DISCLAIMER! I (unfortunately) do NOT own Supernatural or any of it's characters. I do not own any songs that may be used in this book unless I specifically say I made it up.

(Dean POV)

I walk out of my class as the bell rings. I start for the front doors when I see Sam and Gabe fighting. Cas was looking on wide-eyed. Sam Chester has been my best friend forever. Our families are real tight and spend a lot of time together. Sometimes when we go on trips we call it the Winchester Family Vacation. Gabriel Erzengel. His family lives in this huge mansion in the outskirts of town, but he lives with Michael, his older brother who took him in after he'd heard about the beatings. Castiel Novak. His parents use to teach in a military school so he was raised in the school. They just moved back here eight years ago, and Cas still has thar military stiffness.

As I get closer I start to hear the arugement.

"That doesn't mean you should go with her!" Gabe yells.

"What does it matter to you? You're going with Balthazar." Sam retorts.

"What does that have to do with this? I just don't like that you're going to homecoming with her!"

"I can do what I want, Gabe! You're not my boyfriend!" Sam snaps stomping away.

I whistle.

"Shut up, Win." Gabe growls.

"Wow, why don't you just ask him out?" Oh the sexual tension could be cut with a knife.

"I said shut it, Dean. Besides, he doesn't swing for my team." he says glumly.

"Hate to break it to ya, but if you're gonna get all depressed here's a hint. He swings for both teams."

Gabe lights up with his usual Gabe glow, but then dulls back down.

"He probably hates me now. And besides I'm going to homecoming with Balthazar and he's going with Ruby." he spits her name out.

"Well, maybe sometime, if you grow a pair, you could ask him out."

"Yeah right. If he says no that would ruin our friendship. I'd much rather have him as a friend then not at all."

"Whatever floats your boat dude. But just don't hurt anyone while you're at it." Gabe nods and walks away.

"Dean?" Cas asks. I almost forgot he was there.

"Yeah?"

"You don't have a date do you?" he looks down at his shoes shyly.

"To what?" I ask confused.

"Homecoming dance."

"Is that tonight? Shoot I totally forgot. No, I don't have one."

"Well...I-I just...thought th-that if y-you didn't have a d-date that we could j-just go to-together." Cas nervously stutters.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I? You're my best friend! Don't be nervous, just cause there's some tension between Sam and Gabe doesn't mean that our friendship is at a halt." I look at my watch. Shit. That's also today. I'll just do it before Homecoming. "Shit, I gotta go Cas. I'll see you tonight."

"Goodbye, Dean."

I rush home. I run into the house slamming the door bhind me. I stop, take a deep breath and walk into the living room.

"Dean you're late." My dad says. "What if you changed in public? Huh, what then?" he asks sternly.

I've been shifting since I was sixteen. That was two years ago and now it's time for me to find a mate. Mate is short for soulmate. As a lycanthrope, or werewolf if you must, we are extremely reliant on having a mate to ground us. As an alpha gene we have bad habits like stubbornness and bad tempers. Unfortunately, there's no cures for personalities so we keep with the mate system. And for some reason Dad still thought I was like some pup.

"Dad you know I learned how to control my shifts."

"John!" I hear my mom yell.

"Yes, Mary?" he shouts back.

"Is Dean back yet?"

"Yes, darling!"

"Can you get him to change into this outfit I got for him?" I groan.

"Dean, your mother just wanted to get you something for when you meet your mate tonight."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes."

"Coming, Mom!"

I go upstairs to my room where a simple black tux lay across my bed. The suit is pure black and so is the tie, but the shirt for the undernearh is a blue color. Not ocean blue, or sky blue. It seems more familiar, like I'd seen it before. I started think of other blues I'd seen, but I still couldn't figure it out. I look at it a bit longer. It seems like an eternity before I finally give up.

"Mom?"

"Right here, honey." her voice says from behind me, making me jump out of my skin.

"Jesus."

"Nope, just your everyday superhero, Wonder Woman." she says posing.

"Ha ha. Your funny, really funny." I murmur sarcastically. "Is this what you wanted me to wear?"

"Yes. I thought nice neutral colors at first, then I saw that shirt and something told me she would like it. And when you find your mate you can take her to the homecoming dance!" Mom squeals.

"I already promised Cas that I'd hang out with him at homecoming since he didn't have a date. I can't leave him hanging. Besides you said to look outside of town for my mate, and only students at the school are allowed."

"Okay fine, but when you find her you better get her name and number."

"Jeez, Mom. Overbearing much?"

"I'm just excited." Mom squeals again. "Okay now get dressed and go find your mate!" she demands before leaving.

"Damn." I murmur.

"I heard that!" Mom yells.

"Go away, Mom!"

I start to strip of my school clothes and start to put on the tux. I struggle to tie the tie, but eventually I get it. Once I'm finished I look in the mirror. I'm overdressed. I just know it. She's going to laugh at me. But I can't take it off. Mom would be mad. Mate. Mom. Maate. Mom. Maaate. Mom. Dang it, which one would hate me for longer? Mom. Which one will love me no matter what? If I want to be honest, Mom. Fffffffffine. Mom wins.

I sigh and plop on my bed. I've got a good ten minutes before Mom yells at me to come downstairs. I couldn't believe that I was going to meet her. I mean, it's kinda like when you've aspired to do something since you could remember and then finally going to your first day on your dream job. You just can't believe you've finally made it.

"Dean! You need to get down here! I want to see what you look like!" Mom yells.

Oops. I miscalculated I suppose. I walk down stairs and Mom squeals once again. Dad looks like he's about to crack up. Mom glares at him.

"One noise and you're dead." she says.

He gets serious very quickly.

"You look so handsome, sweetheart." Mom says. "Doesn't he, John?"

"You look like you're going to a wedding." He says chuckling.

"John!"

"Sorry." he coughs. "You look great, son."

"Jee, Dad really feeling the love there." I say. "But Mom seriously. Isn't this a bit much?"

"Nah, you look fine, besides you can just wear that to homecoming. And you have to go to homecoming. You can't not go. It'd be stupid if the star football player didn't go."

"Whatever." I start to leave.

"Have fun sweetheart!" Mom yell from behind me as I shut the door.

I sigh and walk towards the forest that's just behind our house. As I walk into the tree line I quickly shift and start to run on my four legs.

As my wolf form starts running I pick up a faint scent of the sweetest smell. It's so intoxicating, I barely register my change of course. I was supposed to go out of town to look for my mate, but it seems she already lives in Heyvan.

I run deeper into the forest looking around and sniffing the air looking for her. Why is she so far in the forest? Maybe she likes nature.

I come across a hammock hanging in between two trees. That's where the smell is coming from. The hammock is caved in, so someone's in it.

I start to walk forward slowly, not paying attention to what's on the forest floor. Bad decision. I step on a piece of metal that someone carelessly left on the ground.

As soon as the metal embeds itself in my paw, I yelp, causing the person inside the hammock to jump. The figure sits up to reveal the face, but my eyesight is blinded by the pain in my front paw. I barely see the figure rush toward me.

They slowly come up to me and kneel down. They gently grab my paw, causing me to yelp again. I whimper as they sush me petting my head.

They move away causing me to whimper again. I try to limp over to where they went, following their scent as I keep my eyes closed in pain. After a step or two I collapse, not used to walking on only three paws.

I pant as I try to stand again, but they push me down. They gently roll me over to my side and lift up my hurt foot. They whisper an apology and pull the metal out of my foot. I howl in pain.

My mate doesn't let go of my foot though, they start to wrap my foot, which I now realize will later be my hand. I start to open my eyes again so I can see my mates face. The first thing I notice is their beautiful blue eyes. Their the same color as my tux's undershirt. The second thing I notice is who it is.

My eyes widen. I try to stand again, but my supporting leg buckles and I fall again.

No. You can't be. I think.

But you are.

My mate gives a confused look a leans towards me again. I growl lowly as a defense and they flinch.

You know what? I don't care! You're my mate. You're meant to be there for me and you will. I know you will. I will protect you with my life.

I then whimper as an apology. They look at me warily, scared I might bite. To comfort them I drag myself over and rest my head in their lap. They slowly bring their hand up to pet my head again and I nuzzle into it.

"Hey there." they say. "You better now?" I wag my tail a bit.

I felt stupid, like a household dog. I'm a wolf! Not some kind of Labrador! But I cotinue to be tame for my mate.

"You're a pretty cute wolf." they chuckle. I growl a bit. They laugh. "Sorry. I guess wolves aren't cute, that's a dog thing isn't it?"

I lift my head snobbishly. They laugh harder. Once they finally sober up they ask,

"Can I name you?" I wag my tail a bit more.

"Um, how about..." They purse their lips to the side in the cutest way. He thinks for a bit. "How about Adam?" I really don't care what they call me. Even if it is my little brother's name. I wag my tail a bit more. "Okay, Adam. It's nice to meet you. I'm Castiel, but people call me Cas." He says sticking his hand out. I put my injured paw in his hand, which he gently shakes.

"You seem trained. Are you from the zoo or something?" I let out a wolfish laugh. "No? Well then. You're officially the tamest wolf I've ever met. Well, the only wolf, but whatever." He checks his watch.

"Damn, Is that the time already? Adam, I'm sorry I've got to go. Homecoming's tonight and I'm meeting my friend there. I'll see you tomorrow?" I whimper a bit. "I'm sorry. I swear I come visit tomorrow." He stood and left. As he left my view I started to run in the direction of the school, still hidden in the forest line. I came across the back of the school and shift back.

I walk out of the forest line and around the school to the front door.

I look at the parking lot, it's only half full, and scan it for Cas' car.

I walk into the school building and am instantly bombarded with blasting music. I haven't even hit the gym yet. As I start to walk towards the gym someone runs into me from behind.

"Oh, I'm sorry Dean." I hear Lisa say from behind me. I turn and look at the Cas' twin sister.

"Oh, that's fine. Is Cas here yet?" I ask, turning towards her.

"Yeah, we are just a wee bit late but whatever. Hey do you have a date tonight?"

"No, but I told your brother that I'd hang out with him since we both don't have dates."

"Oh. Well, if you need a break from my annoying brother, just come find me okay?" She says with a wink.

I feel the urge to throw up, but I swallow down the rising bile and nod.

"Okay! Well catch you later, hottie!" she says walking away swaying her hips.

As soon as she's out of earshot I make a gaging noise.

"Oh, don't tell me someone spiked the punch again." I hear Cas' deep voice say.

"No, but that might make tonight a whole lot easier."