Chapter Two

Heather breathed in deeply, held it and slowly let it out before extending her hand and saying: "Hello, I'm Heather." Had she said that calmly enough?

The tall, very handsome man's eyes still looked her over with suspicion and scrutiny. His eyes held the same authority as Castiel and then Heather knew she was face to face with another Alpha-Alpha. What the fuck? In her lifetime she'd only come across one and now her she was meeting two in the same day – and in the same place. She could sense Castiel in the kitchen. There was just an indescribable feeling – a knowing – even with all the pills she had taken his presence was known to her without seeing him. Heather knew it was the same with this man. Was this what it was like for Alphas and Omegas? She'd been on pills all her life and had suppressed all heats – she didn't want one – didn't want to feel so weak, no needy. She didn't want her second gender ruling her life.

The man extended his hand and gripped Heather's. Heather felt her mouth go dry and she tried to level her breathing. Stay calm…stay calm.

"Dean Winchester," said the man and his voice complemented his entire presence. Strong, masculine and powerful.

"Hi," she said, trying to work out whether she should smile, not smile, hold eye contact – poker face…keep your poker face on.

"Hi," said Dean, his eyes not leaving hers.

Heather was still shaking his hand, trying to come across as authoritative.

"Good to meet you," said Heather, no longer shaking his hand but still holding it. She actually began to feel her toes tingle.

"And you," said Dean, not breaking off the contact either - his eyes not matching his words.

"You're a friend of Mr Novak's," she said.

"Castiel," said the blue-eyed man from inside the kitchen. "Dean, are you going to let Heather in?"

On that remark, Dean let Heather's hand go and gestured for her to walk by him.

Heather gave a half smile and brushed by him. She could feel his eyes on the back of her head and her toes tingle some more.

Castiel was standing at the stove and turned to look at her. Dear God. He was wearing jeans, a black t-shirt and his eyes were so blue they almost looked as they glowed for a moment.

"Thank you for joining us, Heather," said Castiel.

"Oh," said Heather looking around the gigantic, ultra-everything kitchen, "thank you for asking me." Should she sit down? Stay standing? Offer to help?

"Sit down, get comfortable," said Castiel, giving a slow smile, which she imagined if she wasn't on suppressants would've had her whimpering.

"Yes...thank you," said Heather, finding a chair at the large kitchen table and sitting down, facing towards the dark-haired man, and not looking at Dean, whose eyes were still fixed on her. Dean pulled out a chair opposite her and sat down. He had yet to stop looking at her with intense suspicion or give any indication he was remotely pleased to see her.

"Dean," said Castiel turning around so Heather could now see the front of him. Heather felt her toes tingle some more.

"Cass?" asked Dean, keeping his eyes fixed on Heather.

"Dean, stop staring at Heather and offer her a drink," said Castiel.

"A drink?" asked Dean, turning around to look at the dark-haired man.

"A drink," replied Castiel.

Dean held eye contact with Castiel for a moment and then gave a face-shrug. "Sure," he said and turned back to Heather. "Drink?"

"Drink," said Heather, trying to be as alpha as she could. "Sure, that would be lovely."

"Lovely?" Dean asked with one raised eyebrow. He could say more with that movement than most people could with a thousand words and that eyebrow wasn't in the best mood.

"Divine," she said. WTF? Did she actually say divine?

Dean slowly nodded as if was having a conversation with himself.

"Wine?" he asked.

"Yes, please," she replied. She didn't usually drink but she was too nervous to say no. With so many pills in her system, mixing them with alcohol was never a good choice but she probably needed to calm down.

"Red? White?"

"Rosé if you have it," she said. Isn't that what an alpha female would do? Push back a bit.

Dean's face still did not break a smile.

"Cass," said Dean, turning to look at Castiel, who was busy stirring a pot.

"Dean?"

"Your guest would like rosé wine," he said flatly.

"Heather," said Cass and his voice went a bit deeper, making Heather silently inhale, "may have whatever she likes and you know you like 'pink' wine…and you know where it is."

Dean gave a tight smile and turned back to Heather. "Pink wine it is." And with that he stood up, wandered over to the large refrigerator, opened it and took out a bottle.

Heather took the opportunity to get a good look at the man. She'd been so busy holding eye-contact and holding it together that she hadn't had a chance to see exactly what he looked like head to toe. It was hard to tell which of the two men was better looking – it was impossible to call it. It wasn't just their physical appearances. - one tall, dark and devastatingly handsome with the bluest eyes she'd ever seen and the other tall, lighter hair, beautifully handsome with the greenest eyes she'd ever seen. It was their also their presence.

When Dean walked back to the table with the bottle in his hand, Heather noticed that he had bowed legs. Somehow it seemed to make him more attractive.

"Like what you see?" Dean asked flatly.

Heather breathed in before answering. "What girl doesn't like a bottle of wine?" She said ignoring the fact he wasn't talking about alcohol.

Dean gave a half smile and put the bottle down on the table more heavily than was perhaps necessary.

"Oh," he said. "I've met a few who don't."

"Where was that – a nunnery?" joked Heather nervously, who then heard a chuckle across the kitchen from Castiel.

"Dean is scared of nuns," commented Castiel.

Dean gave a tight smile.

"I'm not scared," said Dean, with his tight smile firmly fixed.

"Scared," repeated Cass, who gave a laugh.

"Small hands, Cass…I'm telling you…they all have them," he said, turning to Castiel who was smiling.

Heather let out a small laugh, more from nerves than anything else.

"Have you ever seen them up close?" asked Dean towards Castiel. "I mean really up close."

"In my former line of work, yes," replied Castiel. "Of course."

"Hmmm," said Dean.

"What work was that?" asked Heather.

Dean turned to look back at her with his former intensity.

"I did the occasional bit of work with the church," replied Castiel.

Dean actually broke into a small smile and then let out a deep chuckle before saying; "Uh huh."

"Was it interesting?" asked Heather.

Castiel turned back to the stove and stirred the pot. "It had its moments."

"Rewarding?" asked Heather.

Castile paused some more. "Ultimately," he replied. "Not without some bumps in the road."

Heather nodded and decided to leave it there. She wasn't sure what she should be asking. The agency had told her to keep herself to herself. She had not thought that the boss would be asking her to dinner with a friend of his. What was the correct protocol here?

"So, Heather," said Dean, as he opened the bottle.

Heather raised her eyebrows as if to say yes.

"How long have you been a PA?" he asked before walking over to a cabinet and taking out some glasses.

Heather felt her chest tighten a bit. She wasn't used to talking about herself – especially with her boss and his friend over dinner. She was used to being as invisible as she could get.

"Umm," said Heather. "For about five years."

Dean walked slowly back over and put the glasses down on the table. He picked up the bottle, poured her a large glass of wine and handed it to her. He then sat down and rested his hands on the table.

"Betas are usually secretaries and PAs," he said. "Alphas usually want to be more in charge."

Heather nodded. "I know what you mean," she said. "But there's a lot of work for Alpha PAs." With that remark she gestured around her. "Many alphas are uncomfortable working up close with omegas and betas."

Dean took a sip of his wine and then licked his lips. "Hmmm," he growled slightly. "That's good."

The growl had not gone unnoticed by Heather's pilled-up body. She felt something she had not felt ever – deep down inside. She tried not to react at all and keep her face as still as possible.

"Your girlfriend gonna miss you for three months?" asked Dean as he took a large glug of wine.

"Girlfriend?" She asked with a slight confused look on her face.

"Yeah," said Dean. "The alpha whose all over that sweater."

"Dean," warned Castiel from the stove.

Dean gave another tight smile and took another glug.

"It's fine," said Heather. "The sweater belongs to my best friend."

"So, not your mate, then?" Dean asked and his eyes narrowed some more. Heather slowly licked her lips and shook her head.

Dean leaned back in his chair and looked Heather up and down with suspicion.

"You got a mate?" Dean asked.

"Dean," warned Castiel again in a deep, authoritative voice. "That's Heather's business."

"Hmmm," said Dean and took another glug of wine.

Castiel walked over to the table, stood behind Dean and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Dean," said Castiel, his voice now very gravelly and deep.

Dean inhaled slowly.

"Yeah?" replied Dean licking his lips but not turning around to look at Castiel.

Castiel lowered his voice some more and brought his mouth closer to Dean's ear.

"Dean," said Castiel into the man's ear. Dean slowly exhaled through his nose but didn't say anything.

"Dean," repeated Castiel. Dean breathed out again.

"Yes, Cass?" he said not moving a muscle.

"Would you kindly pour me a glass of wine?"

Dean paused for a moment and inhaled again.

"A very large glass," added Castiel.

Dean still didn't make eye contact with Castiel and kept looking forward. Castiel kept his hand on Dean's shoulder and a few more moments passed before Dean nodded. "Sure," he said.

Castiel smiled. "Thank you, Dean."

"I'm sorry about Dean's curt behaviour," said Castiel. "He's been on a very tough job and it's affected his manners."

"That's fine," said Heather. "Anxiety can cause a lot of stress."

"I am not stressed," said Dean.

"Yes, you are. You need to eat and relax," said Castiel.

Dean poured another glass of wine and handed it over to Castiel.

"Thank you, Dean," said Castiel. Dean grunted slightly.

"You work in security?"

"Uh huh," replied Dean.

"What kind?" asked Heather.

"This and that," replied Dean.

"Ok," said Heather. "Enjoyable?"

"Sometimes," said Dean.

Heather took a large sip of wine.

"Is that how you two met?" asked Heather. Dean raised his eyebrows, asking what she meant by that question.

"I was on a job," said Castiel. "A job Dean did not really appreciate."

"You were a dick," said Dean flatly.

"Thank you, Dean," said Castiel with a small smile.

"I'm sure you weren't," said Heather.

"Yes, I was," said Castiel.

"Yeah, he was," added Dean.

"Ok," said Heather, taking another glug of wine. "When was that?"

"Feels like a lifetime ago," said Castiel. "Another time entirely."

"Yeah," said Dean.

"Well…opposites can get on," said Heather.

"Sometimes hell yeah and sometimes… hell no," said Dean, staring at Heather.

Heather glanced over to the kitchen door and saw her reflection in it. Had she grown two noses? No – same shoulder length red-brown hair, same oval face, same small height – no two noses. Had she said something she shouldn't? Were they more than friends? She hadn't seen any mating marks on their necks. What the fuck was Dean's problem with her?

Heather took her attention back to Dean and was about to say something that if she hadn't had a few sips of wine in her would not dare say when Castiel walked over and plonked down a large pan of delicious smelling pasta on the table.

"That smells gorgeous," said Heather.

Castiel smiled at her, which did not go unnoticed by Dean.

"One of the few things I can cook," said Castiel, walking over to a cupboard. He took out some bowls, grabbed some silverware and returned to the table.

"All ingredients are straight out from a jar," said Castiel.

"It looks delicious. Thank you for asking me to join you," said Heather.

"Cass doesn't usually ask people to join him for dinner," said Dean.

"Yes, the agency told me that Mr. Novak - I mean Castiel, is a private man," said Heather.

"Usually he is," said Dean.

"Well, I'm very flattered," said Heather.

"You should be," said Dean.

"Well, I am," said Heather, staring back at Dean. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was the pill and the wine, maybe it was just her but she was starting to lose what little cool she was pretending to have. Don't let him get to you. Don't let him get to you.

She then heard the word in her mind say again…Alpha…

Heather took a deep breath. Just the pills…just the booze. Eat, smile and leave.

"You ok, Heather?" asked Castiel.

Alpha….

"Yes…thank you…fine," said Heather, forcing a smile. She just needed to sleep, that was all.

"You look a bit hot," said Castiel, who walked over to where Heather was sitting and sat on the table. He leaned over towards her and put his hand on her forehead. His closeness made her pulse quicken and his touch made her inhale. Up this close she could see how blue his eyes were, the laugh lines around his eyes, the fullness of his lips and she felt for a moment completely mesmerized by his beauty.

"Hmm…a little bit hot," said Castiel smiling at her. "some food and then bed."

"Bed?" asked Heather.

"I think you're a bit tired," he said. "Probably been a long time since…you've slept."

"Yeah…" added Dean, looking between the two of them.

"I am feeling quite tired," said Heather.

"It's natural to feel tired," said Castiel. "And to get a good night's sleep."

"I don't always sleep well," said Heather. Why was she saying these things to him?

"I'm sure you'll sleep well here," Castiel placed a hand on her shoulder and she felt her body relax.

Heather smiled at him and said: "Thank you."

"So, eat and then bed," said Castiel, standing up and walking back to his seat.

"Yes, Castiel," she said.

Dean was still staring at her but had his attention taken away when Castiel served him a large bowl of pasta.

"When Dean is hungry he can become a bit of a brat," said Castiel. Dean looked over at Castiel, his face clearly questioning his choice of words. If Castiel had noticed Dean's look, he certainly did not show it.

"Dean…Eat," said Castiel, his voice deep and commanding.

Dean locked eyes with the blue-eyed man as if he was going to say something acerbic but then thought better of it. Dean shrugged, and then filled his mouth up with a huge spoonful of pasta. Dean closed his eyes as he chewed.

"Hmmm," he moaned. "Hmmmm."

Heather felt the moan deep in her groin…Dear God, what was happening to her?

"See," said Castiel to Heather. "Pleasant things can come out from his mouth."

Castiel handed a bowl over to Heather and she took it eagerly…anything to distract from the alien feelings going on inside her body. Also, the quicker she ate the quicker she could get out of there.

Heather murmured a thanks and got straight into eating and she had to admit, it tasted wonderful. She was hungry, she was tired and she was pleased had told her she could go to bed after eating. She looked over at Dean, who was eating the pasta as if it was the last meal he was every going to have. Castiel ate slowly, watching Dean and Heather eat and seemed to have a small look of satisfaction across his face.

Heather went quiet as she ate the food quickly, drank her wine – she had to admit, the food and the wine were great and she was feeling very sleepy. She suppressed a yawn, which Castiel immediately noticed.

"Bed," ordered Castiel. "Now."

"Yes," answered Heather, standing up. She didn't even question that she was following his orders. It felt safe. It felt right.

"Sleep in if you're still feeling tired," said Castiel.

"Really?" asked Heather. Castiel smiled at her.

"You're a hard and fast worker," said Castiel. "You'll get the work done."

"Of course," said Heather.

"And make your room as comfortable as you want," said Castiel. "You see a cushion or blanket in any of the rooms, just take them."

"Umm…ok," said Heather. "Thank you."

"Now go," said Castiel, his face taking on a more serious look and and she knew that she was being dismissed.

"Yes sir, I mean…Mr. Novak…umm..Castiel."

"Go," said Castiel, his eyes looking at the green-eyed man eating. "Dean and I have some business to discuss."

Dean looked over at Castiel and continued chewing another mouthful of food.

Heather nodded, said goodnight and left the kitchen. She was feeling so sleepy and so relaxed. She had never felt so calm before. She put it down to the alcohol and the pills – the same reason why she had heard that voice earlier. Just stress, pills and booze. She would sleep and she would feel better.

Heather went to her bedroom and tried to get to sleep. Unfortunately, her eyes would flutter and then she would wake up. She had spent so many years stressed out that her body seemed to naturally fight any sleep that was offered.

She felt an urge in her to see Castiel…and then told herself off for it. Why did she want to see him? She could take care of herself – she'd been doing it for years?

Then her paranoia crept in…did they know she was an omega? Were they fucking with her? If they did know, what were they waiting for?

Heather felt herself panicking and sat up in bed. She needed to walk. Half an hour had passed since she left the kitchen – she hoped that maybe they had gone somewhere else and she could get something to eat out of the fridge. Yes, the pasta had been filling but stress-eating had its own rules.

She would walk very quietly around the cabin, let off some energy – she didn't want the two Alphas to catch her creeping around like a lunatic. It was clear that Dean already had some issues with her. Maybe he was just stressed, hungry and tired as Castiel had said. Maybe…maybe it was something else. She didn't know and right now she didn't care.

Heather left her bedroom and began to tiptoe around the dark cabin. Cabin? It was like a freakin' mansion.

The cabin was also quiet…very, very quiet. Except, there was a sudden, strange noise…like a huge whoosh.

Heather took a deep breath. It was hard to tell exactly where it had some from but it came from the direction of the kitchen. What the fuck was that noise?

Heather walked slowly towards the kitchen. If caught she could always say she heard a strange noise – she wouldn't be lying.

Heather approached the kitchen, where the door was almost closed but there was crack she could see through. The light was on but low and she was sure she could hear whispered voices.

She pushed her eye close to the crack to try and see what was going on in the kitchen.

She saw Castiel leaning on his naked stomach across the kitchen table…

With…

With…What the fuck? No…No…no!

Wings…They're not fucking real!

WINGS!

Large, black, glossy wings coming out from his shoulders and spanning across the kitchen. Huge fucking real-looking wings. They moved and made the whoosh noise she had heard earlier.

And there was Dean, leaning down across Castiel's back, rubbing his face slowly across the wings and murmuring softly into them: "...Beautiful…beautiful…"