#and I'm burned out to hell and back from running paperwork last year to move here

[merrigelblogs]

.

[deerestapologies]

5 times you called him by a pet name + one time he called you by a pet name

(Diluc + Zhongli x GN!Reader)

Diluc

1. "Oh, hey hon." You greet mildly.

The candles have begun burning a bit low, the long shadows making his pout even more obvious.

"I apologize, I was held up for longer than anticipated."

He produces a small bouquet from his coat, a cluster of wildflowers, and approaches like he's about to give an offering instead of a gift. He kneels by your chair, face stoic as usual, but you can see the worry and shame in his eyes.

You twirl the stems to absorb their delicate scent, and then carefully drop them in your water glass. You cup his face in your hands, and press a kiss to his brow.

"It's okay." You kiss his brow again, "I am not mad." You kiss his nose. "I am hungry though."

You laugh lightly at his rush to sit across from you. An evening eating cold roast was worth being able to spend it with him.

-

2. "I understand your frustration, but perhaps we had best move on." You place a hand on his crossed arms.

"Their behavior was unacceptable, especially for those who would call themselves knights."

The stubborn clench of his jaw tells you just how angry he is. The idiots were lucky to have only gotten the verbal bludgeoning earlier instead of the literal one he wanted to dish out.

"Yes, but you've already made them apologize, and they do seem repentant," the fool knights in training nod frantically, "so why not leave this mess for Kaeya, darling?"

He sighs, but loosens his posture to wrap a protective arm around you. The hell the Knights were going to catch for this was still to come, but at least no one lost any limbs. Yet.

-

3. Tucked into your pile of pillows, book in hand, you waited as you do most nights. Diluc had a late meeting scheduled after dinner, but he promised it was truly to do with the winery and not of the vigilante variety.

So you bide your time, until you hear his heavy boots come up the stairs.

"I'm home." He calls softly.

"Welcome back." You say just as softly.

He goes through the motions of undressing, refreshing himself, and redressing without missing a beat, but his posture seems wilted. You mark your page, and turn over the blanket for him.

"How did it go?"

He heaves a deep sigh, and crawls over to you. Pulling you close, he lays his head on your chest but doesn't say another word.

"Oh, sweetness." You embrace him, one hand holding his face and the other in his hair. "It's okay. I've got you."

-

4. You lengthen your steps, but the increased pace doesn't seem to deter the boy following you. He isn't dangerous per se, but his persistence is damned annoying.

"But, if you'll just listen," he jogs back up to your side, "I just need your help for a little while!"

"I am neither a Knight nor an Adventurer," you cut him off with a sharp wave of your hand, "And you have nothing I want. Now leave me be."

He sputters, "M-master Diluc said-"

As if he's had his tongue plucked out, he suddenly stops talking.

You turn around only to find Diluc himself, a stifling hand on the kid's shoulder. His face is a stoic mask as always, but his energy is thunderous.

"I agreed to help you out of deference to your mother, but you," You see the boy wince as the hand tightens, "failed to listen to a word I said. Harassing my staff and my partner has only earned you banishment from all of my properties. Now go, before I report you to the Knights as well."

You both stand stock still as the boy sprints from the winery back to Mondstadt proper.

"Your going to report him anyways, right?" You mumble, after he is just a speck on the horizon.

"Of course," He finally relaxes his stance to look at you, "Though I doubt Jean will be happy about it."

Your chuckle, already imagining her face when the letter reaches her desk. Heaving a sigh, just grateful for the problem to have moved on, you grab Diluc's hand.

"Thank you," You pull him into a tight hug, "for protecting me as always, angel."

-

5. You gently rap on the door frame to his office. He looks up from his work just long enough to give you a soft smile.

"I was wondering," You lean against the frame, avoiding actually entering lest you get sucked in as well, "If my dear husband was going to come to bed tonight?"

The bright lamp on his desk means you see his blush even from across the room. He huffs an embarrassed laugh, but starts shuffling paperwork into orderly piles.

"I hadn't realized the time, my apologies."

You hum, "It is understandable. But I cannot rest if you are not in bed with me."

You watch as he tucks away his tools, pulls his gloves off, and undoes the tie in his hair, all with a much to pleased smirk on his face.

He pulls you into a delicate, lingering kiss with a hand on your neck. The warmth of his skin makes you shiver. You lean into him, letting him wrap you in his arms.

He chuckles, "Well, I would hate to neglect my husbandly duties."

+

1. The lingering warmth from your bath and the softness of the sheets has you dozing in minutes. You toss a hand onto Diluc's side of the bed, wanting to be present when he comes to bed as well but the ache of a long day is catching up to you.

After several moments you feel a calloused hand grasp your own. You are too tired to properly see, but feel the dip as he climbs into bed.

Still holding your hand in a delicate grip, he presses a kiss to your palm, and then your cheek.

"Sleep, my love, I am here."

Zhongli

1. Zhongli re-enters the house not even ten minutes after leaving. He is patting down his jacket and looking about the entryway in wonder, and you can't help but chuckle.

"Forget something?"

"Yes," he plants his hands on his hips, "I can't seem to find my wallet. I could have sworn I remembered it this time."

You get up from where you were leisurely awaiting his return, and snag the 'disappearing' wallet from where he left it on the table.

"Not quite, old man." You wave it, teasing.

"Ah, of course."

Tucking it into the pocket of his jacket, you tug him closer to plant a kiss on his flushed cheek.

"My apologies, it seems I was a bit distracted this morning."

He tucks a piece of hair away from your face, gaze so blatantly loving you can't help but crash your lips against his. Damn whatever appointment he may have, he shouldn't be so handsome in your direction.

-

2. It is not every day you wake up before him, so you try to make the most of it. You prepare his clothes for the day, just so you can pick out your favorite of his shirts. You start a light breakfast, and brew an energizing blend of tea for both of your sake.

You spend some time simply waiting at the table, content to sip your tea and watch the morning birds.

When the soft shuffle of feet brings Zhongli into the kitchen, you stand up. He is mostly dressed, minus his tie and shoes, jacket loose around his shoulders.

You steer him to the table, and press a kiss to his cheek when seated.

He hums contentedly, still a bit sleepy, "Good morning."

You pour him a cup of tea as well, and his smile grows a bit wider. He tilts his head up, "Thank you."

You meet him half way, pressing a firm kiss to his mouth, "Of course dearest. Do you have anything pressing today?"

A hand comes to rest on your hip, preventing you from moving back to your seat.

"No, nothing more important than this."

-

3. Squished between the mattress and the press of his body, you couldn't imagine being more content. The warmth, the scent, the feel of his breath ghosting across your skin.

You run a reverent hand through his hair, spread loose over his back. It seems impossible for you to be this happy, like you would only read about in unrealistic fantasies.

Amber eyes are already watching you, when you open yours. His gaze is soft, unbearably so, so you look at the ceiling.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

He answers it so easily, as if it is among the many universal truths that exist in his head.

"You must understand," You wet your nervous mouth, "I mean it. Truly, I love you."

You feel his head tilt in confusion, but power on, emotions spilling.

"You are my starlight. My life would be unimaginably dark without you. I am scared constantly by the sway you have over me, but I cannot stand the idea of living without you. I want be here with you, forever, no matter the cost."

You squeeze your eyes shut against the flood of tears that threaten to spill, waiting for his polite retreat. His body lifts off yours and you pull a shuddering breath in, unused to laying yourself bare in this way. He could end you now, destroy you by just walking away.

But you feel tremoring hands grasp your face, almost too tightly. He doesn't say a word, can't, but presses his forehead to yours.

-

4. "Zhongli?" You call into the empty hum of the parlor, hoping it will carry to his office. It's not far, but he gets absorbed in his work easily.

You lean out the door a bit, and try to project your voice more, "Hey, honey?"

The door to his office clicks open, and his head pokes out. "Do you need assistance?"

"Yes, please," you adjust the pile of books in your arms, "Would you mind grabbing this other pile? A client requested reference material from just about every era, and I don't think I have the wing span to carry all of it."

He presses a quick kiss to your head, and scoops up the remaining books with no problem.

"Of course, would you like me to relieve you of those as well?"

"Not a chance, show off, you're gonna have to deal with the doors."

As if to prove your point, he balances the stack in one hand to hold the front door open for you, smile only slightly smug.

-

5. Given how busy your lives were, and his propensity for letting time fly, you figured he would forget again. It would not be the first anniversary he forgot, and you imagine it wouldn't be the last.

It's not like you could hold it against him, especially not when he was so earnest and loving all year round.

So your surprise was genuine when he led you, dressed in his best, to a private booth at Liuli Pavilion.

The food was made by the head chef, as a show of gratitude for Zhongli's long patronage (you send a quiet thank you to Childe), and the service superb. The evening is relatively quiet, you converse as normal but with the additional soppiness that comes from acknowledging romance.

You are especially glad for the privacy when you cannot help but practically ravish the man over the table, his face being too handsome to bear just looking at.

Shortly after, he looks at you with burning eyes, and finally says, "I am quite full. Perhaps we should head home."

"That sounds perfect."

You continue to stare, sappy and sated, as he blindly pats at his pockets, equally unwilling to look away.

After several moments, it dawns on you, and then immediately on him.

You can't help it. You laugh. Hysterically, because no matter what Zhongli is Zhongli.

He's standing now, flustered like you've never seen, pacing the room as if his wallet would be anywhere but the table at home.

"This was not my intent." He huffs, "I had planned the evening meticulously."

"And it was lovely," You choke back another laugh, "But, sugar, you are not living this down for the rest of our lives!"

You are laughing as you pull out your own wallet, giggling uncontrollably as you hand over all the money on your person, and can barely walk you're so light headed when he leads you out the door.

He doesn't once let you go, from the pavilion's steps to your front door. Indulgent to the end, your man.

+

1. It is always a pleasant surprise when your errands overlap. Working nearly in conjunction makes it happen quite often, but still, it makes your day brighter.

You have just finishing bartering your lunch into existence when you spot Zhongli headed your way. Quickly, you slip the chef a few more mora to add another dish.

He is at your side in an instant, bringing your hand to his lips in that coquettish way he has.

"There you are," he lowers your hand but does not drop it, "I've been looking for you, treasure."

You twine your fingers together, relishing the warmth. You snug up to his side, taking the liberty of placing his hand on your hip just to see him blush.

"Have you now?"

"Always."

[lunarflux]

"i promised i'd forget, but you're all i see when i dream the night away"

bang chan x reader

genre — drama!au

suggested background music: x

note: like i said - i put a lot of my life into writing. something similar to this happened to me today, and i'd like to think that music is getting me through it. i wanted to add more of a "post credits" scene for chan and o/c, but this is how my day is going and how this situation ends.

The world never felt so heavy.

You'd never thought that scrolling through social media could create this bleeding ring in your ears, yet somehow here you are, unable to look at your phone. The photo you stumbled across had already been burned into your memory. There were times when you could forget what song you'd just listened to, and yet this one image had suddenly been burned, a permanent nightmare in your mind.

Your ex looked happy. It wasn't a bad breakup, but after a year, you couldn't expect him to stay single forever. You'd both agreed to move on, and while you swore you had, seeing the photo of him with a beautiful girl kissing his cheek made your shoulders heavy. Staring at your blacked out screen, it was like the photo was still there, and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't keep yourself from seeing it. Every time you closed your eyes, there he was.

Happy.

You fumbled with your cell phone, placing it face down on your desk before your boss could catch you. It was hard to hide the look on your face. It was pain, sadness, and confusion. How was it that after all this time, you hadn't succeeded in moving on, but he had?

Was it you? Or was this girl really so special that you were worth forgetting?

The feeling of being forgotten - it's seeing the dust gather on photos and the doorknob that he will never open again.

It's over.

"Do you have the paperwork for the meeting tomorrow?" Chan popped into your office, placing a fresh mug of coffee on your desk. You'd started here only six months ago, but he already knew that you liked your coffee light and sweet. "Jisoo wants to make sure we're not missing anything before -"

"Yeah, I have it." You said curtly, looking back at your computer, typing away at your report. "I'll bring it to you later."

"I mean, I can wait for it if you have it ready."

"Chan," you looked up at him. "I said I'll bring it to you later."

Chan looked at you with mild concern. Sure, there were a lot of women in the office, and the men had eventually learned when not to step on toes in the case of any mood swings because of work stress. You weren't one of those people though. You were the type of person who'd rid the stress with a bar of chocolate and be done with it. You'd never snapped at him before.

"Okay." Chan backed out quietly. He ducked into the next office over. Knocking on Minki's office door, he peered in.

"Hey," Minki stood up. "I gotta bring these to the fourth floor, can you watch the phone for me?"

"Yeah, no problem." Chan smiled before taking a seat.

Ping

He knew that you and Minki were office best friends ever since you got hired. While he didn't mean to see it, Minki left his messenger open and slowly your messages came flooding in.

x: he moved on x: am i supposed to be upset? x: we broke up a year ago, so why do i feel so defeated haha x: maybe i'm just decomposing. why do i feel like this x: can we get drinks later? i know you hate it when i drink to drown out my sorrows, but i just can't be here right now.

Damn.

Chan swore he didn't mean to see all that. That would explain the mood though.

x: i didn't think i'd miss him this much. i just want to forget about it.

Taking in a deep breath, Chan pulled out his phone and made a call.

**

"Chan, why did you need me for this stupid client dinner? And who the hell has dinner at 4PM?" You continuously complained as he drove you down the road into the next district.

"Just relax, it'll be fine."

You rested your head against the passenger side window. As your breath fogged up the glass, you scribbled little hearts, peppered over the skyline as Chan drove. It wasn't until you started seeing signs that you realized you were at Banpo Bridge. Chan pulled into the empty parking lot.

"The client wants to have dinner here? What are we doing - getting takeout?" You jested.

Chan opened your door. "Go sit over there, I'll be right back."

You took your seat right by the edge of the water. The weather really was perfect today. The fresh air helped clear out your thoughts. Even though the breakup was a year ago, seeing that photo really made it feel like it just happened yesterday. Your heart broke twice, and yet you couldn't bring yourself to think that you hate him now. You loved him as a memory - a beautiful, happy memory, and it was time to let go now.

Chan re-emerged next to you, a bag with four bottles of soju and piping hot ramen in his hands.

"Um -" You nearly laughed at the sight of him struggling to carry everything. "Am I missing something? Are the clients your drinking buddies?"

"Sit, sit, please." Chan arranged everything down on the ledge.

"Not that I'm ungrateful, but I am confused."

"I, uh." He sat down next to you, removing his jacket. "I'm sorry. Please don't be mad at me."

Stopping halfway from opening a bottle, you looked up at him.

"y/n, Minki had me watch over his desk, and I... I'm sorry, I saw your messages."

"Chan, that was private." You looked down at your shoes, feeling the heaviness in your chest again.

"I know. And I'm sorry." He grabbed the bottle from you and opened it himself. "Minki had to run to another meeting, and I saw how sad you were. I just figured I'd help you escape for a bit. I called in a favor from the interns to watch your stuff, so we could... do this, I guess."

You'd always known Chan was a softie. He was that guy in the office who never forgot about birthdays and important events. He was never late, and he would do everything he could to help out the new people. Even to you, he was a big help whenever you needed it.

"Again, I'm sorry." He poured two shots and handed you one. "But you looked like you needed it, so - cheers."

You watched him as you threw back your soju. You stifled a smile, "Pitiful, isn't it. Still feeling like you've been dumped even after an entire year."

Chan winced as the alcohol hit the back of his throat. "Not at all. Who said that a year was the right time to get over someone? There's no rule for that."

You continued to sip slowly, watching him open up all the snacks.

"I haven't had a girlfriend in years, and I swear, after my last girlfriend and I broke up, I couldn't stop thinking about her even because of the littlest things. It wasn't a bad breakup, but when you have so many happy moments with someone, you can't help but feel sad when you see that person making new moments with someone else. It makes you wonder if that could've been me, y'know?"

It couldn't be stopped. One deep breath and suddenly all the tears started pouring out. You couldn't control your breathing, and it felt like the weight of the world finally came crashing down on your chest, reminding you of every little happy memory that had to be released into the ocean like confetti.

Chan rushed over, placing his jacket on your shoulders. He hushed you, rubbing your arms to warm you up. Crouching down in front of you, he pulled you up and brought you into his chest.

"Wait, I'll get makeup on your shirt -"

He laughed at your childish worries. "It's just a shirt. Just go ahead, it's okay. I can get it dry-cleaned, and you're worth more than some shirt."

Feeling your tears soak up in the cotton, you just cried, and Chan let you until it felt like there was nothing left. You chest was still heaving, but you felt the weight lift slowly. The sea air started filling your lungs again like an icy burn.

"I'm sorry." You finally looked up, mascara stained on your cheeks. You smeared what you could from your face before sitting.

"Stop apologizing." Chan sat down beside you again. "Do you feel better?"

"A little."

Placing his hand on yours, Chan smiled. It was a warm gentle smile. He squeezed, "It will get better. I promise."

"I just feel like everyone keeps moving on, and I'm just stuck here."

"Where is 'here' to you? 'Here' to me is existing with a good job with good friends and a good life. 'Here' is anything you're doing happily without him." He reached up to cup your cheek. "I know you feel miserable, but your body won't let you feel this way forever. And neither will I. Please don't feel as if 'here' is an awful place. 'Here', you have me, and I'll stay until you're not sad anymore."

Peering up at him with red eyes, you smiled with whatever energy you had. Sadness still sat on your shoulders, but it didn't feel so awful anymore.

Chan nodded towards you.

"Until you're not sad or until you ask me to leave - I'll be here for you."

[aries-rising-on-an-aquarius-tide]

Spoilers: Futility 4x22

Trigger warnings: references to sexual assault and murder, angry sex, biting, marking

Evocations: XIII

Going through the motions and the paperwork after finding Gardner dead in Erin Goss' living room seemed to take a long, long time. When Olivia finally let herself into the apartment, it was so late that Sky High didn't even budge from the sofa when the door clicked open and then softly shut.

But Alex was still up. Noises drifting out of the kitchen drew Liv in that direction, where she found the blonde amid a disastrous mess of baking supplies. Open cannisters, boxes and bags were everywhere; flour, drips of mixtures, dropped chocolate chips, and empty egg shells ran from one end of the island to the other.

Alexandra baked when she was angry.

That was fine by Olivia, as they both had plenty to be angry about. The Gardner case had been a thorn in their side right from the beginning, and now it had ended less than optimally - to say the least. A rapist was dead but dead wasn't exactly justice, and none of them really believed that Erin had been defending herself.

Luck had been on Alex and Olivia's sides in the two years they had been together, in that they hadn't gone to the mat over cases very often. It was often commented on by those who knew they were together, how unusual this was.

"He's dead," Liv said flatly.

"So I heard," Alexandra replied, hands on her hips as she blew a section of blonde hair off her forehead.

Five rapes, three indictments dismissed, now a murder, and the perpetrator was dead. They were going to the mat this time, and they both knew it. Had known it since Alex had blown up over Gardner's motion to call Bethany to the stand. Very little of it was about pride; it was about the futility of it, of all the energy expended trying to protect the women, only to have things fall apart. Both women felt impotent, everything they had tried having only resulted in further complications.

"She was sleeping with him," Liv added.

Alex snorted, wiping her hands on her apron. "Well that was obvious."

The oven timer went off, and Alex slipped on oven mitts, yanking a tray of cookies out. Sighing, Olivia slumped into one of the bar chairs at the island.

"We never should have had Carrie waive her privacy," Alex tossed out.

"So the jury could have deadlocked over the ID? It still would have given him the chance to run and kill that woman."

"That woman would still be alive if we had done our jobs!" Alex slammed a spatula against the counter, every inch of her tall body wound tight with anger and inexpressible sadness.

"We did do our jobs!"

It wasn't that Olivia didn't understand; just two nights before she had been singing the same tune to Elliot, about the fine line between doing the right thing, and doing too many right things. There was just no soft place to land when they were both feeling like this.

"I can't do this anymore," Alexandra said tersely. Liv stilled in her seat, her heartrate leaping. "It's bad enough that I never know when you're going to come home with bruises from some predator attacking you. If I can't get justice for the victims, I'm failing on both fronts."

"Alex, I can take care of myself."

"Not always."

"Most of the time," Liv insisted. Alexandra made an irritated noise in her throat and flipped pages in her cookbook angrily. "If you want to drop SVU, nobody's stopping you," Olivia told her then, taking a page from Elliot's book.

Alex scoffed openly at that.

Liv rose from her chair and rounded the corner of the island counter. "Hey, it's true! Just because you're the best ADA that the unit has ever had, doesn't mean you can't move on. But I know exactly what I signed up for - and the bottom line is, a lot of the time this job is hell. That's not going to change."

The truth of the statement hung in the air between them.

"You don't get it, do you?!" Alex snapped, stepping up to the brunette, their sparking, angry gazes meeting. "I see what this job does to you - to us - and I can't lose you. I can't."

Alex's hand grabbed Liv's forearm, fingertips biting into the skin with the force of fear and guilt and anger. Worse, though, was that Olivia did understand; she knew exactly what the pressures of their jobs was doing to their relationship. It kept her awake some nights, wondering how long they could both sustain things.

Liv put her hand over Alex's and attempted to pry the fingers away, which resulted only in Alex's other hand, locking onto her bicep and pushing her hard against the counter.

"Alex," Liv warned, but it was obvious from the blonde's stormy gaze that it wasn't going to do any good.

Alex tightened her grip so that Olivia couldn't raise her arms, and leaned in, dragging frustrated kisses along the lines of the brunette's throat. The kisses included plenty of teeth, nipping and scraping the skin, leaving red marks in their wake.

Liv struggled under the weight of Alex's body pushing her, both women breathing angrily and fast. "For fuck sake, Alex!"

The blonde sank her hands into Liv's short dark hair and pulled, dragging a hiss from her throat before she clamped a hard kiss onto her mouth. Their fear, and impotence and exhaustion with the case poured into their angry touching, ramping up with every motion.

Olivia yanked at the apron that Alex was still wearing, her hands fighting to untie the strings as Alex tried to keep her pinned. Changing tactics, Liv used her weight against her, pushing forward and away from the island altogether. They stumbled across the space between the counter and the refrigerator, crashing into the appliance and sending magnets clacking to the floor.

Grunting with surprise, Alex steadied herself and fisted the bottom of Olivia's shirt into her hands, tugging it swiftly up over Liv's head and off, shoving her backward. The brunette crashed back against the island where Alex immediately pinned her with another kiss.

Olivia bit into the blonde's bottom lip, and Alex drew back, eyes wide. "Christ!" Blood welled where teeth had cut, and when the kiss began again, Liv sucked it clean.

The apron was finally untied and, Liv's hands slid down Alexandra's back, pulling her sweater up, wrestling to get it off. When it was gone, more biting followed, over the blonde's neck and shoulders until she was slapping Olivia's hands down. Pushing her in her hold, Alex got her turned around so that she was facing the counter.

One hand slid up Liv's back, curling to a stop at her neck, holding her in place while the other hand snaked around Liv's waist to open her pants. They had never really done this - fucked out of anger, out of fear - and it felt dangerous and electric. Alex's hand manoeuvred into Olivia's pants as she struggled, and when she was met with clamped thighs, she brought her knee up to wedge between her legs from behind.

"Fuck you!" Olivia panted.

Alexandra dropped her mouth to the warm skin of Liv's back and bit her there. "That's what I'm doing," she told her evenly. Spreading Olivia open with her long fingers, Alex stroked mercilessly over the swollen clit she found there.

"Fff-agghh!" Liv cried angrily, her forehead against the cool marble of the countertop.

The blonde released her grip long enough to jerk pants and underwear down together, then sank her fingers into Olivia's hair while the other hand stroked at the dripping wet heat of her entrance from behind. Both women growled unintelligibly when Alexandra filled Liv with her fingers.

She was not gentle, nor did Olivia want her to be, as Alex pulled her head back by the hair and fucked into her hard enough to stutter her feet forward on the floor. Liv stretched her arms across the island, fingers slipping on spilled flour and other sticky ingredients.

"You're going to come for me," Alex panted, then groaned at the responding clench of Liv's cunt around her fingers.

"Fuck . . . fuck!" It seemed to be the only working word left in Olivia's vocabulary.

Come she certainly did, screaming with anger, with relief, while trying to thrust into Alex's fingers yet somehow away from them all at once. Before Liv had barely caught her breath, she spun on the tall blonde and grabbed her with both hands, planted on either side of her ribcage.

Trailing remnants of flour and sugar in their wake, Liv shoved her hands beneath the bra Alexandra had on, squeezing her breasts gracelessly, pinching her nipples hard enough to make her hiss in pain. Then Alex's mouth was on Liv's again, her arms encircled her waist and she hoisted her onto the counter.

Olivia sank another bite into the blonde's throat, her hands working to get the bra off. When she succeeded, she raked her nails down Alex's back, getting a roar of lustful anger in response. For the first moment since they'd started, Alex stepped away from her, their eyes still locked like dogs growling through a fence.

She popped the button on her pants, unzipped and shoved her pants off her hips to the floor, kicking out of them. The scratches down her back were hot and stinging as she stepped back up to Olivia and brushed her lips close to her ear.

"Fuck me," she breathed, then bit down on Liv's earlobe.

"Make me," Liv rasped out, shivering as the bite was followed by Alexandra's hot tongue.

"My pleasure." The blonde grabbed one of Liv's wrists and pulled, dragging it low and forcing the fingers to uncurl.

As soon as her fingers made contact with the damp, wiry curls between the blonde's thighs, Olivia's resistance evaporated. Her fingers straightened so Alex could guide them where she wanted them, and where Alex wanted them was deep inside her. Then Liv took over, withdrawing and then sinking her fingers back in to the hilt, over and over again.

The last of their anger and fear burned down as the sound of Liv fucking Alex filled the kitchen, not stopping until the blonde was quaking and dripping and gasping for mercy.

.

.

"Another cookie?" Alex asked quietly.

"Mm, yes please," Liv nodded against Alex's chest.

Alexandra reached across to the plate of cookies that they'd rested on the toilet cover and took one, passing it off to the slippery, wet brunette that was atop her in the hot bath.

They had been there a long while, reheating the water each time it cooled, tending to their bites and scratches, washing off flour and sugar remnants. And, of course, eating cookies.

"Lex?" Olivia mumbled, serene but tired.

"Yes?"

"I promise you won't lose me, as long as I can help it."

Alexandra took a deep breath and combed her fingers through Liv's short, wet tresses. "I know, Babe. I know."

[afandommultiverse]

The Gift - Leopold Vermillion

Words - 2006 Request - TreueHyuga

A/n - I hope you enjoy it! I had a really fun time writing this one! Leopold is aged up to 18! So, so are you lol.

Y/n POV

"Come to think of it, your birthday is coming up, isn't it, Y/n?" Leopold grinned wolfishly at his girlfriend, pumped with excitement and happiness due to the celebration around them, the celebration for him! His birthday, his coming of age day.

"It is, Leo, why are you gonna plan a surprise party for me too?" You lured him close giving him a smooch on the cheek. It was you who planned the whole thing for Leopold tonight, the director of the whole galant party. It was a great surprise party, Leopold hadn't suspected a thing, some can choose whether that's a good or bad thing.

"No. Maybe. We'll see, won't we, my dear?" Leopold's arms wrapped around you, pulling tight and leaning in closely. His hand skimmed up your waist and back down your arm, pulling your arm out and whisking you to the dance floor.

"Another dance? We just got done with five!" You shrieked, pulling your exhausted legs after him. Pure adrenaline and euphoria powered your body, swinging it around and following his steps. Laughing and tripping some, maybe even almost running into a few people too.

"Never my dear, I never want to stop dancing with you. I promise this is my last selfish birthday wish." He smiled, twirling you in and dipping you to the music. You smirked and leaned in, mirth and tease swimming in your eyes.

"I wouldn't mind a few more selfish wishes." You whispered as he pulled you up, hand slithering across his chest and resting at his heart. Your voice practically poured incentive, selfish questions, and desires Leopold had wanted to ask you for years poured into his mind as he stared into your eyes, completely suggestive and seductive in their e/c shaded wake. He pulled you up fast, pulling to hold your hand against his racing heartbeat.

"Y/n, you ha-

"Leopold!" A fiery hand came to rest on Leopold's shoulder, stopping the much-anticipated words that would have left Leo's mouth. He turned, almost giving his brother the stinky eye but couldn't help but to smile. His brother had been gone for a few months, having to go on a long expedition. Giving you a quick apologetic look and a kiss on the palm of your hand, once laying against his chest, he let you go.

You were immediately cold, already missing his insufferable heat you just learned to live with, and heat you learned to love. You watched on as he chatted with his older brother, not blaming him for being so excited, it had been months. You pulled at his jacket coat twice to let him know you were leaving and he nodded, grabbing you're pinky and rubbing at it before letting you go.

"So, finally eighteen, huh?" Fuegoleon smiled at his younger brother, who now stood as tall and as prideful as the rest of his lion clan. Fuegoleon knew he was ready, and knew he would make a fine captain one day, maybe sooner than later.

"It seems so." Leopold grinned, he was jittery and bouncing with excitement, how couldn't he be?

"You might be trying to play it off but I know exactly what you're up to." Fuegoleon looked at Leo, completely aware of his little game.

"Your right brother,  only 59423 hours and 45 seconds left to beat you in becoming the captain of the Crimson lions. I think I can't get there before 25!" He grinned like a cat, eyes glinting with just as much point and mischievousness. He loved wagering with his brother, especially when it came to how powerful he could get. It meant more training!

"You are crazy... I'd like to see you try!" Fuegoleon huffed, shaking his head and walking away a smile hidden behind his back as he walked towards other guests. Leopold would make it alright, Fuegoleon was sure of that.

Leopold turned to look around for you, his looking over every person before they found him, draped across a wall and staring at him playfully, pointing a doorway. He grinned and looked around, before practically running towards you, picking you up and running to his room for nightly festivities.

***

Your birthday was in three days. Seventy-two hours. Four thousand and twenty minutes. Two hundred and fifty-nine thousand and two hundred seconds- WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO? He had been going back and forth for two days, thinking of what he should get you. Leopold had already finished with the planning, he knew he couldn't do a surprise party, because not only had you done one for him, you were too smart and Leopold couldn't keep anything away from you.

"Maybe Fuego or Leona could help." He muttered to himself, staring at the same paperwork he had been staring at for the last two hours.

"Could help with what?" Leopold practically jumped out of his skin, completely endorsed what to get you, he did expect you to be right behind him.

"Y/n? Oh! Uh, maybe they could help with this- this uh, work here, something about...  uh- blown up houses or something- uh what are you doing here, dear?" He pushed the pages away and turned to face you, smiling almost too widely. You stared at him weirdly.

"You okay?" You asked, coming to put a hand on his head, feeling to see if he was warmer than usual. He wasn't, only flushed and a little sweaty. You wiped your hand off on him and walked up, coming to sit on his lap sideways.

"Our mothers took me out dress shopping for my birthday gala, it was incredibly boring and so tedious!" You rested your head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat and relaxing as he lifted his hand to comb through the beginnings of your hair, his fingers tickling the skin on the side of your face now and then when he repeated the motion.

"Luckily I found a gorgeous dress though." You turned your head to look up at him. His smile was as bright as usual as he smiled down at you, hand coming to rest against your cheek as he spoke.

"That's good. I'm sure It'll look gorgeous as I'm taking it off you." He whispered cheekily leaning in for a blazing kiss. You slapped at his chest jokingly, meeting his kiss with just as fevore and love as him.

Pulling apart, you two wanted nothing more than to continue, but Leopold still had decisions to make, and your mother still wanted to go jewelry shopping with you. So with one last craving kiss, you got up and left, leaving Leopold to go searching for his brother and sister.

***

"What should I get Y/n for her birthday?" Fuegoleon and Mereoleona stared down at Leopold with little interest.

"This is what you pulled us away for?" Mereoleona growled, staring at her little brother with anger but happy that he had come to her for advice. He never does, always opting for stupid Fuegoleon- who by the way, is the second born.

"This is serious! I can't think of a single thing! I've already gotten her everything before, and I sure as hell am not going to get some boring gifts, it's gotta be perfect!" Leopold crying looked at his older sibling with pleading eyes. Mereoleona sighed and rolled her eyes while Fugoleon simply smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, what do they like?"

***30 Minutes Later***

"And they also-"

"Okay! Leo, we got it! Let's move on!" Meroleona stopped Leopold from splurging any more useless information, already sick of his lovesick stories of you. Meroleona sat back and thought hard, she too stuck on what Leopold should get, if he hadn't already of gotten it for you, it was simply too stupid enough to get then. Finally, though, Fuegoleon spoke up.

"Leo, do you love Y/n?" Fuegoleon held Leopold's eyes, ready for a slipping leak of deceit, but found none when he strongly replied.

"Are you serious? Of course, I love them! Hell, I've loved them my entire life it feels! They are always there for me, always have been! Without them, I wouldn't be nearly as powerful as I am today. Without them, I don't think I would have ever made it this far. I can't even begin to think of what my life would be like without them." Leopold spoke with such ferocity it left him almost breathless, his chest burning with the love for you. Fuegoleon only looked on in amusement.

"Well brother, I think you know what to do."

***

The party was beautiful, walls draped in f/c silks, your favorite. Flowers of all kinds filling every vase dotted across tables and window seals, some even hanging from the ceiling. Entertainers performed around you, showing off for the guests and patrons. Music filling the gigantic halls of the ballroom, sending magical melodies swirling around the room. It had been a night of dancing and drinking, good food, and sweet desserts. Laughs and jokes were shared with good friends and guild members.

As the night grew colder and fatigue slipped into everyone's exhausted bodies, [pulling them to leave and seeking sleep in their beds and homes. Leopold had swooped you up and carried you out of the ballroom, pushing past departing guests and banquet wanderers with genuine goodbyes and courtesies, hoping to see each other again.

"Where are we going, Leo?" You asked, confused and he walked out in the night air of the castle, finding a special mage standing near, opening a portal and nodding us in, a warm smile on his face.

"To you're last birthday present, my dear." Fuegoleon smiled and walked through the portal, walking out into a forested area. You looked around, taking in the change of environment. A wooden cabin layout in front of you two, covered in vines and foliage. Fireflies lit up the entrance, buzzing around a small bridge passing over a little creek in front of the little cabin. As we walked across you watched as the fireflies buzzed around brightly, spooked and startled by the walking of Leopold's steps. You giggled as they flew around you and Leopold, some even going to the water and lighting it up, making out the shapes of fish and lily pads dotting the water's surface.

"Leo, this is beautiful." You whisper, looking up at the spiraling trees, watching the stars shine and twinkle down on you. Leopold only smiled at your astonished face, quick to get you inside and show you your final gift.

Leopold opened the door, walked in, and set you down. As you walked around the warm cabin, taking in the decorations and personal trinkets Leopold had brought, to what he would hopefully like to call your new home. Leopold watched as you took in everything, reaching in his pocket and grabbing your gift, getting down to rest on one knee. He waited for you to turn back around, looked at him questioningly, and watched the slow realization dawn on your face as he lifted the little box and showed you what lay inside.

A gorgeous ring, detailed to a royals perfection, with the stunning vermillion house sigil carved on the outside. A vermillion diamond rests between the golden prongs holding it in place.

"Leo." A hand covers your mouth as you look at him in shock and astound. "Do you mean it?" You asked, walking over quickly and staring down at the man you love holding your next step in his hands.

"I would never lie or joke about something like this, Y/n. I love you, and I know I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I can't live without you." Leopold spoke, eyes staring up at her with honest truth.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!! Of course, I'll marry you!" Leopold jumped up quickly and wrapped you in a breathless kiss, bringing you in tightly and finally letting go of all his anxiety of you saying no, no it was too early or something, but he needn't worry now.

You said yes.

[whump-town]

ajadhkhdh that's okay! The gist of my ask was: what do you think abt Derek and Aaron's (platonic) relationship? I really think it's the most underrated friendship within the core 7. (Then again, I'm generally biased towards the two of them) so I was wondering if you had any headcanons/fic ideas for them specifically? Like after the events of Restoration, or after Hotch reveals thst Emily is not dead, that sort of thing.

I do have an ask for Restoration Hotch and Morgan so I’m going to go ahead and include what I wrote for that plus what I thought of when you asked this^^:

They’re a match made in Adrenaline Crash Hell.

Problems with authority?

Issues trusting men?

Trouble magnets?

It unnerves Haley every time she kisses her husband goodbye knowing she’s sending him out there with his equally as injury-prone partner. She loves Derek Morgan. He’s a doll and she invites him over for dinner all the time (also to occasionally get him to help Aaron do handy-man stuff around the house because she loves her husband but the man doesn’t understand woodwork at all).

They’re an unstoppable pair. 

Hotch is a fantastic sharp-shooter and he makes quick work of tongue-tying any cops that get into their way. Not to mention his legal knowledge gets them one foot in the door and guaranteed loopholes in problems that other pairs can’t solve.

Morgan is a charmer and paired with his good looks, he gains the trust of victims with ease. Not to mention, he’s fast on his feet and a close reader which means he won’t miss a single piece of evidence in a file. He excels in defusing explosives and that’s what sets them apart. 

It’s why Morgan gets sent back to Quantico with fragments of a bomb to put back together when Hotch gets sent to the hospital. 

Morgan stands in the bullpen, numb as he watches over and over as the news plays that scene on repeat. Just as it ends, they play that little clip-- the men wearing FBI kevlar and cops infiltrating the building. The radio static and Gideon’s voice giving the okay to move in. Morgan wonders when he’s going to get the call-- when Gideon’s voice is going to come through his phone and tell him he has to call Haley.

To tell her Hotch is dead…

and Jason Gideon killed him.

He manages to forgive Gideon for making him feel that hopeless. What he can’t forgive is what Gideon does to Hotch.

“The Black Queen--” Hotch informs him, one hand firmly planted on the wall ahead of him and the other tightly gripping a sleek black cane. He’s breathless and struggling to work through the pain that feels like it’s in every nerve of his body. But he’s refused Morgan’s help three times and he won’t cave on that now. 

With a sigh, he forces his body upright. His leg gives and Morgan grabs his shoulders. “Alright, man,” Morgan grunts and he forces Hotch back into the wheelchair the nurse had given them just in case. Good thing too. He lets out a breath of his own, feeling extremely better now that he won’t have to watch Hotch force his body to move in ways that it clearly does not want to.

Morgan pats Hotch’s shoulder, “what were you saying about this Black Queen chick?”

Despite just being taken off of bed rest and only being okayed for short walks this week, Hotch has already hired two new members of the team. Of their team, because as far they know, Jason Gideon will not be returning and Hotch is acting Unit Cheif until they can find somebody better-- which they know is a ploy because no one else can do the job.

Which makes the two of them the only members of the team. 

Living, that is.

Hotch chews on the end of his nails as he informs Morgan about the hacker recently caught in the FBI’s web. It makes him smile, Morgan can appreciate Hotch’s creativity in this new team. He’s good at this.

JJ had been the first person Hotch hired. She’d joined their little force last week as a media liaison and Morgan liked her right off the bat. She’d come to the hospital and Morgan had watched in shock but extreme amusement as she took right to arguing with Hotch. Not in a bad way but more of a “No, sir, you won’t be getting any paperwork until your doctor signs off on it. As that is the requirement you have to meet under federal guidelines and… because I said so.”

Needless to say, they love her. Not many people have the balls to tell Hotch no. It makes her perfect for the job.

She makes their jobs easier and she fully understands that while Hotch and Morgan are not currently physically capable of the job, it is in no way waiting for them to be ready.

There’s a slightly maddened look in Hotch’s eyes as he leans forward and tells Morgan about how much a genius this woman, the Black Queen, is. Then again, the poor man has had nothing to do for weeks and he’s taken this small task and really ran with it. It definitely doesn’t help that he’s desperate need of a hair cut and in pajamas. 

Going to interview Penelope Garcia is the first time Hotch leaves the hospital in months.

He’s promptly taken right back but he’s smiling the whole way.

Their team of four has weekly meetings in the hospital. 

Then Hotch hires Reid.

It’s strange at first but one night, as Morgan’s falling asleep it suddenly occurs to him-- That son of a bitch. Hotch and Morgan both struggle to trust men which has had a lot to do with Hotch’s hires being all women. Then Hotch does hire another “man” and it’s some scrappy-ass runt of a genius-- so, of course, Morgan hadn’t even flinched. He hadn’t even thought twice before taking the kid under his arm.

Of course, Hotch has Reid spending all his time with Gideon but he’s still a part of the team. 

But Hotch heals and returns to active duty. Gideon stays on campus. 

And then it all comes crashing in once again.

Morgan is the one to advocate for Elle. He doesn’t say a word to Hotch-- he doesn’t know why. He just goes straight up to Gideon and tells the man that they can’t pass up on a spunky woman like Elle Greenaway. 

He gets the impression Hotch doesn’t completely support this idea-- not Greenaway, just not the idea that Morgan went to Gideon instead of him.

Their friendship... struggles as Hotch takes on the full responsibilities of Unit Cheif. He’s not as fun and Morgan would prefer hanging out with the kid and Elle, so he does. 

Tobias Hankle forces them to confront that ruined friendship the moment Derek Morgan utters those simple words: “you’re a drill sergeant”.

But they remain one in the same.

“I have and always will entrust you with my life. Can you do the same for me?”

“I love my job, man.” “You love him more.”

“I don’t want you going to see Burford.”

The stand-off between the federal agents standing in the middle of the police station is clear. A battle that goes past wills and the inhibitions of troubled youths. The kind of trouble that runs deeper than still water. Trauma that grown men can’t shake. That these grown men haven’t shaken.

“Hotch, I can do this.”

Maybe, Hotch considers. Maybe Derek can to a certain degree. The way that Hotch handles it after case. The way they all handle it. “Fine,” he relents. He can’t burn the bridge between the two of them over something as stupid as egos and abusers. Not when their pasts intertwine the way they do. Braided. “Fine but I’m coming with you.”

Because if they’re going to do this, they’re going to do it together.

More or less.

There’s no denying how weak his own knees feel as Hotch watches Morgan take Buford’s hand. So, when Morgan looks him dead in the eyes and lies-- and deceives him with the excuse that he’s going to “use the head before we leave” Hotch lets him. It’s the same small infraction he’d need Morgan to allow him. The same infraction Morgan has allowed him.

“Derek? You did a great thing out there.”

The jet has been silent, for the most part. It’s only the right amount of small talk, mangled by Dave’s encouraging words. Mangled by the call.

Hotch recognizes the tone, the far off look in Derek’s eyes as he pulls his phone away from his ear. “What happened?” he can hardly push the question past his lips. Because he already knows the swell of tangled emotions. The way that anger melts into fear and doubt. The way relief wraps its cold fingers around your sternum and burns with the passion of loss. 

Because deep, deep down… Hotch still loved his father. 

“Carl Buford is dead.” 

Bile stings the back of Hotch’s throat but he remains silent and still when Morgan stands. He assumes the other man is feeling the same burning disgust. Anger with himself for being upset. Anger with Buford for making him love him in some twisted way. 

And Morgan can’t find the means to understand it. Hotch loved his abuser because he was his father. Carl was… Carl was nothing and everything and Morgan crawled his way from the muddied pits of hell without Carl and yet--

“Breathe--” he can’t even make it to the bathroom before he sinks to his knees. “It’s alright.” It’s taken Morgan years to get to a place where the presence of another man, hell an older man, doesn’t startle him. Still, sometimes someone steps too close and he flinches or gets frustrated and he can’t even explain why. 

But Hotch surrounds him. He uses his body to block the other’s from Morgan’s direct line of sight and all Morgan knows is the painful throb in his chest and the reassuring hand placed on his back. Morgan finds comfort in that hand. In Hotch who he knows without a shred of doubt not only understands but shares a fraction of his pain. 

“Just breathe, Derek.” 

Hotch looks up, his knees aching from squatting. “Blake, can you grab a water bottle? JJ, can you get me a rag?” He stays right here beside his old friend. So much as changed from those beginning years as two young and dumb agents. 

But they’re still the same broken men. 

“Hotch?”

Hotch shakes his head, “I’m right here, Derek. Always.”

[taetaesbaebaepsae]

Fallen

A/n: So this is Jongin from my story Brimstone and an OC, as well as a sequel to Gimme Shelter, with reader from that story. Idk why I’m doing this complicated shit guys it just be like that sometimes. Jimin from Brimstone and this will have his own story with reader from Brimstone coming up called Inferno.

Warnings: Possessive Taehyung, desperate clothes half off sex, unprotected sex, creampie, overstimulation, some violence in Jongin’s backstory, big angst, Taemin drinking his feelings so alcohol tw

Word Count: 4465

Jongin can't help but be a bit nervous when he's summoned.

The last time he'd been with a human woman....well, it certainly hadn't ended well.

He would have been perfectly okay with working in the mines of hell to pay his debts, but Taemin had something different in mind.

"You'll go to her alone tonight, yeah?"

Jimin makes a sound of protest but Taemin just shoots him a look and Jimin quiets, although he's pouting.

"You think I'm ready?"

Taemin brushes his hair back, sighing. He looks like he hasn't slept. "You're ready. I've got...business to take care of, and you could use the practice."

Jongin's approaching your door when Jimin slips in front of him.

"Take the night off."

Jongin raises an eyebrow. "I work for Taemin, not you."

Jimin smiles disarmingly. "I know, but I'm offering to take your place. Don't you deserve to do a little sightseeing? Angels don't get down here much, right?"

"I've seen enough," Jongin mumbles, and a pair of bright eyes flash in his memory, making his breath catch.

Jimin's smile fades a little.

"Listen, Jongin, I'll level with you. Taemin is distracted by his old flame and you…. you're kind of a pushover."

Jongin makes a distressed sound in the back of his throat.

"It's true," Jimin continues. "And the thing is….I like this human."

"Our human," Jongin corrects, and Jimin's face grows serious.

"I want her to be my human. And if you help me, I'll tell you a secret."

Jongin thinks for a minute. "What kind of secret?"

"One that will help you lessen your debt significantly."

"Fine, but you're taking the heat from Taemin."

Jimin grins. "So, I've heard there's a new angel that recently fell. Sounds like he has a similar story to yours. Maybe you could teach him the ropes, so to speak."

"You mean try to tempt him?"

Jimin sighs. "I'm not gonna spell it out for you. Consider it a helping hand. He should know how humans really are."

Jongin leaves Jimin with an address and a bit of a dilemma.

It isn't as if he'd wanted to spend most of eternity working for demon royalty. When he'd fallen, it'd been for a reason, one he tried his best not to think about. He didn't care about tempting mortals or taking souls or even lessening his debt.

But...if this former angel was in the same situation he was ...he could warn him.

When he arrives at the address he knocks, feeling odd about just appearing, and a man with a furrowed brow answers. The face is familiar, and Jongin smiles.

"Hello, Taehyung." 

"Jongin? What...what are you doing here?"

"I heard you took the plunge. Thought maybe I could help."

Taehyung is still frowning when Jongin slips past him.

"What happened to you? You just disappeared one day."

Jongin sits at the table. "You think you're the first one to fall for your ward? You had it easy with yours, you know. Mine wasn't nearly as careful."

Taehyung sits, and Jongin starts his story, allowing him to get lost in his memories.

That was an understatement. Jongin's assignment was Maria, the sister of a low-level thug. She worked as a bartender and Jongin watched her like a hawk. The first human emotions he felt through her were fear and anxiety. She'd grown up around guns and drugs and violence and it was work, protecting her.

He'd filled out all the paperwork for a visit and been approved right away, as she was in almost constant danger.

He'd followed every rule. Except one.

She'd been so afraid when he'd first appeared, scrambling under her bed, and he'd sat on the floor for hours, talking to her in a low, calm voice, until she crawled out to talk to him.

It'd been like taking care of a wounded animal, slow, careful. She'd get a bit closer every hour until eventually, she fell asleep, her head on his shoulder, and Jongin would never forget how that felt, watching her sleep, how proud he felt that she finally felt safe enough to rest.

The first time she kissed him, he had thought his heart would burst.

The first time he thought about falling was when she moaned into his mouth, clutching at his chest, a moment later.

The actual decision to fall had never been much of a decision in the first place. It'd been just a few days later, when he'd been gearing up to leave, thinking he'd made her safe, trying to tell himself he could handle just watching when he knew what her skin felt like beneath his hands.

She'd run out for soju, telling him she wanted to celebrate cutting ties with her brother like he'd wanted.

He'd felt the gunshot before he heard it, and that's when he'd felt that tug, the pull back home, and he fought like mad when he'd been yanked back to heaven, screaming and kicking at Namjoon.

"Listen to me, Jongin. Listen! You can't help her if you-"

But it was too late, he'd already chosen, and he'd ignored the way humanity fell down on him like a hammer, how he felt the sudden weight of bones and flesh just to get to her.

She'd been gasping for air, and he doesn't realize that the fluid sticking to his palms is blood until much later.

He had thought it was raining until he realizes he's crying and Maria gasped out his name and she's dying and no one will answer him, he's calling to heaven, his brothers, and they've forsaken him because he'd fought his way back, because he'd fallen in love, let himself be tainted.

It was only moments before he goes the other way, hands shaking as he makes the pentagram with her blood, mumbling half-forgotten Latin.

It was Taemin, of course, who had come.

And he'd saved her. He'd saved her and damned him and Jongin was still grateful, despite what had happened next.

🔥 

Taehyung is blinking, mouth open.

"Jongin…. I'm…. I'm sorry. I would've done the same."

Jongin's mouth twists in a bitter grin.

"That's the thing, Taehyung. You shouldn't."

Taehyung cocks his head, confused, and Jongin sighs. Taehyung looks tired, as if he's still having trouble sleeping, as if he's still adjusting to humanity.

"Humans… They don't love like we do. They don't understand forever. Don't you wonder why you feel things so strongly now? They burn so brightly because they burn out so quickly. They can't help being fickle."

Taehyung frowns, all still, and Jongin can tell he’s still adjusting, uncomfortable in his skin, fidgeting a little because he’s anxious.

It brings a lot back to him.

“Fickle?” Taehyung asks, and Jongin continues.

🔥 

It didn’t happen all at once.

Maria was healed, and everything should have been fine. Everything was fine, Jongin kept telling himself. Everything was just fine, as it should be, with Maria sleeping on his chest at night, and him afraid to sleep for the nightmares where she’s bleeding and dying again.

He wakes up reaching for her, panic rising in his throat when she isn’t there, when she’s gotten up to get tea or go to the bathroom.

Jongin tries his best to hide it, how worried he is when she’s not in his sight.

He’d been watching her for years, after all, able to see her every move, and it was so...so different now.

Now he doesn’t see what she’s doing, doesn’t feel what she feels.

He feels a lot, feels too much, all these emotions wreaking havoc on his new human body. He’s plagued with nightmares, migraines, insomnia ...he's barely able to keep food down the first week.

He’d read human literature, talking about the heart, about heartbreak, but he’d found he felt most emotions in his gut, making his stomach roll, or in his throat, panic seeming to tighten it until he’s breathing through a pinhole. He tries to hide it, how hard it is to be made of nothing but skin and bone and feelings.

Maria does try to help, crooning to him when he wakes up whimpering and reaching out for her. She's patient with him when he grows jealous, when she goes out to lunch, when he can't see her.

It makes him wild, anxious, pacing around the kitchen.

When she comes home with a mark on her throat he didn't leave, he can't breathe, excuses himself to go to the bathroom where he lets himself feel it, hyperventilating, ending up sitting in front of the toilet and throwing up bile like he's purging all the jealousy and rage and pain.

He doesn't feel like he can breathe again until she's wiping his face with a cool cloth, voice low and soothing.

She doesn't ask him what's wrong and later, when he grabs her, kisses her hard, bruising her lips, leaving his own marks on her throat, her inner thighs, the curve of her hip, she doesn't protest.

It's gradual, how she slips away, and it feels like his breastbone has cracked when she turns away from him in the night, and he tries to hold her anyway but where she had been soft before she feels like hard lines now, like her skin is suddenly foreign to his touch.

It isn't right, it feels wrong somewhere in his bones, panic rising in him every time she walks out the door.

Jongin is confused by the mix of emotions he feels when she stays gone all night a few months later. There's panic and fear but mostly, anger and he doesn't know what to do with it.

He wants to break things, yell, and it doesn't hit him until she walks in the door that all of that rage is because he wants so badly to fight for her but he doesn't know how.

His throat tightens when he tries to speak, and it comes out weak and strangled.

"Where have you been, Jagiya?"

"Jongin…."

Tears are already rolling down her cheeks and there are rocks in his stomach.

His limbs feel heavy, throat so tight he can barely breathe, as she explains.

She's sobbing when she apologizes, tells him she didn't mean for any of this to happen and he can have the apartment, that she wants to be friends, wants to help him.

He laughs at that, a bitter sound low in his throat.

"I sold my soul for you, Jagiya."

She's crying so hard and he hates hates hates her but mostly he hates himself for wanting to hold her, wanting to beg her not to go.

He wants to ask her who he is, ask her why, ask her what he'd done wrong, but none of that matters, in the end.

"She...she left?" Taehyung asks, mouth hanging open.

"No. I did. I left and went to Taemin, started trying to pay down my debt."

"My girl wouldn't do that. She'd never do that." Taehyung says, firmly, but his lip is trembling.

Jongin just looks at him, suddenly tired from telling the story, from all the stupid human emotions it brought up. "For your sake, I hope not."

In the end, he isn't there to tempt him. He just wants to warn him. Wants to prepare him for the way humans are, how their love fades.

He leaves his former colleague sitting shell shocked at the table, finds himself walking around familiar streets with her on his mind, and he’s not even quite surprised when he sees her.

🔥

Taehyung doesn't know how to feel about all this, he'd never considered the possibility that this could end, that you might leave, and he's so overwhelmed that for a while, he feels blissfully numb.

It isn't until over an hour passes and you're still not home that Jongin's story echoes in his mind, and then his breath starts to shorten, pulse pounding in his temples when he thinks of possible parallels.

By the time you come in with the groceries, his heart is racing and he takes the bags from you, tosses them on the counter, and corners you against the door as it swings shut.

"Where have you been?" His voice is low, much calmer than he'd expected, because he's looking at how your hair has fallen out of the tight bun it was in and wondering if someone had run their hands through it, and his blood is boiling.

You frown up at him. "I've been getting groceries? I wanted to cook-"

Taehyung isn't used to not knowing exactly what his body will do next, and his eyes are on the line of your throat, looking for marks, and when he finds none but his own he leans down and bites at the side of your throat, right over the raised scar he'd left.

Before, he'd felt guilt for marking you for life, kissed it softly, but tonight he's proud, tonight his head is chanting, mine mine mine and when you moan out his name, he's rock hard beneath the new sweats you'd bought him.

He realizes that he hasn't made love to you since he'd fallen, that he'd been too busy adjusting, and God, what did humans do with all this lust? There's something like angelfire under his skin, blood pulsing through his cock, balls tightening with need and he's almost snarling when he kisses you, his teeth catching your lip, iron on his tongue.

It's like being hungry, like starving, and he's got to have your cunt pulsing around him or he feels like his head might explode with all his racing thoughts.

He lifts you up by your hips, groceries discarded, but you're moaning against his mouth and he can't make it to the bedroom, bunching up your dress and ripping your cotton panties to get his hand cupping your sex.

"Taehyung," you gasp out, and he loves his name on your lips, loves how hot your cunt is when he dips two fingers inside and all he can think is that he'd lose his mind if anyone else did this to you. He could remember it all, now, the men who'd come before him, when he'd had to watch, and rage pulses in his temples.

He pulls away from marking up your throat to see your face.

"Say it again,"  He rasps, and replaces his fingers with his cock, thrusting up into you hard, something like a growl coming from his throat.

"Taehyung," you say again, almost breathless, and he doesn't know why tears spring to his eyes.

"You wouldn't leave me, Jagi?" He hears the desperation in his voice and he hates it. His whole body aches to start fucking you, hips twitching, cock pulsing but his chest hurts and he needs to hear you say it.

"Baby. Taehyung…" 

You take his face in your hands, rolling your hips as you kiss him and his cry is muffled by your mouth.

He'd thought that making love to you when he still had his wings was overwhelming but this..how hot and slick you were around him, how your cunt sucked at him when he started to move...this blotted out everything else, all the fear and rage until there was nothing but need.

"Ah, Jagiya...fuck…" He's surprised to hear himself groaning out the curse word he's heard from your lips in moments, fucking you so hard your back is sliding up and down the wall.

You're whimpering, rolling your hips against his, and when you come he groans your name, babbling sudden praises, barely able to string a sentence together. 

"Ah, so good, Jagi, your cunt, fuck... I'm gonna fill you up, don't want you to shower...want to be leaking out of you all day, yeah?"

You cry out and clench around him and his balls seize up and black spots appear in front of his eyes when he comes, letting out that feral growl again, thrusting into you once, twice, sliding you up the wall.

He's shocked at himself when he keeps fucking you, his come making you slick and sloppy, and it hurts almost as much as it feels good but isn't that what love is? Love is wrapped up in pain just as much as pleasure and Taehyung wants to embrace it because it's you and he's left everything he knows and you're all he has and because loving you is like breathing, he's done it for so long now.

You're just whining and kissing him over and over when he lifts you, takes you to the bed, being careful not to slip out of you.

"God," you whimper, clutching at his back, still careful around the scars where his wings were torn off, "Tae... what's gotten into you?"

He grunts, not knowing how to answer, kissing you hard again, hips moving so fast his abdominal muscles are straining.

Pain is giving way to just pleasure and he needs to come again but he also needs to keep fucking you until he doesn't want to scream thinking of someone else's hands on you, someone who could take you away and leave him fallen and broken and alone.

"Tae, Tae, Tae," you chant, bucking your hips and it's over before he wants it to be, he's spilling another load inside you and moaning against your mouth.

When he pulls out he cups his hand against your cunt again as if to keep you full of him, possessive, wanting to mark you everywhere as his.

"Baby?" You ask when he's lying on his back, exhausted, muscles aching from overexertion.

He hums a little, breathing hard, trying to give you a smile, but it's weak.

"What's wrong?"

His throat works and he rolls over to look at you. It's quick, how the anger rises again, how the thoughts come right back like they'd just been lurking at the back of his head. 

"Where were you?" 

"Tae, I told you…"

"How do I know that's the truth? How do I know when I can't see you?" He bursts out, frustrated, gnawing at his bottom lip.

You frown, eyes flashing. "You trust me."

"How? How do I do that, Jagi?"

“I know this is hard, Taehyung. I know it’s hard but you trust me because you love me.”

“When you went out, before all this, before I fell, you were always meeting someone,” he blurts.

You’ve got your jaw clenched, chin jutting out like it did when you were angry and he wants to take it back, has panic scratching at his insides.

“Are you calling me a whore, Taehyung?” You say, softly, sitting up on the bed and he holds his hands out to put them on your arms and when you pull away it’s like a punch to the gut.

“No. No, I just…” He can’t find the words to explain what he means.

He watches you, a lump in his throat, as you get dressed.

“Where are you going?” It’s a hoarse cry and he’s scrambling off the bed, not caring that he’s naked when he follows you into the kitchen.

“Out,” you bark, and he follows you to the door, drops to his knees in front of you because there’s no more dignity or pride left in him, not after today.

“Don’t,” he gasps, feeling like he can’t breathe, clutching at your dress, and when you try and tug it away he just grasps harder, a sob catching in his throat. “Don’t, please, Jagiya...Y/n...don’t leave me.”

Your eyes soften when you look down at him. “It’s okay, Tae. I just...I need a minute.”

But he’s too far gone, sobbing, face pressed into your stomach. “I don’t know how to do this without you, Jagi. I don’t know how to do anything without you. Don’t leave me alone, please-” 

“I’ll..I’ll be back, Tae, just...just give me a few minutes.” 

You finally wrench yourself away and walk out and if he had the strength he’d follow you out, naked and vulnerable, but he can’t do anything but put his face in his hands and cry because it’s all too much, the crack in his chest, the ache in his throat, how his stomach feels sick.

By the time you come back, he’s lost hope entirely. 

🔥

Jongin doesn't realize he's at the bar Maria had worked at until he looks up to see the neon sign, and he lets out a long breath.

She's standing outside, back leaned against the brick, and she drops the cigarette she was about to light when she sees him, crying out his name.

Jongin had thought it would hurt less now, hearing his name on her lips after all this time, two years further corrupting his soul with tasks Taemin assigned.

Instead, it's like she's snared him through the heart, and there's a line drawing him to her.

He picks up her cigarette and pops it in his mouth, leans toward her, and she lights it with a shaking hand.

"Where...where have you been?" She asks in a broken voice, and he laughs before taking a long drag.

"In hell, mostly."

Maria’s throat is working, and Jongin watches the long line of her neck, finds her unmarked, and he hates how much that pleases him, after everything.

“I’m sorry,” she says brokenly, and tears are standing in her eyes and why does that still hurt him? Why does that still put an arrow through his heart? It makes him angry, how much he wants to hate her and can’t, how much his throat aches with longing.

“You’ve said that before.”

“It was all for nothing. He’s gone and you’re in hell and it was all for nothing,” she chokes out.

The cigarette tastes like ash in his mouth already and he throws it into the night, watching the ember as it hits the street, sighing.

He touches her face and she lets out a little whimper in the back of her throat. God, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts to be this close, smell her scent, her eyes big and liquid and searching his face and when he kisses her mouth it’s bittersweet.

“You’re still breathing, yeah?” He says softly when he pulls away. “You’re still breathing. It wasn’t for nothing. That’s all that matters.”

He hears a sob catch in her chest when he begins to walk away, and there’s that thread again, that pull to her, but he fights it, fights it and the tears that spring to his eyes and descends to hell in a flame.

🔥

You return after only a couple of hours, a little bundle in your arms, and when you walk in, your heart falls. 

Taehyung sits on the floor next to the door, where you’d left him, arms wrapped around his knees, still hiccuping sobs.

“Oh...baby. Baby, I’m sorry.”

He looks up at you as if he’s not quite sure you’re really there and then he clutches at you as you sit down in front of him, tries to take your hands but you’ve got this little bundle.

“It’s okay,” he says hoarsely, gasping in a breath as if he’s been holding it since you’d left. “It’s okay, whatever it is, Jagi, I don’t care, I don’t care if there’s someone else or if-”

His face looks so stricken when you shake your head, as if you’d punched him in the throat, and you hum out comforts.

“No, no, Tae, everything’s okay. There’s no one else.” You chuckle. “Well, except this little guy.”

Taehyung frowns when you unwrap the bundle to reveal a little fluff ball of a puppy, whimpering when he peeks out his head from the blanket you’d had him in.

“Wh...what is that?” Taehyung asks as if scandalized, and you laugh again and his face is wet but he smiles a little shakily back at you.

“It’s a puppy. I found him crying behind our apartment and I thought...I thought he could be your friend, someone to help you when I have to go out. I’ve named him Yeontan.”

Taehyung looks skeptical, so you hand him the little bundle and he brings the puppy close to his face.

The puppy lets out a little bark and Taehyung jumps, but then Yeontan licks at his nose and a big boxy smile breaks out across his face.

“I guess...I guess I could use a friend,” he says softly and cradles the puppy in his arms.

It’s isn’t as if it’s easy, after that, but it helps, you come home and find Taehyung anxious but with Yeontan sitting next to him on the couch, giving you a bark as if he’s expecting praise for protecting him while you were away.

It makes you smile, how when you have to work late, Yeontan curls up on the bed next to Taehyung, and when you slide into bed beside them the puppy always moves to the foot of the bed so that Taehyung can wrap his arms around you.

It makes you smile, the way you’d found Yeontan almost as if it’d been meant to be, and you wonder for a moment if dogs could be guardian angels like Taehyung used to be.

🔥

Taemin blinks when he sees Jongin, and his smile is slow and his eyes glassy, glass of brown liquid in his hand.

“You look like you need a drink,” he says, and his words aren’t slurred but it’s a near thing.

Jongin is shocked, in the two years he’s been working for him he’s never seen him had more than a single drink, and he’d been sure Taemin would be furious that he’d disobeyed orders.

“Are you...are you drunk?”

“Not drunk enough,” Taemin mumbles, and stands a bit unsteadily to pour Jongin a drink.

Jongin sits down on the stool next to him, suddenly exhausted.

“What happened to you?” Jongin asks, still a little shocked.

“A woman,” Taemin says, as he hands him a glass more than half full with liquor, mouth twisting in a bitter smile.

Jongin barks out a laugh. “We have more in common than I thought.”

Taemin sits down in his chair, curling the fingers of one hand around the arm and taking a gulp of his drink with the other.

“Well, then. Tell me all about it, yeah? I could use a distraction.”

[marshaeb]

P.S: I'm Mated With The Cursed Alpha!

Chapter Seven

Hey guy! Don’t forget to Like, Comment, Review, and Follow for more updates! My apologies in advance for all the grammatical errors. Book will be professionally edited when completed.

After all that had just transpired, I was expecting Mom to blow up on me as soon as we stepped through the door, but her behavior was quite different. She was quiet and calm as she sat at the cleared dining table, looking through a pile of paperwork.

My heart was in my gut... I didn’t know how to feel or what to say after all the mess I got us in. I stood there timidly, with my sore, wounded arm covered with blood, held up to my chest.

I was a total mess. You’d swear I’d been out scuffling with Chelsea and her clique the way that I looked. Bloody and drench from wetting it up and my hair was a tousled fro of fluff.

“Um, Mom...” I said quietly...almost too quietly.

She paused and gave me a hard stare.

“I-I just want to say I’m sorry Mom...” I sniffle. “I-I didn’t mean for things to happen the way it did tonight... He attacked me out of nowhere—

“Nah uh... Stop it right there!” She said sternly. “How many times have I told you, Joel? For once listen to me when I talk to you! All I wanted was to keep you away from danger... from allowing something like this to happen! Still, you disobeyed me and snuck out!”

“But, Mom I-I’m sorry... I-I could explain—

“What’s left to explain, dear?” She said. “Everything has already happened... though I hate to even think this way, but probably this was meant to be... probably this all explains the reason for your rebellious behavior... it was to led you to him.”

“No Mom... This is all coincidental... that’s it!” I said feeling my wound starting to burn. “That’s all it is.”

“Do you really think so?” She asked in a shaky voice. “I saw something you didn’t see...”

“Saw what mama?” I asked confusedly.

“That look in his eyes... The way he looked at you.” She said. “You don’t know how it feels yet... The first time you smell your mate... it hits you like the strongest substance there is... It drives you crazy! Almost like you’re losing your mind... Why did you think he did what he did and attack you...not wanting to let you go!”

My mind instantly went back to St. Pete’s. When he saw me from across the room. I just popped off and came at me full force.

“Mom...what can I do?” I begged her.

“What can you do?” She repeated with no hope in her voice. “Joel, there’s nothing you...or I can do right now...but to wait to see where your future lies on your eighteen birthday.”

“B-but Jackson!” I said feeling my whole world crumbling down around me. “What am I supposed to—

“Jackson has been sent on a three-month mission in the west...” She said, “and for one thing...thank heavens he’s not here, because things would have been even more disastrous if Alpha Darius found out that his potential mate has a boyfriend.”

I took in sharp deep breaths and embraced myself tightly. ’I don’t want Jackson to get hurt...” I mumbled.

“Then I suggest you do the safest thing there is...keep your mouth shut and don’t mention his name.” Mom said. “By the time he’s back from his mission, you will by then know who your potential mate will be.”

“But...but my birthday is in three months, Mom...what will I do then?” I asked. “The hospital is out of our territory...”

“I know...which is why I’m busy trying to set things up for your safety,” Mom said. “And that’s tripling security too.”

A look of confusion crossed my face.

“But... I am safe! I’m on our territory!” I said.

Mom stopped and gave me a dead stare. “You really don’t know who you’re messing with, do you?”

I swallowed deeply. The guy’s crazier than I thought.

“A powerful Alpha, who have been searching seven years for his mate... has finally found her by sheer luck.” Mom said. “Could you imagine how hungry he is for you? Do you think a hot-blooded, superior Alpha like him could resist his mate?”

I stood there quietly as reality began to settle in.

“I doubt it...” She continued. “I’ll exchange you from the hospital for a little while with Samantha at the preschool... It’s only for blocks away from our home and it’s properly guarded.”

“The Nursery?” I gasped. “Mom... I’m not a caretaker.”

“It’s either that or risk yourself being at the hospital.” She said. “I don’t think you understand what it is to be marked Joel... and it’s different from an Alpha. It’s like volts of uncontrollable pleasure, rushing through your body... like venom. When he claims you, a part of him lives inside you forever.”

I could hear the intensity in her voice... Just hearing her explain it made me tremble with fear.

“So...until then...we wait,” she said. “Now go and take a bath. I’ll call over a nurse to patch up your wound.”

She walked back over to her desk and continued to sort through her paperwork.

After reaching upstairs to my room, Talloc was nowhere to be found like always. She was out hunting.

The sounds of howls rippled through the dark forest, but it was chilling and wretched. It was the cursed Alpha’s, and I know he was somewhere in the dark eerie forest, watching me at this very moment.

~~~~~~~~

~Present Day~

About a week has passed and I’ve been staying indoors ever since. My wound was healing faster than I thought it would, but the soreness was still there.

Nobody knew about what had taken place that night. Mom made sure of that. But just being here, trapped indoors had me so paranoid. Overthinking about everything that has happened and the consequences that would happen to me if I slip up again.

I really miss having those privileges when I could move about and enjoy my freedom. Now that I’m thinking about it, I rather have Mom’s strict curfew any day than being locked up from Alpha Darius.

My mind kept going on Jackson... I wanted him here with me. To comfort me and tell me what I needed to hear. That I am his mate and this is all one big misunderstanding, but sadly, it wasn’t.

A few months from now, I might be Mated to a man I barely even know. It saddens me to even think Jackson and I wouldn’t be together like we hoped, but to a man overly possessive Alpha who attacked me and nearly capture me against my will.

And he won’t leave me alone. Ever since that dreadful night, he has been stalking me almost every night.

His huge black wolf is always there...in that same spot in the woods... watching my room. He’s driving me insane. It was as if he’s waiting for any moment for me to slip up.

This feeling is like being on death row... knowing a terrible fate awaits you.

Talloc suddenly flew into the window I left open for her, nearly scaring my trouble soul half to death.

“Talloc!” I gasped, holding my chest. “You scared me, girl.”

She rolled her neck and squawk back at me.

“Did you had fun hunting last night?” I said to her, trying to wipe off the drop of blood from her beak.

And as you guessed right, she wasn’t gonna just let me step up to her and clean her beak without being defensive. She pecked my finger softly, holding it in her mouth.

“Come on, Talloc...just because you older now doesn’t mean I-I can’t clean you up just a little,” I said, but it was hopeless.

My rebellious snowy owl flew off in one huge flap, dropping the stack of pictures and old letters out of the window.

“No!” I shouted, running over to the window as they scattered everywhere across the lawn. “Shit!”

I turn around to catch my breath.

“Urgh...Talloc! Damn that feisty bird!” I grunted. “My pictures...they all fell over! I have to get them before they all get ruined.”

I threw on my navy denim jacket and dashed to my room door, but then I suddenly remembered that it wasn’t safe...he could be out there.

Though I’m still safe on the territory,

I’m just beyond paranoid to even encounter him again, face to face. Plus mom had already warned me, for my own sake to keep my distance.

I can’t make a fool of myself again... and for Mom’s sake, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I embarrassed her even more than I already did.

A deep, anxious sigh left my lips as I thought about this situation I’m now faced with. All the memories I collected would be completely ruined if they’re exposed too long.

Deep down in my heart, I wanted to dash out there this instant and collect every last one of them, but my mind had me in fear. Reminding me that he could be out there, but can he really during the daytime?

Usually, he comes out during the evenings just to let me know he’s watching and waiting...and it pisses me off, but maybe...just maybe I might have a chance.

It won’t take long...

I breathed in sharply when I suddenly remembered that Jackson’s letter from back in the eleventh grade was in that stack! That was the time he officially asked me to be his girlfriend...and our pictures!

“I have to get them!” I breathed heavily, walking back in forth in my room. “I better get all of them now...before the wind blows them out of the territory. Then he’ll find those photos with us!”

I crept back over towards my window and slowly, but thoroughly surveyed the grounds for any sign of his black wolf or any of his minions. Surprisingly...there was no sign of him at all.

I was right... Maybe he really does pass through during the evenings. And there’s also those painful, silver Barb wires Mom has up to keep out any intruders. It looks safe enough and besides all my pictures are on the lawn.

“SHIT!” I exclaimed. “No, no, no, NO!”

One of them fell on the other side. Oh Moon goddess, why?!

I crunch down against the window post, breathing shakily. My nerves were taking over and I could feel my throat getting drier and drier by the second!

What the hell! Everything bad is happening to me lately and unfortunately, there is no way to run from it or avoid it. I literally hate my life now.

I held in my breath and slowly took another look out the window. Carefully I observed the proximity of the others to that one that was out of bounds.

My eyes glanced over across the forest once more. I used my sharp wolf senses to pick up if he was out there... Usually, the hairs on my arm would stand up if I sensed him...but it so happens that I didn’t feel anything. There is also no sign of him...so it should be safe!

It has to be! But I have to be cautious and as prompt as possible.

With every fear building up inside me, I pushed it aside, balling my hand into a tight fist, and ran downstairs as quickly as I can.

As soon as I step to the backdoor, my heart launched in my throat. It was now or never.

I turn the doorknob and haul my tail towards the scattered images and letters. My mind was so numb, I felt like falling out from the fear and anxiety if he caught me.

Almost done... Just the other four over there in the flower bed. I quickly ran over and collected them. All in accounted for, except that one. It was just a few inches on the other side.

I held the stack against my chest as I scan the rattling trees of the forest. It was so calm but daunting. If whatever, he might be out there.

I’d dread the day if it happens to be a personal picture of me and Jackson and he gets his hold on it before I do.

Shit! I can’t take this anymore! I have to get that now! I rest the others down and gradually inched my way over. As I reach the barbed wire fence, my supply of oxygen was growing thin. The amount of fear of cutting my windpipe was unbearable.

I licked my lips and lengthened my short arm slowly over. It was so close, but yet so far.

Just a flick of my nail, it scraped the tip. No matter how hard I try, it was useless. Until I started to lose my temper, unleashing my inner wolf as my nails lengthen into claws.

Finally, I latched onto it, but with all that concentration... I let my guard down. I should have known better!

His huge black wolf jumped out of nowhere and dashed over to snatch my hand..but once again, I lucky to pull back my hand right in time.

For a second I felt my heart stop and I swear I mess up myself.

He licked his huge tongue over his sharp teeth and stared down at me like a piece of meat. I tried to catch my breath as I look at the picture underneath his large paw.

What was he doing here? Doesn’t he have a pack to lead? Was he there all this time? Watching me...waiting for the right moment to strike. Mom was right, it’s really not safe for me at all.

I quickly dashed over, collecting the others, and ran back inside up to the room.

I closed my curtains from the outside. I just couldn’t bear it anymore...but what picture was that? There we’re words written behind it!

I sorted through the stack of pictures and letters. Jackson’s letter is here... Thank Goodness it wasn’t that!

As I continued to go through, all we’re present... except that one!

“Our one-year anniversary, Christmas Eve collage! SHIT!”

Read Chapter Eight (Click the link below)