If You Die Before I Wake (or How Do You Howl "I Love You"?) 4/?
Title: If You Die Before I Wake (or How Do You Howl "I Love You"?) 4/?
Sequel to I Will Love You 'til My Muzzle Turns Grey Master Post
Author: spnkinkfan
Pairing: J2
Word Count: 1330
Rating: NC-17 eventually
Warnings: Slight gore, angst
Disclaimer: I own neither of the boys (have never even met them). I wish though - I would take very good care.
A/N: Thanks to my awesome beta, tmateotb, for reminding me that you all don't live in my head. I sometimes forget you don't have all the information squirreled away somewhere like I do, and you might not all be as familiar with my werewolf world. Also, welcome home to my sweet artist friend denig37 - I've missed you brainmate!
v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v
Jensen struggled to focus. Every fiber of his being screamed for him to just run as fast as he could until he found Jared, but he couldn't. He had no idea where he was going, they had to follow the trail while it was still fresh.
The fourth time his head got ahead of his feet and he stumbled, Christian and Jeff moved alongside him. Their shoulders pressed to his, bringing him back to himself. Jensen stopped, closed his eyes for a moment. Christian whined low and pressed his forehead to his Alpha's cheek.
Jensen's eyes opened as Christian moved slightly away. Christian's blue eyes in all that black fur were just as striking in wolf as in his human form, and he met Jensen's gaze with a determined glint. Christian's eyes moved to Jeff, then the trail ahead and back to Jensen's.
He wanted Jeff to take the lead.
Jensen bristled, growling. Jared was his mate, his responsibility! He had failed to protect his mate, his pack members. This was all Jensen's fault. He would make sure Jared came back safe and sound, or die trying.
The ferocity of his emotions brought a moment of clarity amidst the maelstrom and he knew his friend was right. Jensen needed to clear his head and get in the hunt, there was no time for uncertainty or distraction. Jeff could take the lead, keep them going while Jensen got himself together. He knew Jeff would give up the point position without hesitation and Christian would never have questioned his Alpha if he didn't feel it was in Jensen's best interest.
Jensen rumbled deep in his chest, an affectionate, grateful sound. He swung his big head toward Jeff and bobbed his muzzle. Jeff dipped his head, almost a bow, and moved ahead to pick up the trail.
Jensen followed on his heels, reining in his emotions again. He focused on his senses, hearing the woods around them, the alarmed calls from startled animals as they passed through. The scent of trees, fur, recently disturbed soil. In front of them, like a blanket over it all, the scent of Others - outsiders.
They had Jared's scent masked somehow. All Jensen could smell was the interlopers.
And a lot of blood.
The instant he realized it, Jensen gave a low yip. Jeff peered back over his shoulder, still moving forward. He had smelled it too, Jensen could see it in his eyes, the tense lines of his body. Jeff moved slightly to his right, letting Jensen take the lead again.
The body was laying in a small opening amidst trees and underbrush. Aldis, Shorty, Chris and Christian ranged themselves around the edges, standing guard. Oscar watched the trees overhead while Jensen and Jeff investigated the corpse.
Judging by the wounds on his body, he'd been the one who had left so much blood behind at the farmhouse.
But that wasn't what had killed him.
His throat had been torn out right there in the small clearing. Hurt bad and probably unable to keep up, he had been "put down" by the others, a bloody gobbet of flesh on the ground not far from where he lay.
Rage burned through Jensen. Whether Xander himself had killed the man, he was responsible. None of his underlings would have killed a pack member if they feared repercussions. That meant even if the other Alpha had not taken his throat, he had sanctioned it.
What kind of monster could do that to one of his own? He was their Alpha! Sworn to defend and protect his pack, with his life if he had to!
And if he could allow this to happen to one of his own, what lengths would he go to with Jared in his clutches?
Jensen let his rage burn everything else away. No more doubt, not now. He could write a book on his failures later.
He had to get to Jared while there was still enough left of him to save.
v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v
The sun was high overhead and had long since burned the residual mist from even the shadiest areas when Jensen first felt a twinge that something wasn't right.
At first he shook it off, determined to stay focused and keep on the trail, but the feeling nettled at Jensen until he drew it out and focused on it.
There was something different with the scent trail. It was still sharp, clear Other, but there seemed to be "less" of it.
Jensen slid to a stop, already shifting into his human form and bringing the rest of the party to a shocked stand-still.
Christian's wary eyes scoured the forest around them, clearly stressed by the Alpha's sudden change to the vulnerable human form.
"They've split up," Jensen saw nostrils flaring as the rest catalogued the change in scent. He tried to remember how far back he had noticed the change but couldn't be positive. He should have expected something like this.
Should have, but didn't.
Jensen was fairly sure he knew how they had done it too. He moved to unclip the harness from Aldis and adjust the straps as he spoke.
"They had to have used the trees - Jeff, take Shorty and Chris. Go back along the trail and see if you can figure out where they split off. I'll take Christian and Oscar, we'll keep following this trail."
Jensen looked at Aldis, his mind racing as the wolf waited patiently for instructions. Aldis knew what was going through his Alpha's mind.
If Jared needed medical help, the phone might be his only chance of getting it in time. They had no way of knowing which group had Jared. He might even be with a third group they weren't yet aware of.
Jensen shoved that thought away.
"Aldis, you go with Jeff." Jeff and his team quickly shifted into the larger wolf/man hybrid combat form so they could take to the trees if they had to. The ability to run upright on two legs to scent higher in the trees and the more human-like hands that they could use to climb would be invaluable as they searched. Not to mention the sharp claws sprouting from each finger and toe - equally good for gripping tree trunks and eviscerating enemies.
If Jensen shifted from a 6'1" human, his combat form would be somewhere between 9 and 10 feet tall - Jeff and his team ranged in height around him, but they all towered over their Alpha.
Jensen clipped the expanded harness around Aldis' massive chest and over his shoulders as he spoke, "If anyone finds anything and it's safe to, howl. If it isn't..." Jensen broke off. If it wasn't, then what?
He could tell them to go in after Jared if they found him, knowing Xander would probably be there with his men. There wasn't a man on that security team who would not do what Jensen asked of them - even if it meant getting themselves killed facing down a psychotic Alpha.
Would he really be any better than Xander if he asked them to walk into what could be a suicide situation? Jensen wanted, needed, to get Jared back - but could he really ask others to trade their lives for Jared's? Jared would never forgive himself. Whether or not he'd forgive Jensen was debatable.
A huge hand on his shoulder brought Jensen out of his racing thoughts and he looked up into Aldis' brown eyes. The combat form is not well-equipped for human conversation, but you don't always need words to communicate. His lips pulled back in a snarl revealing the deadly teeth housed in that prominent muzzle and a furious growl rumbled deep in his chest, a stark contrast to the gentle hand on his Alpha. The message was clear. Jensen didn't have to ask - they knew what they had to do and they would all do it willingly.
Jared wasn't Wolf, but he was still Pack.
v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v
A/N 2: I've been asked before about the combat form - it'd look something like this (though this image is property of the owners of the Underworld franchise, so not exactly):
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 5 Chapter 6
Sequel to I Will Love You 'til My Muzzle Turns Grey Master Post
Author: spnkinkfan
Pairing: J2
Word Count: 1330
Rating: NC-17 eventually
Warnings: Slight gore, angst
Disclaimer: I own neither of the boys (have never even met them). I wish though - I would take very good care.
A/N: Thanks to my awesome beta, tmateotb, for reminding me that you all don't live in my head. I sometimes forget you don't have all the information squirreled away somewhere like I do, and you might not all be as familiar with my werewolf world. Also, welcome home to my sweet artist friend denig37 - I've missed you brainmate!
v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v
Jensen struggled to focus. Every fiber of his being screamed for him to just run as fast as he could until he found Jared, but he couldn't. He had no idea where he was going, they had to follow the trail while it was still fresh.
The fourth time his head got ahead of his feet and he stumbled, Christian and Jeff moved alongside him. Their shoulders pressed to his, bringing him back to himself. Jensen stopped, closed his eyes for a moment. Christian whined low and pressed his forehead to his Alpha's cheek.
Jensen's eyes opened as Christian moved slightly away. Christian's blue eyes in all that black fur were just as striking in wolf as in his human form, and he met Jensen's gaze with a determined glint. Christian's eyes moved to Jeff, then the trail ahead and back to Jensen's.
He wanted Jeff to take the lead.
Jensen bristled, growling. Jared was his mate, his responsibility! He had failed to protect his mate, his pack members. This was all Jensen's fault. He would make sure Jared came back safe and sound, or die trying.
The ferocity of his emotions brought a moment of clarity amidst the maelstrom and he knew his friend was right. Jensen needed to clear his head and get in the hunt, there was no time for uncertainty or distraction. Jeff could take the lead, keep them going while Jensen got himself together. He knew Jeff would give up the point position without hesitation and Christian would never have questioned his Alpha if he didn't feel it was in Jensen's best interest.
Jensen rumbled deep in his chest, an affectionate, grateful sound. He swung his big head toward Jeff and bobbed his muzzle. Jeff dipped his head, almost a bow, and moved ahead to pick up the trail.
Jensen followed on his heels, reining in his emotions again. He focused on his senses, hearing the woods around them, the alarmed calls from startled animals as they passed through. The scent of trees, fur, recently disturbed soil. In front of them, like a blanket over it all, the scent of Others - outsiders.
They had Jared's scent masked somehow. All Jensen could smell was the interlopers.
And a lot of blood.
The instant he realized it, Jensen gave a low yip. Jeff peered back over his shoulder, still moving forward. He had smelled it too, Jensen could see it in his eyes, the tense lines of his body. Jeff moved slightly to his right, letting Jensen take the lead again.
The body was laying in a small opening amidst trees and underbrush. Aldis, Shorty, Chris and Christian ranged themselves around the edges, standing guard. Oscar watched the trees overhead while Jensen and Jeff investigated the corpse.
Judging by the wounds on his body, he'd been the one who had left so much blood behind at the farmhouse.
But that wasn't what had killed him.
His throat had been torn out right there in the small clearing. Hurt bad and probably unable to keep up, he had been "put down" by the others, a bloody gobbet of flesh on the ground not far from where he lay.
Rage burned through Jensen. Whether Xander himself had killed the man, he was responsible. None of his underlings would have killed a pack member if they feared repercussions. That meant even if the other Alpha had not taken his throat, he had sanctioned it.
What kind of monster could do that to one of his own? He was their Alpha! Sworn to defend and protect his pack, with his life if he had to!
And if he could allow this to happen to one of his own, what lengths would he go to with Jared in his clutches?
Jensen let his rage burn everything else away. No more doubt, not now. He could write a book on his failures later.
He had to get to Jared while there was still enough left of him to save.
v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v
The sun was high overhead and had long since burned the residual mist from even the shadiest areas when Jensen first felt a twinge that something wasn't right.
At first he shook it off, determined to stay focused and keep on the trail, but the feeling nettled at Jensen until he drew it out and focused on it.
There was something different with the scent trail. It was still sharp, clear Other, but there seemed to be "less" of it.
Jensen slid to a stop, already shifting into his human form and bringing the rest of the party to a shocked stand-still.
Christian's wary eyes scoured the forest around them, clearly stressed by the Alpha's sudden change to the vulnerable human form.
"They've split up," Jensen saw nostrils flaring as the rest catalogued the change in scent. He tried to remember how far back he had noticed the change but couldn't be positive. He should have expected something like this.
Should have, but didn't.
Jensen was fairly sure he knew how they had done it too. He moved to unclip the harness from Aldis and adjust the straps as he spoke.
"They had to have used the trees - Jeff, take Shorty and Chris. Go back along the trail and see if you can figure out where they split off. I'll take Christian and Oscar, we'll keep following this trail."
Jensen looked at Aldis, his mind racing as the wolf waited patiently for instructions. Aldis knew what was going through his Alpha's mind.
If Jared needed medical help, the phone might be his only chance of getting it in time. They had no way of knowing which group had Jared. He might even be with a third group they weren't yet aware of.
Jensen shoved that thought away.
"Aldis, you go with Jeff." Jeff and his team quickly shifted into the larger wolf/man hybrid combat form so they could take to the trees if they had to. The ability to run upright on two legs to scent higher in the trees and the more human-like hands that they could use to climb would be invaluable as they searched. Not to mention the sharp claws sprouting from each finger and toe - equally good for gripping tree trunks and eviscerating enemies.
If Jensen shifted from a 6'1" human, his combat form would be somewhere between 9 and 10 feet tall - Jeff and his team ranged in height around him, but they all towered over their Alpha.
Jensen clipped the expanded harness around Aldis' massive chest and over his shoulders as he spoke, "If anyone finds anything and it's safe to, howl. If it isn't..." Jensen broke off. If it wasn't, then what?
He could tell them to go in after Jared if they found him, knowing Xander would probably be there with his men. There wasn't a man on that security team who would not do what Jensen asked of them - even if it meant getting themselves killed facing down a psychotic Alpha.
Would he really be any better than Xander if he asked them to walk into what could be a suicide situation? Jensen wanted, needed, to get Jared back - but could he really ask others to trade their lives for Jared's? Jared would never forgive himself. Whether or not he'd forgive Jensen was debatable.
A huge hand on his shoulder brought Jensen out of his racing thoughts and he looked up into Aldis' brown eyes. The combat form is not well-equipped for human conversation, but you don't always need words to communicate. His lips pulled back in a snarl revealing the deadly teeth housed in that prominent muzzle and a furious growl rumbled deep in his chest, a stark contrast to the gentle hand on his Alpha. The message was clear. Jensen didn't have to ask - they knew what they had to do and they would all do it willingly.
Jared wasn't Wolf, but he was still Pack.
v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-v
A/N 2: I've been asked before about the combat form - it'd look something like this (though this image is property of the owners of the Underworld franchise, so not exactly):
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 5 Chapter 6