Chapter 2: Are You Ready

Castiel walked into the hotel room first, instincts demanding that he ensure the room was safe for his omega. Dean, who had hopped onto Cas's bike without complaint and ridden silently the dozen or so miles from the diner, entered behind him, hands twitching nervously at his sides. He looked around warily, emerald eyes wide as he took in the small couch, television, and in-room kitchenette in the front of the suite, a balcony in the back, and doors on either side that led to the two private bedrooms. Each bedroom contained a huge, king-sized bed, a small dresser, and an office desk with matching chair next to glass doors leading to a private balcony. There was also a single bathroom opposite the kitchen in the living area. Cas couldn't tell what he was feeling under the lingering stench of Azazel's scent, but he hoped that the boy was at least somewhat pleased by the surroundings. They were going to be there for a few weeks at least.

Gabriel shuffled in after them, having stopped at the front counter to ask for some extra supplies. He carried a number of small bottles of scented shampoo and conditioner, body wash formulated for omegas, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and as many tiny bottles of bubble bath as he could manage. He deposited his bounty in the bathroom before heading toward the left bedroom with his backpack. Dean followed Cas into the other bedroom, glancing at the bed before turning to watch the alpha.

Cas glanced at Dean and frowned, noting the dirt ground into his skin and the ragged edges of his clothes. "Do you want to get washed up? Gabe put some soap and shampoo in the bathroom for you; it might be a good time for a long shower." Dean nodded and took off his jacket, placing it and his small bag against the wall. He kicked off his shoes before turning to leave, clearly planning to get dressed in the same grimy clothes after his shower.

Cas cleared his throat and held out a stack of clothes, having already determined that the omega, though skinny, was his height, with broad shoulders that should fill out more once he started to eat regularly. "Change into these once you're clean. I'll take you shopping later, but I don't want you to have to wear those dirty clothes anymore. Leave them on the bathroom floor and I'll take care of them, later, okay?" Dean nodded and reached out for the clothes, holding them away from his body as he headed for the bathroom.

As soon as the sound of the shower filled the small space, Gabriel slipped into Cas's room, already having changed his shirt and brushed his hair. "What do you think of him?"

"He's terrified," Cas replied, sorting his belongings into two of the drawers and leaving two open for Dean. The boy wouldn't have enough to fill it, yet, but the alpha was determined to change that. "Everything he has ever known is gone, but he is using obedience and silence as a way to adapt to this new situation. We need to take him shopping, get him out of clothes that smell like his old alpha, his old life."

"You need to get him a collar, too." Gabriel raised his hands defensively as the look his brother shot him. "Look, I'm not normally one to advocate something like that, but I think he would find it comforting. He's been rubbing his neck off and on since Azazel left, and his eyes were sad every time he did it. I think you should let him pick one out that he likes and gift it to him, making it clear that he is the only one who can put it on and take it off. Azazel never gave him any control over his life, so this one thing may be enough to help him heal."

"I don't like the idea of collaring omegas."

"I know you don't, baby bro, but some omegas like it. Mick says that his collar comforts him, especially when Ketch is away, but he can take it off whenever he wants."

"You're the expert on omegas," Cas conceded, finding his toiletries bag and placing it on top of the dresser. "We'll try that as soon as Dean is clean."

Gabe nodded and stretched out on Cas's bed, staring at the ceiling. "Alfie texted me."

"He goes by Samandriel now."

The omega snorted, rolling over on his side to face his brother. "Really? His first name was too much of a mouthful when we were growing up, but now it's kosher? That boy, I swear."

"Are you going to tell me what he said?"

"Yeah, he wants to come to Lawrence. He wants to help with Dean." Samandriel Alfred Novak was the youngest of the five brothers, the only one of them not tied to a specific clan. He had spent two years with Lucifer's band and one riding with Michael before settling into Chicago earlier that year, so his plan to move to Kansas under Cas's leadership wasn't much of a surprise. He was barely eighteen, but already used to a life on the road, and he enjoyed the adventure.

"Word travels fast," Cas murmured, pulling out his phone to check his messages. "He'll have to stay in your room and we'll need to find him someone he can ride with. Benny maybe?"

"That'll probably work. I'll keep riding with Balthazar until I find a big, strong, dominant male alpha of my own." Gabe and Balthazar were generally on good terms, but they tended to rub each other the wrong way from time to time. They would ride together for now, but Gabriel usually preferred his brother's bike.

Cas looked up as he heard the shower turn off, wondering how long it was going to take the omega to get dressed and join them. He smiled as the door to the bathroom opened and he caught his first whiff of Dean's natural scent, finally free of Azazel's stench. Cinnamon, vanilla, and apple filled the room, a perfect mix that reminded him of the apple pies his mother used to cook when the Novaks were kids. Dean shuffled into the bedroom, dressed in Cas's jeans with a towel in one hand and two shirts in the other. He finished drying his hair and placed the towel on the floor to hang up later, smiling warily at Gabe as he tugged the t-shirt over his head. Cas could see years of scars, burns, and marks on the boy's skin, his ribs prominent along his sides as half-healed bruises dotted his chest.

"Are you feeling better, Dean?" The omega nodded, sniffing the denim overshirt before slipping his arms into the sleeves and buttoning it up. He took a cautious whiff of the room, curious eyes focused on Cas as he scented his new alpha, no longer mired in the rotten aroma of his previous owner. Omegas relied on their acute sense of smell to navigate the world, so being tied to an alpha who had such a reprehensible stench, one who apparently did not allow Dean sufficient time and supplies to bathe himself, must have been terrifying for the boy.

Clean, Dean was a striking man, with bright green eyes, a spattering of freckles across his nose and cheeks, and a face that a model would die for. He was a little on the skinny side, but Cas could see from his frame that he would be a physical match for any alpha once he started eating regularly. "You're really lovely," the alpha found himself saying, having enough control to keep any arousal out of his scent but still wanting to offer the boy a compliment.

Dean blushed and glanced down at his bare feet, smiling and biting his lower lip. Azazel had probably never said anything nice to his omega, but Cas hoped that a little gentleness would go a long way. Gabriel cleared his throat to break the tension in the room, grinning as the other omega looked up into his eyes. "Ready to get some clothes, kiddo?"

Dean nodded and picked up his towel, rubbing his hair with it one more time before taking it back to the bathroom and hanging it up. He took the socks that Cas offered him and jammed his feet back into his boots, though they looked a little small. Gabriel dug through his brother's clothes and found his backup leather jacket, the vibrant symbol for the Hells Angels emblazoned on the back. Dean accepted the gift silently, eyes wide in awe as he pulled it on. It was unlikely Azazel had ever considered the boy part of his gang, so he would never have worn a biker's leather jacket before. Cas grabbed his keys and helmet, handing Dean his as the trio headed outside. His lieutenant and burly Cajun bodyguard would meet them downstairs, having both volunteered for a day of shopping with their newest clan member.

Cas leaned against the wall near the omega dressing room, his two friends beside him as they waited patiently for Gabe to finish helping Dean try on the absolute mountain of clothes the group of bikers had picked out. Dean had been afraid to touch anything on the rack or express even the slightest interest in the outfits he saw, so Gabe had grabbed a collection of things he thought would look nice on his fellow omega and dragged him toward the dressing room.

Dean emerged from the dressing rooms slowly, staring at his hands as Gabe gently nudged him forward. "Look in the mirror," the golden eyed Novak murmured encouragingly. Dean turned around and caught sight of himself, gasping silently as his reflection. Gabriel had chosen a soft, forest-green shirt for the boy, matching it with dark denim jeans and a light gray flannel. "Do you like it, Dean?"

The omega nodded, pulling on the shirt that fit him perfectly, running his fingers over the silky material before tugging on his pants to check the fit. He bit his lower lip and looked up at Cas, his emerald eyes practically begging the alpha to let him keep the nice clothes. "You can have them, Dean," the alpha promised, reaching out to run his hand down the boy's arm. "Were there other shirts you liked, other colors or patterns?" Dean nodded. "Ok, now that you know your size, gather all the ones you like and we'll go pay for them, okay?"

Dean nodded enthusiastically and dashed back to the dressing room. Gabe grinned and followed, knowing that the other omega would need his help to carry out all of the clothes he decided to keep. Benny leaned closer to Cas, tapping the other alpha's arm. "Your brother told us that we're planning to head to a collar store after we get the boy shoes. I saw the marks on his neck where Azazel's collar has rubbed him raw in the past."

"Gabe says he needs the comfort of it. We'll let him make the final decision."

Balthazar shrugged, pulling out his phone as it dinged at him. "Hey, Boss; Hannah found us a real estate agent she likes. We have an appointment this afternoon." He raised his eyes as he read through what was certainly a huge paragraph of text that could have been summed up in two words, though he would parse out the important parts for his cousin. The tiniest hint of interest or mild arousal spiked in his scent; clearly Hannah had sent a picture of this agent and Balthazar was intrigued.

"Okay, fine. How long do we have?"

"About five hours."

Cas nodded; that would give them enough time to get Dean all of the supplies he would need and drop them off at the hotel. Maybe he would let the omega stay in their room and relax while he and the alphas looked at houses. Before he had come to a decision, Dean and Gabe emerged from the dressing room, a dozen shirts and half as many pairs of pants in their arms. Smiling at the joy in Dean's apple-pie scent, Cas led them to the register.

Dean wasn't sure what to think of his new alpha. He hadn't paid any attention to the altercation between Azazel and this Castiel person, but he had understood that his old master had thrown him away, trading him like so much property to an alpha he had never met. The raven-haired man seemed nice, but Azazel had also seemed nice the few times he visited Dean's childhood home before the sale. Azazel had never taken him to a store and bought him clothes, though, and Dean knew that he had a lot of shirts and pants on the counter. Castiel, though, paid for it all with a smile, asking the clerk to have everything delivered to their hotel. It wasn't far, but of course he had to pay for that service, and he handed over a few crisp bills without a thought. Strange alpha, this Castiel Novak.

Dean followed his new alpha in silence as they threaded their way through the stores, not sure where they were going. In the last ten years, he had taught himself to completely drown out his surroundings no matter what Azazel or his gang members were doing, and he had become so good at it that he often found his thoughts wandering without his permission. It had saved him from numerous punishments from Azazel, but Castiel seemed to have no rules at all for him to follow or break. So far, the alpha had barely touched him, and he certainly had not grown cross or violent. Even his two alpha friends were kind, especially the bigger one with the beard.

The group eventually reached the store Castiel had been looking for, and Dean's eyes widened in shock. A collar store. Finally. Now this new master was acting like a proper alpha, like the kind Dean had come to know since his father sold him. Not having a collar, not having any mark of his new alpha on his person, had bothered the young omega. He could see that Castiel's brother, this golden-eyed Gabriel, did not wear a collar, but Dean missed that feeling around his neck. He wasn't ready to lose it.

Dean looked up as Castiel spoke, cursing himself for losing focus again. Azazel had rarely spoken to him like a person, just giving basic orders that any dog could follow. Castiel seemed to want a response, some sort of interaction, and Dean was going to have to learn to give it to him. He had to please his new alpha or he would end up somewhere even worse. Dean shook his head and looked away, hoping that Castiel would not be angry that he had not heard.

"It's your choice, Dean. If you want a collar, I will buy you something from this store, anything your heart desires. If you don't want one, we'll leave; I'm not going to make you wear it."

Dean nodded that time, slowly walking away from the alphas as he glanced at the collars on display. Azazel had bought him a simple, black leather dog collar, not even a proper, lined omega collar, and he still bore faint scars from the damage it had done to his neck. These were nice collars, though, some of them with big rings, some with small rings, and some that had none at all. He liked those the best, and he hoped that Castiel would not be angry if he chose one that couldn't have a leash attached. Azazel had put him on a leash in public multiple times, mostly to humiliate the omega. Once, he had done it while Dean was in heat, laughing as other alphas groped him, slapped his ass, and rubbed up against him.

Dean pushed that memory away, reminding himself that this alpha seemed different, that he didn't seem to want to hurt, punish, or humiliate the omega he had won in a brawl. Dean stopped at a vibrant display against the back wall, eyes focusing on a soft green leather collar embroidered with golden flowers and studded with tiny diamonds. It was beautiful, sparkling in the light, and he thought that someone would have to love their omega very much to let them wear something so gorgeous.

Castiel appeared behind Dean, instantly tracing his gaze. "Is that what you want, the green one? It's very lovely Dean, matches your eyes."

"Yes, that collar would look pretty on your omega," the shopkeeper oozed, having followed the raven-haired alpha as soon as she realized how much he might be willing to spend. "It comes with or without a D-ring, and embroidery is free."

"Do you want a ring on it?" Dean shook his head emphatically, shocked when the alpha smiled gently at him. "Okay, Dean, no ring then. She said she can embroider something inside it if you want. Would you like that?"

Dean took a breath and nodded, already knowing that he needed to feel his new master's name against his throat. He hadn't desired any kind of mark from Azazel, though the sadistic bastard had left plenty, but he wanted something from Castiel. He wanted to feel safe when the alpha wasn't around. He pointed at his master, then at his neck.

"You want my name on it? Just my name or something else? I don't really want to do that traditional 'Property of' thing, but maybe we could put 'Protected by Castiel Novak'. Would that work for you?"

Dean felt tears fill his eyes as he nodded; this alpha could read his mind. He wanted to speak, to thank Castiel for everything he was doing, but no sound came out when he opened his mouth. It had been years since he had heard his own voice, years since he had screamed himself raw during his "training" and Azazel beat him for even the slightest whimper. He had learned the value of silence.

Gabriel leaned close enough to hug his fellow omega, Dean taking some comfort in his gardenia and cherry blossom scent. He had never spent time with other omegas except for Azazel's cruel mate and one of his pups, but this blonde seemed gentle and generous, so Dean relaxed into the embrace. "It's okay if you can't talk; Dean. Cassie understands you anyway."

The alpha smiled and nodded, turning to the clerk to order the collar and give her the message to embroider. She promised that it would be delivered to their hotel by morning, and he paid her with another wad of cash. Dean was pretty sure that Castiel had already spent more on him in a handful of hours than Azazel had spent in ten years, and he truly hoped that he could live up to whatever it was the man expected from him.

Castiel led Dean and Gabriel back into their hotel suite, Benny and Balthazar settling on the couch as the others headed for their rooms. Dean followed his alpha, hands twisted in the hem of his shirt as his scent soured somewhat. Cas glanced at the omega as he took a seat on the edge of the bed, green eyes focused on his hands. He looked . . . lost? It was almost like he had run out of anything to do and now he was waiting for something to happen. Cas suddenly wondered what Dean had done when Azazel was busy or gone during the day.

"Dean, what do you do in your free time?" The omega glanced up at that, shock in his eyes. He was sure he had heard the alpha correctly, but free time wasn't something he had truly ever had. Not since his dad figured out that he was going to present as an omega and not the alpha son that John Winchester had so desired. "When Azazel was gone and his mate didn't have any tasks for you, what did you do?"

Dean slid off the bed and walked to the desk, pushing the chair to one side and moving to sit underneath the dark-colored piece of furniture. He leaned against the side panel, possibly the most comfortable position since he was too tall and had to duck his head, placed his hands in his lap, wrists together, and stared straight ahead. It took almost a full minute for Cas to realize what he was looking at, and the faintest hint of anger peppered his scent.

"He made you sit under a table like that? What, for hours at a time?" Dean, who wasn't sure how to tell Cas that sometimes his confinement had lasted for days, held out his hands, miming the shape of a box. Maybe the alpha would understand. "Ok, not under a table. In a box? No, something else . . . a cage? Azazel kept you in a cage?"

Dean nodded; didn't everyone keep their bought omegas secured while they weren't needed? He had seen Alastair bring a young omega boy to Azazel's house once, younger than him, with scars on his back and red marks around his wrists where he had fought his restraints. Dean had fought when he was young, too, but he had learned quickly that obedience gained him time alone and peace from his alpha. Azazel had offered Dean's cage to hold the boy for the night, locking him in the basement while the alphas met upstairs. Dean had felt sorry for the wailing omega, but he had been allowed to sleep on the dog bed upstairs, albeit chained to the table, and it was much nicer up there. He had never seen the boy again.

Cas's scent broke him free of his memories, the alpha's eyes flashing red. Dean cowered under the table, the faintest whine vibrating his throat as he waited to see what punishment the alpha had in store for him. Why was this raven-haired man so furious?

Cas heard the whine, the first noise that Dean had been able to make, and his rage evaporated in a second. He crouched down a few feet away from the trembling omega, offering a gentle smile and forcing his scent to soften. "I'm not angry at you, Dean," he whispered, keeping his hands on his knees where the boy could see them. Certainly Azazel had never hesitated to take out his anger on his omega, regardless of what had caused it. "I'm angry at him, at what he did to you, and the more I learn, the more I regret letting him go. He abused you, an omega who was under his care, who couldn't help but trust him, and he had no right to do what he did. Damn these archaic laws out here that mark you as property and not a real person. I'm not going to hurt you, I'm not ever going to hurt you, and I am nothing like him. I'm going to take care of you, Dean, because that's what you deserve."

Slowly, incredulous jade eyes locked on his alpha, Dean unfolded himself from under the table, crawling closer to the older man. He reached out and brushed his fingers against the back of Cas's hand, trying to show the older man that he did trust him, that he believed him. Cas reached out and ran his fingers through Dean's dark blonde hair, smiling as the omega leaned into the caress and tried to purr. His throat vibrated, but only the faintest noise escaped.

A sharp knock on the door broke the tableau, Dean skittering back under the desk as Cas pushed himself to his feet. "Boss? Hannah said that the agent can meet a little earlier than expected. If you want to get this handled before supper, we gotta leave now."

"Thank you, Balthazar," Cas replied, reaching out to help Dean stand. As soon as the omega had recognized the voice, he had relaxed enough to leave the safety of the furniture, returning to his seat on the bed. The door to the bedroom opened while Cas was gathering his supplies, tucking his wallet into an inside pocket in his leather jacket while Dean waited patiently. Gabriel slipped inside, already dressed in dark jeans and a camo shirt under his leather jacket, ready to meet with the real estate agent. The oldest omega child of Chuck and Naomi Novak usually stuck to colors and styles that were traditionally alpha, as if daring the world to argue with him. Dean looked him over and thought that he would prefer more vibrant shades in his own wardrobe.

"Ready to go, baby bro?"

Cas nodded, reaching out to run his fingers through Dean's hair again. His brother watched the exchange silently, secretly overjoyed that the two seemed to be getting along so well. "The boys and I are going to go meet with a real estate agent who can help us find somewhere to live here in Lawrence. I thought you might want to stay in the room and relax while we're gone."

Dean's face fell at that, fear darkening his scent as he turned to stare at the empty space beneath the desk. Azazel had left him alone all the time, but that alpha owned him for a decade, so Dean had been sure that he would always come back. This new alpha, though? This Cas, who didn't order him around or lock him up, how could Dean be sure he would return? Maybe he would realize how much an omega cost and just drive away, leave Dean alone in this town. He heard himself whine again as he rose on shaky legs, prepared to tuck himself away in his corner and wait for his alpha, even if this man planned to abandon him. What else could he do?

Cas's sharp growl shocked Dean out of his thoughts, a firm but gentle hand wrapping around his arm. "No, I'm not leaving you here if you're going to be miserable and hide under the table the whole time. Grab your helmet; you're coming with us."

"Cassie, he'll be fine for a couple of hours." Gabe was confused at his brother's reaction, sure that it was a bit over the top when all Dean did was whine a little. "He can stay here and watch tv or something instead of being dragged halfway across town."

"He's not going to watch tv, Gabe; he's going to sit under the desk and stare at the ground, sure that I've abandoned him." Cas placed a hand on Dean's shoulder as the omega returned to his side, scent calm and somewhat happy, helmet in his hand. "Azazel used to leave him alone for hours, maybe days at a time, and I won't have him sit here and wonder if I'm ever coming back. He's not going to be left alone until I'm sure he's ready for it."

"Yeah, okay," Gabe murmured, golden eyes raking over the other omega's half-starved form. "I'm sorry, Dean; I didn't realize . . . you're one of us, okay? Like, really and truly one of the gang. We don't leave family behind."

Dean nodded slowly, leaning forward just far enough to touch his forehead to Gabe's shoulder. It was a symbol of friendship among omegas, a subgender to whom physical contact meant everything, and the blonde grinned at his new companion. "Might be nice to have another omega around, come to think of it. I can't wait to see what you think of my babiest bro when he shows up in the morning."

Cas rolled his eyes as he led the two omegas into the hall, nodding at Benny and Balthazar as they fell into the back of the group, taking rear guard positions. "Gabe, when you're the middle child, you can't call both of us babies. Alfie is the baby; I'm just younger than you."

"You were the baby for ten years, Cassie; I got used to calling you that."

"Well don't call Alfie 'babiest bro' when he shows up tomorrow. You know he hates that."

"Samandriel is coming here?" Balthazar stepped forward to call the elevator, prepared to enter first and ensure that it was safe for his boss. No matter where they were, that man would never let his guard down around his family.

"Yeah, in the morning. He heard about Dean and he wants to help."

Dean looked over at Cas, finally walking tall enough to meet the alpha's gaze. He was an inch, maybe two, taller than the raven-haired biker, something that Cas had not realized he would like until that moment. "Samandriel is the fifth Novak son," Cas explained. "Mom said he was a surprise, a gift during her last heat, and he's much younger than us. He's younger than you, actually. I think you'll like him."

Dean nodded, filing that information away for later. He remembered his own baby brother, little Sammy, who had only been eight years old when he was sold to Azazel. He wondered if the young alpha had managed to make anything of his life.

Hazel eyes skimmed through a report from an outer scout, the light from the phone's screen playing across his face as he sighed and shook his head. "A meeting with the leader of the Hells Angels? Why now, Adam?"

The younger of the two alphas shrugged, leaning back against the rotting wood of the picnic table as he watched the rest of their gang mill around the small truck stop. They would make it to Sioux Falls by nightfall, their clan's home and a city only a few hours from the proposed meeting site. "I read Rufus's report, same as you. I don't have any more information."

"I might," a soft, lilting voice interjected, the only omega in their small group sauntering up to two brothers. Gadreel was tall for an omega at over six feet, with broad shoulders and a strong jaw that made many people mistake him for an alpha at first glance. "Sam, I got a message from Rachel, that beta from Castiel's gang I met with last year."

"Your friend, sure. What did she say?"

"Castiel drove the Devil's Blood gang out of Lawrence this morning, taking a young omega from Azazel at the same time. They're going to stay there, guard the border, until they're sure that Azazel will respect the treaty. I'm sure that is what instigated this meeting."

Sam looked back at his phone, sighing as he turned it off and tucked it into his jacket pocket. "We've had peaceful relations with the Hells Angels for a long time. I'm not going to jeopardize that now. Adam, have Rufus send a message back that we accept Castiel's invitation and we will meet with him in five days' time at a location of his choosing. Also, call Bobby and let him know that we'll be home by nightfall."

"Already spoke with him, Boss; he said we should detour to Jody's if we want supper."

Sam chuckled as he grabbed his helmet, brushing his jeans off before striding toward his bike. "He knows that we always want supper. Okay, boys; let's ride!"