Chapter Text
Dean had been working on the bracelet for a few days now. He had to make sure that the protection sigils he wanted to add were etched into the stones correctly before he braided it. Adding silver clips on each end was the last step before it was ready for his mate-to-be.
Alpha Krushnic had promised to meet him for a special dinner today. Naomi had even forbidden him from helping her with food preparations. She had pushed him towards his bedroom and ordered him to rest and make sure he was cleaned up and ready for dinner.
He was planning on presenting his mate-to-be with the bracelet tonight, as a sign of his devotion to the alpha. Smiling down at the completed bracelet, he held it carefully in between his open palms and said a short cleansing prayer. The bracelet glowed for a second before it was ready for his alpha.
“I hope he likes it,” Dean said to his empty room, he couldn’t wait for dinner tonight.
A noise startled him and made him turn to his open window. There, amongst the trees was a bird. It looked like a crow. Dean stood and walked over to get a closer look. As soon as he was close enough the crow flew into his room and stood on his shoulder.
“What?” Dean froze in surprise. “What are you—”
The crow sank its small claws into Dean’s neck and cawed. Before Dean could do anything, a feeling of being yanked by his belly overpowered anything else. A moment later bright light blinded him and he was gone.
Castiel did not think anything was wrong when Dean did not appear in time for dinner. It had happened a few times before, when Dean had been too focused on some sigil or on a housetask he’d decided he wanted to do.
So he walked over to Dean’s room, where Naomi had confirmed the omega had been all afternoon, and knocked on the door.
When there was no answer Castiel knocked again and called out, “Dean?”
He tried the handle. The door was unlocked.
It swung open slowly, revealing a room that was, at first glance, undisturbed. The bed was neatly made, a small gift box lay on the table near the window, carefully placed on a square of cloth. The window itself was slightly ajar, the sheer curtain fluttering faintly.
“Dean?” Castiel repeated, stepping into the room.
Then he felt it. The hum of magic prickled at the edge of his senses. It felt wrong, like something that didn’t belong in the manor.
He turned down towards the floor, his eyes narrowing. The surface bore a faint glassy shine.
On a hunch he lifted a hand, palm down, in front of him and called on his power. Dean’s presence hung heavy in the room, but it had been gone for a while, cut off so suddenly it had left a strange magical residue.
That’s when he knew.
Someone had taken his omega.
He was already halfway down the hallway when he called out, “Naomi! Bobby!”
Both came running, Naomi from the kitchen, apron still tied around her waist, and Bobby from the courtyard where he had been working on the carriage’s wheels.
“Dean is gone,” Castiel said before either could speak. “Someone used magic to take him.”
Naomi paled instantly. “What? How is that possible?”
“I need you both to check the perimeter,” Castiel ordered. “No one should have been able to cross it. Bobby, make sure nothing has been disturbed. Go now!”
All three of them spread out looking for any evidence that would tell them who or how Dean had been taken. Bobby was the first to find evidence of foreign invasion. “The wards around the western tree line have been disrupted, Alpha.”
“Whoever did this knew our protections and how to bypass them,” Naomi added. “They masked their magical signature, but not enough to be untraceable. With your permission, Alpha, I can try to reveal more from the residue in Omega Winchester’s bedchambers.”
Castiel stood staring at the horizon, quiet fury radiated from him in quiet magical waves. “Do it.”
His mood only darkened when it was revealed by Naomi’s spell that the magical signature had come from the direction of the Winchester Manor. “Do you think his family would dare? Even with a contract already signed?” Naomi’s voice was tight with exhaustion.
Castiel’s silence was answer enough.
“We will bring him back,” Bobby said, resting a hand on Castiel’s shoulder.
Castiel’s voice was low and ominous when he said. “He’s mine. I will bring him home.”
When Dean woke, there was a faint hum beneath his skin. Magic.
He looked around and instantly recognized the old bricked shed on the outskirts of his Father’s estate. Why was I brought here? Dean thought, looking around the familiar place.
Suddenly light burst in his vision, distracting him from any more wondering thoughts. A sudden, sharp pull on his chest made him stumble and then he slammed onto the wall behind him. His arms and legs were pulled apart and magically held in place.
Then he heard a very familiar voice.
“Don’t move.” Adam said smugly, voice reeking with magic forcing Dean to stop moving.
Dean tried to pull on the magical restraints his brother’s voice commanded, but they held surprisingly strong. “Why the hell am I here?”
“My my, dear brother, you kiss your alpha with that mouth?” Adam asked sarcastically as he approached with slow deliberate steps.
Dean looked down, shame filled him, like it usually did when in his brother’s presence. Why did he always feel this way? Why did Adam have such power over him?
“Nothing to say?” Adam continued taunting, now standing almost nose to nose with Dean. “Look up.” Magic forced Dean to move his head upwards, looking straight into his half-brother’s cruel eyes. “Were you dreaming of something pleasant?”
“Why are you doing this, Adam? What did I ever do to you?” That had always been the question. Dean always wondered why Adam hated him so profoundly.
“So whiny,” His step-mother’s voice came from the shadows behind Adam. “Your voice is like a dying animal on the side of the road.”
Closing his eyes in resignation, Dean knew he was done for. Adam might’ve tired eventually, giving Dean some hope that he could’ve escaped. But his step-mother was involved as well and outmaneuvering her would be impossible.
“Listen, boy, you are here for a very simple reason. You will deny Alpha Krushnic and step down as his omega immediately.”
“What?” Dean whispered in surprise, eye widening in surprise. Renounce his alpha?
“I was thinking, the responsibility of being Omega Krushnic, would be too much for you to bear, dear brother,” Adam continued in the same cruel tone he had learned from his mother. Adam placed his hand directly on Dean’s chest and pushed, making his magic pull on Dean’s arms and legs uncomfortably.
“Come on. Promise me that you’ll reject his proposal. Or else, I’ll have to leave you here to rot.” His half-brother leaned closer, his magic pulling on Dean until he felt his shoulders were about to pop out of their sockets. Then he whispered directly into Dean’s ear. “When Alpha Krushnic mates me, you’ll be free to be with Michael.”
Dean took short breaths, trying his best not to move anymore than necessary. Even then, the pain in his body did not compare to the pain he felt in his heart. If his half-brother had offered to trade places with him from the beginning, he would’ve done it in a heartbeat. But now?
“N-no,” Dean said simply.
Kate growled in anger and pushed Adam away forcefully. His half-brother’s magic lost strength and Dean tried to take a breath, but Kate didn’t wait a second before she slapped him, the magic in her hand breaking the skin on his cheek.
“You spoiled brat!” she screamed. “Who do you think you are?”
“Mother,” Adam said from behind her. “Let me handle this.”
Before Dean could respond or defend himself he felt his brother grab him by the hair and push him down to his knees. “Kneel!”
Dean was sure if his half-brother had kept him against the wall he would’ve died in this shed, but Adam had made a mistake. He’d freed Dean’s hands.
Taking a couple of deep breaths and ignoring the pain in his scalp and knees Dean thought of his new family. Of Bobby and Naomi, and especially his Alpha. They had taught him so many things, so he wouldn't give them up.
Not ever.
“I am Castiel Krushnic’s omega betrothed. He promised himself to me. He’s not yours, not now or ever.” He glared up at his half-brother through his eyelashes, doing his best to keep Adam’s attention away from his hands.
“That is enough! You will not ruin this for me! Stay down!” Adam pushed Dean’s face down until the older omega had his face on the floor.
“You will do as we say, you useless omega,” Kate screamed and pulled on Adam’s hand, forcing Dean to lift his body up and kneel. “Adam deserves this more than an omega like you, who doesn’t know his place!”
Her hand struck him again before he could react.
The crack echoed in the room.
Dean’s head snapped to the side, pain blooming across his bleeding cheek.
“You ungrateful brat,” Kate hissed. “Do you think we suffered all those years just to watch you run off and throw yourself at the first powerful alpha who looked your way?”
“ You suffered ? ” Dean snarled, still on the floor. “You were the one that sealed my magic. You let me think that what you did to me was normal, that my magic was an abomination. You have no idea the pain I suffered every day of my life because of you."
“I only did what needed to be done,” Kate said coldly.
Dean stared up at her, breathing hard. His magic rose behind his ribs, tight and hot.
“Alpha Krushnic doesn’t love you,” Adam said behind his mother. “You’re a novelty to him. That’s all. He’ll tire of you eventually.”
Dean met his half-brother’s eyes. “If he doesn’t love me, then why is he here?”
“What are you talking about?” Adam asked.
“Why would he bother to come for you? Kate sneered.
Dean clenched his fists. His magic sparked against his skin, creating an invisible shield around his skin.
“Because he loves me.” Dean said confidently.
Somewhere outside, Castiel’s magic exploded.
No one was able to stop him.
The estate gates burst open in a flash of celestial fire, the runes meant to ward off evil spirits and magical intent crumbling like ash in the wake of Castiel’s fury. The two guards hired by the Winchesters barely raised their hands before being pinned to the walls by invisible force.
Castiel didn’t even bother to knock.
He shattered the front doors with a flick of his fingers.
“Where is he.” His voice was cold and quiet but carried through the corridor clearly.
John Winchester rose from his chair in the study, startled by the sound of splintering wood echoing through the house. Richard Milton stood nearby, calm even in the presence of Castie’s power, cradling a glass of wine as if it was just a normal meeting between associates.
“Alpha Krushnic,” Milton said, all polished charm. “This is highly irregular.”
Castiel stepped into the room. His power flared in his eyes making them look almost white. His power dragged wind and frost in his wake. The scent of righteous fury filled the air instantly, burning through any composure John had left.
“You took my intended mate,” Castiel said. Each word cold as ice. “You trespassed on my lands. You breached a contract signed and sealed. Ignored a bonded omega’s protections. And you used forbidden magic to do it.”
John's hands twitched by his sides. “I had nothing to do with this—”
“ Lies. ” Castiel’s voice shook the glass on the table. “Your magical signature is all over the spell remnants in Dean’s room. Yours and Milton’s. It guided me straight here.”
Milton took a slow sip of wine, eyes unreadable. “If he was taken, perhaps it’s because he was never yours to keep.”
Castiel turned to him, deadly calm. “You dare.”
Milton didn’t flinch. “Your attachment to that omega is clouding your judgment. He’s not meant to be yours, Krushnic. An omega whose powers were unstable even before they were sealed? My son could stabilize him. Breed the magic out of him.”
Castiel moved before either man could react.
Milton was slammed into the wall with a snap of force. The wine glass exploded in his hand.
“You will never speak of my intended like that again,” Castiel growled. “He is not property. He is not a breeder to be used by others. He is mine—by bond, by vow, and by choice.”
He turned toward John next.
“You stood by while your son was bound and discarded by your mate. You signed him away to an alpha who you thought would treat him cruelly without question. You lost any right to his life the day you signed our contract.”
John’s face had gone pale. “This wasn’t my decision alone—”
“Enough.”
Castiel stepped forward. The ground seemed to shake beneath his feet.
“I am giving you one chance,” he said coldly. “Tell me where Dean is. Or I will tear this estate apart stone by stone until I find him myself.”
Milton glared through bloodied knuckles, still pinned to the wall. “He’ll reject you eventually. He’s still in love with my son.”
Castiel didn’t respond. But the pressure in the room grew thick enough to choke.
“Winchester?” Castiel asked, without looking.
John faltered.
“They took him to the shed in the outskirts of the property,” he admitted finally, voice shaking. “Kate said it would give him time to ‘see sense.’ Adam went with them.”
Castiel turned on his heel.
“In one hour the king’s army will come for you,” he said. “You better be here to receive your judgement or they will not be merciful.”
And with that, he vanished in a crackle of light and storm.
A deafening crack split the air.
The shed’s door buckled inward, splinters flying as Castiel appeared before Dean, his eyes glowing faintly with magical light. A cold gust of wind followed him like the beginning of winter.
He didn’t speak.
He simply raised one hand, and Adam was thrown back against the wall with a dull thud , pinned by force stronger than whatever force he had used against Dean.
Kate stepped forward. “Alpha Krushnic, what are you doing? My son—”
Castiel glared at her. “You struck my mate.”
The room pulsed with magical tension. Kate stumbled back, unable to meet the furious alpha’s gaze.
Dean blinked up at him, disoriented but alert. “Alpha?”
Castiel crossed the space between them in three strides, kneeling beside him with a gentleness that contrasted sharply with the violence in the room. When he tried to touch Dean a crackle of magic stopped his hand.
“You’re safe now,” he murmured, waiting for Dean to lower his shield.
Dean nodded shakily and dispelled his shield. Castiel brushed the hair from Dean’s temple. “I have you.”
Dean took a deep breath. “You came.”
“I will always come for you.”
Castiel’s hands were sure as he lifted his omega from his kneeling position on the floor, careful not to cause any pain by touching bruised skin. When at last they were standing, Dean threw his arms around him and buried his face in Castiel’s shoulder.
Behind them, Adam whimpered as Castiel’s power continued to hold him immobile.
“You shouldn’t have taken him,” Castiel said softly, without turning around. “Your family might’ve kept their pride if you’d have let him go. Now you will lose everything.
Kate moved as if to speak but Castiel’s eyes flicked toward her, and she froze.
“Do not dare move,” he ordered. “The King’s army will come and judge you. You’ll answer for every mark and every spell.”
Then he scooped Dean into his arms and vanished with a gust of wind and light.
—
They reappeared in Dean’s room.
Even after they landed, Castiel didn’t let go. He held Dean against his chest until the trembling stopped, until Dean’s fingers unclenched from the back of his coat.
“I didn’t think I was going to get out,” Dean whispered.
“You fought back,” Castiel said. “That’s what matters.”
Dean pulled back enough to look into his eyes. “They said you didn’t love me. That I was just… convenient.”
The silence that followed was oppressive, but before Dean could despair Castiel took his hand.
“You are not convenient. You are not temporary. You are not replaceable.”
His voice stayed steady as he pulled Dean up by his chin and locked eyes with him.
“I love you,” Castiel said. “Not as a possession. Not as a conquest. I love you as my equal. My mate. The soul that calls to mine.”
Dean stared, wide-eyed, searching his face for any flicker of doubt. He found none.
“I don’t want your submission,” Castiel continued. “I want you beside me. I want to stand together in battle and in peace. I want your strength, your magic and your heart . And I will give you mine in exchange. Not because you’re mine to keep. Because you’re you .”
Dean’s throat tightened. “Alpha…”
Castiel leaned in and pressed their foreheads together.
“I’m not asking for a response,” he said. “Only that you believe me when I say: I choose you. Every day. In every way.”
Dean breathed out a shaky laugh, tears shining in his lashes. “I believe you. And I choose you, too.”
They sat in silence for a long moment, the kind that made time feel eternal.
The end.