A/N: Hello, there! If you have seen this username before, then you may know me from Ao3, Tumblr, or Discord! I have been writing fanfic/roleplaying for quite a while now and this website (and this account) was the very first place I found all the way back in 2013 (when I was only twelve!) and I have bounced back and forth for a while. I'm sure this particular fic (which is an older one of mine, but more on that later) has been posted and re-posted more times to this website than I care to count. I've got a love-hate relationship with because of the nostalgia of reading old Twilight and Divergent fics (some of my favs that are still on my favs lists and that I haven't even thought of in years) and because of the not-so-great-but-still-not-terrible set up of the site, I've stayed away for a while. However, I've been reading some old Glee fics from 2012 on here and it made me want to reactivate my account and see if I can get any attention here. Mostly I post on Ao3 or Tumblr first, but I know there are still people who use it exclusively and so I want to reach as many readers as possible.

Anywho, a little note on this particular fic. I wrote this a while ago. Just recently I've come off of my own hiatus as some big changes in my life have been happening and I've come back to writing. During the break (which has lasted close to two years now), I have lost a lot of my followers and I'm sure that I won't get them back. [I've jumped around from different fandoms and have dabbled in writing a little bit in each. The current fixation is Glee (which has strangely reawakened lately) and probably Supernatural because I have a major WIP to finish, dammit! And for those of you who are old subscribers that know about the old Sabriel fic that I have (that I am reconstructing and will be re-posting eventually), just know that I have never and will continue to not give up on that storyline.] The reason I mention all of this because I want any readers to know that this quality of writing that I am posting here now is not my writing standard today. Because this is posted elsewhere, I don't want to take the time to edit and change it up so I am just posting the version that I have in my documents. I have grown and matured as a writer and this was written almost three years ago. That was my point to all this rambling, I'm sorry it got a tad too long.

I wish you the best, enjoy! xoxo!

Arranged Marriage

1

Being the prince and future King of his homeland, Dean Winchester usually kept his feelings and moods under control. More so for himself than anyone else, he didn't need the people thinking they were going to eventually follow an emotional wreck as their leader. So his emotions were his very own, he kept them to himself and almost never complained or argued with anyone, especially his father.

But now, he was absolutely pissed.

"You can't expect me to follow through with this, Father?" Dean's growled. For alphas, growling was almost always a challenge, and now even a part in the back of the young prince's head was surprised.

Prince Sam and Prince Dean's father, the King of Lawrence, John Winchester stood up and looked down at his boy; he had an anger to match his son's. The king was the only one Dean ever submitted to, he almost did then, but refrained and matched his father's stare. The alpha's inside of them was bursting with the urge to attack, the workers and maidens that had been throughout the castle that was in the throne room at the time felt the tension. Some were wary, some were afraid, their scents said as much.

"Guys…" Sam's voice warned. He was a beta so the smells and pheromones pouring from the two alphas didn't affect him as much, so he was able to squeeze his way in between his father and brother and ease the tension, or at least try too.

Like a switch was flipped, Dean remembered his place. He looked away and strained to get his anger under control; to keep from actually challenging his father for the throne. Dean knew he'd lose even if he tried, his father was bigger and stronger. Dean has been working his whole life to be at least half the king his father is.

"Dad…" Dean tired again. Maybe if he convinced his father to change his mind, to call off the deal-

"You will be marrying the heir of the Northern Territories and unite the two kingdoms and this will be the end of your complaining!" His voice echoed throughout the throne room, his voice bouncing around the tall stone walls of the castle.

The fight drained out of Dean and his shoulders sagged, when the king used that voice, his alpha voice, he meant business. Dean's bachelor life was coming to an abrupt end. He only had three weeks of freedom left until his new omega fiance and his family was coming to stay in the castle until the wedding that weekend.

Dean spent his last few weeks wisely.

2

The first two nights he spent with one of the on-hand maidens in his bed. Jo was her name, and she liked having Dean on top of her as he pounded into her with his huge alpha cock. She was a beta so Dean couldn't knot her.

He picked up the omega Bela after Jo was gone a few days later. This omega was feisty, she rode him with strong shoves of her hips. He wouldn't mind if his omega fiance was like that, able to stand a little something rough in bed. Something he didn't like about Bela was that she likes a little bit of pain, so she would pull herself off of his knot too soon and he'd howl for her to stop, she got off on it. Dean only spent one night with her.

The following nights were spent on a night patrol, he didn't have time for other omegas and betas because he was off making sure his soon-to-be kingdom was safe. It was his job as a prince. Him, Sam, and their dad all took turns every couple of nights to go around with the night patrol and check up on everything, they had a lot of ground to cover, Lawrence wasn't by any means a small kingdom.

After that the rest of his time being single evaporated very quickly, and before Dean knew it he was pacing around his dressing room biting his nails as he thought about finally meeting his future mate for the first time.

"It's gonna be fine, Dean," Sam said from his spot on one of the two couches in the room. Dean took a deep breath to calm himself, he didn't stop pacing.

What if he doesn't like the castle? What if his family is used to something with more class? The building was old and just starting to fall apart, it was built decades ago and has been in the family the entire time, he comes from a long family of royalty. Oh Gods, what if he thinks some of their family traditions are stupid? How is Dean suppose to stay with someone for the rest of his life if he can't get along with that person?

"Dean! You're overthinking it!" Sam pretty much yells, startling his older brother.

"Am not," Dean mutters, running his hands through his hair. He and Sam were supposed to come up here a half hour ago to get dressed in something nice for dinner, Dean was still dressed in his work clothes.

"You are because you didn't even hear the call, they're here and you're still not dressed." Sam wasn't either, but he said this pulling on a dress shirt.

With a huff and no further argument, Dean started to dress in what another maiden had already set out for them. Dean's hands shook when he tried to button his own vest up. Sam stepped in and finished the last three for his older brother, and in turn, Dean tied Sam's bowtie for him because the kid still hasn't learned how to yet.

3

Dinner was a three-course meal, starting with a salad with mixed veggies and dressing. Following that was a full plate of spaghetti and a few pieces of garlic bread. Dean was very ready to either yell or leave.

Not a single word has been spoken passed greetings since the Novak family walked in and met the three Winchesters.

It wasn't that the two families hated each other, it was just awkward, no one willing to start the conversation. When Dean catches his father's gaze he looks pointedly at the boy next to him.

And that's all he is, a boy. Dean's not certain of his exact age, maybe seventeen, possibly eighteen. Dean's 26.

Castiel Novak - as of tomorrow it'll be Castiel Winchester, Dean still winces at the thought - sat next to him and Dean could smell him. His scent was good, it brought the same feeling to Dean as the courtyard did after it rained, Dean's always liked the rain.

Again his father looks at Dean angrily, he's waiting on the elder prince to start a conversation with his fiance, but Dean's at a loss for words. He looks over to the boy next to him, barely picking at his food like he did with his first plate. Dean is unsure of how to talk to him, by tomorrow they will be husbands, and soon will be expected to mate and bring an heir to life. A blush dots his neck and cheeks at the thought of taking Castiel to bed, he could barely talk to the guy, how was he supposed to have a baby with him?

"Castiel," Dean starts, the boy slowly looks to him. "Umm…" Dean scratches the back of his neck. "Is Lawrence much different from your home?" A simple question might start a conversation.

He shakes his head and looks down at his food. Dean suppresses a sigh, he hasn't even heard what his voice sounds like. The boy didn't try to start up a conversation, Dean awkwardly met his mother's eyes from across the table, she seemed almost sympathetic. Her eyes were kind, and Dean felt a pang of old grief for his own mother that passed away a long time ago.

"Actually," she speaks up. "We don't have a castle half as nice as this one, I love the old ethnicity of it. Castiel, you're interested in old buildings like this, right?"

Castiel meets his mother's stare evenly when he answers, "Yes."

They seem to have a mental conversation with each other through their stares. His mother looks at Dean at least twice. Dean hears Castiel sigh and looks at John, "How long has the castle been in your family?" At least he is trying to feign interest.

Dean jumped in before his father could, "Since it was built. Generations ago. Back in the Settlement times, actually." Dean beamed with pride in his home.

Dean swears to himself that Castiel looks impressed, he suppresses a noise of relief. He is happy that Castiel at least likes the place, that way he won't be completely miserable here.

Until his father says, "Sometime you can have Dean tell you about our line of family. You're going to be a part of a very old family name."

Castiel looks back down at his food, his mood immediately drained out of him at the mention of him marrying Dean. And really, Dean can relate.

4

After dinner, the Novaks claimed they were tired from the long trip and wanted to get some rest. They each had their own rooms, Castiel and his parents. Castiel's happened to be right next to Dean's own bedroom.

It was late when Dean finally went to bed, well past sunset. He, his father, and brother had just been discussing the finality of the wedding the following day. Sam said he liked Castiel, he was quiet and nice, Dean knew it was just his little brother trying to cheer him up. Castiel probably wouldn't ever hold an entire conversation with him.

Dean had planned to go to his room and collapsed onto his bed, he had about eight hours before he was going to be standing at the altar with an omega he hasn't even known for twenty-four hours. The thought ultimately depressed him, he would be tied down and expected to bring an heir to life soon.

The sounds of someone sniffling stopped Dean before he hit the bed, and he stopped and listened for it. The sound seemed to be coming from the open doors that led to his balcony. He walked carefully outside, the cool night air bit at the exposed skin of his arms and face.

To the right of him was Sam's room, the crying was coming from his left. Castiel's room, Dean realized.

The omega saw him before Dean did. Their eyes connected for a long moment; deep green and tear-filled blue eyes. Dean was moving before his mind caught up, there were about three feet of space between the walls of the two balconies, Dean leaped over that space like it was nothing.

"Hey," Dean knelt down and held a hand up, the other placed on the ground to steady him. "Are you okay?"

Castiel smelled scared, disappointed maybe? Their mating bond will make it easier for the two to be able to read their emotions. For now, Dean wasn't sure what was going through the other boy's head, but he didn't want him to cry anymore.

The feeling was foreign but not unwelcome. He realized with a jolt he cared about this omega, and he could tell it wasn't just him pretending to care because by this time tomorrow they will be married; he genuinely cared. Dean wasn't sure what to think and didn't have a lot of time to dwell on it, because now he wanted to see that Castiel stopped crying.

"I'm fine-" sniff "-you didn't need to come over here. You may return to your room." Castiel said, his expression was blank, but his voice shook and his scent was still thick with emotion.

"Why are you upset?" Dean asked, shifting to sit cross-legged in front of the omega.

"Why do you care?" Dean visibly flinched from the hostility in the younger boy's voice. Dean had just decided to get up and leave him alone, he obviously didn't want to talk right now, but the moment between thought and execution the boy spoke up, "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for. It's just… I-"

Dean waited for a breath or two for him to continue talking after he cut himself off, but he didn't. They looked at each other, the only sounds from the balcony were their breathing, but there was plenty of noise around them because the townsfolk were celebrating the arrival of the mate of the prince. Both boys ignored the sounds and Castiel looked up towards the stars.

"You what…?" Dean's voice was soft and empathetic. The last time he can remember his voice was this tender was when Sam got hurt on his first hunt and had to stay in the hospital overnight.

"'S stupid…" Castiel runs a hand through his hair.

Dean scooted closer to Castiel, their knees were almost touching. Dean leaned forward and caught Castiel's glance, looking at him through his lashes. "I bet it's not."

Castiel's eyes brimmed with tears, Dean's eyebrows came together in confusion. He wasn't making his omega cry, was he?

"I'm still not sure why you care," he wipes his eyes with the back of his hands. "We have only just met."

Dean can't help the chuckle that rises in the back of his throat, "Because - believe it or not, Castiel - we're getting married tomorrow." He waited until Castiel looked him in the eye before he continued. "And I do care about you, you will be my mate soon. We're going to have a profound bond, our emotions will be linked."

"I understand our biology and what will happen after we bond," Castiel says, the corners of his lips turning up. His tears have stopped.

"I don't want you to be miserable," Dean said. "If you really don't want to marry me, then we can try to convince our parents-"

"I don't want to not marry you, specifically." Dean cocked his head to the side. Castiel continued, "It's the principle. I don't want to marry someone I just met."

"So I'm not that repulsive?" Dean jokes.

The omega smiled fully and looked at his hands folded in his lap. Dean's smile matched his, and Dean really looked at the boy sitting across from him. He was attractive, dark hair, fair skin, and beautiful eyes. Dean's not sure he's ever used the term beautiful while describing someone before.

"No… you're actually nice."

"Actually?" Dean quirked up an eyebrow when Castiel looked at him again.

"I may have over thought what you'd be like on the trip over here. Like, I was all but counting on you being a secret serial killer," Castiel admitted with a slight blood-blush.

"Well, I'm not that bad," Dean laughed. "And I do want you to have what you want." Dean paused for a moment and the omega's stare drew him to ask the question, "So what do you look for in an alpha?" Dean's back ached a little so he leaned back to stretch and to escape the other's damning stare.

Castiel heard his back pop a few times, he moved over so there was enough room for Dean to sit next to him with his back to the wall. Dean moved so he sat to Castiel's right, their shoulders touched, neither boy minded.

"I don't know," Castiel answered the alpha's question.

"C'mon, you have to know what you want."

Castiel bite into his bottom lip, it was enough of an answer for Dean. He nudged the younger man's shoulder, "What is it."

"I always had this fantasy as a child, that a big, strong alpha would come and we'd slowly fall in love, and have a small house in the forest maybe…"

Dean's eyes never left Castiel's face while he watched something that wasn't outside of his head. His eyes glazed over and a small smile graced his features. Dean listened to what he was saying, and he could see the appeal of falling in love, letting someone become his other half. It was something Dean thought of before but never considered it happening to himself. He couldn't see himself letting someone get that close.

Most of that was because of him losing his mother. He was too young to suddenly be without a nurturer, and he stepped up to be that role for his little brother Sammy. John had been at a loss, the kingdom almost fell apart, his ruling suffered and there was so much grief among the folks. Everyone missed the queen. She'd died bringing another child into the world, the third Winchester heir had died minutes after his mother.

He changed after that and Sam was the only one he brought close. He was the one that directed his father to become the king he used to be, and he took his role by his father's side seriously, maybe a little too much. So maybe escaping to live a life in a small cabin with just him and a mate had its appeal.

"Are you okay?" Castiel's voice pulled him from his own thoughts.

"What?" Dean mumbled stupidly.

Then Dean felt the tears on his cheeks, his hands came up to wipe them away, but warm hands already beat him. Thumbs brushed under his eyes and over his cheeks. Castiel quickly drew his hands back after that, like he hadn't even realized he did it until their eyes met.

"It's okay," Dean murmured.

Castiel nodded, their eyes connected again. Usually, Dean was bugged with how much staring he was doing, but now… He smiled and placed a hand on Castiel's. The reaction he got strengthened his barely-there smile, Castiel pressed Dean's hand in between this both of his. Although after a moment Castiel pulled his hands away, he seemed unsure though.

"So.. by 'small house in the forest' do you mean a cottage-like house?" Dean asked and the question brought another blush to the omega's face. Dean liked the look.

"Oh, umm… Yeah, y'know, just a simple, easy life."

"You could run away…" Dean suggested. He knew how much it would upset both families and might spark a war between the two. And then Dean might just end up marrying someone else, and that's the moment Dean realized Castiel is actually someone Dean would be willing to marry.

Maybe he's even a little excited for tomorrow. A little spark of it in the pit of his gut making his hands shake a little.

"No, I don't want that." Castiel shivered, the wind picked up suddenly, and Dean felt the urge to tuck the omega close to his chest so they could warm each other. Or just go inside.

"What if…" Dean trailed off, thinking.

Castiel nudged his shoulder, "'What if' what?"

"Uhh, no I just thought…" He thought about not finishing his sentence, but didn't. "What if we ignored the wedding?"

Castiel jerked back like Dean electrocuted him, his eyebrows raised and his eyes widened, "Do you mean skip it?"

Dean understands his shock, "No, of course not. I mean, once we're, uhh.. married, we can just pretend not to be…"

"What do you mean?" Castiel's head cocked to the side gives Dean the courage to ask the next question.

"I mean, after the wedding would you like to go on a date with me?" Dean's neck got really hot really fast at the sound of Castiel's laugh. The prince tried looking anywhere but at Castiel.

"What?" Dean asked, but he was laughing as well.

"You want to take me out on a date, after our wedding?" Castiel mocked.

"Yes," Dean met his stare evenly. He could see it now, the two of them going to a simple dinner, just the two of them. They could get to know each other, and if it went well, then they could go on their second date. Maybe even fall in love along the way? "We could ignore that we're married and go out with each other as if we just met," Dean explained.

"Oh," Castiel breathes.

"Yeah," Dean leans into the omega a little when he shivers again. "We can try for what you wanted, except-" he holds up a finger "-we couldn't have our cute little cottage in the woods, but this castle," that same hand drops down to pat the stone floor of the balcony.

"I think I could deal with that," Castiel says softly and looks straight ahead, deep in thought again. Dean thought the look was cute, his nose scrunched up slightly and eyes distant for a few moments.

Dean has never thought of anyone as cute in the same sense. If Dean had called a beta or omega cute before, he was trying to get them in his bed, but now… Dean, as of right now, had no intention of taking Castiel to bed, not saying they weren't ever going to have sex, but not in the immediate future.

And he was okay with that.

5

Sam found them in the morning.

He was in charge of getting his brother up and ready because everyone knew Sam was the only one who could get Dean excited for something like the ending of his free life. Sam had prepared himself over breakfast, eating without his brother knowing that he wouldn't be hungry for anything yet.

Sam knocked on his door, no answer. "C'mon, man. You gotta do this…" Sam said and pounded on the door again. When he didn't get an answer he opened the door and walked in.

The first thing he noticed was the made bed, Dean almost never made his own bed. Dean didn't sleep there last night.

"Dean?" Sam called out, to which he didn't get an answer.

He didn't leave, did he…? Sam shook his head as soon as the thought formed, he wouldn't leave leave. He'd never abandon his family and kingdom.

Sam went out onto his brother's balcony, he wasn't there. Sam was actually starting to worry, sweat broke out on his forehead. He went back inside and opened Dean's closet, not expecting to find him there but kidded himself anyways.

Back out in the hallway, Sam ran into his father, already dressed for the wedding that started in two short hours. He looked surprised to see his youngest son not dressed properly yet.

"Sam," he addressed. "Where's Dean?"

Sam looked around widely, "I don't know."

The younger prince's eyes landed on the door next to his brother's, the room Castiel was staying in. John looked at his youngest and Sam heard the warning already, "You better find him."

"I will, Dad," Sam threw over his shoulder and opened the door to Castiel's room.

The bed was empty and the sheets ruffled, it looked like the omega had rolled around the bed for a while, but his scent was too faded even for Sam's nose to suggest he slept there. The french doors leading to the balcony were opened. It was promising, Sam thought to himself as he walked through the double doors.

He found his brother and the new omega. They were leaning in the corner where the wall of the balcony met the wall of the castle, which is why Sam didn't see them from Dean's balcony. They were pressed together, Dean's arm across Castiel's shoulders and the omega was resting his cheek on Dean's shoulder, their heads leaning against each other's.

Sam stopped and smiled, breathing quietly now. He didn't want to wake them because they looked too happy and at peace in sleep. Dean's eyes didn't look so tired when they were closed, and Castiel no longer had the pinched off expression he did yesterday.

Dean shifted, a groan slipped past his part lips, his eyes flickered open and met with his younger brother's. Panic bloomed on his older brother's face when he remembered where he was. Sam widened his smile and Dean calmed down.

"You okay?" Sam whispered.

Castiel nuzzled closer to Dean's warmth and grunted in his sleep, but didn't wake. A smile graced Dean's face when he looked down at the omega in his arms. If Sam didn't know any better he would have thought he saw love in his brother's eyes.

"Yeah, I am."

A/N: As always, please leave a review! Feedback is the reason that I even still post anymore! Thank you for reading! xoxo