C5 Dylan.

As soon as West freed me, I sobbed in his arms. He spoke to me in hushed tones and promised to buy me a lot of chocolates. He had no idea how to calm me down, but his efforts brought a smile to my face. I didn't think I'd be able to grin at this point, but I guess I could with West. And I was warmed to the core by his attempts.

"I'm fine, West." I said, after collecting myself. His pheromones had sweetened to calm me down, just like I had done to him the other day. I wondered how our bodies were able to do such miraculous things.

"What happened?" He asked.

"That guy, he..." I trailed off.

"It's okay if you don't want to share."

"No, no, I want to. I just don't know how you'll respond." I looked into his blue eyes, afraid I would find disgust, but all I saw was love for me. It gave me the will to continue. "The moment he touched me, it felt wrong, and I thrashed. Shaking my head for no. But he didn't pay me any heed. I resisted until he struck me twice." I pointed to my ass.

Just like the other day, his eyes glowed, and he closed them taking a breath.

"Continue." He said. It was more like a growl.

"After that, he ra... raped me. I feel so dirty." I started sobbing again. He carefully placed me on the bed and made a move to leave. I took his wrist, but he didn't turn to look at me. Ohh noo, now the one person I thought could be my friend, maybe more, loathes me. "You are probably disgusted with me. But can you please stay the night?"

I sucked in a breath as he quickly faced me at my words. It was Westley at the same time; it wasn't. His teeth were elongated and his eyes were glowing gold.

He is a shifter.

But strangely, I wasn't afraid of him.

I don't know if it made me a fool or not.

Anger was radiating from him in powerful waves. And I knew it was directed towards the alpha who fucked me. I climbed onto the bed and was delighted when I ended up a head taller than he was. He sucked in a breath as I kissed him on the cheek and hugged him.

"Thank you for saving me." I said. "But please calm down."

"I want to kill him."

"Then you will go to jail, and who will protect me?" He seethed because he knew I was right. I shivered as his arms came around and he held me as tightly to him as he could. Hiding my face in his scent gland, I drew in a shaky breath. His scent made me grow hard and slick gushed out of me. With shaking fingers, I removed the buttons on his shirt one by one.

"What are you doing?" He gasped, taking hold of my hands.

"I'm freaking cold, old man. You gonna take care of me or what?" West huffed, removing his shirt, and made me wear it.

"You are ridiculous."

"I am." I said, staring into his ocean-blue eyes. "Can I see your wolf form?"

"Aren't you afraid of me?" He looked queasy like the subject made him uncomfortable. I can understand because no one speaks about their shifting nature anymore.

Nearly 43 years ago, the great plague, as non-shifters called it, had happened and some of the non-shifters had acquired the ability to shift as a result of the activation of dormant cells. They've got numerous strengths, agility, and senses. As there were only a quarter of the population who acquired it, the non-shifters resented the shifters and they started hunting them. It took a pact between both clans to stop that. And as a result, shifters lived a secluded life.

"No. Just curious." Smiling, he shook his head and went to remove his pants. "Uhh. Is that necessary?"

He raised his brows. "If I didn't, I would lose my costly pants." I nodded, averting my eyes. I would jump him if I saw him naked. A low howl made me look down, and I nearly lost my footing at how big and large that wolf was. I jumped to the floor. Standing on all fours, he reached up to my waist. His grey with white and black fur felt soft to the touch.

I looked into his golden eyes, the same color West's changed into when he got angry and became lost in it. He lifted his paws and touched my wrist, exactly where my scent gland was.

"My sweet omega," I heard a rough voice say and looked around the room in case someone had lurked inside. But no one was there. Then I focused on the wolf to find him watching me curiously, his head tilted to the side. "So beautiful."

Just then, I realized I heard the voice in my fucking head. Holy shit.

"Did you just say beautiful?" I whispered. The wolf looked almost taken aback.

"You hear me?" It questioned. No, not it. He. That's Westley, but it's not. I couldn't think of the wolf as West, which was ridiculous because they were the same.

"Yes."

He looked at me suspiciously. "Have you spoken with any other wolves before?"

"No." I said, shaking my head.

"Ralph, let me shift back." I heard West's voice say. It's all confusing.

"I want time with Dylan." The wolf said.

"Who is Ralph?" I interrupted.

The wolf looked like I was mad. "I am Ralph."

"You have a name?"

"What? Did you think he called me the wolf?" Ralph asked. Somehow, it felt right to think of him by this name.

"Yes." I said sheepishly. I've heard someone say that the shifters talk to their wolves, but I didn't think that the wolves had their own names.

"You are ridiculous." The wolf showed me all his teeth, and I associated the scary thing with his smile. "I am not a puppy, you know."

"What?"

"You are rubbing me." He pointed toward my hand with his nuzzle. That's when I realized I had been letting my hand travel over his fur endlessly.

"It's soft." My words were cut off by a yawn. I climbed onto the bed and extended my hand toward the wolf. "Come on, let's sleep. I'm tired."

"I think you are the only one who would ask a wolf to join you in bed because you are."

"Ridiculous." I finished for him. "I know, I know. But I just can't be afraid of you." Ralph looked pleased, and I scooted over as he climbed onto the bed. He slept half on top of me, and I didn't mind since he was warm and soft and I loved having the weight because it anchored me to this world.

****

"Ralph, Ralph." I called, patting the bed with my hands frantically, trying to find the wolf. I knew it would be easy if I just opened my eyes, but I was too lazy to do it.

"Ohh, shut up. I just shifted back. If you keep doing that, Ralph will tear me apart to come." West said. I opened my eyes to find a very naked West sitting on the bed, putting his pants on. I stared at the firm buttocks as they shifted and rippled as he moved. I felt a pang of something when he finally dressed. "Stop staring at my ass and get dressed." He threw my clothes at my face, and I scowled.

"Hate you." I muttered. "Ralph was way better than you."

"LET ME OUT." I heard Ralph growl and West grimaced.

"He's fighting you, isn't he?" I asked, laughing.

"Don't joke about this." He sounded as if he was in pain.

"Ralph, you hear me, right?"

"Yes." The wolf's reply echoed in my head.

"Please don't shift now. We have to leave, and it will be difficult in wolf form." West looked at me in relief.

"That bastard is listening to you now. One day and you turned my wolf against me." He muttered.

"You are just jealous."

"Yeah, I am, because you aren't petting me." He said in a sarcastic voice. I showed him my tongue, and he growled. He looked like he wanted to pounce on me and ravage me, but then something shifted behind his eyes and he turned away, breaking our brief moment. I sighed and changed my dress.

Can't he just let it go and be with me? I have never wanted anything more than him. I guess he doesn't want me now that he had me. But his wolf seemed almost happy to be with me. It's all confusing because he looks like he wants me and then he gives me his iconic stepson look. I balled up his shirt in my hand and chucked it at his head. He let out a warning growl but didn't turn my way.