"Well Congratulations Grandpa, looks like you just found your lifemate."
Castiel woke with a start.
It was just a dream.
One he'd had every night since his 16th birthday, the year most of his other friends (the few that he had) had already found their lifemates. And as far as he knew he wasn't going to find his mate anytime soon.
Even now, 13 years later, he still lied awake some nights thinking about his mate. Castiel hoped that wherever the boy was he's safe and happy. And not as alone and miserable as he was.
As for how he knew his mate was in fact a 'he', well the voice he'd heard every night inside of his subconscious was distinctively masculine, despite how terrified and high pitched the words were spoken.
Castiel assumed that his mate was unimaginably shy and would be just fine once he got used to him when they met in the next 20+ years.
The 29 year old Alpha couldn't say that it didn't trouble him when he thought about his mate being significantly younger than him when they would finally see each other for the first time.
But he had a while to get used to the idea.
Besides not all lifemate relationships were 'sexual' or 'romantic'. It was less common for older Alpha's to have mates younger or older than them but when they did, the relationship was usually platonic and that of a 'teacher and student'.
His brother Gabriel often tried to convince him to 'hook up' with a few willing and unmated Omega's since he didn't have to worry about being tied down. But Castiel wasn't really attracted to anyone, and by that he meant that yes he was a Virgin and he yes he didn't plan on loosing his precious flower anytime soon.
He couldn't help considering the idea whenever he thought of his mate though.
And considering his current circumstances, he didn't really want to think about what that meant.
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"B-But Cassy-Bear! You can't go!" Gabriel flailed dramatically, spinning out of his chair and chasing after his youngest brother like a drunk baby.
"You can't leave me here alone!" The eldest brother Michael frowned, also in hot pursuit of the youngest Novak. "I'll still be here."
"Alone!"
Castiel rolled his eyes and walked a little faster. Dodging a few blushing Omega secretary's and few disgruntled Beta office workers along the way. His foot was nearly out of the door but he was yanked back by none other than his most devious brother, Lucifer.
"Way to go Luci!" Gabriel fist pumped and cheered loudly, accidentally sending a petite beta male careening into the nearby coffee station. "Whoops."
Michael helped the stuttering beta to his feet. "Castiel, are you sure you should be going this year?" He blanched at the stormy look his his brothers blue eyes. "Um not that you shouldn't go or anything. It's just- . It's been a hard year for you. And I think the trip would just...depress you."
Castiel sighed, shrugging of Lucifers hand with a glare. "I'm aware of the fact that me not having found my lifemate makes you all a bit uncomfortable. But it's none of your concern." He cleared his throat. "I-I got...low last year, with mom and everything else that was going on. But I'm fine now. I've come to terms with it. And if I can move on from the incident the rest of you can also."
"Well alrighty then." Lucifer whistled. "If the kid says he can take care of himself who are we to argue?"
"B-But alone!"
"Were right here Gabriel!" Michael scolded.
"Who am I gonna mess with if he's not around?!"
Castiel pried his teary eyed brother off of his side. The beta always insisted on carrying on like a child despite the fact that he took this monthly trip to the mountains every spring. And he had done so for the last twenty years.
Just because he was going for the first time in his life without his mother didn't mean it'd be any less enjoyable.
Well that was a lie, but if he kept telling himself that maybe he'd actually start to believe it.
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The drive back to his apartment was uneventful. As things often were when Castiel was concerned. He didn't play the radio and he cruised along the side streets in contented silence.
At least until a freckled and obviously pregnant omega stumbled into the road, and right in front of his Ford. The alpha cried out in surprise, yanking his steering wheel to the side. He careened onto the side walk and back onto the road in a matter of seconds. Thoroughly shaken he spared a look back towards the omega, silently praying he didn't run the man over.
He sighed in relief once he'd saw the man was fine, and a group of bystanders had crowded around him in concern. Fanning his face, and trying to take his pulse as the omega rolled his eyes and shook them off.
Castiel turned back towards the road, smiling despite the situation. The man sure was a little spitfire. Any other omega would have been crying hysterically and shaking in his boots.
Not that omega's were a bunch of big babies or anything, they were just extremely sensitive. It was the reason why he, Lucifer, and Michael assumed Gabriel was an omega for so long. Even though he wasn't exactly 'demure' or particularly 'dainty'.
Castiel made sure to drive with more care than usual on the rest of the way towards his apartment. He didn't want to make any repeat performances.
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Six hours later the alpha was packed and ready to go. He'd made sure to clean out his Cat carrier one last time before he put his mothers cat, Pierre inside. He was a rather mangy ginger cat with sour attitude to match. Pierre swiped at Castiel one last time as he stuffed the hissing monster into the small carrier and placed him gently onto the floor underneath the passenger seat of his truck.
Securing all of his gear and strapping a large thick piece of tarp over his abundant amount of supplies, Castiel hopped back into his car and backed out of his driveway.
He drove for nearly twenty minutes before he remembered that he'd forgotten to bring some cat food for Pierre. And despite how much he despised the little drowned rat, he wouldn't let him starve.
The sun was starting to set and the Texan heat of the day had simmered down to a tolerable mist of heat followed by an occasional breeze or two.
As if the cat could sense his dilemma he gave a loud yowl and pawed at his cage, giving his new owner a resentful look.
Well as resentful as a cat could be. Which Castiel learned after he'd first took Pierre home, was a lot.
He sighed in relief when he spotted a conveniently placed well, convenience store and pulled into the parking lot as quickly as he dared.
He managed to get in and out of the store in under five minutes and in no time at all he was back on the road. He frowned, sniffing at the air inside his car curiously. Something smelled distinctively sweet. Like apple pie and cinnamon, and strangely a hint of boot polish.
He considered checking the back of his truck for any unusual cargo, but he quickly vetoed the idea. Someone probably just brushed up against his car or something.
It definitely wasn't anything he should be worrying about.
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It wasn't until he was twenty minutes out of Dallas that he noticed the coughing. And the wheezing.
It was quiet at first. So quiet that despite his keen hearing skills he barely noticed it and had written it off as the sputter of his carborator or something along those lines. His truck wasn't exactly a spring chicken after all.
And then the sound got louder and heavier, almost as if someone was choking on something. It got so loud that even Pierre woke up from his nap and hissed at the alpha, as if he was blaming him for the disturbance.
Castiel turned until he reached the side of the highway and parked. The coughing had stopped the moment he'd turned off the engine.
Well wasn't that peculiar?
Castiel got out of the car, keeping a keen eye on Pierre least he attempt the flee from his cage. It wouldn't be the first time.
He walked cautiously over to the back of the vehicle. He was just about to lift up the tarp when the gray fabric was yanked open by itself.
"Well what do you know. Looks like you finally caught me."
It was the boy from earlier.
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Castiel was fully prepared to give the man a stern talking to and make a quick call to the police department when he caught a whiff of the freckled males scent.
Apples and cinnamon. The alpha inhaled deeply, drinking in the omega's scent (with a smell that sweet he had to be an omega) and despite all he had planned to do the moment before he reached a hand out and helped the wheezing man out of the trunk.
"Are you alright?" Castiel asked politely. "You sounded like you were choking."
"No shit dude." He snorted, patting the alpha on the back. "What has it been? Like twenty years since you last cleaned out this joint. Its hella dusty back there."
With the omega so close and staring him in the face, Castiel had a chance to notice just how attractive the man was.
He had a cute little button nose and the most adorable freckles everywhere, even on the backs of his hands. His eyes were wide and apple green and his lashes were longer than any he'd ever seen before. He was petite but he wasn't thin. He had a lean muscular frame, a swimmers build and his hands looked strong and capable, despite the fact that the rest of his features were so dainty and fragile looking. Castiel could also see his baby bump in all its glory. It was deliciously round and cute, the omega wasn't exactly huge but he had to be at least five or six months along. His lips were plump and pink and he had an impressive pair of dimples and snow white teeth.
In other words, he was the most beautiful thing Castiel had ever seen in his entire life.
Not to mention the fact that the boy looked extremely young. He couldnt be more than eighteen or nineteen and despite the tiredness his eyes possessed he still had the innocent clear eyed look that most young people had.
"Uh?"
"Nevermind that. I'm guessing you don't care that I snuck into your car right? Because if you did you'd totally be calling the police right now. And your not so I'll take that as a good sign." He grinned, streching and cracking his back with a grunt. He rolled his shoulders and strode past the alpha, opening the passenger side door before settling into Cas' truck.
Without his permission.
"Oh cool! You have a cat in here!"
Castiel hurried over to the other side of the truck. "Y-You can't just hop on in like that. I don't even know who you are!"
"The names Dean, I'm six months pregnant and on the run from my crazy ex-boyfriend. Get in the car."
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Castiel wondered how it all turned out this way. He'd been dead set on dragging Dean out of his car and to the nearest police station but one bat of those thick lashes and a strategic peek of green eyes quickly dissolved his resolve. He'd agreed that he would take the omega to the next state over and drop him off somewhere, which wasn't really a problem since he was headed in that direction anyhow.
He glanced at Dean who was currently cuddling Pierre and cooing at him like he was a newborn. As if the green eyed boy sensed Castiel's eyes on him, he looked up and flashed him a grin.
Before reaching over and turning on his radio.
"Please don't touch that Dean."
The omega looked up, startled at the tone the alpha male had used on him. Shock quickly gave way to defiance and he glared at the older man. "Why?"
"It's just- . I don't like people touching my things."
Deans eyes widened and he choked on his own spit before sputtering and coughing into Pierre's fur, much to the ginger cats chargin. "W-Well Congratulations Grandpa, looks like you just found your lifemate. " He squeaked, coughing wetly one last time before reaching for the radio once more.
Castiel was too flabbergasted to respond. And it wasn't long until Dean found a station that he liked.
"I can't stop this feeling, deep inside of me. Girl you just don't realize what you do to me!" Dean sang along bouncing Pierre in his lap to the music. "When you hold me in your arms so tight, you let me know everything's alright."
So did this mean that Dean was his-
"I'm hooked on a feelin'!"
Oh my.
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