He ran through the woods, ignoring the branches and tree roots that seemed to constantly reach for him. The wolf was a blur of movement in front of him, running at a pace he couldn't hope to reach while he still had two legs. He held his gun out not knowing if and when he would even need to use it. His heart hammered in his chest while his lungs threatened to burst with the lack of oxygen however he continued to move, his legs not allowing him to give up the pursuit.

'Dean 9'o clock' John's voice reverberated in his head. He turned to his right and swung his body abruptly following the movements of the wolf that was his father and Alpha. In a clearing he could see a mass of fur sprinting away, his father increased his speed and took off after him while Dean slowed down.

He paused for a moment and panted allowing his heart time to recover. Oxygen flooded his system to which he had to suppress the need to cough knowing that he would most likely start to choke otherwise. He lowered his gun as his eyes spotted something glinting on the floor. He peered around him before crouching. He moved his gun into his right hand while he reached out with his left, his finger dipped into the sticky liquid and when he pulled it back the tip was soaked red. The metallic stench filtered through his nose. Blood. He wiped his hand on his jeans and straightened to his full height. He could see the trail now, reaching down through the clearing and off somewhere into the unknown. He paused, should he follow his father or the blood? He lifted his head and gave the air a quick sniff, though he didn't have as good senses as other wolves he could still clearly distinguish the stench of blood and death. Knowing he couldn't ignore it he cupped his gun in his hands and began to follow the trail.

Dean walked slowly, his footsteps light as he avoided any sudden movements or sticks that would give his position away. He could only hope that his father had the rogue wolf covered. The blood glistened in the moonlight. The quantity and thickness increasing the further he ventured into the woods. Blood was sprayed up the trees in a random pattern with some even looking like paw prints.

In the distance he could see a prone form lying face down on the ground, blood pooled underneath it and its clothes were torn beyond recognition. He glanced behind him, his ears straining to hear any signs of movement, convinced he was seemingly alone he crept towards the body. His gun was held down to the ground, ready to be pulled up at any given moment while his eyes danced around the clearing. He came to a stop beside the body, slowly he knelt to the ground his free hand reaching out towards it. Tendrils of blood reached out towards him almost beckoning him to look. The metallic stench was high in the air indicating that it was a recent kill, not good. His left hand clasped the person's shoulder and slowly he turned them onto their back. His hand flew up to his mouth in an attempt not to gag.

He pushed to his feet and took a step backwards ignoring the rotting smell that he could taste in the back of his throat. The body belonged to a young female, she was probably the blond hair blue eyed pretty girl type before the rogue got hold of her that is. Clumps of her hair lay beside her, scalp still attached, her right eye had been clawed to the point it was nothing more than a puddle of gore, long scratch marks littered her cheeks showing the bone beneath, her teeth had caved in but it was the mess of her chest that caused the nausea to build up in the pit of Dean's stomach. Her breasts had been pulled apart and her ribs were sticking through the little skin she had left, her lungs were abandoned beside her while there was a heart shaped space missing in the centre of her chest. There was no doubt now that they were dealing with a rogue wolf, they were the only ones known to feed off of humans.

Dean moved his hand away and lowered himself next to the body once more. He held his breath as he pulled at her torn jacket, when he had a big enough piece of fabric he lowered this over her face out of respect. He knew that he would have to deal with the body as they didn't want the human police to get involved as soon as they did then he knew they would have hunters sniffing around. He had no idea just how much jurisdiction the men of letters had over the hunting community. He sure as hell didn't want to have to test that theory. He delved into her coat pocket trying to find something that might tell him who she was…or once was. He pulled out her wallet, inside contained a couple of notes and various fake IDs. The picture was of her smiling with an older woman's arms wrapped firmly around her shoulders, mother and daughter he guessed. The picture was soaked in blood so he wiped it on his jeans and pocketed it knowing that he would need to talk to his father about identification. He wasn't about to let some poor family spend their lives thinking that she had just simply vanished, he wouldn't do that.

He threw the wallet on top of her body and pushed to his feet. Beside her he could see what looked like a gun clip…frowning he was about to investigate when a sudden noise behind him made him pause. He lifted the gun so that it was in front of his face and let out a sharp breath.

He could literally feel the hair on the back of his neck stand on end as the deep breaths ghosted across his skin…

…

Sam admired his handiwork, he had clipped back the tree branches that would attack you as you walked past them. He had weeded the wolf mosaic so the only green was in the eyes and Mary had tidied up the loose stones that she swore Dean had kicked out on purpose. All in all the garden was looking more presentable then it had when he had first come to this house a few days ago. Though to him it had felt longer, he finally had a place he could see himself being happy and as the days past the memories and feelings associated with Adam had begun to fade, he hoped in time he would be able to replace them with ones of Dean.

Currently he was sitting outside on the porch with a mug of hot chocolate staring at the bright moon, one more day then it would be full, meaning that he would have to experience his first proper change with his new pack. He had yet to meet most of the occupants of the land a thought that secretly terrified him. He couldn't help but believe that he wouldn't be good enough in their eyes, not good enough for Dean and certainly not good enough to one day help lead them. Of course he never voiced these opinions, every time he said something along those lines a dark expression would cross his mate's face and he refused to do that to him anymore, even if Sam himself didn't believe the lies he would tell Dean. It was better than the truth, his mate didn't need to know just how fucked in the head he really was.

"Room for one more?" Mary's voice called out to him. Nodding Sam shifted over so that there was room for her to sit beside him. The more time he had spent with the Matriarch, the more he had come to like and respect her. She was kind, loving, gentle but also tough and didn't take nonsense from anyone much less her boys. The pack both respected and loved her. He was in awe of her and he knew that with her by his side Dean was safe. She was like a mother to him and that made him miss his own more.

"Beautiful night," she said breaking through his trail of thought. Sam nodded taking a sip of his drink not quite trusting his voice. "They will be back soon, they never stay away more than a night," there was a hint of worry in her voice like there was something she wasn't telling him. Sam envied the fact that she could have constant communication with John even when they were miles apart, she could feel what he was feeling and could talk to him through their mental bond. It was like she wasn't alone not really and yet Sam couldn't feel anything. Yes he and Dean had kissed and fooled around but they had never taken that next step, they hadn't mated with Dean wanting to wait until Sam was completely sure he was ready. He didn't want to push the Omega. To which delighted and frustrated Sam, in a way he wanted to get it done so that he could feel like they were proper mates but he knew that the moment they would take anything further there is a chance he would freak out, a chance he didn't want to take. He didn't want Dean to think he was rejecting him, man he hated his emotional baggage.

"You alright sweetie?" Mary asked her face floating in front of his vision, he had trailed off again. "A lot on your mind?" she added smiling softly, her right hand linked with Sam's and for once he didn't shudder at the unexpected touch. "It's ok to think you know, we won't judge, you have been through a lot and if you ever want to talk I'm here," she said her eyes moving up to stare at the moon once more happy enough and not expecting to get an answer. "I love the moon before it's full, something so enticing about it."

"I would always sit in the garden and watch it every month," Sam said knowing he couldn't let her do all the talking even though he wanted to. "I would stare at it and feel like I could escape, like there was more out there for me…"

Mary's eyes gazed at his, her smile lengthened as she pushed further into his side. "And now?" Sam shot her a puzzled look. "When you look at the moon what do you see?"

Sam turned his eyes up and paused for a moment. "I see the moon," he replied, the usual longing and needing was no longer there. He felt at peace bathed under its light. "I've escaped," he whispered the thought finally dawning on him. "I've escaped," he added again a hysterical laugh bubbling up the back of his throat.

"My…Adam was a monster…" Sam opened his mouth to protest however Mary ignored him. "You don't need to make excuses for him I know what he is now. What he done to you…what you had to endure…I can't ever pretend to understand but know this if he ever steps foot near you he will have to deal with John, I and Dean. We are all beside you Sam, you will never have to feel alone again," he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "He is no longer my son but in his place I have gained another."

Sam felt the emotion tug at his throat, his tears pushed against his eyes however for once they were because he was happy. He had finally found a place he could feel safe, a family who could love him and a mate who meant the world to him. It was more than he could have ever wished for, he had given up his old crappy life for a shot at this. "I never knew my mother," he said knowing that he needed someone to hear his life story. "I imagine she was like you."

"What happened to you sweetie?"

"I remember being passed around from shelter to shelter when I was younger, Omega homes," he had probably been to most of them in the whole of America as they struggled to find a place for him. Those shelters were mostly a mask for abuse and sexual assault to those omegas who were old enough to have heats. They took in those who had no one who could claim them and Sam had been found in the middle of the road after being hit by a car with no memory and no recollection of where he came from. "I worked as a serving were for the Landrans, I got a roof over my head and two hot meals a day but when they died and they had no one to inherit their lands the government sent me to a market." The Omega market was notorious for weres who wanted to look for a sex toy or someone to spice up their love life, or even to find wolfs to make their slaves so they wouldn't ever have to lift a finger themselves. "That's where Adam found me," he trailed off. He remembered the day Adam had walked into the square, it had been his scent that had drawn him instantly to the other man, he remembered practically running up to him and begging for him to take him home not knowing that the whole time he was wearing Dean's scent, pretending to be his true mate.

"Oh honey," Mary exclaimed moving her arm from being linked to his to around his shoulder. "You are safe here, Dean will make you happy I know he will."

Sam smiled. "I know."

…

The wolf came upon him quicker than he could react. Dean fell to the ground upon impact, his gun dropped to his side and his hands lifted up to clasp onto the rogue's snapping jaws. Drool dripping with blood fell onto his face as he moved his head to the side to avoid the substance falling into his mouth. His feet lifted up and he planted these against the were's chest pushing him away from his neck. He could feel the ghost of the rogue's jaws snapping against his neck, once false move would result in his throat being ripped out. He gripped the wolf's neck with his left hand while he desperately tried to reach for his gun with his right, his fingers grazed the edge of the barrel however it seemed to be too far away. Mentally swearing as his arm buckled slightly and he felt the tip of the wolf's canines graze his skin he placed his hand back around the rogues neck.

'Dad' he called mentally hoping that for once in his life his wolf would allow him to hear him however he got no response nor felt any indication of where the older man might be. Dean's arms began to shake as the weight became too much to bear. He gritted his teeth, there was no way he was going to go out this way not when he had only just found his mate. He thought of Sam, of the shy smile, the demanding lover he was destined to become, to the stolen kisses to the hand jobs and to the laying underneath the stars laughing to one another. A new resolve settled in his skin. He pursed his lips and a long howl escaped of its own accord. Before he knew it a hidden strength ran through his body and with one big push he managed to force the wolf away from him.

The rogue yelped as his back connected with the nearest tree. Not giving him time to recover Dean leapt to his feet, he grabbed his gun and aimed it squarely at the wolf's chest. He pulled the trigger. The shot ran out through the woods, echoing off of the trees making it sound louder than what it actually was.

Dean lowered his gun and took a moment to gather his breath. His vision swam as the night glared before him bathed in the deepest green and he knew then that his wolf eyes had kicked in. Great just what he needed, swearing he tried to will it away to no avail. It seemed that his wolf wanted him to see in night vision even though the beginnings of a sun rise was poking out through the tops of the trees.

He blinked attempting to shake it off, he turned his head to the side and knelt to the floor beside the body of the wolf and the girl. He groaned as bright light engulfed his vision causing him to squeeze his eyes shut. White spots danced in front of his vision causing a pounding to start in his head, he could still see the light flashing behind his eye lids. Annoyed his eyes flew open and he growled his canines lengthening, as sudden as the light had come it was gone. There was no sounds in the atmosphere apart from the animalistic growls which he realised was coming from himself. He was losing control.

'Easy ace' he heard his father's and Alpha's voice echoing in his head the words slowing his growling but not stopping it entirely. He heard twigs snap behind him and he saw feet come into his vision and he realised he was perched on the ground with his head in his hands, kneeling in the now drying blood of the young female. 'Easy pup,' it was the Alpha talking now rather than his father. 'The threat has gone young wolf, you can relax,' slowly Dean could feel his teeth start to revert back to human though his vision was still patchy. 'I'm here young wolf, let go, Alpha commands it' with those words Dean blinked and his vision began to return to colour. The growling ceased and Dean lifted his head from his hands. His father held out a hand and he latched onto it using it as a support to lift himself onto his feet. He nodded his thanks not needing to say anything out of embarrassment. He hated when he got like that, he hated not being able to control himself its why he never let himself wolf out around others, he had no idea what he would be capable of doing. God forbid he ever became one of the wolves they hunted.

"You good?" John asked his eyes roaming Dean's body, noticing the blood but one quick sniff would indicate that it wasn't his own.

"Yeah," Dean replied his eyes straying to the form of the wolf and the young girl he wasn't able to save. The wolf's body glowed as his fur receded and his skin began to show. His hair shortened until it was a mess of dark brown curls, his glowing grey eyes turned to a dull grey blue colour and his body morphed into a portly shape. His eyes stared straight up at him with the hole in his heart continuing to pump out blood, the silver bullet seemed to have hit its mark. Dean stared down at the man, a stab of familiarity struck him but he wasn't sure why. He could have sworn he had seen him somewhere before. He wasn't a part of their pack…where did he come from?

"Poor girl," John declared kneeling beside the body and taking a peek underneath the makeshift cover Dean had created for her face. "No one deserves this," he added seeming to have seen enough and pushing to his feet. "Nice shot," he said noticing the wolf. "I always knew you would be a crack shooter," he smiled clapping Dean on the back with pride.

Dean slowly nodded, yes his father might be proud of him but he couldn't help but feel useless. He had almost lost it tonight, what would have happened if he had? He peered down at the wolf once more, that nagging feeling never leaving him…where had he seen him before?

…

It was five hours late that the Impala pulled up to the driveway, it was now ten in the morning when Dean had told him he would be back before sunrise. Sam bounced on the ball of his heels as the car drew closer and closer. He could see the tired form of his mate behind the wheel and he could smell the metallic stench of blood surrounding him, whether this was his own or someone else's Sam couldn't quite determine just yet. Mary stood by his side, a huge grin was across her lips and he could feel the sense of relief flood through her. Sam knew it had to be equally as tough for her letting the two of them out of her sight, it wasn't just her mate's life at stake but her son as well.

The Impala door opened and Dean stepped out the same time that John pulled out of the truck. Mary instantly ran towards Dean, pulling him into her chest, her eyes scanned his body and when she was satisfied she pressed a kiss to his forehead and pushed him away before embracing John in a long kiss.

Dean shook his head fondly as his eyes met Sam's. Sam's heart beat fiercely in his chest as his legs moved without him realising. It was a matter of moments before he felt Dean's arms wrap around his and their lips touched one another. They had never showed their love like this in public before but for once he didn't care. He was just happy to have his mate back to him in one piece.

Dean's clothes were covered in blood but Sam could smell that it wasn't his own. Pushing that question to the back of his mind he pulled apart from Dean though stayed in the man's arms. "I know it has only been a couple of hours…" he stammered feeling like an idiot for even thinking it let alone say it.

Dean laughed and pressed a soft kiss to his lips stopping his sentence mid flow. He pulled apart, his eyes shone and a bright smile was on his face. "I missed you too."

TBC (Hey everyone! Hope you enjoyed that chapter, thanks to those who read and a special thanks to those who review, it means the world to me to hear from you so please keep them coming. See you all in Chapter Ten!)