Chapter Text
Title: Were
Author: xDarkDesires
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: were!fic, violence, offensive language, character death (not main), kinks, knotting, graphic male/male sex scenes, mpreg & general Chad Murray at his finest.
Summary: Jensen Ackles was bitten. Nothing special about it. He was hunted down and bitten for reasons nobody knows. Jared managed to find him before anything else could happen and took him to the safety of his own pack. Unaware of the unexplainable forces driving them together they both have to search for who did this to Jensen and why. Turns out, Jensen’s a little more special than anyone ever could have imagined.
Chapter 1
-x-
There was no real reason why he was out in the woods in the first place, he just fancied a walk and didn’t exactly realise when the sun went down. It sounds like something obvious to not notice but Jensen was too lost in his own head.
He’d heard a snapping of a twig or branch behind him and quickly spun around. He couldn’t see anything and decided his best course of action was to quicken his pace back towards his home. Everything went well for a few more minutes until he heard the same sound again, louder this time. Jensen froze, his entire body going stiff in fear. He’d never been afraid of the dark but right then he was terrified.
He held his breath and sidestepped around a tree, listening. Somewhere very close there was a low growl. He was being hunted. Jensen spun towards the sound and caught a glimpse of huge glowing yellow eyes glaring at him, it didn’t take Jensen long to get with the programme before he hurled his body in the opposite direction. Running as fast as his bowlegs would carry him.
That only seemed to please the creature though, happily chasing its prey. That’s what Jensen was, he was prey.
“Shit!” he cursed. He was feeling the burn through his legs as he worked them harder than ever before. Thanking god for his impressive agility as he effortlessly bounding over fallen branches and other obstacles that could possibly trip him.
The creatures footsteps were getting closer, seemingly bored of letting his prey get the better of him. Jensen worked his arms harder, desperately trying to push himself further out of danger. It was useless. Before he could even detect the sounds of the creature getting closer to him it was on top of him, dragging him to the floor.
Jensen winced as his head hit something hard, probably a rock. He then yelled out in pain once the adrenaline faded and he felt the beast’s teeth clamp around his abdomen.
He screamed.
It wasn’t a pretty sound and it sure as hell wasn’t one he’d ever thought he’d make. This was it, he was going to die. Jensen Ackles was going to die and he really thought he’d care more than this. In a few short moments his life would end and he couldn’t bring himself to be afraid of that. He was afraid of the creature, nothing more. Maybe he didn’t value his life after all.
It wasn’t like he had much of a life back home anyway, he wondered if anyone would even notice he was missing. Would anyone ever find his body? He could disappear from the face of the Earth and nobody would give a damn. That’s why he didn’t fight against the creature’s death grip. He just lay there, feeling his blood soak through his clothes and finally opening his eyes. He wanted to see the creature that would kill him.
When he opened his eyes it was a confusing sight. There was a wolf biting down on him, though this wolf was something Jensen had never seen before. It was easily the size of a bear and its eyes were deep yellow orbs and almost seemed as if they were glowing. There was something almost human in those eyes when they locked with Jensen’s.
He gasped at the humanity he saw in those eyes before crying out as another wave of pain coursed through his body. Jensen really thought his death would be much quicker than this, wasn’t there any mercy left for him?
It could have been hours or it could have been mere seconds but all of a sudden the wolf let go of him. Taking a few steps back before surveying his prize, almost as if he was laughing at him. Couldn’t Jensen just die already?
The wolf moved in closer before its ears perked up and his head snapped upwards before it ran in the direction it came. Jensen strained his ears trying to hear anything but all he could hear was his racing heartbeat. That is… until voices started to break the silence. He turned his head slightly, wincing at the dizziness that overcome him from the small movement and saw two young men entering the clearing.
They caught sight of him, bleeding and broken on the ground and quickly rushed to his side. One of them was barking orders at the other one but Jensen couldn’t really make it out. His eyes blurred as he tried to focus on the one holding his face. Jensen smiled sleepily, the man had dimples.
That was the last thing Jensen saw before his world faded to darkness… before Jensen Ackles died.
However the screaming only seemed to intensify and this time Jared lifted his head to stretch out his hearing further. A were would have shifted by now and that scream was a hundred percent human.
“Shit” he cursed, reaching for his jacket that was hanging over the chair in his bedroom. “Chad!” he yelled, waiting for the smaller man to arrive.
“Yeah?” he asked, confusion in his squinty eyes.
“We need to go search the woods” Jared stated, knowing how ridiculous he sounded.
“Are you crazy?!” Chad stared at him in disbelief. “It’s a full moon and there are wolves out there that aren’t our pack Jared. We already shifted tonight and there’s no way in hell I’m going out there unprotected!”
“You’re not unprotected Chad, you have me” Jared didn’t give Chad time to respond before dragging him out the house behind him and ignoring all the questions fired at him by the rest of his pack.
“I swear to god Jared if you get me killed I will haunt your ass” Chad grumbled, following behind him like a petulant child. He couldn’t refuse anything Jared asked, even if he wanted to his instinct told him otherwise.
“If I get you killed you have permission to haunt my ass” Jared responded. Stepping out of the open and into the woods.
“You know that’s not helping my nerves” Chad muttered, surveying the area as best he could. The scream came again and Chad froze. “That was human” he stated.
“Yep” Jared responded “that’s where we’re going”.
“Oh fuck that!” Chad replied, turning to head back towards the house but grabbed by Jared before he could really move anywhere. “I happen to enjoy my life Jared and if some guy has got himself attacked by a fucking wolf on a full moon then the last thing I want to do is get in its way!” Chad wasn’t a fearful man but no wolf wanted to run into a strange were during the full moon, not even Jared but something was telling him to keep moving.
“He needs me” Jared stated factually.
“Off you go then” Chad shooed him in the direction of the screams but Jared just dragged him along behind him.
“We’re wasting time”.
Jared let his senses lead him, breaking out into a run when he heard the screams get louder and more painful. He strained his hearing to hear whatever was attacking the man leave. Jared smiled in relief that a fight wouldn’t break out before slowing into a walk just as they made it to the clearing as not to scare the man.
Chad panted beside him as he caught his breath, helping Jared scan the area for the man. The scent of blood thick and heavy in the air and Jared wanted to gag at the smell but before he could think of anything he caught sight of a limp body on the ground.
“Fuck!” he cursed, running and dropping down at the man’s side. “Hey, look at me, look at me” he cupped the man’s head in his hands and detected a faint pulse. “Chad we need to get him out of here” he turned his focus to the man in his arms “can you hear me?”
The man opened bright green terrified eyes at him, god he was beautiful. Jared smiled down at him and his heart warmed when the man gave him a sleepy smile back, right before slipping into unconsciousness.
“We have to move him now” Jared ordered. Quickly checking his body for any broken bones he might disturb while lifting him.
“Jared have you lost your mind! He’s been fucking bitten!” Chad yelled in a harsh whisper, gesturing towards the man’s blood soaked shirt.
“It might not have been a turning bite” Jared said defensively, though really he knew better.
“It’s a full moon. There are no other types of bites tonight!” Chad kept turning his head, checking for danger and scenting the air.
“Well I don’t care. He needs my help!”
“Jared let him go! If another wolf has bitten him then they are going to be pissed when he isn’t where they left him” Chad tried desperately to get Jared to change his mind.
“Look at him Chad!” he held the bleeding man in his arms, already his skin was hot to touch as the fever spread through his veins. “I don’t think this was his choice and I am not letting him be taken to some pack who would disrespect him enough to take his life away!”
“So what... you’re going to take his life away instead?”
“No!” Jared growled at his friend, his inner wolf smiling when Chad backed down. “I’m saving it”.
“Jared please don’t do this. The pack doesn’t need this shit right now” he wasn’t fighting anymore, simply pleading.
“As alpha it’s my last word Chad. Now I’m going to carry him back to the house, the bite needs tending to. You need to have my back and get everyone outside monitoring our territory until sunrise. That’s an order.” Jared didn’t like using his authority like that but he needed to because every instinct in his body was telling him to protect the precious young man in his arms.
Chad was clearly pissed he’d used his authority like that too “yes alpha” he grumbled. He took a deep breath and effortlessly shifted into his other form. A huge sandy wolf stood next to Jared and motioned for him to start moving.
Jared nodded his thanks to the wolf and got only a snort in return. “All charm Chad” he mumbled before lifting the man in his arms, careful of the bite currently setting his insides on fire. “I got you” he assured the sleeping bundle “I got you”.
Sophia, a healer, raced to Jared’s side and led him into her healing room. Jared gently laid the man on the bed while Sophia busied herself getting everything she would need and shooing out the rest of the pack while Chad gave them Jared’s orders.
Jared smiled adoringly at the young man, he was even more gorgeous in the light. Where he wasn’t covered in blood Jared could see a scattering of light freckles and his eyes were laced with long golden lashes. Everything inside him was in awe of the sight before him.
“Uh oh” Sophia noted his gaze and smirked knowingly “someone’s got puppy love” she grinned.
“I haven’t” Jared defended, glaring at her.
“Sure” she laughed. “Then could you please remove his shirt without molesting him? I need to check out the bite”.
Jared wondered if he actually could remove the man’s shirt without molesting him and decided he’d try it anyway, forcing his wolf at bay. It took one swift movement for the shirt to tear open and for Jared to remove it with little effort.
“I said remove it not destroy it” Sophia giggled slightly before placing a cloth in warm water and cleaning the blood from the area around the bite that was already starting to heal.
“It’s off isn’t it?” he winced in sympathetic pain for the young man. The bite was a nasty one, thought it was also clean. The man didn’t seem to have struggled and Jared furrowed his brow at that, why didn’t he try and save himself?
“Do you know his name?” she asked, turning deep amber eyes towards him.
He shook his head sadly “passed out before he could say anything”.
“Well for now I’m going to call him freckles” she grinned, little dimples framing her slender face.
“I’m sure he’ll love you for that when he wakes up” Jared replied with an eye roll.
“If he wakes up” Sophia corrected, clearing blood from the man’s face before placing a bandage over the bite.
“If?” Jared asked, unable to even consider this man might not wake up.
“Yeah” Sophia replied sadly “if his body doesn’t reject the bite and he turns then he’ll wake up… otherwise…” she didn’t finish her sentence but Jared stiffened all the same.
“How long before we know?” he asked anxiously, taking the man’s hand in his.
“The bite takes about an hour to complete the change so if he hasn’t woken up by sunrise then my guess is he’s not waking up”. She softly brushed her fingers along the man’s face “he really is beautiful”.
“Yeah” Jared agreed. “Mind if I stay with him?” Jared refused to even think about leaving this man’s side.
“Of course not” Sophia answered “I’m glad he won’t have to wake up alone” she smiled before turning to leave. “Oops I almost forgot”. She picked up a needle and syringe, took the man’s arm and slid it into a vein.
“What is that?” Jared was curious about this man, about everything that happened to him. The need to protect him at all costs was overwhelming.
“It’s a mix of aconitum and silver” Sophia retracted the needle and gently massaged the area.
“What the hell is aconitum?”
“More commonly known as wolfsbane”.
“You just injected wolfsbane and silver into a fucking werewolf?!” Jared was fuming. He knew from experience what those things did to you and he couldn’t believe a member of his own pack would inject that into another.
“Calm down Jared” she put a hand on his chest to keep him in his seat next to the bed. “It won’t hurt him. If he wakes up before sunrise then he’d be waking up in a full moon, confused with a huge desire to shift and then terrified of what’s happening to him and then to top it all of he’ll be at full strength! I know it should be your call but I’m not going to risk anyone in this pack at the hands of a confused newborn”.
Jared sighed heavily “you’re right. You sure it won’t hurt him?”
She smiled reassuringly “he hasn’t shifted yet so it won’t hurt him like it would hurt us. Just keeps his strength down for a few hours”.
“Thanks Soph” Jared breathed a sigh of relief that it wouldn’t hurt him while effectively dismissing Sophia and thanking her for her help. Now he would wait.
Reluctantly he blinked his eyes open, trying to adjust to the harsh light surrounding him. Where the hell was he? What happened? Fuck it was bright.
“Hey” a soothing voice caught his attention, he felt safe immediately and turned to find himself face to face with the most attractive man he’d ever seen.
“Uh… hi” he croaked out, wincing at the pain in his voice.
The man smiled, silly floppy hair and dimples made it irresistible not to smile back. Everything about this man caught Jensen’s attention, but it was the eyes that stood out the most. They were a golden amber, almost yellow but there was something so warm about them. So human yet so… not.
Jensen didn’t know what was happening for him to be so weak but he had the weirdest urge to bare his throat for the man. Which. Ok. Weird. But a part of Jensen was screaming at him about how right it was, how he had to submit himself to the other man and that was just stupid. It didn’t stop him doing it though, it was as if his own body acted without his permission as he tilted his head back and bared the expanse of his throat.
The other man smiled and nudged his bared throat with the tip of his nose in approval and something inside of Jensen sang with delight at pleasing the other man. Meanwhile the rational side of Jensen’s brain was screaming at him to get the fuck together and run! The rest of his brain stomped out that thought pretty quickly.
“Did he just submit to you!?” a disbelieving voice broke the silence and Jensen tilted his head slightly to see a man standing across from them. He had short spiky blonde hair and his eyes were a similar colour, golden amber almost honey like. Jensen would have passed them off as brothers but they looked nothing alike.
“Yes he did. There a problem Chad?” the man next to him spoke as the other man huffed out response before leaving the room.
“W-what happened?” Jensen finally spoke and the man’s gaze drifted back towards him, filling him with warmth.
“What do you remember?” his whiskey sweet voice responded.
“I was out in the woods and it got dark so I was heading home and then there were twigs breaking and then the last thing I remember was running from this thing with yellow eyes and… it attacked me… how did you stop it?” Jensen was confused and scared and his head was killing him.
“The wolf was on my territory, it sensed me and ran. Lucky wolf else I’d have killed it” the man stared at him with open curiosity. “What’s your name?”
“J-Jensen”.
“Well J-Jensen I’m Jared” he grinned at him and Jensen couldn’t help grinning back at him, at Jared.
“Why can’t I move?”
Jared’s brows furrowed “you should be able to, Sophia injected you with something to keep you weak until sunrise but the sun’s nearly up so it shouldn’t be keeping you down still”.
“You injected me!?” Jensen tried to struggle, to get away but his body wouldn’t let him.
“Soph!” Jared yelled, ignoring Jensen’s outburst as a petite brunette entered the room. Her eyes were slightly darker than Jared’s but they were the same tone. Jensen wondered what the hell was going on here.
“Yes?” she replied, her eyes switching to Jensen “oh freckles you made it!” she beamed and Jensen winced at the nickname. Sophia quickly rushed over to his side, got out a stethoscope and checked his heart before flashing a torch into his eyes and taking his temperature. “You’re doing excellent” she turned towards the window “the sun’s nearly up so I can inject you with an antidote now to speed up how quickly the wolfsbane and silver get out of your system.”
Jensen’s eyes widened at the thought of an injection but Jared seemed to sense this and took his hand reassuringly.
The little brunette returned with a needle and syringe, gently feeling her way over Jensen’s arm before pushing in with surprising pressure. He hissed at the sharp sting, wondering why the hell she had to push so hard. “Sorry sweetie” she apologised “your new skin is a little tougher than your human one”.
“Human one?” Jensen asked, because, yeah, what the hell?
“Jared will explain once this has worn off. It’s going to be like coming out of anesthetic, you’re going to be like a baby dear on an ice rink and feel all drunk and dopey to top it off.” She laughed sweetly “it will only last around half an hour so you don’t have to feel awful for too long.”
“Thanks Soph” Jared smiled before turning his attention back to Jensen as she left the room.
It took a further five minutes for Jensen to realise that Jared wasn’t on the chair, his eyes scanning the room until he found him.
“Hey!” he grinned, trying to sit up and actually succeeding “whatcha doing all the way over there?” Jared couldn’t help laugh at Jensen’s happy tone, it was contagious.
“I’m checking the computer, whatcha doing over there?” he retaliated, enjoying the man’s playful nature.
“M’sitting” he smiled supidly before stumbling to his feet, and falling on his ass. “Fuck” he groaned.
Jared reached his side in a millisecond but it wasn’t fast enough to stop the man landing on his ass. Such a fine ass too Jared noted as he helped him to his feet.
“Thanks” he grinned dopily. “You’re strong” he noted, his hand coming to grab Jared’s arm to steady himself “and firm”.
Jared blushed deeply, the desire to lean forward and kiss the guy senseless were overwhelming him and he really had to put Jensen down before he actually did that.
“Why m’I shirtless?” Jensen stared confused at his body “an what the fuck’s that!” he noticed the bite.
“I’ll explain soon” Jared promised, helping him back onto the bed. “For now you need to rest”.
“Yes mom” Jensen saluted him. Jared shook his head fondly and went to continue his work on the computer but Jensen grabbed his wrist. “Stay” he whispered before falling asleep once more.
Jared knew he could move if he wanted to, now that Jensen was asleep but he didn’t. Jensen had asked him to stay and so that’s exactly what he would do.
For ten hours. Jared stayed.
-x-
Chapter 2
-x-
“You can’t just keep him here Jared, some wolf turned him and they’re not going to stop until they get him back.” Jensen recognised the voice as Chad, the guy who’d been there when Jensen had first woke up.
“They’re not getting him” that was Jared’s voice, Jensen was sure. “I won’t let him go to a pack that would turn him without any regard to what he actually wants.”
Jensen furrowed his brows in confusion, what the hell were they talking about? Were they talking about him?
“Jared you can’t just keep him! He’s not a pet. Judging by the way he was turned last night he already belongs to someone!” Chad’s voice was getting louder and Jensen flinched at the anger radiating from him.
“He belongs to me” Jared stated firmly.
“Yeah he submitted to you Jared. Once. After he’d just woken up, he won’t do it again and then will you finally let him go?” Chad was pleading with Jared but Jensen didn’t understand. He didn’t belong to anyone.
“Fine. If he doesn’t submit to me and actually wants to go find who turned him then I’ll let him go” Jared sighed in resignation.
Jensen tensed, he didn’t want to go to whoever bit him. Everything inside of him was telling him to stay with Jared, to trust this stranger with his life. It was all a little confusing and he really just wanted some answers. Slowly, he climbed out of the bed and padded across the tiled floor to the oak doorway where the voices were coming from. He took a deep breath and prised open the door. Coming face to face with Jared and Chad. His heart fluttered at Jared’s dimpled smile but a low rumble deep in his throat escaped him when he glanced at Chad.
“You can stop growling at me sunshine” Chad grit out, cutting him a glare.
Jensen wasn’t even aware the sound was coming from him. He silenced immediately and looked desperately to Jared. Jared gave him a sympathetic look and held his arm out. Jensen didn’t need to be offered twice and instantly curled his body against the other man’s. Smiling smugly at the disbelieving look Chad gave him.
“This doesn’t mean anything” Chad continued “so you got yourself a clingly little bitch, big deal. Now, send him on his way”.
“What did you just call me?” Jensen stepped forward, an uncontrollable anger racing through his veins.
Chad took a step back, startled and Jared reached out for Jensen’s shoulder but he just shook him off. A growl filled the room and Jensen wasn’t sure who it came from but it spurred him on and he immediately had Chad pinned against the wall. For a few moments Chad looked terrified before snarling at Jensen, displaying huge canines that definitely weren’t there a second ago.
Jensen’s confusion was enough distraction for Chad to reverse their positions. However that didn’t work for long as Jensen pushed forward and slammed Chad into the opposite wall.
“That’s not possible” Chad’s eyes widened, fighting uselessly. Jensen didn’t care what Chad was talking about, he pulled Chad back and slammed him back into the wall like it was nothing.
It was then that Jared finally chose to intervene, throwing Jensen back into the opposite wall and pinning him there with his body. Jensen ignored him though and tried to push him off but it didn’t work. Jared was as good as a brick wall, unbelievable strength holding him firmly in place. Jensen shot a pissed off glare at Jared, finding himself snarling at the other man only for Jared to growl fiercely at him, flashing his own pair of huge canines.
Jensen finally took a moment to calm, he was scared, wanted to know what the hell these guys were. Then at the same time his body was telling him to give himself over, do whatever the alpha wanted. Alpha? Jensen asked his subconscious mind, no idea what even his own brain was thinking.
Unconsciously he shifted his head to the side, showing Jared the expanse of his throat and calming dramatically in the process. He didn’t know what he was waiting for but was rewarded when Jared clamped those canines around the delicate skin at his pulse point. Not hard enough to break the skin but hard enough to stake his claim. Jensen didn’t know what was going on but he didn’t care, something inside of him burst with excitement of being claimed by this man.
Using his teeth wasn’t something he should have done but he couldn’t help himself, instinct was riding over his better judgement right now.
Reluctantly he let go, loving the whimper Jensen let out from the loss and smiled warmly into those bright green eyes that were quickly changing colour like his own. Little flecks of gold were visibly taking over and would probably have turned the entire iris in a couple of days.
“I’m sorry” Jensen whispered and Jared nodded his acceptance.
Suddenly the door from the living room was slammed open to reveal an angry looking Lauren. Who froze and noticeably calmed at the sight of them. “Woah, there is far too much testosterone in here” she glanced between all three of them and smiled warmly at Jensen as Jared backed away from him. “Hi there, I’m Lauren” she held out her hand for him to take and shook it firmly. “I’m like the funnest person to be around. Don’t let Danni tell you otherwise” she winked at him before turning to Jared, her face suddenly serious. “Chris thinks Morgan was on your property last night. We can’t be sure because there’s no trail and only a faint scent but it’s all we have to go on.”
Jared growled low in his throat, what the hell was Morgan doing in his territory? “Thank you Lauren. Tell Chris I’ll speak to him later and to give the border a quick sweep with Steve before he goes to bed tonight”.
“Sure thing boss” she grinned as Jared’s eye roll. He really hated being called boss, alpha, sir… just about anything that puts him above anyone else.
“Jared if you just claimed Morgan’s new wolf, then you better start writing your will.” Chad glared at Jensen once more before making his exit with Lauren.
“So…” Jensen started “he doesn’t like me”.
“Chad’s a douche” Jared shrugged “he doesn’t like anyone but he’s actually great when you get to know him.”
“I’m sorry I’ve caused you problems” Jensen hung his head. Jared could clearly see his emotions were all over the place.
Jared placed a finger under his chin and lifted until their eyes met “never” he whispered earnestly.
“Never is a long time” Jensen laughed softly, eyes still sad.
“I know” Jared smiled gently at him. “I think it’s time I told you what was going on.”
The tension in the room escalated at his response and before he knew it Jared was standing in front of him. Cupping his face in his huge hands and forcing him into eye contact. Something in Jensen just melted at the touch, calming him without words.
“I’d like to introduce you to my pack” Jared said, never taking his eyes off Jensen. “Yours too if that’s what you decide.”
“Pack?” Jensen was confused, what the hell does pack mean?
“Let me introduce them and they’ll leave and then I’ll tell you everything you want to know”
“Ok” Jensen breathed, not really sure if he wanted to know.
Jared smiled warmly and stepped back. “You’ve already met Chad, Sophia and Lauren” he gestured to them and they smiled back… well… Chad’s was more of a grimace but the effort was there. “This is my sister Megan” a small brunette stepped forward, she really looked like Jared, dimples and everything. “Chris and his mate Steve” two guys stepped forward. Correction, two cowboys stepped forward. Jensen wanted to laugh at the irony but felt they could both kick his ass into next week so he stayed quiet.
Jared leaned into his ear, whispering “trust me, I laughed too”. Jensen couldn’t help snort a laugh at Jared;s words before cowering from Chris’s glare.
Chris instantly broke into a smirk “I like him Jay.”
“That is a great honour” Jared told Jensen earnestly.
“I’m not that hard to be around” Chris defended.
“Yes. You are” Steve finished, causing the room to break out into laughter.
“These two lovely ladies here are Danneel and Sandy. Careful around Danneel, she’s got a sharp lip that’ll cut you in half” he laughed as the redhead cut him the most terrifying glare Jensen had ever seen. Worse than Chris’s. The brunette however smiled sweetly and gave him a little wave.
“And finally there’s Misha”.
Another man stepped forward “love how you left me until last Jared” he grumbled.
“Best till last baby” Jared winked comically at him and even though Jensen knew he was joking he couldn’t help the intense jealousy and possession that pulsed through him.
“Bite me” Misha narrowed his eyes at Jared but gave a dazzling smile to Jensen. “Well done Jay, he’s hot”.
Jensen blushed furiously at the words and felt a tinge of excitement at Jared’s warning growl. Damn that was freaky but oh so attractive.
“Alright, alright” Misha held his hands up in defence “I heard you loud and clear. We’ll leave you two to it then.” With that, the room was suddenly empty, leaving only Jared and Jensen behind.
“That’s a lot of names to remember at once” Jensen smiled shyly. Ok, Jensen was a shy guy but the way he felt around Jared was just ridiculous. He’s known the guy for the grand total of an hour for god’s sake!
“You’ll get used to them” he promised. “Now… on to you”.
“What’s wrong with me?” Jensen knew there was something, because… well, he’d freaking growled twice in the past ten minutes. Everything in the past twenty four hours was just not adding up. “And your eyes, all of your eyes… why are they yellow? And Chad’s teeth? Hell, your teeth! I know you had teeth just like him and then you, you bit me!”
“I didn’t bite you” Jared defended.
“Well it was close enough!” Jensen was fuming, he was on edge and he was terrified and he just wanted to know what was going on. “What’s happening to me?” he whispered desperately.
“Last night you were bitten by someone like me… like my family” Jared told him. Jensen almost wanted to purr at the way his hands were caressing Jensen’s arms to calm him down, his touch sent hot shivers right through his body.
“And what are you?” Jensen asked, not even sure if he wanted to know.
“A werewolf” Jared stated simply “well… really I’m just a guy who turns into a wolf. I don’t hurt people, nor do I go off looking for fights. I was born this way and you were unfortunate enough to get in the way of one of the wolves that were trespassing on my territory last night”.
Jensen stiffened, that wasn’t what he was expecting. Clearly Jared was crazy… but then… that would explain a lot of things. Like their eye colour, very wolf like and similar to the wolf that bit him last night. Then there was the way Jared scared the wolf off without actually doing anything. It would explain how Jensen could hear a whispered conversation through a wall. The overly strange sensation to roll over and do anything Jared wanted, though that could just be his dick overriding his brain. Then of course that explains the fangs Chad and Jared both produced perfectly. Hell, maybe Jensen was the crazy one.
“And… am I?” Jensen trailed off, not even sure what he was going to say because this was all insane.
“Yes” Jared replied simply. “The bite turned you. It’s why your skin is harder, why you keep growling, why you’re so confused and agitated is because your body is working overtime. Your hearing, vision and sense of smell are also enhanced. In a few days your eyes will be like ours too. Then once the moon is full in a month’s time your body will shift and everything will fall into place, the transformation will be complete and your head won’t be all over the place anymore.”
Jensen took the time to let Jared’s words sink in, when he came to think about it Jared’s words made a lot of sense. However that was a lot to take in. He didn’t even notice that Jared had wrapped him up in his arms until his senses were assaulted by everything Jared. His scent was earthy and spicy and delicious. His heartbeat and gentle breathing were making him want to curl up and sleep it was so soothing. His body was so warm, radiating heat straight into Jensen.
Jensen didn’t know how it happened but he suddenly found himself nuzzling at Jared’s throat, taking in his scent and letting his instinct lead. A low encouraging sound escaped Jared and Jensen grinned against his skin, placing gentle nips against his pulse point. Once Jensen’s brain caught up with whatever the fuck he was doing he jumped back like he’d been electrocuted.
“God I’m so sorry!” he apologised, scared that Jared would hate him.
Jared on the other hand was looking quite flustered, his breathing had increased and his eyes were almost glowing. “That’s fine” he breathed “don’t worry about it”. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before finally facing Jensen once more. “It’s ok” he assured.
“Why did I do that?” Jensen asked, his voice pleading. “Why do I keep reacting to you like this?”
Jared didn’t answer him for a long moment, then when he did Jensen almost wished he hadn’t answered at all. “I wish I knew, you’re not the only one reacting”.
“It’s been a long day” Jared broke the silence, trying really hard not to concentrate on the fact that Jensen was still very shirtless. “How about I lend you some clothes for tomorrow and show you to your room?”
“I have a room?” Jensen asked.
“Of course” Jared replied “you’re pack now Jensen. This is your home”. It was probably too much for Jensen to take in at once but Jared needed to get him to bed or just somewhere Jared isn’t tempted to jump him. However thinking of Jensen sprawled out under the bed sheets with sleep ruffled hair is almost too much to ignore. His inner wolf was yelling at him ‘bite, mate, mine!’
Jensen didn’t reply, instead following silently behind Jared to his bedroom. Jared quickly headed to the closet and picked out a shirt that wouldn’t be too baggy and some Jeans that would hopefully not look too awful and then handed them to Jensen who took them gratefully.
“Thanks” he smiled, hands thumbing over the material as he surveyed Jared’s choice of clothing.
“You’re welcome” it was impossible not to smile back. “Your room’s next to mine”.
“How many rooms are there here?” Jensen asked as he followed him to the next room.
“About twenty I think, it used to be a boarding house. The rest of the pack have their rooms on the other side of the house so don’t worry about them, they won’t be coming up here” he assured him.
Jared liked his privacy and therefore had claimed the bedroom farthest away from everyone else in his own private quarters. He had his own study, living area and bedroom with a huge en suite leading onto another adjoining bedroom. Maybe he shouldn’t have put Jensen so close but he couldn’t bear him to be far away.
“Oh. Ok” Jensen replied as he stepped into the bedroom. “Wow” he breathed, taking it all in.
The room wasn’t much. There was a giant double bed in the center of the far wall, facing a huge window with red silk curtains to match the bed sheets. There were huge oak closets and a cream couch taking up the rest of the room. Jared didn’t think the room was very special but Jensen was looking at everything in awe.
“This is mine?” he asked disbelievingly.
“If you want it” Jared replied honestly. “There’s an en suite bathroom that’s shared with my room so I’ll apologise in advance because I do have a tendency to sing in the shower” he laughed nervously as Jensen smiled warmly at him.
“It’s perfect” he replied, heading to stare out of the window. His face glowing beautifully in the subtle moonlight, eyes an emerald green that Jared will never forget, skin flawless and untouched and the most kissable lips Jared has ever seen.
“I’m going to go for a run” he announced “let you get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.” He smiled and turned to leave “night Jensen.”
“Goodnight Jare” Jensen replied, nickname rolling off his tongue effortlessly.
Jared needed to get out, to shift and let his wolf run wild for a bit. If he didn’t then he was afraid he’d end up molesting Jensen in his sleep and that just couldn’t happen. He had no idea why he felt so strongly for this man, his whole world had been tilted on its axis and he just sat back and let it happen. He needed to talk to Megan, she’s the only person who’d honestly tell Jared what to do with Jensen.
He found her by her favourite rose bush, in her wolf form, gazing at the stars. He turned his head towards the house and could see Jensen in his bedroom, knowing if he started talking to Megan here then Jensen would hear every word. Making a quick decision he peeled out of his shirt, dropped his jeans and underwear before quickly shifting. His body changing shape effortlessly after all these years, bones reforming and fur covering every inch of his skin.
Jared had never really seen his wolf, he knew he was a deep chocolate colour and had white paws but other than that he didn’t really have a clue. He didn’t exactly care either. Jared was a tall guy and that shown in his wolf, making him significantly bigger than other weres, his alpha status increasing his size even more. It didn’t really help him be stealthy but it gave him immense power.
Megan turned her head towards him, ears perking up at his presence before she chuffed gently in greeting. Rubbing her head against Jared’s neck in affection, catching Jensen’s eye where he stood in the window before turning her attention back to Jared.
”So… Jensen huh?” she asked. Weres can communicate through telepathic messages. It helps them work out strategies while hunting and just gives them general privacy if they want to talk alone. Jared has never been more thankful for it that he was now.
Jared sighed, lying his huge body down next to his sister and resting his head on his paws. ”I’m that obvious?
”Just a tad” Megan’s wolf was almost grinning at him. ”He’s your mate isn’t he?”
Typical Megan, always knew everything on Jared’s mind. ”I think so” he replied sadly.
”Jared you found your mate… why aren’t you happy?” she tilted her head in question. Her wolf was a similar colour to Jared, though smaller and much more agile than Jared would ever be. Power was on his side but he was also a bit of a klutz sometimes.
”Because he doesn’t know anything about us, fuck Meg he doesn’t even know what a mate is” that was Jared’s main problem. Jensen didn’t have a clue what he was feeling towards Jared. Jared knew he was feeling drawn to his mate but to Jensen he was controlled by feelings that he didn’t understand.
”Do you want him as your mate?”
Jared snorted, stupid question really. ”Of course I do.”
”Then teach him everything, let him know what he’s feeling and then let him make his own mind up. You know that if you ignore your feelings for too long then they’ll become uncontrollable. Think how confusing it will be for Jensen if he has no idea what’s going on” Megan gently butted her head against his. Something she’d done since she was a pup to show her affection to Jared.
He sighed once more. ”You’re right. I should talk to him. Tell him everything”
”I’m always right” she replied smugly before shifting into her human form and grabbing a robe on the bench next to the rose bush, effectively ending the conversation.
Jared swiftly rose to his feet and bounded off into the woods, a run would clear his head, make him tired enough to just sleep when he got back. A run would fix everything, it always did.
Almost always…
A werewolf. He was a werewolf. Fuck.
The wolves sat together for a few minutes, Jensen tried to guess who the other wolf was. He thought it was Sophia but was corrected when Megan’s body suddenly unfurled. He turned his eyes out of respect while she grabbed her robe and headed back to the house. His attention was then focused to Jared. His wolf was beautiful, strong and powerful. Jensen felt awed by him.
Jared sat for a few more moments before rising to his feet and running off into the woods. Jensen felt disappointed that he could no longer see him and a little part of his heart ached at the loss but he ignored it. These feelings were crazy.
He turned towards the bed, unfastening his jeans and slipping them off before climbing under the silk sheets and burying deep under them, careful not to lean against the bandage covering his bite. He heard various howls in the distance, some closer than others and wondered just who was making them.
He tossed and turned for hours, unable to sleep. His brain was on over drive and his body was thrumming with energy he just couldn’t burn off. He groaned in frustration when he turned over for the millionth time and a soft noise by the door caught his attention.
There standing in the doorway was a wolf, not just any wolf, Jared. He smiled at the wolf and could have sworn he smiled back, trotting into his room and placing his head on the bed, looking up at Jensen and whining softly. Jensen should be afraid of a huge wolf in his room, but he wasn’t. This was Jared and he felt surprisingly safe in his presence.
“You can’t sleep either huh?” he asked, not even sure if the wolf could understand him.
Jared made a non-committal noise and yawned, showing off huge teeth that Jensen really didn’t fancy being on the receiving end of. Then again, part of him wanted those teeth to bite him. Talk about an inconvenient time to learn about a biting kink he apparently has.
Jensen decided he wouldn’t get any sleep tonight and patted the bed for Jared to join him. The wolf surveyed him for a moment before jumping up onto the bed and dropping down next to Jensen, elbowing him in the process.
“Ow!” he groaned “dude, elbows!”
The wolf was almost laughing at his discomfort and Jensen glared at him before turning towards him, sliding closer as the bed dipped with Jared’s weight. He sighed in content and brushed his fingers through Jared’s fur, finding it a lot softer than he’d imagined.
Jared shifted slightly and rested his head on Jensen’s chest, allowing him to continue running his fingers through his fur. Down his neck, over his head and even across his huge pointy ears that were even softer than the rest of him. Jensen smiled softly when he realised Jared was snoring quietly, head still lying across Jensen’s chest.
It was surprisingly comforting, in ways it probably shouldn’t be but Jensen didn’t really have time to dwell on it as his eyes slipped closed and he finally fell into a peaceful sleep.
-x-
-x-
Jared is gorgeous, smooth tanned skin that stretches for miles covering a powerful expanse of muscle that’s not bulky but just enough to look strong and protective. His floppy brown hair hangs over his face, yet doesn’t disturb his features. In his sleep he looks so delicate and all Jensen wants to do is sweep him up in his arms… but he won’t, because that’s weird. Though could anything really be considered weird anymore?
It’s nearly half an hour later when Jared finally stirs awake, his breathing slowly becoming lighter before a yawn escapes him and he stretches out his limbs. He’s yet to open his eyes and freezes when his arm brushes over Jensen.
“Crap” Jared mumbles, still not opening his eyes. “I’m naked on your bed aren’t I?” he scrunches up his eyes a little more as if it will protect him from the answer.
Jensen chuckled “yeah just a tad”.
He groans and turns his head to bury it under the sheet, his cheeks turning the most adorable shade of red as he hides from Jensen.
“You know you’re a little big to be hiding under the sheets Jare” Jensen poked Jared in the shoulder almost to prove his point. “I can still see you” he tilted his eyes slightly downwards, across the small of his back and curve of one perfect ass. Raising his eyebrows in approval “all of you” he grinned as Jared finally opened his eyes, glaring golden yellow orbs at him.
“Remind me why I thought it would be good to comfort you again?” Jared twists his body in the most awkward way and manages to cover himself with the sheet, dragging most of it off Jensen.
“Hey!” Jensen complained as half of the sheet was ripped off him.
“You totally took advantage of my weak state” Jared teased.
“Your weak state!” Jensen almost yelled in disbelief. “You were the gigantic wolf just casually strolling into my bedroom! If anybody was weak then it was me!” he can’t help laughing along with Jared, he’s contagious.
“So it’s your bedroom?” Jared asked in a teasing tone that was almost hopeful.
“I… uh…” maybe Jared didn’t want him here. He said he did but maybe he was just being nice and Jensen is imposing. “If you want it to be?” he finally said, suddenly shy.
Jared flashed him those heart breaking dimples “I’d love it to be your room.”
Jensen tried to contain himself he really did but when Jared smiles the whole world smiles back. “Then you better get your ass in the shower if you want to take one this morning because I’m thinking I need a long one.”
“Yes sir” Jared mock saluted and turned to leave before realising his state of dress. “Uh… think I could borrow this sheet?”
Jensen laughed. Jared had stripped off so casually last night and had only just covered himself, yet he was worried about being exposed. Jared narrowed his eyes at Jensen, causing him to laugh more before he pulled the sheets extra hard, dragging it off Jensen and hurrying into the bathroom.
True to his word Jared sang in the shower… badly. Jensen wasn’t even sure some of them were songs because he sure as hell hadn’t heard them before, then again, Jared’s singing did sound nothing like the original songs. However his rendition of a Britney Spears song sounded much better, though he did only know the chorus. Jensen grinned when he heard a soft thud followed by an ‘I’m ok!’
Around ten minutes and way too many awful songs later Jared declared the bathroom free and Jensen rolled out of bed and slowly forced his body to move. The bathroom was all steamed up, judging by Jared’s body temperature he could stand the water a little hotter than most. Just like Jared was a little hotter than most. Jensen shook his head as if to snap himself out of such thoughts before wiping the condensation off the mirror and taking in his appearance.
His hair was sleep rumpled and there were pillow lines on his cheek. His eyes were a light green with sparks of gold in them, quite a spectacular sight and Jensen almost wished he could keep them like this instead of having them change to gold. He looked to the bandage covering his abdomen and gently prised it off, stunned when the bite had fully healed, leaving only a thin white scar in its place.
’Well there’s something I can live with’ he thought to himself, noticing any other cuts he had on his skin were also healed.
He turned on the shower and was surprised when the boiling hot water didn’t hurt at all, instead it soothed his aching muscles and let the past few days just wash down the drain. For a few blissful moments Jensen almost forgot about where he was and what he was turning into.
He had no idea what his wolf was thinking last night, but Jensen had invited him in so maybe it wasn’t entirely his fault. Everything was just getting so damn hard. He’d only known Jensen for a day and his world was being picked up and thrown around, everything falling out of place. The only thing that felt right was Jensen. And he didn’t have a clue what was happening to him.
The shower clicked off and Jared busied himself trying to think of anything but Jensen in the shower. It was pretty hard to do.
A few minutes later Jensen emerged from his bedroom, looking freshly showered and a lot healthier than he did yesterday. Jared’s insides were screaming at him to run to Jensen, take him and claim him but he stayed seated and instead offered only a warm smile.
“Morning” Jared said, hoping that this morning didn’t create some unwanted tension.
“Morning” Jensen replied with a genuine soft smile gracing his features.
“You sleep ok?”
Jensen rubbed at the back of his neck, almost bashful. “Yeah, it was good actually.”
“I’m glad” and he really, really was. “So… will you be staying here with us?” with me.
Jensen paused for a moment, though it seemed like a lifetime to Jared. “Yeah” he finally answered “I’d like that.”
Jared let out the breath he knew he’d been holding “great!” and it was, oh god it was. “Would you like me to take you to where you live so you can get your things? Maybe tell family and friends you’re moving?”
Jensen seemed to freeze up for a moment “yeah… uh… I don’t have much stuff but it would be nice to get it and I don’t exactly have any friends or family.” He shrugged like it was nothing but Jared couldn’t even bear to think of life without his family, he didn’t even think before he wrapped Jensen in his arms.
“I’m sorry” he whispered.
“Thank you” was all Jensen could reply.
“How about we go down and get some breakfast and then I’ll drive you to get your things?” the sooner Jensen was safe here with him and people who could love him the better.
“Yeah” he replied, a little bewildered. “That’d be great, thanks Jare.”
“That my new nickname huh?” Jared teased as he led Jensen down to the kitchen.
“Oh… uh… don’t you like it?” he blushed and Jared wanted to march him back up to his bedroom right now but contained himself.
“I like it when you call it me” he grinned, making Jensen blush even more on purpose.
“Then I guess I’ll keep calling it you” Jensen seemed to pick up on Jared’s intention and gave him a pointed look.
“Awesome” he smiled innocently. “You know you’re taking everything really well” he noted. Jensen didn’t seem to be freaking out at all. When Sophia first turned she’d single handedly trashed the house and screamed at anyone who’d have the nerve to go near her. Then again, Jared suspects he’d have that reaction too if he found out Chad was his mate.
“Trust me Jared. I’m freaking out on the inside” Jensen assured him “it’s just going to take some time to settle in.”
“If you’d like some time alone then all you have to do is ask” Jared didn’t really want to leave Jensen alone but if he needed time then Jared would be more than happy to give it to him.
“No” Jensen replied all too quickly. Jared’s inner wolf was shaking its pom poms and doing a cheer dance at Jensen’s reluctance to being alone but Jared tried to keep his cool, after all, he was an alpha not a fucking diva.
“Alright then” he gripped Jensen’s bicep reassuringly and warmth almost radiated out of him at Jensen’s tiny smile.
“You’re pack beta feckles, you just sit and relax” she flashed him a winning smile before she went back to helping the others.
Jensen turned to Jared who was currently burying his head in his hands. “What’s pack beta?” Jensen whispered to him, hoping not to sound like too much of an idiot.
“It’s… uh…” Jared tried to find the words but it looked like he was really struggling.
“It means you’re Jared’s mate” the fiery redhead that Jensen remembered as Danneel answered for him. Though that really wasn’t an answer because Jensen had no idea what a mate was. Though Jared had said it yesterday when he’d referred to Chris and Steve.
“At the risk of sounding like an idiot… what’s a mate?” he asked.
“I think Jared should tell you” Danneel spoke again, placing a plate of pancakes in front of Jared and then Jensen. “He’s better with explanations.”
“No I’m not!” Jared was clearly trying to avoid this conversation.
“I know” she winked at him “but think how much fun Jensen will have watching you try and stutter it out!”
“I really wonder sometimes why I let you join this pack” Jared glared at her before turning back to Jensen. “I’ll explain it to you later because I think Danneel would enjoy it way too much if I explained now.”
“Where you going later?” Danneel pried, eager for some fun judging by the way she was bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“Taking Jensen to get his things” Jared responded easily, tucking into his pancakes as he did so.
“Oh good can I come?” she asked hopefully.
“No” Jared replied easily, not once taking his eyes off his plate.
“You’re no fun you know that Padalecki?” she pouted at him before retrieving her own pancakes and sitting at the table, closely followed by the rest of the pack.
“So you’re staying then?” Lauren asked hopefully from where she was seated next to Jensen.
“Yeah if you’ll have me” he replied, feeling a little intimidated by all the new faces he was surrounded by.
“Don’t be ridiculous! We’d love to have you here!” she replied earnestly. “Even Chad the miserable bastard” she blew an air kiss at Chad and he responded by giving her the finger. “See how much he loves us all?”
Jensen couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped him “maybe it’s just way too early in the morning for smiles.”
“Yes! Finally somebody with sense!” Chad actually agreed with Jensen, flashing him a smile that didn’t look menacing. Strange.
“Oh god you’re going to be another Chad aren’t you freckles?” Sophia groaned “the world does not need one more Chad.”
“I love you too sweetheart” Chad deadpanned, rolling his eyes and reaching for the syrup.
“You know you do!” Sophia planted a kiss on Chad’s cheek and sparked up a conversation with the tiny brunette next to her Jensen remembers as Sandy.
Jared leaned in to whisper in his ear “Chad and Sophia are mates, along with Chris and Steve and Danneel and Lauren. Megan, Sandy and Misha are unmated.” Jensen kind of guessed what it meant but he didn’t know for sure what a mate even was so just decided to nod in understanding.
“And you?” Jensen asked, praying that some guy or girl wasn’t just about to walk in and throw themselves on Jared’s lap. Even though Danneel called him Jared’s mate she may not have been serious.
“I think I’ve found my mate” he whispered honestly, like he was almost afraid of what Jensen might say.
What else could he say? “Yeah” he smiled softly “me too.”
-x-
Chapter 4
-x-
“You’re really ok with moving?” Jared asked. A little unsure about why Jensen would be so eager to leave here, just pack up and move on like it’s nothing.
“I’m fine” Jensen assured him. “Trust me Jare there’s nothing left for me here. No friends, no family and no real job. Just a shitty apartment I honestly can’t wait to be rid of.”
“No job?” Jared found it hard to believe that Jensen was unable to find a job. He’s charismatic, fun, smart and looks to be a good worker.
“I paint but that’s not really considered work seeing as I actually have to sell paintings” Jensen handed Jared an easel and he went to load it into the truck.
“You must be good though if you’re able to live off it?” Jared added once he’d returned to the apartment.
“I sell my paintings but they don’t really give me a lot of money. My parent’s left me a lot of money when they died” he took a moment to take a deep breath before filling a box with clothes at impressive speed.
Jared didn’t respond to that, after all what could he say?
“You need some help?” is what Jared said instead.
Jensen laughed lightly, passing him another box labelled ‘clothes and shit’. “You are helping” he grinned and shooed Jared in the direction of his truck.
“So…” Jensen started “you ever going to explain this mate thing or just avoid it for as long as physically possible?”
“Uh… the second option” Jared decided and flashed Jensen a grin that sent shivers through all the right places.
“Nope. Sorry big guy but you got thirty minutes alone without other ears so spill”
Jared tried the puppy dog eyes on him but it didn’t work. He huffed in annoyance before considering how to start. “Mates are… when you find your mate… uh… a mate is… care to take a guess what a mate is?” wow Jared really did suck at this.
“Like a partner?” Jensen asked.
“Yeah” Jared agreed, smiling gratefully at Jensen for getting through the hard part. “A mated couple are similar to a human married couple. Only better” he smiled as if lost in thought and Jensen couldn’t help smiling back at him.
“Better how?” Jensen asked, genuinely curious.
“Well… uh…”
“How about you get it all out, I won’t say a word until you’re finished?” Jensen offered, laughing softly at the relief that crossed Jared’s face.
“Ok… well… when two were’s meet and they’re destined to be mates then they can sort of feel this pull towards each other. Every day it gets stronger, like our inner wolf is just screaming at us to make the first move and tie with this person. To make them ours. It’s stronger on the alpha than on the beta but they both definitely feel the intense pull. Then when were’s mate, it’s for life. You don’t break up and you don’t get the chance to be with anyone else, hell, you can’t even look at anyone else.”
“I know I said I wouldn’t interrupt” Jensen apologised “but I was just wondering… can you choose your mate?”
“No” Jared smiled softly. “Your body will tell you when you find them and then you just go from there. If you don’t mate after so long in each other’s company then it can get dangerous for the beta.”
“Dangerous how?” Jensen asked, inwardly slapping himself for interrupting again.
“The feelings become more intense day by day. The longer you take to mate the more built up on hormones the alpha becomes, then as they’re stronger than a beta they can get a little rough to get what they want.” Jared took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. “If they don’t mate within a week or so of meeting then the alpha could really hurt the beta because instinct overrules any logical though process. The urge to mate becomes the one sole focus.”
“Wow… so it’s not something you can avoid then?” the thought of not even choosing who you got to spend the rest of your life with was something Jensen didn’t really like the sound of.
“Nope” Jared replied simply.
“What if you don’t like your mate?” Jensen asked, terrified that he may go through that.
“Don’t worry Jen, you will always like your mate. Then once you’ve been together a while you’ll love your mate. It’s not like human feelings, not really.”
“So I don’t get a choice?” Jensen couldn’t stand the thought of loving someone simply because his body said so.
“Jensen… if you weren’t meant to be with them then you wouldn’t mate with them” Jared assured, honestly meaning every word he said. “Anyway… where was I… so a mating bond is something unbreakable. Nothing compares to the intensity. You can literally feel everything your mate feels. Emotions, desires and fears all get shared between you. I imagine it’s remarkable, being that close to someone you can almost see the world through their eyes.”
Jared seemed lost in thought, excited at the prospect of finding a mate to share all that with. If Jensen was honest it did sound a little exciting, being close enough with someone to literally share everything.
“What if one of them dies?” Jensen asks, wondering what could possibly happen if they can’t mate again.
“Then the other dies from the loss a few days later” Jared replied sadly “it’s what happened to my mother when my father died” he tried a sad smile but failed miserably.
“I’m sorry” Jensen said. Because he truly was sorry that Jared ever had to go through that. “How old were you?” his heart almost breaks at the thought of a young Jared losing both his parents like that.
“Not sure… it was like fifty years ago so I guess I’d have been around thirty.”
Jensen waited for the punch line but it never came “Jare how old are you?”
“Eighty years, give or take” he replied earnestly. “Weres stop aging once they reach sexual maturity. Disease gets cured from our healing abilities and we can’t die of old age because we stopped aging. The only thing that causes a were to die is if they’re killed.”
That breaks Jensen’s heart a little more, not only did Jared lose both his parents suddenly but his father was killed. It made Jensen angry, how dare anyone hurt Jared like this. He reigned in his anger and tried a joke. “So I’m moving in with a bunch of oldies?”
Jared laughed, humouring Jensen at the very least. “Yep. How’s it feel to know you woke up next to a naked old man?” he winked as Jensen flushed, memory of Jared in his bed overwhelming him.
“I think it’s the least of my problems” he replied, maybe truthfully. “Anyway… you were supposed to be talking about mates… how do you mate with someone anyway?”
“Um…” Jared blushed. Jensen bit his lip to hold back the grin. It felt so good to make Jared blush. “Well… uh… to start the mating bond you have to… um… have… uh…” he waved his hand in the air in a circular motion which really didn’t explain anything. “You know… they have to… um…”
“Have sex?” Jensen really couldn’t watch Jared stumble his way through it anymore, while adorable it was cruel to let him suffer.
Jared focused very intently on the road “um… yeah… that. But uh… alphas… we… we don’t have a normal… you know” he gestured towards his pants.
“Oh god you’re really a woman!” Jensen tried to clear the tension but only got a half-hearted glare in return.
“No… um… have you ever seen a dog’s… you know” he gestured again towards his pants.
“Nope” Jensen replied “can’t say I’ve ever perved on a dog.”
“No! Just… biology wise!” Jared was getting frustrated and Jensen really wanted to help him out… sadly he wasn’t an expert on the biology of a dog’s cock and therefore was no use at all.
“Just spit it out Jared” Jensen didn’t care what he had to say as long as he shut up and said it. “What makes a dog’s dick like yours?”
Jared was a little stunned but quickly composed himself. “Well… aesthetically I’m all human” he tried. “But like a dog I have a knot and in order to mate with someone my knot has to be… uh… inside them”.
Jensen tried to process that. He’d heard of a dog’s knot before, god knows how and that maybe makes sense given that Jared was part canine. “And how big is your knot?”
Jared flushed an adorable deep shade of pink. “Uh… that’s kinda private” he stuttered over his words.
“Humour me” Jensen raised an eyebrow towards Jared and grinned in victory as he gave in.
“I’m not sure… maybe the size of a baseball?”
Jensen winced “and that goes inside someone?!” he unconsciously closed his legs at the thought because damn that must hurt!
“The beta wouldn’t hurt if that’s what you’re thinking” Jared answered easily “your mate is built to take your body, my mate wouldn’t have a problem with my size”.
“So you’re like big for a were?” Jensen couldn’t have ever guessed how easily their conversation shifted from educational to sexual.
“Very” Jared waggled his eyebrows, trying to lighten the mood.
It worked. Of course it did, Jared only had to think of Jensen smiling and every part of him lit up inside.
“So you have to put your knot inside them… then what?” Jensen pushed, wanting to know exactly what happens.
“You know you’re awfully forward” Jared noted before continuing. “While you’re tied to them… oh… the knot like gets wedged inside your mate for around an hour or so. Not exactly a quickie” Jared laughed at that statement and Jensen almost gulped at the thought of being connected to someone for an hour… by something the size of a baseball too! It just wasn’t happening. “But you can’t exactly argue with an hour long orgasm… anyway… as soon as you’re tied the alpha will seek out your throat, extend their canines and bite down to claim you as theirs. It will draw blood and it will leave a permanent scar. You may have noticed them on the mated members of the pack. The beta can bite the alpha too if the alpha lets them. The first time is the only time a bite will scar so if the alpha wants to be marked by their beta then they would tell the beta before they tied. Now to explain how two betas such as Danneel and Lauren can mate, they each have scars from their bite but obviously none of them have a knot. You don’t have to have an alpha in a mated couple. It’s really the bite that does it for beta couples but if an alpha wants to mate then it has to involve a knot too… am I confusing you?”
“Only a lot” Jensen chuckles, trying to take it all in.
“Beta matings are a little more confusing, a beta’s body seeks out a knot and beta couples just don’t have that. I personally don’t know how their bodies can adapt to life with another beta but apparently they can. Sadly though only an alpha is fertile while all female betas are able to carry pups. Beta couples tend to never have children.” He smiled sadly. “A shame but it’s the way of life”.
“That’s a lot to take in” Jensen’s head hurt a little from all that information. Surely it all travelled in one ear and out of the other. “Mates are really important to each other aren’t they?”
“Nothing comes first” Jared replied honestly, meeting his eyes for a second before turning back to the road. “Anything else you’d like to know about mates?”
Jensen already knew the only thing about mates that concerned him but he had to voice it anyway… he had to know. “I’m yours aren’t I?”
Jared stayed silent for a long moment, eyes fixed firmly on the road. “Yes” he replied, a little sadly.
“You don’t want me?” Jensen felt his insides shatter at the thought of not being wanted by his mate, his Jared.
“Of course I want you” Jared replied instantly, eyes flicking between him and the road. “I just wish you didn’t have to learn all this and have a mate to deal with at the same time” he sighed and Jensen’s world stabilized itself. Jared wanted him and that meant more to Jensen than it probably should but after everything Jared explained today he guessed it makes perfect sense. If this is how he feels then he dreads to think how much worse Jared feels.
“So we have… what… five days before you become a danger to me?” Jensen tried to act cool but he was a maybe more than a little scared of what Jared could do to hurt him.
“Yes” Jared whispered softly, clearly sad it was all happening so fast.
“Fuck.” It was all Jensen could think of. Fuck.
-x-
Chapter 5
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Over the past few days Jared and Jensen had gotten incredibly close, hardly leaving each other’s side and Jared was finding it simply impossible not to touch. Which is how he found himself in his wolf form every night curled up at Jensen’s side. It should feel strange waking up naked next to Jensen but Jared’s pretty sure this is how he’d like to wake up every morning.
What made Jared even happier was the fact that the pack had bonded so well with him, each loving him and his personality. Even Chad was coming around, though he was extremely weary, convinced that Jensen was different and not your average werewolf.
”I’m telling you Jared, he’s not normal” Chad tried to make Jared understand but it really wasn’t working. He wouldn’t stand for a bad word being said about Jensen.
“What do you mean he’s not normal?” Jared scoffed.
“He fucking threw me across the room and pinned me to a wall Jared. He’s a beta and I’m an alpha. That just doesn’t happen!” Chad threw his arms in the air in exasperation.
“Maybe he could do it because he’s my beta” Jared suggested. “I’m stronger than all of you so it would only make sense that my beta is too”.
“Maybe” Chad considered “or maybe he’s something else entirely”.
“Like what exactly?”
“I don’t know! That’s what I’m saying!”
“So you’re accusing Jensen of being something else you just have no idea what?” Jared raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “Are you kidding me right now?”
“Think about it Jared. He pins me to a wall, his eyes don’t turn fully gold and he’s taking everything so easily! Sophia nearly blinded me with pepper spray when she found out we were mates!”
“Don’t blame her” Jared mumbled. “Ok. Say you’re right and something about Jensen is different. Would you still accept him as pack beta?”
“Of course I would. You’re a brilliant alpha and your beta has already kicked my ass. I know he can handle himself. What I’m wondering is if you can handle him.” With that Chad turned and left. Jared glared at his retreating form, refusing to believe anything could be different about Jensen.
He considered Chad’s words as he gazed into Jensen’s eyes. They were gold but if you looked closer then you’d see the flecks of emerald green in them, they’d simply stopped changing. Something that Jared had never seen before but that didn’t mean it was impossible, there were lots of things he’d never seen before.
“What you thinking about?” Jensen asked as he curled into Jared’s warmth. They’d been getting closer though Jared was determined to let Jensen make the first move when he was ready, he’d fight his wolf for as long as possible to make Jensen happy.
“You” Jared replied honestly. Smiling as Jensen pillowed his head on his chest, breathing deep and taking in his scent. It had Jared hot all over. Come to think of it… Jared was very hot. Like… feverish.
“Are you ok?” Jensen asked, voice filled with concern. “Jay you don’t look so good” he pressed his hand to Jared’s forehead and flinched back “fuck you’re boiling!”
“I’m always this warm” Jared shrugged like it was nothing.
“Yeah well I want a second opinion!” Jared secretly loved it when Jensen got all bossy. “We’re going downstairs to see Sophia!” he declared, rising to his feet from the couch and pulling Jared with him.
“I’d much rather stay curled up with you” Jared groaned as Jensen pulled him towards Sophia’s healing room.
“Me too but I’d also rather you didn’t burst into flame from a fever” Jensen didn’t even turn around as he dragged Jared into the private room and called for Sophia.
“Jensen I’m fine really” Jared assured, though not really believing it himself.
“Jared you’re not. You’re burning up and you look all flustered and you smell different” Jensen noted and quickly changed his words before Jared could take offense. “Not like bad different… just… not how you normally smell” he blushed a little and looked down towards his feet “it’s a little intoxicating”.
Now Jared was the one to blush as Sophia scurried into the room. “Ok what’s the problem… Oh shit!” she covered her nose “who the hell opened a jar of alpha pheromones in here!”
Jared groaned, tried desperately to gain control of his body but it was a futile attempt. Jensen furrowed his brows in confusion as Sophia rushed to the windows and yanked them open.
“Jesus Jensen can’t you smell that?!” she looked stunned at him.
“Well yeah…” Jensen looked more confused than ever. “That’s just how Jared smells… only now it’s more… well… better”.
“Sweetie that right there is the smell of pure sex” she raised a pointed brow at him but Jensen quickly managed to avoid eye contact. “Now Jared would you like me to check you over with Jensen in the room or without him?”
Jared looked to Jensen, he didn’t really want him to hear this but it was his decision. “It’s up to Jensen. He’s just as responsible for my health as I am.”
“How… sweet… Jensen, would you like to stay or allow Jared some privacy?” her smile was a little forced, clearly having a hard time trying to block out Jared’s scent as she waited for Jensen to reply.
“Judging by the subject I’ll give him some privacy” Jensen decided and turned to Jared “I’ll be right outside ok?”
“Yeah sure” Jared agreed.
“Make sure the door is shut properly so the soundproofing works” Sophia added as Jensen left the room. She gave Jared a harsh look “you know exactly what’s going on! Why haven’t you acted on it?”
“Because he needs time!” Jared practically yelled “it’s all going so fucking fast!”
“Hey! Calm your ass down!” she glared at him, nobody with half a brain messed with Sophia. “Jared you’re in a fucking mating fever! Your body is calling out for your mate!”
“And he had no idea!” Jared responded. “Jensen has no fucking idea!”
“Well I’m sorry but biology overrules what you want every single time. He’s going to have to get with the fucking programme!”
“I can hold it off” Jared tried to sound confident but he really couldn’t even convince himself.
“No. You can’t” Sophia amended. “Your body needs him now. It’s not going to wait around for you to explain the birds and the bees. The longer you wait the more at risk you are of hurting him Jared. If you don’t hurry the fuck up then you could be at risk of raping and injuring your own mate through no fault of your own! I know you Jared and I know you don’t want to do that!”
Jared’s shoulders sagged at the reality of her words. “You’re right. I don’t. Isn’t there anything you can give me? Like a suppressant or something?”
She shook her head sadly “sorry Jay. Suppressants are for females in heat not hormonal alphas in a mating fever, they really wouldn’t do anything because you have no oestrogen in your body”. She tousled his hair playfully “no matter how much your girly hair sticks out” she winked before turning serious once more. “You either do this now or you won’t get the chance to do it right. Make the right choice Jared”.
“Ok… I’ll make the right choice” Jared responded, quickly shifting into his wolf form and leaping through the large open window.
“That’s not what I meant!” Sophia practically screamed behind him but it fell upon deaf ears. Jared’s subconscious had left the building, the wolf was in control now.
“He’s in a mating fever. If he doesn’t mate soon then he’ll hurt you” she stated simply. “He’s too busy pussyfooting around it that I’m telling it to you straight. If he doesn’t get to mate with you then his wolf will take over and simply claim you… with or without your consent”.
“Ok” Jensen replied… what else could he say?
“He then shifted into his wolf form to avoid the topic all together” she rolled her eyes in annoyance. “That boy will do more harm than good if he keeps on this way”.
“Thank you for telling me” Jensen tried to wrap his head around everything. Whether he liked it or not he was going to be mated to Jared… soon. The scary thing? He liked that idea, he liked it a lot.
“You’re welcome” she smiled her killer smile “I suggest you go get comfy, Jared probably won’t be back soon”.
True to Sophia’s word Jared didn’t return for several hours. Jensen had eaten with the pack, showered and was actually ready for bed when Jared finally arrived. He was dressed simply in faded ripped jeans, his hair was all tangled and his skin was damp from showering. What really caught Jensen’s attention was the way Jared’s nostrils were flaring, how his eyes were almost glowing and the low rumble that caught in his throat. Jensen’s body was jumping for joy but his logical mind still knew to fear the possibility of what was to come.
“Jare?” he asked cautiously, trying not to make sudden movements.
“I tried Jen” Jared choked out “I really fucking tried” his tone was pleading almost desperate.
“Jared it’s ok” Jensen tried to reassure him.
“No” he shook his head “no Jensen I can’t. I can’t hold back any more, the wolf part of me… it’s too strong” he was panting heavily, as if he was at war within his own body. After what Jensen was told about mating he guessed that was exactly what was going on.
“Jare” Jensen tried once more.
“Jensen” Jared grit out, his body tense as his lip curled slightly “Run.”
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Chapter 6
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“Jensen” Jared almost choked on his name “If you have any sense. Run!”
“Guess I have no sense then” Jensen shrugged and stepped closer to Jared. “I’m not afraid of you Jare”.
“You should be” he almost snarled, clearly forcing himself to hold back.
“But I’m not” Jensen whispered earnestly. Clearly he was going to have to make the first move so he cupped his hands around Jared’s face and leaned in closer. “I could never be afraid of you” he spoke the words firmly to make Jared understand “I want this.”
The scents coming from Jared were enough to send Jensen into a daze. He just needed to get closer. He needed to feel Jared all over his body, to touch him, taste him and to give himself over to him. Jensen needed it all.
“You don’t” Jared shook his head in denial. “I’m no good. I can’t even stop myself from trying to claim you, how could you want that?”
Jared’s head was still clasped in Jensen’s palms and there really was no reasoning with him. Jensen did the only thing he could think of, he leant forward and captured Jared’s lips in a deep kiss. Saying everything that words couldn’t.
Jared was a little stunned by the kiss but quickly caught up, bringing his hands up around Jensen’s waist and pulling his body closer as he opened his mouth to fight Jensen for dominance of the kiss. Jensen gave it up easily, he let Jared lead. The kiss became deeper, more frantic as they explored each other. Jensen lost himself into the kiss, drinking in the taste of everything that was Jared. His body was screaming for this, for Jared… for his mate.
They eventually broke apart, gasping into each other’s mouths as Jared slowly gained some control over himself. “Are you sure?” he panted and Jensen could see the fear behind those beautiful eyes.
“Yes I’m sure” Jensen replied easily. He wrapped his arms around Jared’s neck and pressed his body fully against his, showing Jared just how sure he was. “Take me” he whispered, lips closing in towards Jared’s once more “I’m yours”.
Jared quickly took control of the kiss and spun their bodies around, slamming the door and pinning Jensen up against it. Taking everything in deep bruising kisses that were built up of years alone, he’d never be alone again. Things suddenly needed to move a lot faster or Jared would explode. He ran his hands over Jensen’s body, noting the places that bought a groan out of those sinful lips. His hands slid around and under Jensen’s ass, lifting him up and smiling into the kiss as Jensen instinctively wrapped his legs around Jared’s waist.
“You make it so fucking hard to resist you” Jared muttered through kisses as he carried Jensen to the bed.
“Good” Jensen replied, kissing him back feverishly “don’t want you to ever be able to resist me”. Fuck. Jared was certain he wouldn’t last long.
He gently laid Jensen out on the bed, lifting Jensen’s shirt over his head before undoing and slipping out of his own pants and boxers. He almost blushed at the gasp that left Jensen, but that gasp was of pure pleasure and not of repulse. Jensen wanted this. That was all it took for Jared to straddle Jensen’s hips, trailing dirty open mouthed kisses down his torso and mouthing at the denim covered bulge.
Jensen groaned, raising his hips up into Jared’s touch. “God Jare… please”.
Jared smiled at the submissive nature Jensen was showing, it pleased his inner wolf deeply at how easily Jensen gave up control to him.
Their first time was never going to be slow and romantic so Jared didn’t bother leading up to it, instead he swiftly unbuttoned Jensen’s jeans and slid them down his thighs and off his legs altogether before slowly sliding the boxers off Jensen too. Chuckling slightly at Jensen’s impatient groan that was rapidly replaced with a moan of sheer bliss as Jared’s lips fixed around Jensen’s beautiful cock. It was musky and salty and just so… Jensen. Jared was addicted.
“Fuck Jay” Jensen gasped, his hands fisting into the bed sheets.
“Hmm” Jared responded, a little disappointed that Jensen was still able to construct words.
He sensed Jensen’s orgasm drawing closer and backed off, smirking when Jensen whined at the loss. “Need you to last” he whispered, crawling back up his body and sucking marks into the skin wherever he could so that everyone could see what was his. These marks were one of the few things that were blood didn’t heal and so Jared relished in the fact that they’d be visible for days.
Finally he reached Jensen’s lips, capturing them and sharing Jensen’s taste with him. God it was just so good. Everything was perfect. He pulled back slightly “want you to mark me” Jared had thought long and hard about this but quickly realised that there was never a choice. “I want to wear your mark just like you’ll wear mine” he nuzzled Jensen’s throat, scraping his teeth over his pulse point as promise of what was to come.
Jensen nodded but wasn’t really able to form words, perfect. He kissed him once more, trailing his hands over Jensen’s body and felt heat burn through him as Jensen did the same to him, leaving a trail of fire wherever he touched. Why was he trying not to do this again? His thoughts were cut off when Jensen’s hands circled around his dick, pumping a few times before fingering over the knot at the base.
“Is that…” Jensen didn’t really need to finish his question, Jared already knew what he meant.
“Yeah” he whispered, nodding gently incase Jensen was as zoned out as he was feeling right now.
Jensen’s eyes turned darker and his smirk turned dirty “I want that inside me” he breathed, voice laced with pure sex. Jared almost came from the words alone. Instead he shifted position, settling between Jensen’s thighs and kissing them before trailing his kisses higher and higher until he reached his destination. He needed to taste Jensen, he needed to know the taste of his mate.
He didn’t care how much of a slut he felt right now, spread open with another man’s tongue circling his ass. God it was so wrong but oh so fucking right. He couldn’t believe he’d never tried this before.
There was suddenly pressure and before Jensen knew it Jared’s tongue was actually inside him. He really wasn’t afraid to admit that he moaned like a fucking whore, spreading his legs further to give Jared better access as he worked him open with his tongue.
Jared’s tongue was soon joined by a finger, then two. Working in and out of his body, scissoring him open to prepare himself for the impressive girth of Jared’s knot. Jensen knew without even thinking that there was no way in hell he’d ever be prepared for that, but he wanted it anyway. Jared started kissing his way up Jensen’s body again, working in a third finger and opening him up even more.
“Please Jay” Jensen wasn’t afraid to beg, he needed Jared. Now.
“You’re nearly ready baby I swear” Jared promised, nibbling at his earlobe.
Jensen truly never knew how damn sensitive his earlobe could be, he clutched at Jared’s side and raised his body into Jared’s. Simply needing all the contact he could get.
“I think you’re ready” Jared smiled proudly at his work of getting Jensen writhing underneath him. “God just look at you” he stared in awe at Jensen’s body and he would probably blush if he wasn’t so turned on. Jared kissed him deeply “this is normally done from behind. But I need to see you Jensen” he tried to explain but Jensen just wanted Jared any way he was willing.
Jared seemed to get with the programme pretty quickly, raising Jensen’s knees and tucking one over his arm while Jensen wrapped the other one around his waist. Jensen wasn’t an expert in gay sex but he knew for a fact that something that big, plus the size of a fucking baseball, wasn’t getting inside him without any help. “Jare don’t you need any lube or anything?”
“Nah babe” he shook his head confidently “you’re a were now. Natural lube is part of the package” he grinned and gently pushed his way into Jensen’s body.
Shockingly it didn’t hurt. There was a dull burn and a lot of pressure but no pain. He just felt full, so damn full that he knew he’d crave this much more than is healthy. Jared adjusted his position slightly, quickly pushing in all the way causing both of them to groan and Jensen to wrap his arms around Jared’s shoulders.
“It won’t hurt” Jared panted as he slowly circled his hips. Jensen’s confusion must have shown as Jared continued. “When I tie to you I’ll bite you, claim you. It won’t hurt I promise. Once I’ve marked you you’re free to mark me too” he pulled back slightly and thrust in hard causing Jensen to gasp an ‘uh’ and arch his back as Jared’s cock hit his prostate dead on, feeling the undeniable pleasure spark through him from that special spot.
It didn’t take long for things to speed up, sheer need outweighed the need to be sentimental. Jared’s thrusts increased, pounding into Jensen fast and hard, nailing his prostate each and every time. Jensen’s brain had gone to mush and the only words he could pronounce were ‘Jared’ and ‘fuck’ and ‘harder’. They were the only words he’d ever need again if this is what sex with Jared felt like.
Jensen could feel his orgasm creeping up on him and something very big pressing against his entrance. He knew it was Jared’s knot and just the thought of it made him groan and dig his nails into Jared’s back, clawing at him through the ultimate bliss that spread through him. Jensen tensed slightly as the knot suddenly wedged itself into his body, swelling even bigger if that was possible as Jared came, pulsing his seed inside of Jensen.
He considered panicking for a brief second before Jared’s teeth clamped around his throat and bit down, hard. He could feel his own warm blood escaping Jared’s mouth and seeping down his neck and into the sheets below. The bite didn’t hurt, in fact it just increased the pleasure, made everything more intense.
The intensity of the bite and the fullness of Jared’s knot as it tied them firmly together was enough to send Jensen over the edge, his orgasm hit him harder than he even thought possible, painting both his and Jared’s stomachs with his cum.
He was lightheaded from blood loss and simply from being fucked to within an inch of his life when Jared shifted slightly, rocking his hips ever so gently and causing earth shaking aftershocks to erupt though Jensen’s body as he rubbed up against his prostate.
A moment of pure calmness washed over him as Jared released his hold, licking over the wound as it healed and capturing Jensen’s lips in a deep kiss. Tasting the metallic tang of his own blood on Jared’s tongue was much better than it had any right to be. It suddenly hit him then, the calmness, that was Jared. They’d mated and everything he could feel right now were the feelings of Jared. Of his mate.
Jensen felt possessiveness course through him and he released his lips from Jared’s, trailed down his neck and kissed the pulse point. Jared had told him that he could claim him and so that’s exactly what he would do. He didn’t know how it happened but suddenly his mouth was too small as huge canines extended and brushed over the exposed skin. Jared was exposing himself to him, his alpha was submitting himself to Jensen so that he could claim him. That thought bought him close to the edge again as his teeth pierced Jared’s skin, blood instantly rushing into his mouth and Jared’s moan of satisfaction filling his ears.
It was too much, the taste of Jared, marking him as his own and the fact that he was still being pumped full of Jared’s seed was just too much for Jensen to hold back from as he came again. Biting down harder as his body shook through it.
Jensen released Jared pretty soon and almost mourned the loss of being so connected, lapping away at the blood flow that was already clotting together and healing. An atomic bomb could go off outside and Jensen wouldn’t even notice, everything right now was Jared.
Their eyes met and for one split second Jensen saw the vulnerability and almost love in his mate’s eyes. Pure affection was written across Jared’s features as he leaned down and captured his lips, turning their bodies so that they could lie comfortably while they were still tied.
“Mine” Jared announced proudly, running his fingers over Jensen’s face as if seeing him for the first time.
“Yeah” Jensen agreed “yours”.
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Chapter 7
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Ah shifting. Something Jensen would have to deal with in two weeks’ time. He was more than a little terrified. Jared had assured him that it wouldn’t hurt and he’d have Jared there the whole time but it didn’t change the fact that his body was going to physically change into an animal. There is no way in hell he could process that, instead leaving himself to silently worry about it. He was sure everything would be fine, maybe he was just nervous.
Which was why he was wide awake at dawns first light, he was too busy worrying instead of sleeping next to his gorgeous mate. They’d only known each other for two weeks but Jensen couldn’t believe how damn lucky he was. During all the time they spent tied they actually talked, getting to know each other and everything about Jared made his heart glow. He tried to reign in his thoughts as he curled his body in closer to Jared’s heat, nuzzling him softly and placing a gentle kiss along the silver scar Jensen had left across his shoulder at the base of his throat. He grinned like an idiot at the thought that he’d claimed his mate, marked his body for life. Jared was his.
Jared shifted slightly, his arms pulling Jensen’s body in tighter before Jared relaxed again. Even in his sleep Jared had to be near him and the thought made Jensen’s insides shine with happiness. His life had been ripped from underneath his feet, he’d been tossed into the middle of nowhere with people he didn’t know and yet he felt like he was home. Without even seeing the rest of the pack all week he still felt closer to them, as if his bond with Jared was causing him to care more for them. Or maybe it was just a wolf thing, he couldn’t be certain but he knew he didn’t care. Jared was his home and he’d gladly take everything that came with him.
“You’re thinking too loud” Jared mumbled, kissing Jensen’s forehead and sighing deeply.
“Sorry” Jensen whispered as he stroked his hand over Jared’s muscled chest.
“You ok?” Jared asked tentatively. He slowly blinked open his eyes to check Jensen really was fine, the concern made Jensen warm in all the right places.
“I’m fine” he assured, kissing Jared’s shoulder. “Go back to sleep”.
“Hmmm” Jared stretched his body out, limbs drawing Jensen even closer as he kissed him good morning. “Well… seeing as I’m awake…” he grinned “and you’re awake…” his hands trailed down Jensen’s body, igniting everywhere he touched. “And Jared and Jensen junior are awake…” he waggled his eyebrows suggestively and Jensen couldn’t help the small chuckle of laughter that escaped him.
“God please don’t name them” he groaned, quickly turning into a groan of pleasure when Jared’s hands travelled lower. “You spend your whole life hard or something?” he panted, suddenly out of breath from being so damn turned on. “I thought the mating fever thing was over?”
“It is” Jared’s smile widened further if possible “but I want to make love to my mate without my hormones controlling me.” He pressed his body further into Jensen, firm muscles and scorching body heat overriding Jensen’s own self-control.
Jensen’s matching smile hurt his cheeks as his hands ran down the curve of Jared’s back, digging his nails in to cause just the right amount of pleasure. “I think I can get on board with that.”
Jensen shifted in his sleep, unconsciously burying himself into Jared’s body. Jared’s claiming bite was on perfect display at the base of Jensen’s throat and seeing it made Jared want to claim him all over again. The knocking continued and Jared gently uncurled from around his mate and padded towards the door, pulling on some underwear for the first time in a week and running a hand through his hair in a futile attempt to tame it.
Chad and Chris were standing on the other side of the door, they were the only other alphas in their pack and their stance was fully authoritative. Shit, this couldn’t be good. He gently shut the door behind him and motioned for them both to follow him into his private living room.
“What is it?” Jared asked, already knowing something was wrong.
Chris and Chad both looked at each other before Chad spoke. “We were monitoring the property last night and we picked up the scent of at least three unknown Were’s on the outskirts of your territory. They could be rogue and passing through or they could be circling and warning us but we aren’t sure yet.”
Jared rubbed a hand to his temple, this was not what he needed right now. “We can’t do anything unless we know they’re a threat. I’m not a bad guy and I won’t send out a hunt for a couple of Were’s who mean us no harm but if you pick up their scents again then I’ll have to do something about it.”
“We’ll have to do something about it” Chad corrected. “If you got a problem then so do we.”
Jared smiled gratefully, although he’d been pack alpha since he’d reached maturity it was still a little humbling to have them be so loyal to him. “I can’t have any threats around right now. I want everyone on high alert until Jensen’s made it through his first shift and can defend himself.” He hated using his alpha status to demand things but the pack depended on him and his mate’s life was his responsibility now, he’d die before he let any harm come to Jensen or his pack.
“Yes alpha” they both responded.
“Nobody leaves this property without my consent. I need to know where all the members of my pack are at all times, if something happens then we all need to be here because I won’t risk any harm coming to my mate.” Jared inherited his pack alpha status, he could easily beat any Were he wanted for the position but he didn’t need to because the pack already respected his decisions and agreed with the way he lead them. Jared was a great leader and could make the tough decisions. He just wished he could sit back and relax sometimes.
“Of course” Chris nodded “I’ll inform the rest of the pack.”
“Thank you Chris” Jared allowed Chris to leave and Chad’s body instantly relaxed.
“He makes me feel all mature” Chad shuddered at the thought.
Jared laughed “never thought I’d see the day you felt mature.”
“Hey!” Chad pouted “I’m very mature!”
Chad was in fact one of Jared’s strongest pack members and was excellent at keeping the pack in check whenever Jared wasn’t around, something he must have been doing for the past week while Jared was too busy thinking with his dick to deal with his family. After Jensen he’d safely say that Chad was third in the pack hierarchy and he’d gladly trust him with anything. Chris was older than Chad, he’d been bought up to be an obedient and firm alpha who took everything seriously. While he’d been in Jared’s pack they’d all tried their hardest to get him to loosen up and the result was actually pretty good, especially when Steve came along but when it came to pack duty Chris was all seriousness. It was actually a quite funny how afraid of him Chad was even though he was stronger than the other Were.
“Oh by the way, congratulations on the mating Jay” Chad flashed him a big thumbs up before grinning devilishly. “Been very quiet without your loud ass mouth around.”
“Not nearly as quiet as it was when you mated with Sophia” Jared countered. He’d agree that he was loud and playful and a free spirit but Chad was definitely worse.
Chad laughed and shrugged, not even bothering to deny it. “What can I say? I love life!”
“Right there with you man” Jared agreed.
“So… you allergic to clothes?” Chad finally addressed Jared’s state of dress. It should have made Jared uncomfortable but it only made him smile at the memory of Jensen.
“I’ll get dressed again someday” he joked.
Chad laughed and leaned in a little closer “holy shit Jay you let him mark you?!”
“Yes” Jared answered easily. Not many pack alphas allowed their betas to mark them. While it was common in lower pack standings it was pretty rare for an alpha like Jared.
“I take it you’re more than proud to have him as yours then” Chad noted. “I’m sorry about the way I acted towards him. I maybe freaked out a little at the thought of all the trouble this would cause, I didn’t mean to offend you or your mate.”
“A little?” Jared raised an eyebrow.
Chad’s shoulders sank “okay, a lot.”
Jared chuckled “just a tad. It’s fine really, you should apologise to Jensen too but I understand where you’re coming from. I’m very aware that I’ve probably pissed off the wolf who turned him.”
“Is it wishful thinking that this was all just an accident?”
“This is us Chad… when do we ever catch a break?” Jared sighed heavily. “We’ll take whatever comes our way and we won’t let it bother us. We’re all born Were’s and Jensen is my beta who is for reasons unknown even stronger than you so we’re already stronger than most packs around these days because most of them are full of pack members who used to be human. Hell, some are even lead by alphas that used to be human. Their strength couldn’t compare to a pack like ours.”
“You’re right. We are one of the few remaining packs that are made up mostly of pure blood. You do remember that Sophia was human right?” Chad added, a smirk crossing his lips.
“Shit I forgot about that!” Jared laughed “that girl was born to be a wolf I swear. I haven’t even seen a full blooded wolf with healing abilities like hers. I’ve also never seen anyone kick your ass as much as she does.”
“I totally let her” Chad replied easily.
“Kinky” Jared winked causing both men to laugh heartily. “Well… I’d better get back to my mate and hopefully actually join you guys for dinner… if I don’t get carried away” he waggled his eyebrows as Chad rolled his eyes and shooed him towards his bedroom.
“Yeah, yeah lover boy. Try and keep it in your pants for a few minutes huh?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Jared pouted, causing them both to laugh once more as he headed back to his bedroom. His and Jensen’s bedroom. He grinned at the mere thought.
“Morning” Jensen said, eyes trailing hungrily over Jared’s body.
“Afternoon actually” Jared corrected, matching Jensen’s hungry gaze.
“I think I’ve lost all sense of time” Jensen admitted.
Jared laughed warmly, bounding over to the bed and jumping on top of Jensen. Both men ended up tousling with each other fondly, laughing as they wrestled, sharing kisses and smiles as they fought for the upper hand. It was Jared who won, stealing his winning kiss and beaming at Jensen. Everything about this man was giving Jensen feelings he wasn’t even sure existed, he was just so perfect for Jensen. It was like they were truly made to make each other happy.
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Chapter 8
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Other changes were his senses. Just a few weeks ago Jensen had relied on contact lenses and glasses to help him see clearly but he no longer needed them and could see clearer than ever before. He could also smell everything, from what was cooking for dinner right up to scenting pheromones. His hearing wasn’t as sharp as Jared’s yet, wouldn’t be until after his first shift, but he could still listen to a conversation in the next room if he wanted to.
The final change. The best one. Was the bond to Jared. His fingers trailed over the scarred tissue of the claiming bite, reminding him that he was Jared’s and Jared was his. Jensen’s whole body shivered as his hands touched the bite, feeling the pleasure all over again and feeling closer to Jared and sensing his feelings. Jared was happy. He was laughing with the pack while they cooked dinner. Underneath that though Jensen could scent his worry, there was definitely something worrying his mate. The thought worried him too.
Jensen quickly pulled some clothes on and headed downstairs where he was instantly wrapped up in Jared’s arms, smiling to himself as Jared kissed his temple.
“I missed you” Jared confessed.
“I was in the bathroom for ten minutes” Jensen had missed Jared too but they should at least be able to go to the bathroom without causing distress.
“Ten minutes too long” Jared replied easily.
“I smelt bad” Jensen argued.
A low growl built up in Jared’s throat and Jensen almost shuddered at the heat that shot through him. “You smelt like me” Jared corrected, nostrils flaring as he breathed in deeply. “You still do. You’ll always smell of me now. Carry my scent.”
“It’s a good job you smell good then” Jensen joked, feeling Jared smiling against his forehead.
“Not nearly as good as you” Jared added.
“I think I just threw up in my mouth a little” Chad’s voice breaks their moment and Jared bursts out laughing while Jensen feels tense, trying not to convey his feelings through the bond. They both turn towards him and Chad is wearing his usual smirk. “Grub’s up!”
Jared gets overly excited at the prospect of food and quickly drags Jensen over to the dining table, just as the girls come out carrying plates of food and the guys carrying drinks. Jensen hadn’t realised how hungry he was until his meal was placed in front of him, it took a lot of restraint to not just bury his face in the food.
“Hungry babe?” Jared grinned knowingly, virtually inhaling his own food while the rest of the pack ate at a steady pace.
“Very” was all Jensen could reply with.
“Congratulations on your mating by the way” Sophia grinned at them both. “I have to say freckles, you’ve got yourself a keeper” she winked before turning back to her food.
The rest of the pack also offered their congratulations and Jensen blushed deeply when Danneel asked him if Jared was any good in bed. During the meal Jensen was shocked to find himself in deep conversation with Chad, who was sitting opposite him. Turns out they have a lot more in common than they realised. It was also fun to get Chad to dish the dirt on Jared, Jared groaned and almost banged his head on the table when Chad started retelling their childhood and all the trouble they got into.
“He’s actually kinda awesome… you know… in that douchey kind of way” he laughed softly, nuzzling Jared and gently nipping him.
Jared sighed in contentment. He’d wait a whole lifetime for Jensen just to get this feeling with him. It was more than he could ever imagine.
“Maybe I should join you on this run… just incase you decide you want to kill him in the middle of nowhere” Jared chuckled, biting down on Jensen’s earlobe as he spoke.
“Yeah, you should. I’d like to go running with you” Jensen confessed, his breathing speeding up as he pressed himself closer to Jared. His whole body melting against his alpha.
“Hmm” Jared agreed. He tilted Jensen’s chin towards him and claimed his lips, kissing him deep and hard. Everything was perfect until Jensen froze in his arms, his body tensing and pulling away from Jared. Jared furrowed his brows, rejection pulling strongly at him.
He would have demanded to know the cause but he caught Jensen’s nostrils flaring, his mate was scenting the air and did not like what he could smell. Jared mimicked his motions but was unable to smell anything out of the ordinary. Without warning Jensen climbed out from the bed and headed over to the window, pulling it open and sticking his head out.
Something was wrong. Very wrong. Jared swiftly pulled the sheets off him and stood at his mate’s side, once more trying to scent for any danger. “What is it babe?” Jared couldn’t detect a damn thing “what can you smell?”
“I don’t know” Jensen confessed. “Smells familiar… dangerous.”
Jared didn’t wait for Jensen to say another word, he yelled for Chad and Chris. Knowing they’d have heard him and would be there within minutes. Seems they were closer than he thought as they both came rushing into the room.
“What’s wrong?” Chad gasped, clearly having ran a little farther than Chris had.
“Come here. Can you smell something strange?” Jared asked. Gently pulling Jensen away from the window and allowing the two men to survey the area.
“Can’t smell a thing” Chad confessed.
“Me neither” Chris agreed. “What was it you said you smelled?”
“I didn’t smell anything it was Jensen…” he turned to face his mate but Jensen wasn’t there. His mate had vanished. Jared quickly followed the scent, rushing down the stairs and straight out the front door.
It had only been thirty seconds at most, how the hell had Jensen managed to silently get so far away? He couldn’t see him anywhere, couldn’t even catch his scent anymore. Which was impossible because he’d just been here. Something was definitely wrong with Jensen, he couldn’t keep denying it anymore. His mate wasn’t human but something was telling Jared he wasn’t Were either.
“Jay?” Chad broke through Jared’s thoughts and he spun to face him. “What happened to his scent?” Chad and Chris were both evidently terrified at the reality of the situation. Jensen had disappeared without a trace.
“I don’t know” Jared confessed. “Right now I don’t care either.”
“So what do we do?” Chris actually looked scared.
“Find him” Jared grit out. Running forward and bursting into his wolf form without even considering shedding his clothes, feeling them tear and fall from him as his body changed.
Jared didn’t take time to think, he let instinct drive him forward. Pushing his connection with the mating bond and trying desperately to get a hold of Jensen, find his location and get a hold of his feelings but his mate was totally shut off from him. Jared was running blind.
“Who the hell are you?” he snarled.
“Time will reveal all” he laughed as he circled Jensen. “You really don’t understand just how special you are do you?” he rubbed absentmindedly at his beard.
“Special?” Jensen raised an eyebrow. Different? Maybe. Special? Nah.
“Oh yes” he clasped his hands together excitedly. “I do believe you’re the only one of your kind.”
“M-my kind?” Jensen stuttered over the words.
“Yes Jensen. Your kind.”
“How do you know my name?” Jensen knew he should fear this man and run in the other direction but something was forcing him to stay. To get answers.
“I know a lot of things about you Jensen Ross Ackles” he laughed as Jensen’s body tensed. “You have no family, no friends and no real job or life of any kind. Correct?”
“It was a shitty life yeah but it was my life” Jensen tried to defend.
“A life you weren’t born for Jensen. You see… you were born for this” he held his arms out and two other people stepped forward. A young woman with dark brown hair and glowing amber eyes and a slightly older man with black hair and the same piercing eyes. Jensen was heavily outnumbered. He was standing against three Weres, who could quite easily kill him. Jensen hadn’t shifted before, knew he couldn’t shift until the full moon and so he knew how poorly matched this would be.
“Born for what? Some shitty wolf to bite me and then for me to get dragged into some fucking lifestyle that I didn’t want?!” Jensen should be running. He really, really should.
The female hissed at the words “shitty wolf?” she snarled. “You were lucky to get bitten by me!”
“You bitch!” Jensen’s body didn’t wait for his mind to catch up. He launched himself at her, grabbing her around the throat and slamming her into the nearest tree, extending his canines in warning.
“See Jensen this is what makes you special” the man grinned. “She is your sire and yet you overpower her so easily. You haven’t even shifted yet. Don’t you wonder about these things? You’re different Jensen. You’re strong and powerful. All the qualities of an alpha.”
“But I’m not an alpha” Jensen retorted, still holding the wriggling female against the tree.
“No” he agreed. “You’re not. Now release Genevieve before I put you in your place.”
Reluctantly Jensen let go.
“Good boy” the man praised. “Now… come with us and maybe we won’t kill that silly little pack you’ve found.”
“There’s no way in hell I’m going with you” Jensen countered, spinning on the other man and heading towards him. Before he could get any closer both of his arms were seized by the other two Were’s. One of them he could fight off but with two it became impossible as they wrenched his arms back and forced him to his knees.
“You’re strong boy” the man noted “but you weren’t built to fight. You’re made to be on your knees in front of an alpha at all times.” He lifted Jensen’s chin up “you’re nothing more than a whore” he chuckled darkly.
Jensen flinched as the man leaned in, breathing deeply and taking in his scent. “No” he ground out, wrenching Jensen’s t-shirt to the side and exposing Jared’s claiming bite. “No, no, no!” He stepped back, pacing and muttering things to himself that Jensen couldn’t bring himself to listen to. “You really are a whore aren’t you!?” he moved in closer and fisted his hand in Jensen’s shirt. “You’re not even a Were for two weeks and you’ve gone for the first cock you could find! I thought you could at least wait two fucking weeks!”
Jensen flinched at the words.
“And to think… Jensen Ackles, the only one of his kind in existence has mated with the one and only Jared fucking Padalecki. This is actually kind of perfect.”
Jensen’s eyes snapped up at the mention of Jared’s name, a low warning growl built in his throat but the man quickly backhanded him across the face.
“Don’t you fucking growl at me boy” he warned.
“He’s going to kill you for that” Jensen promised.
“He won’t find me” the man replied, grinning smugly. “I couldn’t even smell you until I leaned in close. I don’t know how you’re doing it Jensen but you’re masking your scent, it’s not possible but it makes this all work out for the best. Jared won’t be able to find you.”
Jensen’s heart sank. Jared would find him. He had to. “He could smell you easily because you fucking stink” his words were laced with venom and he was treated to another backhand.
“That’s the fun thing Jensen” he grinned menacingly “I can control my scent. So can Matt and Genevieve. You smelt me because I wanted you to. Jared won’t ever know.”
“I thought you said you didn’t know how I was masking my scent?”
“I don’t” the man admitted. “It took us years of practicing to even come close to what you can do naturally. Like I said Jensen. You’re special.”
“Why?” Jensen demanded. “What the hell makes me so special!?”
He chuckled, clearly enjoying to pain Jensen through his words. “Once you’ve shifted you’ll notice some… changes” he winked “you’ll be spending a lot more time on your knees” he laughed at Jensen’s obvious fear. “Yes Jensen. Get used to how you are now because it’s how you’re going to be for the rest of your very long life. I was going to kill Jared, but now I don’t need to. You’ve fucked this up for him all by yourself!”
“What the fuck are you talking about?!”
“Time will tell pup” he leaned in closer. “Now what shall I do with Jared Padalecki’s mate?” he bit his lip and surveyed Jensen. “Such a fine mate too.”
His hands trailed down Jensen’s throat as he crouched in front of him, skimming his palms all over Jensen and making him sick to his stomach. “You were meant for me pup but this actually works out better. Maybe I should use you up, mark your body and fill you with my own seed. Jared wouldn’t even look at you again, never mind touch you.” Jensen’s stomach knotted at the threat, he was going to be sick if he continued.
“Please don’t” he whispered.
“You look so pretty when you beg” his eyes lit up as tears welled in Jensen’s eyes. “I actually had you turned for myself so that I could get over my hate for Jared… but thanks to you being such a knot slut I have the power to actually hurt him. I can take away everything he has, destroy his whole life. All thanks to you.”
A tear slid down Jensen’s cheek, he couldn’t stop it even if he tried. Jared’s life was ruined and it was all his fault.
“You know he’d die for you” the man noted. “That could be interesting.”
“You kill him then I’d die too” Jensen breathed, his voice broken.
“Here’s the best part about your kind” he leaned in even closer “if you die… Jared dies. But if Jared dies…” his grin spread even wider if possible “you’ll live.”
Jensen couldn’t even imagine the thought of living in a world without Jared. His body may be biologically programmed to live without him but Jensen sure as hell would do no such thing.
“Then… you’ll be ready for the taking.”
“The t-taking?”
“I had you made for me pup. Genetically engineered to be what you are and it’s all thanks to me… I intend on reclaiming what is mine.”
-x-
Chapter 9
-x-
His pace slowed, suddenly feeling Jensen very close. He raised his ears and took in the scents around him, he couldn’t smell anything but he could hear voices in the distance. Could hear Jensen crying.
He didn’t care about alerting the others, nobody would get away with making his mate upset. Quickly he charged through the shrubbery and into a small clearing where he finally found Jensen. It took everything for him to not be sick at the sight.
Jensen was forced to his knees by two Were’s in front of Jeff Morgan. His mate was blooded and beaten, tears streaming down his beautiful face as Morgan leaned over him, laughing.
Jared didn’t care about humanity, he wanted Jeff Morgan dead.
Morgan sensed his presence and turned to face him “ah Jared!” he beamed towards Jared “you’re just in time.”
Jared didn’t even bother shifting to his human form to respond, he pounced but quickly found himself on his back in his human form, writhing in pain.
“Jared!” he heard Jensen scream but he could barely open his eyes. He knew without being told that Morgan had shot him with a dose of wolfsbane. His body began healing instantly, trying to force the toxin out of his system and soothing his pain.
Morgan pulled at Jared’s chin, forcing him to look at him. “You ever wonder what silver nitrate does to the blood?”
Jared’s eyes widened. Silver in the right quantity could get into the bloodstream and kill… but silver nitrate could easily flow through his system, almost certain death.
“Ah you do know” Jeff seemed pleased. “Because… I’d always enjoyed the idea of watching you scream for hours as you die.” He produced a needle and syringe and Jared’s heart sped at the sight of the silver nitrate. “I’d like to claim what is mine and because you couldn’t keep your knot in your pants I have to get rid of you to do so.”
Jared panicked. He didn’t know what else to do. If he died, then Jensen would follow. He’d condemned Jensen to death before he’d even had the chance to live. “Please” he panted, his body working overtime. “If you kill me then you’ll kill Jensen. You can’t claim him if he’s dead.” If he could just hold off for a few minutes he could get the poison out of his system.
“He’s not like you Jared. You’d die without him but he can easily go on to mate again without you.”
“That’s not possible” Jared argued weakly.
“I’ve spent my life trying to create somebody like Jensen. I know exactly what’s possible for him.”
He struggled against the hands holding him down but it was futile. His human form wasn’t strong enough, he needed his wolf.
Jensen didn’t take the time to dwell on those thoughts. He closed his eyes and focused on his inner wolf, bringing it to the surface. He opened his eyes just as the man pressed the needle into Jared’s skin.
“No!” Jensen screamed, pushing his body forward.
The hands holding him were released as his bones cracked and reshaped themselves, twisting to whole new positions as he suddenly fell forward on all fours. The urge to protect his mate overrode all else as Jensen shifted.
Jensen as a wolf is just as beautiful as he is human. He had a grey coat with a white belly and muzzle. Some fine black hairs littered his coat almost in speckles as a clear resemblance towards Jensen’s freckles. His wolf was huge, almost the size of Jared and probably bigger than Chad. He just kept taking the lore and turning it upside down.
The thing that Jared was most concerned about was Jensen’s eyes. They weren’t the amber of any wolf, nor were they the same colour as his human form. Jensen’s eyes were a bright emerald green and they shone fiercely as he locked Jeff in a death glare. For one brief moment, Jared was afraid of his mate.
“You can shift back now pup. I got the demonstration I needed” the man grinned and Jensen tilted his head in confusion.
Soft fingers on his stomach startled him and he jumped back, only to realise it was Jared touching him. He whined and moved closer, laying down and resting his head on Jared’s chest, daring anyone else to come close.
“I’m ok” Jared whispered. He trailed his hands through Jensen’s fur. It felt so good to have Jared’s hands on him like this. If they weren’t in such danger then Jensen would be tempted to drift off to sleep.
After a few minutes Jared’s body shifted under his and so Jensen lifted his head, allowing his mate to sit up. “It’s out of my system” Jared assured him “can you shift back?”
Jensen didn’t think that far ahead. He had no idea how to shift back, the only thing he could think of doing was focusing on his human form and willing the change to happen.
Jared’s arms around his naked body confirmed that he had managed to return to his human form, he was so relieved he managed it he could cry. Instead he wrapped his arms around Jared and held him close.
“Cute” the man snarked, throwing two pairs of sweatpants at them from a duffle bag Jensen hadn’t noticed he was carrying. “Cover yourselves up boys.”
They both quickly stepped into the sweatpants and Jensen made sure to stand close to Jared, feeling broken and horrified when Jared stepped away from him.
“Jare?” he asked desperately.
“No” was all Jared replied before he turned to the man who’d started all this. “What the hell is he Morgan!?”
“Think about it” the man, Morgan, replied. “He can mask his scent, his human eyes stick with his wolf, he has undeniable strength, the ability to go on without you… and he also isn’t controlled by the lunar cycle. Can you guess what he is yet?”
Jensen had no idea what was going on. Judging by the way Jared kept looking at him, he didn’t either.
“I’ll throw something else in there to help you out” Morgan grinned. “If you want to Padalecki… you can breed him.”
“What?!” Jared and Jensen asked in unison.
“Cute” he sighed in exasperation at them both. “Jensen here is more than capable of carrying your pups Jared, he can conceive them and give birth to them. He is no alpha and he is no beta. What else does that leave?”
“No.” Jared shook his head in denial. “That’s not possible.”
“Oh but it is” Morgan grinned.
“Omegas went extinct centuries ago” Jared’s voice was low and disbelieving.
“Yes they did” Morgan agreed. “Then I created Jensen to bring them back.”
“Why” Jared grit out. Jensen had no idea what was going on or what the fuck an omega was and he really couldn’t get his head around the whole carrying pups thing.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Morgan asked. “I wanted an omega to carry on my heritage. Keep me entertained. You know they’re so damn slutty I’d never tire.” Jensen fought back bile at the thought of having anything to do with Morgan. “It was hard to do though… to find the right human. His mother descended from an omega bloodline and the Were had eventually been bred out of her system, so I may have tweeked Jensen’s DNA from birth. He grew up alone, nobody cared about him… he was a human omega, similar to that of real wolves.”
“But our omegas are nothing like omegas with wolves.”
“You’re right Jared… but he was a human omega with tampered with DNA that was bitten by a wolf. Only made sense he was a Were omega too. Perfect for me to claim until you ruined it like you ruin everything.”
“Why didn’t you claim him right then and there then?” Jared wasn’t even aware of Jensen’s presence right now.
“Because you interrupted Genevieve turning him!” he growled. “Then you went and fucking mated him yourself!”
“If it pissed you off so badly then why didn’t you kill me and take him?!” Jensen wasn’t even sure he recognised Jared anymore.
“Because Jared” Morgan moved closer, ignoring Jensen’s warning growl. “I’ve always wanted your pack and could never win it from you in a fight. Pack law states that an alpha cannot rule a pack if his mate is omega. I really have fucked this right up for you.”
“You son of a bitch” Jared’s voice was dripping with venom as he spoke.
“I’ll let you carry on your bloodline… then when I get bored of your existence and feel like stepping down from pack alpha I’ll have you killed and take Jensen as my own. I will take your children and mark them with my own scent, they will despise you’re very memory.”
“Stop!” Jared’s eyes were filled with tears and Jensen’s heart bled for his mate but he didn’t dare move.
“What’s the matter? Did I touch a nerve?”
“I’ll never let you take Jensen or my pack from me” Jared’s voice was low, threatening. “And if you ever threaten any children I may have then I will tear your heart from your chest quicker than you can blink.”
“I like your threat” Morgan smiled. “But it’s useless. You won’t try and kill me now because you’re outnumbered and weak from the wolfsbane. You have to let me go and try to make sense of all this on your own. Whether you like it or not Jared you’ve already lost your pack status, no alpha is fit to rule with an omega at his side.” He turned to leave, pausing to turn to Jared once more “your bitch will be in heat very soon Jared. You won’t be able to hide his status from the pack for long.”
“You can’t tell anyone what you are” Jared turned to face Jensen, stopping their walking and holding eye contact. “The pack won’t take the news well and I need to get my own head around it too.”
“I won’t tell anybody… but Jared you have to explain to me what I am because not even I know what I am!” Jensen was scared, Jared could see that but he forced himself to keep his distance.
“You’re an omega. It’s not the same as with a real wolf pack, with Were’s it is so much more complicated.”
“Promise you’ll explain” Jensen begged. “He said I could carry pups Jared, I deserve to know what that means!”
“I just don’t think I can look at you right now without seeing everything I’ve lost. You’re going to have to be patient with me.” Jared turned and continued walking towards the house, his heart clenching as he heard a sob escape Jensen.
-x-
Chapter 10
-x-
Part of him had hoped Jared would return. At least explain what was going on but the rest of him knew it was just wishful thinking. Jared hated him now. He wouldn’t even sleep in his own bedroom because it’s near Jensen, hell, Jensen wasn’t even sure Jared was sleeping in the same house as him anymore.
He ached. His whole body longed for Jared, for his voice, his touch and his affection. Jensen knew he’d never have it again but it didn’t stop the longing that settled in the pit of his stomach. He needed Jared. Jensen’s entire being felt as if it was on fire, his skin was damp from sweat and he just wanted his alpha back where he belonged. Wanted to be claimed all over again, to be told that everything was alright.
A soft knock came at the door and Jensen rolled over on his sheets to face it as Lauren’s head poked through. “Hey freckles” her British accent usually made Jensen smile, but he couldn’t find it in him. “Sophia sent me because she’s worried about you and I’m the oldest one here so she’s hoping I can diagnose you” Lauren stepped forward into the room and shut the door behind her.
“I’ll save you the trouble” Jensen mumbled “my heart hurts without Jared. It’s killing me.”
“What’s going on between you and Jared anyway?” she asked as she perched onto his bed.
“I wish I knew” Jensen replied.
“He’s your mate Jensen and I can assure you that he feels just as bad as you. He’s locked himself in the room farthest from here and won’t speak to anybody. He’s not ill like you are but he’s definitely hurting.” She rubbed a hand through his hair, Jensen didn’t have the energy to turn away. He had to admit that hearing Jared was hurting too made him feel a little better, he wasn’t suffering alone.
Lauren’s hand moved over his forehead and her brows furrowed “fuck you’re boiling” she winced and headed into the bathroom. She returned with a cool cloth and damped it over his face and neck, the relief was instant but it wasn’t enough. Her brows furrowed in concern “Jensen if you know something then you have to tell me, I can’t help you unless you tell me.”
“Jared forbade me” Jensen whispered, ashamed he still followed Jared’s orders so willingly.
“Oh he did?” Lauren looked pissed “alpha or not I will fucking slap some sense into him” she growled. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you and Were’s don’t just get fevers Jensen. You could die if you don’t tell me.”
“I can’t” he pleaded, “please don’t make me.”
“The only times a Were can get a fever are when they’re ready to mate or when they’re in heat and as you’re neither…” she paused, deep in thought. “Actually that makes sense” she tilted her head towards him and he felt helpless under her gaze. “You’re not like us are you? There’s too much abnormalities for you to be like us… and for Jared to turn away from you… it all makes sense.” She leaned forward, pressing her nose against his throat and scenting him.
Jensen had no idea how the whole masking his scent thing worked and he was relieved nobody could scent him unless they got close. However he suddenly froze in fear when Lauren drew her head back, her eyes widened knowingly. “You’re omega” she whispered.
“Fuck!” Jared cursed, punching the mattress for the millionth time since he’d locked himself in the small room.
He’d fallen for Jensen, he mated with Jensen. The man was his mate and he wanted to be with him but everything inside of Jared was telling him to be repulsed by the other man and he couldn’t understand why. His parents had drilled it into him from an early age that omegas were the lowest of the low and it’s a disgrace to be seen with them but Jared didn’t feel any of that for his mate. If anything, Jared wanted Jensen even more.
This man was someone he’d been raised to look down on, even though his kind had been extinct his parent’s thought it was vital to turn him against them. Yet, through it all he couldn’t look down on Jensen. How could he ever look down on his mate? Jensen could give him pups, a family. Everything Jared ever wanted but feared he could never have. Why would his family teach him to hate such a special person?
“Why didn’t you tell me!” she slapped his arm frustrated. “Fuck Jensen you could die!”
“W-why?” Jensen didn’t understand.
“Because you’re in heat!” she exclaimed “or about to be anyway.”
“What’s a heat?”
“Do you have the desire to fuck anything that moves?” she asked bluntly.
“Uh… no!” the only person he had any desire to fuck was Jared.
“You must not be in your full heat yet” she mused. “Has Jared explained what happens during your heat?”
“What the fuck is a heat!? Lauren I don’t know anything! Jared can’t even look at me! I don’t even know what the hell an omega is! Just please don’t tell anyone” he begged, built up anger and frustration and sheer desperation coming out all at once.
“Hey calm down” she soothed. “An omega is nothing to be ashamed of” she told him earnestly.
He snorted “yeah. Tell Jared that.”
“Believe me I will” she promised. “Jared had a different upbringing to most Weres. He was raised to hate omegas, his parents were part of the reason they no longer exist. Some of my best friends were omegas and Jared’s family helped destroy them. It isn’t Jared’s fault that he’s confused Jensen. Pack laws on omegas are seriously outdated, to the point I don’t even think they’re valid any longer. An omega is a gift not a curse.”
Jensen didn’t understand. Why was Jared raised to hate him? What was so horrible about him that his own mate couldn’t stand him? “What exactly is an omega?” the question should probably be asked to Jared but he knew he wouldn’t get his answer there.
She sighed, knowing the question was coming. “It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got a long time” Jensen replied.
Her lips quirked at his response “ok I’ll tell you.”
“Don’t skip out on the details” Jensen asked “I need to know exactly what I am.”
“Humans have two genders, male and female. Were’s have three: alpha, beta and omega. Alphas are always male, they are strong and their wolves are much bigger than other Were’s. They also have a knot which allows them to mate and breed and they are the only males capable of fertilising an egg. They are also only able to mate with a beta or omega. They cannot mate with another alpha.”
Jensen remembered that from when Jared told him about Were’s and he nodded for Lauren to continue. “Beta’s can be male or female and can mate with other betas but not omegas. The males have no knot and are infertile whereas the females can carry pups and come into heat four times a year in order to conceive. Are you with me so far?”
Jensen nodded his head dumbly, he really wasn’t but he needed to listen to as much as he could. “Right… now omegas are special. They are always male and can only mate with an alpha. They have natural lubrication that only some betas have and the ability to conceive and give birth to a litter of pups.” She placed her hand on Jensen’s lower abdomen “your uterus is here” she demonstrated as she pressed down. “This is where your pups will grow and develop. You will then carry them for around six to nine months, depending on which form you’d like them to be born in. If you wish them to be born into their wolf form then you can shift at six months and your body will go into labour easily. Or you can stay human until the nine months are up and give birth that way, though it’s a little harder because they’ll obviously be bigger.”
“Does it matter what form they’re born into?”
“Yes. They spend their first six months of life in that form as they’re unable to shift. The decision is to be made by the omega and the alpha but if the alpha disagrees then he can overrule the omegas decision.”
“So you’re saying if I had Jared’s pups then I’d be allowed to say what I wanted but would only get it if Jared wanted that too?” Jensen couldn’t believe he’d have rights taken away from him like that.
“Like I said, the laws are outdated. I’m sure they’ll be revised once your status becomes known, the world is a lot more open these days.” She assured him.
“Ok…” Jensen tried to take it all in, running the words over in his head. “What’s a heat?”
“Well… betas go into heat four times a year and it can be at any time. Omegas on the other hand can go into heat anywhere between four and twelve times a year, I’ve known omegas who went into heat every month. An omega heat is always a week long and it will take place the week before the full moon. A heat is your body telling you that it has to breed, it is the only time you can get pregnant. During this week you’ll need your alpha, both your bodies will be uncontrollable and you’ll stay together to knot over and over again. If you conceive during that time then Jared will know, he’ll be able to sense the change instantly. If you wish to not have a child just yet then I can sort you with some birth control, I’ll get you some in a minute from Sophia because I’m not letting you conceive in your first heat. If you don’t mate during your first heat then you’ll die. It is vitally important that Jared gets his head out of his ass.”
Jensen’s head was swimming. The fact that he could have kids was crazy… then to top it off he becomes a sex fiend for a week up to twelve times a year? Fuck. “No wonder Morgan said I was a whore” he mumbled.
“Morgan did this to you?” Lauren seemed shocked. Not because it was Morgan who did it but because Jensen knew that Morgan had done it. “It shows how little he knows. He was one of the ones who helped Jared’s parents.” She scoffed.
Jensen felt a little relieved at that.
“You’re not a whore Jensen. Omegas are fiercely loyal. They will never stray from their alpha and would die from their heat before they let another alpha knot them. People like Jared’s parents and Morgan used to think that because an omega is so desperate for a knot during this time that they were just whores who could never be at the side of a pack alpha because they’re an embarrassment. They’re wrong. Omega heats are the same as beta ones. The only difference with an omega is that the instinct to breed overrides anything else whereas betas can withhold their hormones if they want to. Omega heats can also get messy though” she winced. “You want to know the gory details?”
Jensen nodded. He really didn’t want to know but he needed to.
“Well… you’ll get all sweaty, like you are now only more so. Then you’ll get whiney, needy and desperate for Jared. Your body will crave his knot and will want him to breed you. Common sense goes straight out the window and if the agenda for the day doesn’t involve fucking Jared nonstop then you won’t be interested. The only pleasure or satisfaction you’ll be able to get is from your mate.”
Jensen really didn’t like the sound of that, he must be showing that on his face as Lauren gave a chuckle.
“It’s not that bad” she assured. “The only thing that’s a real inconvenience is discharge. Your natural lubrication will turn into more of a paste, it helps Jared’s sperm stay inside you but while there is no sperm inside you it practically flows from your body.” Jensen tensed, that did not sound fun. “The best thing about that though is that you get anal orgasms alongside your regular ones.” Jensen blushed for Lauren’s sake. “You’re so modest it’s adorable!” she grinned. “There is no feeling of pleasure more intense than knotting with your mate while in heat, even Jared will feel it more intensely.”
“That’s so much to take in. My brain is scrambled” he admitted honestly.
“I know honey” she frowned “but I have to tell you because Jared doesn’t know these things like I do.”
“Why did his parent’s hate omegas so much?” why did Jared hate him?
“I was part of the omega following. We protected omegas for as long as we could. Jared doesn’t know this and I honestly don’t think I’d be in this pack if he did know this before you came along. His parents and their following thought omegas tainted alphas, stealing them from their rightful betas. They thought that omegas used sex as a weapon and would take it where they can get it, tying their alphas down with children. The reality was that they knew fuck all about omegas. An omega is to be cherished. They have so many things that make them special. Before Jared’s parents changed pack law omegas were ranked higher than betas, and they still should be.”
“You know about the things that make me different?” Jensen asked, confused.
“Sweetie you’re nearly in heat and I couldn’t smell that until I came near you. You can naturally mask your scent without even realising. This is how omegas keep their heat from other alphas. You’re not controlled by the lunar cycle. That is so that you don’t have to shift while pregnant and can give birth to a pup in human form instead of betas who always give birth to a pup in wolf form. Your eyes aren’t like ours and actually have some human in them. That is because omegas have their own identity, they don’t bow down for any beta or alpha, only their own. You’re stronger than Chad, our strongest beta. That is because you are omega and omegas are incredible special creatures. I could also put money on guessing you shifted. That is what’s bought on your heat and freaked Jared out.”
“You didn’t tell me you were psychic” Jensen joked.
“I just know what I’m talking about” she smiled. “I don’t want you dying on me because Jared’s so damn uneducated. I’m going to talk to him. You’ll then have to address the pack before your first heat. I can promise you that Jared won’t be stripped of his alpha status, you’re both stronger than any wolf in this pack. I’m on your side Jensen. Yours and Jared’s.”
“Thank you” Jensen whispered, wrapping her in a hug. Things were going to get better, he could sense it. Jared just needed to come around and then they’d face things together. As alpha and omega.
-x-