Slave To Love: Chapter One
Once upon a time, and many moons ago, Alphas had wielded the power. Ruling over all with a tyranny unrivalled throughout the ages. But there was unrest among the non-Alpha citizens and the Alphas were outnumbered. Brave Betas and Omegas had risen up and overthrown them. And while there were those few who had advocated for a peaceful cohabitation, those with the most influence and support had wanted to keep the Alphas under the thumb. And under lock and key. In their eyes there had been too many years of abuse and subjugation to abide giving them such liberties, that they themselves had never been afforded. Alphas were too dangerous to be a part of a civilised society.
Jensen was driving his new ’67 Impala along the hospital bedsheets, he’d gotten it the week before on his sixth birthday. He wasn’t sick. He’d asked his mommy and she’d said he wasn’t sick. He was just there to get a check-up. They’d made him put a hospital gown on. He’d been measured and weighed and he’d had to look away when they’d stuck a nasty needle in his arm. But he didn’t cry. His mommy had told him he was such a brave boy for not crying.
Now he was playing with his car.
His mommy had let him bring it.
She was sitting beside his bed. They were waiting. And she was crying again. Jensen’s daddy had left the room. Said he was getting coffee.
“Mommy, why are you crying?”
“Because of where we are.”
“Why?”
“Because they’re going to collar you.”
“What does that mean?”
“They’re going to put a collar around your neck, and you won’t be allowed to take it off.”
“Why?”
“Remember how Mommy and Daddy told you about being an Alpha?”
“But you said that wasn’t a bad thing. You said I wasn’t bad.”
“And you’re not, Sweetie. You’re such a good little boy. But there are rules. Laws. And the law says that all Alphas must be collared by the time they are six.”
“Oh,” Jensen looked down at his arm where his Mommy was holding him, “Are they going to take me away?”
“Not today, Baby. We’re taking you home,” and she pulled him down into her lap, holding his head to her chest, “We’re taking you home.”
It wasn’t until Jensen was older that he had learned that not everyone who had an Alpha kept them. Some gave them up at birth. Some waited until the collaring. Others gave them up any time in between. When they got sick of them, or when they just couldn’t take the shame anymore. There were the rare cases, like his own parents, who loved their children no matter what, who kept their Alphas right up until the government dragged them away, just before they hit the most dangerous age; puberty. Jensen could still hear his mom screaming if he closed his eyes and thought real hard. She’d had to be physically restrained by guards when they came for Jensen.
And Jensen didn’t have it so bad. His pre-assessment had landed him in training to be a domestic slave for personal use. As lives without freedom or choice went he could have done a lot worse. He’d heard the stories about the alternatives. But make no mistake. Jensen wanted out. He’d turned twenty-one this year -twenty-one was the age that Alphas entered their prime, their aging process slowed down as they reached their peak physicality- so he’d finally been put into the database to be matched with a client.
When an Alpha got drawn into a selection, they got given a profile for the buyer. Most Alphas didn’t give these much more than a cursory glance. Especially those who were that little bit older, those who had been yet to be purchased, and were becoming less desirable to potential buyers every year.
Jensen was a tad more meticulous. He wanted to know everything he could. He didn’t want to go home with just anyone. If there was anything he could glean that could help him avoid getting sold to an asshole he would use it. He’d already dodged a couple of bullets by being too pretty for buyers who wanted Alphas who could blend into the background; be invisible. He’d played up his eyes and had even put on some chapstick to accentuate his lips. The rest was reading body language and pheromones, and just sheer dumb luck.
It had been just over a month since his last selection. He had almost been surprised when he got handed the file. He would wait until he was back in his room before opening it, but he couldn’t help but run his fingers over the name: Jared Padalecki.
Jared was what some people might call a hopeless romantic. And it depended on who you were talking to as to how much emphasis was put on the hopeless part. Others -his parents- accused him of chasing fairytales. But Jared didn’t see what was so wrong in wanting to find his true love. He’d really thought he was going to meet the one man he’d want to spend the rest of his life with in college. But college came and went and he never did. And now he was fast approaching thirty.
He’d been proposed to three times already and he turned them all down, and he wasn’t putting himself or anyone else through that again. He needed the spark. Everyone else might have been content to just settle, but he just couldn’t. The thought of it made him feel sad and empty, like he would be living a lie.
He needed his soulmate.
He was ready to start a family and he wanted to do it with someone he loved. He didn’t want to just get breeded in some cold laboratory setting by some Alpha he had no connection with. And even though he balked at the idea of owning someone -his family had always been very anti-slavery. And Jared was too- he couldn’t see any other way. It had become very clear that the reason he hadn’t found the one was because he was meant to be with an Alpha. It was the only thing that made sense.
And if there was a chance that he could find him. Then he had to take it. And there was one such agency that offered what he was looking for. He’d undergone all the application and compatibility processes and they’d narrowed his choices down to six Alphas, and he was to go in to meet with them to make his final selection.
He’d sworn to himself that if he went and still didn’t feel it then he’d just walk away. Maybe he’d just have to face up to the fact that he was meant to be alone. The files he’d been given on arrival hadn’t filled him with much confidence. They were mostly just stats and measurements: name, age, eye colour, hair colour, fur colour, height, weight, dick size. No photos. And his heart had sunk a little further when he met his first Alpha, Tom, who didn’t really say much of anything.
When Tom had been escorted from the room, Jared had flipped open the second file again.
Jensen.
With the green eyes and bowed legs. He was six foot one. Four inches shorter than Jared. But Jared had always been freakishly tall for an Omega. But Jensen certainly had the bigger dick, though Jared was trying not to think too much about that. Because this so was not about that. He shook his head, getting to his feet and he pushed his hand back through his hair just as the door re-opened.
As soon as Jensen’s scent hit Jared he shivered, goosebumps popping up over every inch of his flesh as a tingling sensation tickled him below the belt, made him twitch as he clenched his ass cheeks together to try and stop the rush of slick from dripping down into his underwear. The second their eyes met Jared felt something shift inside his chest, and in the very air between them. It was palpable.
Jensen was the most beautiful man Jared had ever seen. It was hard to look away from the intensity of those emerald eyes. Jensen was wearing the same soft blue scrub-like pyjamas Tom had been wearing and he ducked his head to avert his eyes as Jared finally lowered his to take in the rest of him. A blush tinted the very tops of Jensen’s ears, the cotton doing very little to conceal the erection Jensen had just sprung. Jared had given him an erection. Which meant Jensen had felt it too.
“I’m sorry,” Jensen said, keeping his head lowered, and it was then that Jared remembered he wasn’t the only one openly staring.
Jared blinked, shaking his head, “Jensen…” he said softly, giving the auxiliary a look to let him know he could leave, as Jared stepped forward.
Jensen looked back up into Jared’s eyes when the door clicked shut, “Mr. Padalecki-”
“Please. Call me Jared,” and he had to physically stop himself from reaching out; he had such an overwhelming urge to touch the Alpha.
Jensen shook his head with a very clear not in here embedded in his gaze. And Jared huffed a little at his own idiocy, of course Jensen wouldn’t be allowed to be informal. Tom had addressed him as Mr. Padalecki too. Only it hadn’t bothered him as much then, not like it did now.
“You’re looking for a companion?” Jensen asked when the silence dragged out a little longer than was comfortable. Jensen sounded, skeptical? But seemingly he had read Jared’s file, or maybe been briefed on him. Something he hadn’t picked up from Tom. Though Tom hadn’t asked him any questions.
“Yes. Is that so odd?”
Jensen shrugged, “Most of the people who come here, are looking for a fuck toy. Or an attack dog,” and then cupped the back of his neck, “You don’t seem the type.”
Jared’s brow furrowed, “The type to what?”
“The type who’d need to buy his affections.”
“You’ve only just met me. How can you be so sure?”
“Instinct,” and he shrugged again, but not ineloquently, “Ain’t my first interview.”
“Well, you’re right,” and Jared liked that Jensen was able to sense that about him, the space between them narrowing considerably, “I don’t want you to come home with me if you don’t want to,” Jared’s hand came up, but he closed it into a fist, letting it thump lightly into his own chest, “I want something real. Do you believe in fate, Jensen?”
Jensen laughed, a dry bark of a thing, “Fate’s not what brought me here.”
“Maybe it brought me.”
“Right. Come to take me away from it all,” it sounded more hopeful, a question, rather than sarcasm, but Jared couldn’t tell which Jensen had been aiming for more.
“Not if you don’t want me to.”
Jensen’s eyes flicked up to the security camera, and then back to Jared, “Only matters what you want.”
“Not to me.”
Jensen’s brow scrunched as he considered Jared for a moment, tongue flicking out over his lips, before he said simply, “Okay.”
Jared had made him say it.
Yes. I want you to take me home with you.
Or rather he had asked him to say it. But only if he meant it. It was crazy. Jensen had never felt anything like it. He’d never had such an immediate physical reaction to anything before. Not that there was much opportunity or occasion for it. Giving oral to a robot penis or vagina wasn’t exactly arousing, no matter how lifelike the silicone was. And Jensen prided himself on his self-control. But somehow Jared had gotten under his skin. And when Jared said he only wanted Jensen to go with him if he wanted to. If he meant it. Jensen believed him and he did mean it.
However, even though Jared had made his decision right then and there in the room. Jensen didn’t just get to leave with him. There was paperwork, documents to be signed and filed and notarized. Money to be transferred. And Jensen was subjected to one last round of medical examinations and forced to take a crash refresher course on Alpha life and behavioural, social and societal expectations for the outside world, before he was allowed to go home to his Master.
It had been the worst week and a half Jensen had ever had within the facility walls. As bad as it had been when he’d first arrived all those years ago, at least he’d been able to sleep then. Ever since Jared’s scent had invaded his senses he’d barely slept a wink. Not being able to see him? To smell him? The lingering memory of Jared’s arousal had set him on edge. It made him physically ache. It wasn’t normal. Jensen had read all the books that they had on mating. And neither physical nor emotional bonds could be formed before the actual mating took place. And even then, most people required to get to know each other first.
The only exception was soulmates.
Soulmates.
Jensen huffed. He had had to answer that question once in one of his biology lessons. The other Alphas had all snickered at the word, and Jensen had rolled his eyes. No one believed in soulmates.
Jensen had never thought he’d have to reconsider his position. Then again he’d never anticipated someone quite like Jared. Of course, it could all be an act, play Mr. Nice Guy to convince Jensen, to get him to think he had some kind of choice, and then as soon as he had Jensen where he wanted him bam he’d flip the switch and he’d be just like every other asshole slave owner.
But Jensen didn’t really want to believe that either.
It was the waiting. The waiting and then in conjunction with the sleep deprivation; it was making him feel anxious, made him question his gut. The small burst of relief he got when the day finally came that he was leaving, it had felt so good. He looked around his room, his cell, one last time. He’d been told that if he wanted to take anything, now was his last chance to take it. He’d snorted at that. They hadn’t let him keep anything from his old life. Not even a photo. He had no personal belongings.
“I’m good. Thanks.”
“Let’s go. Move.”
They made him eat breakfast. Stood over him watching. And then directed him to the bathroom before they placed him into the back of a car. And he glared at the guy who watched him as he buckled his own goddamn seatbelt. As if he hadn’t been in a car before. He wasn’t an idiot, and they were the ones who had taught him how to drive. But he kept his mouth shut.
The drive to Jared wasn’t a long one. Maybe a couple of hours. Jensen had kept his eyes out his window. He couldn’t look away. He was actually going out into the real world. The view was mostly just the highway, interspersed with trees and fields. Jensen couldn’t remember anything looking so beautiful. It didn’t feel familiar anyway. He’d been wondering for days if he’d feel it, if he’d suddenly just know the road, but he didn’t.
By the time they were driving past houses Jensen was so very close to sleeping, it was all he wanted to do, but there was still something that was keeping him awake. And then the car was slowing down, pulling into a driveway. As soon as Jensen stepped out of the car, he was hit with the barest traces of the Omega that remained in the air surrounding the house, and it eased something in his chest.
Jensen was escorted to the door, which opened before the doorbell could even be pressed, and there he was. It took everything Jensen had in him to not throw himself at Jared, bury his nose in his scent. Jared’s pits were moist with sweat, Jensen could tell that it was because Jared had been anxious too, the relief rolled off him in waves. But Jensen stayed still as they just stared into each other’s eyes. Jensen’s handler cleared his throat, “We just have the matter of the final paperwork. If we could get you to sign, Mr. Padalecki.”
“Do you have it there?”
“If you would just let us in-”
“No. I’d rather do it here. Already got a pen,” he said, waving it in front of the handler’s face, “The papers?”
“Very well,” the man reached inside his coat and pulled out the contract and handed it over to Jared.
“Jensen,” Jared said softly, “You can go inside,” it wasn’t an order, but Jensen could sense how much Jared wanted him to do it, so Jensen just bowed his head and shifted past him into the house.
The hallway had a slightly cavernous feel, with its high ceiling, but the walls were painted in warm welcoming tones. What was the lounge was just on his right and he walked into the room. He stood in the centre as he glanced around, taking in Jared’s décor and possessions. The large flat screen tv. The massive L-shaped couch. And the almost equally big and beautifully crafted coffee table.
“Hey,” came Jared’s voice from behind him, and Jensen turned, “They’re gone now.”
“Oh,” Jensen nodded with a faint smile.
“You can sit down if you want. Or did you want to freshen up? They gave me all your measurements, so I got you a few things. I didn’t want to just get everything. Thought maybe we could go shopping together and you could pick out things that you like…”
Jared was babbling, and Jensen found it quite endearing with the way he was fussing with the hem of his t-shirt. But it was also kind of overwhelming. Especially with all the choices he was being given.
“…Or we could get food. Are you hungry?”
“Jared,” Jensen said kind of more firmly than he’d intended, and it took them both aback a bit, “I mean. You still want me to call you that, don’t you?”
“Yeah. Yes. Jensen, please. I’m sorry for going on, I just-”
Jensen held up his hands with a smile, “Freshening up, sounds really good. Think you can handle showing me the bathroom?”
“I can do that,” Jared said with a smile of his own, and Jensen followed him to the stairs, “Actually I’ll show you to your room first,” Jared said as they began to climb, “so you know where to go.”
“My room?” he asked, just as they reached the landing, if he was honest with himself, he wasn’t too surprised really, but he wasn’t going to take anything for granted.
“Well, yeah, I figure that while we’re still getting to know each other-. I didn’t want to just presume that you-. I just, I want us both to be comfortable with whatever we’re doing.”
Jensen gave a slight nod, as he was hit with a sudden wave of emotion that he didn’t know what to do with, “Thank you, Jared.”
Jared gave him that soft smile again, “You’re welcome,” taking another couple of steps and then said, “This is you. The bathroom is just that one there on the right. Clothes are in the drawers. And you can just come back downstairs when you’re ready.”
“Thanks.”
Jared had lingered a moment or two longer than perhaps he should have at the bedroom door after Jensen had closed it behind himself. He knew he couldn’t stay there. Jensen would be able to feel him standing there, and he deserved to be able to collect himself in peace. And there was the whole Jared blocking Jensen’s way to the bathroom thing. But there was a part of Jared that didn’t want to move. That wanted to knock on the door and make Jensen come back out. A part that couldn’t understand how Jensen could want to withdraw already when they’d barely said hello.
Okay that wasn’t exactly true. Jared had said a lot of words. But Jensen hadn’t. And Jared knew he was being irrational. He knew it had to be more than a little overwhelming for the Alpha. To spend all those years cooped up in that place and then to suddenly be here with Jared. He could feel it, even through the door. But Jared still couldn’t help but feel somewhat miffed that Jensen hadn’t seemed at least a little happier at seeing him.
Jared had been practically bouncing off the walls since he got the call the day before saying that today would be the day that he would finally get to have Jensen. He’d had to ask his boss, Genevieve, for the day off. Though she’d known it was coming. When he’d got into work the following day after meeting Jensen, he’d known that he would have to tell her. But he hadn’t told anyone else. And that had been ten days ago. Ten of the longest days of his life.
He’d barely been able to get any rest at all. It had almost felt like the beginnings of a heat, but somehow the ache had been both duller and more acute all at once. It wasn’t even his time of the month, but he’d taken an extra dose of his meds all the same to try and make it stop. But it hadn’t worked, so he’d distracted himself with getting things ready for Jensen. He’d just been using that room as storage so it had needed a good clean as much as it needed the makeover.
Taking care of the room had been easy. Jared had picked out the colours, textures and patterns and hired some guys to take care of it while he was at work. Choosing clothes had been trickier. They were a much more personal thing, and he’d been conscious of the fact that he was nearly a decade older than Jensen. He didn’t want to just pick out everything for him. He wanted Jensen to feel like he had full autonomy, well at least where Jared and his life in their home were concerned.
It was that thought that had him pushing away from the door and he headed downstairs and into the kitchen. He grabbed a beer from the fridge. And he leaned back against the counter once he got it open, tossing the bottle opener aside, along with the cap. He took a swig. His sigh heavy after he swallowed his mouthful. Ten days. This one marked the eleventh since he’d met his soulmate. It had felt like an eternity. He was lucky that his work had been almost painfully boring and crisis-free, because he had definitely been functioning at half speed. When they’d said it’d take a good few days to fully process everything, Jared had been hoping that that had meant no more than five.
When they hadn’t called on the sixth morning Jared had been disappointed. And then when he still hadn’t heard on the seventh day, he started to worry. He’d ended up calling the facility on his lunch break. They assured him that everything was on track, and that it wouldn’t be too much longer, they were just waiting on some results. Results from what? It had really twisted in Jared’s gut, the thought of them doing god knows what to his Alpha. And he wondered if they made everyone wait this long. Or if it was just because Jared wanted Jensen as his mate.
When he had finally gotten the call, he’d been so fucking relieved and the excitement hadn’t been too far behind it. To actually get to see Jensen again? It had made his belly swoop. And now? Jensen hadn’t been in the house for more than fifteen minutes and Jared had already somehow managed to fuck it up. Or at least it felt that way. He didn’t know exactly what he had expected to happen. But he’d thought they’d have at least a little something more of an interaction before Jensen retreated into himself.
He huffed at himself before taking another drink of his beer. He was being a selfish jerk. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what this must all feel like for Jensen. If Jensen needed time and space. Jared could give that to him.
Jensen had stayed still with his back pressed flush against the door, eyes closed, for however long it was that Jared remained on the other side of the door. Taking deep cleansing breaths, in through his nose and out through his mouth. Jensen had known somewhat abstractly that Jared was going to be nice. But knowing it and experiencing it were two very different things. The way Jared looked at him with those soft, kind eyes, and treating him like an actual person. And on top of that he was feeling Jared’s feelings too. It was too much.
He pushed two fingers up and down his forehead in a straight line from between his eyes, trying to push it all back. Jensen pinched the bridge of his nose. He was going to have to say something. Tongue sweeping out over his bottom lip, but before he could even formulate the words, Jared had finally moved, the emotion ebbing with him. Left Jensen with a pang of guilt. He’d upset his Omega. He huffed a little. His. It was the first time he thought of Jared as that.
Rubbing at his eyes he took a step away from the door and then dragged his hands down his face. Actually looking around the room. His room. It looked good. Lots of pretty greens, with little pops of pink and purple, which made Jensen smile. There were even some fresh flowers sitting in a vase on the bedside table. The bed was already singing its siren song, but he turned back to the chest of drawers.
He wanted to know what Jared had picked out for him. No matter how much he doubted it, he still sent out a quick prayer to whoever was listening that it please not be weird kinky stuff. Jensen let out a relieved little laugh when he discovered the very regular t-shirts, and pants, and underwear. And jeans. He took them out almost reverently. They were one of the only things he’d dared to dream for. They were one of the reasons why he’d been against becoming part of someone’s security team.
The thought of being stuck in a monkey suit day in and day out?
No thank you.
Jensen placed the jeans down on the bed, he was definitely going to be changing into those. After he got himself washed up anyway. He looked down at himself, at the sad hospital blue and he was tempted to just strip off then and there. But he waited until he got into the bathroom, which was equally as impressive as the rest of the rooms Jensen had seen so far, with a big free standing bath. There was also a very substantially sized shower too, but Jensen hadn’t had a bath since before-. It had been ten years, so he was way past due a good soak.
Once he was cleaned, dried and dressed he’d gone back downstairs as promised, to find Jared sprawled out on his couch watching tv, though he sat up to attention pretty quickly when he became more fully aware of Jensen’s presence. He invited Jensen to join him. So, Jensen sat, keeping a respectable amount of space between them. Jared seemed intent on taking things slow, and Jensen could definitely get on board with that. Not that they needed to rush. So they spent the rest of their morning curled up on the couch, though not around each other.
And they stayed couch-bound through lunch too, Jared had bought them sandwiches to have. Jensen suspected Jared didn’t want to give up their conversation buffer; the tv. And Jensen didn’t want to either, because they were talking. Mostly during the commercials, with the odd comment about what they were watching. But also how since it was Friday, they would get two whole days together before Jared had to go back to work.
And their impending shopping trip. Jensen had thanked Jared for everything he had gotten him already. Jared had said he didn’t have to, but Jensen shook his head, “If you’re gonna be nice and do nice things, then you have to let me say thank you.”
That had been ingrained in him by his mama. Good manners don’t cost you anything. He wasn’t going to start letting her down now.
Jared had conceded, “Okay. But you have to let me do the same.”
“Deal.”
The weekend went in pretty quick. Saturday got off to a bit of a rocky start. They’d had to go into the bank to get an Alpha account set up so that Jensen would have access to Jared’s account. It was so he didn’t have to rely on Jared taking out money for him. The official reason so that other people didn’t think the Alpha in question had stolen the card.
Jensen hadn’t been allowed to sit in a chair. They’d wanted him at Jared’s feet. Jared had told them he’d prefer if Jensen stood. Jensen had cupped Jared’s shoulder as he stood directly behind him, their first touch, feeling the spike in Jared’s heartrate, he knew it wasn’t what the Omega really wanted. Getting angry wouldn’t help the situation. They still made him get down on his knees to scan his collar to get it synced with the account though. Jensen had kept his shoulders squared, chin up, and just looked straight ahead.
He’d tried to let his calm flow up and out of him and back to Jared, it wasn’t quite as strong as when they were physically connected, but it seemed to keep Jared from protesting. Didn’t put much of a dent in his fury though. Jared had had a good rant about it the minute they got out of there.
“Jared,” Jensen had said evenly, taking a hold of Jared’s wrist, “Please?”
And Jared had taken a big shaky breath, closed his eyes, nodding as he let it all back out, “Jensen-”
“Come on. Let’s go get me a whole new wardrobe.”
The shopping part of their trip had gone rather smoothly in comparison. Jensen had managed to find some things that he had really liked, and maybe a couple that he had caught Jared admiring. And they’d gotten lunch from a stand so they didn’t have to worry about any stupid seating arrangements, they just sat on a bench. Most passers-by didn’t so much as look their way, there was the odd tut, but they had just ignored them.
That night they had driven up to Jared’s cabin so that they could go for a morning wolf run through the woods on the Sunday. After a breakfast of oatmeal and berries they had stripped off on the front veranda, facing away from each other, to transform. Jensen had leapt down onto the ground, feeling fresh dirt beneath his paws had felt so incredibly amazing. He had been so ready to just drop down and roll about in it when Jared had appeared alongside him, giving Jensen a friendly bump.
Jared was beautiful. He was beautiful in his human form too of course but Jensen hadn’t really let himself think about it too hard. But seeing him then, the reddish brown of his fur, in the glow of daylight it almost looked ablaze. His eyes; liquid gold when the sun hit them just so, and then they would change colour when Jared moved. Jensen wanted to learn them all. Jared gave him another bump before shooting off and Jensen shook his head before trailing after him.
Getting to just run, top speed, full power, no boundaries or limits, had been incredible. And without the need for words getting in their way, Jensen and Jared had been able to play; chasing and pouncing and pinning each other. Made Jensen forget for a little while. He could pretend they were two lone wolves who had met in the wild, just knowing that they had found their kindred spirit. Two souls entwined on a primal level. With nothing and no one existing outside of them.
Not even time. It slipped right on by and it was quite well into the afternoon by the time they got back to the cabin. Jared had shifted first to get the door. Jensen had lingered as reality sunk back in. He let out a low whine and Jared turned back to him, “We can come back out here next weekend.”
And they had. They’d left on the Friday night not too long after Jared had come in from work. It had felt so good to do something familiar after a week of having no idea what to do with himself. He had nine hours all to himself, every day for five days a week. Jensen had ended up going out for a lot of walks; in human form. Alphas were not allowed to be in wolf form in public without their Masters present. He’d wanted to get to know their neighbourhood and the city at large.
He’d walked to Jared’s office building. He hadn’t gone in. Just wanted to see it. Contextualise where it was that Jared disappeared to every day. And even though he knew it was stupid, there were way too many storeys between them, there was a part of him that wondered whether Jared would be able to sense that Jensen was there.
He also wondered if he’d ever stop feeling the ache of Jared’s absence. If Jared felt it just as suddenly.
Chapter Two