Dean woke up slowly, still in a daze. The first thing he noticed were hands wrapped around him tightly and a warm body spooning him and hell, it was so freaking nice to wake up like this. With someone.
He shifted and his shoulder stung for a moment and he gasped because he remembered, he had a mating bite on him now. Oh, fuck yeah, he had a mate. There was someone who cared for him and wanted him and he never thought he would find someone like that. And an alpha too. Such an amazing shy alpha who would take charge when he needed to or when Dean needed him to and it was freaking awesome.
Castiel hummed, snuggling in his shoulder and Dean smiled, his chest booming with affection. He nudged the alpha and huffed a laugh at his scoff.
"Morning, Alpha." Dean spoke softly and amusingly while the alpha just sort of groaned, sounding so adorable. "Aren't you going to wish me a good morning too?"
"Mngmg..." the alpha grumbled and snuggled even more. It was like his mind refused to awake, feeling too shy or embarrassed and Dean was pretty sure if he turned around, he would find his alpha blushing. His alpha. Now wasn't that something? Dean couldn't resist and let the alpha rest a while longer, so her wiggled his way around, Castiel's hand slipping to his bare waist and slowly moving away. Something was different though.
Castiel was usually so adorably shy, and when his rut hit, he kind of opened up, his inner alpha overpowering him, but now he seemed to be back to that previous state, and oh! Could it be? Dean cupped his cheek, running his thumb over it and made the alpha lift his gaze. "Hi there." Dean said and oh, my, God! that adorable blush flooded the alpha's face in a second.
"Hello, Dean." The alpha somehow managed, his voice so deep and strong and it shouldn't fit his current pinkish cheeks and his bashful acting, but somehow it made him even more attractive and interesting. Dean's smile grew wider and he leaned in and brushed his lips against the alpha's. Castiel's eyes immediately fell closed as if he was relishing the moment and when Dean backed away, a small breath escaped him, something between a sigh and a whine. The sound made Dean chuckle.
"Wouldn't want to kill you with my morning breath." He commented, gazing into those vibrant blues.
"I don't mind." Castiel whispered and Dean threw his head back laughing, because, yeah, the alpha certainly didn't mind it before, but what's more, it felt like he was asking for more right now. So Dean leaned back in and kissed him again, letting his lips caress the alpha's, but nothing more then that. Well, not with his lips, anyway. The hand that was on the alpha's cheek slid down and brushed down over his neck to his shoulder, gentle and sweet. The motion propped Cas to each out to, and he set his hand back on the omega's waist, not moving it anywhere else from there. And it was just perfect.
"How are you feeling, Alpha?" Dean asked after they broke the kiss, curious to see how far along his rut was.
"I am... Good. Great... Happy." Castiel said, and Dean smiled, surprised. He did not expect that kind of an answer.
"I am happy too. Over the moon, actually. But I meant how's your rut?" Dean asked and watched Cas consider the answer. The alpha looked back up at him and smiled after a moment.
"My rut... My rut is... Satisfied. I... I took a mate. I... I got you, and my alpha just... Everything calmed after that. Like... Like everything fell into place, everything is right now." The air around them exploded with sweet smell of chocolate at those words and Dean just snuggled closer into Castiel's arms.
"I am so glad I found you. I am so glad you accepted me." Dean whispered, not sure if he really wanted the alpha to hear.
"I am so happy you would even want me, so..."
"We are both just a couple of saps, aren't we?"
"Been called worse." Castiel said and Dean laughed. His alpha was funny when he wanted to be, it made Dean love him just a little bit more.
They got up soon after that and made out in the shower some more, nothing but light touches and some caressing. They were both too drained and a bit sore from Castiel's rut and this felt... Not enough, it felt right. It felt good to show affection and to be able to touch and just learn about one another. Dean suggested a power breakfast, Castiel opted for waffles and Dean agreed as long as he could have honey over his. Castiel chose chocolate syrup, and to add to their tooth rotting fluffiness, they ended up feeding each other, playing and teasing.
After they were done, and all the dished cleaned because Castiel insisted on helping, Dean suggested they take the rest of the waffles and go to see his brother. Castiel agreed, but still sounded a bit uncertain, as if he was really looking forward to meet S. W. Chester, but was insecure to meet Dean's brother. Not because he is an alpha, or untrained, but because the was Dean's family.
"Don't worry, it will be fine. Sam can be a bit odd about certain old customs, but otherwise he is just one big teddy bear. And I... I may have talked to him about you... You know, before... So he already kind of likes you." Dean said, now blushing himself adorably and Castiel smiled at him and placed a small kiss on his cheek. "Just... If he offers you his hand, his wrist up, you are supposed to sniff it and then offer your wrist back. That is how people used to scent others and their intentions or whatever back in the day. I am sure he won't do anything else weird."
"I could handle wrist scenting. I meant, it is much less then when we first met." Castiel said completely serious, and Dean turned red as a tomato, but then Castiel looked up at him and they both started laughing.
"Hey, you liked it and you know it." Dean teased and Castiel just shrugged, the smile still lingering on his face. "Okay, so I might have been a little drawn to you from the get-go..."
"Only a little?"
"Shuddup. You loved my scent too."
"I did. Still do." Castiel said and approached, slowly wrapping the pouting omega in his arms. He nuzzled in his neck and took a deep breath, then pressed a tender kiss on Dean's skin, causing goosebumps to rise. "I loved everything about you. I still do."
"You are gonna turn me into a puddle here." Dean complained with a fake annoyance.
"You like it and you know it."
Dean had never laughed so hard and so often as he did this morning.
"Well don't you reek of happiness." was the first thing Sam said, an amused smile dancing on his face when he opened the door. "And you must be Castiel." He said as he turned to the alpha and like predicted offered him his wrist. Castiel on his behalf just sort of froze for a moment and then moved in such a way that Dean didn't know if he was trying to hide behind him, or trying to hide him. But it was really Dean's fault forgetting to mention that Sam was a really big guy. Still before Dean had a chance to react and explain, Castiel straightened and cleared his throat before coming closer and sniffing the offered wrist. He made a sort of a pleased hum, which Dean found really funny, then offered his own hand. Sam took a whiff and smiled, amused by a slight sweet undertone Castiel's scent held.
"Come on in." Sam offered and just walked away, leaving the front door open for them to enter. The entire apartment smelled of leather and parchment and ink and Castiel actually like it, reminded him of the old library he used to visit back home. He always loved to read, and to get a chance to meet one of his favourite authors was a dream come true. Still, no matter how much he loved Chester's books he had never expected the author to be an alpha, though he shouldn't put Sam in a stereotype.
But he kind of always thought it would be an omega, longing for a connection, romanticizing about getting swept of their feet by Prince Charming. Life doesn't work that way, now does it? And if anyone knows what it is like to be an alpha in this world, it would be Cas.
"We brought breakfast." Dean piped as they entered the living room area, snapping Castiel out of his thoughts. It was only then that he noticed Dean brought just the waffles, no syrup or any other addition. Sam rolled his eyes at the offered food, but took it anyway, and went to the kitchen, fussing over it. When he came back, he had powder sugar and cinnamon over it and a few slices of apples on the side. He set it on the table and looked up at them.
"You guys want coffee, or tea?" Of course, Dean took the offer and asked for coffee and Castiel wanted to ask for some tea, but he didn't want to trouble Sam. "Charlie just brought over a few of those new, interesting combinations... I got Chamomile, Lavender and Holy Basil, that's one, then there's Coriander and Anise and... Oh, haven't tried this one yet... Licorice, Cinnamon, and Cocoa. Sounds like a good combination, what do you think, Cas?" Sam asked, like he was reading the alpha's mind, and completely hitting the right one. He was so friendly about it, already using Dean's nickname for the alpha, made Cas feel good... Accepted. Besides, he completely guessed what flavor would the alpha choose, probably because he knew cocoa was part of Dean's scent.
Castiel agreed to try the tea with him and they chatted a bit while they took their drinks and while Sam ate his breakfast, and after that the discussion evolved in the direction of Sam's books. Like he said, he had read a lot of comments and loads of reviews on it, but never really got a chance to discuss it with someone to this length. Dean... Was dying of boredom. An hour into their talk, he turned on the TV and watched some cartoons, snuggling close to Castiel and putting his hands around him in a possessive way.
Like he was telling his brother: "This is my boyfriend, I am only loaning him to you, do not forget that."
"My brother likes your books too." Castiel said at one point. "His favourite is the one with the lumberjack Alpha and a beekeeper Omega."
"Ah, the "It's only natural". Had fun writing that one." Sam replied.
"Yeah, that one. He loved how the alpha just took charge of everything and told everyone that that was his omega, and if they don't like it..." Cas said and Dean interrupted, quoting a line from the book.
"... They could go suck on a door knob... I came up with that line." Castiel's lips widened into a grin, turning to look at his omega with eyes filled with wonder. Dean blushed a bit, because his alpha hasn't been that fascinated by his brother - the author as much as he has been thrilled to learn Dean came up with a line or two.
"Dean was the inspiration behind some characters." Sam commented smiling at them, and Cas glanced up at him and nodded, slowly coming to see the similarities. Of course he didn't know Dean that well, bit from what he had learned about him from their days spent in the garden was that Dean is such a strong, protective omega, but one that likes to be pampered too. Or at least held.
"Okay, enough about me and these stories." Dean grumbled adorably. "We should head out. Maybe go see Gabe and then lunch at my place? I could make some chicken breasts and oven potatoes."
"You trying to win Cas over? Fastest way to a man's heart through his stomach bid? I thought you were better then that, Dean." Sam teased and Dean actually stuck his tongue out to him, making Castiel laugh.
"I just like to cook, you know that. And besides... I already won him over." Dean preened as he lowered the collar of his shirt and exposed his neck and his mark to Sam. The big alpha gasped and smiled widely, then congratulated them in the mating, looking genuinely happy for them.
"Ok, we should get going. Gabriel should be up and about after his shift at the Roadhouse and we have just enough time to go see him." Dean said and got up and headed for the door, dragging Cas along when Sam's words made him pause.
"Can... Can I come to?" His voice suddenly sounded so small and do vulnerable, but they both knew that if Sam really wanted to come meet Gabriel, Dean wouldn't say no. It was clear by now that he trusted both of the Novak brothers. So why that tone, Dean wondered.
"Sure." He confirmed with slight frown and watched as an excited smile crept up on his brother's face along with a strange look in his eyes... Oh! Could it be?
They walked down and knocked on the door, even if it was technically (still) Cas's home, they were being polite. Gabriel sailing the door open and smiled widely at the couple.
"Hello, Gabriel." Castiel greeted.
"Hey, Gabe. How you've been?" Dean asked and didn't wait for a response before he turned towards his brother, drawing Gabriel's attention to the big alpha. "This is my brother, Sam."
One moment went after another as the two just stared at each other, eyes wide, mouth ajar, completely dazed. Slowly, like he was afraid to scare the omega, Sam moved his hand towards him, wrist up. Dean was just about to explain when Gabriel moved closer and took a long sniff, closing his eyes and relishing the scent. Both Cas and Dean just stood aside and watched the whole thing develop. Gabriel offered Sam his wrist and shuddered when he felt the alpha's warm breath over his skin. Sam took a deep, long breath and sighed in contempt, then looked down on the omega while he still held his wrist close.
And then the alpha fucking fell on his knees, right in front of Gabriel and bared his neck to him.
"Oh, for the love of..." Dean shouted, throwing his hands up in the air. Castiel looked at him, confused and hopeful for an explanation while Gabriel just gawked between the two of them and a big alpha that seemed to be submitting to him. His heart was pounding and he was struggling to breathe because, hell, there was a big alpha right there, his scent so intoxicating it made Gabriel's head spin.
"It's... It's this ancient thing where a person offers himself to the leader of the pack. Which is usually an alpha!" Dean shouted in Sam's direction, like he was pissed he completely went over Castiel and straight to his brother, but the alpha ignored him completely, staring up at Gabriel's hazel eyes. "It is a stupid old custom anyway. It's not like Gabriel is going to decline and then fight you to death, Sam!"
"Can you just... Scent mark him so that we could get this over with?" Dean asked as if he expected Gabriel to know that was what he should have done and even how to do it. When the omega raised his confused eyes at him, Dean just sighed and pointed to his wrist. "Just rub your hand over his neck."
So Gabriel did. It felt oddly thrilling and scary as fuck because he knew those eyes, those were the same hungry eyes that watched him from the shadows of that kitchen, his scent was the same as the one in the apartment above and Gabriel found it hard to breathe.
Because right there was an alpha, a fucking huge, scary ass alpha that... That submitted to him.
And sure, he listened to Dean's explanation about Sam and about him a secret in a way considering he wasn't trained, but he just couldn't tear his eyes away from him as they sat in his living room and had a drink. He couldn't help how his eyes wandered all over the strong, muscular alpha as he took in every little line of his face and his body, every movement and every expression. He would gulp every time those piercing eyes would sneak a glance his way, completely unfazed by the omega staring at him so openly. Or maybe just playing like it didn't bother him? Maybe he liked it?
Pretty soon, Sam retreated back to his apartment and Dean and Cas left to go make lunch, and he declined to join them, not wanting to feel like he third wheel and clearly needing time to process the whole meeting and those broad alpha shoulders and those ocean green eyes and his inviting lips and holly hell, he was screwed.