Home To Roost - 8. Confronting Victoria

Dean knew he should talk with Victoria about all of this before he decided it was time for them to complete the mating. Kao had left it entirely up to him since it was his biggest struggle to even think about the mating when he still needed to talk to her.

"I am going nowhere, Dean. Take the time you need. Another thing to think of is where you will be living. When I graduate, I'll be moving to Homestead to take up my place as Beta." Kao idly brushed his fingers along Dean's bare chest as they lay in bed that night. Pat and Jon were still out on their date, and neither Dean nor Kao thought they would be back before daybreak.

"I have been thinking about it. The guys have been mondo awesome with giving you a high rank. One you have worked to get, too. I would have to petition Jon to join formally. I would have to quit my job and find one out here so I can contribute to the pack." Dean's mind still balked at some of this. He was still getting used to being Lycan; throwing in Jon and the pack was a bit much.

"You would not need to. You would also be Beta."

"I don't follow," said Dean.

"When taking in a mated or married couple, they come as a pair. Mates should never be of different social standing. The Alpha could mate an omega, the lowest in the pack, and they would instantly be elevated to alpha-mate, the position equal to alpha. I am to be the Beta..."

"Which would make me another Beta in the eyes of pack law." Kao nodded. "So Jon knows all of this and is okay? I mean, he would have to accept advice and sometimes a smack in the back of the head from his best friend."

"How is that different than now?" Kao chuckled at his own question.

"Very true. Come to think of it, Jon has asked me for advice a few times in the last ten years. Maybe he's been toying with the idea of me as Beta for years." Dean wouldn't put it past him.

Jon was known to plan ahead, especially since he had been asked to go to the corporate HQ just before he got caught up in Lycan politics. He had more than enough money squirreled away to live off of comfortably, he made sure his son had connections all over the USA for his chosen career in graphic design, had a few alliances with other packs, and a tentative new one with the Rogue Valley Flock. He was making sure Homestead was prepared for the worst. Who's to say he had not been thinking about Dean as Beta?

"Either way, you'll be heading back to California tomorrow." Kao yawned, tired from the very emotional day.

"Come with me. I know the local alpha enough to let her know your rank and to ask for permission for your visit."

Kao smiled. "I know Alpha Goldie well enough to ask myself, my mate." Kao poked Dean.

"Then you can ask her. I want you to meet Victoria. I want her to meet you. That way she can see why...why I have to break it off with her." It was hard to say it when he still cared about her so much, but he knew Kao was where he would end up, so why make it harder on all of them?

"If it means this much to you, I will gladly come to your home. I would like to meet the woman who captured your heart." Kao had a few misgivings about it, but if Victoria was half the woman Dean claimed her to be, then she would not make a scene.

"Thank you. Now, unless you are planning on sleeping in the other bed..."

Kao grinned at him and snuggled deeper. "Nice try, handsome, but I am only going to sleep apart from you when I must." Dean's kiss in response was all Kao needed to know Dean felt the exact same.

* * *

They stopped briefly at Homestead to pick up Dean's stuff and to drop off the Alpha Pair. As far as Dean knew, Jon and Pat hadn't been to sleep yet, but they seemed more than happy to have spent a night with no worries for the pack. Since Dean could tell they had not been fucking like rabbits, he wondered what they had done on their date.

"How long are you staying in California?" Jon asked Kao.

"A week. Then I have to finish college."

"Cool. I'll send the chopper to pick you up next Sunday afternoon and get you back to BYU." Jon held up his hand to stop any protest.

"Yes, Alpha." Kao said with a bow.

"I'll break you of that title bullshit. Just you wait." Those around the landing pad laughed, knowing Jon had a huge battle with that one.

"Whatever you say, Alpha," said Kao with a grin. It felt so nice to joke, to have a group of friends he could play around with and not have to look over his shoulder for a disapproving glare.

"Get outta here," Jon said with a smile, waving as they lifted off for California.

Once again, they landed briefly atop Goldie's building, where she met them with open arms. "Welcome back, Dean. Beta Kao...I prefer 'you annoying turd' better." Kao laughed and gave her a huge hug.

"This is one story I have to hear," quipped Dean.

"Nothing too major. When the Wind Master and I met to discuss a boundary dispute, Kao was probably ten years old and full of mischief when no one was looking. Caught him on my business computer changing the desktop to a picture of an osprey."

"Ten seconds more, and I could have gotten away with it."

Dean just shook his head.

"You are welcome here for as long as you like, Kao. I was very happy to get the verdict from the council."

Dean sobered a bit. "How many packs know about it?"

"All of them. Not the fact that you two are all but mated, that was kept quiet, but the verdict and transfer to Homestead is common knowledge. That way no one can try to use it against Kao, RVF, or Homestead. Now scoot, I have a business to run. Shall I tell Victoria to head over to your place after work?"

"You have a bit of a sadistic streak," said Dean with a smirk.

She grinned back, her eyes flashing gold, and said, "You have no idea." With that, she spun and was gone.

Dean opened his front door. It seemed like ages since he had done it, but it had only been a few days. "Welcome. You are welcome to anything and everything, no need to ask."

"Good," said Kao as he shut the door and jumped into Dean's arms for a few kisses. "How sound proof are the walls?" He waggled his eye brows suggestively.

"Very, very soundproof. No one will hear you scream." With that, Dean began to tickle Kao. His laughing cries filled the room as Dean mercilessly went for sides, armpits, and the belly.

"Evil! Vile!" Kao couldn't overpower Dean, but he had one trick up his sleeve. He grabbed ahold of Dean's crotch, which made Dean stop. There was no disguising the instant erection Dean got or the dilating pupils that showed he was instantly in the mood for something other than tickling.

"You fight dirty," growled Dean as he nuzzled Kao's neck.

"Always will, my love."

With the tickling done, Dean calmed down enough to not devour his mate on the entryway floor and got up. "Do you want to shower before Victoria gets here? I know I do."

"It would be nice." Kao gasped when Dean scooped him up and took him into the bathroom. The dual shower was more than large enough for the two of them. "To...together?"

"Unless you don't want to." Dean set him down to make his own choice. "I won't pressure you."

"You do realize that I have never done this. Not even in gym class have I showered with another guy."

Dean wondered how he got away with that. "It's your choice, cutie, but I am going to hop in and enjoy a nice long shower." So saying, Dean stripped off his shirt and pants, standing in just his socks and a pair of briefs that showed more than a little tenting going on.

Kao's pulse quickened and his breath caught. Before him was a stunning man wearing very little. One that wanted him badly enough to be unable to control his reaction. One that loved him dearly. One that very obviously wanted more than just holding hands. "God, you look amazing."

Dean looked over his shoulder with a smile as he adjusted the temperature of the shower. "Kao, would you like to join me?" The smaller Lycan nodded. Dean took one large step and began to undress his mate. It was slow, sensual, and everything the younger man had longed for. Soft touches of Dean's fingers sent shivers along his body, and there would be no hiding the fact that Kao wanted Dean to take him right now. Dean kissed along his collar bone, eliciting a gasp from Kao. "Like that?"

"Uh huh."

"Good. For now, my mate," Dean rumbled in his ear, "we play it safe. As much as we both want this." Dean shucked his briefs and socks; both stood nude and very aroused. For the first time in Dean's life he looked upon another man and wanted to feel what it was like. To taste what it was like. Kao inspired the most powerful reaction he had ever had.

Dean was larger in every way than Kao, but neither cared. To Kao, Dean's body was perfection. Muscular without being too big, the light dusting of chest and belly hair so wonderful, a taut and muscular butt. Kao swallowed heavily when he saw how endowed Dean was. "Is...is that normally that big?" he asked tentatively, aroused but a bit scared.

Dean looked down and flushed a bit. "Actually, this is probably the hardest I have ever been." Dean was not overly conceited about his member, it being slightly larger than large. He wasn't as endowed as Jon, he'd seen Jon naked often enough to know, but he never had a lady laugh at his size.

"Really? Is that...because of me?" Kao seemed shocked and somewhat at a loss. Had no one found him attractive before?

Dean nodded. He liked the look of Kao's body. Hairless except for his pubic hair, lean muscled physique, almost feminine waist-to-hip ratio, nicely sculpted legs. Kao's own erection was standing at full attention and looked average, but it looked like it would taste very good. "You are truly the most sexy man I have ever met." Dean pulled him close and kissed him. With nothing acting as a barrier between their skin, both felt the passionate touch of their mate. He stepped under the shower with Kao still in his arms. They were lost in an erotically sensual moment as the hot water rained down upon them, neither wanting to end it. Yet Dean did and pulled back to see Kao's eyes still closed.

"Wow." Kao's word came out like a moan. He took a step back himself. "Dean, you are one helluva kisser. You stay there, I stay here, else I may jump your bones right now." His grin said it was a joke. His eyes said he was serious.

Dean leaned over and gave him another smooch but left it at that.

With the shower done, Dean pulled on a pair of blue mesh basketball shorts and nothing else. He was at home and Victoria would automatically know something was up if he wore more than this without having plans that evening. Kao had opted for a loose fit pair of sleeping pants and a tank top. They didn't have long to wait as Victoria came over right after work.

When she entered, she went up to Dean and gave him a kiss on the cheek. It was then that she spotted Kao. "Hey, handsome, Goldie told me you wanted me to stop by after work. Hi, I'm Victoria," she said as she stuck her hand out to Kao.

"Kao Saechao. Dean has told me quite a bit about you." He could see why he liked her. She was personable, lovely enough to make even a gay man look, and the first impression of her was confident and caring.

"Kao? From Montana?" She looked at Dean who nodded. "How are you? He said you got hurt pretty bad." The concern in her voice was not feigned.

Yup, Kao thought, she's really this amazing. "I've healed up, thanks." Kao felt ugly and horrid next to this lovely woman whose inner self matched her outer self.

"I'm glad to hear that. So, why did you want me to come over?" she asked as she sat on the couch next to Dean.

Dean waited to smell some sort of jealousy from Kao, but all he could smell was Kao feeling inferior. "Victoria...there is no easy way to say any of this. Um..."

"Dean, you're worrying me." She smelled worried too.

"I...Kao and I are dating." His voice sounded like he was telling her he had run over her cat with the lawn mower.

She blinked a bit. "Oh. That's wonderful." The odd thing was she smelled honest. She turned to Kao. "You've got yourself one of the best men I have ever had the privilege to know. You are something special to capture his heart." And all of it was the truth. Neither of them could smell any sort of falsehood from her.

"You're not mad or upset?" Dean asked, more than a bit surprised.

She nodded. "I am upset, I admit. Yet if your heart leads you to Kao, then I need to step aside. It wouldn't be fair to you at all if I blew up. You handled me turning you down with more grace and decorum than many would ever be capable of."

He could smell her scent was filled with sorrow, but she was happy he had found someone else. Someone who was now looking at Dean like he was the moon and not just the one who hung it.

Kao smiled. "I now understand why you needed so much time to decide, Dean. You are truly a wonderful woman, Victoria. Not many people would be so gracious about it."

She smiled at Kao. There was a tinge of sadness to it, but she was honest when she said she was glad for them. "And I have never seen Dean look at me the way he has been looking at you." There was no way she could ever hope to win against such feeling. "I would like to get to know you, Kao."

"And I would like that. I hope that you can remain in Dean's life. He needs those he cares about to look after him when I go back to school."

A quirky grin lit her features. "How old are you?" She had to ask.

Kao grinned. "I'm twenty-four and enrolled as a linguistics major at BYU Idaho." He could see why she had asked.

"Good. I know he can be a bit of a dirty old man," she teased, making Dean roll his eyes. "Yet why would he need someone to look after him? I know he's house broken and can wash himself." She was still teasing him, but she was curious why he would need it.

Dean's face was serious, but he knew this would be the best time to tell her. "You know when I came back from the trip, I wore condoms when we had sex?" She nodded.

"You said it was safer because of the exposure to Kao's blood. I hope I didn't just insult you," she said, fearing she had done just that.

"Not at all. Simple precaution until tests came back." Kao reassured her.

She sighed, looking relieved. "You're right. What about it?" she asked as she turned back to Dean.

He took a deep breath. "It was for your safety. I...did contract something." Her first response was to take his hand, not to pull away or get upset at him.

"Can it be treated?" They both shook their heads. "Oh, Dean. I am so...Kao...Is it potentially lethal?"

"No," Kao reassured her again, "it's not. For all intents and purposes, Dean will be healthy for a very long life. Just...it is contagious." Kao was trying to find a way to calm her fears without telling much.

The relief in her eyes was not feigned. "Oh thank God. May I ask what it is? So I know what help I can give."

Kao just marveled at her. She really was all Dean said she was and more. It was no wonder he had struggled with this. Hell, Kao wanted to get to know this woman and not just for Dean's sake. She was truly a caring person.

"You may not believe me, but it's...um..." Dean was struggling to say it. "It's Lycanthropy."

Victoria was not stupid. She knew the word, what it meant, and what Dean was trying to say. "Are you fucking with me, Dean?" Her eyes narrowed in good humor. They widened when he shook his head, his face never more serious. "Really? Like...real werewolf?"

So Dean told her. Everything. Kao interjected when he felt Dean didn't quite have enough information on it, but he let Dean do most of the talking. He did leave out anything about Jon and Homestead and the Cali Sands Pack. None of that would pertain to this discussion. He used every sense he had to judge her mood. Her heart was faster than normal, her scent wary and unsure. It was a lot to take in.

She sat in silence for a long time before she even moved, and then it was to pull Dean into a fierce hug. "Thank you. For trusting me and telling me what I can only imagine was the worst part of why you asked me here. Both of you." She reached out for Kao's hand, and he took it with a smile. "It will take some getting used to, but with everything else, it explains why your heart settled on Kao. I never knew you to swing that far for the other team." Victoria was shocked, but this was Dean. He was the man she loved, and he had proven that he had her best interests at heart. She needed to know what happened, and she needed to know why he was leaving her.

"Yeah. It has been hell trying to decide. I mean, you know I love you so much, Victoria, and I know Kao can see why." The young man nodded emphatically. "But I didn't know how you would react. If you would even want to stay with me after you found out. If you would consent to be infected so we could be together."

She nodded sadly. "I see. I...honestly could not answer any of those. I hope I haven't reacted too badly."

"Gods no," Kao said, "you have taken it far better than I, we, could ever hope. I left it up to Dean when and if to tell you."

"And when to complete your mating." That was the strangest part of all of this. Victoria knew that Dean was straight. He may look occasionally at another man, but he would never even think of going into a relationship with one. Dean wasn't that type of guy. Yet here he was talking about mating for life. There had to be something mystical about it to change her former hornball womanizing lover.

Dean blushed a bit. "Yeah. That part." All three chuckled. "You wanna grab dinner with us, Victoria? That way you and Kao can get to know each other better."

She grinned. "Sure. If that's okay with you, Kao? I can see why having your mate's ex around may not be kosher."

He waved away any worries. It was very kind of her to ask, although unnecessary. "I don't feel there will be any issues. We'll keep it PG to avoid have any hard feelings." He could understand why she may feel upset, maybe even jealous, of the two of them.

At that, she waved it away. Her grin was both welcoming and a bit evil. "Make out all you want. Always wanted Dean to try it." Kao's grin was just as evil, and the two of them looked at Dean. He just rolled his eyes. "So, where shall we go? My treat." And she would not take no for an answer.

"Taco Bell sounds good," said Kao with a grin. Victoria's face was full of disgust, which made both of the boys laugh.

"How about not, 'k?" Victoria said with a sarcastic smile. "How about Blue Water off of India Street. I know Dean loves sea food. Best Mahi Mahi in the city."

Dean knew Kao would love the place, so he nodded. "Trust me, Kao, best damned sea food from any restaurant. Not quite as good as when we went hunting, but still totally worth it."

"Then I guess I better change into something more formal than pj's." Kao knew when to give in, especially when sea food was involved.

"I'll head home, freshen up, and meet you there. Seven o'clock?" They agreed and Victoria gave Dean a hug. She turned and gave Kao one as well. "You take care of him, Kao, at least while you are here. When you graduate or come to visit, you will find him healthy and waiting." With that, she went out the door.

Kao's smile faltered. "She really is amazing."

"She is, but she is probably going 'ohmigod ohmigod' in the car right now." Kao just shook his head. "And you, Mr. Saechao, will not put yourself down in your head. There is no comparison to Victoria, so stop beating yourself up."

Kao grinned slightly. He had been. "Victoria is stunning, smart, caring...everything you said she was. I still don't know why you chose me over someone so...so...amazing. She was hurt, and a bit mad, but she just thought about your happiness. She loves you so much, yet I marvel that you would give her up...for me."

"Well," Dean said as he pulled Kao into his arms, "she is all that, and I still love her very much, but I can't be with her and wish it was you. It's not fair to either of you."

"Can you be with me and not feel the same?" Kao asked, his face pressed against Dean's fuzzy chest.

"Oh, I asked myself that question many times. Each moment we spent together made the answer easier and easier to find. I just had to make my mind used to accepting it." Dean tilted Kao's chin up and leaned in for a gentle but smoldering kiss. He felt Kao's heart speed up as they explored each other's mouths.

"How? How can you love...me?" Kao asked softly.

Dean took him into the bedroom and sat him on the bed. He began to dress for the evening while he thought. "Really, it comes down to a large part of me needs someone to take care of. There you were, needing help, needing someone to care. I responded to your need without thinking. Giant wolf? Who cares, he needs me. Fucking shitdick for a brother? I don't care, here's my card. I'm now a horror movie monster? I don't care because you need someone beside you while shit hits the fan.

"It has always been about being there for someone else. Even if it was just for a night. So I was there for you. You turned out to be a very smart, caring, honorable, wonderful, sexy-as-hell total hottie." That got a huge smile. "Victoria didn't need me. She wanted me, sure, but she didn't need me. You wanted and needed me." Dean turned and squatted at Kao's feet. "Lycanthropy aside, Kao, I would have stayed in your life because you needed someone. I need you in my life. I need to be needed, and want to be wanted. The fact that we are going to be mated for life is a huge perk." Dean's head dropped to his chest. "I don't know if that made any sense to you."

Kao gently lifted Dean's chin with a smile. "You would have wanted me in your life even if we never had this?" He gestured between the two of them.

"Yeah. I worried about you even before the infection had a chance to take hold. I saw someone so full of life, someone so full of light, get snuffed out as soon as Kai entered the room. I would never leave when it was obvious you were heading into a shitty situation. I fretted, worried, when I saw the card crumpled up. I..."

Kao stopped him with a kiss. "So, you're saying that I am equal to Victoria save for the fact that I needed you and she did not?" Dean nodded. A few tears fell from Kao's eyes. "No one has ever thought of me like you do."

Dean pulled him into his arms. "Homestead seems to like your feathery butt too. Don't forget about them." Kao laughed and wiped away his tears. "Now, my mate, we need to get ready. We have about an hour."