A different sort of hunt

[low_key_angel]

Gabriel was used to being odd man out, the only Omega born to his small, powerful pack. But with two older brothers who were both Alphas, they were usually more concerned with their own power plays than Gabriel and his search for a mate.

Because heat when you were unmated? Sucked.

Michael would probably prefer to chain him up once a year and let him sweat it out, which is probably why he left home as his heat started to near.

If he was going to find a mate, it was going to be on his terms.

What he didn't expect was to catch a tantalizing scent at the local bookstore. Something that called up images of sunlight and pine trees and cool shade.

Comments

[fromfryingpantofire]

The Winchester pack was small as well, not as powerful as others. They owed quite a bit of their status to being connected to the Campbell pack (even if Samuel still didn't entirely like John).

What they had going for them most, though, was the fact that all three of John Winchester's sons were alphas.

Sam was on break from law school, having come home to see family. Of course, there was really only so long he could deal with his grandparents prodding him about grandchildren. And reminding him how much they'd liked Jess. So he'd ducked out, heading to the local bookshop to get a little time out and maybe find some new books. Or find Adam a good copy of Grey's Anatomy because the kid was going pre-med.

He'd ended up in the back of the store, a cup of coffee on the table beside him, flipping through a book he'd been looking for when he'd caught a whiff of something new. Something different. His mind supplied 'wolf', of course, but there was more to it than that. The scent brought to mind evenings by the fire, fingers wrapped around a mug of perfect hot chocolate, the scent of vanilla and cinnamon and his step-mother's kitchen.

Sam looked up, scanning the store. He'd heard the stories, of course, but he'd never lent that much credence to them. Not until now, at least.

[low_key_angel]

Gabriel had heard the stories before, but always discounted then as myth. There was no way a wolf would be able to find a mate on scent alone, a destined pairing. Destiny was for the trashy paperbacks that he passed by, still tracking that scent. Strength and cool woods and a promise of belonging. No more running.

Rounding the corner, Gabriel came across a wolf settled in one of the comfortable back chairs. Tall, attractive, everything about him screaming 'Alpha'.

Sam Winchester. One of three Alphas from the Winchester pack. They'd never really met, but he made it his business to know just about everyone in town. "You know, most people on break tend to give homework a break too."

[fromfryingpantofire]

"Gabriel." The one time they had met, Sam had been far too young for status to have shown itself. Adam had still been a baby, but Sam remembered those eyes.

Sam blinked at the statement, though, tearing his attention away from those eyes to look down at the book in his hands. "I don't think The Dresden Files counts as homework, do you?" He held up the book, but mostly because it gave him a reason to look back up. His nostrils flared as he took in the scent again, confirming what he thought he already knew.

[low_key_angel]

His eyebrows loft. "Hey, that's the new one, isn't it? I think Bobby's been holding out on me."

Gabriel flopped easily into the chair beside Sam, the movement an excuse to breathe in deeply, drag in the Alpha's scent again. Mate. His wolf is positive and it takes all of his self control not to simply bear his neck to the much larger wolf.

He was doing this on his terms, instinct be damned.

"Back in town for the holiday?"

[fromfryingpantofire]

"New to paperback. He only finished writing the new one." And yes, Sam was a fan.

Somehow, it was good to see that Gabriel liked the books as well. Especially since his own wolf was not quite happy with Gabriel in the next chair. Definitely wanted him closer.

Down, boy, he told himself firmly, watching Gabriel. Knowing his eyes had lightened from their usual hazel to something more of a golden green. Too close to the surface right now. "Yeah. You know how packs can be about family holidays. Even Adam's down from college."

[low_key_angel]

"I knew it, he was holding out." Which was completely expected. He lived to rankle the old wolf and Bobby paid him back by fiddling with his book orders. "Cranky old goat. He's probably angling for another box of scones."

His eyes were incredible and Gabriel rolled a shoulder to distract himself. "Some packs. My brothers just use it as an excuse to fight, which is why I'm here instead of at home."

"Adam's back too? Always knew that kid would go far. Still going pre-med?" Gabriel nodded at the anatomy book at Sam's elbow.

loop

[low_key_angel]

And Gabriel wouldn't have complained one bit if Sam had simply pushed him down and taken him right then and there. Sure, their backs would make them regret it later, but he was too far gone to think for very long.

Panting, rubbing his cheek against Sam's chest and breathing in great gulps of his scent, Gabriel forced himself to think. Bed. Comfortable. "Up-upstairs," he whined. "Apartment is over the bakery. I live there." One hand fumbled for the keys on the table.

It was a small apartment, but it was something Gabriel had built on his own, a sanctuary away from his brothers, even if they disapproved of their Omega being out of sight (or out of their control) for long.

Fuck. He was going to do this right. Gabriel knotted his fingers in Sam's shirt and forced himself to move, leading the bigger wolf up the stairs in the back, taking them two at a time before hitting the door and just barely getting getting the door open. "Home."

[fromfryingpantofire]

Sam had to duck a bit on the stairs, though his long legs meant that he could keep up with Gabriel taking them two at a time.

Once they got to the top and the door was open, Sam bent, scooping Gabriel up in his arms before they crossed the threshold. He kicked the door shut behind them and turned, following the scent of Gabriel through to the bedroom. "Don't get to stay here much, do you?" The scent was faint, but one he could still pick up as he made his way to the room.

[low_key_angel]

He went easily with Sam, arms sliding around his neck as the bigger wolf scooped him up and started bearing them both back towards his bedroom. Skin flushed, he nuzzled at his jaw, wanting nothing more than to be closer to Sam.

"Hn? Not really. Only when they're fighting." Fingers that had worked deftly with pastry crust only a few minutes ago were making quick work of the buttons on Sam's shirt. "They don't notice 'm gone those days. So I stay here when I can."

When Lucifer or Michael don't try and haul him home.

[fromfryingpantofire]

Something Sam was more than happy to let him get to. Though, really, he probably should have thought to clean Gabriel's hands, first. Not that it really mattered at the moment. That was what lulls were for, anyway, for Sam to take care of his...of Gabriel.

He was so hard, so ready already to just rip Gabriel's clothing off and take him. He bent, laying Gabriel on the bed as he started working on his shirt, making himself go slowly. "Have you...I mean, has there..." He fumbled over his words before looking up at Gabriel seriously. "Am I your first?"

He didn't care if there had been others. Well, a lie, but he didn't care as much. But he needed to know how slowly he needed to go.

[low_key_angel]

He'd invested in a large bathtub, more than enough room for both of them for later. When things had cooled and they had time to think.

Not yet. Right now the only thing Gabriel wants is bare skin and Sam's large hands on him. The gentle way he laid him down, working at his shirt, he wasn't used to such care and it was.. nice. Wonderful really. Gabriel smiled, tugging Sam into a kiss. Warm and sweet, even as his hands worked urgently at his clothes.

"My first during heat," he confirmed. "Not my first ever, though. Kinda thought I'd save heat for my.. my mate."

And there, it was out in the open now.

loop

[low_key_angel]

This time when he flushed, it was more from shame than heat or desire. There was nothing more humiliating for a wolf to be chained up like a wild animal, even an Omega in heat. But Michael was an Alpha, and he and his brothers tended to avoid other Omegas so they’d never understood the drive of rut, or an Omega’s need to mate. It was an alien and frankly, embarrassing concept to his brother. So it was best shoved in a room and contained until his brother could behave rationally again.

“Every cycle,” Gabriel confirmed quietly, pressing back against his mate. “The first three days at least. Sometimes longer.”

“If I didn’t have the shop I probably would have run years ago. Taken off and tried to find another pack, find some way to escape.”

But now he had Sam. He had a bonded mate. He didn't have to go back.

[fromfryingpantofire]

Had he not been knotted to Gabriel, if this had come out when he was more free to move, it was entirely possible that Sam would have gotten up and gone to challenge Michael right then.

Since he was, though, that meant he was more attuned to the way that Gabriel himself was reacting, which cooled his temper a bit. At least for the time being. There would be time to deal with Michael later, after all.

"I'm so sorry you went through that," he murmured, holding Gabriel close. "Your brothers are idiots and I hate what they put you through, but I'm selfishly glad that you didn't run."

[low_key_angel]

Sam was a soothing presence wrapped around him, and Gabriel let himself relax against his mate. He'd never be chained up again. Maybe they'd fool around with restraints later, but it would be a voluntary thing, purely for fun.

He smiled quietly, breathing in their mingled scents. "So am I Sam. I'm glad I stayed."

Soon he'd meet his new pack, and never have to see his brothers again. His children, the ones he'd eventually have with Sam, would be safe from them and be raised in a house full of warmth and affection.

His cell phone chirped from the nightstand and he huffed out a laugh. "That'd be Cas. Anna must have called him." But it can wait, as he made no move to reach for the phone. Later. It can all wait. Right now, he's good right where he is.

[fromfryingpantofire]

"Mmm. I've been hearing mine chiming off and on since we came back in here." Of course his phone was in the other room. He'd need to remember to keep it nearby during heats. "It's either Dean giving me shit or Adam checking in. Probably Dean. Though I'm sure I'll hear from Adam as soon as he doesn't have class."

Sam was glad Gabriel didn't move for the phone. Sure, he wouldn't have stopped him because it was kind of a big thing, but he was more than happy to let the phone go for the moment.

[low_key_angel]

“We’ll grab it before the next one.” Not that he intended to do much talking or texting while he was in heat. Most of the time he didn’t have much in the way of an attention span and now that he had a mate, Gabriel was content to devote his attention to Sam instead.

“Guess it’s something of big news in the pack. With Adam in school and Dean being.. Dean, you’re the first one mated, right?” He reached back to stroke his hip.

Word traveled quickly in a close knit pack, and with any luck his own brothers would be too angry at one another to talk and realize he hadn’t returned home yet. As soon as Sam’s knot deflated, they’d pack up a few things and head for the Winchester heat cottage where they could spend their time uninterrupted for the duration of his heat.

((Any thoughts on what else you’d like to do with them? Fast forward to pregnant Gabe, someone running afoul of Gabriel’s brothers?))

loop again

[low_key_angel]

Gabriel let Sam lead them back to the bedroom, taking a moment to breathe in the scent lingering in the blankets and pillows. His mate's scent is strong here and it's a reassuring wash over his senses as they settled on the bed with their lunch.

But first.. he leaned forward, burying his face against Sam's neck and simply breathed him in. "Yeah, I think we can be careful enough."

[fromfryingpantofire]

It was no problem at all to tip his head slightly and expose more of his neck for Gabriel to scent. He turned his head, though, nudging his chin against Gabriel's cheek. "Mmm. Missed you, babe," he murmured, just letting himself breathe in Gabriel's scent as well.

"You know," he said, shifting a little so he could put his arm around Gabriel's waist. "I never thought I'd smell something as wonderful as the first time you came up here after we bonded. I thought that scent, my bonded mate, was the best thing in the world. Think this one might just beat it, though."

[low_key_angel]

"Missed you too." Gabriel rumbled, taking in another deep breath of his mate's scent, letting it soothe the last of the tension from his shoulders. He laughed, letting Sam tug him closer. "Thought I noticed a change a couple of days ago, but I chalked it up to just missing you. Doc proved me wrong."

Michael did too, but that's not something he's going to remind Sam of. "Think he was just as surprised as I was."

[fromfryingpantofire]

"Yeah, well. It's not like we've actually been trying." Sam couldn't help the smile that curled his mouth. "Well. Certainly a lot of practicing."

He was a little frightened, but more because of what Gabriel's family were doing than about the actual baby. He figured there was plenty of time for that particular freak out at another time. "I guess we'll just have to move up plans for that nursery."

[low_key_angel]

"Practice makes perfect, right?" Gabriel raised up to kiss the corner of his mouth, a gentle brush of lips.

The doctor had said to keep his stress levels low, to rest and make sure there's no undue strain. Problem was, his brothers were an almost constant source of stress. Michael appearing at the bakery and venting his anger. The fact that Lucifer had been heard but not seen.

But the rest? It was a happy sort of worry. A new cub. The family that they'd always wanted, just a little sooner than expected. "Oh, I think Grandma and Grandpa are a few steps ahead of us. And Dean's already talking about building a new cradle."

loop

[low_key_angel]

"I know he's a dick Sam," Gabriel allows. "And he's been awful to you in the past, said some pretty terrible things and unless that changes, he's not welcome in our lives. But.. I don't know. I think he can change if he gets away from Michael and away from the whole crappy legacy Michael is trying to stick to."

Maybe it's hoping for too much, but he's going to hope all the same.

"I hope so. Things are always weird for male Omegas, but whatever needs to be done, I'll do it." Anything for a happy, healthy cub. Their child.

[fromfryingpantofire]

Sam turned his head, kissing Gabriel's hair. "I know. We'll have to see how things go. And you're the one in control of that, you know. He's your brother. I'll stand between you if you need protection, but how we handle this from here on out is your choice."

Because he absolutely wouldn't dictate Gabriel's life for him. He never would have stood for it for himself and he wouldn't do it to his mate.

"From what I've read, you're probably okay for now. We'll be careful. Like I said, no heavy lifting is the main thing. And keeping stress levels down. So if you have to take on another baker to help out, we'll find a way to make it happen." The pack would make certain they were taken care of. And once Sam had his license and had found a job, it would be easier.

[low_key_angel]

"It'll probably be a long time before we see him around again," he admits. "There's a lot he's got to get straight in his head, even when he does decide to get away from Michael." There's no get out of jail free card, even for Lucifer. But if he can make those changes, then there might be a chance.

"Think we can probably talk Anna into helping out. Her chocolate cake is just this side of heaven. She might be okay with taking a semester off to help out." It'd be nice to have his cousin closer during his pregnancy, family that he was close to and trusted.

[fromfryingpantofire]

"If she's willing, that would be great. Just until the pup's born." He let his hand settle over Gabriel's stomach again, thumb sweeping over his shirt. "God. I can't believe this is really happening."