Chapter Text
Chapter one
(in the beginning...)
Today was not a good day for Asmodeus Daemon and if you were to ask any one of the half dozen or so people nearby, they would all agree that today was shaping up to be a very bad day for him indeed. In fact today was with out a doubt, hands down the worst day of his life.
Growing up rich and privileged and spoilt he had experience many good days and coincidentally the best day of Asmodeus Daemons life was almost also one of the worst.
He’d found himself in a ‘wee bit of trouble’ with the law, but being rich, privileged and spoilt his parents had managed to make that disappear but this time there was a trade off. His fathers best friend had an 18 year old omega that needed an alpha. His father had told him they would make his legal problems disappear if he agreed to ‘marry’ the omega. There was a nice upfront sum of money for him when he signed the papers and also a quarterly stipend that would supplement his own trust fund payments and see him live comfortably for the rest of his life. The kicker came when he was told he didn’t even have to meet the omega, that he would be alpha in name only. Asmodeus briefly though of paying the omega a visit and taking a sample of what was legally his but instead boarded his families yacht and cruised the Caribbean and Mediterranean for over two years, until he was sure it was safe to return home.
And now as Asmodeus Daemon flew through the air his mind replayed the events leading to this particular situation...
Asmodeus loved his life. By the time he hit his mid thirties his parents decided it was time for him to take more responsibility in the family business. They created a token position for him, something where they could keep an eye on him and out of trouble. He didn’t have a lot of responsibility to be honest, but he was good at schmoozing with clients and investors and as long as he didn’t handle contracts or fuck up any legalities he would still draw a substantial paycheck every week.
Add to that the allowance from his ‘in-laws’ and Asmodeus Daemon was a happy, happy alpha. And as soon as his lawyers untangled the red tape from around his omegas inheritance so he could get his hands on it, he was going to be ecstatic!
The payment from the Shurleys had hit his bank earlier in the week so he decided he would go out and treat himself a little. He was 52 but still looked fit and had the stamina of someone half his age but when one of the beta escorts he had paid for offered him a little ‘stimulus’ he wasn’t going to decline. Snorting the white powder from the crease in her flesh between her hip and her pussy, while the male whore choked on his cock, was the highlight of his evening. Another line was snorted from between shoulder blades as Asmodeus pounded his dick deep into the other mans ass, each thrust pushing the beta into the woman. Asmodeus loved a ‘sandwich’.
Now, completely satisfied, he stepped from the town house leaving the betas to deal with the mess of cum and coke, and with a whistle he set off down the street. The night was clear. A bright moon lit the sky but Asmodeus was too far gone in his post sex, heavily drugged haze to notice any of that. In fact he was so far gone he also failed to notice the non descript, every day sedan that was hurtling down the road at fifty miles an hour.
Continuing to whistle he just stepped right off that curb and directly into the path of that bland beige car. The driver barely had time to react before her car collided with the man dressed all in white and even before the poor woman had hit the brakes Asmodeus was flying up the hood, colliding with the windshield and then somersaulting over the roof to bounce off the trunk and land in a bloody heap on the road.
There was blood, oh so much blood and the white of bones poking through the skin. His arms and legs were all askew, at angles no limbs should should ever be at. Bystanders, what few there were, rushed to help. Some took one look at the unrecognisable heap on the ground and went to assist the screaming hysterical woman still sitting in her destroyed vehicle, tightly clutching her steering wheel. A few good samaritans called 911 but before the ambulance arrived, and even before Asmodeus’ internal cavities could completely fill with blood and other fluids leaking from all his vital organs, he gasped his last breath and his heart stuttered it’s last beat with a shard of bone piercing through it.
So, no, today was not a good day for Asmodeus Daemon, in fact today was his last.
§§§§§§
“We have a problem!”
Naomi looked up from her papers as her eldest son stormed into her office.
“What now?” She snapped. Problems seemed to be piling up one on top of each other lately.
“Daemons dead.” Michael placed a tablet on the desk in front of her and sat in one of the leather chairs.
Looking down the older woman read the headline of the medium sized article loaded on the screen.
‘Pedestrian Killed By Car After Drug Fuelled Orgy”.
Naomi rolled her eyes as she scanned the article.
“When did this happen?” She demanded.
“Last Wednesday. His father called me this morning.” Michael informed his mother.
Naomi stood and read the article more carefully. It was dated almost a week ago.
“Well at least it didn’t mention Gabriel or the Shurley Centre.” She said as she passed the device back to her son. “This changes everything.”
She walked to the bureau on the wall and poured herself a glass of cognac.
“Where is Gabriel?” She asked.
“I’m not sure. Either his home or that confectionary store.”
“Find him! Bring him home. I want him back in the mansion tonight.” Naomi ordered as she sipped her drink.
“He won’t agree to that. He’ll fight us.” Michael told his mother.
“Then chain him!” She yelled furiously. “Drag him back and lock him in one of the servants cells. I don’t care how you do it but I want him there today!” Naomi took a deep breath and ran a hand over her hair. “It’s time your omega brother repays his family for all the kindness we have shown him.”
§§§§§§
Gabriel’s life wasn’t perfect, having presented as omega at fourteen he was taken from his family home and hidden away in a basic, one bedroom apartment, all alone save for the housekeeper who would visit twice a week and the beta minders who would work on rotation to watch over him. He was allowed home schooling, omega training, and a daily regime of drugs to suppress his heats, but apart from the occasional tutoring session, he had no other interaction with the outside world. Mother and Father would visit weekly, albeit briefly, looking down on him as if being an omega was something shameful, a disgusting smear on the family name. Thinking about it, Gabriel would later realize, to his parents, it probably was. Being the operators of one of the states largest and most successful omega training centers, they hid their son, the only omega amongst their offspring, away and paid his keepers handsomely to keep this little secret quiet.
At first Gabriel would ask about his siblings, if he might visit with them, especially Castiel, his baby brother, he missed him the most, but his parents denied his request each and every time so eventually he stopped asking.
When he turned eighteen his parents turned up with a marriage contract. Shoving it under his nose they told him to sign it then threw a collar at him.
“You’re married now Gabriel. Ensure you wear this whenever you leave the apartment. Your alphas name is Asmodeus Daemon, remember that if you are ever questioned.” His mother informed him in that haughty manner of hers while his father just stood at her side looking on with distaste.
“Will I meet him?” Gabriel asked, his voice shaking. “Will he claim me?”
“No, not unless Asmodeus chooses too.” His father replied.
“Why? Why are you doing this?” Gabriel knew he was pushing the boundaries of his parents patience but he was confused and just wanted answers.
“It’s to keep you safe.” Mother replied this time.
“But why? Why can’t I just come home?” Gabriel cried.
A sudden palm across his cheek left him sprawled on the floor, his alpha father looming over him.
“Never question your alpha!” Carver yelled down at him.
“You are not my alpha anymore!” Gabriel snapped back in his first ever act of defiance as he placed a hand on his burning cheek.
Gabriel flinched as his father reached down and hauled him up onto his feet by his shirt. The omega cried in pain as his head made harsh contact with the wall.
“I am your sire and you will always show me respect, do you understand?” He sneered just inches from his offsprings face before pounding him against the wall again.
“Yes sir.” Gabriel answered tearfully as he diverted his eyes to the ground.
Carver gave him an assessing look before stepping away. He straightened his jacket then gave his son a nod before walking out the door.
“Goodbye darling.” Naomi said casually as she followed her husband.
§§§§§§
But all that was years ago. His apartment was two hours from his families home town, which would also partly explain why his ‘alpha’ never came by to finish his claim. It was something that keep Gabriel on edge for almost a decade before he finally began to relax.
He had tentatively reconnected with Castiel. His younger brother seeking him out years ago. Gabriel still felt somewhat betrayed by his siblings that they could just let him be dragged away like that but over time he realised that at the age of ten, there wasn’t much Cas would have been able to do, especially since the boy hadn’t presented himself yet. He was surprised to open his door and find his younger, alpha, brother standing on his doorstep and was pleased when he learned Castiel had run from the family. Trust was slowly built back but Gabriel, after years of solitude, was not likely to reach out any time soon. Cas called by as often as he could, which was more often than Gabriel expected considering his brother lived four hours away. But even after helping him find a job at a local confectioners shop he gradually began to stop answering Cas’ calls or opening the door to him, despite knowing how far his baby brother had come to see him. He loved Castiel but seeing him was just too much of a painful reminder of his family’s neglect.
He had become quite close friends with several of his co-workers and they all respected him and treated him as equal. His closest acquaintance was a beta named Balthazar. Balthazar was tall with a slim build and an English accent, although his accent would slip into Scottish when drunk or French when he was chatting up alphas at the clubs he would drag Gabriel to.
Thanks to the drugs his parents had forced down his throat to prevent heats, Gabriel had eventually become medically sterile and even though he didn’t have natural heats, with all the need of constant knotting and the mess of slick, he still got an itch every now and then that needed a scratch. The clubs Balthazar took him to serviced that quite nicely and after nearly two decades of living a lonely, almost virginal existence, depending on nothing but his hand and a few toys, his eyes were opened as he was introduced to a whole new world of sex, alphas, and knots. He wasn’t a virgin when he first stepped into that dim room, filled with flashing lights, loud music and the scent of sex but he gained a whole new set of skills, far exceeding those taught to him by his omega training tutor. He was in a whole new world and he loved it and grew into a fun loving omega.
§§§§§§
Gabriel was at home when he received the notification of Asmodeus’ death. A short, suited beta handed him a thick white envelope, then bid him good day and left. With trembling hands Gabriel read the letter. Twenty nine years was a long time to wait for freedom but the news of his Alphas untimely and somewhat gruesome death was met with a small amount of sadness, but mostly indifference, he had, after all, never met the man. What scared him the most was the clause informing him his ‘ownership’ would be offered back to his family after the probate period of sixty days.
Gabriel didn’t want to be back under his mothers ownership. He didn’t want to be under anyone’s ownership! His fathers will had stated he would be free, but somehow he knew his mother wouldn’t agree to that and as an omega, he knew there was very little he would be able to do.
He set the letter aside and tried to pretend everything was alright.
A week later he was sitting in the small break room, eating his lunch, when his beta friend Balthazar rushed into the room and closed the door.
“Gabe, there’s a pretentious looking alpha out there. Says he’s your brother and he’s here to take you home!” He says.
“What? Take me home?” Gabe rose from his seat and cracked the door open. The angle was just enough to seen Michael standing at the counter. From the distance he could see his brother was getting agitated. Gabriel gasped when he saw two ‘handlers’ from the Centre, dressed in white and holding cruel looking correction chains in their hands.
“We told them you weren’t here Gabe.” Balthazar’s said gripping Gabriel’s shoulder. “You have to go. Now!”
He gave Gabe a shove towards the back door.
“Go to Rowena’s, I'll get rid of them and find you later.” And with a final push, Balthazar launched Gabe through the door and into the back alley.
“Thank you.” The omega said gratefully as he turned and ran.
§§§§§
Gabriel ran almost blindly, keeping mostly to alleys where he could. Rowena’s book shop was three blocks away and when he frantically burst through her door he startled her badly causing the beta to drop the stack of books she was holding.
“Goodness me Gabriel! What has you in such a state?” She asked as she bent to pick up the paperbacks.
“He have to help me Ro!” Gabe said bending down and grasping her by the shoulders. “Please? You have to hide me!”
Rowena grasped the books to her chest and looked at the frightened omega holding her tightly.
“Whatever has happened love?” She asked concern filling her scent.
“Asmodeus died and my family...my family have come to take me back. They had chains Rowena!”
Rowena had to step back from the thick scent of fear coming from Gabriel.
“Oh you poor boy. Come now, come with me.” She said pulling him along to the back rooms, dropping her books on the counter as they passed. She had heard stories about the treatment he received from his so-called family and was only too happy to protect him from that particular brand of hell.
She lead him to a bookcase and pressed on it. The shelves swung open to reveal a narrow set of stairs.
“Now you pop up there and wait in the attic. If your ‘family’ come by I’ll see that they pass on by.” She stated. “There’s a kettle and blanket up there. Make a cup of tea and get comfortable, I’ll be up to check on you shortly.”
“Balthazar’s coming to get me when it’s safe.” Gabriel informed the shop owner.
“Aye, he would. He’s a good lad, despite being english. I’ll see him up when he arrives.” She gave the omega a gentle push to get him moving up the stairs.
“Thanks Ro, you’re awesome.” He said as he set his first foot on the stairs.
“I know.” She replied with a smug little smile. “Now move it!”
Rowena replaced the bookcase as soon as Gabriel disappeared from view and hurried back to the store front after opening the window slightly to allow in a fresh breeze. She flicked the air purifier to high to remove any trace of Gabriel’s scent then propped open the door for good measure. Dashing behind the counter she picked up a can of scent neutralizer and gave the shop a quick spray before stepping outside to spray around her doorway and a few stores along the route Gabe would have taken. She stepped back into her store and replaced the can beneath the counter. For a brief moment she considered just closing the shop for the rest of the day but decided that might be a bit suspicious. Taking a deep breath she was happy to notice that most of Gabriel’s scent had dispersed and decided to make a pot of strong herbal tea just to help things along.
Rowena was sitting on the window seat by the front door, sipping her tea when a tall man stepped through the door. He was dressed in white and holding a chain.
“Can I help you sir?” She asked with fake pleasantness. She didn’t care for this beta nor his foul smelling scent. Another dark haired man, this time in a suit and obviously alpha stepped through the doorway. “Oh well look at this! Two customers at once. Oh dear how ever will I cope?” She said sarcastically and she placed her hands flat on her chest.
“Well aren’t you amusing beta? I’m looking for someone.” The alpha Rowena recognized as Michael said as he scanned the low book cases.
“Well, this is a book store, perhaps you’d be best looking elsewhere unless it’s a swashbuckling hero of fantasy you’re after?”
Michael sniffed the air. He glanced at the purifier working away in the corner.
“There is a remarkable lack of scent in here.” He said as he stared at the petite beta.
“Yes well it is a small area and too many scents can be disconcerting, especially if it’s the scent of alpha males, such as yourself. It tends to make my beta and omega customers uneasy and drive them away. Plus no one wants to take a book home and be stuck with the lingering scent of someone who isn’t their mate. It’s...off putting.” She explained calmly.
“Whatever.” Michael said dismissively. “I’m looking for my brother. He’s about yay tall, sandy hair, smart mouth. Is he here? He’s omega, you see, and got a nasty fright and ran away from us. I followed his scent a few doors away and then it just...faded.”
“Well that’s just terrible! Losing your omega like that, but alas, no, he’s not here. I haven’t had an omega in all day. There were two strapping young alphas earlier, but no omegas. What, may I ask frightened the poor boy? Was it perhaps the sight of those nasty chains?” She asked, not hiding the anger from her scent.
“No, I assure you these were only brought out after he bolted. We can’t have an emotional omega charging around unrestrained. It could be dangerous.” Michael informed her. “Do you mind if we have a look around? He may have snuck in without you noticing, what with the air purifier and those candles burning, and your strong tea.”
“Of course.” Rowena answered, narrowing her eyes at the alpha. “Be my guest, but I assure you, there’s no one here but myself.”
She waved her hand towards the doorway that lead to the narrow hallway and back rooms. The alpha strode away, followed closely by the beta then Rowena as they walked into each room. Michael scented the air in each of the four back rooms, two being used for storage, one housed the collection of rare and collectable books and finally the office. Michael strode in and looked around. Rowena fought to keep her scent neutral and she leaned against the door frame sipping her tea. She watched as the alpha walked towards the hidden stairway and paused in front of the bookcase. He slowly looked around the room.
“Happy now?” She asked, deliberately keeping her eyes off the bookcase.
“Yes. Thank you beta. I can see my brother isn’t here. I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you.”
The sound of movement in the front of the shop caught their attention.
“Well it seems as if I have actual customers to tend with so I will see you out.” She said with just a hint of venom.
“Certainly.” Michael smiled back tightly. “If you happen to see my brother, please contact me. You will be rewarded of course.”
He handed Rowena a card as he walked past. Gesturing to the beta in the hallway, the two men left the store and continued their search for the missing omega. Rowena closed the door behind them and sighed in relief before turning to the customers in her store.
§§§§§§
A few hours later Balthazar arrived at Rowena’s book store, hugging the beta tightly when she assured him Gabriel was safe and sound. The trio sat in Rowena’s office sipping on tea.
“What am I going to do?” Gabe asked his friends.
“You gotta run, its the only way you can stay safe.” Rowena said.
“Where do I go?”
“What about your brother?” Balthazar suggested. “Could you go to him?”
“Yes, he might help you.” Rowena added.
“I don’t know.” Gabriel said, suddenly feeling like the young frightened omega he used to be. “I...I think, yes, he would.”
“Okay then, you go there.” Rowena stated. “Stay with your brother and stay safe.”
“I need to go home first and get some stuff.” Gabriel said.
“Um, about that.” Balthazar said nervously.
“What?”
“Your neighbor called and she said there were some men at your apartment and they were taking all your stuff.”
“I have to go there, just in case they left something.”
“No Gabriel!” Rowena snapped. “You can’t go back there. Your family might be watching. It would be the perfect time to snatch you back.”
Gabriel slumped back in his chair, covering his face with his hands.
“I have nothing.”
“You have us.” Rowena said gently as she placed a comforting hand on his leg. “And you always will.”
Balthazar had managed to grab Gabriel’s wallet, keys and phone before he left the confectionary store and passed them to the omega.
“Now don’t use that cell, just in case your family are trying to track you.” Rowena said. She walked over to her desk and pulled a phone from the top drawer. “Use this, it’s registered to me so they won’t be looking for it.” She slapped it into Gabriel’s hand. “And I expect you to call as soon as you get there.”
Gabriel just nodded, stunned by the kindness of the betas.
“Here, take my car.” Balthazar said handing over his keys. “When you’re safe we’ll organize switching them back.”
“I don’t know how to thank you guys.” Gabriel said, looking between his two friends. “I’ll never be able to repay you.”
“You don’t need to repay us sweet omega, just go to your brother and live a good life.” Rowena replied, pressing her palm to Gabriel’s cheek. “Now you take off and don’t stop until you find your brother.”
Gabriel hugged his friends and after shedding a few tears he climbed into the drivers seat of Balthazar’s car and drove away.
§§§§§§
Balthazar had made sure to fill the gas tank and left some snacks and water on the front passengers seat of his car so Gabriel wouldn’t have to stop anywhere. The omega punched his brothers address into the gps and drove straight through arriving on Castiels door step, still scared and shaking by 8pm.
“Who are you?” Dean asked.
“I’m Gabriel, Cas’ brother. You have to help me please!” Gabriel begged as soon as Dean opened the door, the scent of fear wafting of him. “Michaels looking for me. He wants to take me home.”
Dean stood shocked for a moment then snapping out of his surprise, he quickly ushered the other omega into the house.
“Cas isn’t here.” Dean informed his brother-in-law. “He’s working.”
Dean guided Gabriel into a chair and wrapped a blanket around his shaking shoulders.
“Can I get you something? Are you hungry?”
“No, I just need...I just need to talk to Cas.” Gabriel said.
“He’s not here. He working. I can try to call him?” Dean said, fear spiking at the thought of interrupting his alpha at work. He knew Castiel wouldn’t get mad at him but he didn’t want to interrupt. Relief flooded him when Gabe told him not to bother the alpha. “Maybe I can help? Even if it’s just to listen? I mean, you look exhausted and should rest. If you tell me what’s going on, you can get some sleep and I can talk to Cas if he gets in late?”
Gabe nodded his agreement and Dean left him to gather his thoughts and made them both coffee and a plate of sandwiches for Gabriel.
Gabriel accepted the food gratefully and told Dean about Asmodeus and his death and his family arriving at his work place suddenly after an absence of over a decade. He told him about Balthazar and Rowena and how they helped him escape.
“But I know they’re still looking for me, I just don’t understand why? I mean, none of them have wanted anything to do with me for almost thirty years! Why now? What do they want?” Gabe cried.
“I don’t know, but you’re right.” Dean said looking worried. “They’re gonna come looking for you. Maybe not right away but eventually they’ll come here.”
Dean stood suddenly and began pacing. Chewing his thumb nail he tried to gather his thoughts. He remembered how Castiel was the last time his family had visited and Dean needed to protect his alpha from experiencing that again, but on the other hand, there was no way he was going to throw the other omega to the wolves. Suddenly a solution came to him.
“Gabe, I think I have an idea.”
Dean quickly explained his plan to the other omega and then after a phone call to Dorothy, the omega partner of one of Castiels work mates, he slipped an address written on a piece of paper into Gabriel’s palm, and a bag of random clothing that looked like it would fit into his other hand, and sent him on his way, promising to contact him soon.
Dean stood in the door way and watched Gabriel drive away, hoping he had done the right thing. He knew he could trust Dorothy to keep Gabes location secret.
When Cas got home much later that evening, he wasn’t surprised to see Dean waiting for him. He was surprised, however, at the story Dean told him.
“So where is he now?” Cas asked, fury and worry souring his scent.
Dean swallowed nervously.
“I won’t tell you.” He said lifting his head defiantly and balling his fist tightly.
“Why not.” Cas asked.
“Because, if Michael or anyone comes looking for him, you can honestly say you don’t know.” Dean reasoned.
“They won’t have any problem hurting you to get that information either Dean.” Cas said gripping his omegas shoulders.
“Well I can’t tell them that because I don’t know either. The person I sent Gabe to is going to send him somewhere safe, so, they’ll just be chasing one false lead after another.”
Castiel was impressed with Deans reasonings though he was worried that it will make Dean a target for his families anger when they can’t locate Gabriel.
“We should call Sam.” Dean suggested.
“No, Sams busy enough as it is. Gabriel is my family, so this is my problem, I’ll deal with it.” Castiel replied.
Dean quietly agreed but as soon as Cas left for work the next day, he picked up his cell and called his brother.
§§§§§§