Cas was so elated when we returned to his home that he didn't even realize the scornful glares he got from the herd. His head was swimming from the dizzy-drink and his heart was full of butterflies. When he curled up into his nest, he closed his eyes and saw Dean.

"Mm…Dean…"

He couldn't help but wonder how it felt to mate. All of his life, he had known it as an act to impregnate and nothing more, but after Dean's description he was incredibly curious. Why didn't anyone ever tell him that it felt good? Maybe that's why they had general hostility against Cas being unmated—they thought he was a prude who knew no pleasure.

It didn't matter. Nobody's opinion made a difference because he was friends with Dean now, and there was an obvious attraction between the two.

If it hadn't been for the wine, Cas probably would have been up all night. Instead, he passed out while yearning for Dean and woke up in a great sweat. The weather and grown even hotter. He felt miserable.

"Eugh…"

Cas sat up and tossed his covers away. His nightclothes were damp. Hunger was there but he really needed to get into the water, so he got a jar of washing oil and headed down to the river.

A few of his herd members were in the water, splashing around and laughing, but as soon as Cas appeared the fun died and they left.

"Um, good morning…"

Cas' quiet, low voice was completely ignored.

Bartholomew and Naomi glared at him as they scooped up their children and quickly walked away from the river. There was nothing Cas could do so he gave himself a sigh, undressed and got in.

It was wonderfully refreshing to hit the cool water after waking up so hot. He relaxed into it and made sure to get his hair wet, too. The concern of his herd dismissing him didn't matter as long as he had the river running around him. It was higher than normal today.

"Hey! Cas!"

He snapped out of his relaxation and saw Dean at the surface, grinning down at him. He was shirtless. Cas stared.

"Oh! H-Hello, Dean…how are you?"

"I feel great. The festival was awesome last night. Thanks for coming."

Blushing, Cas rose somewhat from the water and smiled. "Thanks for inviting me."

"Don't mention it. But hey, it's pretty hot, isn't it?" Cas nodded. "I thought maybe…thought maybe I'd take your offer up and bathe with you after all."

"Of course," said Cas. "You're welcome to join me."

Dean smirked and took his pants off. Cas' eyes immediately swept across his body, drinking in every inch that was visible. The fine hair that grew over his pectorals faded across his stomach and trailed thinly to his crotch. There, it puffed up into a decent nest that framed a very large penis. Cas couldn't pull stop staring until Dean got into the water and the sight was too warped beneath the river's surface.

"I know we have different cultures," Dean began, speaking softer than before, "So you need to know how important it is that I'm washing up with you."

"I assumed as much," said Cas. "You were so angry at me when I first appeared and offered to bathe with you."

Dean frowned. "I-I know, and I'm sorry. It's just, see, hunters only bathe with someone they're interested in. It's a sign of affection."

"Ohh…"

Cas' face grew incredibly red now. Dean swam close to him and that pervasive smell of his pheromones engulfed his senses. It was unclear if Dean was aware of his own scent.

"I guess what I'm trying to say," Dean whispered, with about a foot between them now, "Is that I want to pursue you."

"Pursue?" Cas asked timidly. The smell was so strong he could barely stand it.

"Yeah, y'know—fight to claim you."

"There's a fight?"

"Usually."

Hesitating greatly, Cas reached out and touched Dean's arm. His muscles were firm. "You don't need to fight for me," he whispered.

Dean narrowed his eyes.

"No?"

"No."

Cas didn't know what would happen next. His great blue eyes stared back at Dean with his lips slightly parted, nostrils flared to take in his scent and his heart racing. Dean leaned forward and touched his mouth right against Cas', touching him so light and so gentle that Cas couldn't believe the tenderness.

It was a beautiful moment. They held their lips together as the water flowed around them quietly. Cas placed his hands on Dean's chest and Dean put his arms around Cas' waist. A first kiss could not be more perfect.

"Ah…"

When Dean retracted the kiss, Cas let out a whimper of disappointment. He was embarrassed that he couldn't kiss any better.

"Dean, I…"

"Hm?"

Dean was beaming with confidence. It almost made Cas feel bad since he was so inexperienced.

"I have questions…"

"Yeah, I bet. Go ahead. I'll do my best."

With his hands loosely gripping Dean's chest, Cas breathed short and wrinkled his forehead. He shouldn't have felt nervous but the feeling was impossible to stifle.

"There's a certain scent that you have," Cas began, "I don't always smell it, but…but when I do," he paused here to take a deep breath, "It's…"

"My sweat glands," Dean answered.

"Is it?"

"Yeah. Your people don't have them?"

"I'm not sure. I've never smelled anything like it before."

"As far as I know, it's just an alpha thing. When I get aroused, these glands under my arms and down near my asshole make a little scent that betas like."

"Does everyone in your pack like that smell?"

"They don't usually smell it."

Cas pressed his lips together. "Oh."

"But I guess you do, huh?"

The beta nodded. He had to stop himself from rambling on about the extent he simply adored Dean's scent.

"It makes me feel funny."

"Funny how?"

"Funny I can't describe."

"Horny?"

"Maybe."

Dean pulled Cas closer. His hands were commanding and firm but also full of care. Cas was almost growing dizzy from the pheromones.

"Funny like you want to mate?"

"Maybe," Cas breathed out.

"Maybe, as in…"

Cas took a deep breath quickly. He squeezed at Dean's chest and let out a moan when he released.

"Yes!"

Dean must have been dying to hear Cas' consent, since he reacted immediately to his approval. He turned Cas around pulled his back up against his own chest. Cas let out a cry from surprise. He could feel Dean's big, hard cock right against his backside.

"D-Dean?"

"You said yes," Dean growled into Cas' ear. He moaned a few times as his hips positioned his cock right between Cas' cheeks.

Overwhelmed, Cas tipped his head back and inhaled Dean's scent some more. It was good and strong, and it sent tiny waves of pleasure rippling throughout his body. Nothing had felt this incredible, and they hadn't even begun!

"You're wet," Dean whispered.

"We're in the river."

"No, your hole. It's wet."

"Is it?"

Cas tried to react with surprise but the pheromones had him in an altered state. He felt light headed but good and decided to push his ass back against Dean's movements. Dean retorted by touching his dickhead right to Cas' hole.

"OH!" Cas yelped. He felt himself opening up at the touch. It was incredible and bizarre and the greatest feeling of his life. How did nobody tell him about this?"

"Cas," Dean moaned into the beta's ear, entering him now.

Cas' entire body buckled as his hole was stretched, but all of his nerves were being toyed with and he could barely contain himself. He reached back to grab onto Dean. It was lucky they were in the water or else he wouldn't be able to stand up.

"Feel good?" Dean whispered. He nuzzled hard against Cas' cheek, diving his cock deep into him now.

Cas opened his eyes wide and let cry after cry out; deep groans of his struggle with understanding the sensations. Dean's member was long and fat. His body had such fine muscle tone that he could firm up his abs and hump Cas' ass relentlessly. The waist-high water was splashing up around them. Cas nearly convulsed at the pleasure.

"S-so good," he stammered, closing his eyes now.

Dean pressed his nose into the nape of Cas' neck and inhaled, all the while he fucked him like a jackhammer. "You smell nice, too," he whispered.

"Aah," was all Cas could reply with. "I—feel—nngg—D-Dean, what's happening?"

His crotch grew red hot as Dean's amazing thrusts continued. Cas gasped and cried out from the all-consuming pleasure.

"You're gonna come, I bet," Dean said.

"Come where?!"

"Just come. Just—ahh—just—mm—just enjoy it!"

Dean gave Cas particularly rapid thrusts to help him get through his first orgasm. Cas opened his eyes wide and screamed at the sudden peak of pleasure. Spit ran down his mouth. His arms, reaching backwards to touch Dean, scratched into the alpha's sides. His entire body trembled and he felt like maybe he had died.

The experience was so overwhelming that he failed to hear Dean's tight whisper, "I'm breeding you." It occurred to him once their mating slowed and Dean pulled his flaccid cock out of him.

"Oh…oh, my…"

Cas' numb body struggled to head to the edge of the river. Dean helped tow him along.

"Are you okay?" Dean asked. He looked tired but also incredibly pleased with himself.

"Yes…"

Cas climbed out of the water and sat on the bank. Dean joined him. The pheromones were fading.

"So that's what it's like to mate," Dean said, chuckling. "Now are you sure your people don't do it just for fun?"

"I have no evidence of it aside from this experience…ooh…"

"Mm," Dean hummed. He looked over at Cas with a smile. "I really care about you, Cas. Never thought a gatherer could do that to me, but damn."

"I'm glad," Cas said with a happy sigh. He rested his head against Dean's shoulder. "I don't care what my herd says. And…and I hope that I'm still fertile."

Dean nodded. "Yeah, me, too."