A/N: There will be light smut in this chapter, but it is essential to the storyline...

If you want to read the heavy smut version, head on over to Ao3, under typewrittencurlie, aka, me. It's the same title, and the previous six chapters are word for word.

-:- John -:-

"So this pack... deal. Tell me about it." I said when we finally returned home. It was just turning five o'clock, and Sherlock settled into the couch next to me, nestling into my side. He sighed, clearly searching for the right words to describe it. He toyed with the hem of my jumper, and sighed again, snuggling closer.

"All wolves need a pack. Something to belong to. Our packs give us help in times of need, and usually are where you find your mate." He paused his hands, only to wrap his arms around my waist. I could tell this was hard for him to explain. "There's three classes of Weres in a Pack. First you have Alphas, like you. Alphas are the dominant ones, the males. Then you have the Betas and the Omegas. Betas are submissive to the Alphas, but more dominant than the Omegas which are the - usually - females. I'm an Omega, technically speaking, and that's why I only go to half of the Pack's meetings. We generally have one pre-full moon, and one after. But before the full moon is when I'm going through my heats, and it would be very dangerous if I was around an Alpha who isn't my mate at that time."

"Why is it so dangerous? I just don't want to be an Alpha you need to fear love, that's all." I suppose I shouldn't have asked that question right now, because Sherlock tensed up, and I could smell a trace of his fear.

"John... When I go into heat, I'm... Irrational at best. I am very aroused, for the three days before the moon, and my smell lets every Alpha know that I'm ripe for the taking. You would never hurt me, I know that, but other unmated Alphas, they would, they would use my body, and some might not even care if they got me pregnant. I'm just another Omega to them." I held Sherlock close to me, planting a kiss on the top of his head. I swore to myself that I would never use him when he was in heat, not like that. Only if he asked me to help him, would I have sex. Always with his approval.

"In my Pack, we have five Alphas who make up the Council. They decide on new members, usually rejecting loners, but a wolf that's mates with one of us is let in. There's three other, lesser, Alphas, and three Betas. Us Omegas number about twelve. It's not a very large Pack, but we're strong, and close knit. The one element of discord is James. The rest of the pack knows my wolf hates him, but he doesn't get it. He demanded a mating trial for the next meet, and he knows that he would win." Sherlock turned his face towards mine, and the desperation on his face broke my heart.

"How do I Claim you, Sherlock? Tell me how to keep you safe. Please." I whispered brokenly. I never wanted to see this fear in his eyes ever again. I knew that I would do anything for him, anything at all.

"John to make your Claim, you need to Mark me." Sherlock's eyes held a different sort of fear now. The fear of rejection. "You need to bite me."

-:- Sherlock -:-

I felt John freeze in fear. He probably wasn't expecting that, and I know that he never wanted to hurt me. I held him tight, listening to his heartbeat accelerate. No, John. I promise you won't hurt me. I leaned up, kissing his neck softly, right where I would give him my Mark. "John..." I murmured against his pulse point. "It won't hurt, I promise. The other Omegas said it was very... orgasm inducing." I hoped that he would stop being afraid, and even now I felt my heat starting. John gave me a confused look.

"We're supposed to bite each other during sex?" He asked. I could still smell a lingering trace of his fear.

Nodding, I let go of him and climbed into his lap, fisting my hands in his shirt, and pressing my body against his. "John, I want you to bite me as we fuck each other's brains out. Please, John." I snuck my cold hands beneath his jumper, and heard his breath hitch as his pupils dilated. I knew he felt the burgeoning erection I had, and he claimed my lips with his own.

John...

-:-

I shuddered, as the violent climax brought on by John's Claim rocked through my body, instinctively biting down on John's exposed neck. My bite helped him reach the same point, and suddenly I felt a snap within me, as the condom broke.

Fuck... God, no. Not yet, we're not ready for a child yet.

I released his neck, his blood staining my lips. He let go as well, tenderly lapping at my wound. I hesitantly said to him, "The condom broke..."

He groaned, burying his face in the pillow behind me. I licked at his Mark, knowing my saliva would help it heal faster. I could already feel the tears I my skin from his teeth closing, and welcomed the scar that was forming. John's Mark. I felt my wolf curl up and - if it's possible for a wolf - start to purr at the taste of John's blood. She was like a happy dog in front of a fire now, utterly content with his Claim.

"Sherlock..." John said, carefully pulling out of me, and removing the failed protection, "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you, did I?" Oh, John...

"No, my love. You didn't hurt me." I sighed sleepily, completely spent. "John, you have no idea how amazing that was." He crossed the floor to the closet, and even though I was exhausted, I helped him change the sheets, and we crawled under the covers.

I nestled my head on his bare chest, close to his beating heart, and slipped one of my legs between his. John made a satisfied humming noise, as his hands ran through my sweaty curls. "I love you, Dr John Watson." I mumbled through a yawn. He chuckled softly, his hands massaging my scalp. Now I was purring.

"I love you, Sherlock Holmes."