The sky was clear with the stars shining down on them basking them in their light like they were celebrating the first moon they have had back in the pack lands. After everything that had happened the last time they had been here. The full moon was inching further into the sky almost at full peak and all the were's were bouncing on the balls of their feet in anticipation. Sam was standing in his robe beside a fully dressed Dean, to Dean's right was a robed John and Mary was to his left. Together the four of them peered down at the pack waiting for the right moment to give the command to shift. Normally they would have done so by now, allowing the pack time to adjust to the moon's call and answer it as soon as they felt it. But today was different. Today they had a new wolf amongst their ranks.
Bobby was standing directly in the middle of the pack, he was beside Ellen having nominated himself to be her guide through the moon. Sam guessed that his father felt some kind of obligation to the woman seeing as she refused any of the Winchester's help much to John's chagrin. Dr Novak was on her other side monitoring her progress every step of the way seeing as the man had no idea just how she was going to react to the changes and whether or not she would accept John as her Alpha. Her actions tonight depended on whether or not she would be allowed to stay in the pack after everything Dean had done to give her a second chance. They couldn't afford to have an unresponsive were not with everything that had been happening in the pack lands recently.
Sam could feel the tension thrumming from his mate, the man wanting nothing more than to be a million miles away from here. He didn't want to face Ellen's hate not that Sam could blame him in the slightest. He wouldn't want a pissed off ex hunter turned wolf attacking him on her first change which was why he decided he wasn't going to leave his Alpha's side regardless of Dean's feelings. His mate had spent the last hour trying to convince him to go run the perimeter with John, like he could take what should be Dean's place from him. If Dean couldn't go then neither would he. Not after what happened the last time he had left him, there was no way he would allow a repeat of that. He never wanted to see Dean's blood again.
…
Sam hummed in anticipation, he could feel the moon glaring down on his skin calling to his wolf side, beckoning him to be one. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and he felt his body move closer to Dean's. He had to stifle the urge to nuzzle his mate's neck and lick the patch of skin underneath his ear…no matter how inviting it looked. However he did lay his head on Dean's shoulder with his arms wrapping around the Alpha's waist, Dean's scent becoming intoxicating the closer he became to shifting. He had never had a reaction like this before it was almost like the first time he had smelt the Alpha. He couldn't get enough, he couldn't get close enough. His desperation must have leaked through their bond as Dean's arms wrapped around him bringing him into his chest with his own nose nuzzling into Sam's hair.
Sam could sense the confused expressions from their parents but he didn't care. It wasn't like he had clue what was going on but he wasn't going to fight it. He guessed it was because of his heat the other day and the fact that he had stopped taking his suppressants, you know in case any future Alpha's wanted to make their appearance.
John's mouth opened like he was going to say something fortunately a pained scream interrupted him before he could make a comment. Sam moved his neck from Dean's shoulder as his attention was turned to Ellen. Her bright eyes were glowing and her skin had started to ripple. Her mouth was open and she fell to her knees. Bobby was by her side, his arms hovering around her shoulders in a form of support while Dr Novak was monitoring her pulse. Satisfied he released his wrist and signalled to Bobby to take a step back. It was time.
Ellen screamed the sound vibrating around the lands. Sam squeezed Dean tighter as he flinched at the noise clearly carrying all the guilt for the pain she was going through. Sam titled his neck allowing the Alpha to scent him, offering him the best comfort he could. Dean's nose instantly rubbed against the biting mark while his eyes stayed locked onto Ellen. In fact the whole pack was waiting with baited breath to see what was going to happen.
Ellen screeched as the sound of her bones breaking echoed out. The first change was almost the worst for those who were made and not born. They were lucky their first change was too human and it was less painful growing bones than what it was to break them. Besides they were young enough that most didn't even remember the process. He couldn't imagine what the hunter was going through.
Hair erupted across Ellen's body as she fell to all fours, all of a sudden her elbows gave way with her hands straightening out to create paws. Her snout lengthened with her screams becoming a howl. Her skin became red fur and where there was once a woman now stood a small red wolf. Ellen's blue eyes peered around at the faces around her, she stared at Bobby for a moment before dismissing him. Her nose was turned in the air scenting something. Slowly she pivoted turning so that she was now facing the John.
John took a step closer, he held his hands out to the side and his head was lowered showing that he was no threat. Ellen froze, her hackles began to rise as a low growl vibrated out of her body. Her scent filtered through the atmosphere, she was a beta. Dean's arms tightened around Sam as Ellen trotted closer to John. Her head was cocked to the side like she was still making up her mind. John slowly began to kneel so that he was beside her, he held his hands out to the side of her head giving her a chance to sniff. Ellen however bared her teeth and growled in warning. Her paw drew a line in the gravel. She wasn't playing.
John growled in response, throwing off his robe and shifting. He opened his mouth and howled. Sam could feel John's words calling to him. On instinct he pulled Dean's arms away from him, his mate pulling his robe off allowing him the freedom to shift. Every were followed their Alpha's call. Leaving only Dean still standing.
John snapped once at Ellen in warning however the woman still refused to bow to him, to accept him as her Alpha. Mary padded to John's side her own growl warning the other woman not to mess with her mate. Bobby was behind Ellen not wanting to get involved but getting ready in case he needed to. All around them the pack began to close in to protect their Alpha if need be. Sam was becoming fearful for the hunter, if she didn't accept John then she would be torn to pieces. He wanted nothing more than to get involved but Dean's presence kept him rooted to the spot. At the end of the day his priority was to his mate and to everyone else last. Dean was his and he needed to protect him, especially when he was most vulnerable during the full moon.
Ellen sniffed the air turning her back on John, she peered round at the wolves that were gathering around her until a scent seemed to grasp her attention. She sniffed once more before turning on her heels and barging past John. With her nose in the air she came to a stop in front of Sam and Dean. Her head was cocked to the side once more while she let out a feral howl. Sam could feel the warning in that noise and instantly stepped in front of his Alpha.
Behind him John howled out his threat with the rest of the pack adding their voices. A combined warning to leave their soon to be named Crown Alpha alone. A warning that any wolf would be stupid to ignore but it didn't seem like Ellen was in control. She was running off her nose and apparently it told her that she really wanted Dean…probably subconsciously still blamed him for this whole situation. After all if he had let her go then she wouldn't be a wolf right now. Though she would be ten feet in the ground or burned like the hunters tended to do.
Ellen's teeth gnashed towards Sam warning him to move. Sam growled back refusing to move though he could feel Dean stiffen behind him not wanting him to get involved. Tough, he had sat back and watched his Alpha get hurt too many times if he could do something to help him then he was going to do it even if it killed him. Dean was his life, he was nothing without his Alpha the future of the pack.
…
'Sammy back down,' Dean called out mentally to his mate who looked at him like he had lost his mind. Maybe he had but there was something…a feeling calling out to him…he couldn't explain it but he knew there was something he had to do. He saw his father move so that he was directly behind Ellen with his canines showing in a threatening manner. The rest of the pack seemed to be itching for her blood which he couldn't see happen. He had fought to save her and he wasn't going to let her go out like this no matter what she did to him. 'Sammy,' he growled out again when his mate refused to move. He laced his words with his Alpha tone which seemed to do the trick. Reluctantly Sam stepped to the side slightly allowing Dean enough space to push in front of him. However his omega stepped right up to him so that his snout was practically in Dean's back.
Dean held his hands out in front of him to show Ellen that he wasn't a threat. He slowly lowered his body to her level. He stretched his arms out in front of him allowing the wolf to sniff him. He could feel Sam growl seeming not to be happy with what was happening but he wouldn't dare defy Dean's orders no matter how much he might hate it. Ellen's tooth scrapped at his thumb like she was testing the waters but she didn't bite down.
Taking this as encouragement Dean shrugged out of his leather jacket to which Sam took in his mouth placing it on Dean's chair behind him. Dean wasn't sure what he was doing. His body was telling him that it was right that it was what Ellen needed. He unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his chest and allowing his scent to be carried by the wind. Behind him Sam began to nuzzle his back giving into his own instincts. With his left hand he reached back and carded his hand through Sam's fur knowing that he had to be driving the omega crazy.
He noticed that is father was standing still in position, his eyes were shining bright as they stared at him in encouragement. Ok whatever he was doing he must be doing it right he supposed. Dean cleared his throat and turned his attention back to Ellen who was sniffing at the air once more. Her eyes had become clearer the human seeming to be able to push through more. Dean pushed the shirt off of his shoulders leaving his chest completely exposed. Ellen slowly pushed her way to him. Her snout sniffing at his skin like she was committing it to memory. Behind him Sam growled possessively to which Dean tightened his grip in the omega furs in warning. Ellen nose moved from his nipples to his neck. Her teeth scrapped at his skin though she still didn't bite.
She pulled back and all of a sudden Dean could feel this intense need wash through him. He gasped at the pain that pulled at his chest, it felt like there was a line running from his heart to an invisible source. He looked down at his hand and he could see his skin bubbling. He could feel his wolf howl inside of him wanting to be free to roam on the moon.
With wide eyes he peered up at his father whose eyes were watery. What the hell was going on? Without thinking too much he unbutton his jeans and pulled off his boots. He could feel the need increase. Before he had a chance to remove his boxers he felt himself fall to all fours. He lifted his head into the air as his nose lengthened. He could feel the adrenaline running through his body courtesy of the moon. He let out a long howl. Sam instantly mirrored him along with Ellen and then his parents. Shortly the whole pack was following him. What he was saying he had no idea but he had never felt like this before.
He allowed the howl to drop as he turned his attention back to Ellen who was tilting her head towards him showing him her neck. She was submitting to him…but he wasn't the pack Alpha. He looked to his father once more who nodded his encouragement. Dean padded towards Ellen he placed his mouth over her neck accepting her submission, effectively making her a member of his pack.
Behind him John howled out accepting her as a newly formed member of the Winchester clan. Ellen howled happily turning around and sniffing at Bobby content to scent her new family. Sam walked around to Dean's front, his head nuzzling Dean's snout affectionately. Dean returned the gesture, his omega's scent calling out to him telling him that he was home. He licked at the spot between the omega's ears causing him to huff out a satisfied bark. Being able to share this moment with his mate felt right, he felt like he belonged and for once in his life he wasn't the only human around. All he needed to do was become someone's pack Alpha, who knew! He just hoped that when Ellen shifted back she didn't hate him for what happened tonight. Technically he could just order her not too but he wouldn't besides he wasn't the Pack Alpha. His father was. Speaking of…
…
Dean lifted his head from Sam's neck and peered into the bright brown eyes that belonged to his father. Beside him Mary was standing proud her own blue were watery. He hoped that he hadn't gone past an invisible boundary taking control like that. What was he thinking?
'Walk with me Ace,' John's voice filtered through his head. Dean licked Sam's cheek before following his father unable to deny his command even if he didn't want to hear the lecture he was about to get.
'I know I shouldn't have done that…I'm sorry Alpha' Dean stammered when they had turned the corner of the house out of the packs prying eyes and ears though Dean could still feel his omega like he was right beside him. Huh their connection was defiantly much stronger during the moon as well. At least he got to experience this at least once in his life.
'I'm so damn proud of you my son,' John called out stopping Dean in his tracks. Ok he was not expecting him to say that.
'Erm what?' Dean questioned not quite comprehending the praise he seemed to be getting. He didn't do anything…not really…not something that a normal wolf wouldn't do anyways. John started to walk to which Dean followed suit without thinking.
'What you did tonight, you stepped up when I couldn't. You took the responsibility of turning Ellen and accepted her as a part of this pack. You were the Alpha. You accepted her and accepted yourself at the same time. You shifted during a full moon.' John's wolf shook his head in disbelief his mouth opening showing his full set off teeth in an imitation of a wide grin. 'When you was born they told us not to expect much, that you would be human. You showed the pack tonight that you are ready to be more than that.' John nudged Dean's shoulder forcing him to come to a stop beside the path that lead to Dean's own cottage. 'I know that when the time is right you will be the Alpha this pack needs.'
'No,' Dean interrupted. How was he meant to lead them when he was only just discovering things for himself? Who would want to take his lead?
'You don't see how highly the pack thinks of you, they would follow you blindly like they follow me and not just because your last name is Winchester. What you have done the past couple of days I could not be prouder of you Ace. You are my son. You are the Alpha I have always known you would be, you are a better man than I will ever be.' John paused his eyes focusing on something over Dean's shoulder causing him to look behind him where Sam and Mary were waiting with the rest of the pack on their heels. 'I think it's time that you are finally named as my heir, we will prepare the crowning ceremony!'
With those words the wolves began to howl to show their excitement. Dean's eyes connected with his omega's who was looking at him with a deep love and affection. Mary was effectively crying, something that Dean didn't know wolfs could do. You really did learn new things every day. Bobby was beside Sam he inclined his head towards him which Dean knew was a mark of his acceptance. All in all the pack seemed to be willing.
Drawing in a deep breath Dean slowly nodded. 'Ok' he muttered.
John nudged Dean's shoulder once more before pushing him forward so that he was ahead of the pack. He nodded towards the edge of the woods allowing Dean to do the honours on his first full moon as a wolf to lead the pack on their run.
Sam pushed his way to Dean's side with Mary and John directly behind them. Dean nuzzled his mate drawing in comfort from the omega's scent knowing that when he was done with this official business he was going to find a nice close and show his mate what it was like to do it doggy style. With that thought spurring him on Dean lifted his head to the moon and released a long howl.
As one the pack added their voices. Dean felt his legs move beneath him before he had a chance to register the fact that he had started to run with the rest of the pack hot on his tail. Feeling for once the Alpha he was meant to be…
TBC (Hope you all enjoyed that chapter, which was a fun one to write! Thank you for reading and continuing to stick with me throughout this journey. I am enjoying writing this verse! Let me know what you think and I will see you all in Chapter Twenty Eight!)