Now I'm strong and I won't kneel/Except to thank who's watching over me

[fromfryingpantofire]

It had been a very long day so far. For Sam, that day mostly meant waiting, fidgeting with the present in his hands.

More than a few of the others had watched him as they waited, wondering what he was doing here and, more than once, Sam had found himself wondering the same. The Novaks were a family with a lot of wealth and a lot of connections, political and otherwise. He'd done his research. The family was full of Alphas and Betas, insinuated into massive companies and running more than a few of their own. They were old money and old power and most of those who had come to court were the same.

Not Sam. Certainly, the Winchesters were an old family, but they weren't wealthy by a long shot. They were involved in law enforcement, which wasn't exactly a rich occupation to begin with. Sam was going to law school, but his interest wasn't in making money but in helping people and putting away those who abused their positions and their power. But, long ago, John Winchester had made a promise to the Novak family because Mary Campbell had mated him rather than Michael Novak. That one of his children would be offered as a mate to the Novaks should there be a compatible one. It had been a sop, meant to quiet tensions between the families but nobody had thought much of it. Dean had been a Beta and Sam had been an Alpha and that seemed that.

Until the Novaks threw an Omega. Not unheard of, but rare. And, suddenly, Sam seemed to be the one Winchester with a chance, small enough though it might be.

He started when he heard his name called, pulling himself to his full height with the present clutched in his hands. He followed Zachariah Novak trying to ignore the feeling of unworthiness. He was an Alpha from a good line. There was no reason, other than money, to think he didn't have a chance here.

Comments

[freetobe]

"Interesting is one way to put it."

Samandriel instructs the driver to go straight back to his pack's residence. Dean will drop Muriel off there, and Sam can join his brother again. By then, Samandriel hopes both Dean and Muriel will not have Castiel's heat-fuelled scent clinging to them anymore. He's a very mellow kind of alpha, but even he feels riled up by the scent.

"I hope he gets the chance to choose on his own. I know it's... unusual, but. Our kinds of families don't usually operate like that, but just... I... I wish more packs would think like yours, Sam Winchester."

[fromfryingpantofire]

Sam turns, watching the other Alpha. Neither one of them are anything close to the stereotypes, but he thinks that's okay. The stereotype isn't helping anybody, after all. "There are a lot of packs that think like mine," he replies softly. "But that's because we're not as concerned about bloodlines or money. Not every match is going to be a love match, though a lot of them are these days. But as long as you give a shit about all of the children, Alpha, Beta or Omega? It's a good start."

Which is the problem they're seeing with the Novaks. Zachariah obviously doesn't care about Castiel beyond what sort of funds or alliance he can secure for the family. It pisses Sam off like little else can.

[freetobe]

Samandriel would love to meet someone, a beta or an omega, some day, have children, and care for them. He knows he doesn't have much to offer yet - he can provide financially, but he's not exactly a model alpha. Maybe... maybe he needs to look outside of the circles his kind of family usually marries into. Maybe he should be more open minded, too.

Maybe his parents won't be disappointed, but proud as long as he's happy and settles down with a good family.

"You've certainly opened my eyes tonight, Sam. Thank you for that. I hope Muriel will meet an alpha like you some day."

Sadly, simple biology limits her options. Alphas can be with omegas and betas... even alphas, though that is usually not a very good idea in terms of tempers. Omegas however need a knot, and the most loving beta willing to work with toys can't keep up with the physical demand of a heat. More often than not, those relationships break apart under the strain of biological demands. Betas are better equipped to handle ruts than heats. And Muriel deserves to be in the best of hands some day.

In fact, if Dean had a knot, Samandriel might have felt inspired to arrange the match. Hell, if Sam didn't seem as invested in Castiel and vice versa, he might even try to set them up. It's a shame no every alpha is as good as Sam - but it's good to hear that Sam is not the exception to the rule anymore.

And at least Samandriel's family, stiff as it might be, is not cold and distant or downright cruel as the Novak pack apparently is.

"I wish you the best of luck, Sam. I'm sure if Castiel is able to choose outside of his uncle's influence... the two of you would make a very good match."

[fromfryingpantofire]

"I hope she can find a good Alpha, too. She deserves a good match." He'd liked her the moment he met her, though not in that way.

He blinks, turning back to Samandriel. "As long as he makes a choice of his own volition, that will be good enough." As interested as he is in Castiel, he doesn't imagine for a moment that he'll be Castiel's choice. "He's a lot stronger than people have been giving him credit for."

Of course, the fact that Castiel didn't actually go into heat until they were near each other hasn't really hit him yet. He'd been around Alphas all night but it wasn't until he was with Sam that things hit. It could have been coincidence, but there might be more to it.

[freetobe]

Samandriel lets it rest at this point, although he can't help the small smile that tugs at his lips. Sam Winchester... is much better than he gives himself credit for. Samandriel hopes that whatever happens a week from then on, will be good for Sam.

A week later, Dean is the one who brings in the mail. He doesn't have to - the pack is large enough for someone of a lower rank to do menial tasks like that. Except they don't run their pack like that, and if he's the one walking past the mail box but for some reason doesn't take the mail inside, Ellen will kick his ass, and with good reason.

They're a team, not a hierarchy, at least not in their regular day to day.

When he sees a letter with the Novak family crest friggin' imprinted on it, he stops in the hallways, just inside the door, and purses his lips for a moment.

Yeah, he remembers that catastrophe well, remembers holding a shaking, feverish omega in his arms and helping him get his fingers inside of himself properly to easy some of the pain of his first heat, and fighting the terrible anger that came with the realization that no one had bothered to teach the boy about what it means to be an omega. How to handle his own body, at least once he presented. Getting Castiel's slick all over his own hand hadn't had anything to do with sex - Dean isn't the greatest guy, he thinks, but he knows he's better than feeling aroused like some sicko at fingering an omega totally out of it with pain and hormones. He'd felt for the kid. Muriel cried when they realized his room didn't even have a lock, and Dean can't even say he blamed her, sweet girl that she is. Bit too sweet for Sammy, but at least not tied to a family with quite that big a bag of issues.

When he sees that family crest, Dean remembers the broken whisper of his brother's name that had kept falling from Castiel's lips as they helped ease his growing pain.

He never mentioned it to Sam, not on the drive home, not since. He knows Sam wouldn't admit it, but Dean thinks his brother has a soft spot for this omega in particular - no use getting his hopes up. The omega might be sweet on Sammy, too, but that doesn't mean that doucheface of an uncle he has won't disrespect the omega's choice. No point telling Sam the omega genuinely wants his knot and his everything, if it may still never come to pass, because those rich packs are just dicks on legs. Yes, even the females.

So when he sees the letter addressed to their head of pack, Dean scoffs, tries to remember that good things rarely happen, and calls out: "Hey, Sammy. Look what just came in the mail, I think the Novaks are gonna sue after all."

Well, he did accidentally knock over that ugly angel statuette. Accidentally.

[fromfryingpantofire]

Technically, Sam is the head of the pack by virtue of being the oldest Alpha in the Winchester family. Bobby is the oldest Alpha, but he's not technically part of the Winchester line.

In most packs, it would mean Sam would have his own office, where he would make the decisions that concern the pack.

Instead, Sam comes out of the kitchen, drying his hands. The dishes still need to be done, after all. "Fantastic. I told you to leave that angel statuette alone." Ugly as it was, it had probably been worth a hell of a lot of money. "Go ahead and open it, then."

[freetobe]

"Good for you, then," Dean mocks. There is probably no other pack out there where the leading alpha is mocked and picked on like this.

Or where the leading alpha and his second in command are getting the mail and doing the dishes.

They got a pretty sweet deal going here. Dean would feel weird if they had manservants and shit like that. How does it help anyone if the pack leaders can't do anything without having their butts licked and wiped for them?

"As you wish. Think you can weasel us out of having to pay, like... a million bucks or something?"

And then he goes quiet in the middle of his next joke about the Novaks squeezing them dry. Just falls utterly silent before he calls for his brother: "Sammy! Come here right now."

There's no jest left in his voice.

[fromfryingpantofire]

"I'll do my best if we have to. But, you know, still not a lawyer."

Sam turns back to the kitchen, dropping the hand towel to the side when he hears his brother go silent, then calling for him. He finishes the full circle and crosses the room to his brother's side in only a few steps, long legs eating up the distance easily. "What? What's wrong?"

[freetobe]

For once, Dean's face is serious as he reads off the cover letter, holding it in one hand, and the large stack of papers forming a contract in the other.

"Dear Mr Winchester. I hereby inform you that your courtship of House Novak's only unmated omega, Castiel James Novak, has been received positively. Attached you find the standard contract required to obtain a mate from our well-bred ranks for you to peruse. I expect it signed and delivered to my desk within 5 business days, otherwise we will have no choice but to consider your interest in a mating to have ceased. Along with the contract, you'll find the legal documents assuring the omega's purity and an unofficial overview of previous medical records, the full version of which you'll receive as per the contract when the marriage is documented on paper and consumed as per the agreements in sections 3 to 12. We will transfer the omega to your possession after receipt of the signed contract. Sincerely, Zachariah A. Novak."

Dean looks up from the paper, just looks into Sam's eyes for a moment, then raises an eyebrow.

"I'm not sure if I'm supposed to hug you and congratulate you for getting hitched, or buying a new car, to be honest. Shit, Sam. He chose you."

And then he beams.

"I KNEW it."

[fromfryingpantofire]

Sam blinks, then snatches the cover letter out of Dean's hand, reading it over for himself. "I've read more personal writs," he mutters, looking it over another time before he finally looks up at Dean. "Wait. Wait, what do you mean, you knew it?"

All while snagging the contract out of Dean's hands because, seriously, he was going to read the damned thing before he signed anything. He'd learned that much even before law school. That and never sign anything in blood.

[freetobe]

"Dude, the kid's got it bad for you. Remember how Muriel and I took him to his room and had to show him the ropes a bit. He was out of it, but not so much that he couldn't moan your name. Bet your little moonshine date on the balcony triggered his heat for good."

And Dean could not be more proud of his little brother being such a good alpha like that. Yep, that's his boy.

"Dude, you're gonna sign that, right? I know you like him. Come on, I wanna hug you and then give you shit about it."

[fromfryingpantofire]

"Well, yeah, I'm going to sign it. I just want to be certain what the terms are." Because he fully expected Zachariah to hold him to the absolute letter of the contract. Which meant there were likely things in it that he could use for leverage to break it open later, as necessary.

The rest of it takes a moment to get through his head and he has to sit down, looking up at Dean. "Wait...really? I mean, there were so many Alphas there that night." But Castiel hadn't gone into heat until he'd been with Sam. He hadn't gone after Sam just because he was the nearest Alpha after all.

He takes a breath, letting it out slowly before looking down at the contract. "You know...Part of me doesn't care what's asked of me, so long as I get to have him, you know? I'd put up with a lot to have him here and my...husband. Partner." His Omega. But Sam's examples for Alpha and Omega matches had always been love matches. "I just...We'll have to find a way to break the contract. Some loophole to keep him safe."

To keep him HERE was the part that went unsaid.

[freetobe]

"You'll figure it out. That Zachariah douche has nothing on my little sasquatch brother."

And without further preamble he pulls said beanstalk close, claps him on the back. Hides the fact that his eyes sting with a little wetness. Because his little brother's getting married. Might be an arranged marriage, but those two are sweet on each other. They'll get all sappy and lovey-dovey in no time, and within a year they'll probably have twins gurgling about the place or something like that.

It's a big deal, okay, and Dean is a proud semi-Dad about it.

Then Dean lets go, trusting himself to keep the emotion somewhat off his face now. "You two are gonna be sickeningly sweet in no time at all, and that contract isn't even gonna be a threat, mark my words."

[fromfryingpantofire]

The hug actually takes Sam a bit by surprise. His brother isn't terribly demonstrative at the best of times, after all. But he hugs his brother back, letting it help relax him a bit.

Still, he snorts and shakes his head. "Even so. I'd rather know what we're headed in to. But I should have the contract ready to go tomorrow. We'll go drop it off in person." That way, nobody could say that the mail caused an issue and kept it the extra few days. The Novaks were close enough that they could do that. "After that...I guess we're going to have to sort out living space." Sam and Dean both lived in the pack's big house, along with most of the other single Alphas and Betas in the pack. Which weren't that many, but Kevin and Ash and Charlie all live there. With Sam taking a mate, he'd have to move somewhere else for the time being.

[freetobe]

"We could build something for you guys, though that'd take time. Small outhouse for some privacy, no one wants to hear newlyweds fucking, especially not the big brother, thanks."

They don't see Castiel the next day, when they drop off the signed contract. In fact, they only see the butler, who takes the contract. In the far distance of the mansion, they can hear Zachariah yelling at Castiel - no, he's not happy with the omega's choice in the least, and even less with the fact that he can do nothing about it. And even less with the fact that he's losing money because of Castiel's poor match.

The door is shut in their faces.

They don't hear anything from the Novak pack for a week, although the match is prominently announced in the papers without the Winchesters having been consulted.

The usual procedure would be several meetings at both main residences, the packs getting to know each other, wedding plans being made, the soon to be mates given the chance to bask in the pre-wedding glow a little - under supervision, of course.

That doesn't happen. Exactly seven days after the contact was dropped off, with no attempt from Zachariah to get in touch with the Winchesters at all, a car pulls up. Zachariah has the driver carry two bags containing everything Castiel actually owns, and almost drags the omega to the door by the arm.

When Ellen answers the door, he doesn't even wait to be invited in before pushing inside, telling her with false sweetness that he expects she knows who he is and what he's bringing over. He doesn't care who she is, clearly, and Castiel isn't getting a word in edge wise.

Ellen calls Sam immediately, makes sure he and the others know what's happening in their absence. Castiel, stiff and uncomfortable, clearly ashamed, stands stock still while Zachariah inspects his soon to be home with growing distaste.

Oh, he will have words for Sam Winchester, and Castiel, if he has anything to say about it, will have none.

[fromfryingpantofire]

They were on a job. Well, Dean and Jo were doing most of the foot work. Sam's in the library, doing research with Bobby. They're the best suited to this part of things, after all.

The librarian still glares at Sam when his mobile goes off, though he smiles at her apologetically before glancing down. Then he's up and out of the library, so he can have his conversation where there aren't so many prying ears.

It leads to Sam and Bobby abandoning their research and a call made to Dean and Jo to meet them back at the pack house. Of course Zachariah would arrive when Kevin was in class and Ash and Charlie were off on a call to deal with their computer business sideline.

Once they reach the house, Sam forces himself to at least seem calmer as he leads the others up the walkway to the pack house, opening the door because this is where he lives. "Mr. Novak. What a surprise to have you here. When we hadn't heard anything more from your pack about wedding plans or a meeting for the packs to at least meet each other, I wasn't certain what to think."

Oh, Sam has a copy of the contract in his office. Soon enough, he would have called Zachariah on it. But a week wasn't a lot of time, really, when it came to these kinds of marriages.

[freetobe]

Castiel keeps his eyes lowered dutifully. Sam... his future alpha, his future husband and mate... is not pleased. Castiel can't blame him, and yet he knows that in turn, he will be blamed.

It's why Zachariah has done this, Castiel is well aware.

His uncle just smiles at Sam, the kind of tight-lipped smile that only just passes as polite, while still showing great disgust.

"You are aware, of course, that the Novak family has a very tight ship to run. We can't drop everything to accommodate a wedding quite as easily as you can drop your work to be here, I'm afraid. You'll notice that the dowry, in turn, is very generous. My assistant would have called you shortly, but I'm afraid your mate has been getting impatient and was not going to accept any further delay. We will see his future living quarters now."

[fromfryingpantofire]

"I'm not certain that dropping our work was exactly easy. There are lives on the line, after all." The fact that he'd been called back from what could be incredibly dangerous for the women they're tracking because Zachariah is trying his best to throw his weight around? Yeah, Sam's not thrilled. "But I suppose, seeing as you only really need me here, Bobby and Dean and Jo can go back to what they were doing before we were called back. I'm perfectly capable of showing you around while Ellen and Castiel get his things inside properly." Because seeing them just thrown to the side like that made Sam's blood boil.

He takes a breath, letting it out slowly and reminding himself that baiting Zachariah won't help anybody. "If you come this way. I'm afraid that we were expecting slightly more warning, so to be fair to the rest of the pack, there's a cabin on our lands that Castiel and I will be using for the time being. Until such time as a larger home is ready." Is needed, really. The cabin would likely be enough for Sam and Castiel, though he'd definitely have to check with the other man before they settled there. "If you don't mind, it's not much of a walk from the main house. Just far enough so scents don't travel easily."

[freetobe]

"Your help can handle the bags. Castiel is not yours quite yet. I know you... pride yourself in handing things differently here, but the boy is a well bred omega, not part of the work force."

He snaps his fingers, and Castiel falls in line with a guilty but short glance towards Ellen.

"The boy should see where he sleeps tonight. You can attempt to sway him to your ways once you're properly mated. That reminds me, I'll expect the papers on my desk by the end of the week. I'm certain you've had enough time to plan for a proper ceremony in the past week, and the dowry money should be more than enough to finance it."

Castiel may come from a rich pack, but the message is clear - the Novak clan isn't willing to let the Winchester clan have any benefit from that before the terms of the contract aren't fulfilled to the letter.

The omega is too ashamed to even try looking at Sam at this point.

[fromfryingpantofire]

He'd wanted to leave Castiel with Ellen because he knew Ellen would help to soothe the Omega's guilt, which Sam can even smell from here. Ellen, luckily for Zachariah, has enough tact not to flip him off where he can see her, but it makes Sam fight down a smile. She was, after all, another mother to him.

"As a note, Mr. Novak. You are on my pack lands now and as such, will abide by certain rules. And among those rules is that you do not disrespect any member of my family, disparate as it may be. Ellen Singer helped to raise me. Call her 'help' again and I will see you off of these lands myself." The contract gives Sam right to keep Castiel, even without Zachariah's final say so. After all, the Novaks had signed the contract before ever sending it to Sam. He knows his rights in this. "Now, please. This way. The cottage isn't much, but I'm sure it's more comfortable for everybody here."

Without another look back, Sam takes off across the grounds toward the cottage that John Winchester had built when Bobby and Ellen had joined the pack, because of Jo. Though none of the three children at the time had presented, having been far too young, with three children there was a decent chance one would be an Omega. So, the heat cottage had been built. It tended to see more use by Omegas the Winchester Agency had rescued, to keep them safe while other arrangements were being made. It was small but tidy and well built. And fully stocked as of a few days ago. "Most meals will be taken with the pack in the main house. We're pretty close knit as a pack."

[freetobe]

Zachariah is smug about Sam's reaction. Mostly because he knows that Castiel is already beginning to feel like he's failing his future mate. That Castiel is already beginning to feel the burden and stress placed upon him with the sole purpose of making it impossible for Sam Winchester to fulfill his contract.

He's already spoken to Crowley. The man's not pleased, but willing to take sloppy seconds once Sam loses Castiel. And then the prize goes to Crowley. Let him think he's getting himself a proper brood mare, and deal with Castiel's shortcomings in that department. Zachariah won't care - not about Castiel's fate, at least, but about the prestige and money that match would bring his pack.

"It's... quaint," he says, and it sounds like he's saying it's disgustingly small and backwater. "I'm sure Castiel is very pleased with his life choices. Of course, you'll have to provide bigger arrangements over time. As per the contract and tradition, members of our pack will regularly visit. Not that we don't trust you, but it's only prudent to see how our young ones fare, isn't it just? And Castiel has so many older brothers who will be very interested in seeing how he's living."

They'll mock him, shame him, prod at his flat belly when everyone knows omegas should be kept fat with children. Otherwise, what is their point?

"I like your confidence. A man as full of principles as you would never let their mate get attached to a family they'd have to part with should the contract be broken, I'm sure. Confidence is key there. Why, I wouldn't be surprised if we had to arrange interviews and photoshoots with the major outlets within six months, to show the world what a fruitful union this proves to be."

Castiel wishes Zachariah wouldn't talk as if he wasn't very nearly barren. But Sam doesn't know that Castiel very likely won't conceive, no matter how long he'll be kept on his back, no matter how well he'll be knotted.

And Sam... Sam stands to lose everything here. The dowry will have to be paid back with interest if he fails to meet the contract, and damages will have to be paid spoiling Castiel.

He wonders if he made the wrong choice. It would have been easier to burden Crowley with all this, a man who doesn't deserve good things, instead of bringing all of this to Sam's doorstep. But Castiel isn't able to resist the siren call of all that Sam has talked about, and much less the temptation of those kind eyes and strong hands.

[fromfryingpantofire]

"Guests are received in the pack house." And there's no budging on that one in Sam's voice. "Our homes outside of that are closed to guests unless specifically invited to see them. They're also expected to remain in the public spaces of the pack house, as our single members of the pack still live there. But yes, there are plans already for a larger house. I will, of course, be expecting Castiel's input on the building."

Because it would be his home as well. There isn't a point in building the larger property if Castiel won't be comfortable there. "As for letting the pack get close to him? I don't see a problem in that. After all, I don't see a reason why he would have to leave."

Even if they can't conceive (and considering the subtle pressure that Zachariah is putting on the Omega, he figures the stress will make things difficult), Sam has no intentions of ever letting Castiel return to his old pack. He will find a wedge to break the contract open with. For Castiel's sake, if nothing else.

[freetobe]

For the first time, Castiel looks up at Sam. He seems surprised, suspicious, relieved, a conglomeration of emotion flitting across bright blue eyes. The omega's obviously not quite sure about his standing with his new family just yet.

Zachariah's smile pulls open further, a grotesque mask. "Why, then there won't be anything to worry about. Castiel, you haven't even said a word of greeting to your future mate. Go on, you've been taught manners. The living conditions might not be what you're used to, but that's no reason to be rude. You wouldn't want to anger your future alpha."

No, he wouldn't. Castiel has been told, in detail, about how painful is first knotting will be. He holds out hope that Sam will be careful, but the stories he's heard still make him nervous enough not to want to provoke any ill will between them.

"My apologies... Hello, Sam."

[fromfryingpantofire]

Sam raises an eyebrow at Zachariah. "It's going to take a lot more than a missed greeting to make me angry," he replies mildly. "Especially when others have been monopolizing the conversation." And, therefore, not letting the boy get a word in edgeways. The rebuke in his tone is entirely for Zachariah. Which, really, it's lucky that he's dealing with Sam. Dean likely wouldn't be as polite about it.

The look he turns on Castiel is bright and welcoming, his smile wide as he reaches out his hand in offer to Castiel. "Hello, Castiel. I am very, very glad to have you here." Because, no, he hadn't missed the emotions that chased across his expressions. But there's no way other than this to help him believe that he IS welcome and wanted here.

[freetobe]

A gentle little smile tugs on Castiel's lips. He can't help it, Sam's warmth is infectious in all the best ways.

He made the worst choice in the eyes of his family, marrying so far below his pack's status, but Castiel learned during the courtship that Sam is kind, considerate and full of respect. He could have knotted Castiel right there. It wouldn't have been considered rape - an unmated omega in heat is considered consenting by default. But the only thing Sam did was make sure Castiel was safe and that...

That is more than Zachariah has ever given him.

So Castiel reaches out to grasp Sam's offered hand with both of his. Zachariah snorts, making it clear what he presumes Sam is happy about - the promise of access to large funds once he's gotten Castiel with child. But Castiel thinks he knows better from the little time they spent together.

He thinks Sam would rather see him be much more than a trophy, one day.

It's a pity he'll have to disappoint him.

"I apologize for not being available earlier, and for inconveniencing your pack like this."