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ldysmfrst · 8 months ago

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American Mate (10) - A Date in the Right Direction

Paring: Hybrid!BTS Ot7 x Plus-sized Human FemReader

Status: Ongoing series

Chapter number: 10 of unknown

Word count for Chapter: 13,065

Work count for Story: 69,332

Genre: Hybrid Playmate Au inspired by works created by @yoongiofmine

A little about the author: I am a mother of two beautiful children, one of whom has special needs, and the other loves everyone. I am currently not working because of a broken foot. I started a Patreon, and I would be grateful if you donated to help me make ends meet while I am out of work.

Warnings: (I am not good at this, but I will try. Let me know if I missed anything!!) NOT BETA READ!! This story will have a bit of angst, fluff, smut, f/m, m/m, and m/f/m. This chapter does have mentions of lost pregnancy, pack dynamics, comfort, Alpha/Luna vibes, and close proximity, but mainly, it is just Fluff.

BTS HYBRID ANIMAL TYPES: Seokjin - Roan Ferret, Yoongi - Black Jaguar, Hoseok - Marten, Namjoon - Alaskan Timber Wolf, Jimin - Red Panda, Taehyung - White Southwest African Tiger, Jungkook - Flemish Giant Rabbit

AMERICAN MATE MASTER LIST / LDYSMFRST MASTER LIST

The next morning, you completely departed from your usual routine. You had meticulously set your alarm for 7:30 a.m., anticipating that a quick shower would suffice before your medical appointment. But fate had other plans in store for you.

Shuffling, giggling, and the hushed “Quiet Kookie” woke you. Wait… is that water running? What time… what?

Stretching as you blink your eyes, you end up face to face with Jungkook, “Ah! Jungkook! What are you doing?”

“Good morning, my sweets,” the bunny smiled brightly with his big eyes. No care in the world that he just woke you with a scared startle.

Still hearing movement, you take a look around. Jungkook is kneeling on the bed but not inside your fort. Yoongi has popped his head out of your bathroom, and Seokjin stands at the entry door with a tray.

“Good morning, Jungkook, Seokjin, Yoongi. What time is it?’ rubbing your eyes and stretching again. Man, that was your deepest sleep in a long time.

Each Alpha wants to coo at your cute little stretches, which are maddeningly hidden by Taehyung’s blanket.

Seokjin is the first to snap out of watching you, “It’s almost 7 a.m., dear. I have a light breakfast, and Yoongi is drawing a bath for you. We want to make sure you're comfortable and ready for your day.”

Looking at Seokjin with a bit of a question furrowing your brow. Yoongi retreats into the bathroom now that he sees you are not upset at the intrusion.

“Sweets, we heard your doctor’s appointment was this morning. I hate doctor’s appointments, and we thought it might be uncomfortable for you, too,” Jungkook says while he giggles at your expression.

“Thank you, Alphas. I was going to try a shower today, but a bath sounds good,” you say. A smile blooms on your face at the knowledge that the Alphas are trying to make your day good; it’s kind of cute.

“Princess, the bath is ready. I used the Cassia and Cherry scented bath bomb for you today. I set a towel to the side for you like last time. When you are done, please call for any of us to help dry your hair, okay?” asks Yoongi as he heads toward the door.

“Sure thing, Yoongi. Thank you again.” With another smile, Yoongi looks pointedly at the youngest packmate before leaving to get ready, presumably.

“Jin, is breakfast something that will get cold, or can I eat it after the bath?” you ask. Meanwhile, you note that Jungkook has scooted closer to you but still not close enough to touch you or your fort.

“It’s a simple breakfast: just some fruits and a bagel with cream cheese,” his eyes widened. He looked at the tray and then back at you. “You do like fruit, bagels, and cream cheese, right?”

Giggling, you kick out of the blankets and start scooting toward him. “Who doesn’t like those? They would be crazy not to like those!” You look at the array of foods on the tray, “Thank you, Jin. It looks good. Oh, you got mangos, my favorite!”

You happily take a large bite of the slice and close your eyes to enjoy the burst of flavor. Seokjin watches you eat intensely, and Jungkook approaches your side.

Opening your eyes, you look back at the bunny, asking, “Can you have mangos?” At his nodding, you offer him to take the rest of the mango in your hand. Leaning forward, Jungkook eats the mango from your hand. His lips barely touch your fingertips, temporarily short-circuiting you.

You immediately drop your hand and look back at Seokjin, only to notice he is watching Jungkook eat. You feel like you are getting too warm over witnessing something as mundane as eating fruit, but then you remember the look Seokjin gave you when he fed you that first dinner. Looking between the two, it feels more like it should be between mates only.

“Umm... I am gonna go take that bath now,” you say softly. Bolting into the walk-in closet, you look for something comfortable and yours to wear today. You pull out a pair of leggings, a sports bra, a crisscross tank, and a non-thousand-dollar sweater.

When you leave the closet, you notice that the tray has been left at the end of the bed, and the two remaining Alphas have left the room.

Softly, you bang your head on the door frame and mumble, “Good job, y/n. Way to keep professionalism.”

Your mind didn’t focus on any one thing as you dried off and dressed. That seems to be your mode right now. Your mind is like a laptop with 20 tabs open, and you cannot figure out where the music is coming from or what language it is even in. Walking out of the bathroom, you towel off your hair and head to the door to ask Yoongi for help, as instructed.

At the sound of your name being called from inside the bedroom, you jump and spin around to see Seokjin sitting down with a brush and cordless hair dryer.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, but it sounded like you were almost done with your bath. I wanted to help you with your hair,” Seokjin says, holding up the tools as if to help prove that he was being honest. “That and I wanted to talk to you while you ate.”

“It’s okay, Jin. I had joked with Yoongi earlier about getting him and Taehyung a bell, but now I think it’s not them being sneaky,” you say, shaking your head and making your way to sit on the bed in front of the eldest Alphas.

You smile as you relish the feeling of someone else brushing your hair. Reaching out with your good hand, you pull the food tray closer and start munching. The mango, strawberries, and grapes are so fresh. The bagel and cream cheese also tasted like they were made this morning.

Behind you, Seokjin noticed how tangled your hair was still. This prompted him to go into the bathroom and get some leave-in conditioner. As Yoongi did after Namjoon’s failed proposal of your so-to-be new position, Seokjin gently brushes your hair.

When he goes to blow dry your hair, you turn around, stopping him from continuing, and ask, “Jin, umm… I wasn’t able to wash my hair as well as I would like to have. Can someone take me to a salon to wash it?”

“You could have asked one of us to help, dear,” Seokjin says, quickly adding. “Like to wash it over the sink or something.”

“I didn’t think of that. Not used to having people willing to help me,” you respond, looking down shyly, knowing that you had, in fact, thought of that but didn’t want to overstep.

Putting a finger under your chin, Seokjin tilts your head back to look at him. “I understand. It will take time to depend on the seven of us, but we are all here for you. I will see what I can do about getting your hair done. For now, what would you like me to do, dear?”

Thinking about a temporary style that wouldn’t look like trash, you say, “I would normally braid it, but that won’t work. Mabe a bun?”

“I can do a bun or see if Tae is still here. He has sisters, so I am sure he knows how to braid,” he offers.

“A bun is fine. We don’t have much time, and you said you wanted to talk to me,” you say, turning around and resuming your munching.

“I did… wanna talk to you.” Finishing up the bun, he puts the brushes in your bathroom and asks, “Namjoon talked to you about the outings that the pack wants to do with you, right?”

��Oh yes, it was Jimin who told me at my flat. I think it is nice of the pack to want to do that. I thought this would be more of a group activity kind of pack since you are all bonded. It shows you cannot make assumptions,” you giggle, happy but nervous about spending alone time with each of them.

“Right, I may love my mates together, but sometimes you just need some alone or one-on-one time,” smiles Seokjin with a shake of his head and rolled eyes.

Sitting on the other side of the food tray, he can see that you have avoided all the different melons on the plate. With a curious look, he asks, “You don’t like melons?”

“Not really. I mean, I will eat watermelon and cantaloupe if that is the only fruit, but I am not much of a honeydew fan,” you answer while scrunching your face in distaste at the idea of eating the permanently green, underripe-looking fruit.

Seeing his shoulders drop at your response, You take a grape, eat it, and smile, “It was a great breakfast for not knowing me that well, Alpha.”

Smiling softly, he notes that he will tell the rest of the pack to avoid melons at all costs and stock up on strawberries, grapes, and mangoes.

“So, the umm… outings. It will be interesting to fit them into your guys’ schedules soon. This first week is practically shot since it’s almost over, and the contract hasn’t even been finalized yet. Will they start next week if all goes well?” you ask, hoping to get back to his main topic.

“Actually, that is what I wanted to talk to you about,” Seokjin gently takes your hands in his. “Y/n, I know the contract isn’t finished, but it really doesn’t matter. It’s more like a formality than anything at this point.”

You think of how everything has not followed standard operational procedures. You can hear Derek yelling at you about legalities. You nod slowly in hesitant agreement, waiting for him to continue.

“With that being said, Miss Y/n,” Seokjin looks into your eyes, allowing his confidence and childlike anticipation to show. “Would you do me the honor of joining me tonight?”

You automatically feel your face burst into a blush at his question. For some reason, you thought they would just tell you who would take you and where. But no. Kim Seokjin, the talented singer of the world-famous K-pop group, is asking you to join him… tonight. The contract is not set; you haven’t passed anything yet, and he is still asking.

After letting the slight shock and embarrassment of being asked out by the eldest Bangtan packmate, knowing that the pack had already planned and agreed upon this, you smile, “Tonight sounds great, Jin.”

Why does it feel like you just agreed to go on a date with the eldest member of the Bangtan pack?

The doctor took you into your room and performed the physical exam, wanting to get that out of the way as quickly as possible. Given its vulnerability, something about it makes the Alphas feel uneasy. Now, you are all sitting in the dining room, an alpha on each side, with the focus laser-focused on Dr. Blackwell, who seems not to be affected at all.

“Miss Y/n, these questions are personal in nature, and you can deny the presence of the Alphas at your side. They would be required to leave the packhouse and be out of earshot so you can answer comfortably. Do you want them to stay or leave?” the Doctor asks.

Feeling the hybrids at your side shift at the notion of having to leave you, you answer, “They can stay, Dr. Blackwell. Everything you ask will be in a report and added to the contract for them all to see anyway.”

“Very well,” she finally glances at the two men. “If either of you thinks you may hear things you do not want to hear, please take your leave now.”

“We are good,” Yoongi replies, and Jungkook nods in agreement.

“All right. Well, Miss Y/n, can you tell me of your family history, any health conditions, addictions, or genetic background?” the doctor asks.

“Sure. My brother is healthy like a horse and is currently backpacking around the Blue Ridge Mountain range. My mother is relatively healthy but does drink heavily in social situations. My grandparents were healthy too and drank socially also.”

“Are those your mother’s parents?” the doctor asks for clarification.

“Oh yes, this is all my mom’s side,” you reply. I don’t know anything about my father’s side. He was only in my life until I was about 10 or 11. He and my mother divorced, and Mom took away all contact with him and that side of the family.”

“You don’t know your dad?” Jungkook asks with a frown. Bunny hybrids live in large family colonies, so it doesn’t make sense to him that you don’t have contact with your dad, much less what sounds like little contact with your brother.

“No, I don’t. I tried to find him when I turned 18, but my mother threatened to disown me and stuff, so … yeah. I had tried for almost a year before she found out. He would have contacted me by now if he wanted to.” Placing your hand on Jungkook’s, you smile softly at him, “It’s been years, Thumper. I am okay.”

“What about your personal history, Miss Y/n?” the doctor says, getting everyone back on track.

“Well, besides my being considered obese by medical standards,” you hear a soft growl from the jaguar but continue, “I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. The main symptoms I experience are tiredness, inability to lose weight, some food sensitivities, and pretty much cold 24/7.”

“Can you list your food sensitivities, please?” The doctor pulls out a separate paper to take notes, “This is imperative for the contract, as all dietary restrictions must be factored in, Miss Y/n.”

“Umm... yeah. I can typically find my way around it, so there are no restrictions to worry about,” you hurriedly say, trying to find a way to avoid the question.

“Princess, Hyung is going to want to know the specifics. His love language is food; remember his promise to keep you well-fed. This will help ensure he doesn’t hurt you in the process,” encourages Yoongi.

“Yeah, sweets. Even Jin-hyung is allergic to garlic, Tae Tae cannot eat spicy foods, and Joonie and Jiminnie-hyung don’t eat seafood. I don’t think it's an allergy for them, but it might as well be,” Jungkook adds, trying to help you feel comfortable.

“Okay,” you nod at both and turn to the doctor. “I am allergic to chocolate. Citrus and spices give me blisters in my mouth. Sometimes, bananas and avocados make my mouth itchy because of my latex allergy, but I love them. I don’t have a gallbladder, so I avoid red meat for the most part.”

You glance at the jaguar hybrid beside you, expecting a negative response. However, you are met with a gummy smile and a tail wrapping around your thigh, “Thank you for sharing, Princess. You and Joonie can share all the surf and turf meals.”

This causes everyone to laugh, effectively making the mood lighter than before.

You continue to answer a series of questions, and then you come to the questions that you hate: the social history, a.k.a. ‘how lame your sex life is’ questions.

“Miss Y/n, since the Bangtan Pack has requested that the rut clause not be included, we have to ask you about things that will affect that. It's best to rapid-fire these to avoid any awkwardness,” the doctor suggests while giving the two Alphas stern looks.

“Sure, rapid-fire works, Dr. Blackwell.”

“Gender at birth?”

“Female.”

“Identify as?”

“The same.”

“Orientation?”

“Heterosexual and sapiosexual.” Piquing the interest of the Alphas at your side, but the doctor presses on.

“Ever had intercourse?’

“Yes.”

“Pregnancies?”

“Yes, one that failed. I had a miscarriage.” Jungkook’s hand squeezes yours as Yoongi’s tail softly brushes your forearm, which is still securely around your thigh.

“Last sexual encounter?

“Th… three years ago. I.. I stopped when I had the miscarriage.”

“Birth Control?”

“IUD implanted shortly after the miscarriage.”

“Well, I think that is all. Your IUD will still be usable for another 2 years, and the bloodwork will tell us if there is anything else to worry about.”

“Thank you, Dr. Blackwell. I will walk you out and… I think I will walk around the property to get some fresh air.”

Both you and the doctor go outside, chatting about random things.

When she goes to get into the car, she stops you from walking off, “Miss Y/n, I didn’t ask with the pack being there, but do you want any information on a therapist?”

“Oh no, Thank you, Dr. Blackwell. I can give you Ryan’s number if you need it for the report. He is the Licensed Social Worker that I was seeing until about a year ago.”

“Yes, unfortunately, without his report, I would need to do a psych assessment for the contract.” With that, you gave her all the information for Ryan before she got in her car and left.

You also decided to call him on your walk and to make sure to get the proper forms to release the sensitive information. Being a good therapist, he questions how you are doing, if you are having any complications with all the questions, and the change in your situation.

You don’t hold back and let your former therapist know everything. At the end of it all, you realize you have no issues with what has happened. You are playing your future with caution, and today’s visit wasn’t as terrifying or problematic as you thought it might be.

Inside the packhouse, however, Yoongi and Jungkook were very much dealing with how worrisome the doctor’s visit had become for them about you.

Once you and the doctor left, they went to Yoongi’s den and chatted with Namjoon and Seokjin over the phone. Yoongi went over everything that had happened during the doctor’s visit.

Seokjin was the calmest of the four. He was happy to learn about the dietary restrictions now and not during your date with him tonight. Being the eldest, he figured you had had an entire life before them. Your reactions to their advantages, the level of panic in certain situations, and your negative self-image have already told him more than enough.

Namjoon remained primarily silent throughout the conversation. With every new bit of information, he resolves to talk with your family pack without you being solidified. Not to mention, his Alpha now wants to ensure that your experiences with the pack are top-notch. He smiles, knowing Jin’s plans for tonight will hopefully start things off on the right track.

Ending the call, Yoongi and Jungkook head back downstairs and outside. They can hear you walking around the yard, but you are talking to someone about Dr. Blackwell and records. Considering that you made this call without them, they sit on the back patio. This allows them to watch over you, calming their Alphas by providing protection while respecting your privacy.

Bangtan Pack Group Chat

Prime (Namjoon): Hey guys, I want to ask you all something. Hob-ah already knows about this because we talked about it last night. Prime: After Y/n’s appointment today, which revealed a few new things, I think this idea is really our best bet. Mochi (Jimin): What is it, Hyung? V (Taehyung): What happened at her appointment? Is she okay? WWH (Seokjin): She is fine, but there were some concerns, which we will discuss later. Namjoon, what is your idea? Prime: I want to go and talk to the Y/l/n Pack. Bun (Jungkook): You did that already, though, with Jimin and Yoongi-hyung. You wanna go again? Seokie (Hoseok): Let him talk Kookie! Bun: Sorry. Prime: It’s OK, Kookie. Thank you, Hobi-hyung. I want to go but I want to go without Y/n. Yoons (Yoongi): You better have a good reason to see a pack without their Luna, Namjoon. Prime: I want to tell them Y/n is our mate. Bun: So we are okay with lying to her but not to her pack? Seokie: No, Bunny. We are not lying to her. We are waiting till the right time to tell her. Bun: Same difference. Prime: Talking with her pack and letting them know might get them to tell us more about her and how to tell without her running from us. WWH: I agree with Yoongi. This is playing with fire. But it may be our best chance. They could help open her mind to the idea. Prime: Does anyone want to go with me? Bun: Nope. Not even. She will be the next person I tell about the mate bond. Yoons: I am with Jungkook on this one. I will stay out of this. V: I will go with you, Hyung. I would like to meet her family pack to start with. Seokie: I will go, too. WWH: When is this happening? Prime: I don’t know yet. I was hoping for tonight. Prime: but maybe this weekend will be better? Mochi: Sorry, but Manager Sejin asked what was happening. Mochi: He thinks this is a good idea. The weekend would work best. Mochi: also, Seokjin and Namjoon should go, but no more than 4 Mochi: So, I am out. I saw them, and I still have other stuff. WWH: If you plan it this weekend, I will go. Tonight, I am taking Y/n out on a date. Prime: Okay, Jin and Hobi-hyung plus TaeTae and I. Got it.

“Hello, this is Sejin,” he answers on the second ring.

“Manager Sejin, it’s Y/n,” you quickly identify yourself, but you're not sure if he has your number saved. “How are you today?”

“Oh, Miss Y/n! Hi. I am doing well. Thank you for asking. Yourself?” he says, seemingly surprised by your call.

“I am doing, umm… well, I’m ok,” you hesitate to ask why the two Alphas are avoiding you.

“Yeah, should I pretend to believe you?” asks the BTS manager. Of course, he isn’t going to notice, but at least he is giving you an out.

“Can we put a pin in it for now? I want to go over a few things with you first,” you ask. While the missing or avoidant Alphas are really bothering you, you aren’t their mother, and other things are more pressing at the moment.

“Sure thing. What did you want to discuss? Actually, how did you get my number?” His voice was light. He accepted the random call and was still curious about why and how.

“Your number is the only number listed on the preliminary contract, Manager Sejin,” you giggle slightly.

“Oh yeah, sorry, most Playmates don’t get a preliminary contract. Anyway, is there something I can help you with?” he asks, probably busy and wanting to get to the point of the call.

“Yes, but first– Dr. Blackwell has come and gone. She did the full physical exam, blood sample, and full history. I also gave Dr. Blackwell my prior therapist's phone number. After she left, I contacted him, and he said he would email me the ROI so I could sign electronically.”

“Wonderful news. You can tell this isn’t your first rodeo, even if you haven't been a Playmate before,” he says with an air of appreciation for your knowledge. “Aside from the mental health report, everything else should be done by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Ryan is already working on a mental health summary report and will have it ready by tonight. He is really quick with that. He is a PMS contracted therapist, Manager Sejin,” you explain.

“That is even more perfect. Nothing seems concerning on our end, or the doctor would have already called me,” says the manager, pleased at how smooth things are going.

“Well, one would think that nothing is concerning,” you say, clearing your throat.

Glancing at your door and deciding you are unsure where the Alphas are now in the house, you move to the bathroom, close the door, and turn on the sink.

“Miss Y/n are... Are you in the kitchen?” he asks.

“No, I am hiding in the bathroom. I don’t know where Yoongi and Jungkook are, but they have been… umm, well… they have been observing me from afar,” you explain, bringing you to the concern and reason for the call.

“Observing from afar? Like, what do you mean?” he requests for clarification.

“After the doctor left, I took a walk outside because some of the information at the end was intense but not unpleasant… for me.” You nibble on your bottom lip, “But maybe they aren’t okay with it.”

“Okay. I agree that their behavior indicates that something is off,” he starts. After a beat continues, “Have you tried going to them? Maybe they are giving you some space.”

“No, I got nervous. I guess I got used to them always coming to me,” you contemplate. “Oh! Can you possibly have someone take me to the salon?”

“Umm, I take it you have no idea what you are doing for your date tonight?” he says with a hint of amusement.

Your breath catches in your throat when he calls tonight a date. You turn off the sink and walk back to the bedroom.

Is that what this is?

Is that what he called it?

Does the pack know?

“Well, yes, to all that,” answers the hamster hybrid. “Seokjin said you agreed to go out with him tonight. Is he supposed to call it something else?”

“Shit! I said that all out loud?” you whined.

Manager Sejin chuckles, “Miss Y/n. It is okay. All of them know about your date with Seokjin tonight. I think that may explain the distance.”

“They do? It does?” You sit on the edge of your bed. The revelation that everyone is calling this a date has you reeling.

“They do and don’t tell them I told you, but everyone is nervous about it. Seokjin may not be the Prime Alpha, but… he is the oldest mate. There is significant pressure for him to make sure tonight goes well,” he explained.

“Oh, he could do a movie night in, and I would be happy,” you quickly reply, not wanting them to think that you expected something grand just because they were rich K-pop idols.

“Well, this is Kim Seokjin,” he comments, as if that should be enough of an answer before he adds, “I doubt you'll be having a movie night at the Pack House. I suspect he has more things planned for you than you realize.”

“Oh boy, I need to get my hair done then, ah… Where are we going? Do I need to go shopping? Do I have the right thing to wear?” you ask, the paranoia of looking like a slob next to the eldest packmate starting to build.

“Miss Y/n now is not the time to spiral,” reassures the manager. “He will let you know what is happening soon. Just be ready. Since it’s already lunchtime, I suggest snacking on something.”

“Wait, you still haven’t explained why tonight Jin has to do with Thumper and Yoongi staying away,” you circle back to the original topic.

“I'm going to try not to laugh at you calling Jungkook Thumper,” he says, clearing his throat and trying to mask his laughter. “I am sure you have heard that Alphas are territorial, right?”

“Riiiiight, but Namjoon said they weren’t territorial like that, and he didn’t think they would be with these… ah these dates,” you say, feeling a flutter.

“They won’t. What Yoongi and Jungkook are doing right now is why they won’t,” he explains.

“Oh, but we sat beside each other when I spoke to the doctor,” you bring up because apparently avoiding you earlier wasn’t an issue, but it is now, which is weird.

“Well, if you want to have a super happy Alpha tonight, you might want to change clothes and wash your hands but know you don’t have to. He isn’t the possessive one in the group,” informs the manager.

You were too nervous to eat now, so you looked around for the other two Alphas, which you knew had to be nearby.

Only to realize that you, a human, were trying to hunt down two adult male Alpha hybrids. One of them could turn into a bunny that could fit who knows where and has the prey instinct to hide. The other was an apex-like predator hybrid, and because of his sneakiness, you have already threatened to get a bell for him. Giving up, you returned to your room and wasted time scrolling through Tumblr and Instagram.

It has just hit 1 p.m. when you get a knock on your door. When you answer, you are met with a woman in a pantsuit who doesn’t say anything and hands you a phone. Looking at the screen, you see that there is an active call.

“Umm… Hello? This is Y/n,” you speak into the phone.

“Hello, my dearest,” replies the voice on the other end of the line.

“Jin! You had to send a bodyguard to call me?” you questioned.

“How else would I contact you? I haven’t been allowed to get your phone number. Her name is Jen, and she will be your driver today,” he says calmly.

“Ah yeah, I should get that to everyone, but why do I need a driver?” Smiling at the now-named woman, you cover the mic on the phone, “Hello Jen, I am Y/n.”

“Yes, you do,” he agrees. “Are you ready for tonight?”

“No, not even close,” you answer honestly. “I don’t know where we are going, so I don’t know what to wear. My hair is still in the bun. Yoongi and Thumper have been nowhere to be found in the last hour or more.”

You hear a low chuckle from the phone line and look at the phone with irritated confusion: “You’re laughing?”

“From now on, the only Alpha you need to worry your pretty little head with is… Me.” His voice has taken a lower tone than other times he has spoken to you, and there is something so stimulating about it. “Now, my dearest, please go with Jen. She will take you to Mare Salon in West Hollywood, and you will join me for an early dinner. Ready?”

“Yes, Alpha,” you respond quickly, instinctually not wanting to upset the Alpha, who controls the rest of your day. While you are not a pushover, you want to be open to tonight and figure you might as well go with the flow.

“Good. Please hand the phone back to Jen and get ready to leave,” orders the eldest Alpha.

Following his instructions, you hand the phone over. Then grab your purse, phone, and jacket. When you return to the door, Jen is no longer on the phone. “Ready when you are.”

(NOTE: If you would like to see what is being described, please go to https://pin.it/xP7XzD1FH)

She leads you to a sleek, all-black Town Car and opens the back door for you. Taking your seat, you find an envelope with your name next to you. Inside is a handwritten letter which reads:

My dearest Y/n, I want you to know that I am in awe of your grace throughout this past week. Even in the ups and downs, you held your ground, spoke your mind, and brought a life to the pack that none of us knew was missing. Tonight, let us celebrate our paths crossing and our lives intertwining. Our first stop of the night is Mare Salon, and this is my first chance to show you that I can treat you as you should be. They will only show you options that can be completed in time to make our dinner reservation. Feel free to pick any of the packages offered. Enjoy yourself right now. See you soon, Kim Seokjin

You read the letter multiple times. He calls you his dearest as if you are something important to him, and he is treating you to a top-tier salon experience.

Seokjin may be known as Worldwide Handsome, but he is a Worldwide Charmer.

First, you had a personal attendant, probably because you were their only customer for the rest of the day.

Secondly, they offered you a smoothie of your choice, and you got a Peanut Butter Bananrama, which was so good.

Finally, you had so many spa packages to choose from. Ultimately, you picked a Tea Tree treatment and a hydration facial.

About halfway through your experience, you received a delivery with a large black box, a medium purple box, and a black bag. Automatically, a smile blooms on your face, and around you, the sounds of the staff cooing at the gesture have your face tinting pink. Attached to the large box is another envelope with your name on it. The letter inside reads:

Are you relaxing, my dearest? Let me know if they treat you like the Luna you are. Do not hesitate to ask Jen or the salon staff for anything. Once you have completed your pampering, Jen will drive you to meet me at the restaurant. I know you were concerned about what to wear tonight. I hope you do not mind, but I took care of that. Just as I promised, I will take care of you. Please let the one who delivered these to you know if any alterations are needed, and they will make the adjustments per your request. It shouldn’t be much longer, my dearest. See you soon, Seokjin

You really shouldn’t feel an emotional response from a mated man, but his words are so sweet that anyone would swoon. Over your shoulder, you hear the staff mention something about being committed to a fan service.

It’s like ice buckets get thrown over you—fan service. You have seen videos of Idols treating their fans to a day of fun with them. Just recently, you saw NCT 127 make dinner for a super fan.

You were becoming a playmate. This wasn’t much different. They would soon be paying you to be their friend, their companion. It’s nothing more. You continued the services you had requested. Even after you reread the letter, the goods that were delivered remain untouched. You had been excited, but now the thrill of the letters and the day's excitement seemed dull and almost forced.

“Miss Y/n, you have a phone call,” your driver, Jen, said while handing you the same phone from before. Taking the phone, you smiled and nodded at Jen, then waited for her to move away.

Putting the phone to your ear, you answer, “Thank you for calling… wait, no. Sorry, Hello?”

You heard a soft sigh, “You didn’t open the gifts.”

Hearing the statement, you didn’t feel the need to say anything, but there was a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach.

“Dearest, why haven’t you opened them? Did I overstep a boundary?” he asked, concern dripping on every word.

You didn’t know what was worse: the sinking feeling that you had disappointed him by not opening his gifts or the feeling that you were making him feel guilty.

“Seokjin,” pausing to take a breath, you were interrupted.

“Seokjin? I am Seokjin again. What did… Y/N, please tell me where I went wrong?” he asked, his voice weak but somehow controlled.

“You haven’t done anything wrong, nor have you overstepped any boundaries,” you respond. Muttering to yourself, “Your service is top-notch.”

A confused sound is heard before he asks, “My what?”

“Shit. I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I am sorry, Jin,” you whine softly.

“Explain,” he states, his voice a new, more demanding tone you haven’t heard before.

“Fan service. The staff here are all giggly about how well you are treating me,” you answer. “Then, one mentioned how this was a committed fan service.”

Another sigh comes over the phone, “My dear, my dearest Y/n. This is not fan service. I have not, nor will I ever treat a fan in this way. All of this is for you.”

“You don’t have to do all this for me. I am just me,” you counter.

“Yes, you are just you. My promise to you and only you is to ensure you eat well, so I am taking you to dinner,” he begins.

“Jin…” you breathed out.

“No, let me continue,” he cuts you off before continuing, “I had promised to keep you happy and healthy, and spoiling you with this spa hair trip and the gifts was my attempt to follow through on that promise.”

“All this is so much. It’s more than I ever have been given,” you try to keep going.

“I want to impress you, Y/n. Not as Worldwide Handsome or Kim Seokjin of BTS but as Jin, the eldest Prey Alpha of the Bangtan pack.” With a hopeful tone, he asks, “Can you allow me to do that for us?”

Now, Jen was pulling the car up to a very green door with a lovely painted woman’s face and the word Amore in green, fluorescent lights.

The first room has vine-covered brick walls and glass ceilings, giving the feeling of being outside. The booths are beautifully set with candles, and a lovely chandelier hangs in the center of the room. Continuing inside, you are greeted by large wooden panels along the main wall with built-in wine racks, highly decorative green and white walls, and a classic bar in the corner to your left.

There stands the first person you have seen since you arrived. She smiles softly at you and tilts her head, indicating that you should turn in the other direction.

Following her subtle hint, you turn only to be greeted with a sight that steals your breath.

Kim Seokjin

He is in all black.

Your eyes drop as you take in Seokjin’s appearance.

Classy wingtip dress shoes.

Dress slacks that are loose but accentuate the length of his legs.

The dress shirt with the top two buttons is undone, allowing you to glance at his collarbones.

Finally, you catch his eyes, which seem darker than usual. However, he doesn’t hold your gaze. Instead, his eyes travel along your body.

It’s like he was waiting for you to watch him as he assesses his gifts on you.

He has also dressed you in all black.

Your dress is made of tulle, and various parts have a dark silver metallic lining.

Your neck was a halter with a deep V-neck, which stopped with a cinched high waist and bellowed out into an asymmetrical high-low skirt. You found this in the large black box.

Out of the purple box, you discovered shoes that allowed you to show off your newly pedicured feet, colored with a deep blue polish. They were silver chain-buckled sandals with box heels that matched the lining of your dress.

Finally, the small bag contained a lovely pair of silver and sapphire earrings and a matching bracelet. The silver parts looked like a flower made of hearts, with gems lying between them.

As his eyes traveled back up your body, he found his voice, “You look stunning.”

“Thank you, Jin,” you say with a shy smile. “You are quite handsome as well.”

He holds his hand out to you, beckoning you forward and sliding your hand in, which feels natural. His warmth even pulls you in, relaxing the tension you didn’t realize you were holding.

“Thank you for my gifts, Alpha,” you say, genuinely loving each piece.

“I am sorry about your experience at the salon,” he apologizes. “Please don’t ever feel like we are just going through the motions. Everything that I do and that the pack does is for you.”

Nodding, you say, “Jen said something about the staff being jealous Army and that I needed to get used to them if I stuck around.”

“Ah, yes,” he says while guiding you into a small half-circle booth. His Alpha growled in his head, still wanting to fire the one who made you doubt the night's intentions.

When you sat down, you thought he would go to sit on the other side, but instead, he sat down on the same side, scooting you over to make enough room and draping his arm across the back of the couch.

“In Korea, the crazy ones are called sasaeng. Anyone with fame has to deal with them,” he comments with his eyes focused on you. “Sadly, you will also have to deal with them. You may end up getting your own, but we do our best to protect you from them.”

“I have heard of them. Probably more often than you think. They would sometimes show up to the office either trying to apply to be a Playmate or trying to catch an Idol coming through the halls.” Looking around the restaurant, “Jin, are we the only ones here?”

“Yes, I booked the whole restaurant. I wanted to make sure we had time to talk without getting bothered.” He gestures to the waitress that you saw when you came in.

“Jin, this is amazing. Have you ever been here?” you ask, still admiring the abeyance.

“Nope. It had excellent reviews online, and the chef was willing to accommodate our diets without complaint,” he said with a playfully bright smile.

He looks at the waitress and says, “Please let the chef know we are ready for the first course. I will stick with water for now, but my lady can have whatever she wants.”

“Miss, would you like to see the drink selection?” she asks, looking at me.

“Water. Ice water would be perfect, please, and thank you,” I reply.

“Make sure the water does not have a garnish. She is allergic to citrus,” he tells the waitress. Your jaw drops at the fact that he already knows this information.

“Oh, and please make sure the chef has read the restrictions. I do not want my lady to get sick while eating here,” his voice thick with authority said. From your angle, you could not fully see his face, but if the waitress's reaction was any indication, it was not the happy face from a moment ago.

Soon, his attention was back on you, and the waitress was gone. He must have caught your earlier reaction because he gave you a sly smile, “Yoon and Kook let me know of the food concerns right after Dr. Blackwell left, in case you were wondering.”

“Well, that makes sense. At least they talked to someone after the appointment,” you say bitterly.

“Did they do something wrong or make you uncomfortable with your appointment?” Jin asked, his face crunching with concern.

“Oh no! They were great and supportive during the visit. They actually helped me feel better about opening up,” you quickly said. Looking down, you focus on the bracelet he gifted you as Seokjin waits patiently for you to continue. “I spoke with Manager Sejin about their behavior. He said I shouldn’t worry.”

“Y/n,” he says. “What did the boys do to make you call someone outside the pack for advice?”

Looking back at Jin, the seriousness of his face takes you back a bit, and you quickly answer, “I don’t want to sound like a child, but” you sigh softly. “They ignored me after the appointment. I don’t think they were comfortable with what they learned about me.”

You go to scoot back, wanting a bit of room between you and Jin before saying, “Manager Sejin said that it was more of a courtesy thing for you.”

That information was like a light bulb turned on over his head. The stern face melted away to a warm smile, “Do you know about Alpha bonding time and possession?”

“The only thing I know is what Derek, my Beta, said, but that included imprinting and territory domains,” you answer. Your words pulled a soft chuckle from Jin.

The waitress took that moment to bring your drinks and a lovely plate called a Caledonia Blue Prawn Carpaccio. It looks incredible, with thinly sliced prawns, small piles of what looks like foam, and a yellow gastrique.

“Here, my dear.” While you had taken a sip of water, Jin had gathered some of the carpaccio and was now offering it to you. “I want to give you the first bite as a show of following through with my promise to keep you well-fed.”

Blushing slightly, you lean forward and say, “Thank you, Alpha.” The bite offered is unlike anything you have eaten before. The play of textures and flavors sings. Humming in delight, you watch as Jin tastes it as well. His instant smile shows he agrees with your reaction.

“Now, back to our jaguar and bunny. I think your Beta is pretty spot on. However, it’s called territorial dominance and not domain. You’re not a website,” Jin says as he continues to feed you bites of food while he talks.

“Oh. I knew it was something like that, but Namjoon said there had never been any issues. So, what gives?” you ask, sipping your water.

“Oh gosh, how do I explain this to a non-hybrid?” He goes quiet as he contemplates.

Internally, what he is trying to tell you would require you to know you are his mate. Whenever one bonded Alpha claims a day or time with their mate, the rest of the pack will avoid that mate to ensure several things:

1- The called mate(s) is aware that bonding time is needed 2- The calling mate(s) prepares for the bonding time for themselves as well as the called mate(s) 3- The remaining mate(s) keep their distance from all mates involved for temporary scent fading 4- The one or more of the remaining mates are put in charge of guarding the involved mate(s) until it is time for the bonding

It is an older version of bonding time rituals. Having all Alphas in the Bangtan Pack, this version allows the called mate to fall into a following-like state of mind while the calling mate falls into a leading-like mindset.

Sipping your water and watching Jin figure out how to tell you whatever it is, you take a note to ask Derek or Evie where you can find some reputable online courses to learn more about the Alpha sub-gender.

At the lull in conversation, the waitress brings out a tray with new dishes. The first is a Perigord Truffle Chawanmushi, Uni, and Trout Roe dish. After looking at it closely, you determine it is something like a flan made with fish and something else on a plate. Next to it is this soup puree topped with sea urchin and fish eggs.

The second is known as a Comte Cloud, and that is when you try not to laugh because it is just a poached egg with shavings of something on toast: those 1% folks and their fancy-schmancy names for things.

You are 90% sure the soupy thing is raw and smells strongly of fish. The speckled flan looks interesting— until the server dumps it into the soup.

So, the only safe thing is the poached egg on toast. You quickly pull that dish closer to you and hope it shows you want that and not the other concoction.

“I guess the easiest way to say this is…” Jin watches you pull the plate to you with a raised eyebrow.

“I love eggs. May I eat this one, Alpha?” you say sweetly, attempting to get your way and not being forced to eat something raw.

“Of course, but here, try this too,” he agrees while he gathers a fair sample of the raw fishy flan dish. Bringing it up to your mouth to have you try it, you keep your mouth shut.

Looking at him with pleading eyes, you ask, “Can I skip the Chawanmush… chawamjush. That,” you say, pointing to the spoon. “Can I please skip that?”

Laughing. That was his answer to you. He laughed to the point where he had to put the spoon down or risk dropping it.

“Alpha, it looks raw and smells fishy. We just ate that prawn dish; it was nearly raw, and I am not much of a raw or smelly fish eater.” You continue to pout at the thought of the Alpha making you eat it.

“Fine, you don’t have to eat the Chawanmushi. I quite enjoy things in the natural raw state, even if it’s a bit fishy.” He watches you intently while saying those words, then takes a bite.

Why does it sound like he isn’t… wait nope. You are not gonna go there. You are going to eat your poached egg. Cutting into it, the yolk runs out just as it should, and you scoop it up and take a bite. Yum.

“Oh, good. It’s dripping nicely. It must be creamy and rich, too,” comments the Alpha, slightly causing you to choke on your bite. Jin casually pats your back and reminds you of the water to help you swallow it.

You have got to get your mind out of the gutter.

You tell the doctor today that you have been on a three-year re-virginity plan, and now that you are at a high-end dinner with Worldwide Handsome, everything is becoming an innuendo.

Get a grip!

“As with any hybrid, scents are essential to us. It allows us to identify many things,” states as a matter of fact. “Pack bonds, mating seasons, emotions, and such. When one of the individuals joining in the bonding time carries the scent of another pack member, no matter the sub-gender, it can block or alter the purity of the individual’s scent.”

Jin further explains, “Territorial dominance is not a bad thing. Since you will be with Bangtan now, we all want to bond with you properly. As an all-Alpha male pack, our individual Alphas can become quite controlling.”

“Wait,” you remember something from the scenting session. “The night you guys brought me the extra bedding, Jungkook wanted to scent before bed, right?”

Jin nods while continuing to eat the fishy soup.

“Yoongi said that Jungkook wanted to go last because he was my ‘Alpha right now.’ Was your youngest mate controlling you and Yoongi?” you ask, mind replaying the comment and Yoongi’s nonplus yet endearing attitude.

Jin's soft smile confirms it. He says, “In a way, yes. That wasn’t due to bonding; that was situational.”

You had thought you had figured it out until his last comment. To clarify, you ask, “What do you mean? Do you guys switch who is in charge? Is there an Alpha of the Day or something?"

“No, no… The Alpha who found you in need of something was Jungkook, and therefore, he became the Alpha in charge of your bedding requirements. Yoongi and I supported him with that,” Seokjin says with a hint of amusement.

“Okay.” You pause to think, then say, “Okay, and I know that Yoongi is responsible for my wrist, I assume, for similar reasons, but how long will Jungkook be in charge of my bed?”

Seokjin, who has been fighting his laughter, finally loses the battle, and you look at him with a baffled expression.

“That is a question for you to ask Alpha Kook. As the youngest Alpha in the pack, Alpha Kook has never had someone to take care of,” muses the still chuckling Alpha.

“What about the other playmates? Most of them were his age or younger. Didn’t he take care of them like a proper Alpha?” you ask, a bit perturbed by being laughed at.

“Be careful with that,” warns Jin, with a serious look on his face falling into place. “Not every playmate is the same. You are, by far, not the same. You are someone special to have gotten not only Alpha Kook and Alpha Yoon but also Alpha Tae to greet you.”

“What’s so special about that?” you ask, entirely lost at how meeting their Alphas is a big deal because it had been so easy.

“Since we are a mate-bonded pack, our Alphas tend to stay away from others unless there is a threat.” At your widened eyes, he quickly continues, “You have never been a threat to us. So, it is impressive that you met so many of our Alphas. Topping it off with the fact that some of us don’t typically scent except for calming nerves, getting one of us out of Alpha Space, or during times of pleasure.”

Before you can say anything more about the topic, here comes the waitress again. Duuuddee… How many courses are there in fancy restaurants?

In front of Seokjin, she places a Colorado Lamb Saddle with a Cacao-Miso sauce, white truffle, and roasted Brussels sprouts on a bed of chimichurri. The colors on his plate are vibrant. The lamb doesn't look dry, and the chimichurri is such a bright green, but the dark brown sauce stops you from wanting to ask for a taste.

“Did you say Cacao-Miso sauce? Did you not verify the restrictions?” Seokjin’s voice becomes dry and monotone.

“We did get it, and the chef and the rest of the staff reviewed the list several times,” says the waitress before glancing at the tray and reading over what is written on paper.

“Ah, here. This Cacao-Miso sauce is made with carob. I suppose I could have called it a Carob-Miso sauce instead,” says the waitress, looking down to avoid Seokjin's piercing look.

“That is so considerate of the Chef to make that change, Miss. Since the dish is for him, he could have still made it with its original ingredients,” you comment, trying to ease the tension that now fills the space. “Please give the Chef and the staff our gratitude for their consideration and follow through,” you smile brightly.

Glancing over at you, a softness blooms on his face. “If they did that, then I wouldn’t be able to share it with you, dearest.”

The endearment causes you to blush. The fondness in his eyes only increases it, but the silent coo from the waitress causes you to look away and fiddle with the napkin in your lap.

The waitress then serves a Lavender Duck Breast with Carrot Puree and Endives finished tableside with a Romesco sauce. The smell is divine, and you can’t wait to try it. Duck wasn’t something you had ever had, but it was poultry, right? You were used to eating a lot of chicken, and, of course, you had turkey for most big holidays. Duck is just another one of the bigger birds that you could eat.

You wonder what Yoongi or Taehyung would think of your all-poultry-tastes similar thought process. You giggled at the thought. The sound fills the room like chimes, drawing the waitress's and Seokjin's attention.

In the silence of the room, you looked up from poking at the duck with your fork, pausing to wonder why Seokjin was looking at you with a crooked smile, “What?’

“Does your food normally quack you up?” Seokjin asked with an exaggerated serious face, to which you could only giggle more.

Looking at the waitress, he asks, “Does she get any quackers with her Duck?” This caused both of you to start laughing.

“Should she be worried about quacking her teeth, or is it cooked to perfection?” he continued, but he couldn’t hold back this time and started laughing with the two of you.

After clearing the table and refilling your drinks, the waitress leaves you two alone again. You cut the delicious food she brought out, and the taste shocks you.

Duck, in fact, is not like chicken because it is much richer and heartier. It is almost like eating a steak while still having that poultry gamey flavor.

Seokjin waits patiently, watching you take your first bite. Your moan of delight at the taste feeds right into this fixation. Quickly looking away, he cuts into his lamb and offers it to you.

Taking a sip of water to clean your pallet, you smile, “You trust them to make it without the cocoa, Alpha?”

Watching as a frown takes over his face, bringing the lamb up to smell. You wait for his reaction. You have heard that a hybrid’s sense of smell is higher when smelling other people or hybrids, but you never thought it would be related to food.

“Honestly, it smells more like a lamb and has a musk scent. I am sorry for not checking first. I just wanted you to try it. I think you are safe, but if you would rather be cautious, you don’t have to try it,” he almost whines.

“I don’t have my Epi-pen on me.” With a sad tilt of your head, you say, “With past experiences, I would rather not risk anything. But I would love to try your Brussels sprouts, Alpha?”

“Ah yes, sorry again,” apologizes the Alpha. He eats the bit and seems to enjoy it, but less than if you had been the one to eat it. Scooping up your requested bite, he offers it to you.

“Thank you for providing for me, Alpha,” you say before eating the bite. You watch as he opens his mouth along with yours. His eyes never actually look at the food offered.

It is a burst of flavor with the char on the sprout and the hint of the chimichurri it was served on. You hum in delight, wanting nothing more but to have another bite.

Looking down at your plate, you also desire to share with him. He has provided for you as an Alpha should, but you also want to care for him.

You know it’s part of your “job” that has yet to start, but it also seems more than that. Deciding to follow your intuition, you cut a piece of your duck coated in the sauce and offered it to him. “Alpha?”

“Hmm?” His eyes were still focused on his plate.

“Can I offer you some of my duck?” You ask as you move the fork closer to his sight.

You watch as his eyes snap to the fork. There is a brief hesitation, which makes you second-guess him when offering him food.

You are not an Alpha.

You are not a hybrid.

Unlike offering food to Evie or Derek, you are not his Luna or of his pack.

Pulling back your offer, his hand shoots out and takes hold of your wrist. His eyes snap to you as he watches your face and eats the bite you have offered him.

Your eyes, however, glance at your now empty fork to his lips as he licks up the sauce and then down to his Adam’s apple as he swallows. Finally, your eyes land back on his face.

“It tastes lovely, but was it Miss Y/n who offered me the taste, or was it Luna Y/n?” he asks, pinning you in place with his intensity, still not releasing his hold on your wrist.

You swallow, searching his face for the correct answer. You should have kept to yourself. Your mother always said dotting on others was a sign of bad breeding.

Why did you do it?

Your scent starts to waver, pulling onto the side of the perfume, which alerts the alpha. You feel his thumb rubbing your wrist, and then you feel like you can breathe again.

“I don’t… I just...” You close your eyes and take a breath. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I wasn’t trying to take your position, Alpha. I promise.”

“Y/n, look at me, please?” You listen and open your eyes, preparing for whatever he says next.

“Y/n, I am Alpha and man enough to know you are not trying to take my position. I am asking because I would like to gauge how to respond to you properly,” reassures Seokjin.

“It's just me, Jin.” Taking a breath, you explain, “I just felt I needed to share with you and take care of you in a way. I know I am human, but I had to follow my intuition. I am sorry.”

As you speak, he smiles and shakes his head, “My dear, you have nothing to be sorry for. Trust me. Remember, this is us learning about each other. This is also where you learn a lot about Alphas.”

“Then why does it matter if it’s Miss me or Luna me? I am me. I am not your Luna,” you say, still unsure why it matters.

“They are both you, this is true. I suppose I am trying to learn how much of a Luna you are,” he says, confused.

Nodding, you add, “You guys are the first to call me Luna outside Evie and Derek. I mean, even Evie’s mate, who is an Alpha, doesn’t call me Luna.”

“How does it make you feel when we call you Luna? Is it the same feeling that you get when your family pack calls you that?” Seokjin asks, completely forgetting to eat as his focus is solely on you.

“Ah, well, it’s not the same. Bangtan Pack has only called me after I had to correct my Omega, but no one has used it since then. Well, until now, and even then, you weren’t calling me that. It was just a title,” you say honestly but vaguely.

“But how did you feel when Yoongi and Jimin called you Luna? Did you hate it? Did you feel empowered, aroused, or silly?” presses the hybrid Alpha.

Your mind takes you back to the balcony at your pack house, Yoongi’s soft touch and hot breaths: “Your actions were a sight to see, Luna.” Next, you feel like you are back in Jimin’s arms as he holds you. Alpha Chim shines through with a playful smile: “Luna.”

As your body remembers the thrum of energy playing at their touches, at their words, a tang of arousal filters into your sweet pea scent. The change in your scent tells Seokjin more than enough.

You nibble on your bottom lip, debating what to tell the Alpha sitting next to you. You decide to be honest because you are not sure exactly how it made you feel. You say, “It was awkward to hear it from them. I felt a kindling, but I am sure it was just nerves.”

“A kindling? That is understandable. Thank you for telling me, dearest. Now, since you don’t seem to understand the difference between being ‘human you’ and ‘Luna you,’ I will drop it, but that might be something to speak with Namjoon about,” he says, returning to his meal and taking another bite.

Feeling slightly relieved but concerned about the new concept, you say, “Thank you, Jin.”

You learned about this family, including his older brother, who was … still... younger… than you. You also learned more about his and Bangtan's passion for anti-bullying, which led them to become involved with UNICEF.

While you knew he had a fantastic voice because of the song Abyss, you still took the time to listen to his development and struggles as an artist and eldest member of Bangtan.

Dinner ended with a lovely traditional mille-feuille for the two of you to share. Jin had suggested a walk around the area, to which you agreed. You had eaten more than expected, and walking would do you good.

Once outside the door, it was clear that the fall season had started to settle. When Seokjin requested that you walk to the side, away from the cars, you smiled and felt slightly giddy. So far, he was a gentleman.

He had never interrupted you or pushed the conversation too far. Even though he was letting his flirtatious sideshow, it never made you uncomfortable.

You took about five steps before the Alpha covered your shoulders in his suit jacket. His naturally broad shoulders make it easy to drape across yours, even though you weren’t a skinny minny.

The scent of cherries and vanilla permeated the air. The scent brought a sense of calm over you. “Hmm… interesting.”

“What’s interesting?” asks Seokjin, though his eyes still look around at the passing cars and people.

“I think I am starting to determine your individual scents to a degree,” you say, smiling up at him as he stops.

“You can. Who have you figured out so far?” he asks, gesturing to a nearby bench.

Sitting down, you angled toward him, saying, “I am pretty sure I know Jungkook’s, Yoongi’s, and now your scent. Maybe even Jimin’s, but I am least sure about his. I haven’t a clue about the rest.”

Leaning back and bracing his arms along the back of the bench, he takes a moment to think about this: If you can smell the scents, do you also smell the mate scent? The idea that you could, or the hope that you could, would make explaining that you are a mate easier, but he needs to know that you are actually smelling their scents and not just some random human-associated scent thing. So, he asks, “Let’s see how close you are. What’s our baby Alpha’s scent?”

“He smells like my favorite cookie, Snickerdoodles,” you smile, remembering the warmth that comes with Jungkook’s scent. “Well, it may not be that specific, but it's sweet, like sugar, with a spice that reminds me of cinnamon and warm butter.”

“Very good. Cinnamon, sugar, and butter are his primary scents.” Chuckling, he added, “He would love it if you told our Kookie he smelled like a cookie. How about Yoongi-ah?

Tapping your bottom lip, you try to figure out how to explain the jaguar’s scent, saying, “Now his… I swear his changes.”

This comment causes the Alpha to sit attentively and ask, “What do you mean?”

His Alpha is very curious to know what scents you have smelled when it comes to Alpha Yoon, especially since humans shouldn't be able to detect changes like that.

“Well, typically, he smells like Petrichor, my favorite scent that rain can have. But the other day, I swore I smelled like a stormy ocean-like scent,” you explain.

“Yoongi… smelled like a storming ocean?” You nod and look at him curiously while he tries not to look shocked. Then he informs you, “Whenever he smells like the ocean, it means his Alpha is out in full force, and the storm is when he is mad.”

“Oh well, okay, yeah,” you agree with a nod. “That explains it.”

Tilting his head at your easy acceptance but odd comment, Seokjin wants to know what you mean, “Explains what?”

Your eyes widened a bit before you looked down and pulled the jacket closed more. You still answer, saying, “It was when Prime Alpha made the request before Yoongi took me upstairs.”

“Ah, yes. Not one of our finest moments. Alpha Yoon was not happy. Honestly, I don’t think any of us were,” Seokjin comments, his mind taking him briefly back to that night with a frown before getting back on topic. “What about Jimin? You mentioned you might know what is his.”

“Well, I figured out his scent yesterday, or I think I did,” you start, trying not to remember his physical actions. “Jimin’s eyes. The darkness stole away the white and tinged red when Alpha Chim… came out?”

“Fronted,” the eldest Alpha corrects you. “When our Alpha’s ‘come out,’ as you said, it is called fronting. Our Alphas are always present in our minds, but they are only in front when there is something they want.”

“Yeah, Alpha Chim called me Luna. He said I smelled of Alpha Yoon but that it was okay because he is a mate, but then he asked if it was okay to scent me, too,” you summarize the events but try to leave out the heavier details because, after all, Jimin is his mate and not yours.

Scooting forward, Seokjin took your hand and looked at you with a vulnerability you hadn’t seen before. He asked, “Alpha Chim asked to scent you. Did you let him?”

“Yes, of course I let him,” you smile. “I wasn’t about to turn him away after what he shared with me, and it felt like it was supposed to happen.”

“His oranges blended with Alpha Yoon’s, and it smelt like I was in an orange grove after a spring rain,” your eyes soften as you remember the tender moment between you and the shorter Alpha.

Seokjin squeezes your hand with a soft smile, “Y/n, you don’t know how happy I am to hear that Chim scented you.”

Smiling at Seokjin’s reaction, a tension you didn’t know you were carrying eased away, and you smiled, saying. “I am glad your pack doesn’t get upset with everyone scenting me. Jimin’s was surprising to me because of how distant he has seemed from the start.”

“Jimin may be a bit more hesitant than his Alpha when it comes to you, not that it’s your fault,” he says, squeezing your hand reassuringly.

“I understand. He told me about what happened.” Looking down at your joined hands, you recall the story of Seul-ki. You choose to let the ferret know that you talked about more than what just happened by saying, “He also said that everyone seemed okay with playmate contracts aside from Hoseok and Yoongi.”

“I bet that is hard to imagine. I mean, with how Yoongi is acting around you,” he teased.

Seokjin notices that the temperature has dropped a bit more, and though you have his jacket, you are starting to shiver. Using your jointed hands, he pulls you up and starts walking back to the can where Jen has been waiting and watching the two of you.

“I know it's been said many times, but things have been and will continue to be different with me for the pack. I haven’t been trained to be a playmate, and I don’t know much about Alphas,” you start with the intention of trying to find a way to tell Seokjin that this will be unexpected.

“Don’t worry too much about being a proper playmate,” he interrupts. “I, for one, don’t feel like that title sets well with you. You feel more important than that.”

When you approach the car, he waves off Jen to open the door for you himself, still being the perfect gentleman. The action, though simple, sets your heart a flutter and causes the vanilla of your scent to bloom as you hand back his jacket and enter the car.

Once you are in, you revel in the warmth it brings. The cold from outside had penetrated you deeper than you thought—one of the side effects of having an autoimmune disorder.

Seokjin joins you in the backseat but notices you still shivering, “Y/n, are you okay? Did you get too cold?”

“I will be fine. I am used to it,” you say as if it were no big deal. I have always run colder than the rest of the world, it seems. I have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.”

Smoothing out your skirt, you continue, “I know you will get more information with the contract. Just understand… I have had it for a while and am used to it. So, don’t worry.”

Next thing you know, an arm engulfs your shoulders, and you are being manhandled into the middle seat. You’re now angled to have your back pressed against Seokjin’s chest. The action causes you to tense up, which only causes him to hold you a bit firmer.

“Relax, dearest,” says Seokjin softly in your ear like he is telling you a secret. “As a hybrid, we run warmer than humans. As an Alpha, I run even hotter. Allow me to warm you up again, please?”

With every second that passes, you can already feel the tightness in your back release. The Alpha is almost like a heated blanket at your back. Nodding your head, you settle into his hold, “Thank you, Alpha.”

Smiling to yourself, you think about how safe and accepted Seokjin has made you feel all night. Your previous dates, boyfriends, and even your brother never took the time to treat you like a lady. You take a slow breath as you relax and rest your head against his chest. Replaying the night in your mind, the Alpha’s scent surrounds you in the backseat, “Cherries.”

“What was that dear?” asks the Alpha, who was replaying the night himself while staring out the window, trying his hardest not to focus on the feel of you leaning against him.

“Cherries, your scent is subtle, but it's cherries, right?” you ask, moving your body enough to still lean against him but see his face.

“Yes,” a shy smile tugs on his lips. “It’s not one of the stronger scents out of the pack.”

“Sometimes the best scents are not powerful,” you notice the hint of sadness in his eyes. It stirs a desire to get the smile to reach his eyes and prompts you to say, “They are meant to comfort and not intimidate. Any Alpha can intimidate, but it takes an amazing Alpha to comfort.”

Resisting the urge to kiss you, Seokjin softly smiles, saying, “Thank you.”

Aside from you confirming what he had already suspected, he learned relatively little from you because you may need to learn to yourself better or trust him more. He understands that trust takes time and can be built on transparency, so he was happy to answer your questions. This dinner had more riding on it than he thinks you will ever understand.

Though he is not the Prime Alpha, being the eldest Alpha means he has been acting as the Pack Luna. His connection to you is just as crucial as Namjoon’s, which is its own problem for another day.

While it is clear that you have a connection with Yoongi and Jungkook, the mate bond must be solidified by all the mates. It's an all-or-nothing deal.

When the car comes to a stop, he gets out and then helps you as well. Ever the provider, he pulls you tightly to his side to keep you warm as you walk up the steps.

Shockingly, no one is waiting for the two of you to come home. While you look around, wondering where everyone has gone, Seokjin has hung his jacket and kneeled to help you remove your shoes.

“Thank you, Alpha,” you whisper, trying not to break the peace that seems to have settled over the packhouse.

Retaking your hand, he leads you to your bedroom door, pausing briefly before he leans forward to rest his forehead on yours.

In a soft and reverent voice, he says, “Dearest Y/n, taking you out tonight was a pleasure and an honor. I hope you see I am more than just Worldwide Handsome Jin.”

You nod and go to say something, only for him to continue, “Please think on tonight. How you felt going on a date with me, how it felt spending time with me, and how it may be with the rest of us.”

“I had a lovely time, Jin,” you whisper back with your eyes closed, relishing in his closest, if just for tonight. “I have never been treated like a lady of class before, and it made me feel special. Thank you for everything.”

“You are more than welcome. Thank you for giving us a chance.” With that, Seokjin pulls back just enough to kiss your forehead. His Alpha rejoices as you step forward and wrap an arm around his waist in a gentle hug.

“Good night, Alpha,” you say as Seokjin hugs back, rubbing his cheek on your hair in a small act of absent-minded scenting.

“Good night, my dear,” says the eldest Alpha before opening your door and backing away as you close it with a tiny wave. Turning around, you lean against the door, your heart thumping faster than usual. Seokjin’s kiss still feels warm on your face.

Stepping out of his hold felt more challenging than it should. You weren’t just stepping out of his arms but leaving some of yourself behind.

That’s when you realize you will be a mess at the end of six more dates. At least you have several weeks to sort yourself out before your heart breaks eight times.

Right?

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