Scent and a sound. I'm lost and I'm found
And I'm hungry like the wolf.

-Duran Duran, "Hungry like the Wolf."

This chapter was beta'd so I hope it came out better. Enjoy!

"Hey man, are you sure you're okay in there?" Seth asked for about the twentieth time, pacing outside the closet Dean picked to change in for SmackDown.

No answer.

He sighed, pausing to check around for any eavesdropping roster members or staff then went back to wearing a path into the floor.

It had been that way since that Monday night after RAW a week ago, after the attack and ever since Dean had been changing in whatever room he could get that was away from Roman and other prying eyes of the locker room while Seth guarded the door. Dean was afraid of someone seeing his wounds and ratting him out to the doctor or worse case, their boss.

And it wasn't just the wounds that worried Seth.

Though Dean swore up and down that he was perfectly fine those first couple of days and he performed well on the mic and in the ring, behind the scenes Dean was a bit of a wreck.

Sometimes Seth would find him dead to the world on one of the production boxes mere minutes before he was supposed to be at Gorilla position or ready to cut a promo and he'd have to shake him awake.

And a few days after that Dean began snapping Roman, Jimmy or Jey, or one of the staff, looking like he was ready to take their heads off. It really wasn't like him at all to have such high aggressive tendencies when he wasn't in character.

'Maybe he's just stressed out because of the attack.'

"Dean, c'mon…talk to me."

Nothing.

Seth sighed. He had enough of Dean's behavior and pushed the door open.

"Dude…" he breathed as the door slammed shut behind him.

"I think this warrants more than just a "dude" as a response…" said Dean in aggravation.

Mesmerized and a little freaked out by the sight before him, Seth wandered closer with wide eyes and barely contained curiosity, reaching out with a trembling hand towards Dean's bare torso.

Dean's wounds had closed and healed completely leaving behind only ugly scars, but that wasn't the most concerning thing. Foreign looking course white hairs were sprouting from the raised crisscrossed patches of skin and not in localized areas, but directly from the scars.

Dean turned his face away from his gaze, seemingly disgusted with himself and punched the wall.

"What's happening?" Seth asked, his voice coming out timidly. He flinched as the other threw his fist into the concrete again.

"I dunno…" for a moment Dean sounded vulnerable before his ire returned, "I don't even mind having a hairy chest, but this?! A hairy shoulder? I can't fuckin' wrestle like this. I mean I could…but everyone's gonna be like "What the hell's up with him? Who the fuck has a hairy shoulder?" " By the end of his speech his voice had risen to the point of quietly yelling.

Seth shook his head slowly, his bloodstream bubbling with worry and concern. "You should go visit the doc."

Dean faced him again, panic swimming in his eyes. "N-Now that's a little extreme," he chuckled, but the way he pulled him into his arms, his body shaking, belied his nerves, "I don't need to do that. I'm in no pain…and…and I can just shave or throw on one of my t-shirts from merch, ya know, one that still has the sleeves."

"Dean…"

"It'll be fine," his voice had gentled.

"We don't know what that…animal was carrying. What if it's-"

A hand came up, sweeping tenderly through the loose strands of his hair then a nose and a scruffy cheek nuzzled a sensitive spot on his neck. The intimacy of the act threw Seth off and his usually rational mind stuttered to a stop.

"Please," Dean murmured, his breath tickling Seth's skin, "This is my life. Wrestling is my life. You know I've been chasing this belt, like you…all my life. I need wrestling…I need…I-I need…"

Seth's heart thundered out of rhythm in his chest and he was sure Dean could feel it too. "W-What do you need?" he took a chance in asking.

"I need…" Dean repeated in a low, throaty rumble.

The hot exhale of air against his neck caused Seth's pulse to spike even higher.

Was he going to?

Dean's body shuttered against his and he slowly pulled back, eyes almost guarded. "I need this chance, I may never get another one again…"

Disappointment flooded Seth's body but he forced a nod of understanding.

'Of course he meant the championship.'

"Alright…" he agreed with a sigh.

Seth was pulled back against Dean's body and the taller man all but buried his face into his neck and hair, strong, toned arms wrapping him up as Dean hummed a soft sound of gratitude near his ear.

He really couldn't deny Dean anything when he was so close and affectionate like this. Seth knew that now. It was a sweet weakness of his.

Dean finally pulled back and smiled at him, his twinkling eyes and irresistible dimples blasting him at full power.

"Thank you."

Seth swallowed, could feel the movement of his adam's apple as it bobbed up and down against the skin of his throat. He just nodded dumbly.

Scratch his earlier thinking. Everything about Dean weakened him.

As the days carried on into weeks Seth kept Dean as close to him as possible. They rode to shows together, stopped and ate together, and shared hotel rooms even though friends and the higher ups chastised them. Still no one really did anything about it. They were a couple of the top guys bringing in the most cash flow. It was easy to get away with something so small.

And while Dean continued to change separate from the roster with Seth playing watchman and generally avoid everyone else, everything seemed to normalize a bit.

Dean was calmer when it was just the two of them and his scars had faded away almost completely.

It was enjoyable beyond belief to be able to spend time with his brother in arms, to have him around all the time, and this time there was no one else to worry about. Of course Roman never really cared how close he got to Dean, but it was still nice not to have a third wheel hanging around all the time.

Yet Seth felt he couldn't be completely open with Dean. There was still something between them, holding him back from acting on his true feelings.

He wasn't sure where Dean's feelings were and he didn't want to risk ruining everything just after returning from such long recovery, after almost losing Dean to…what ever it was that mauled him.

That was another thing that bothered him, kept him up at night when Dean slept soundly next to him.

'What was that thing?'

Seth couldn't deny the immediate changes that had occurred in Dean after being bitten, changes both physical and emotional. And they were rapidly continuing.

Dean's facial and chest hair were growing in – along with the strange fur-like hairs that still came in where he had been injured – almost as fast as he could rid himself of it. His attitude problem around others was on a further downward spiral and he ate ravenously with even less manners than normal.

Somehow he wasn't gaining a pound after such pig-outs.

If Seth weren't sure he was simply imagining it, he would swear that Dean was faster, stronger in the ring. On more than one occasion he was on the other end of strikes and clotheslines that was taking him out of his boots without the benefit of him helping to sell the move.

Dean was changing, practically evolving, and doing so very fast. It wasn't right.

Just this morning Seth had woken up to find that Dean now had streaks of white staining his copper-blond hair.

"That bite…it's done something to you," he said, sleep making his voice rough.

"What are you talking about?" Dean asked sitting up in bed suddenly.

"You've been changing since that bite…"

"Oh so that makes me a werewolf or something?" it was said in humor.

Seth didn't laugh.

"You were bitten by some creature on a night of the full fucking moon. Now you're hairy, or hairier than normal, and your hair color is changing. Something's very wrong."

Dean gave him a look then chuckled in a flippant manner. Seth didn't miss the hint of trepidation in that laugh.

"So I'm getting a few gray hairs, I'm thirty. And all the fans think I'm the crazy one…"

Seth sat up as well. "Those are not a few gray hairs, Dean," He was fully awake now and completely serious, "I know it sounds like some fantasy. It does to me too…but just think about it for a second."

"I just did…"

"No really think about it."

"I think I need a few drinks," Dean jumped out from under the covers and threw on some jeans, "And you need some sleep. I think you've been working yourself up too hard."

Seth glared at the older man as he finished dressing and headed for the door with his things. Worry took over then.

"Where are you going?"

He heard a sigh and then, "Relax, Princess. I'm just gonna hit the gym."

Once he heard the door shut he let out a curse and hurried to get ready so he could make pursuit. Dean rarely went anywhere without him now, so his mind was sending him warning alarms.

By the time he made it into the corridor the other man was long gone.

"Shit…"

Seth checked every gym in close proximity to their hotel building before walking into the fourth and in on a particularly heated argument between Dean and Roman. They were others from the roster there as well, such as Cesaro, the Usos, Truth, and even Becky and Charlotte, surrounding the two of them and trying to keep them from escalating things.

Cursing again Seth jogged over.

"What the hell's happened to you, man? You've become an asshole to everyone now," Roman looked and sounded like he was restraining himself from getting too loud or hauling off and punching Dean.

Dean on the other hand, was practically frothing at the mouth to get at their brother. Sure he and Roman got into squabbles in the past, but nothing like this.

"Now you're dyin' your hair? This ain't like you, man."

"Maybe you never fucking knew me," Dean spat, shoving off Cesaro's arm with surprising ease.

"Hey! Hey! Stop this shit!" Seth hissed as he came to a stop in the middle of the fray, one palm pressed on each bigger man's chest.

Roman glanced from him to Dean, an angry and hurt look flashing across his eyes.

"Seems like you've been getting to know Seth here pretty well," he then looked directly at Seth, "maybe you need to spend your time with someone that isn't a complete dick."

Before any of them could act a fist shot out and Roman was knocked flat out on his back, blood instantly streaming from his nose.

"Fuck you," Dean literally roared.

He stood over Roman's large frame, bloodied fist clenching and unclenching as a murderous intensity roiled off him in waves.

Seth was moved to silence, unnerved by Dean's vicious display.

Even Roman looked shocked.

"Hey, all of you! Out of the gym!"

The voice of the gym manager was hardly audible over anxious chattering of their co-workers or the white noise buzzing around in Seth's head. He snapped out of it and with some difficulty hauled Dean out of the establishment by his arm.

Once they pushed through the doors Dean ripped away from his grip and took off with furiously long-legged strides. Seth could only just keep up.

"Dean!" he called, "Dammit stop."

"Need a breather," Dean growled without slowing down or so much as a backwards glance, "and those drinks."

"Wait! Dean!"

His plea landed on deaf ears and soon he lost the other man amongst a small throng of people, there one second and gone the next.

"Fuck!" he shouted towards the heavens, hands flying up to his hair then harshly scrubbing down his face and beard.

Dean didn't make reappearance until the house show and then it was only brief.

He and Roman were summoned to speak with Stephanie in a makeshift office right away. Seth worriedly hung around the door in an attempt to eavesdrop, but the most he could make out was Stephanie's authoritative voice making reprimands. Then he got called away for a promo before either man left the room.

At the end of the night Dean was once again nowhere to be found, the only sign of him being there was his abandoned duffle bag.

"We both got fined and Dean was given the night off," Roman explained somberly while getting changed, "he left hours ago," he shook his head, "honestly it's like…a switch has flipped in him and he ain't my boy all of a sudden. S'like he never was."

Seth listened tensely, unable to keep his hands from fidgeting or his leg from bouncing in apprehension.

"What's happened to him, Seth?"

He wanted to tell Roman, he wanted to so bad. But no matter how much the words danced on the tip of his tongue he couldn't get them vocalized.

"I don't know…" he sighed and dropped his head in his hands then raked them back over his rapidly frizzing hair, "Around me he's…he's Dean. Laid back, off key, dorky Dean."

Roman stared at him intently. "I know how you feel about him, I get it. As much as I hate saying this...right now, with him acting like this…you need to be careful. He's getting dangerous."

The memory of Dean's eyes at the gym flashed through Seth's mind, that homicidal gleam shining in those blue orbs so frighteningly clear. He shook his head free of the recollection.

"Dean won't hurt me, don't worry about that," he said resolutely.

Roman huffed a humorless laugh, staring at him as if he'd sprouted nine extra heads. "Look at what he did to me, Seth. And I thought I was family to him."

"I know how to handle him."

"I'm glad someone does…" the big man rose with a sigh and patted Seth's back on his way out of the locker room, "take care of him. But most importantly, take care of yourself."

Roman's words would continue to bounce around in his head long after the door closed.

He tried Dean's cell several times and left message after message, but gave up once he got tired of hearing the same recording over and over again.

Hauling Dean's things with his own belongings, Seth got into his rental car and booked a room for the two of them. He left one last message on Dean's answering machine telling him where he was roomed and that he hoped he was okay.

It was a waiting game then.

Hours seemed to blur together as he lay alone in the bed staring up at the ceiling, waiting for Dean to call him back or to hear a knock on the door. It was around four in the morning when his exhaustion and stress lead him reluctantly into a light sleep.

Slumber didn't keep him for long though and he was brought back to the waking world by what he thought sounded like retching.

"Nngh…D-Dean?" he called, groggily stumbling from his bed to the attached bathroom, "Dean?"

"Leave me be!" came a venomous hiss.

Dean sat sprawled on the tiled floor with his arms hugging the toilet for dear life, blood staining his lips and chin, his hands, clothes and the porcelain bowl in front of him.

"Oh god! What happened?" he demanded uneasily.

The closer he came the more Seth could pick out nuances of difference in the other, like longer, sharper fingernails. And there was something about Dean's face that seemed more…feral somehow.

Copper and white curls covered blue eyes from view as Dean tipped his head downwards.

"I thought I wanted a walk and some fresh air, maybe a cigarette…but turns out…all I had the urge for was to…t-to," he then grimaced and heaved more of his stomach into the toilet.

Seth kneeled down next to him, his voice more forceful from the adrenaline and fear racing through his body, "What did you fucking do?"

"It wouldn't shut up…I was walking back after I got your message and it wouldn't stop barking at me, the yappy little bastard. A-And then red…red overtook my vision…and it was all I could see. And n-next thing I knew I had its entrails dangling from my mouth."

Seth's eyes widened as he realized the half digested bits being tossed into the toilet were pieces of flesh and organs. A shudder ran through him and felt his stomach flip unpleasantly. A hand covered his mouth as he gulped back his earlier meal from catering.

"You're right," Dean said. Satisfied could throw up no more, he leaned his back against the tiled wall behind him, "Something's wrong with me."

Baby blues filled with unshed tears spoke volumes that he was finally taking Seth's wild idea to heart.

Reaching for a washcloth and turning on warm water from the faucet Seth began gently scrubbing the grisly stains and gore from his brother's face.

At first Dean merely stared at him with a wounded gaze before closing those haunted eyes and leaning into his touch. Seth's breath quietly caught in his throat, but he went on with his task until at least Dean's face was wiped clean.

The silence between them stretched as Seth stripped Dean of his jacket and shirt – his jeans thankfully free of blood – and then Dean cleansed his teeth and mouth.

"I need to stay away from you, Seth."

Seth was almost frozen, rooted in place and useless to do anything about what Dean just said.

The full impact didn't hit Seth until Dean was up and walking passed him, leaving the bathroom, about to leave the hotel room surely.

Something in his chest clenched painfully. Dean was carrying a piece of his heart, even if it didn't know it yet and the further he moved away from him, the more Seth's heart strings stretched under the pressure. They were ready to snap.

Before he knew what he was doing he rushed after Dean and threw himself at his back, arms banding around him from behind as he buried his face into the nape of Dean's neck.

"Don't!" he cried pathetically, nuzzling closer to Dean's skin, curly hair tickling his nose, "D-Don't leave."

Dean tensed in his arms, but didn't fight his hold on him. "Let me go."

"No!" Seth only clung tighter, his voice finding some strength, "You don't get to do that."

"Do what?"

A wild stampede of horses thundered in his chest.

"Y-You can just…come into someone's life, forever impact it, then just…up and leave. I care a lot about you, okay? More than I care for a lot of people…"

Dean had shifted during his speech; his head cocking into position as though pricking his ear towards Seth in order to better pick up every syllable.

For a moment Seth thought that Dean was going to listen to him.

"You don't understand Seth," came his rebuttal, "Whatever I'm becoming…I'm a danger; to Roman, to you, to everyone," strong hands pried Seth's arms from around him, "I'm leaving."

Seth jumped into action immediately, blocking the hotel door with his body. "I'm not letting you," his voice trembled at first then filling with all the emotion held in after nearly five years of knowing and secretly pining after the other man, "Dammit Ambrose, I love you for fuck's sake! Have for a long time."

His heart was in his throat now and lightheadedness came over him in the time he waited for Dean's reaction.

Dean's expression was mixture of shock and disbelief.

"Seth…" for a guy who usually was ripe with a comeback, Dean was lacking eloquence.

Could one die from embarrassment? Cause Seth felt like he was dying.

'Catch your breath Rollins. Dean's well being is more important right now.'

Seth's eyes lowered to the floor, closing them tight.

"Even if you don't…feel the same, it still stands. I'm your friend, your brother. And I'm not letting you leave until you let me help you."

After another pregnant pause Dean's voice seemed to return, "And if I hurt you in the process? What then? Seth…if anything happened to you-"

Seth's eyes snapped open, "You won't hurt me."

"Oh you don't think so?" Dean humored him sarcastically, "Remember what I did to Roman? Look at what I just did…I tore apart a goddamn dog with my bare hands, and that's not even the worst of it. So forgive me for not taking any chances."

Shoving him aside was no sweat now that Dean's strength was boosted. In defiant return Seth took his hand in an iron grip.

"Seth…" Dean sighed, a halfhearted warning lacing his tone.

"No, I'm not just giving up like you apparently have. There's gotta be something we can do. There's always a solution. We just have to find it."

There was another deep sigh, but then Dean gave him a small smile that warmed his heart, "Always the optimist…"

"You begged me not to get doctors or Vince involved," Seth licked his lips with a frantic swipe of his tongue, "Now I'm begging you. Please stay and let me help."

The smile faded as Dean mulled things over, blue eyes holding his in an intent gaze.

"Only if you promise me that you'll run at the first sign of trouble…and if it comes to it…if your life or anyone else's is at stake…you'll put me down."

Resolutely disagreeing with every fiber of his being, Seth vehemently shook his head. "I can't do that. I won't, Dean."

"You can and you will," Dean snarled forcefully, "promise me or I'm walking out of here. We both know I can."

Seth's lips pursed into a frown and he looked away, an anguishing conflict tormenting him upon hearing Dean's ultimatum.

If he refused this promise, if Dean went away into the night forever and changed, many more people could be at risk. Dean would be at risk of being killed far more heartlessly if he let him go. He couldn't let that happen either.

But could he kill the man he loved?

"I-I…I promise," his voice was small and uncertain. Surely Dean wouldn't believe such a pathetic oath.

In response Seth felt fingers shift in his hand until they twined with his own. Curly bangs tickled his face as Dean pressed their foreheads together, his scruff scratching pleasantly as he tilted his head and placed a chaste kiss onto Seth's lips.

There was a soft sound of surprise that Seth didn't recognize as coming from his own throat before his whole being surrendered and he melted into Dean. Every brush of their lips no matter how petal soft and pure sent waves of electricity from the ends of Seth's hair to the tips of his toes, and he felt those digits curl happily against his feet.

Seth felt the caress of a fang on his lower lip and couldn't hold back a small moan.

All too soon Dean breathlessly pulled away, sculpted chest heaving with more exertion than their mostly innocent kiss should have made him feel.

His pupils suffocated the blue out of his eyes and he looked…hungry.

Knees feeling like Jell-O, Seth leaned against the door so he wouldn't collapse.

"Full moon's coming soon," Seth said lamely.

He pushed himself from the door and lead a slowly cooling Dean towards his bed. Dean pulled at his grip once before allowing him to get him under the covers. He quickly joined him inside the cocoon of blankets and warmth and pecked him between his eyes, those baby blue returning slowly. Dean quickly assumed the role of the big spoon and pressed his face into Seth's shoulder.

"We got tomorrow and the next day off to help us figure this out. Why don't you come home with me?"

A hot puff of air assaulted his skin in the best possible way as Dean let out a low chuckle. "You already wanting me to meet the parents?" he then felt Dean shake his head, "You've got cute little dog, Seth, and I'd hate to make a repeat of tonight. Let's go to Vegas."

"Too populated…" Seth grumbled as he switched off the bedside lamp.

"Not where my place is, it's on the outskirts of the city; we'll be undisturbed there. Plus we can get anything we need in town. Hell, I'm sure there's someone that knows what I'm going through there. Vegas is full of all sorts of people," there was a tender press of lips to his shoulder, "please?"

How could Seth say no now that the lug was sounding so much less defeated.

He'd fucking blow up the moon for Dean if it would save him.

"Anything you want," he replied, already booking the tickets on his phone.

So know our boys have an idea of what's going on.
Let me know what you think. I've decided to update every Wednesday regardless of feedback, but enough feedback will prompt me to update faster :')