, following his senses, landing him to see Dean in the kitchen fixing breakfast.

"Hey, Castiel." he grumbles, wiping at one of his eyes groggily, "I honestly thought you and your little pack of ducklings would be back at the nest and pond by now."

"I made a promise to watch over your pack as you slept. I never break my vows, Dean."

The human nods, leaning back against the water-warped surface of the counter, "Yeah, 'bout that… This deal… There's a few things you gotta know."

Castiel silently waits for Dean to continue.

"Sammy, he's an alpha, but he won't get in your way. He's more so of the politician rather than a commanding officer, so if you have legal issues- I suggest speakin' with him. Other than that, he'll leave you alone and let you do your thing." Dean turns his back to Castiel, his voice still steady as he goes on while flipping eggs- as though he rehearsed this conversation without Castiel's presence- "We don't have any omegas, so if you're lookin' for mates or some breedin' type bonus from us, you're not really gettin' anything. Other than Sammy, everyone else is a beta. Minus me, of course, but you already know what I am."

"We did not seek out your misfortune as an attempt to grow our numbers with fertility." Castiel supplies easily, stepping forward to assert his point, "We came here because we wanted to make sure your pack was taken care of."

Dean shrugs nonchalantly, sliding the eggs onto a plate. Castiel watches him, waiting for his reply.

Dean does not touch the eggs once they are set on the counter, and he turns to Castiel, "Yeah, I got that from all of the formal shit you're doin'... and you can knock it off- this whole, 'I gotta be perfect' bull. Use a contraction or somethin'."

Castiel blinks at the words with confusion, "I prefer to speak without them, Dean. I usually do."

"You sound like a damn textbook, then…" he grumbles, closing his eyes, "Look- all I know is that my pack is on its last leg- maybe stump, actually- and I need your help. Are you goin' to give it to us or not?"

"If you are willing to accept it."

"Of course I am." Dean hisses in disbelief, and Castiel is slightly taken aback from the hostility in his words, "Why do you think you were here in the first place?"

Normally, Castiel would give a warning growl or nip to those who spoke rudely to him, but he finds that Dean is an exception. If Castiel were in the same position, he would surely be in the swells of rage as Dean is. However, Castiel darkens his gaze at the human, attempting to seem intimidating. His wolf saunters on the edge of his mind like it always has, waiting for the right time to take control of the reigns if need be.

"When your pack joins into mine- you are under my rules, and I am the alpha." he asserts.

Dean nods, biting his lower lip, "Yeah, I figured…"

Castiel holds his chin up a little higher now as he speaks, "You and your pack will answer to me, and once we get you settled, your roles will be assigned to you. However, I have an adamant feeling yours will be different due to your…" Castiel trails off to find a word.

"Humanity."

The alpha watches as Dean shuffles slightly, "Yes, humanity. There will be work to be done, and do not expect to be coddled or given a free ride. Everyone in my pack contributes. If they do not, they leave."

"Got it…" Dean doesn't look as Castiel as he says it, as though he's only partially in the conversation mentally.

"So it is done, now? The Winchester pack is now officially bound to the Novaks?"

Dean nods absently, eyes distant even though he is only a few feet away, "Yeah… sure."

Castiel glances towards Dean once more, and then leaves.

The eggs remain untouched on the counter.

...

Dean's mind is swimming as he packs his bags.

If he thought this was going to be easy… shit- he was wrong.

His throat constricts as he puts his last shirt into his bag- it's the faded Iron Maiden tee his dad gave him when he was nineteen. It had been a hard year for Dean- especially hard- and John was one of the very few people who knew about what had happened among those countless seconds of the three-hundred-and-sixty-five days. For the eldest Winchester son, this is probably the second most hardest point of his life.

His boots scuffle the wooden floor, the beams creaking under his weight as he lingers in the doorway. The bed is barren, mattress worn and lumpy, and the nightstand beside it is uneven from where it lost one of its bottom pegs. Sunlight drifts through the cloudy window pains, illuminating the room in a soft glow as Dean looks at its simplicity one last time. A tear forms at the rim of his eye, and Dean clicks the switch down to turn off the light.

His old room shall remain dark and unused.

Dean's old life is about an hour or so behind him now.

Wolves travel beside him- some from his own pack, some from Castiel's- and they silently parade across fields of uncut grass and wildflowers. Castiel leads from the front, his midnight-black coat glossy among the strands of light as he jogs ahead of the group. Dean kind of feels out of place, especially when he's being the only one with thumbs and skin as they travel.

Currently, he is sitting on Sammy's back, riding him much like someone would a horse. His legs are on the sides of his brother's ribs, and the wiry brown fur is coarse against Dean's fingertips as he grips onto his younger brother's scruff. He feels so small now that everyone is in wolf form, and he can't help but cower on his brother's spine at the fact even the smallest of the herd is about the size of a Great Dane.

Fuck being human, sometimes, man.

Sammy's head tilts back, forming a slight huff that Dean has associated with the words 'are you okay' over the years, and he manages a weak nod. The sun is a little too hot on his skin as they march on like soldiers, but he can deal with it since he's the only one not wearing a large, full-bodied fur coat.

It seems, however, that the heat gets to the wolves, and soon Dean finds them resting near some stream in the beginning edge of a forest. Birds chirp sweetly around them as light filters through the leaves, large wolves splashing playfully in the cool stream of water as though they were pups as Dean watches on.

Sammy rests beside Dean, his head on his paws, body stretched out and used as a headrest for Dean. The eldest Winchester rubs softly through his brother's fur, trying to coax the feeling of technically being homeless out of their minds by physical touch. Dean is currently the only one other than Castiel who isn't in wolf form- and it seems as though the alpha in question has a few things to say. He approaches Dean and his baby brother, nothing but a pair of jeans adorning his hips.

"How are you doing so far?" he asks Dean, "Do you need any food or water?"

Dean is about to object to both when his stomach growls, and he shuts his mouth from where he was going to speak.

"I'll take that as a yes?" Castiel smirks, "Luckily for you, my brother Gabriel has a sweet tooth and can never stop eating."

Dean just nods, mumbling a thank you as Castiel leaves to get him whatever they have available, and Dean just tries to relax by pressing closer into Sammy's frame. His younger brother curls up more around Dean to the point where he can gently lick his face in a comforting gesture. They both trying their hardest to make the other feel better about leaving the only home they've ever had.

Castiel returns moments later in wolf form, slightly dampened now by river water as he opens his mouth, dropping a wrapped granola bar onto the ground. Dean stares at it for a moment, wondering what to do. In the end, Castiel has to use his snout to push forward the offering of food, azure eyes staring heavily at Dean as he awaits acceptance.

"Thanks…" Dean murmurs, and he unwraps the bar and begins to nibble on it, "Tell Gabriel I said it, too… Considering I stole his snack or somethin'..."

Castiel gives a curt nod, and then bark something that makes all of the wolves perk up- including Sammy. Dean awkwardly sits in silence, his lips still around the bar as Castiel says something else he can't understand, and soon all of the wolves are regathering and regrouping to leave. Dean stands up with Sammy, quickly eating the bar and giving his baby brother a pat on the head before he gets onto his back again.

It's a long ride till they reach 'home'.

...

Dean is silent most of the way to Castiel's territory.

He doesn't whisper witty remarks in Sammy's ear, and he doesn't crack a wise joke here and there. All in all, his mouth stays shut as Castiel pads up to Sammy. The wolf's eyes latch onto Dean, pupil expanding as the eldest Winchester stares back, and he gives a small yip to assert something to Sammy. The whole time, his eyes never leave Dean, even when Sammy becomes stiff and others from Dean's old pack come to flank around him.

Protection already? …

Dean is wary and confused as to why wolves are guarding his sides, but as Castiel's pack- his full pack- comes into view, Dean doesn't wonder why anymore. Hungry eyes and sharp teeth greet him as they pass over the invisible barrier, all wanting to nip and taste him as he passes through. There's some growls and whines, and it's more of a grating, hopeless feeling when Dean can't understand them or retort back as Sammy snarls towards some. Castiel is doing the same, clearing a pathway through the large body of wolves so Dean's little caravan of bodies can pass through without much of a problem.

Dean grips tightly onto Sammy's coat, lowering himself onto his brother's body as more and more wolves surround him. They cause his heart rate to skyrocket, his hands to tremble, and his lungs to seem as though they've swelled shut. Dean knows this feeling well- panic- and finds his mind pulling a blank as the feeling worsens as they continue onwards. By the time Castiel gets them past the pack of foreign and overwhelming wolves, Dean is nearly unresponsive within his fear.

Someone pulls Dean off of Sammy's back in haste, dragging Dean onto their chests as his eyes remain wide in fear and his mouth sealed from the adrenaline. His breathing is ragged and rough, nothing but short and uneven exhales that are passing through Dean's nose. Sammy shifts quickly after Dean is off of his spine, and he rushes over to his brother in an attempt to comfort him.

"Hey, Dean…" he says calmly, "Come on- it's okay now. We're safe. You're safe."

Dean shakes his head, disbelieving those words.

"There's nothing here that can hurt us."

Dean snorts despite the uncertainty that is running rampant all over him- in mind and in body.

Fingers begin brushing through his hair, and almost immediately, Dean finds himself slightly falling out of his panicked trance. Slowly, his chest begins to sync in with the one rising and falling beneath him, and he closes his eyes to relax more. Sammy doesn't say another word about anything, but his presence is still felt as Dean calms down from his panic high, waiting to see if Dean is alright.

It's a shame, really, because Dean passes out as soon as he feels remotely normal.

...

Castiel carries Dean up the stairs, the human's head lolling onto his chest as he ascends.

Castiel feels some remorse for the things that have happened, and he believes that there is some slight responsibility on his part for causing Dean to become so overwhelmed. It's his pack members that pushed Dean over his edge, and he plans on reprimanding them for all of the things said about 'clean blood' or 'fresh meat'. Dean, even when human, is a part of this pack- and no member of the Novak clan will ever be afraid to walk in their own territory.

Castiel brings Dean to his room, setting him down in the bed as he covers him up with his sheets. The human groans in his sleep, tossing slightly to make himself comfortable. The alpha pulls his blanket over Dean's slumbering form, and Castiel decides then that Dean can be housed alongside the other wolves. If Dean were to be placed among the rest of the members, Castiel is aware of the distinct possibility that someone would end up hurting Dean, or even changing him.

It's a well known fact that most werewolves enjoy the scent and taste of human blood, so Castiel is reasonably worried for Deans safety. He knows he would be a bit of a hypocrite if he were to judge or punish his pack mates for their feral, animalistic desires, but he cannot trust them. At least with Dean. Not when everything is still too fresh and delicate between the Winchesters and the Novaks. Dean getting hurt by an unruly wolf under Castiel's command would cause an irreversible rift to form in between them, and Castiel knows that Sam will fight him if Dean gets hurt. If there's anything Castiel wants to avoid, it's political problems within his own territory.

Dean groans something unintelligible in his sleep, curling up in Castiel's bed as the alpha watches over him quietly. Dean's neck is slightly exposed, the wolf in Castiel sensing the erratic heartbeat of fear pulsing underneath the flesh. His canine side tells him to surge forward and drink up the viscous liquid located under Dean's skin, but Castiel's morals and human mind refuse. In that moment, when the alpha himself is finding the urge to bite and taste hard to resist, Castiel decides that he will let Dean stay in his room for safety purposes. At least until a new plan is formed between them, the couch or something else will serve Castiel's needs just fine.

Castiel cracks his door open just in case Dean wakes, then proceeds to head back to his duties as alpha. However, he finds that his mind wanders to the person laying unconsciously among his sheets.

...

Dean opens his eyes to find himself in someone else's bed.

Normally, he would flip out or something, but he understands that right now- any bed will be foreign to him. The eldest Winchester rubs at his eyes, sitting up slightly onto his elbow to survey the area.

There's not much in the room around him. Nothing but the common things even a hotel would have. The sunlight coming through the window allows Dean to figure out that it's probably around five in the afternoon. He pulls the sheets away from his body, feet softly sounding on the wooden floor. Surprisingly, that's when Castiel walks in.

"Oh, hey." Dean rubs the back of his neck, an exhale tumbling over his lips, "I, uh- sorry about earlier."

"It is alright, Dean." Castiel walks over to the dresser, setting some things out onto it, "My pack can sometimes be... a handful, to say at the very least. If they came on too strong, then I apologize."

Dean just looks off to the side, rubbing at his arm, "Yeah, it's okay… I get it- I'm a human in the middle of a werewolf pack… I must look like a piece of raw meat to you guys…"

Castiel smirks at the words, as though it were some joke, "In some ways, I suppose that is true… However, that does not excuse them for treating you as such."

"Thanks, Castiel…" Dean walks over to the door, "I'm gonna go check in on Sammy and the others while you… do your thing."

Dean walks past Castiel, his arm brushing against the alpha's as he does so, and Dean hurries down the hallway to find his brother.

He finds Sammy integrating with the others. He's in his wolf form nipping at one of the pack members flank. The wolf yips, turning to give a growl of warning to Sammy, but its eyes are playful.

"Sammy?" Dean asks, walking up to the group of canines making him suddenly feel awkward.

Sammy shifts almost immediately, giving his brother a hug before pulling back, "You okay? You gave us a scare back there…"

"I'm fine- everything's fine." Dean glances at the other wolves watching him, "I just wanted to see how things were goin'..."

Sammy doesn't bring up the whole fainting incident, and Dean's glad, "It's going good so far. Bobby seems to be getting along just fine, and everyone else has fallen into place nicely…" Sammy hesitates, "What about you, Dean? How's the change so far?"

Dean wants to tell his brother that this is a strange experience altogether for him, that he misses the old house and the life he knew. Sure, people probably considered it one of hardship and problems, but Dean found some silver linings on that storm cloud. After all, no precious flower could ever grow without a little rain.

"Okay, I guess. Just tired…"

Sammy nods and glances back towards the mass of wolves, "You know…" he murmurs, "With all of these new pack members, it's gonna be hard on you being the only human…"

"Sammy-" Dean hisses, rolling his eyes, "my humanity isn't some damn plague. I understand that I can't do things like you guys- that I can't magically snap my fingers and somehow shift into Balto- but that's okay. I can deal with that kinda thing."

"I wasn't saying you couldn't. Just that the others who may not know how to control their basic instincts might have issues with you."

Dean sighs, looking towards the ground, "Yeah- I know… I don't know what I'm gonna have to do about it- but I'll manage."

Sammy takes the words in, hazel eyes lingering on Dean's face before averting to look back at the wolves. It's a silent 'we'll talk about this later' thing, and Dean knows it. Yet- he doesn't care too much. Sammy can go ahead and pry- he's got nothing to hide.

Dean walks away then, arms wrapped around himself as he decides to venture around the Novak territory. Thankfully, even without the scents to follow, Dean uses the dirt trail worn into the ground by paws as his guide. Cicadas hum around him, the air hot and the sky a bright blue as he slowly strolls. Birds fly past his head and into the thick lines of trees to his side, their chirps coming to intertwine with the soft sway of overgrown grass blowing in the wind. Dean has to admit it- Castiel's territory looks absolutely beautiful.

The human's boots touch onto the ground, soft and opaque clouds of dirt rising into the air with his footfalls. It's peaceful, and a small wave of calm rushes into Dean's senses. Dean feels relaxed here- safe. It's better than what he's felt like for a long time, especially with the stresses of John dying and taking care of so many people who were in need with so little to give. The idea of having to take care of fifteen people when you can't take care of yourself is a hell within itself, and Dean has to admit that Castiel coming to help them out was nothing short of a miracle.

Dean's wandering in his mind caused him to forget where he was going, finding that the path widened out into the bank of a stream. Dean blinks at the running water, eyes finding a rock quarry edging along the sides of it. Leaves hang down like vines, and a soft breeze passes among the mossy trunks.

"Seems like you had an adventure." a voice sounds behind Dean, causing him to jump.

Dean turns to find Castiel standing there, head tilted in curiosity, naked as the day he was born.

"Shit! Castiel!" Dean looks away, blushing furiously, "You can't just sneak up on me completely naked!"

Castiel just seems to get even more curious, head tilting further, and he smirks, "Nudity is a common thing among wolves. From running and living with a pack, you should be used to a little exposed skin."

"Yeah- but..." Dean sighs, "I'm not expecting someone to run up behind me or anything... It's like some horror movie- a murdering nudist..."

Castiel chuckles, crossing his arms, "So, would you mind to explain why you wandered off of my land and into a neighbor's territory?"

Dean swallows, "I- uh- shit, Castiel- I didn't know I swear-"

"It is fine, Dean." Castiel assures, "You did not know the boundaries."

"I know- I don't have a scent tracker like you guys..." Dean sighs in defeat, "I'm not in time out, am I?"

Castiel chuckles but shakes his head, "No. Normally, there would be some scolding and light punishment, but my pack and I can tell we're the lines stop and begin. You, however, are flying blind."

Dean nods accordingly, "Alright- as long as I'm not causing any issues..."

"I can put markers up for you, if you wish."

"Yeah, sure..." Dean murmurs, looking off into the trees to avoid Castiel's gaze, "Anything to keep this from happening again..."

Instead of saying anything else, both Castiel and Dean look towards the stream. Water flows easily through the curves and bends of rocks and soil, its trickle soothing something raw in Dean as he lets out a breath. God- it's been so long since he could just let go of all of his stresses, and feeling this… this reprieve- it's like finding solitude. Peace.

Castiel comes to stand at Dean's side, watching the stream run with Dean silently. The birds overhead sing their songs, the grass hums its swaying lullaby, and the trees stand overlooking the forest with a sense of timeless knowledge. It's indescribable- the complexity of sounds and sights- but good nonetheless.

"Come on…" Castiel says softly near Dean's ear, "I am sure this is enough time spent outside of our borders…"

"Yeah- right…" Dean has to snap back into reality, eyes leaving the stream to look at Castiel.

Castiel smiles slightly as Dean waits for him to do something- considering the alpha is the only one who can even lead Dean back to his pack at this point. Castiel shifts into his wolf form in a fluid transition, much like the water passing over the riverbed.

Castiel huffs, causing Dean to notice that his snout is pointing at his back. Dean raises an eyebrow, deciding to take a few steps forward to bring a hand to Castiel's coat. The wolf stares at Dean's fingers, their tips embedding themselves in the raven fur as to ask a silent question. When Castiel licks at Dean's wrist, Dean supposes that it's alright now- and he slowly puts his legs on Castiel. As his hips settle along the hard line of the alpha's spine, Castiel begins to trot away from the stream and back towards his territory.

Dean ends up having to hold on to Castiel as he begins to sprint, the speed causing Dean to feel as though he was one second away from falling off and onto the ground. The human's fingertips hold onto Castiel's scruff tightly in an attempt to hold on, but as Castiel nearly flings him off by stopping abruptly, Dean believes that Castiel is trying to kill him by flinging him off of his back.

"Castiel-" Dean begins to say as the alpha rolls over, forcing Dean onto the ground who gives a sound of pain and has surprise towards the action.

Suddenly, Castiel's snout is in his face, and the wolf is snarling at Dean. Dean's heart races in his chest from fear, his breath catching in his throat as Castiel's eyes search for any sign of submission. Dean remembers John telling him once that alpha's don't like it when they don't see someone submit when they are looking for it, and that things can get ugly- fast. So in light of that memory and information, Dean lowers his gaze and bares his neck in the universal sign of: okay, you're in control here- not me.

The alpha relaxes at the action, his lips receding over his sharpened teeth. Dean waits for a moment, the position he's in not giving him the ability to look at Castiel without the risk of setting him off. Castiel is suddenly sniffing at Dean's neck, his cold nose causing a shiver to run through Dean as the alpha scents him. Dean is pretty sure that Castiel would normally refrain from this if he could, but knowing how wolves get when instincts rear their heads, he's more than likely in a mental haze at the moment. Dean doesn't know if he should be worried as a tongue begins to lap at his skin.

Dean tries to scurry away somehow, palms pushing up against the dirt to gain leverage, but the wolf has none of it. Its teeth nip at Dean's skin, a warning, and immediately Dean stills from his attempt to escape.

Breathe- just breathe.

Dean attempts to calm himself as the wolf licks his exposed neck. Stalks of grass poke uncomfortably into Dean's back, causing him to feel as though tiny, blunt knives were digging into his flesh. However, it's not of priority- because the biggest thing that's worrying him are the teeth that are now trying to break his skin.

With a shove, Dean pushes Castiel off with as much force as he can manage. The alpha lands on the ground with a yelp, Dean finding that the wolf's confusion gives him time to run. A small voice in the back of his head tells him that fleeing isn't the best of options, but Dean still decides that he'll deal with the consequences as they come rather than avoid them.

Dean runs as fast as he can, his feet pounding against the dirt as he makes a break for the house in the distance. He knows by the sight of the wolves sunbathing and Sammy trotting around that at least he's not heading off into another pack's territory again. Lord knows Dean has crossed some line too many times today.

Sammy sees his brother in panic, shifting quickly as Dean runs, "Dean-"

"Can't talk right now, Sammy!" he yells, Dean trying his hardest to now beat the sound of thudding paws behind him in speed.

"Shit, is that- Castiel!" Sammy snarls, shifting back into his wolf form again to get the alpha away from Dean.

Dean's mind is a loop of curse words as Castiel speeds up, his snout nearing Dean's legs as he tries to bite the denim Dean's wearing. Sammy is on his trail though, quickly throwing Castiel off from his intended target and barreling them into a nearby group of wolves. Dean stops running immediately, the soles of his boots digging into the dirt below to slow himself, and tries to help with the mass of flailing paws. Castiel and Sammy, however, have different plans.

Castiel immediately jumps up and snarls at Sammy, raven ears flattened to his skull as Sammy growls back. They start circling one another, their teeth bared and fur puffed up in irritation. Dean watches with worry in his chest, hoping to whoever is listening that the two alphas don't kill each other or something.

"What's happening?" someone asks, coming up to stand beside Dean, "Why is Cassie and your brother flippin' shit?"

"I just- it's all my fault…" Dean says in defeat, the two wolves only getting closer to ripping the other's throat out.

The man tilts his head, "Your fault?"

Dean looks on with a solemn expression, his arms coming to circle his frame, "I went over the borders without knowing it… But- Castiel didn't seem too angry since there was no possible way for me to tell… Anyways, he'd offered a ride back, but when he began sprinting, I had to hold onto his scruff to stay on-"

"You did what?" the man beside him asks comically, "Dean- you have to understand that grabbing an alpha like that is almost like… taboo, right?"

"No-" Dean grimaces, feeling even worse already, Castiel and Sammy snarl once more, "I'm human, remember? I have no fuckin' clue as to what's right and what's not…"

The man beside him sighs, starting to guide Dean back to the house, "Come on, we're just going to have to let them fight this out. Trying to break them up isn't gonna do us any good… My name's Gabriel- I'm Castiel's younger brother."

Dean nods, letting Gabriel take him inside, "Nice to meet you… Sorry about all the trouble I've caused… I'm sure you, Castiel, and your pack mates want to rip out my throat already…"

"That's not true, Dean. You're human- we know you don't understand. Don't act like it's a bad thing that you don't. There's just… things you won't be able to notice because of it."

"Like the borders?" Dean supplies sadly, "Yeah- I haven't been here for twenty-four hours and I've already caused an uproar among you guys… I won't be surprised if you decide to kick me out."

Gabriel looks at Dean seriously then, expression stern as he lets Dean sit down on a couch, "We're not going to do that, Dean. Cassie isn't one for kicking people out of his pack unless he has a damn good reason to. Just because you made a few mistakes because you were unaware of things doesn't mean that you're a liability."

Dean gives a sarcastic chuckle, "Yeah, well, try convincing the world that…"

Gabriel watches Dean with a pitying expression, and Dean hates it- hates it because he probably looks like some air-headed idiot who is trying to live in a world he doesn't belong in. It's literally like he's a sheep in the middle of a wolf pack- it's bound to lead to trouble and his demise in some way.

"I know how you feel, to some extent at least…" Gabriel murmurs quietly.

"How's that?" Dean scoffs, "Last time I checked you were on four legs instead of two."

Gabriel furrows his brow, gaze heated with an anger that causes Dean to quiet himself, "You act as though you're the only one who feels like everyone treats them differently because of something you can't control. For you- it's humanity- for me- it's because I'm an omega."

Dean looks down at the floor, feeling guilt rise into his throat like bile.

"Every single day since I presented, I've been given fucking hell because of what I am. Every damn alpha or beta expects me to bare my throat and submit- and when my heat rolls around… Well- I get too many assholes at my bedroom door who think they can pick a lock. I've been treated like a piece of meat most of my life- so I fucking understand why you think you're nothing but one here."

Dean can't even meet Gabriel's eyes, mumbling, "Sorry- I didn't know… I can't- I can't smell it like you guys can… I'm flyin' blind…"

This makes Gabriel soften up again- realizing that there was no possibility Dean would have been aware of his gender without being informed, and he comes to sit beside the human, offering comfort. Dean relaxes slightly, hoping he didn't screw everything up too royally so far.

"You know, we aren't all you crack us up to be…"

The quiet words cause Dean to glance up at the omega, blinking, "What do you mean by that? …?"

Gabriel gives a sad smile, looking at the coffee table, but his mind is distant- trapped within his thoughts- "We have our own pasts and problems to deal with. We're just as human as you are in some ways- especially when it comes to making the wrong choices and mistakes. There are some of us here with… dark clouds- hanging over our heads…"

"Should I be worried about that?" Dean asks honestly, "There isn't going to be some like… interrogation process if I know anything, right?"

"We're not a mafia, Dean. We're just a pack of werewolves trying to find order among the chaos." there's sounds of the fight outside, "As you can tell- we're not exactly makin' a paradise for ourselves."

Dean chuckles at the comment, finding a small smirk appearing on Gabriel's face, "Yeah- I don't see any palm trees or beaches nearby."

Gabriel rolls his eyes, "Totally."

It's then of course, that Sammy walks in with scratches over his skin, Castiel following suit.

"Dean, he didn't hurt you did he?" there's an edge of anger to Sammy's voice as he kneels down in front of his brother.

"No, he didn't…" Dean mumbles, finding Sammy overlooking his skin- especially at his neck- for any signs of damage that obviously state otherwise.

Castiel stands behind Sammy silently, Dean looking up to find that those blue irises are watching him heavily as Sammy inspects his flesh.

"His scent is all over you…" Sammy murmurs with furious eyes, and he stands up, growling when he turns to Castiel, "You bastard-"

"Sammy!" Dean tries to stop the fight before it has a chance to start, but of course, nothing seems to work out in his favor.

"You lay a hand- paw- tooth- nail- fucking anything on my brother again like that and I'll make you into a damn shag carpet!" Sammy snarls, his wolf seeming to seep through his anger.

Castiel glares at Sammy, "I assure you, what happened today with Dean was not my intention. I can deny my instincts as well as you can-"

"Bullshit!" Sammy growls, his finger pointing accusingly towards the pack alpha, "You can easily ignore your wolf and leave shit be- but no- you have to fucking chase my brother like some baby rabbit during hunting season!"

Castiel seems like he's seconds away from shifting himself, his rage causing the air to sour severely in the room- Gabriel and Dean are watching him snarl without much of an idea on how to calm him- "It does not matter, you are not in charge here. I am the alpha of this pack, not you, so the fantasy on giving me orders is one of your own invention. However, I did not mean to be so rough with Dean, but my wolf does not particularly enjoy its superiority being questioned- much like what you are doing now. So, Sam, if there is one smart thing you could do during your life, it would be to back off and learn your place."

"I won't until you promise me that you won't chase my brother or pin him down to the ground again, understood!? I don't give a damn if you're my alpha or not- because I will still fucking attack you if you even try to nibble on Dean!"

"I would believe the valid term for you is a hypocrite." Castiel growls at Sammy, inching forward like a predator on its prey, "Last time I saw you, Gabriel was at the end of your nose."

Gabriel flushes red beside Dean, and immediately the older Winchester is feeling awkward from the situation and all that it is revealing, so he decides to try and stop this before it gets too far, "Come on, guys, there's been enough fighting so far today."

Gabriel nods his head in agreement, "Yeah, let's listen to Dean and stuff."

"Thank you, Gabriel. At least you're on my side-"

"Silence Gabriel!" Castiel yells as soon as Sammy growls, "Shut up, Dean!"

The two alphas glare at each other before snarling, suddenly shifting again and ripping at each other like the feral animals they technically are.

"Shit-" Gabriel jumps off of the couch alongside Dean, both barreling into the fight to break them up before they bring the whole house down around them.

Ironically, in the end, it's brothers holding brothers in line. Dean's forearm is wrapped around Sammy's neck, pulling him back as he growls at Castiel. Gabriel pushes with both arms on Castiel's chest to stop him, the alpha's nails scraping into the wood below from the restrained power behind them.

"Chill the fuck out!" Gabriel scolds, and he smacks Castiel on the nose like a puppy who needed punishment because it peed on the carpet.

Castiel whines at the pain, his paw coming to rub at his snout as Gabriel sighs in defeat, slouching over with exhaustion.

Dean pets Sammy behind the ears, the strokes of his fingers making his baby brother calm down bit by bit as Sammy breathes heavily. Sammy's form- which is around Dean's torso- begins to loosen its muscles slightly, the fur matted in places from where blood slicks it.

"Come on, Sammy…" Dean grabs onto the scruff of Sammy's neck- something he's done since they were kids- and begins to lead his baby brother into the back to wash him off.

...

Castiel watches in amazement as Sam lets Dean grab onto his scruff.

For him, the touch set something off in his mind- like some bomb exploded and there were no places for the heat and fire to escape. With all of the pent up force in Castiel's mind, his wolf decided to snap from it. Castiel didn't mean for anything to happen, he really didn't, but his wolf has a habit of taking control of him when he doesn't want it to.

At the thought of that, Castiel shivers, causing Gabriel to come over to him in concern.

"I know…" he murmurs, petting Castiel's head softly, not having to lean down as Castiel reaches his collarbone, "It reminds you of her, doesn't it? …"

A low whine escapes Castiel at the words, his body buckling down before he whimpers in defeat. Gabriel, the saint that he is, shifts into his wolf form again before lying down next to Castiel.

"It's going to be alright…"

Castiel just hides his face under his paws.

Songs Used for Writing: _

1. The Letter - "The Town" Soundtrack

2. Dean/Castiel ~ Young and Beautiful Collab

3. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire [Original Movie Soundtrack] - Good Morning Sweetheart