Chapter Text
'We could still change our minds,' John spoke, teeth chattering.
They were walking through the gardens. The sun was setting and all around them the shadows were creeping up. The soles of their shoes crunched the small layer of ice on the garden path.
Sherlock turned to look at the doctor. His eyes were fierce.
'No, John, we cannot.'
John nodded and sniffed. He could feel his fists clench with anxiety.
'Alright. I just- I do not want you to regret this. After-, well after tonight, going back will be nearly impossible.'
He frowned at the taller man, trying to show his concern. His wolf snarled at him for even trying to talk the omega out of it. The animal was pacing the fringes of his mind, abiding it's time.
Sherlock stared at the doctor for a while. His eyes nearly glowed in the light of the setting sun.
There was confusion in his deep frown.
'Would you want to go back?' he asked slowly, meticulously reading John's reaction.
John shook his head violently.
'No, Sherlock! I would not,' he answered reassuringly, 'However, if you would want to-'
He did not get the chance to finish the sentence. Sherlock bowed down and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips. Even that small touch was enough to create a shockwave of sensations for the doctor.
The cold, slightly chapped lips of the younger man lingered for a short moment, before he straightened himself. John suppressed a whimper when Sherlock's touch left him.
It took him a while to find his voice back. He cleared his throat.
'All I want to say is, you are young, Sherlock, there might be others out there. I'm older, and physically speaking not in the best of conditions,' he tightened the grip on his cane, 'You might get tired of me, after a while.'
He did not dare look Sherlock in the eye. These were the words that he had wanted to say since the first time they had kissed. Ofcourse, he had spoken them too late. He had not warned the young man as much as he should have done.
To his surprise, Sherlock chuckled.
He stopped walking and looked up.
'Is it that funny,' he asked, with a hurt tone in his voice.
'No,' Sherlock simply answered, 'It is not.'
John could feel the man staring at him. Biting his lip, he looked at his feet.
'John, I will never get tired of you,' Sherlock said eventually, 'That I swear. And as for age, you need not worry. Statistically speaking, you have at least thirty years ahead of you. You are not that old yet.'
Eventually the two men reached their goal, a greenhouse at the edge of the garden.
Mrs. Hudson had told them about it that afternoon. Ofcourse, she had known what they were up to. The hormones were impossible to miss. Her eyes had sparkled with genuine joy.
Sherlock opened the door and let John enter first. Then he closed and locked the door with the small key the landlady had given him. They had decided it would be better for their wolves to be in there. It was more than likely that the wolves would be highly territorial. Neither of them wanted to harm any innocent tourist, out for a nightly stroll on the moors.
John rubbed his hands together, in an effort to warm them. The greenhouse was bigger than he had expected. All kinds of exotic plants grew around them, some hanging from the ceiling. The scent of moist earth and blooming flowers hung heavy in the air.
It was comparatively warm in the greenhouse. John smiled happily. This would be a good place to turn. Now he would not have to worry about their human forms developing hypothermia when they turned back.
Sherlock was already removing his clothes. He had neatly folded his heavy woollen coat and placed it on a high shelf, so that no wolf could reach it. Now he was working on the laces of his shoes.
John followed the graceful moves with interest. The long fingers showed no sign of hesitation as they removed the shoes and started on the buttons of Sherlock's shirt.
The younger man caught John staring. The wolf was already present in his eyes. He sent John a rather cheeky smile and undid the last buttons more slowly.
As more and more of the ivory skin showed itself, John's wolf started entering his mind. It scratched at him, sending his human side running. The wolf wanted to claim the omega. Though the bite was a good start, it thought as it stared at the bandage, it was not enough.
Hastily, John started taking off his own clothes. His hands were less sure, almost ripping the buttons of his shirt and forcefully throwing away his shoes.
Although some nervousness remained, he was now impatient.
The omega seemed to know that. He, very slowly, removed his jacket and then his open shirt, making sure to fold them each carefully. Then, he moved to his trousers and John thought he would lose his mind. His wolf's mind was filled with desire.
John had already gotten rid of his own trousers. They were now crumpled and completely forgotten about. The alpha had no room left, to think about anything but Sherlock.
'Sherlock,' he growled in a low voice, 'Last chance.'
The young man looked at him with flushed cheeks and a provocative gaze.
'I'm not going anywhere.'
John could not quite remember how it had happened, but suddenly his arms were around Sherlock's body. His hands were on the slender back, that shivered under his touch.
Their kiss was almost violent. Sherlock's teeth were scraping John's lips, at one point even biting them. The taste of blood was in the alpha's mouth, only sending him deeper into the frenzy.
There was a deep growl in the back of his throat, the sound vibrating through his whole body.
With a heavy thump, they descended to the floor.
John moved closer to the omega. He forced the man under him, pinning him with his arms and knees. There was no way for the omega to get away.
Sherlock shivered, but not from fear. He bared his neck, taking care to show the bandage that covered John's bite mark. This pleased John's wolf tremendously. He placed careful kisses around the wound. The heat of Sherlock's skin made his lips tingle.
A warmth was settling in his loin. It grew every time the omega whimpered and moaned.
John's eyes wandered to Sherlock's pants. The small piece of black fabric seemed offensive. He wanted to see all of Sherlock. With a snarl, he removed the last piece of clothing.
Sherlock gasped. The shock, however, did not last for long.
With a playful growl, he placed his arms around John's hips. His fingers slowly travelled to the front of the alpha's briefs. John's breath hitched as the warm hands of his companion, found his growing erection.
Sherlock tentatively made his way up the length of the alpha's member.
This was his alpha. All of him. He gasped at the thought what the alpha would do to him.
John had moved closer to his omega again. He nudged his face in Sherlock's neck, where his scent was the strongest and placed kisses on all the skin he could reach.
He felt Sherlock hands travelling to his back again, slowly crawling up his spine.
He pressed himself against the omega, grinding their loins together. Sherlock was already fully erect. The omega had opened his legs and tilted his hips.
John moved down Sherlock's body, placing kisses all along the way.
He shivered as he placed his hand around the omega's erection. His wolf growled.
This was all for him. All because of him.
Sherlock moaned as John moved his hand up and down carefully.
It did not take long for the omega to come. He trembled underneath John as his hips moved involuntarily. John smiled and placed kisses on the hipbones.
'You are beautiful,' John spoke in a raspy voice.
Sherlock blinked. A flustered look appeared on his face.
John took a few moments to just stare at the omega underneath him. His arms lay sprawled on the ground, his chest still heaving with bliss. The omega's eyes were dark with want. This, John decided, was one of Sherlock's best looks.
Since the omega did not seem able to move, John got up to quickly get rid of his briefs. His wolf was crawling under his skin, making his hairs stand up and sending ripples through his nerves. Sherlock's scent hung heavy in the air.
John looked down with a predatory gaze. This man would be his prey tonight.
Sherlock looked up at him, lips parted and a dark blush on his cheeks.
Claim him! John's wolf roared in his mind. With the moon this close to rising, the doctor was unable to ignore the command the animal gave him.
He kneeled down again, forcing his knees between Sherlock's legs.
The omega whimpered softly and moved in to his touch.
John growled possessively. He grabbed the omega around the waist and pulled him closer.
Sherlock's body was so hot, he could almost feel his fingers melting into the skin.
He moved in closer, placing kisses on the skinny belly, feeling his way around the scarred back.
Meanwhile, Sherlock keened softly. His lower body ground against John, seeking warmth and relief.
It was then, that the first moonlight hit the glass roof of the greenhouse.
John could feel it burning on his back. Beneath him Sherlock trembled.
He embraced the omega and pulled him closer, remembering how much the young man had suffered during his previous turning. Clenching his jaws, he tried to ignore the tearing of his own muscles.
Sherlock's nails dug deep into John's back, as the bones in his body broke and grew into different forms. Instinctively, John bowed down, nudging his nose in the crevasse of the omega's neck.
His own screams and growls were muffled by the warm skin of his companion.
John had never turned this close to another being. Especially not someone he was in love with. He found that the pain was more manageable when he breathed in Sherlock's scent. He held on tight as his own back started to break.
Their embrace ended, as their hands turned to paws. They each rolled on their side, away from each other, panting and keening with pain.
Slowly, John got up. He took a few careful steps. His paws were still trembling, but they would hold his weight up. When he was certain of his stability, he shook his head and back, getting rid of the last tremors and shivers. He snorted at the end of the shake and sniffed the air.
Sherlock's scent was all around him. It was so thick, that it was almost visible.
His head quickly snapped to the left, when he heard a small howl.
The omega was still lying on its side, chest heaving. The alpha frowned deeply: his omega was in pain.
That realisation, drowned out all other thoughts.
Cautiously he moved closer to the black wolf. As he moved in to eyeshot, he made himself smaller and wagged his tail in a friendly manner. Two pale blue eyes blinked at him warily.
The alpha got closer, softly nudging the black fur with his nose. A low snarl was his answer.
He took a few steps back, giving the omega some space to find his bearings.
After a few moments, the omega got up. At first he seemed uncertain of his movements. It was very much the same as last time, the alpha noted. The omega had not been out for quite a while and needed to get used to its own body again.
When the omega seemed confident enough, the alpha got closer again.
This time, he was welcomed with a friendly nudge. He yapped happily and put his nose deep into the omega's fur. The scent was comforting and filled him up completely.
The black wolf moved closer to him, nudging his nose in the alpha's neck, almost pushing against him. John's human memories flooded back to his wolf brain and he knew what had to happen.
Claim the omega. Make him ours forever.
The black wolf caught on to the thought. He pushed further against the alpha, daring him to push back. John whined and nibbled softly on one of Sherlock's black ears. Then he pushed back, again nudging his snout deep into the omega's fur.
Although he was the alpha, this was where the omega would be the dominant one. The omega would set the pace. John bowed down, baring his neck to show his submission to the omega.
As an answer, he got a lick on his nose and a nibble on the ears.
The omega moved around him, lifting its tail ever so slightly, releasing all kinds of scents and hormones into the air. Then, with a mischievous growl, he ran away to the other side of the greenhouse.
The alpha whined, begging the omega to come back. When that did not happen, he followed.
He chased the omega down and embraced him with his paws. His reward was the nudge of the snout and then the omega escaped again.
This pursuit lasted until the omega was tired. The black wolf sat down panting, paws trembling.
John orbited around him, burying the omega in wolf kisses and soft nudges.
He wagged his tail in Sherlock's face, showing his affection and desire.
The omega lifted its hind legs and gave the alpha access to the scent glands underneath its tail.
One sniff was enough to know the omega was ready for mating.
Carefully, John mounted the omega.
There was some resistance at first, but then he entered.
The omega whined, but moved into the alpha's body.
More hormones were released. The air was so heavy with them, it was enough to make them both high. The alpha started moving, a knot already growing, binding the wolves together.
Once they both released and the knot had shrunken enough to free them, the wolves fell down to the ground. The omega was panting and shivering, exhausted by the activity.
The alpha whined and moved closer. He groomed the omega's fur, kissed his snout and nibbled his ears in an effort to sooth him.
The human was slowly returning to his brain. He wanted Sherlock to feel safe.
He cuddled up his body against the omega, putting is head on his companions back.
Underneath him, Sherlock slowly stopped shivering. His heartbeat slowed down, syncing with that of the alpha. With a heavy sigh, the omega closed its eyes.
The alpha was prepared to stand guard for the rest of the night. He wanted every entity in the world to know, that this was his omega. No one would touch his omega, or harm him and escape with his life. Still high on hormones, it was not difficult for the large wolf to stay awake.
It was not until the moon started setting, that his eyes got heavy.
When at last, he was too tired to stay awake, he nudged his nose deep in to the omega's fur and closed his eyes. The omega's heartbeat, counted him to sleep.
John woke up with a shock. In his dreams, the wolf had told him everything that had happened.
The reality of it, hit him the moment he opened his eyes.
Sherlock was snuggled up to him, his dark curls matted and untidy. Traces of pain from the turning were still visible in his face, but he seemed peaceful now. John caressed one of the pale cheeks and blinked. They had mated.
He nearly choked at the thought. They had actually done it.
As he sniffed, the hormones were still traceable in the air. A warm sense of bliss, slowly found its way to his stomach. All of a sudden he was so happy, he felt he could cry. With a smile, he placed a kiss on Sherlock's brow.
That movement, woke the younger man up. He frowned, blinking a few times before he fully opened his eyes. When he met John's gaze, a smile formed on his lips.
'Morning, beautiful,' John said jokingly.
'Good morning,' Sherlock answered with a croaky voice.
He sniffed and created some space between their bodies.
'How are you feeling?,' John asked, as he stretched his arms and upper body.
Sherlock rolled his neck and shoulders with a look of sheer pleasure on his face. He gasped when he got to stretching his lower body. Small wrinkles of pain spread across his face.
'Could be worse,' Sherlock eventually answered.
His hands were on his backside, inspecting the damage that had been done there.
'Does it hurt?' John asked with a guilty tone in his voice, 'Do you want me to take a look.'
Sherlock shook his head. He moved to a sitting position.
'It will be alright,' he said with a small smile, 'Just a bit sore.'
They both looked embarrassed at the thought of what had happened that night.
John cleared his throat and got up.
'I don't know about you, but I would really like a shower and a hot cup of tea.'
He walked over the Sherlock and helped him up. The young man was still a bit shaky.
When they were both fully clothed again, they stepped outside.
The cold hit them both like a brick wall. The garden was covered in a small layer of snow and ice.
Above them, the sky was a piercing blue. The only sound was that of their shoes in the snow.
John smiled as one of Sherlock's hands closed around his smaller one.
They walked to the mansion in silence. There was no need to talk. No words could effectively describe how they were feeling. Besides, John knew Sherlock would not know how to respond to such a conversational topic. He squeezed the younger man's hand and saw him smile.
That was more than enough for him.
When they entered the mansion, Mrs. Hudson was boiling water.
She had a very bright smile on her lips and a knowing twinkle in her eye.
'Oh, look at the two of you!,' she exclaimed, 'Reminds me of my honeymoon.'
To John's relief, that was all the landlady said about the situation. She took their coats and handed them both a plate full of bacon and eggs, then she made herself sparse. Disappearing to a different room to clean up or call one of her friends.
'How's the mindreading going,' John remarked jokingly. Sherlock had been staring at him for fifteen minutes, without uttering a word. There was a concentrated frown on his face.
The young man blinked with a startle.
'Mindreading?' he asked, with a nonchalant tone, 'I do not know what you mean.'.
The look on his face, however, told John all he needed to know.
'You know, you could just ask me what I am thinking,' he said with a smile.
Sherlock did not answer immediately.
'What are you thinking.'
John sighed happily. He looked Sherlock in the eyes. There was confusion and concentration in them.
'I am thinking, that I have a wonderful mate. And that I am very happy about that.'
A flustered smile reached Sherlock's face.
'What are you thinking, Sherlock?'
'I- There seems to be a large number of happy, even joyful thoughts in my mind,' he said slowly, 'Which I think is to blame on the post-coital euphoria usually experienced after a first mating.'
The man cleared his throat.
'I am happy, John,' he said a few moments later, to clarify his answer.
John carefully grabbed one of the pale hands and planted a kiss on it.
'Good,' he said, with a bright smile, 'Then we are on the same page.'
There was silence as both men got lost in their own thoughts.
The rest of the day John felt like he was walking on clouds. He knew his mind and body were still recovering from the mating and making changes. From now on, he would no longer be a solitary creature. Sherlock would be his first and foremost concern and thought. As John had lived most of his life heavily suppressed with hormonal concoctions, he had no idea how his alpha would react to this new situation.
It was a good thing they lived so remote in the mansion. There was no one to challenge him, or to hurt Sherlock in any way. The thought of someone harming Sherlock, made him physically sick.
Sherlock was going through his own changes. He was always in either eye- or earshot, never dwelling for from the doctor. Every now and then he would touch John, or kiss him, leaving a trace of his scent. Showing to the whole world, that John was his.
Mrs. Hudson tried to keep out of their ways mostly. And when they met her in one of the corridors, she smiled a knowing smile and winked. It made John blush every single time.
That afternoon, whilst snuggled up one of the couches, Sherlock got a call from his brother.
John grimaced when he heard the voice on the other side of the phone. He knew that this could ruin the mood for the rest of the day.
'What is it that you want, Mycroft,' Sherlock asked warily.
'Want, dear brother? I am afraid you misunderstood the reason for my calling. The only thing I wish to do, is to congratulate you.'
'Congratulate me on what.'
'Well, that seems clear to me. The full moon has passed, which means that both the dear doctor and you have turned. I wish to congratulate you on forming the bond, brother.'
Sherlock got up from the couch. John could see he was getting angry.
'How could you possibly know that,' he hissed in a low voice.
'Oh, please. Don't hold me for a fool, Sherlock. I anticipated a mating ever since I appointed your doctor. You know that. You even screamed it at me, when we last spoke. Remember?,' there was a short silence on Mycroft's side, 'Now, the rest is simple deduction. As you were quite upset when you called me, I knew that the doctor and you had already- fallen in love. Since your human side is usually better at controlling himself, than your wolf side, I knew what would happen during the full moon.'
'So, considering that, I would like to be the first one to congratulate you.'
Sherlock blinked angrily, a snarl escaped his lips.
'I do not hope I called at an unfortunate time,' Mycroft said. John could hear the raising of eyebrows even from his side of the couch.
'Since it is you, Mycroft, the timing of the call is always unfortunate,' riposted Sherlock with a growl.
'Now, now, no need to get insulting. I have some information that you might find interesting. You'll see this phone call is more about your wants, than it is about mine.'
Sherlock suddenly stood up straighter. He raised his eyebrows and John could see an almost excited look in his pale eyes.
'What kind of information.'
'The only kind you care about, Sherlock. Murder.'
'There are murders all the time, Mycroft, why should I care about this particular one.'
'And here I thought you would let no chance pass, to prove your skills to the unwilling public,' Mycroft mocked his brother with sugar coated voice, 'These murders are different. The Scotland Yard has been unable to solve them thus far.'
'That is no news,' remarked the younger Holmes with a scoff.
'It is not,' agreed Mycroft, 'I will mail the information to you. If you do decide to take the case, I will send someone to collect you and take you back to London.'
Sherlock blinked in surprise.
'To London?' he asked slowly.
'Yes, to London. It was time you came back, brother, high time.'
After that, the conversation ended.
John stared at the omega with an asking look in his eyes.
'Are we going back to London?' he asked.
Sherlock was still staring at his phone, probably scrolling through the email his brother had sent him.
It was only after a few moments, that he realized John had asked him something.
John repeated the question and waited.
'Yes, we shall go to London,' answered Sherlock, an excited gaze in his eyes.
He looked down at his dressing gown and bare feet. Then up at John in his pyjamas.
'We must pack,' he said, 'I do not think we will return to this place.'
John frowned. Then he sighed and slowly got up.
'Hurry, John!,' Sherlock exclaimed. The young man was already through the door.
'Yes, yes,' mumbled John as he followed at a slower pace.
Further down the corridor he could hear Sherlock calling to him impatiently.
'The game is on, John! The game is on!'