And another one. Hope you like.
John was sitting in his usual chair at the head of the meeting table. Bobby standing behind his own at John's right. Both were silent. Finally Bobby shrugged his shoulders and pushed off his chair to lift his hat off his head, scratching his scalp, then replacing the trucker cap.
"I don't know what to tell you, Buddy." John excused formalities with his lifelong friend when they were alone, and was happy Bobby had accepted his request. "Sounds like maybe you and Mary need to speak with him one at a time. Don't rehearse with each other, he'll know. Speak from the heart and figure out what he's feeling."
"That boy is stubborn as the day is long. I'm afraid if I start asking questions that hit too close to home he's going to clam up and accidentally hurt that boy. Sam isn't like the Omega's in our pack. He seems a little more reserved. The boy's father is about as formal as you can get these days. And Dean was raised to think for himself." John was only worried about miscommunication. He knew Dean wasn't malicious.
"Have you talked to Sam?" Bobby asked pacing behind John's chair.
"Only to introduce him to the pack members that were at the pavilion. But if you'd seen the way they watch each other I'm sure you'd be thinking the same thing. I just don't know if either of them know what it feels like to meet your true mate."
"Well, it's lunch time. Let's head out. Let me get a look at them and we can figure out what to do after we all get some food in our bellies." Bobby headed for the door. John moved from his chair to follow, his stomach growling as if on cue.
Dean approached the gang of young male wolves who were causing quite the ruckus at their table. He noticed there were some other pack members staring disapprovingly and growled low when he placed his knuckles on the table, leaning toward them.
They all looked up to see his face and went quiet, sharing brief looks with each other before looking at their future Alpha. Dean may have been a rebellious prankster who had a taste for sex, but he took his role as Prince rather seriously.
"You all realise you're disturbing the peace?" His words were low enough that only his crew heard him, but held no anger. Garth covered his mouth inconspicuously to hide a snicker and was elbowed by Castiel. Dean cracked a smile at them and glanced around the pavilion to make sure everyone went back to minding their own business.
The she-wolves were setting the tables that formed a U shape around the edges of the pavilion. Both ends stopped at the outdoor kitchen. The pups were still running and playing in the middle, under the watchful eye of the whole pack. He turned back to his friends.
"Y'all been introduced to Sam yet?" He asked looking at each of their faces. Benny grinned, clasping Dean on the shoulder.
"Good job with that one, Brotha. He looks good enough to eat," he punctuated his reply with a wink at Garth across the table. Before Dean could think he hauled him to his feet by the front of his shirt and growled in his face. The Prince's eyes were glowing green-gold and he felt Benny swallow hard against his fist.
Benny's hands flew up beside his shoulders and shook his head. "No harm, Brotha. I was just sayin' you got lucky." Dean took a deep shaky breath and released his friend, who plopped back in his chair and shared a look with Ash. Dean wasn't sure what had come over him. He straightened up and turned to look around the room, rubbing a hand over his face.
"Sorry, man. I am not sure what came over me. I must be tired," Dean said looking back down at his lifelong friend. Benny eyed him suspiciously and sniffed the air. Then made an unconvinced sound toward his Prince. Dean ignored it.
"You guys know where he went?"
"Took off in that direction," Castiel said pointing out toward the trees between the pavilion and the main house. Dean nodded to him, then turned without another word to head for the forest. He ignored the snickering he heard behind him. Juveniles.
Sam had walked the treeline of the property all the way up to the main house. He could still see the pavilion down the path. He had wanted to walk in the woods, but was afraid of getting lost on his first day. Then Dean would surely laugh at him. He was concerned he had made a mistake. Probably should have just left with his parents and never looked back. He hadn't even wanted the mating in the first place.
He moved away from the trees to rest on the back steps of the house. Everything was still inside, so he hoped everyone was down at the pavilion and he wouldn't be bothered. He felt a churning in his gut, almost like butterflies or falling, just before he smelled a sweet-musky stench. He looked around only to see the Prince making his way along the tree line. What the hell was that all about? It was the second time he felt Dean. He assumed it was because of the arrangement.
Then Dean stopped and looked directly at him. His breath caught in his throat and he couldn't think for a second. Those green eyes bore into him and made him feel giddy and relaxed all at once. Maybe something inside him was warning him about the young Alpha. Just like his friends at inadvertently done.
Dean cracked a smile when Sam held his gaze and made a bee-line for him. If he was in his wolf form the Omega would swear he would have been crouched in a stalking position. Sam scooted to the side a little to give Dean enough room to sit so that they weren't pressed against each other. He really had no interest in getting closer to the Prince than he had to.
"Hey, Sammy. Like the place so far?" Dean's voice was deep and smooth. It sent a chill down his spine that he really hoped hadn't made him shiver.
"Yeah. It's nice." Straight to the point. Dean was watching Sam as he stared at his hands, fiddling with his fingers. The Alpha would soon realize later it was something his Omega did when he was nervous.
"Yup. You, uh, you hungry?" Dean asked hoping for more than a three word answer. This kid seemed too reserved. And the Prince was bound and determined to pull him out of his shell. But the boy next to him just shrugged and Dean started to get a little impatient.
"Something wrong, Sam?" There was concern in the Alpha's voice. It confused Sam a little and he finally turned his head to look into the green eyes that had captivated him since the moment he saw them. And this moment was no different. The boys sat side by side on the steps and stared into each other's eyes.
One side of Dean's lips quirked up into a half smile and he started to lean closer to the Omega. Inches from Sam the boy jumped to his feet and took a few steps back. "What are you doing?"
The Alpha had the nerve to look shocked and a little hurt. "I thought we were having a moment!"
Sam shook his head and started making his way back to the pavilion. Dean cracked a wider smile and laid back against the steps for a second, covering his eyes with his arm. A slight pang in his heart confused him. Why did Sam's rejection hurt? He'd been turned down before and it hadn't so much as phased him. Somehow this Omega really got under his skin.
When John and Bobby arrived at the pavilion Mary was getting the pups settled at their small round table in the middle of the U shaped large tables. Ellen was bringing over 5 plates to hand each pup their own. The babies were all in their human form, only three of them were able to shift yet, and started eating eagerly.
John scanned the faces of the pack members who were making their ways to their seats around the table. The small band of she-wolves were spreading various dishes around the tables. Different salads, platters with sandwiches or fried chicken. The smells wafting around the interior of the covered structure were amazing. But no sight of Sam or his son.
He saw Mary smiling softly at him and returned her gesture in full. Then her eyes went past him and her brow furrowed together. John and Bobby turned to see Sam hustling along the tree line, about to pass the pavilion. His head was dipped down, almost looking as if he were trying to avoid being seen, and his hands were buried in his pockets. John looked back to his Queen and started to move in the direction of the new Omega but his wife held up a hand and rushed off after Sam.
Bobby placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded toward the King's chair. "Let's get this started, the wolves are getting restless." The King nodded hesitantly and looked back toward where Sam had come from. There was no one at the house. And he saw no one across the field. Where the hell was his son?
Sam was trying hard to sneak past the pack in the pavilion. He was hoping that no one would notice the new comer. But sighed when he saw Mary moving to cut off his retreat. She slipped in front of him and cupped his face in her hands, looking worriedly into his eyes. "Sam, honey? Are you alright?" Her soft voice made him smile. She was a lot like his own mother which was comforting.
He nodded shakily, suddenly fighting tears. He would have been fine if no one had asked him if he were okay. The Queen knew he was lying, anyone would have. "C'mon, sweetheart. Let's talk." She grabbed hold of his hand and guided him off behind the pavilion and down a path through the trees where she pulled him to walk next to her.
"Now, tell me what's got you all worked up. Miss your parents?" Sam huffed a laugh at that one. He looked down at his could be mother-in-law and felt nothing but love. He looked ahead of him on the trail as he continued.
"I, uh… I'm oka-" Mary cut him off.
"Nope, don't you start. I'm asking because I care. I care about you and my son. I see the way he looks at you, and the way you look at him. I want you to be happy. I want you to be comfortable here." Sam took in a deep breath and let it out on a sigh. What did he have to lose? They'd send him home? At this point that's where he was sure he belonged.
"I'm not sure I'm what Dea-, what the Prince is looking for," his voice was soft, almost sad. Mary's eyebrows knitted together at hearing this. She wasn't lying when she'd told him about the boys sharing looks.
"What would make you say that? Has my son said something?" Her own tone was growing to one of impatience. She knew Dean would never intentionally hurt someone, but sometimes her young Prince didn't always think about what he was doing. Sometimes he was still just a pup, even at 22 years old.
"No, not him," the Omega was hesitant to talk poorly about any member of Mary's pack. He knew loyalties ran deep, even if the rules were lax. He didn't want to make her angry, or tattle tale on anyone. She stopped him, then, with a hand on his arm. Turning Sam to face her she looked into his eyes, and without a word commanded the truth.
"The boys were talking about all the wolves Dean's been with. I just... I haven't. And I don't really want a mate who won't or can't give themselves to me. All of them. I mean… I'm sure Dean is a great guy, I just…" his stammering tapered off as his eyes floated to the leaf litter under their feet. Mary gently tipped his chin up to look at her again.
"My son has many interests. His pack, running wild, and being with others. He has never taken anything that wasn't offered. And he has never looked at anyone the way he looks at you. Tell me, Samuel, how do you feel around Dean?" Using their names was intentional. It grounded them as people and put them on a level playing field.
Sam's stomach flip-flopped at the mere thought of the Alpha. "I don't know. I guess…" Sam's voice tapered off, and Mary stood silent, waiting. Her patience paid off. "I can feel him coming, or watching me. When I touched his heart… It was like, like… I can't even explain. I could smell him this morning before he even came out of the forest." Sam wasn't able to meet her eyes. He had never reacted to anyone that way ever, and his own father would have balked at such a bare confession. They just didn't talk about such things.
Mary didn't bother trying to hide her smile, and she waited again until Sam met her eyes with his own. "Sam, dear, that is how wolves feel about their true mates." She watched his pupils dilate and could feel his pulse quicken. The Omega took a deep breath and let it out shakily.
"What if he doesn't feel the same?"
"That's not how this works, honey. Besides, I keep telling you about the way he looks at you. That's not fake." Sam's stomach clenched, he wasn't sure how much more of that feeling he could take. It was almost as if it had been full of butterflies since he'd arrived. "Let's get some food, then we can talk more if you'd like." Sam just nodded and let Mary lead him back to the pavilion.
Upon returning to the pack they both noticed Dean was missing. Mary scanned the rest of the seats to make sure no one else was gone, and was relieved to see them all there. She settled Sam into his chair and sat next to her King, they shared questioning looks that Sam didn't miss.
The pack ate among small talk. Every now and then someone would direct a question to Sam. He'd answer and was thankful none of them were about Dean. Other than that Sam sat quietly. At the end of the meal the she-wolves began to help Ellen clean up. John had asked Castiel to show Sam around the farm.
Castiel was explaining the care of the animals and how they supplied the butcher down the street. It was how they made their honest living. As they walked the property Sam was constantly scanning for Dean. Something Castiel never failed to miss.
The large black wolf prowled the trail with his nose to the ground, searching. The dark brown hairs that dusted the black of his coat shone whenever the sun cut through the trees. He was close and the closer he got the more irritated he was. Why did this Prince have to be so difficult sometimes?
"I think you're the first one to ever find me here."
The King looked up to see his son lounging on a tree branch above him. The black wolf stood and regained his human form. "Don't flatter yourself, son. Everyone knows this is your tree." Dean huffed rolled off the branch, landing on his feet in front of his father. "Come sit with me."
The pair made their way to the trunk of said tree and settled in the grass growing around the exposed roots. Dean anxiously picked at blades of grass as they tickled his legs, waiting for his father to start talking. Whatever it was it felt heavy and thick between them. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like the topic of conversation too much.
John waited for a while, feeling Dean's unease. He studied his son in their silence, watching him closely for any sign. "How are you doing, son? You skipped Sam's lunch this afternoon. Not a great first impression if you ask me." Dean shook his head slightly.
"I'm fine, Alpha. Never better," Dean lied through his teeth. One look at his father's face and he knew his dad was aware he was bothered by something. The Prince shook his head and looked away, off toward the lake to the North.
"Look, Dean. I know you're not an open book when it comes to your feelings. I know you disappear to this place when you want to be alone to sort shit out. But we don't have time for games right now, so I'm going to lay it all out and tell you what I think is going on." John paused to watch Dean's face. So far he wasn't giving anything else away.
"I think we've stumbled upon something really big here. I think that you are feeling things you don't understand-."
"No, Dad, please. Let's not talk about feelings right now. We're not going to have some 'kumbaya', hugging it out, crying to each other discussion right now. I just don't have it in me." The King waited patiently for his son to finish. Then waited a few beats before continuing with his analysis.
"You've been acting strange. And I'm pretty sure I know why, even if you don't. See you've always been a little closed off, guarded. And your mother and I never wanted to push you. You are a strong Prince and will make a great King. Not letting anyone close to you isn't going to change that. But I think Sam is doing something to you. I see it in the way you look at him. And the way he watches you." At the second admission Dean's head snapped back and he made eye contact with the older Alpha. In the next second he gained back control, dropping the surprised look on his face and defaulting to his defense mechanism.
"C'mon Alpha, he's only here for an arrangement. This isn't a fairy tale and he's not my princess," he leaned back resting on his hands, looking his dad over skeptically then trying to look casual. John smirked at him, not believing a word. He was used to Dean trying to deflect and had mastered his counter.
"What did you feel when you first touched his heart? When he returned the greeting?" Dean opened his mouth to respond, a cocky smirk already pulling the corners of his lips. "And before you say something smart ass I suggest you reel yourself in and have a serious conversation with me. I promise not to hug you, and I won't tell anyone you cooperated." The younger Alpha's teeth clicked together with the surprised force of closing his mouth.
He searched his father's eyes for a long while. Slowly the steely resolve melted from his face and he became more somber. John considered it no small victory as he saw his son's demeanor changing.
"I… It's different." Dean paused and his father didn't push, simply waited patiently. "I don't know how to explain it, Dad. It's nothing that's ever happened before. And I've been with a lot of wolves." That last comment did bring a proud smile to his face, but when he saw it was not returned he dropped it again and blew out a breath.
"He smells different. Or rather, his smell does something to me. That's new." John nodded his own smile appearing.
"The more time you spend getting to know Sam the stronger that will be. Your mother and I have a theory, would you like to hear it?" Dean looked a little hesitant. These serious conversations with his father were few and far between and he still wasn't sure he wanted to be here. After a little he looked at his fingers fumbling with some grass and nodded his head, not looking up.
"We haven't talked much to you about true mates. We always just figured you'd bring it up if you had questions. We know how you are about sharing yourself," John's grin grew at the shocked look on Dean's face.
"True mates? C'mon, Dad. That seems a bit far fetched. This is just some random pack heir. His parents didn't welp an Alpha and he can't crown an Omega. They're using the ruse of a truce to hide the fact that they just need someone to keep their pack in their blood. It's not fate." John nodded a couple times. His son may be a skeptic but he wasn't dumb, one of his pride points.
"I think you're right. About everything but the fate part. Finding a true mate doesn't happen to every wolf. We had been hoping that by now you'd be starting to have pups of your own. Some of your friends do. But we never pushed, because we wanted you to live your life."
"So you arranged my marriage?" Dean looked at his father incredulously, a slight teasing in his eyes, but John knew he was right. He sighed before he continued.
"We were hoping that either you and Sam would get along and make each other happy, or that you'd call off the arrangement and look for your own mate. We want you happy, son. And you can't act like a juvenile forever. Your conquests aren't going to fill that void for much longer." Dean also knew his father was right.
"So you think Sam's my true mate? That we are supposed to be together?" Dean's voice had gone softer, as if he was afraid of prying ears in the forest. He had resigned himself to the talk they were having, and once that happened he was an open book.
"Your mother and I both do. We think your wolf knows that. We know his does," Dean's head snapped up to look at his father again, causing John to chuckle.
"Sam's talking about me?"
"That. Right there. Just the idea that Sam was talking about you has your eyes shining," the King chuckled a bit more, putting the back of his hand over his lips.
"Don't make fun of me," Dean grumbled shoving himself to his feet.
"I'm the King, I'll do what I want." John retorted, standing as well. The conversation was over as soon as Dean stood. He'd get nothing more out of his wolf Prince. But he was sure they had covered it all. He could still see the gears in Dean's head working. And he hopped their little talk sparked something in his son.
Without another word the King shifted into his wolf, the Prince following suit. Dean stook a shoulder shorter than his Alpha, but had the same bulky build. They were quite a sight running through the forest. Dean nipping at his father's heels, spurring him on. They laughed and played all the way back to the village. He needed to find Sam. He had a plan formulating in his as they ran and dodged.
He needed to spend a little more time on Sam. Maybe not hitting on him, though he wasn't sure he could pull that off. He did have a reputation to protect. But if what his father was telling him was true then he wasn't going to need his reputation anymore. He'd never need anyone again other than Sam. His Omega. Just the thought of that made him grin, his wolf feeling the need to howl to the world.
So he did. As he ran he howled, sounding joyful and strong. His King laughed from his gut and joined his son in calling to the wild.
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