The comfortable silence between Castiel and Dean was almost tangible as they walked, hand in hand, along the darkening streets back to Castiel's home. Castiel still couldn't believe he had actually done something like this. What was he expecting to do when he finally got Dean to his home, in his bed?

They were mates, Castiel could feel that heavy tug, that pull that brought him to Dean, brought him home. But would Dean freak out? He may have touched his tentacles before, but after seeing them, seeing him in all his glory. Would Dean be disgusted? Would he run?

No one had ever seen an octopus shifter for decades, Castiel wasn't even sure he was...normal looking. He had nothing but those lazy written books about rare marine shifters. The ones that barely said anything about octopuses. And those old nature documentaries didn't help either. They all focused on mermaids and other fishes. Not even Castiel's parents were able to help him. And his brothers were unhelpful. Sure Gabriel tried, but he didn't have tentacles. None of them did . They were all pretty, and slim, and beautiful, with amazing colours that rivaled rainbows, and thick tails, pretty webbed fingers, and those gills.

Oh, if only Castiel was something normal.

But no, he had eight annoying, bulbous - why was the air still so moist and muggy that his tentacles were expanding - and just overall displeasing tentacles. The suckers were huge and pinking, and Castiel wanted nothing more than to be rid of his clothing and just bask in the moist air.

It did not help him one bit that his mate was with him. He was finding it difficult not to just throw Dean down onto any available flat surface and just present himself.

Damn it. What was wrong with him?

He knew, it was all Gabriel's and Dean's pack mates fault. They had left the idea of getting more physical and taking what he wanted from Dean. He had just wanted to talk to the wolf. To sort out his feelings, and hopefully get over his mate.

His thoughts ran to earlier that day.

His back ached as he was thrown against the brick wall. He fell with a thump onto the concrete, his tied tentacles protecting him from any pain. He looked up to see the bearded bastard who had thrown him here.

"What do you want Crowley?" He asked, gasping at the pain. He stood up, not wanting to show the hound-shifter his weakness.

"You're a menace," He said in his British accent, speaking through his thick-shifted teeth. "I'm only getting rid of the weak."

Castiel huddled in the corner as Crowley came closer. He was just too tired of everything that had been happening to him that week alone. The constant jibes, the hate. The fact that his mate was in love with another person . And what had he done to cope with that? He had inked in front of Dean, showing his intent.

His life was spiralling, everything was going wrong. He was abnormal, he was a freak, how could he even think...

A large body slammed into Crowley, sending the hound barreling to the side. In Crowley's place stood an angry bear-shifter, his arms wide and his teeth sharp as he roared to the hound. "Stay away from him,"

Castiel stood up suddenly, his back scaling the wall. His tentacles quivered, wanting to wrap around him, to keep him safe from the new attack. A hound was one thing, but a bear? Castiel didn't want to know how hard those hands could throw him around. But the bear turned, and smiled. And suddenly he didn't seem as scary as he did before. Quickly, a red headed fox shifter and an Asian rabbit-shifter rushed over to his side, helping him.

"Castiel, are you alright?" the redhead asked. How did this pretty fox know his name?

Castiel looked up to see a crowd forming, ready and waiting for the fight that was most definitely going to go down. They had their phones and camera's up, taking pictures and videos of the bear versus the hound. Regardless of Crowley being a hound, he was popular, he had an entire army of drones behind him, answering to his whim and following his kingship. The fact that this bear shifter even tried to fight him was monumentally worth staying late in school for.

Crowley suddenly got up, brushing off his suit, he growled low as he stood in front of the bear. But the bear was ready, when the hound attacked, the bear spun around, using his attack, and slammed him against the brick wall.

"Now listen here, mutt." He growled low in his throat, pushing Crowley back onto the brick. "This here, is Dean Winchester's mate, and that makes him part of the Winchester pack,"

Castiel could see the effect this was having on the hound. The Winchester pack was something entirely different, something based on care, love, loyalty and friendship. Not on fear and force. Dean Winchester was the alpha of the pack, and the loyalty that he had from his pack mates was something every single shifter wanted.

Everyone wanted a family. And the fact that Dean Winchester did not only take wolf-cubs and canines, but all walks of life was life-altering. Everyone wanted to be a part of his pack, and Dean would have welcomed every single one of them, Castiel knew this.

"You've gone and threatened a vital person in the Winchester pack, the alpha's mate," The bear continued. Crowley was grasping at his large hand, trying to suck in air. His eyes were wide and frantic. "Now, you know what that means,"

Castiel pushed the fox from him, and leaned forward to the bear.

"Do not hurt him, please," The bear stopped, turning his gaze to the octopus. "He is not worth your expulsion,"

The bear's scent stung Castiel, overwhelming him with the scent of forest and honey. He was...happy? No, he was content and proud. But why? Castiel wasn't sure.

"Stay away from Castiel," The bear said, slamming Crowley onto the wall before letting him go. Crowley scrabbled to his feet and growled low before running away.

The bear watched him leave, before turning to Castiel. His scary face turned light, and he looked more like a teddy bear than a grizzly. "That mutt didn't hurt you, did he?"

Castiel nodded, scenting no threat from the bear shifter, not anymore. "I'm fine."

"That bastard Crowley won't be bothering you again." The rabbit shifter said, giving Castiel a once over. He leaned in and scented at Castiel's arm. Castiel wanted to lean back, to huddle in his tentacles, but he had seen these three do this with Dean constantly, so he wasn't afraid.

They were scenting him.

Once the rabbit shifter leaned back, Castiel turned to the bear. "Thank you. But...why?"

"You're pack." The redhead said, smiling brightly. "And we stick together."

He was pack?

"You hungry?" The pretty fox asked, she didn't let Castiel answer, and took his arm, dragging him along to the entrance of the school. Castiel wasn't sure what was happening, but anything was better than staying in school, with Crowley and his minions. The other two followed the redhead and they walked down the street, opposite to the way Castiel usually went. They were going into town.

"Oh," the fox stopped, making the other three stop as well. She turned to Castiel and held her hand out for him to shake. "I'm Charlie Bradbury," she introduced, before pointing to the bear and the rabbit. "And this is Benny Lafitte and Kevin Tran."

Castiel hesitantly took her hand, shaking it. "Castiel Novak."

Soon, and Castiel really didn't understand how, he was sitting in a diner booth, sipping on a milkshake. Dean's pack were surrounding him, scenting him and keep him calm and safe. And Castiel did indeed feel calm and safe. Charlie was sitting next to him smelling like a parchment and metal, and Benny and Kevin were sitting opposite him throwing off waves and waves of care and comfort.

Charlie snacked on the basket of fries in the middle of the table. She turned to Castiel, her eyes narrowing. Castiel suddenly felt a little frightened under that gaze. He didn't know what to expect.

"So how do you plan to get Dean?" she said.

Castiel choked on the milkshake. "What...what do you mean?"

Benny leaned in, scenting Castiel a little, and smirking. "Like honey, even when we say his name, eh?"

Castiel was confused. This was weird, right? Was this what friends, what pack mates did? He didn't know, and he was boxed in with nowhere to go now. He darted his gaze to the large bay window he was pressed up against.

"Don't be frightened little octopus," Benny's voice was soothing as he spoke. "You're out alpha's mate, we won't harm you."

"We're just curious." Charlie piped in.

Castiel sucked a breath. He didn't feel like he was in any danger, and these three shifters really did seem nice. Charlie was bubbly and happy, her smile was like sunshine. And Benny was a gentle force, making Castiel feel warm. Kevin seemed distant, but Castiel could see his bunny ears perking up and listening to everything.

But Castiel was confused. Dean was in love with Cassie Robinson. Did they get the wrong Cas? No, that wasn't possible. Cassie was popular, everyone knew her. And he was...well, he was an octopus shifter who sat in the back of the class and hid himself away from the world.

"Why don't you just kidnap him," Kevin said suddenly, not really paying attention to the three. They all turned to him, wide eyed. "You've both shown your intentions, so get together and talk about it."

And...well, that didn't seem like a bad idea.

If he were able to just tell Dean his feelings, maybe they could work everything out. And when Dean told him he wasn't interested, maybe that would be the stepping stone for Castiel to get over his mate.

His mate!

Oh...that thought ached in his chest. But he knew it would happen, he knew Dean would say no to him, he would be rejected by his mate. It was better to get it done now, take off the bandaid in one fell swoop. There was no need to wait anymore.

The rabbit was right. And that was how Castiel found himself following the wolf down the long street, taking in that glorious scent that came off him. He just wanted to talk to Dean, just to tell him how he felt and get everything over and done with. He would spend the weekend wallowing in his tentacles, heartbroken and disheartened when Dean rejected him. But come Monday, he'd be a little better, he'd face the day head on. And hopefully, one day, in the distance, he'd finally get over the wolf that would never be his.

But...he pulled his hood off from his head and drew the drawstrings from it, holding the rope in his hands. It was like his body was moving of its own accord, not listening to reason. His tentacles slid quietly along the ground, his shoes barely making a sound. He got closer to the unsuspecting wolf, threw the hood over his head, and swung his bag from over his shoulder and into Dean's head.

But he hadn't expected this...

He hadn't expected Dean's beautiful smile, the sun shining in his eyes and his alpha stance. Everything about this man was inviting, from his face to his scent. And Castiel couldn't help but listen, to follow and to want to be with him. His tentacles quivered as they turned into his street

Dean was coming to his home.