Unexpected 4/4
Phew. Finally, we get to Christmas in Wolf Pass. This should have been a little Christmas gift for my readers but life got in the way, so instead it's a Happy New Year gift. I am still stunned by how kind everyone has been and how supportive since I started writing SPN fic. I've been having a blast. I hope the holidays are going well for everyone and the New Year is what you need it to be.
Title: Unexpected.
Description: AU. NC-17. Alpha!Jensen and Omega!Jared. This is a part of the Christmas Tree 'verse set in the au world of the Wolf Pass Pack. Jared is in his last trimester of pregnancy with Jensen's pup and he's starting to deal with his past. When the past comes crashing into his present in the form of his previous alpha, it has unexpected consequences. Jared's prime instinct is to protect their pup, but at what cost? Jensen is faced with the possibility of losing his mate, his pup, and his entire Pack.
Warnings: Explicit sexual content, knotting, a/b/o dynamics, references to previous underage, description and aftermath of past sexual and emotional abuse, mpreg, birth, post-partum depression, violence, gore, death of a minor character (not pup!), angst, schmoop
Pairings: Jensen/Jared, Chad/Milo, Katie/Steve, JDM/Kim Rhodes
Beta and banners: Thank you to the marvellous sylsdarkplace for making this better. All mistakes remain my own. I tinkered with a lot while posting. The wonderful banners are by meus_venator her art blows me away every single time.
Length: ~18K
Status: Completed
Disclaimer: This is fiction, pure fantasy folks. Nobody here belongs to me and they’re not likely to get in my van for candy a side of beef any time soon.
The sharp tang of pine surrounded Jared as he worked with intense concentration and a sense of serenity. A fan heater blasted waves of heat into the workshop, and Kaylee slept, with snout on paws, on a cushion behind the gate of the playpen he had created for her.
He looked up to check on her and smiled fondly. She was worn out from hours of play in the snow, rolling with wagging tail, chasing snowflakes and sneezing when the icy crystals melted on her nose. Katie and Genevieve had dressed the Christmas Tree while she watched. They had slapped away offers of assistance from everyone except Kaylee, who was allowed to nose into boxes of shimmering decorations with wide eyed wonder.
Jared mused on whether she would experience her first shift by next Christmas. It was unlikely, Weres generally started from two years old. It would be weird and much harder. She’d barely be toddling as human, and there would be a new set of skills to teach. For the moment, it was odd to be daddy to what was essentially a young dog, maybe because his own wolf continued to feel strange to him. It twisted his brain to ponder whether his love was proper and enough. He knew that Jensen had a more complete link with their daughter and it bothered him. Lauren had told him that it wasn’t a competition and to go with the flow. Jensen continued to reassure him that Jared was everything Kaylee needed. Most days, he enjoyed Kaylee’s company and she seemed to love him, so he tried not to over-think. Carpentry helped. He immersed himself in his task and let it soothe him.
The sound of sandpaper buffing wood was loud over the hush of Wolf Pass, with its blanket of thick snow and bitter-still cold, but Jared heard the crunch of footsteps on the snow outside. He grabbed an old blanket to throw over the item he was working on and stood straight, wondering who would disturb him. Jensen wasn’t due home for hours, from his trip to the Were rehab facility. The Alpha Council had ceased demands for Jared to be hospitalized, under pressure from Jeff Morgan and several experts, who maintained that Jared’s reactions in the alley had been those of any pregnant wolf under threat. Jensen had resumed his co-operation with the Council to rehabilitate victims of suppressant abuse, and, in the run up to Christmas, his team were working hard to place all of them in temporary care with suitable packs.
The door banged open and a frigid draft whipped in with Steve and Christian. Jared quirked a brow in surprise. His bad days were gradually being outnumbered by the good ones and the atmosphere in the Pack had improved with Jared’s health. Steve, Katie and Christian were cordial to him, but they rarely sought him out for his company.
“Has something happened?” Worry was Jared’s automatic response.
Steve stamped the snow from his boots, “Chad got held up with the last tree delivery. He said he promised to do something for you, asked if we would do it instead.”
“Um.” Jared’s surprise was evident. “Yeah. Okay. There are lights in the box over here and wire …” His voice trailed off and he frowned, “Are you sure? I mean I can …,”
Steve crossed the space to set a flask of coffee on the work bench, “Gen said you’d need a hot drink,” he explained, and then settled against the scarred wood surface. “We’re sure. Thing is, we thought it was about time we cleared the air with you. We’re Pack and you’re our Beta and well, honestly, we’ve been assholes.”
Christian shrugged at Jared, “You’re a good Pack Beta and you are a great daddy. We were wrong. It’s just kinda hard to say it. So, maybe we can help out with this thing you’re doing.”
“Oh,” Jared didn’t have an answer.
“You don’t need to deny it. Can we get over this and get on? Because Chad might want us to hug but that’s just awkward.” Christian’s gruff alpha attitude belied the genuine remorse in his face.
“Yeah, sure,” Jared nodded. He still had no proper answer and it seemed they didn’t need one.
“Great.” Steve smiled, wide and pearly toothed, “Give us our instructions, and we’ll get on it.”
Jared returned to his task as soon as the door closed behind them. There was only a week until Christmas Day, and he had gifts to finish.
Jensen was predictably late, and he brought mysterious packages and rolls of wrap and ribbons with him. He dropped everything in the lobby, “Home!” he announced, with an exaggerated sigh, “The roads were atrocious.” He grabbed his mate for a hug and a sloppy, noisy kiss and only let go when Kaylee circled his ankles, yipping and jumping at him. “Hey! Shiny girl! Whoa there! I saw a tree in our yard and it was pretty! Shall we go see it?” At almost four months old the pup couldn’t use her wolf voice, and they couldn’t be sure how much she understood, but anyone could sense her excitement.
They gathered as a pack to turn on the lights. Misha flipped the switch, and Kaylee wriggled and thumped her tail in Jensen’s arms. The light of the tree shone warm and welcoming into the dark night, illuminating and reflecting soft pastels onto the snow.
***
Carolers called on Christmas Eve and Jared heard the first notes from the cloudy heat of his Pack’s kitchen. He dashed to fling the door open, with Kaylee at his feet. Jensen was just a few steps behind him. He stopped and stared as his mate bounced on his heels and grinned dimple wide, “The carolers are here!” shouted Jared with glee. Jensen chuckled at the sight of the overgrown and overexcited pup with Kaylee at his feet. It was easy to forget how young Jared was. He had turned twenty two in November and there had been too many years of his youth lost to pain when he should have been carefree and partying. A year ago, Jared had been hiding in the shadows, too frightened to approach their house. This moment was golden, and Jensen paused to appreciate it.
Jared served warm cider, sang along tunelessly to the carols, and hugged Sam and Aldis until they were in danger of suffocation. Milo put Jensen in charge of the kids’ candy canes, and he spent most of his time playing chase with excitable children from Katie and Milo’s classes and demonstrating the art of snow-angels, rolling in the clean, cold white and ducking his head from the inevitable barrage of snowballs. Kaylee ran around, tail wagging wildly, joining in with games and biting at the snow.
Sam stayed after the rest of the carolers departed, to help tidy and clean dishes. She winked at Jared when they were done. “You know Auntie Samantha has something secret she has to do with Kaylee for a little while. If Alpha Ackles will allow us then perhaps us two girls can go for a short ride in my truck while all the grown ups take a run.”
Jensen looked up and straight at Sam in confusion. She grinned widely at him and shook her head, “Secrets,” she mouthed, at his unspoken question.
He looked around, at the rest of his Pack and their gazes slid from him, with a slight upturn of their lips. Chad spoke first, “C’mon Jen! The whole pack! We haven’t been able to do that, not for ages.”
It was true. Ever since Jared’s stomach had rounded in pregnancy there had been at least one wolf left behind, at first to keep Jared company, and then to care for Kaylee.
“Pleeeeeaaase!” whined Milo.
Jared raised his eyebrows at his Alpha and grinned.
Jensen hadn’t realized he was missing this, but as he ran with Jared by his side and the rest of his Pack at his back, it felt like being whole. Every worry slipped from him and his wolf was at peace. Beside him, Jared was confident, all lupine-grace and even paced. Moonlight shone from a starry sky and Jared’s coat gleamed like jet in stark contrast to the frosted alabaster of the ground. On this icy mountain slope the scents and sounds of life, family and home surrounded Jensen’s wolf and excited his soul. He had no firm idea of where they were heading. He simply let go and let the subtle point of Jared’s ears, and the unspoken psychic link with his Pack guide him. He had a hunch that everyone else knew their destination.
The lights were bright and the music loud to his wolf. Wood smoke from a cabin fire was sweet in his nose and even from a distance the scent of Kaylee and Samantha spurred Jensen on. Jared’s tongue lolled from his mouth and he panted. Jensen could see his tail beginning to wag. They sprinted the last half mile to the clearing with the cabins and the picnic tables. To the side of it all a Christmas tree was growing. Decorated with tinsel and bauble-laden, its branches were uneven and part bare but the green of new growth was sprouting from between dead twigs.
Jensen didn’t have time to stare, Kaylee wriggled her bum and pounced on her parents as they emerged from the forest. Samantha raised a glass of fruit Punch in greeting. “Merry Christmas, Jensen!” she laughed. “Now, I have to go prod that miserable Sheriff into a Santa Suit.” Sam climbed into her truck and Jensen stood with a paw raised and cocked his head in invitation.
“No, Jensen. This is for you, and your Pack. I have plans elsewhere.” The truck started with a throaty roar and kicked up a trail of dirty snow as it drove away.
***
When they’d exhausted every game they could play as wolves, and Kaylee’s eyelids were drooping with the effort of staying awake, they shifted and stood by the Christmas Tree that Jensen had brought to this place, for Jared, the year before.
“It barely had any roots, it was touch and go a few times, but it survived,” Jared told him.
Jensen reached a hand to stroke at the fresh green needles.
“Samantha reckons it will be fully recovered when it starts growing next year,” Katie added.
Milo reached behind Jared to put something into Jensen’s hand, and he gripped it, understanding what needed to be done. He produced the golden angel with a flourish, “The tallest Were in the Wolf Pass Pack has to put the angel on the top of the tree. It’s a tradition,” he announced, and placed it in Jared’s care.
Jared stood on the tips of his toes to place the angel with reverence. He stood back to admire the tree and a tear shone in his eye. He remembered the first time the tree had been lit up, when he had placed the angel at the top. He couldn’t believe it had only been a year. There was so much that had happened. There had been times he thought he would die, times he had wanted to die, and times with so much joy he thought he would burst, and through it all Jensen had been there for him.
“There’s a crib for Kaylee in the cabin. I’m going to settle her to bed,” Genevieve spoke quietly. The pup was sleepy and relaxed in her arms.
“Cabin?” asked Jensen.
Jared pulled him by the hand and pushed open the unlocked door of a cabin. Inside, a fire was blazing in the hearth and a huge bed was piled with pillows and cozy blankets. Holly, ivy, and mistletoe decorated the walls and beams. A bottle of champagne stood on the counter, fluted glasses by its side. A musical snow globe rested on the mantelpiece and Jared’s iPOD was connected to small speakers. There was a fabric screen to the side of the bed and behind it Gen rocked Kaylee in a crib to a soothing rhythm before she shushed everyone, and she and the rest of the Pack melted away, back into the forest as wolves, to make their way home.
Jensen gaped, “You did all this for me? How?”
“I had help. Even Christian and Steve took part. They hung the lights and organized power. One of Aldis’ friends saw the wolf-carved shelves I was making for Chad and Milo. He commissioned three sets for his craft store. I used the money to hire the cabin for Christmas. Sam let me have it at discount.” Jared looked embarrassed, “The set of shelves I finished yesterday was actually my fourth. It’s why they seemed to take so long. He wants some play forts too, like the one Santa will leave for Kaylee. I think I’m going to start a business.”
Jared’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and Jensen groaned and grabbed the sexy jut of Jared’s hip, to pull his mate skin-to-skin with him. He aimed an accurate kick at the door to send it swinging closed with a thud. “You are so talented with your hands, Jared.”
Muscular arms draped around Jensen’s neck, and Jared swayed and shuffled in a slow dance with him. Every movement lit a sparkle of desire and thrum of excitement. The Pack had been alone so they hadn't dressed, they were still naked from the shift and the intimate contact was smooth and chill, yet electric hot and fantastic. Long fingers tangled through Jensen’s hair and traced down to his chin where they lifted his face gently to look at the beam above them. Mistletoe berries hung gaily from winter-green leaves.
“And you are so, so, talented with your mouth, Alpha,” crooned Jared, but he wasn’t speaking for long. Insistent lips pressed against his, and he closed his eyes with a flutter of his lashes to feel the pressure, the slide and the slick hot tongue that pushed into his mouth to dart and lick and taste him. He let the safety of his strong Alpha surround and invade him, and he reveled in it. He let himself be pushed down onto the bouncing mattress of the bed without breaking a moment’s suction of their lips.
When Jared was whimpering with desire and short of breath, Jensen’s mouth eased on his. Fingers caressed his face, and smoothed the soft skin of his neck that he tipped to his Alpha, “Are you sure you want this? What is it you want, Jared?”
Jared’s cheeks were flushed pink while his fingertips found the swell of Jensen’s ass and traced patterns with thrilling touch. “A year ago tonight, we made a baby. Do you remember that?”
“Mm,” smiled Jensen, “How could I forget? It was unexpected, but I haven’t regretted it. Not for a moment, Babe.”
Jared cuddled into him, curled his head against his shoulder, as if seeking comfort, “It was wonderful,” he murmured, “but we never got to practice before, or after. I mean at being your omega, in bed, in private. I want that, if you want it too.”
Jensen spoke against his ear, with hot breath and husky voice, “Do you want me to be your Alpha, and fuck you into the bed, lick you and bite you and knot your ass until you cum screaming?” He let his body speak of dominance, but inside he was terrified that he may have misjudged his mate’s request and it would end the night with distress and tears. He couldn’t breathe while he waited for Jared’s reaction.
Jared ground his growing cock up against him and moaned, “That’s exactly what I mean. We should do that sometimes.”
“Fuck, yes!” Jensen breathed out, then thought of something else, “What about Kaylee? Someone else could have looked after her.”
“They offered. It's Christmas, I want her to be with us. Why do you think we wore her out so much today? She won’t wake up tonight.” Jared fidgeted and frowned for a moment with his own brief worry, “The birth control injection you had after Kaylee is still working, isn’t it?”
Jensen kissed a trail down his neck, “Yeah, it’s good for a year before the pesky little sperm get their GPS back.”
Jared laughed at the ridiculous statement and then spoke quietly, “Maybe we can reconsider whether we need it after that?”
The relief and joy that spread through Jensen with that one little question, was immeasurable. Jensen’s heart seemed to lighten. He sucked a hickey into the soft flesh under Jared’s ear, “So, we should get on with practicing then,” he growled.
Jared gave a throaty little noise of delight as Jensen rolled him over onto his back and clambered to sit astride of his legs. He took one of Jared’s hands and curled it around his cock, “You want this in you?” he teased, as he bent to suck one of Jared’s nipples into his mouth and worry at it.
“Mmm,” Jared moaned. His fingers stroked at Jensen’s rigid dick and rubbed a ring around the tip before dipping in to the slit, and then Jared widened his eyes to look coquettishly at Jensen while he sucked and licked at the same fingers and returned them, wet and slick to grasp Jensen’s shaft with firm pressure and jack him slowly.
“Shit! Jared. You can’t do that to me!” Jensen was insanely aroused in such a short time, a drop of pre-cum pearled at the tip of his rock hard dick and he could already feel the basis of a knot forming.
Long brunette eyelashes fluttered in fake innocence, and Jared’s tongue swiped a shiny path over his lips before he sat awkwardly under his Alpha, trapping Jensen’s eager cock between his chest and Jensen’s abs, to slide those lips, wet and hot over the sensitive skin of Jensen’s stomach and trail saliva over the very tip of his cock before he lay back under him, stretching and squirming in a knowing tease.
“Oh, you are so done, Babe! Two can play at that game.” Jensen laughed, and held him down playfully with one hand while he dipped to place a series of feather light kisses from the base of Jared’s balls all the way up his curling, proud cock. Jared wriggled and tried to push up to get more pressure from that plush pink mouth but Jensen hmmed an alpha warning in his throat and stilled him with a single tap of his fingers. Jared squeaked his disappointment, and Jensen dipped in again, this time sucking a sensitive sac into his mouth and rolling it on his tongue with slow, deliberate sensuality. Jared thrashed his head from side to side and begged for more, but Jensen just repeated it with his other ball. The chuckle that he couldn’t prevent bubbling through his throat vibrated deliciously through Jared’s groin and his Omega pushed his hips up eagerly.
There was a natural slick forming with Jared’s arousal and it surprised him. There had never been a time, when human, that his omega self-lubrication had worked. It was wet and surprising, but it felt natural, even calmed his nerves, knowing it would ease penetration. Jensen snuffled and inhaled the new fragrance slow and deliberate. He stopped his tease and let his entire body rub a path over Jared’s trembling flesh, to place his lips back on wide, red-bitten lips while their cocks ground together. “You smell sweet like candy,” he muttered against his skin.
“You gonna do something about it?” challenged Jared.
“So, impatient!” Jensen rubbed a fingernail over Jared’s nipple and squeezed the nub of it while he stole another tongue-thrusting kiss from his mate. He couldn’t hold back much longer but the intimate game they were playing was too delicious to rush.
Jensen’s fingers slid between Jared’s legs, cupped his balls before sliding further and circling his furled rim. “Gonna make sure you’re ready.” He continued circling the rim even as he licked a stripe up from the base of Jared's cock and opened his mouth wide to suck him into his rounded eager mouth where his tongue explored every curve and ridge of vein.
Jared was delirious with the sensation and Jensen could feel how heavy his balls had become. He let Jared's cock slip from his mouth with an obscene 'pop' to rub his body back up Jared's sweat-shiny skin for another kiss. “M’ready, m’ready,” squirmed Jared, pushing against him. He gasped as two fingers pressed inside and Jensen swallowed the gasp with another kiss while he carefully scissored and stretched his mate open, “Eager much? Another finger, Babe?” Three fingers pressed in and Jensen pushed, searching for the walnut-like nub.
Jensen felt Jared twitch, his fingers dug into the flesh of Jensen’s shoulder with the thrill of the stimulation and he shivered as Jensen hit his mark. “Yes, yes!” Jared yelled, then bit his lip and looked nervously in the direction of Kaylee’s crib, but there was no noise from her.
Jensen was panting with the effort to calm himself. The act of giving pleasure to his mate triggered something primal and deeply erotic in him. He pushed Jared’s legs apart, lined his cock up and his teeth nipped the warm skin of his shoulder as he pushed in to the hot, slick and welcoming depths of his mate. He bottomed out and Jared writhed against him in a litany of want and need.
They took it slowly, feeling every slip and slide, sharing each burst of sensation and emotion. Jensen thrust deep and sure and held on to Jared, precious and beloved. Jared met every plunge with snapped enthusiasm of his hips and a shiver of excitement, and he let his hands and lips trail over every part of his Alpha that he could reach, loved and appreciated. The knot, when it formed, made an uncomfortable path, but Jensen had already used a finger around his dick, to ease its way into Jared’s hole. It burned uncomfortably for a moment before it hit Jared’s prostate with the accompanying jolt of pleasure and an “Oh, oh, oh, fucking, hell, so fucking good Jen, MOVE, goddammit, MOVE!”
Jensen rolled his hips and Jared rolled his eyes with the bliss of it. Jensen rocked slightly and reached a hand between them to stroke his Omega’s cock. It was all it took. Jared thrashed and moaned and cum roped from him, coating Jensen’s hand. Jensen licked his fingers with delight, offered his hand to Jared to see his pink tongue kitten-lick the white spunk from them. He arched his back and howled as the first wave of his own seed pumped into Jared’s hole. Jared shushed his lips and they both giggled like kids caught behind the bike shed, but Kaylee stayed fast asleep. They slumped exhausted, even while Jensen continued to knot Jared. Jensen manhandled his mate so they were lying on their sides. Jared curled up with his back against Jensen’s chest, Jensen’s arms around him in a loving embrace.
Jared snuggled into his mate, still rocking to feel the pleasure against his prostate, but less intensely now. “Nobody said it could be like that. I never knew.” He was happy, sated and amazed at the pleasure of it.
Jensen sighed contentedly, “I don’t think anyone would find words to describe that. Only you, though. Wouldn’t be the same with anyone else. Only my sweet Omega.” He was slurring his words with tiredness, and they settled quietly, holding hands, exchanging kisses and nips even as Jensen continued to fill him in the most natural way.
Both of them pricked their ears as a howl rent the distant night air and Jared peered around curiously at Jensen, “Was that one of us?”
“I think it might be.”
Milo had a really strong smell this evening and Chad was very touchy-feely. Do you think …?”
“Yes, I think Milo is in heat, Jared. They were all over each other today.”
“Oh.”
“What?”
“They aren’t using birth control are they?”
“Nuh-uh,”
“Uncle Jensen. It has a nice ring to it!” Jared grinned.
“Alpha Jensen, always Alpha Jensen.”
“What does that make me?”
“Sexy. Now concentrate on your own sex life, Omega!” teased Jensen.
They stayed knotted for what seemed like an age and by the time Jensen’s dick softened and slipped out they were both asleep, with not a care over who was on the wet patch.
Kaylee woke them on Christmas morning with excited yips and the wet lick of her tongue. Santa visited and Jared was relieved that he had made Kaylee’s fort so it could be packed up and rebuilt easily wherever it was needed. She chased around it in circles exploring every nook and window, going in and out of the door.
Jared was virtually shaking with nerves when he gave Jensen his present. He hadn’t had much money or the opportunity to shop, and the idea had been planted by a photograph that Jensen’s ma had shown him of her own childhood Alpha, standing by an intricately carved wooden trunk.
Jensen whistled when he saw it. He ran his hand over the smooth wood and then over the Wolf Pass design of wolves against a forested mountainside backdrop. He lifted the lid to see the same beautiful workmanship, a sewn velvet liner, filing areas, velvet pouches and stackable wooden storage. “Wow. This is beautiful. You made this yourself?!”
Jared nodded shyly, “I based it on a picture your ma had of her first Pack Alpha’s pack-box. He used to keep something from every pack member in it, first baby teeth, birth certificates and photographs, sometimes bigger pieces of jewelry or important papers. Something of everybody, and items for emergencies. Your ma says that most packs don’t have them any more but I thought we should. I thought you might like it.”
“It’s beautiful. Yes, I want to. It’s perfect. The workmanship! Jared, I think you’re right about setting up a business. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Thank you. It means so much.”
Jared’s nerves settled and he smiled with delight at Jensen’s reaction. He was so relieved by it that he barely noticed the thin box that Jensen presented to him with a kiss. “It’s kind of ironic because this idea is from the same era. I hope you like it.”
Jared lifted a sturdy but detailed and bracketed double gold chain and locket and looked at it without understanding.
“Careful as you open it. It has a lock of my fur and of Kaylee’s in there. Here, I’ll show you how it goes.” He brushed Jared’s hair to one side and looped it around his neck as an overly long single chain and then twisted the bracket up to secure it at just beyond choker length. The doubled chain fitted perfectly together to look like a single twist. It was a classic Celtic-style design which Jared loved.
“It’s called an omega ring,” explained Jensen, “It never has to be taken off because when you shift, you can click the bracket and it adjusts to your wolf neck. It won’t fall off in normal use. In ancient days, before the trend to treat omegas badly and take on a beta, it was given after a mate had their first litter. It is a mark of respect and of appreciation for the gift the omega has given and the hardship of it. It contains a piece of the alpha - hair or fur, to be worn permanently near to the heart, which literally signifies that the alpha belongs to the omega, always. It never came back into fashion because the wolf community didn’t like its similarity to a human wedding ring, but I think it says everything that I want to tell you.”
Jared had to wipe a tear from his eye. “I don’t know what to say, I love it.” In the end he clung to Jensen and peppered him with kisses and that said enough.
A haphazard dinner was served on wobbly picnic tables to hilarity and the smell of burned potatoes which Christian had taken responsibility for when Milo had failed to keep his attention on cooking. Milo and Chad barely showed their faces.
The Ackles Pack played games, danced and ran for a short distance with Kaylee by their sides. When night fell, Jared and Jensen tucked Kaylee into her crib in their cabin and they returned to the clearing alone.
They danced by the light of their Christmas Tree, in flakes of swirling snow that dotted a white frost on the golden angel which watched over them. When the music stopped they returned to the cabin to make their own sweet music, together.
~end~