Sam's hands trembled in both excitement and fear, his heart beat quickly in his throat and his breathing was rapid. They had excepted him. The school of his dreams had excepted him.

It was literally a dream come true. The very ticket to his future was the small piece of paper in his hands, it was his life waiting to be explored. There was only one problem, his father…his alpha.

Sam felt bile rise in his throat, the thought of telling his father the news sending a punch of anxiety through his gut. He ran cold, clammy hands through his hair as he paced the small cabin.

To make matters worse it was the night of the full moon, its power would make them all more agitated and aggressive then usual. Sam thought of not telling his father, but he knew it was no use because he would immediately smell his unusual emotions.

Sam heard the door open in the next room, loud laughter from his brother and father entering the house. Sam gulped, eyes widening and frantically searching the room. He had been contemplating what to say for hours, recited and entire speech, but all logic suddenly left him as his father entered and he turned to jello.

John's laughter suddenly stopped, the scent of excitement, fear and anxiety rolling off Sam so strong it nearly gagged him. It was bitter and tainted with ammonia, musky from the wolf that lay within' his son, but Sam's unwillingness to except what he was almost seemed to change the musk to a more human scent. John hated that.

"What's wrong Sam?" John asked, concern and curiosity in his voice.

Sam kept his eyes down, in both fear and obedience to his alpha. He took a deep breath, another strong whiff of mixed emotions rolling off him. Dean gave him a concerned look, his older brother cocking his head in worry, just like he did in his wolf form.

"I…I got excepted into Stanford." Sam said, his voice cracking in excitement. He prayed his father would be excited, would want him to go, but deep down in his heart he knew that wouldn't be the case. He just hoped he was ready for it.

John was silent, his expressionless face showing no real emotion, but his scent was telling everything. Anger was building, like the smell of smoky sweat it grew stronger as he narrowed his eyes at Sam.

"That's great to hear son, but you weren't really planning on going, were you? I mean, you've got things here." John said in the calmest voice he could manage.

He couldn't believe his youngest son wanted to leave them. Leave his pack. Leave hunting. Leave the life he knew and become some average Joe. John was trying to keep as calm as he could, but the alpha in him begged to unleash itself, not only because of the moon that was just beyond reach in the distance, but to show the omega its place in the pack.

Sam's scent changed, the fear and excitement were dissipating as a wave of anger rolled off him, his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared in anger.

"Well I didn't apply to get a fancy letter dad, I plan on going." Sam growled, he suddenly felt more angry then ever.

He felt the wolf in him stir greater then ever, he was having a hard time keeping the shift at bay, it had never been a problem before, but now as anger swept him he found it a challenge. His breathing increased and his heart beat quickly, his legs felt light pumped with adrenaline as his fist clenched and unclenched, jaw grinding to maintain control.

John scented the change, but when Sam looked up and they met eyes he knew exactly what was going on within' his son. The wolf in Sam was tired of being the Omega, after years of learning and growing it had finally found the correct time to challenge the alpha, had found a reason to challenge its leader for its freedom from the packs laws. This only angered John more.

"So, what, you're just going to leave your family, your pack behind? Forget all you've learned, forget all you are, the responsibilities you have for some average Joe life?" John roared, his anger boiling over at the younger mans unwillingness to back down.

"I want my own life dad! Why can't you just let me go do what I want?! It doesn't mean I'm abandoning you and Dean, doesn't mean I'll forget what I am! I just want to do this with my life, why can't you just let me do what I want for once?!" Sam roared back, his eyes locked in with his fathers.

"You traitor, after all this pack has done for you, after all I've done for you, you're just going to turn your back and leave us. How could you be so selfish?!" John growled, he moved closer to Sam, circling him in a threatening matter.

The whole fight Dean had remained silent, he figured his Dad would yell at Sam, scare him a bit and his younger brother would back down. He'd been wrong, and with each passing moment his fear for his father and brothers lives increased. The only way Sam was going anywhere was by fighting his dad, he prayed it wouldn't come to this, but Sam's stubbornness seemed to be allowing no other way.

Sam spat bitter laughter at his father, his expression turning to pure rage.

"I'M the selfish one?! How dare you even accuse ME of being selfish! You dropped EVERYTHING dad, everything to find mom's killer! You left your pack, you gave Dean and I no choice but to follow what YOU thought was right! All our lives dad you've kept us the way YOU like, well I've had enough!" Sam roared, his eyes blazing as the whites were swallowed by the hazel color and the wolf began surface even more.

"How dare you, you ungrateful little bastard!" John growled, baring his teeth that had lengthened into sharp fangs.

The two stared each other down, neither gaze leaving the other to decline a challenge. The tension built, Dean fearfully sat in the corner knowing there was absolutely nothing he could do about the whole situation. The scent of anger, rage and want for dominance consumed his senses, made him sway with nausea and fear. He felt the pull of the moon, knew that the change would come soon, and prayed that with it the release of this challenge.

John had enough, with a roar he leaped at his son, seeing no other way to change his son's mind then show him it was his responsibility to the pack to remain with them. In mid air he swiftly shift, years of experience making it effortless. He landed atop of Sam who was still in his human form, the large black wolf over powering his weaker form. Sam let out a inhuman roar, he got his feet beneath his fathers under belly and kicked as hard as he could, sending the wolf through the air.

Sam let out a roar and released his own beast, clothes tore up quickly as he shifted from a man to a large brown wolf, taller then his father but not quite as heavy. His father had recovered, the two wolves circled one another in the small cabin, snarling and snapping as they held each others gazes, neither willing to release the lock they had.

Dean shifted quickly, wanting so desperately to step in, but knowing that was only asking for a beating himself. He sat with ears plastered to his head in fear, soft whimpers escaping him as the two most important people in his life were about to kill one another.

Sam made the leap this time, years of training in both forms had taught him well, he fainted for his fathers throat but as his father went to protect it he instead wiped his feet out from beneath him. Sam dived then for his fathers throat, but his alpha was well trained and threw Sam off with brute force. Sam landed hard on his side, his fathers supernatural speed had him on him within' a moment, Sam was pinned and his father was going for his throat. The rage in Sam rushed him, sending waves of strength within' his muscles he threw his father off and through the large glass window. Shards off glass flew every where as the large wolf sailed through and out into the lawn below.

Sam leaped after him, instinct now controlling his mind and every action. The wolf wanted dominance, no matter what it took. The alpha was shocked by his sons strength, by his refusal to cooperate. He was feeling the trip through the window, but he would heal quickly, he didn't think he'd be able to say the same for his son after this.

The black wolf rose, meeting the teeth of his now opponent. They struggled, fur flew as lethal jaws clamped down on skin, blood seeped from various wounds and the scent of boiling rage was thick in the air.

Sam wrestled with his father, waiting for that one opening, but not allowing his own to come. Finally he saw it, for a brief moment his father revealed his throat, and Sam dove, he felt claws tears through his flesh as he did, but the anger within' him gave his body unknown strength.

He felt the soft fur beneath his tongue, the thin flesh in between his teeth and the strong beat of a heart pulsated quickly through the jugular that lay there within' his jaws. It was in his power to decide if his father lived or died now. He was in power. For the first time ever in his entire life…he was in power.

He held his father there for a moment, the black wolf was covered in battle scars and flecks of graying age that told he once would have easily taken this challenge. He let that thought sink into the old alpha.

"I'll be leaving tomorrow morning." He told his father, his telepathic voice a deep growl.

"If you leave, don't you dare come back." His father said, his voice strong, but clearly shaken with disbelief beneath it.

Sam released him, slowly backing away to make sure his father would not try another round. He lay there panting, refusing to meet Sam's eyes, his defeat had made him alpha and John knew it. Even if it was for just one night, John had to abide those laws, no matter how much of the father in him wanted to reach out to his son.

Sam turned away, disgusted with the situation, with what he had done, what he was. He glared up at the moon, seething hate rising in him at the sight of it. He shook his head, looking up he found Dean gazing at him with hurt eyes.

Dean didn't look away though, it wasn't a challenge, this look was human, this look was begging for his baby brother to stay. Sam sighed, coming up beside his older brother.

Dean was a well built, dark blonde wolf that matched his fathers size perfectly. Sam stood taller then him, but he still always looked up to his big brother Dean.

"I'm sorry Dean, I wish it didn't have to be this way." Sam said, his voice soft with sympathy.

Dean didn't say anything, his hurt look not leaving as his gaze went between his father and his brother. With a defeated look he tore his gaze from Sam and walked slowly over to his father, tail low and ears flat as he cowered by his alpha, his father and his alliance.

Sam sighed, giving Dean a last sad look as he spoke to him.

"Bye Dean, I'll miss you…big brother."

With that Sam leaped back in the cabin, willing the change to his human form as soon as he landed. He felt hot tears prick at his eyes, turning to meet his father and brothers gaze one last time, he found them gone…only the pale moonlight reflection off shards of glass that lay in the lawn.

xXx

When John and Dean returned home the next morning, they found all of Sam's belongings gone, his scent old and a single note on the kitchen table. It was a dried muddy paw print and only read five simple words in black ink, but made both Dean and John wipe their eyes and grit their teeth in regret.

"I will always love you."