It had been a week and Sam knew that there was something up. Bobby had been avoiding them like they had the plague, only speaking to them at meal times or if he needed something done. Even then it was only a brief bark of orders before he buried himself in his work in the garage or shut himself up in his room. Dean however had been roaming around the place checking every nook and cranny, what for the omega had no idea but something had put a spark inside of the Alpha and he was determined to find an answer to whatever had been plaguing him. He hadn't seen that fire inside of his Alpha's eyes since they had left the pack lands, it was nice but Sam just wished he knew what had put it there. Every time he had asked the older man all he would do was smirk and kiss him on the cheek like he was a child. He couldn't even read his mate. The Alpha closing up on him any time he tried to push on their bond to read him, Dean might not have his full wolf abilities but he sure knew how to keep Sam out when he wanted to.

Currently Dean was snooping through one of Bobby's old photo albums that he had found hidden in the back of the liquor cabinet. He was keeping the book pressed against his chest with his eyes peering up at Sam every so often with a confused look on his face. Sam was trying to read one of Bobby's old tomes on the legend of the lycanthrope finding their old history fascinating. He had found a chapter on the supposed white wolf legend, he wanted to know more about the story that Missouri had told him but all he found so far was that white wolfs were a thing of legend and only spoken about in fairy tales. The white as a symbol of purity and the wolf to represent heroes. Sam tried to keep the smile off of his face at the mention of heroes. He was pretty sure if he mentioned it to his Alpha that he would surely get the piss taken out of him.

Dean looked up at him again, that intense expression crossing his face like he couldn't quite make him out. His eyes lingered on his face for a good ten seconds before turning back to the book and shaking his head slightly. Ok that was getting really annoying now.

"What?" Sam asked sighing slamming his book on the table causing Dean to flinch slightly like he didn't realise that he was there "Stop staring at me like that," he mumbled crossing his arms against his chest in annoyance.

"I'm not," Dean bit back his head moving back to the book with his hands flicking quickly through the pages scanning for something that only he could see apparently. Sam sighed uncrossing and picking up his book once more flicking back to the story he was reading about wolves and the pull of the moon.

A couple of minutes of silence passed before Sam sensed the Alpha's gaze on the side of his face once more, he shrugged his shoulders trying to sink down in his seat but it was hard to make yourself small when you was six foot four. His hair hung in his eyes restricting his view but it was better than watching his mate continuously stare at him like there was something wrong. A voice of self-doubt filtered through his mind telling him that it was because there was something wrong, that he wasn't good enough. A voice that sounded suspiciously like Adam but he pushed this to the side, there was no way he was going to let that man back into his head. He had spent weeks trying to brush past his insecurities. Dean wasn't like his brother…he just wasn't…though he would like it if the Alpha stopped staring at him.

"Dean…" he growled slamming his book on the table once more to which the Alpha's eyes adverted back to the book pretending that he hadn't been looking the entire time. "Will you stop?" he asked.

"Don't know what you're talking about Sammy boy," Dean replied.

Sam rolled his eyes as he pushed himself to his feet. In two strides he was standing beside his Alpha, who by now was tugging the book tightly into his chest so that he couldn't see what he had been looking at. He was half thinking that maybe he had some kind of porn mag hiding underneath which made him even more determined to find out what was going on. "I have never seen you stare at a book for so long," Sam declared raising his eyebrows at the Alpha.

"I read," Dean declared.

"Picture books," Sam retorted indicating to the front cover of the album which read in striking gold letters my memories. "Don't let Bobby catch you snooping, he flipped out for me having a picture what if he found you with that?"

Dean rolled his eyes and pulled the book away from his chest, he flicked back a couple of pages until he found what he was looking for. With a curious expression on his face he laid the book down on the table in front of Sam and sat back without saying a word. Frowning Sam leaned down so that his left arm rested on the back of Dean's chair and his head rested on the man's shoulder. The page Dean had chosen consisted of one picture that had been blown up at least double the size of what Sam presumed the original had to have been. The edges were folded slightly and there was a rip down one side like someone had second thoughts on destroying it. It was a simple portrait of a woman sitting in a chair that didn't look dissimilar from the one that was currently residing in the middle of Bobby's lounge. Her arms were held to her chest with a bundle of blankets wrapped in them. Her hazel eyes smiled at the camera while her dark brown hair that barely reached her shoulders covered her face slightly. She had a laugh on her lips and there was something special about her. Sam stared at her for a moment a weird feeling running through his body though he pushed it to the side, He didn't know who she was but she must have been important to the elder hunter. She had been in the picture Missouri had handed him as well. Probably Bobby's mate or daughter.

"What do you think?" Dean asked after a couple of moments of silence had passed between them. Sam frowned and lifted his gaze to meet his expectants mate eager expression, ok he had no idea why the Alpha was so interested in the photo…was he trying to tell him something?

"Erm…you wanting to go straight on me?" Sam asked pushing away the fear that maybe Dean didn't want to be with a guy anymore, the impressions he had gotten from the pack land was that Dean had been one hundred percent a ladies man before he came along.

"Sammy," Dean sighed. "That's gross."

"What why? I mean she's clearly very pretty, why you wouldn't want to be looking at her picture…" Sam stammered refusing to look at the photo a second time, he didn't want to see the object of Dean's clear desire and interest. So that was what had gotten the spark back in the Alpha's eyes.

"I love you," Dean declared pulling Sam so that the man sat in his lap as he wrapped his arms around his waist stopping him from going anywhere. Dean seemed to know that Sam was a moment away from bolting out of that door not wanting to hold his Alpha back anymore. If Dean wanted to go back to women then he wouldn't stand in his way. "You're my mate," Dean nosed his neck where the mating mark still stood out in stark contrast to his skin. His teeth nipped playfully at the bite sending a shiver down Sam's spine. "Do you recognise her?" Dean asked pulling his mouth away and allowing Sam another moment to take a look.

He didn't feel like he knew her, he had seen others that looked like her for sure but he was certain he would remember those eyes. But that was coming from an amnesiac whose earlier memories were nothing but a blur. All he could remember of the people he had met was pain and abuse up to the moment he had met Dean. When Dean had walked into his life it was like colour flooded his world once more. He didn't see things in black and white, it wasn't a constant battle to get through each day and for once he actually looked forward to getting up in the mornings so that he could watch the Alpha sleep. A guilty pleasure that he liked to indulge in as Dean was never a morning person. Apart from the man he was currently sitting on he couldn't remember anyone else that had ever made an impact on his life. Slowly he shook his head. "No," he declared a feeling of sadness washing over him though he had no idea why.

Dean deflated underneath him, he kissed Sam's cheek and pushed the omega off of his lap. He reached down to pick up the book when Bobby's voice broke through the atmosphere.

…

"YOU IDJITS CANT LEAVE THINGS ALONE!" the elder Alpha shouted causing Dean to jump. Slightly he swore to himself, he knew he had been dancing a fine line trying to get closer to the truth and so far had been lucky not to have been caught. "WINCHESTERS ALL FOR THEMSELVES!" Bobby added striding towards the pair and snatching the book from Dean's hand. He lovingly stared down at the photo with his finger tracing the lines of the woman's face before he snapped it shut. "I told you to drop it kid," he growled his full attention on Dean. "I allowed you to stay here…I trusted you after the photo…"

"She's your mate," Dean declared hearing Sam draw in a deep breath behind him.

"You don't know nothing boy," Bobby warned inching closer so that he was almost nose to nose with Dean. "Get out of my sight," he threatened his eyes glowing as his Alpha instincts kicked into gear.

Dean could feel Sam tug at the back of his shirt trying to get him to leave however something kept him rooted to the spot. He could feel his wolf protest at the thoughts of submitting to another Alpha, one that was not his father. After all he wasn't meant to be the unofficial Crown Alpha, who would he be if he gave into this other man? Dean grit his teeth and held his position pushing Sam further behind him. "What is your problem?" Dean asked feeling the other Alpha's growl ghost across his skin.

"My problem is nosy Alpha's thinking they know better. Do you know how old I am boy?"

"Ancient by the looks of it," Dean added peering around the room. "So what you just gave up to live like a hermit?"

"Stop talking if you want to keep breathing."

Dean ignored the threats. He ignored his mate's desperate pleas for them to get out of there. He was fairly certain the elder Alpha wouldn't try anything…at least he hoped…"Are you threatening me?" Dean warned his own eyes starting to glow as a growl erupted out of his lips, his control starting to wane.

"It's a promise son," Bobby smirked.

"I'm not your son," Dean replied his voice becoming deeper.

"Never liked a Winchester," Bobby added his own tone matching.

Dean could feel his wolf pushing against his skin not liking the way the other Alpha was trying to make him submit. He could feel him calling to him wanting to be released. "I have done nothing to you," Dean added feeling the man's hatred for him rolling off of him in waves, he was taken aback at the amount of anger that was directed towards him. He had never met the man until Missouri had forced them to come here, ok he might have overstepped the boundaries when it came to the Alpha's privacy but he thought he would at least just get a telling off not this hate. His wolf roared inside of him in reaction.

"That's the thing with you, you do nothing, you all sit back in your fancy pack lands not caring about what happens to anyone who's not your own."

"That's not true!" Sam shouted from behind Dean.

"Where did he find you from some omega house?" Bobby scoffed.

That was the final straw for Dean. Without thinking his two legs suddenly morphed into four and his sandy blond hair changed to pure white. He stood tall in front of his omega with his teeth barred towards the elder Alpha almost daring him to make a move. He didn't care what the elder man said about him but insult his mate, his family…then he would really see just how protective Dean Winchester could be. Dean's teeth snapped as the elder Alpha's body became stiff, his shocked eyes peered down at him and he could sense the man's apprehension. Good.

"Dean come on this will solve nothing," Sam shouted at him though his words were muffled by the blind anger that was running through Dean's body. "Alpha please."

Dean growled closing the gap between him and the elder Alpha, his wolf enjoying the fear on the other man's face. He wanted nothing more than to show Bobby just what kind of wolf he really was. Why no one should mess with a Winchester.

"So it's true," Bobby said his tone ridged. "A white wolf." Dean flicked his tail his hackles fully up.

…

'Dean stop it this isn't helping.' Sam's call echoed in his head. 'Alpha, please come back to me. Stop letting the wolf control you.' Dean scoffed. Didn't his mate get it? Bobby threatened him…he couldn't back down now…what kind of Alpha would he be…he would be no better than Adam…Dean let out another growl at the mere thought of his brother. Another surge of anger washed through him, anger that startled himself. He had never felt like this before. He had never felt so…so…feral…This feeling stopped him in his tracks. He blinked a couple of times to wash away the film that his rage had casted over his eyes.

Sam was now crouched in front of him. His human hands were cupping Dean's snout and forcing the wolf to look at him. A worried expression crossed his face and his eyes were watering. What had he done? Oh god he was ready to attack the elder Alpha…Disgust replaced his earlier anger and he found himself sitting back on his hind legs with his eyes staring down at the floor. It was getting worse…maybe the hunters had been right…what if he had killed that girl? What if he had made up the whole rogue wolf story as a cover up…? Could he really be losing control?

"Dean, babe, listen to me. None of it was your fault. You didn't kill her remember? You are better than that, than them. You are my strong Alpha and no one is going to change that," Sam whispered to him his hands lifting his snout up so that he was looking into his eyes once more. "Are you with me Alpha?"

Dean slowly nodded his head, his tongue reaching out to lick softly at Sam's hand who gave him a watery smile in response. He lifted his eyes from Sam to Bobby who was staring at them with tears in his eyes. What had he done? He looked at Sam hoping that the omega would be able to convey his apology for him. While in wolf form he could directly communicate with Sam and his mother and father it didn't stem to outside of his bloodline. Unlike other wolves he couldn't project his thoughts to anyone he wanted to listen. Another fault he hated in himself. Why couldn't he have been born a normal were like everyone else. He would have given up his white fur just to have been normal no matter how many times Mary had told him that he was special.

"Dean's sorry, it shouldn't have gotten out of hand like that Bobby," Sam translated. Dean watched as the elder man sank down in the chair behind him. His eyes focused entirely on Sam and Dean like he was seeing them in a new line. God he hoped he hadn't just jeopardised their chances of a place to lie low. This had been the third near miss between the two of them. He wouldn't have been surprised if Bobby decided to kick their asses out. "He can't control his wolf," Sam added to which Dean groaned. Did he really have to tell the man their life story? It was bad enough his pack knowing but this virtual stranger as well?

"When John told me what he had to deal with…I didn't believe him…a white wolf…" Bobby's eyes continued to stare at Dean. "I'm sorry boy…I didn't know…"

"You knew?" Sam asked voicing both of their surprise.

"I think it's time I told you the truth."

…

Bobby laid the photo album on the table along with the picture that Missouri had given Sam. He turned them towards the boys so that they could get a closer look. "Karen," he indicated to the young female. "She was my mate. My Beta." He paused for a moment the pain evident on his face and Sam felt a pang of sympathy for the elder man. He had no idea what he would do if he ever lost Dean…well not like that would be much of an issue because as an Omega he wouldn't be able to survive Dean's death. The other way around however…Dean without him…the makings of a rogue wolf right there. Subconsciously he carded his hands through Dean's fur the young Alpha not able to change back.

"She's beautiful," Sam voiced Dean's thoughts.

"Yeah," Bobby added a ghost of a smile crossing his lips. "She was. She knew it as well," he chuckled his finger tracing her jaw line once more. "I met her when I was in my thirties, she was part of my best friends pack…John's pack…" he eyes glanced towards Dean. "It's how I knew your Daddy, we grew up together. The Singer and Winchester pack used to run alongside each other, we were both Crown Alpha's learning the trade when I met Karen. We connected instantly and mated within a day. It was fast but we were in love." His eyes fell to her picture once more. "We were happy, we had a young pup, an omega. He was the happiest baby we could have ever asked for. One day we went out for a run in the woods with our son, when he come back our lands had been destroyed. Hunters had torn through our pack striking down anyone who got in the way. Winchester had bolted leaving us to fend for ourselves. The hunters had rounded up our young and was forcing them into the back of their damned truck. I saw my father lying dead in a pool of my mother's blood. I didn't know what to do. I tried to get Karen to run…we tried…She tripped…They shot her and stole our baby…took my son away from me…" Tears ran down Bobby's cheek as he seemed to be reliving the painful memory. "I ended up here…and never left."

Sam could feel Dean's guilt festering inside of him. 'It's not your fault.' Sam projected.

'I can't believe Dad would have just left.' Dean added.

"Dean's sorry for what John done," Sam voiced knowing that his mate needed to stop handling guilt that didn't belong to him just because his last name might have been Winchester.

"It ain't his fault. John told me that his son needed help, that he had been born human and presented as a white wolf…I'm just sorry I didn't believe him…"

"I can't believe what they did to your pack," Sam whispered his eyes peering down at Karen's picture once more. He could feel her loss like he had been there when it had happened.

Dean moved from his side, he padded over to the book and placed a gentle paw on the picture of Bobby, Karen and their son. He looked pointedly at Sam like he was trying to tell him something. Dean rolled his eyes at Sam's blank look and instead turned his head to Bobby. He gestured with his paw to the picture and then tilted his head towards Sam.

'I think I know why Missouri sent us here,' Dean explained.

Bobby's eyes widened as Sam relayed the message like he was getting something that only Sam didn't seem to understand. The elder Alpha was staring at him in awe as he looked from the picture to Sam and back again, mimicking Dean's previous actions.

"What was your son called?" Sam asked his heart starting to hammer in his chest as understanding finally dawned on him.

"Samuel. Samuel Singer."

TBC (BIG REVEAL! Hope you all liked that little twist. Thank you for reading and to those who review, you are all awesome! See you all in Chapter Nineteen.)