Chapter 3: Broken

"How is he?"

Sam sighed and ran his hands over his face, struggling to compose himself before he spoke. "He's always had so much energy . . . I know it sounds ridiculous since I've only known him for a short time, but he's, I don't know, dimmer. He's trying so hard to be happy for his brothers' sakes, but I'm so worried about him."

Dean frowned, glancing up as a trio of betas passed them on the way to the lake, waiting until they were alone again before speaking. "Sam, I get that this is traumatizing for him, but he only lost his voice. He isn't deaf or blind or anything."

"Dean, did you listen to him at all while we were riding here?"

The older alpha tilted his head, shrugging slightly. "Not really. I mean, I heard you two talking constantly but when my wolf gets focused I kinda ignore extraneous noise."

"Yeah, I figured. Well, Gabe and I talked pretty much non-stop on the way here, and he told me all about his childhood and how he felt when his father left, and how he was always expected to look out for his younger siblings. He was kind of the voice of the omegas, taking their fears and concerns to their parents and making sure that they got the attention they needed in a family that big. When Castiel started fighting with Raphael and Michael, Gabriel tried to play peacekeeper but it didn't work. He's the one who went to Anna and asked her to find someone to train them to fight because he was tired of Cas coming to their rooms at night, bleeding and broken."

Dean shook his head, but he stayed silent as Sam walked a few steps away. The taller alpha looked out across the lake and smiled, his hazel eyes taking on a gold hue as he let the scene settle him. "He's the one who found safe places for them to have their heats away from Michael and his scheming, and he's the one who found the route through the mountains. Castiel is their 'alpha', so to speak, because he is the best fighter, but Gabe was the scout and pathfinder, like Jo. He has an eidetic memory, and he was able to find and recognize important landmarks even in the deep snow that had already blanketed the upper slopes when they ran away. Without him, they would have wandered the mountains forever and starved to death."

"Sam, it's great that he took care of them like that, but I still don't understand."

"Dean, it's not that he can't speak. He can't communicate. His mind thinks the words, but he can't make any noise, he can't form the sounds with his lips, he can't even write. He tries, and the letters just come out muddled. The poison burned the language center of his brain, and Tasha doesn't know if it will ever heal."

"Have you told him that?"

"How can I? Dean, Tasha said that every omega that Asmodeus has grabbed through the use of this poison has killed themselves. I'm watching him get more and more depressed by the day and I am terrified of what's coming next."

"What do you mean?"

Sam looked back toward his brother, and Dean was shocked to find tears in his gold-hazel eyes. "We're going to have to let him shift sooner or later. When he learns that he can't speak in that form either, there won't be anything I can do to save him."

Dean stared at his younger brother for a long time, the silence between them deafening. "He asked you to court him."

"Yes, that first night. How did you know?"

Dean shrugged. "Jo heard, she let me know. I also know that you told him to ask again when he was healed. Our pack law states that an omega has to be of sound mind and body to request a courtship. I was very proud of you when I heard that you told him that."

"And now he can't ask," Sam whispered, his voice shaking. "I understand what he wants most of the time, and his brothers know him better than he knows himself, but he needs to be able to communicate. I can't lose him, Dean."

"You have only known the man a few weeks, Sammy. You can't be bonding to him yet."

Sam nodded, reaching up to run his fingers through his hair. As an alpha, he had been taught from a young age to control his feelings, to always project an aura of calm, but he had never hidden anything from Dean. And now, feeling a single tear track down his cheek, he needed his brother to understand his heart.

Offering his brother a supportive smile, Dean relented. "What do you want me to do? Tasha said that she can't heal a mind."

"But she knows someone who might be able to."

Dean felt a prickle of warning from his wolf, but he pushed it down and took a steadying breath. "Who, Sammy?"

"Rowena."

"Ro-we-na?! Are you out of your damned mind? Sammy, she is the mother of the head alpha of Spellbound pack and we are the pups of the head alpha of Wilderness. We have been at war for three generations, maybe longer! She won't help him. I wouldn't help her."

Sam offered his brother a shaky smile. "Sure you would. You risked your life and the lives of your pack mates to save a band of half-starved Celestial wolves, even knowing who they were. They needed us, and we helped them, despite this war. She's an omega, not a warrior, and I'm hopeful that she will have compassion for Gabe. She's the only one who has a chance in hell of saving his life. Don't ask me to choose between this endless conflict and him, because you know what I will say."

Dean nodded. "Yeah, Sammy, I know. You've already shown what you will do for him."

Sam just stared at his brother, his eyes pleading as his scent spiked. "Dean, please."

The older alpha sighed and relented, his entire posture relaxing. "Ok, fine, send your message to Rowena. But you better have a Plan B when she says no."

Tasha finished packing the supplies for her trip, counting water skins and looking through the pile of dried meat her daughter had brought. "Generally I go to the border with two of our betas, sometimes with Max, but we can't take any alphas. I'm not sure we could even bring your beta, since he's from the main pack and that might irritate my contact."

Dean shrugged, watching the flutter of activity in silence for a moment. Max handed his mother a worn leather bag marked with a medical symbol, helping her figure out where to settle it in the main pack. "What about an omega? One of Cas's brothers could go with you."

Max chuckled at that, his purple eyes lighting up at the idea. "Mom, that's perfect. A Celestial omega scent-marked as a member of Wilderness Pack meeting with a Spellbound witch."

"It's not the worst idea I've ever heard," Tasha admitted. "Which of the boys should we take?"

"Balthazar," Dean answered without thinking, taking a moment to silently question his choice as the two witches focused their gazes on him. He felt the sudden need to justify his decision, both to himself and to the omegas before him. "Look, Cas can't go, and Gadreel has been taking shifts with Sam to keep Gabriel calm and grounded. I don't think he can stand to be separated from his twin right now. You'll like Balthazar, and he's a great fisher wolf."

Tasha glanced at her son, who shrugged. "I suppose that will work. Max, go see if Garth is free today to help Balthazar weave some wolf-fur undergarments. Spellbounds may tolerate a lot of things, but nakedness is not one of them."

Max chuckled and dashed away to do his mother's bidding, Dean stepping forward to take his place at the packing table. He checked the leathers straps on the bags in silence, clearly needing to say something. Tasha waited patiently, neatly folding multiple sets of travelling clothes as she gestured for Alicia to find a larger set that would fit Cas's gangly twin.

"Thank you for offering to help with this. I really do want Gabriel to get better."

"I know. I'll do everything I can to convince Rowena to come back with me."

Tasha scratched her ear with her hind leg, watching as the two betas and Balthazar shifted forms and waited patiently for supplies to be strapped around their waists. Dean had never met either of these betas, Elvis Katz and Bucky Sims, but Asa Fox trusted them with his mate's life so they were clearly dependable. Elvis was slender but wiry, his wolf form grey with white spots on his legs and face, while Bucky was bulky and lighter, his coat a soft cream color with vibrant red paws, tail, and face. He generally took the position of Asa's second, even as Benny had been Dean's second before Sam was old enough to run with the band, though it had been a long time since Asa had left his home. Tasha had admitted that Bucky loved the trips to the Spellbound border, since it let him stretch his legs.

Balthazar's iridescent white fur almost camouflaged him against the fresh snowfall, his tail wagging at the thought of a long, bracing run through the forest. Of the four Celestial omegas, he had always been the most comfortable outdoors, and he had recovered well from their frantic escape from Celestial lands. Dean glanced down as Cas appeared by his side, the raven-haired man clad in a loose cream top and light woolen pants, only a thin vest protecting him from the winter chill. He smiled at Dean before stepping forward, reaching out to embrace his twin and bury his face in the fur around his neck.

"Be careful, Balthy," Cas whispered, pulling back slightly before rubbing his brother's ears affectionately. "I can't lose you, okay?"

"You never will, Cas. And we won't lose Gabe either. I'll make sure of that."

"I know you will." Cas returned to Dean's side, letting the alpha reach out to curl an arm around his shoulders as the four wolves found their pack positions and took off. Cas stared into the woods long after they vanished, tears in his eyes that he struggled to contain.

"I'm tired of watching my brothers vanish into the trees," he finally whispered, leaning his head against Dean's shoulder as the alpha pulled him closer. "It was so easy before, when it was just us in our wing of Michael's palace, basically ignored until just before we went into heat. Now one of my brothers is near-suicidal and the other is running off to make a deal with the most powerful Spellbound witch anyone has ever met."

Dean pulled the omega closer, gratified that the man was practically his height. Sam might dream of a mate half his size, but Dean had always wanted someone who could stand beside him as an equal, literally and figuratively. "Maybe you should do something to take your mind off of things for a while. Have you considered flying practice?"

Cas pulled partially away and glared at the Wilderness alpha. "Our wings have to remain a secret, Dean, you know that. We can't just go flying around where Asa's entire pack can see us! Are you insane?"

"Well, no, that's why I asked Tasha about nearby secluded clearings before she left. She told me of one where she and Max go to practice magic, safely away from other wolves, and no one from this pack would dare go within a mile of the place. Max won't be using it with her gone, so she offered it to me for my pack to practice fighting techniques or anything else we need. I thought you and Gadreel might go there while Sam is watching Gabriel, build up your wing muscles. If you have them, you might as well be able to use them."

Cas shrugged and relaxed, leaning against Dean again. "Yeah, I suppose we should. I'll see when Gadreel is free this afternoon and you can show us this clearing."

Gadreel glanced up as Sam walked across the small garden toward the oblong pond where the two omegas were relaxing, the tall alpha taking the empty chair on Gabriel's right side. Gadreel greeted the brunet, but his twin continued to stare at the half-frozen pond, his golden eyes dull and unresponsive. Tasha had provided him with a wheelchair, his injured leg propped up in front of him and a number of warm, colorful blankets wrapped around his slender form. Sam glanced at the half-eaten meal sitting on the table in front of them, glancing at Gadreel in a question. The tall omega shrugged, standing and placing a hand on Gabriel's shoulder.

"Gabe, I'm going to meet Cas for some training exercises. Sam's going to keep you company, okay? I'll be back tonight."

Gabriel nodded, but otherwise didn't interact with his twin. Gadreel resisted the urge to sigh, unwilling to comment on his brother's melancholy but wishing he had a way to break it. As soon as Gadreel was gone, Sam scooted his chair closer to Gabriel and wrapped his arm around the blonde's shoulders. "You didn't eat much of your lunch."

Gabriel waved his hand dismissively at the food, looking up as Sam caught his hand in his own. "I don't believe you. It's only been a few weeks since your hectic escape through the mountains, and you haven't had enough to eat any day since then. How are you ever going to get better?"

Gabriel sneered and tried to look away, but Sam was used to his mercurial moods by now, so he just reached up and caught the blonde's chin in his hand, gently turning his face back. "Gabe, I know that you are hungry. How are you ever going to heal if you refuse to eat? Tasha said that you might be well enough to start walking soon, as long as you keep improving." Sam lifted the tray of abandoned food off the nearby table and placed it in Gabriel's lap, raising one eyebrow as the omega slowly reached down for his fork.

Sam sat with Gabriel while he reluctantly ate his lunch, telling him the history of this splinter pack and how they had built their city beside the huge lake. Gabriel seemed to be listening, squeezing Sam's wrist when he wanted more clarification about something and tilting his head when there was something he didn't understand. The alpha had begun to learn the omega's body language and unspoken cues, though he sorely missed that jovial, teasing voice. He lapsed into silence as a faint dusting of snow appeared in the air, Gabriel finishing his meal and placing the empty plate back on the table.

"Tasha left a couple of hours ago, taking a couple of her betas and Balthazar to the Spellbound border," Sam began, smiling at Gabriel when he jerked in shock. "There's nothing to worry about. Tasha was originally a Spellbound wolf, from the very minor Banes family, and she still has many friends on that side of the border. They're not in any danger." Gabriel frowned, his eyebrows twitching upward in disbelief. "Gabe, we wouldn't have let your brother go if there was any risk. Despite your experience with Asmodeus, no one in the main Spellbound pack would ever harm an omega."

Gabriel shook his head, accepting the reassurance but still not completely happy with the news. He squeezed Sam's wrist again. "Oh, you want to know why? Sorry, of course. Tasha is going to send a message to one of her old friends in the Spellbound pack, one who may be able to help you. Alphas are not allowed to cross the border, and Benny is too close to the Head Alpha of Wilderness pack, so your brothers were the only ones who could go along with the party. All of them wanted to, but only Balthazar could."

Gabriel tilted his head, glancing over his shoulder where his twin had walked back into the compound, nodding slowly. He understood that Cas couldn't have gone, not as long as he was still holding the position of alpha of his omega brothers, and Gadreel would be reluctant to leave his twin alone, even to go on a mission to save him. Balthazar had been the obvious choice.

"Do you want to go back inside? This snow looks like it's going to get pretty heavy."

Gabriel nodded, reaching down to adjust his blanket as Sam grabbed the handles on the back of his wheelchair and pushed him back into the compound. They were met by Max and one of the healers, the two omegas shooing them into the medical wing so they could check Gabriel's bandages. Sam helped the blonde settle onto his bed, taking a nearby chair as Max removed the bandages under the strict supervision of the older healer. Max had been born with impressive magical abilities, but he still had to learn the mundane, every day healing skills his mother relied on to care for her patients.

The older healer nodded at Gabriel's leg, gently pressing along the edge of the sealed gashes, glancing up to see if the patient felt any discomfort. The blonde shook his head, indicating that there was no pain, already used to being poked and prodded. The healer tested a few places, tapping Max's shoulder and pointing at the wound.

"It looks like we can take the stitches out," Max murmured.

"That's pretty quick, isn't it?"

"Yeah, for a normal wound like this it would be, but the spell I cast, along with Mother's herbs, accelerated his natural healing. I'd like him to try walking a bit before supper, if he's up to it."

Sam looked up at Gabriel, who shrugged and nodded. "Yeah, he says that he is. When can he try?"

"I can take the stitches out now. If there's no complications, he can try to walk around the room a bit, though he will need some help."

Gabriel leaned back against his pillows, watching curiously as Max pulled out a sharp pair of sterile scissors from his cloth bag, glancing at his mentor before carefully cutting through the first suture. Sam kept a loose hold on Gabriel's hand, watching for any flinch or indication of pain, but the omega stayed calm through the entire procedure. He did furrow his brow slightly at the weird tugging feeling when Max pulled the bits of thread out of his skin, but he was never in any actual pain.

Sam leaned forward to examine the long, jagged scars running from Gabriel's hip to his knee, tiny holes on either side of each one marking where the threads had held him together. The holes would close up, but the scars would never fully heal. Sam felt a cold hand clench around his heart at the thought and at the realization that, even if they were able to find a cure for Gabriel's voice, the mark of Asmodeus's cruelty would never fade. The omega reached down and caught Sam's chin in his hand, forcing him to look up and meet those dark golden eyes. Gabriel smiled and ran his fingers through Sam's longer hair, the gesture soothing him and answering his concerns at the same time. Gabriel was choosing not to be ashamed of the scars.

Max packed his supplies away, moving to the same side of the bed as Sam and helping Gabriel turn toward them. "Okay, we'll take it slow at first. Sam and I will support you, so put as much pressure on your leg as you can without hurting yourself. If you feel any pain, we'll stop."

Gabriel nodded, Sam moving to his left side and slipping his arm around the blonde's waist. Gabriel slung his arm over Sam's shoulder, twining his fingers with Sam's free hand and squeezing gently to announce that he was ready. Max took his position on Gabriel's uninjured side, both of them helping the shorter blonde off of the bed.

Gabriel took a deep breath before placing the ball of his bare left foot on the ground, putting pressure on that leg for the first time in weeks, the older healer watching the flexing of his thigh muscles carefully. The young omega placed the heel of his foot on the ground and leaned into it, releasing his breath as he stood completely under his own power.

"Are you okay?"

"He's not in any pain," Sam answered, smiling as Gabriel looked up at him. "Let's try a couple of steps, okay? Right foot first."

Gabriel nodded and shifted his weight, leaning on his left leg as he swung his right one forward. Sam took a step of his own as Gabriel moved his left leg forward, the trio managing three full steps before the scarred leg began to tremble. The older healer ordered the blonde back to bed, unwilling to stress those muscles out too quickly, checking the wounds for any tearing as soon as the omega was lying down again. As soon as he was convinced that Gabriel was settled, the healer and Max left, ordering Sam not to allow a repeat of the experiment until the morning.

"How does it feel?"

Gabriel shrugged, reaching down to run his fingers over the skin he had not been able to see or touch for weeks. The wound on his shoulder had healed faster, though he would always have that crooked circle of scars, but he couldn't see that easily. Because of the length and position of his wounds, he had not been able to wear any underwear, just loose pants over his bandages, and he suddenly felt self-conscious about his nudity.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Sam reached out and grabbed Gabriel's hands, holding them as he leaned forward and touched foreheads with the omega.

Gabriel gestured at his distinct lack of clothing, freeing one hand to wave it at Sam's shirt and pants before turning his face away. "Oh, I actually have some clothes here for you. Now that you don't need those bandages anymore, you should be able to wear them."

Sam walked over to the table and the pile of supplies and clothes piled haphazardly there. He had pretty much moved into the medical ward while Gabriel was recovering, while the other members of their pack split their time between their guest rooms and the bed pulled up beside Gabriel's. The young omega hadn't been alone for even one moment in weeks, and the hospital wing's cold, sterile scent had taken on an aroma that was a strange mixture of Sam's pack and Gabriel's, with the blonde's sweet gardenia scent and the alpha's spring meadow overriding everything else. The healers had tried not to disrupt the scent too much, knowing that it was some comfort to the healing Celestial.

Sam returned with a pair of light cream colors pants, heavy enough for the winter chill outside, a light green shirt with white flowers embroidered along the hems of the long sleeves, and a mid-weight deerskin leather vest. He also handed over a light pair of cotton shorts, smiling gently as Gabriel took the pile of folded clothes. "Once Max clears you for shifting forms, we'll collect some of your fur and make you a decent pair of under shorts, but these will have to do for now."

He helped Gabriel scoot to the edge of the bed and slip into the shorts and pants, handing him the shirt as he continued to speak. Sometimes the two of them could sit peacefully in perfect silence, but Sam always seemed to know when the quiet became too much and Gabriel needed to hear his voice. "Garth actually managed to get enough fur combed out of your brothers to make them all wolf fur undergarments, though they look more like loincloths than shorts. I think it makes them all feel better, though, being able to switch forms around so many people without ending up naked. One day you'll have to tell me why you guys didn't have any already."

Gabriel nodded, leaning back against his pillow. He could make Sam understand simple things, but that story was way beyond nonverbal communication. Gabriel's eyes glazed over as he thought back to his time in his brother's palace, the times Michael had deprived them of food, the times when Michael had thrown them out into the wilderness for days at a time to punish them for not acting like "proper omegas", and the time when Michael had taken all of their wolf fur undergarments and ordered the spinners not to help them make any more. Their brother had thought he could shame the four of them into submission or prevent them from shifting, but they had simply made a pact not to ever be embarrassed to be seen naked after shifting out of wolf form. Eventually, it had worked.

But Sam and Dean and their pack had given Gabriel and his brothers back their lives, their strength, and their dignity. He wished he could tell Sam how much all of this meant to them, especially the wolf fur shorts, but he couldn't make a sound. Tears filled his eyes as he pulled his knees up to his chest and leaned into them, silent sobs wracking his form. He felt Sam's strong arms wrap around him and hold him close, and he shifted slightly to let the alpha comfort him. Sam didn't say anything, knowing that words couldn't make the silent omega feel better, hoping that his scent and his hand rubbing circles on Gabriel's back would help calm him down.

It did work, eventually. As soon as Gabriel regained his composure, he pulled back, smiling at the ridiculous way Sam had perched his huge frame on the edge of the bed. "You're so strong, Gabriel," Sam whispered, gently kissing the omega's head as he returned to his chair. "I'm so proud of you, I hope you know that. We're going to get through this, no matter what."

Dean led the other three wolves to the secluded clearing, following Tasha's scent markers deep into the woods west of the city. Snow had started falling almost as soon as they left the palace, but the two omegas were unwilling to call off their training exercise. Dean had packed some food, clothes, and a blanket, Gadreel carrying the pack as he had on their trip south, Benny in his usual rear guard position. The big beta had asked to come watch the omegas fly, his blue eyes never leaving Gadreel's face as he made the request. Cas had agreed, exchanging an amused glance with Dean at the beta's growing closeness with his brother.

When they finally reached the clearing, Benny and Dean staked out an observation spot in the shade of one of the largest trees, finding a dry log to sit on and digging a pit for their fire. The two Celestials might not feel the cold, but their Wilderness counterparts appreciated the warmth. Dean pulled out clothing for both of them, and they settled back to watch the two wolves stretch their wings.

Cas, his iridescent midnight-black coat contrasting sharply with the thin layer of powder under his feet, crouched down and flexed his shoulders. His great black wings slowly unfurled from under their protective skin flaps, stretching out to their full length in moments as Cas gave an experimental flap. Dean had only seen them briefly before at night, but in the sunlight he could get a better view of the wings' structure. They had the same bone structure as dragons' wings, with long finger bones holding thin membranes that could catch the air and provide lift, the short black fur that covered them shimmering in the light. Beside him, Gadreel stretched out his own blue wings, both of them jumping into the air and flapping a few times to get some lift.

Dean leaned over and nudged his friend, nodding toward the hovering blue wolf. "You seem to be getting quite friendly with the tallest of our rescued omegas."

Benny chuckled and ran his fingers through his scruffy beard. "He's so gentle, Dean, despite everything that happened to them. I won't deny that I see a kindred peacekeeper soul in the boy. When I heard him mediate that argument between Castiel and Balthazar the day we met, I can honestly say that I saw myself, standing between you and your brother, or you and Jo during one of your more violent spats."

Dean leaned forward, green eyes riveted on the black wolf as he galloped into flight, letting his speed propel him into the sky before he leisurely glided back to the ground. "There's a 'but' in your words, old friend."

"I'm so much older than him, Dean. He had his first heat at sixteen, only five years ago. He hasn't ever had a lover, or been courted, or had the opportunity to mate. Hell, he hasn't made a decision for himself his entire life, not with the way Michael controlled them. I like him, I truly do, but I can't force myself on him like that."

"Does he like you?"

"He enjoys spending time with me, and he was grateful for the part I played in getting Gabriel here quickly, but I don't know if it's more than that."

Dean shrugged. "You could ask him."

Benny shook his head and leaned back against the tree, smiling as Gadreel managed to fly into a tree, yipping proudly at his brother on the ground. "You know the rules, Brother. He has to ask me for a courtship, not the other way around."

"Celestials seem to have different rules than we do, Benny. He may not know our custom."

Benny shrugged. "Maybe not, but I won't be the one to tell him. I'm not some big, strong, virile alpha who turns all of the omegas' heads; I'm a beta with all of the complications that entails."

Dean reached out and placed a hand on Benny's shoulder, forcing his oldest friend to meet his eyes. "Benny, he may not care. You know that Sam and I don't give a shit about that, and even Dad would approve of you with an omega if that's what you wanted."

"I know, Brother, but I can't help but hesitate." Gadreel jumped down from his tree, his wings spread just enough to slow his fall as he landed on his youngest brother. Cas yipped and flipped over, the start of a play-fight throwing snow into the air and burying both of them. "I'll try to talk to him, soon, I promise."

Dean reached up to run his fingers through his hair, frowning at the snow that fell down his arm at the action. "I'm hoping that Cas feels comfortable enough here soon to ask me."

"He hasn't? Brother, that boy is head over heels for you."

"Yeah, maybe, but he's too concerned about his brother to worry about courtships or mating. He's been a little distant lately, ever since Sam admitted that Gabriel was showing signs of being suicidal, and I don't know how to help him through this. I don't know how to help any of them."

"You did the only thing you could, letting Sam send a message to Rowena. I can't say that the thought of working with a full-blown Spellbound witch makes me all tingly inside, but I want that boy to get better. I have to admit, I miss his voice."

They lapsed into silence and watched the omegas cavorting in the snow and practicing aerial dive-bombs on each other. It took a couple of hours for the wolves to tire of their games, finally sauntering over to the fire and plopping down beside their friends. Dean reached down and ran his fingers through Cas's black fur, grinning as the omega almost purred under his hand. "How are you feeling after that?" Cas growl-barked something back, falling on his side and staring up at the alpha with one blue eye. "That tired, huh?"

"You two ready to head back? It must be almost supper time." Benny leaned forward to douse the fire as he asked the question while Dean gathered their supplies and stripped back down to his under shorts. A few moments later, four wolves left the clearing and headed back to the castle, Cas walking with Dean and Gadreel keeping pace with Benny further back.

"How did it feel to stretch your wings?"

"Wonderful," Cas purred, bumping his shoulder into Dean's and flashing his fangs. "I can't believe I argued with you about this. Being in the sky, even for the few minutes that we can manage right now, it lets me just forget everything."

"You look awesome up there, Cas. Gotta admit, I'm a bit jealous."

Cas was silent for a long time, his blue eyes focused on their path. When he finally spoke, Dean stumbled in shock. "You know, when I'm stronger and can fly long distances alone, I want to try to carry you."

"You want me to . . . you want me to ride on your back? While you're flying?"

"Well I can't do it on the ground, because you'd be pressing on my wings. But when they're open, you should be able to sit just in front of my shoulders and ride comfortably." He glanced over at the mahogany wolf strolling beside him. "Do you want to?"

"Yes, ancestors yes, but it seems a little . . . I don't know . . . intimate?"

"If I'm going to ask you to court me, it seems appropriate."

Dean stared at the younger wolf by his side, sending Cas the equivalent of a slow grin. "You're going to ask me?"

"Up north, our customs are a little different. An omega's alpha will initiate a courtship on the omega's behalf. Normally, it would be after the omega found someone he or she was interested in, but in our case Michael narrowed the playing field. Before he left, Balthy told me that things are different here, that omegas can ask for their own courtships. Is that true?"

"Yeah, it is. The alpha of each pack or family group has to approve the match before any mating can take place, but in reality we don't ever really deny two people who are in love."

Cas walked closer to Dean, resting his side against the larger wolf and nuzzling him under the chin. The alpha knew that Gadreel and Benny were watching, but as that honeysuckle and clover scent filled his nostrils, he found that he really didn't care. "I want to ask you, Dean," Cas whispered, dampening his mental voice so even his own brother wouldn't be able to listen in. "Truly I do. But with Gabriel in his condition, it seems rude."

"Hey, I understand, Cas, I really do. We all want him to get better."

"When he is healed, I will ask you."

"If it helps any, I'm going to say 'yes'," Dean replied, walking a little slower so he could enjoy the feeling of the omega tucked up against his side. Castiel might be his height in human form, but he was a much larger wolf.

"Yes, that helps."

It took three days to reach the Spellbound border, the group making it to the river quickly and following it east. Balthazar had never enjoyed running so much in his life, even as the snowfall increased and the nights grew colder. The two betas, one larger than him and one smaller, had learned very early in the first day that their white companion didn't feel the cold the same way they did, generally pretty comfortable walking around camp in just his under shorts when they stopped for a meal break. He was also an exceedingly good fisher wolf, which Tasha had only partially believed when Dean said it, though he freely admitted he was a rubbish hunter.

At night, the wolves would curl up around the campfire, one of them on watch at all times while the other three cuddled as close as they could to share their body heat. It reminded Balthazar of the hectic trip south through the mountains, though at the time he had been a great deal hungrier and gripped in the thralls of his heat, so he had not enjoyed it nearly as much.

The border itself was marked by an ancient stone cairn, the forest scraggly and miserable where it sat on the edge of dry scrubland. Balthazar had seen one map of this area before they left, and he knew that the scrubland changed to true desert further south, while rolling hills and fertile grasslands took up the center of the Spellbound pack's territory. Only their northern section was swampy and unhospitable, and they controlled a great swath of coastland south of the desert. Their eastern border petered out into wilderness, forests as wild as the ones from Dean's homeland separating them from the next nearest tribe lands.

Tasha reached the cairn and sat back on her haunches, howling into the fading daylight three times before pausing for a response. She seemed satisfied at what she heard, though Balthazar detected only silence, shifting forms and calling for them to make camp.

Balthazar gathered dry wood for the fire while Elvis dug around in the supply bag for clothes, handing a pile to each member of their little band. Balthazar slipped into his black pants and loose navy blue shirt, taking the shoes and vest he was offered before returning to his fire. If the trip was going to be longer than a week, Tasha would have packed heavier winter gear, but since they were spending most of their time in wolf form it seemed pointless.

"Our contact will be here within an hour," Tasha announced, passing around a water skin and a pack of dried fruit. "When she arrives, I'll present Balthazar's case and ask her to get a message to Rowena. Hopefully we will have an answer from her not long after that."

Balthazar nodded, fiddling with his sleeves as he waited in silence. He had so many questions about this witch, one who was famous enough to be spoken of in hushed tones in Celestial lands, and he wondered why Sam thought she would help Gabriel. Bucky leaned over and clapped his hand on the omega's shoulder, smiling encouragingly. "Don't worry, she isn't anything like you've heard. Rowena may be powerful, and possibly incredibly old, but she has a gentle heart. She has helped us in the past when we had hard winters or rampant diseases in the city, and she is very fond of Tasha. I think they may be related, but no one knows how."

"I hope she can help. I want my brother back."

The Spellbound wolves arrived less than an hour later, a slender beta and a tiny omega appearing beside the cairn and greeting Tasha with a howl. Balthazar was surprised at how small they both were, though he knew better than to judge the two females based on their size. The slender beta was coal black, her belly and legs pure white under the dust of her trip. Her golden brown eyes locked on Balthazar immediately, clearly trying to determine who this newcomer was and if he was trustworthy. Her omega companion, who barely reached the beta's shoulder, was a beautiful red roan color, brilliant emerald eyes sparkling with power as she shifted forms. The beta growl-barked at her companion, probably scolding her for shifting first, but she quickly followed suit.

Balthazar raised his eyebrows in shock at how beautiful the two Spellbounds were. The beta was darker, her black hair flowing down her back in loose waves, and she was clearly used to being in control of every situation. The omega was paler and slender, though she may have been an inch taller than her companion, her own hair a brilliant red color and much straighter. She was full of energy, tugging on her leader's arm and urging her forward, ready to greet her friends.

"Well met, Tasha of Wilderness."

"Well met, Meg of Spellbound." Tasha bowed her head and held her hands out, palms up, in a greeting that omegas tended to favor when meeting wolves of other subgenders. Meg grinned and stepped forward, taking Tasha's hands in her own and pulling the taller woman into a fierce embrace, one that her redheaded companion quickly joined. "You guys made good time."

Meg shrugged. "We were actually camped with the others a day's run away, so Charlie and I just ran straight here. She had a feeling that you needed to speak urgently."

Tasha ran her fingers through Charlie's hair and kissed the smaller woman on top of her head. "You're a wise young witch, you know that?"

"What's wrong, Tasha?"

"Let me introduce my newest companion, then I will explain. I'm guessing you didn't bring any supplies or clothes with you?"

Meg shook her head, following the omega to the packs and gratefully accepting a long tunic and pants to protect her from the chill. Charlie took a set for herself, claiming a seat on one of the huge logs by the fire as she watched Balthazar with those intense green eyes. "Elvis, Bucky; good to see you boys again."

"Likewise, Meg. How are things going in your pack?"

Meg shrugged. "The usual. Abbadon's still nipping at Crowley's heels, Ruby has been in a funk since our last skirmish with Cain's pack, and Rowena had to break up a particularly bad alpha fight between a few of the town teenagers. Mating season isn't even here yet and they're getting restless. Oh, Linda came back to the city."

"Really? With her pup, that young omega?"

Meg nodded, accepting a piece of dried fruit from Bucky before answering him. "Yeah, she has her own son Kevin and another omega she found as an infant after one of our raids in Celestial lands fifteen years ago. That boy is adorable, and he's really grown into an attractive young man. They've both made it through their first couple of heats, so she's brought them back to civilization so they can have some options for mates if they're interested."

"Is that pup Samandriel?" Balthazar leaned forward, blue eyes meeting Meg's golden-brown as the beta slowly nodded. "I know that name. He's a pup out of Malachi's band, the Eastern Celestial Pack. He's probably better off with your pack, to be fair."

"You're a Celestial," Meg purred, tilting her head at the omega. "What is a Celestial omega doing running with Wilderness wolves?"

"My brothers and I were kind of adopted by a Wilderness band." Balthazar glanced at Tasha for permission to continue, the omega giving him a quick nod. "We left our lands due to some heat-related issues with our Head Alpha, and got into a dustup with your splinter pack north of here."

"A dustup? With Cain?"

"No, with Lilith and her betas."

Charlie growled at that, her eyes flashing purple as she struggled to contain her power. "Dagon is bad enough, but I cannot stand Asmodeus."

"That's why Balthazar is here," Tasha replied, taking that moment to officially introduce the young omega. As the mate of the Head Alpha of her pack, she retained the right to stand as leader of this small band, even though Elvis and Bucky would outrank her in most other situations. "Meg, we need to speak with Rowena."

The beta glanced over at Balthazar, clearly reading something in his expression or body language that hinted at the reason they needed the witch. "Something happened to one of your brothers, didn't it? It had to be Asmodeus; what did my misguided uncle do to him?"

Balthazar glanced up at Tasha, eyes widening at the wording Meg had used. "The two betas you ran into, Dagon and Asmodeus, have two older alpha brothers, Ramiel and Azazel. Azazel is Meg's father, but she disowned him long ago and joined the main pack. Her brother, Marcus, still runs with Cain's pack."

Balthazar tilted his head and shrugged, absorbing the explanation. "Asmodeus poisoned my brother. Tasha was able to heal him, but he is suffering from a pretty nasty side effect."

"And you're hoping that Rowena can help him."

Balthazar nodded. "She's the only hope we have. If she can't or won't help him, I don't think he'll survive."

Charlie glanced up at Meg, tilting her head and narrowing her eyes, nodding toward the blue-eyed omega and frowning slightly. Meg shrugged and nodded, clearly surrendering to the young omega's request, the redhead smiling as she turned back to Balthazar. "I'll call her. Rowena is unlikely to run through the night, but she will be here as quickly as she can. Tasha, she has an alpha with her who will insist on following."

"Who, Ruby? She's fine. I'm not as stringent on these meeting rules as Asa and Crowley, but it would be best if Ruby doesn't come too far past the marker."

"Not a problem." Charlie pulled the sleeve of her borrowed sleeve up and touched the fingers of her right hand to a purple symbol etched into the skin just below her elbow. Her emerald eyes glowed purple as she focused her attention inward, whispering something under her breath. She paused for a moment, waiting for an answer, before nodding and speaking again. Charlie moved her hand away from her arm and smiled up at Balthazar, her eyes green once more.

"Rowena sensed that she would be needed here, so she and Ruby are only a half day away. They'll arrive by noon tomorrow, and she has requested that her blue-eyed petitioner provide some fish for lunch."

Balthazar grinned and nodded, already mapping out the location of the river in relation to their camp in his mind. "Of course. How did she know?"

"In my years of being Rowena's apprentice, I haven't found much that she doesn't seem to just know, Balthazar. You'll understand when you meet her."

Rowena appeared beside the stone cairn just before noon the next day, her alpha companion just behind her. Rowena's wolf form wasn't much larger than Charlie's, though her fur was a deep, rich red with bright copper undertones and her eyes were purple, the color much more intense than Tasha's or Max's shade. Her alpha companion was almost twice her size, smaller than Sam or Dean but larger than Jo. Ruby was colored in black and tan, a pattern that certainly helped her blend in with the trees and scrublands of her native hunting grounds, her namesake red eyes glowing in sharp contrast to her coat. When she shifted forms, she wasn't much taller than Meg, and her straight hair was a similar dark brown color. Moreso than the young beta, she held herself as a woman used to command.

Rowena couldn't have been more different if she tried. Where Ruby was dark, she was bright, her long red hair shining in the brilliant winter sunlight and her tiny frame belying her immense power. She wasn't in charge per se, but it was a clear that she had chosen not to be, letting her two pack mates have all of the control their subgenders craved. Rowena was an omega, the mother of the current Head Alpha of Spellbound Pack, and every wolf in her tribe accepted her control of all pack matters. She also trained all Spellbound witches, and Tasha had once been her apprentice.

"Rowena," Tasha breathed, running forward to envelop her former mentor in a crushing hug. They had been close when Tasha was a pup, and she had never let her new position as the mate of a Wilderness wolf break their bond.

"It's been too long, Tasha. Why have you not called for me before now?" Rowena had a strong accent, and it took Balthazar a moment to grasp her words, having never heard anyone speak with those inflections before.

"I'm sorry about that. It's been some time since I was able to make the trip."

Rowena stepped back and placed a hand on Tasha's cheek, her purple eyes glowing with her power. "You didn't tell me you were pregnant."

"I lost the pup just before winter," Tasha whispered, dropping her eyes to the ground. "I wasn't in any condition to talk about it."

"You'll have another one, child, I can promise you that."

Tasha looked up and smiled, thanking the older witch before pulling her toward the fire and offering both women some simple clothes from the pack. Balthazar had no idea why Tasha had packed so much clothing, but perhaps she had some amount of clairvoyance herself. Elvis and Bucky resisted the urge to bristle at Ruby as the red-eyed alpha joined them, their pack instincts demanding that they chase this rival away. If they were alphas, there would have been a fight, but thankfully betas were more capable of controlling their wolf natures. Tasha passed out the fish that Balthazar had caught that morning, each one cooked perfectly over their small fire.

Rowena turned to Balthazar as soon as the meal was finished, holding a hand out to the younger omega. "You're the one who asked to see me."

"Yes. I'm Balthazar." He took the witch's hand and smiled at the warmth flowing into him from that simple contact.

"It's been many an age since I sat and talked with a Celestial. Tell me about your wee brother."

Balthazar told her the story from the beginning, glossing over the abuse they received from their oldest brother and skipping the part about their wings. Rowena's eyes flashed a few times as he spoke, but she kept silent and just listened. When he reached the end, describing Gabriel's dark mood and Sam's fear, he trailed off into silence, not sure what else he could say.

"It sounds like a malady that I may be able to heal, but I need to meet him. I'm assuming that he cannot be moved, since he didn't travel here with you."

"He can't shift until his stitches are taken out, but Sam and Cas are of the opinion that he won't be able to speak in wolf form. They're going to keep him from shifting for as long as they can."

Ruby sighed and touched Rowena's arm, shaking her head. "We are at war with these people, Rowena. You can't travel that deep into their territory, especially without an escort."

Rowena smiled up at the alpha, covering the hand on her arm with her own. "We both know that I'm going to go and help this omega. I can't do anything else."

"I can guarantee her safety, Ruby. No harm would ever come to her in my lands."

Ruby growled and clenched her fists, calming as soon as Meg scooted closer and leaned against her side. They were closer than sisters, and the very presence of her second-in-command helped to calm the alpha. "I am not okay with this plan."

"Charlie is coming with me," Rowena announced, "and you two will take Balthazar back with you to visit our castle."

Everyone looked over at the redheaded witch in shock, Balthazar unable to contain a soft whine. She wanted him to go into the heart of Spellbound lands? Alone? Without his brothers? "I . . . Rowena, I can't."

"You can, sweet one, I promise you. You have a future that cannot start unless you visit my castle and meet my people, my family. I don't know why your path points east, but it does. I will explain it to your brothers when I see them."

"How long?"

"Charlie and I will stay with Tasha's pack until the Spring Equinox, then we will all meet here again and exchange places."

"Spring?! Rowena, Crowley is going to be furious."

The witch chuckled and hugged Meg, waiting until the beta calmed somewhat before speaking. "Meg, Fergus will understand that I have to go where I am called. Balthazar's family and that Winchester boy's pack need me and Charlie more than they know, and it will take all winter to sort them out. Balthazar needs to spend time with our pack; the fate of all three lands depends on what he does while he is there. I can't always see the future clearly, but I can see his paw prints next to yours and Ruby's in the snow. That has to happen. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Rowena," Meg whispered. "I don't want to let you go there alone."

"I won't be alone! I'll have Tasha, Bucky, and Elvis. You trust these three to keep me safe, don't you?" Meg nodded, glancing over at Ruby who reluctantly offered her agreement. "Okay, then take this wee omega and march him back to our palace before winter truly sets in."

"But how will I know if my brother is okay?"

Tasha stood up from her spot by the fire, kneeling down beside Balthazar and pushing the sleeve of his tunic up so she could reach the inside of his elbow. "Let's see if I remember how to do this," the witch murmured, placing her hand over the soft skin just below his elbow, her eyes glowing purple as she whispered an incantation. Balthazar yipped in pain, resisting the urge to pull away as something burned him, Tasha pulling away a moment later.

Balthazar stared at the purple mark inked on his skin, a stylized pentagram inside a sun. "What is it?"

"That's the symbol of Wilderness Pack," Tasha replied. "If you hold your hand to it and speak, I'll be able to hear you and respond. You saw Charlie use it to speak to Rowena. If you feel it start to tingle, that means that I am trying to speak to you, so put your fingers on it and listen."

Balthazar stared at the symbol for a moment longer, looking up as Meg placed a hand on his shoulder. "We might as well get going, string bean. Take off your clothes and shift."

Tasha gathered all of the clothes and folded them, carefully repacking her supply bag and dousing the fire. "Are you three going to be okay without supplies?"

Ruby shrugged. "Our camp is only a half day away; we left most of our supplies there so we could reach you quickly. As long as Balthazar here can keep up, we shouldn't have any issues."

Balthazar grinned as he shifted forms, flashing his fangs in amusement at the shock on Ruby's face. She hadn't since his wolf form before, and she was clearly impressed, reaching out to touch the iridescent white fur in wonder. "I have never seen a color like this before."

"His three brothers have iridescent fur, also," Tasha offered helpfully, waiting for Elvis to shift forms so she could strap the supplies to his side. "It's quite a remarkable color, isn't it?"

"And he blends with the snow really well," Bucky added before shifting into his own wolf form. Rowena chuckled at that, blowing Ruby a kiss goodbye as she and Charlie joined Tasha's small band and started heading deeper into Wilderness lands.

Meg and Ruby shifted, both of them rubbing against Balthazar and scent-marking him, offering him the protection of their pack in case they ran into other Spellbound wolves on the way to the castle. As soon as they were satisfied that he no longer smelled overly Wilderness-y, Ruby and Meg took off, the omega on their heels. He took a moment to wonder why he had agreed to this exchange—honestly, he didn't remember agreeing at all—but he had to focus on keeping up with Meg and eventually let the steady beat of their paws drown out his thoughts.

It was going to be an interesting winter, to say the least.