#i want to keep growing for as long as i live

[ionomycin]

heartblood

[bvidzsoo]

Take your breath away

Author: bvidzsoo

Pairing: werewolf!Jeong Yunho x werewolf!female reader

☾ Warning: nudity, quite suggestive at times (honestly, they are pretty horny for each other), cursing, unhealthy amount of subtle (or not) jealousy and possessiveness ☾ Word count: 28.9k ☾ Rating: mature, nc-17 ☾ Genre: supernatural creatures!au, academy!au, werewolf!au, omegaverse-ish!au, unrequited love!au...or is it?, mates!au ☾ Summary: New beginnings are always scary, and you are no stranger to them as your family moves to a town called Nocturnal Parade, filled with other night creatures. You find lovely people here, a community, a pack to have your back, and even a best friend called Choi San. What you don't expect, however, is to find your mate, who wants nothing to do with you.

A/N: Hi, my lovelies, I am back! I know I was gone for a while, and I won't lie, I wasn't inspired at all and felt really depressed (some things just pilled up for me in these past autumn months and that mixed with seasonal depression have hit me hard), but I am feeling a lot better now! I won't promise anything, but I'll try to post again more often, and hopefully continue the on-going series I already have. Please, please, please, imagine Yunho in this one with long hair, like in the top-middle picture! And for those who have read my Mingi Preying on you tonight oneshot, I have some exciting news...this story happens in the same universe, sooo, you'll get more insight on everyone's character! ^^ (If you haven't checked it out yet, you should give it a read, the world building goes more in-depth there ^^) Also, important note to keep in mind: everyone in this story goes by the 'Song' surname since they are siblings! I hope you enjoy this story too, and a small reminder, your feedback always gives me an inspirational push, so I greatly appreciate hearing what you think of this oneshot! <3 divider ~ and because I might as well dedicate this oneshot to you for hyping me up and helping me out with it, I hope you enjoy it @hongjoongspoetry <3 ~

            No matter how long I looked, he’d never glance my way. I had gotten used to his constant ignorance, but it still stung. I couldn’t help it, it was the only reasonable reaction considering we were mates.

It wasn’t anything we had spoken about, let alone even addressed, but I had known since the very first time I had laid my eyes on him. It was the change of my pulse, the way the world seemed to quiet around me, my breathing which got shallow, my pupils dilating and my eyes switching to an orchid colour that seemed to persist as my heart thundered in my chest, loud, and overbearing as I couldn’t help but watch the tall man who people surrounded, his head thrown back and mouth shielded by his long fingers as his body shook from laughing loudly. Until now I had only heard stories of what finding your mate felt like, but now I knew the feeling. I didn’t need to read fairytales about it anymore, nor would I pester my mother for the nth time to retell her story about meeting my father. I wasn’t desperate, per se, to find my mate, but the worry of growing old on my own had felt like a mosquito always buzzing around my ears, unable to kill it since I couldn’t see it. The fear of remaining alone seemed to persist in the back of my mind, and based on my mood, sometimes it would make me angry while other times just really anxious.

While living in Colourful River, the big city from North here, finding a suitor for myself had always felt like a challenging feat. There were too many creatures and humans alike who were too nosy and pestering, and I had never felt like I could be truly myself around them. I didn’t have many friends, humans or creatures, and at first, I blamed it on my shyness. Then, I started blaming it on my nerdiness as school rolled around, then it was the thought of being too plain for anyone to find me interesting and approachable, and then I gave up on finding an answer and decided that perhaps I was meant to be lonely, like my parents. In the big city, despite having lived here our whole lives, it seemed like we never found ourselves belonging to a community. Living closer to the border, the cities and towns were inhabited by many night creatures, however, that didn’t seem to change much when it came to my family. Maybe it was because we were all quiet and reclusive, maybe it was because we had never truly felt comfortable surrounded by so much happening at all times. And that is why I hadn’t felt any type of resistance or regret when my parents packed up our things and announced to me that we’d be leaving for a quiet and safe town just South of Colourful River, far from the border and the humans.

Nocturnal Parade has been a place I’ve heard plenty of. I knew it was inclusive of all the night creatures while being heavily influenced by the clergy. After all, it’s the town where the first attempts at a civilised and united nation amongst the night creatures had sparked. The vampires had taken the initiative, better said the Petrova family now known as Bae, were the founders of said town and the party that now advocated for all the night creatures all around the globe, making our voices heard, demanding respect and inclusion. They were, also, the ones to end the hatred between vampires and werewolves. Thanks to the effort and constant hard work, the werewolves had complied and formed one of the strongest alliances known to mankind with the vampires, pledging to fight by their side, to honour and respect them if their passion was returned by the vampires. And the respect had been mutual, the Petrovas didn’t stop until justice was brought to everyone, until every night creature could live a harmonious and pleasant life. It was a bit nerve-wracking to know I’d be cohabiting in a place with such ancient and respectable creatures from now on. From what I had heard of them until now, I knew only the daughter and her parents lived there still, keen on carrying the town’s, but also the family’s, legacy.

I wasn’t afraid of the change, however, I was reluctant and a little hesitant to join the Academy that had ultimately become a symbol of our unity and equality between us creatures. Back at my old schools, which were just simple regular schools frequented by both humans and night creatures, I wasn’t very liked. Everyone seemed to single me out, even my own kind, and they hadn’t always been the nicest about it. I supposed they saw me as an oddball just because I didn’t enjoy chasing a ball in our breaks and would rather play video games on forums with online friends, than play pretend that I was part of their made-up pack. Which brought another issue to light. My family had never belonged to a pack. My father’s family had long ago moved to Colourful River, leaving behind their abusive and mistreated past, meanwhile, my mother’s family had always been tightly-knit but not inclusive of strangers. So, as the elders all died, it was just my parents and me. I didn’t have any siblings, which seemed to make me even weirder since most werewolves reproduced more than once as they preferred to have big households full of children. My parents rather enjoyed the peace a single child, like me, offered them. The less mouths to feed, the better.

However, my worries seemed to be in vain once I had finally arrived in town, and then at Wilden Pine Academy. The town was lively and buzzing with creatures at every corner, all of them friendly and lacking the judgement and nosiness of the big city folk, who always watched you with inquiring eyes, desperate for a drop of gossip. Here, in Nocturnal Parade, everyone seemed to respect your space and didn’t pry anything out of you, they were simply grateful that you had chosen their haven as your home. Moving here had been probably the best decision my parents could’ve made. I liked it here, living by the outskirts of the Haunted Woods was refreshing. I could go for evening runs whenever I wanted without having to share my space with other restless werewolves, who genuinely enjoyed sharing the running track with their friends. I always found solace in solitary, I could clear my mind when it got too loud in there. Runs were pretty much therapeutic to me, I quite disliked it when I was bothered by other rambunctious werewolves who’d howl at the night sky just for the fun of it, mostly to spook the humans that ogled us rather disrespectfully.

My aloneness, however, wasn’t chased away until the academic year started and I passed through the tall iron gates of the Academy. It was a sunny day and I was impressed by the heat despite being surrounded by vast forest, the drive a long four hours until the next town, which was Nocturnal Parade. My parents were probably more excited about me starting my penultimate academic year here than I was, but it didn’t bother me. I knew they wished I’d make happy and lasting memories here, unlike the lack of them at my old schools. They hoped amongst so many night creatures I’d find at least one person who was like me, or even if not, creatures who would accept me the way I was. I hadn’t been walking down for long the gravel path when my backpack was pushed off my shoulders as someone ran past me, only to pause once they realised their actions. My luggage was heavy as I had been pulling it after me, but the boy who I thought wouldn’t even apologise for bumping into me, turned and faced me with furrowed eyebrows and a small pout.

“Sorry, my parents always say I get too excited and lose my coordination.” The boy’s voice had been gruff, a contrast with his soft features despite his sharp face. His eyebrows were straight, his eyes small and dark, his nose petite and pointy, lips pouty and fleshy, his jawline and cheekbones both sharp and defined. His short hair and the razor cut in his left eyebrow made him look intimidating until he spoke or smiled. His lips formed a pout and his eyes disappeared as a dimpled smile formed on his face, brightening his features. He was a cute boy and I had let him help me pick up my backpack, which, surprisingly, he didn’t hand back and threw around his own shoulder instead, “Are you the new family in town? The Byuns?”

I nodded and then extended a hand for him to shake, “My name is Byun Y/N, nice to meet you.”

“I’m Choi San!” The boy shook my hand with excitement lacing his tone, “I was on a holiday when your family arrived in town, that is why I wasn’t able to attend the welcoming party organised by the Songs.”

“Ah, it’s fine.” I muttered as I had started walking again, San falling in step with me, “The party was rather…overwhelming. Not that I didn’t appreciate it, but I had never been surrounded by so many loving people at once.”

San chuckled under his breath as he seemed to carry his two duffle bags as if they weighed nothing. It wasn’t hard to guess what type of creature he was simply based on his appearance already. He was massive next to me, his shoulders wide and strong looking, his chest puffed out and back rigidly straight, his hips surprisingly narrow, but his legs well-worked. He wasn’t too tall, but he had almost a head on me. Besides, his spicy scent was strong and confident, a little bit too harsh for my sensitive nose buds, but not nauseating. And like the rest of the werewolves who had been at the welcoming party, I felt no malice nor judgement coming from San, just a lot of excitement and joy as he had led us towards the right wing of the Academy, where the designated dorms for the werewolves were.

“It might sound a little bit strange, but all the werewolves act like a big pack here in Nocturnal Parade, I assume you didn’t have that back in the city?” San’s perfectly straight eyebrow raised as he threw me a quick glance since we were nearing more students, and San was obviously popular. Everyone seemed to greet him, eager to gain his attention.

“Not really,” I answered San, walking ahead to pull the building’s door open for him, “My family didn’t belong to a pack, actually.”

That had gotten San’s attention as his eyes widened once we stepped through the threshold, the inside of the building just as grandiose as the outside. It was spacious with big windows, natural light seeping through and casting a warm glow over the space, “It must’ve been lonely, then. But fear not, the Songs will adopt your family quite quickly, if they haven’t already.”

I smiled, my heart had skipped a beat at the mention of the kind, but energetic family, “They have already, actually. They had pulled my parents aside before the party and told them that we were now part of the pack, of the family, and that the community would be there for us.”

San hummed as we went up the first flight of stairs, a small smile on his face, “Our community hadn’t always been as close as it is now, but with the Songs' arrival to Nocturnal Parade everything just fell into place. I don’t think I had seen them go a day without doing something for the town or for their fellow creatures—hey, which floor is your room at?”

And that had been one year ago, when I was new to the town and wondering whether San would ever again speak to me. Right now, however, as we sat in the Flower Field behind campus, laying on a blanket and basking in the late afternoon sun, I knew San wouldn’t go a day without speaking to me. Spring was finally around the corner, and so was the Spring Break every student was impatiently awaiting. One week back home sounded really nice right now, I never failed to miss my privacy. The dorms at the Academy were shared, and my roommate snored really loudly and whined all the time. It was hard to discipline the second youngest of the Song family, so the Academy’s ruling board decided to place her with someone older than her, more mature, and possibly a good influence on the fiery blonde who liked to wreak havoc wherever she went. Not in our shared room, though, I had laid down some ground rules after rooming with Song Yeri. No loudness nor messiness was allowed, and of course, she couldn’t bring back boys into our shared room. As long as I didn’t, she wasn’t allowed either. She wasn’t thrilled by the idea, but because her parents had gotten really close with mine over the past year, Yeri was forced to abide by the rules out of fear of me ratting her out to her loving, but unforgiving, parents.

The air was still chilly and you’d become cold if you sat in one spot for too long, but the bodies of werewolves were warmer, our blood hotter, almost to the point of boiling in our veins. My cheeks were rosy as I sat with my legs crossed, a book in my lap as San hummed a silent tune next to me, laying on his stomach as he solved equations. He was planning on leaving for the big city to pursue further education, but he promised to return once he was done with it. He aspired to teach at Wilden Pine Academy, and I was more than eager to be his number-one supporter. He was great with children, and even those older seemed to respect him. San had a demanding aura, and despite him never taking advantage of that, he did know when he had to put his foot down and stop someone from running all over him. Being friends with San had showed me the wonders of companionship, of what a natural and gentle, but platonic, love felt like. I could share whatever was on my mind, at any given time, and San would be there to listen, and even take my ideas further beyond my imagination.

He was a driving force when it came to my creativity, always inspiring me and pushing me to do better and to go harder because I was capable of creating grand things. I wasn’t too sure of what I’d do once I was done with the Academy, but I could see myself being a novelist. It wouldn’t be easy at first, but if I remained diligent and focused on my task, I knew I could do it—at least San had told me so, he was kind like that. Whenever I felt insecure about something, he picked me up and changed my mind about it in mere minutes, grinning from ear to ear as his eyes twinkled. If kindness had a definition, it should’ve simply said Choi San, and I was sure everyone would understand why. The serenity surrounding us, however, didn’t last for long as a squeal of my best friend’s name echoed around the blooming flowery field. San’s body tensed for just a second before he turned onto his back, sitting up as he leaned back on his hands, looking towards the boy he was too scared to confess his true feelings to.

“Sannie!” With little regard for those around him, Wooyoung threw himself at San, tackling him back down into the blanket as San groaned, the back of his head colliding with the hard ground, “Stop doing your homework and come on a run with me, hmm?”

Wooyoung was a charming young man, mischievous and painfully loud, but he had good intentions. If I ignored him always trying to sway San away from studying, then yes, he did mostly have good intentions. I shifted a bit since Wooyoung’s leg dug painfully into my hip, who was still ignoring my presence as he blinked at San slowly, placing his hands on my best friend’s firm chest as San tried to stabilise Wooyoung by holding onto his waist.

“I have a bit of homework still to do, though.” San’s voice was quiet as the sun shone down on the two friends, and I smiled to myself as I went back to reading my book, “Could you wait for half an hour?”

“But I’ve been waiting all day for you.” I could hear the pout in Wooyoung’s voice, breathy and whiny as I chuckled under my breath, eyes focusing on the words in my book. It was jarring how alike Yeri and him were at times.

“Then you can wait a bit longer.” San’s tone wasn’t harsh, but it was chastising a bit, and it made Wooyoung groan as I smiled to myself, amused by their antics. I was sure that if I could hear San’s slight change of heartbeat, the spiciness of his scent spiking too, then Wooyoung was aware of it too. Sometimes I wondered how the latter didn’t realise San’s obvious feelings for him, but I suppose Wooyoung wasn’t a very observant person, unlike his older brother, Mingi.

“Can I stay though—” Then I felt eyes on myself and I heard shuffling around, Wooyoung finally removed himself from on top of San, “Oh, hey, Y/N. What are you doing?”

“Reading,” I muttered as I flipped the page, bored by the story but knowing I had just two days to finish reading the remaining two hundred pages.

“Is it for Literature class?” Wooyoung pressed, coming closer as he hovered over my shoulder, “Yunho’s been complaining about how shitty the book was, something about the story being too slow-paced and the side love story not making too much sense.”

I hummed, completely agreeing with Yunho, who shared a Literature class with me. At the same time, I was beyond grateful that I had learned to control my reactions at the mention of Song Yunho, who had looked my way a total of three times ever since I had arrived to Nocturnal Parade. I didn’t understand what I had done wrong to be brushed off so blatantly by him, but it hurt. It had hurt a lot more in the beginning, but I had gotten used to the feeling of dejection and disappointment that followed whenever we crossed paths. I didn’t understand whether I had upset him or not, considering that our first encounter had gone rather well. To me, it had gone more than well, but maybe Yunho didn’t share the sentiment. Almost as if summoned by some deity, I didn’t have to look to know he was approaching us. My body knew upon a simple whiff of the air, the earthy and intense scent of firewood and vanilla making my lungs feel like they couldn’t expand anymore to breathe in deeper, my skin covered in goosebumps as the world seemed to quieten around me in his presence. Yunho’s tall shadow was looming over us as he stopped at the foot of the blanket, his question directed at Wooyoung.

“Did you take my cologne, again, Wooyoung?” He didn’t sound angry, but his tone was demanding. I heard Wooyoung scoff next to me as he sat mirroring my position, looking up at his brother with a defying look in his eyes.

“No, I don’t like its scent.” Wooyoung was bad at lying, especially when we had heightened and sensitive senses and he was reeking of Yunho’s sandalwood essence cologne.

“Sure, where did you put it? I need it.” I didn’t have to look to see Yunho roll his eyes, I continued feigning that I was reading the book, but my eyes were stuck on the same sentence as I read it over and over again, the words not registering in my mind. It was hard to focus when Yunho was around.  

“Are you going on a date, or what’s the rush?” I willed my heartbeat to remain steady at Wooyoung’s teasing question, to bite back the whine that threatened to leave my lips. I had no right to make claims over Yunho, but my wolf seemed to struggle to understand that. We weren’t mated, and we’d probably never be with how Yunho disregards my existence.

“Where is it, Wooyoung?” Yunho had lost his patience as his voice had an edge, his shadow still looming over us as I heard San fidget around as he turned onto his stomach to continue his homework.

“In Mingi’s bottom drawer, by the bed, where he keeps his condoms—”

“Alright.” Yunho’s tone raised, a tired huff leaving his mouth as San snickered under his breath. I didn’t react but I would’ve smiled too, Wooyoung’s brutal honesty and oversharing skills, I fear, would never be matched by anyone else I’d come across. I had a feeling it was the same for San and Yunho too, “Stop taking my things or I’ll tell mom.”

“Stop being a pussy and always ratting me out to mom,” Wooyoung’s tongue was stuck out as Yunho leaned down and harshly flicked his little brother’s forehead, making him yelp, “I’m telling mom!”

“Who’s the pussy now, huh?” I couldn’t help the smile spreading onto my lips this time as Wooyoung started whining loudly as he rubbed his forehead, his scent souring just a little bit.

San’s heart skipped a beat and I wondered whether the other two noticed, but based on their glaring contest, I highly doubted it, “Whatever, Y/N’s reading the same book as you are. Didn’t you say—”

“I’ll see you at dinner, Wooyo.” Yunho’s sharp intake of breath made me gulp as I fought hard to not show my disappointment, I knew Yunho wasn’t interested in me, but going to the extent of not even wanting to hear about me definitely stung a lot, “And don’t bother Sannie too much.”

Don’t bother Sannie too much, but I suppose he could bother me. Not that Yunho had even noticed me lounging around on the blanket, despite Wooyoung being almost all nestled up into my side since San wasn’t paying any attention to him now. I gulped down the bitterness and growing lump in my throat as Yunho departed, his footsteps loud and heavy, the sounds of the world returning to my ears once he wasn’t around anymore. Breathing was easier too, but it was a bit difficult seeing anything written on the yellowing paper since my vision was suddenly blinded by tears. It was alright, I have heard of mates that weren’t fated to be together. Of mates where only one of them imprinted on the other, and was forced to watch the love of their life mate with someone else, forced to live and die alone, without having ever experienced true and honest love. It was alright, I wouldn’t know how to gesticulate a relationship either way. I gulped and blinked my eyes fast, willing the tears to disappear before Wooyoung could notice them.

The younger boy sighed loudly next to me before he rolled over, crawling on San’s back as he laid his cheek against his friend’s scapula, “Do you mind if I take a nap like this?”

“No.” San’s voice was deeper as we shared a knowing look, Wooyoung remaining oblivious to San’s racing heart as his cheeks flushed in embarrassment when I gave him a subtle wink. If I couldn’t find my happiness, then I truly wished at least my best friend would. He’d deserve it, San deserved to be cherished and loved like no one else, and I had a feeling Wooyoung would be able to provide San with everything he needed. If only he wasn’t so oblivious to San’s feelings, besides, I had never seen Wooyoung courting anyone, we had no idea of his preferences. Whenever San tried to bring up the subject, he’d told me Wooyoung would smartly twist it until they weren’t even talking about it anymore. Maybe he was avoiding it because he had noticed San’s reactions and was afraid to hurt his best friend, or maybe he was avoiding it because he had been feeling something he didn’t understand quite yet. It wasn’t taboo for werewolves to find love amongst their own gender, but I suppose growing up in a place where nobody was like you must be nerve-wracking and rather full of uncertainty. This only made me realize that despite the cons of living in the big city had its pros as well since I grew up in a diverse and inclusive place, open and uncaring of who loved who.

But if Wooyoung’s romantic preferences remained unknown to us, Yunho’s certainly didn’t. He was unlike anyone I have met before, starting from his personality and ending with his looks. He was the eldest of the family, a good few minutes older than his twin brother, Mingi, and so naturally he was also the biggest and strongest. He was intimidatingly tall and freakishly broad, his shoulders wide and his back strong. He wasn’t visibly muscular but I’ve seen him countless times lifting logs, and even heavier things, without breaking a sweat to know that Yunho was outrageously strong. His hair was a dark brown and it had grown out since I had first met him, now always messy and curly as it reached his shoulders, making him look more boyish than the first time I had seen him. He had red highlights in his hair a year ago, adding to his mysterious allure, as his lips were a soft pink, the apple of his cheeks and nose dusted coral, which was a nice contrast with his paler complex, unlike Mingi’s whose skin was a beautiful caramel. The twins weren’t identical, but upon a closer look, you were able to tell just how many attributes they shared.

Yunho loved experimenting with his style, and he mostly wore coloured clothes, all flashy and somehow still cosy looking, however, his shoes always seemed to be mismatched. It was a peculiar feat that had me wondering whether Yunho was just generally weird or he just had a particular taste when it came to fashion, I soon had realized it was the latter. His nails were always well-kept and painted either a turquoise or a yellow colour, bringing attention to his already beautiful hands, his fingers long and bony and mostly decorated by black rings. His scent, that earthy firewood and vanilla, was just as attention-grabbing as the rest of Yunho. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve assumed Yunho was a very serious person, highly focused on his education, someone who spent his days cooped up in his room reading and learning all the time. But the Songs weren’t too focused on getting high grades, and that became apparent rather quickly after I arrived at the Academy. Yunho was a goofy guy, he loved having fun and he really enjoyed being surrounded by people, always eager to share a laugh with someone, or just fall into idle chitchat for hours on end. People seemed to gravitate towards him, eager to have a word with him. It wasn’t just him, though, students at the Academy all seemed to love the Song family, especially the twins who felt like fresh air in the dull and mediocre town that Nocturnal Parade seemed to be at first glance.

However, as mediocre as it was, I had never felt more at ease in a place before. It truly felt like I had found a community for myself and for my family, a place where everyone had your back and expected nothing in return even at the slightest of help offered. My parents loved it here, it was rather obvious since my mother was smiling more, the wrinkles were gone from her face, and my father wasn’t as stressed as before. Working as an archivist in the big city had been demanding, but in this quiet town where nobody was rushing forward with their lives, my parents could take a breather. And I could too, until I quickly realized I had been blatantly rejected by my potential mate before even getting to know them. The day we had arrived in Nocturnal Parade had been long and nerve-wracking, I had no idea what would await us in this new place. That same day, the werewolves threw a welcoming party for our family, eager to welcome us into their pack.

It was late evening by the time my family had sorted most things out at our small house, which was on the same street as the Songs and right by the Pinecone Forest, the perfect neighbourhood for relentless werewolves that needed a lot of space to get rid of their impulsive energy. The party was in the backyard of the Songs family and was full of creatures by the time we made it there. It was warm, welcoming, and felt genuine from the second we stepped through their threshold. The family was big, but each one of them was gentle and eager to meet us, even the troublemakers which were Wooyoung and Yeri. And after that, it didn’t take long for me to become once again invisible as I stood close to the drinks table in the Songs' backyard, gazing out towards the bonfire as the sun was about to set. The evening breeze was warm still and a light sheen of sweat coated my temples as I sipped my cool lemonade slowly, embarrassed to refill it for the fourth time. My solace, however, didn’t last for longer as I noticed two towering figures beeline towards me. Their hair was tousled and they looked like they had been wrestling before they headed here, and I felt nervous upon realizing that they were probably the twins Mrs. Song had been talking about.

They had been out on their evening run and would only join us later, and they were very much so headed my way to introduce themselves. My heart was racing and I felt nervous, but I willed myself to calm down since I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of two potential classmates once I’d started attending Wilden Pine Academy, which had been another anxiety-inducing thought at that time. The two guys, so very different in appearance yet so similar in mannerisms, sported matching smiles on their faces by the time they reached me. The one who was dressed in all-black and wore heavy jewellery had long hair which was pulled back into a half-up ponytail, his hair blonde and red, a rather cool-looking hairstyle. His features were sharp and his gaze was intense, but his open-mouthed boxy smile softened his features, his crooked front teeth endearing. The other one, however, was dressed in a pink crop top and high-waisted yellow jeans, one of his sneakers green meanwhile the other was turquoise. His hair had been shorter than the other guy’s, darker in colour too as it had red highlights, parted at the forehead. His features were a lot softer, his eyes rounder and warm, his cheeks puffy and rosy, his pouty lips a dark purple. His nails were painted turquoise and his jewellery was a lot simpler than the other guy’s, and I quickly realised that unless he was smiling, he looked just as intimidating as his twin brother.

But really, Yunho’s appearance wasn’t the first thing that caught my attention, sure, he looked unusual and made me remember the days when I was a lot younger and would purposefully dress up my Barbie dolls in silly outfits and organise pageants for them, but it was all about his scent and demeanour. The world seemed to dim around me when we had made eye contact, my arms and legs feeling numb suddenly as his rich earthy musky scent tinged with a hint of sweat invaded my nostrils, followed by firewood mixed with vanilla making my tongue feel like lead. My heart was racing and I couldn’t do anything about it as I watched Yunho’s pupils expand, his body turning rigid as Mingi remained oblivious to the subtle exchange between me and his twin. I had known that whatever I felt just upon a glance and a whiff weren’t simple reactions of my body, but when I heard his voice and touched his warm skin, all of my fears and worries were answered.

“Hi,” It was the slightly shorter twin that addressed me first, his voice deep and lightly raspy, “You must be the Byuns’ daughter, right?”

I wasn’t able to find my voice as I nodded wordlessly, hands tightening around my cup of icy lemonade. Thankfully they didn’t seem offended by my lack of verbal response, I could only pray they would assume my heart raced so wildly because I was nervous. I tried to ignore the fact that the taller twin’s heart was thumping even louder than my own heart, blaming it on the remaining adrenaline from his run, “My name is Yunho and this is my twin brother, Mingi.”

One large hand was extended towards me then, and as I grabbed it to shake it, I was positive Yunho must’ve felt the electricity that coursed through my body at the simple touch. It had felt as if my whole being was charged, as if I was experiencing the whole world for the first time. Everything sounded sharper, looked brighter, and smelled fresher. I could feel Yunho’s pulse in my own palm, his gorgeous eyes shaking as we stood frozen, gripping each other’s hands tightly. But upon Mingi’s awkward throat clearing, I ripped myself away from under the charm, and faced the guy with a small smile, “Nice to meet you two, I’m Y/N.”

Touching Mingi, however, felt like touching anyone else. My body was still tingling from Yunho’s touch, but I had felt nothing special as Mingi grinned widely at me, his handshake just a little firmer than Yunho’s had been. Once we released each other’s hands I was quick to down my lemonade, subtly trying to pat the sweat from my temples away, embarrassed over the fact that my scent was most probably spiking and irking them. But neither boy commented about it as Yunho’s deep eyes remained trained on me, tracking all of my actions.

“You just arrived, right?” Yunho’s voice was a lot steadier than mine had been, and I gulped, trying to ignore the sigh that threatened to leave my lips at the warm rumble of his tone.

“Yes, somewhere around noon. The drive wasn’t too long, though.” I hoped if I spoke fast and a lot they would blame my reactions on nervousness, “We’ve been looking forward to moving here, I’ve heard a lot of great things about this town due to the Petrovas and everything. I assume living here is rather good.”

The mention of that name seemed to make the twins grimace, but I didn’t pry and they didn’t say anything about it, “Surely it is, we’ve moved here roughly nine years ago, but it just feels like we were meant to be in this town, to live here.”

Mingi’s tone was earnest as he spoke and I smiled at him, my eyes constantly slipping back onto Yunho, who looked like he hadn’t blinked since the twins had reached me. I gulped and smiled softly at him, wondering whether he felt the same visceral emotions as I did in his presence, under his burning stare.

“I hope I’ll find a home in this town too, I haven’t been here for long, but it certainly feels a lot cosier than the big city had been for my whole life.” My tone turned a bit sour as I shifted on my feet, making the twins look at me curiously.

“You’re from Colourful River, right? It’s a big city, we always liked going there for random trips.” It made me wonder if Yunho and I had unknowingly run into each other before, but my inner wolf told me that we hadn’t. If we had been, I’m sure our parents would’ve never been able to separate us from each other, “It must’ve been nice living amongst humans.”

I tried not to stare at Yunho’s inviting plush lips while he spoke, but it was hard. Everything about him was so captivating, “Since the city is closer to the South than North, it isn’t dominated by humans, but they were rather alright, not as scared as all the legends say. But if you go up North they might not be as friendly as those living closer to the border.”

“Did you have human friends?” Mingi’s tone was eager as he grinned at me, and I didn’t want to disappoint him, but there was no point in lying to these two.

“I didn’t have many friends,” I muttered, chuckling a bit sadly, “But the humans were less evil compared to the night creatures.”

Silence settled upon the three of us as I didn’t look up at the two, but Yunho’s stare remained insistent. He had stepped closer meanwhile we had been conversing, and I hadn’t even noticed until his strong scent hit my nose once again, making me take a deep breath and gulp it down hungrily, thankful when it felt like the scent got stuck in my throat. I hadn’t experienced anything like this before, but the yearning to be close to him, to touch him and feel him was overwhelming all of a sudden as I looked up, finding Yunho’s head tilted as his eyes slowly racked over my body. It made my cheeks burn and my muscles tense, my wolf stirring in something that I could only call arousal. I have certainly not experienced anything like this before with anyone. I wondered if this meant anything deeper, whether imprinting on first sight was a real thing or only something made up for hopeless romantics.

“You’ll see finding friends here will be a lot easier than in the big city,” Mingi’s smile was warm and he reached a hand out to pat my arm, making Yunho’s eyebrows furrow as he looked at his twin sharply. Mingi just cast him a curious glance before his name was being called by his mother, her voice louder than the cacophony of the party, “Oh, I’ll be back after I see what mom needs from me.”

Then he left, jogging towards his mother with a smile. Yunho, however, took another step towards me, looming over me as his eyebrows furrowed, nostrils flaring as I gulped nervously, wondering whether he felt the same as I did. I wanted to ask, but I was embarrassed. He reached a hand forward, his fingers brushing against mine, but he seemed to catch himself as he took a step back, jaw set tightly. And then, without saying anything, he turned and hurried away, ignoring the people who called out his name. My heart raced as I watched him leave, suddenly feeling cold and empty. The wolf in my head whined and whispered at me to chase after him, to claim him and tell him that he was ours, but I couldn’t do that. Yunho had free reign of his feelings and thoughts, I couldn’t force something like that on him. We hadn’t even known each other five minutes ago, it would’ve been so wrong.

But what was even more wrong and more painful than anything I had experienced before was the fact that Yunho never looked my way again after that, remaining silent and avoidant, ignorant, he’d even flee the room if it was just the two of us. I didn’t even have the chance to have him before I lost him, and deep down, I knew I had been denied by my own mate. It was painful, but it wasn’t anything I could change, at least, it didn’t feel like it at the moment.

            With the Spring Break right around the corner, the hallways were liverier than before as students pilled together, eagerly discussing what they were up to once they’d return home. The professors seemed to be in a lighter mood as well, a lot friendlier too, and more understanding if someone slacked off a bit. Everyone but our Literature professor, who demanded we hand in our essays right before the week ended. Today was Friday and we’d be heading home tomorrow, I was hitchhiking with San’s family since they’d offered to drive us home as they were out of town and would drive by our Academy on their way home. San’s parents were busy businessmen so they were always on the go, oftentimes leaving San and his much older sister at home, who was a rather successful makeup artist in Nocturnal Parade and not just. She’d gotten an out-of-town offer just last month and the gig went well, so, she was now successfully expanding her business. But because I had been procrastinating my essay until the last moment, it meant that I had been cooped up in the Library this whole morning, and then later in the Study Hall as late evening was approaching.

My muscles ached from sitting in the same spot for so long and my eyes stung from being too dry, I had been staring at my laptop’s bright screen for an ungodly amount of time, if I wasn’t a werewolf I bet my eyesight would be horrible by now. Thankfully, the Study Hall was a lot less packed than usual, and the absence of students meant I could work in peace without distractions. That is until Yunho decided to walk into the vast room, eyes scanning the place and quickly jumping over my presence as my eyes burned into the side of his head. Of course, it was no surprise that I had been completely ignored by him once again, resigned, I went back to the finishing touch-ups of my essay. My heart ached and my hands felt cold now that I knew Yunho was in my vicinity, so close, yet miles away still. I gulped and willed myself to ignore his musky scent that seemed to haunt my every sense now, and I could’ve cheered when I was finally finished with the essay. I didn’t waste any more time sending it to my professor as I swiftly gathered my things and rushed out of the Study Hall, heart racing in my chest.

My muscles had been aching for an evening run and I knew I’d have to skip dinner tonight since I felt restless, my thoughts messy and filled with anxious whispers. Since most students were returning home tomorrow morning, it meant that the community would be organising a welcome home bonfire as soon as possible. The bonfires were great and I always had a good time, but it was inevitable to come across the Song family there since they were the main organizers of it. Just last year, when the Summer Break finally arrived, I had been squeezed between Wooyoung and, tragically, Yunho on a log, forced to endure Yunho’s rigid stance and complete ignorance as he chatted and laughed with everyone around us. My skin had been burning, not because of the close proximity to the fire, and my wolf was whining at me to touch him, to lean closer, to speak to Yunho. But I knew it was pointless, and thus, decided to save myself from embarrassment as I quickly excused myself and walked back home, rather glad that San wasn’t home to pester me about my sudden sour mood. San was a dear friend, but sometimes he was awful at giving me space, at understanding that I needed to be alone to figure my thoughts and feelings out.

That was why I never let him know when I’d go on runs, I preferred to be alone either way. The air wheezing past my ears, which were in tune with everything around me, was always freeing and relaxing. My jumbled thoughts became a silent murmur in the back of my mind as my paws hit the forest floor powerfully, strong and long legs carrying me far away from the Academy, from the campus, from any other possible wolf that I could come across. I liked solitary, it’s what I knew my whole life, it was comfortable and comforting. Whenever I let my wolf take over, it was as if I was reborn once I shifted back into my human form. I felt invincible as my burgundy fur gleamed under the setting sun rays, and I leered whenever another animal made haste in my presence. In my wolf form, everything felt simpler, more primitive, and less complicated. If I could, I would probably never shift back into my human form, but that was unethical and very unhealthy. I wasn’t a wolf, I was just a simple werewolf, and abandoning my human side would mean that I was going rogue. And lone, rogue, werewolves never survived for long. It wasn’t what we were designed for, so I couldn’t abandon my true self.

My run tonight had taken longer than usual, the forest was now dark as I returned to the shed that lay just on the outskirts of the campus, not too close, but not too far either in case of an emergency. I had found it on an early morning stroll with San, and I had been using it as my hideout ever since. It was a good spot for privacy while I’d change out of my clothes, away from prying eyes when I’d turn back into my human form, naked and unprotected. I wasn’t uncomfortable by nudity, after all, it was rather common and normal amongst werewolves to see each other bare, but I was shy, and thus, preferred to remain hidden from other’s eyes. San had joked once that I was a prude and old-fashioned, but I just simply wished that not everyone saw me so exposed, it was a tiny bit embarrassing even if it was very normal for our kin. So, the shed was the perfect spot for me to stay out of sight while being close enough to campus that if I was late for curfew I’d make it back swiftly and unnoticed, like tonight. I knew I probably had only a few minutes to make it back to the right wing, but as I had no devices on me, I wouldn’t know until I made it back to my clothes. San was certainly blowing up my phone by now, asking where I was and why I didn’t join him when it was quiz night—which only meant that I would question him about whichever lesson he had decided he didn’t know well enough, so really, it wasn’t a fun activity, but I loved San, so, I helped him out from time to time.

Taking a deep whiff of the air, waiting for a second to determine whether anyone was in my vicinity, I was glad when my wolf sensed nothing, so I nudged the shed’s door open with my fur-coated head and walked inside. The small lamp I had turned on cast a dim warm hue over the abandoned place, and I approached the table as I felt my bones shifting, my jaw locking in tight and my lungs constricting for a second. My joints popped and my head felt like it was splitting in two, but it all lasted for a second or two, until I was standing tall on my legs, hands reached out to stabilise myself on the table. Shifting wasn’t painful by any means, but it always left me a bit disoriented. The doctors in the city had told me it was because I was an early bloomer, my body forced to mature before its right time, so it wasn’t anything necessarily bad, just uncomfortable. As I regained my senses and shook my head to clear the dizziness, my muscles locked up and my wolf purred loudly, almost to the point it escaped past my own lips. Something was amiss. In the dim lighting, I noticed another heap of clothes thrown on the ground, just by the entrance. The scent too…it was familiar, too familiar, and I panicked. How had I missed it? Had I become so used to it that it didn’t faze my wolf anymore?

As I hastily tried to grab my clothes, nakedness be damned I’d get dressed on the way, the shed’s door was slammed open, a low grunt echoing in the otherwise silent space. My eyes widened as a gorgeous black wolf with orchid eyes stared back at me, huffing and puffing as saliva dripped from its mouth. It was big and strong, its vanilla and firewood scent a lot more permeating than before. My knees felt weak as my hands tightened into the table, holding myself up since my brain was short-circuiting. For a second, the big black wolf didn’t move, its snarl loud in the shed, but then, bones cracked and the black fur slowly disappeared as the wolf shifted into something more human looking, tall and lean, strong and…very naked. My eyes widened when I finally realised it was Yunho standing in the doorway, his eyes still orchid coloured as they bled into mine, and I was frozen as my wolf started whining, whispering to me to approach Yunho, to touch his hot and strong body, to entice him and make him claim us.

Yunho’s body was anything like I had seen before. He was alluring by all means, and the lower my eyes dropped the tighter my chest felt, the lump in my throat getting bigger and harder to ignore. I had seen many guys naked before, but they couldn’t compare to Yunho, everything about him was…big. My hands flattened against the surface of the table and I tilted my head before I could stop myself, well aware that my wolf was more in charge of me than my own conscience, my eyes a bright orchid as Yunho’s lips pressed into a straight line, his eyes not shy of taking in every curve of my body, his hands balling up into fists at his sides. It was hard to breathe, and it was even harder to control my bodily reactions when Yunho was so close, so exposed and vulnerable for taking. And maybe he was thinking the same thing because all of a sudden, we were moving towards each other, our eyes glimmering in the dim light and our chests heaving as I bared my fangs at Yunho, whose lips curled into a low snarl. I was so close to touching him, I could feel his body heat, but I knew I couldn’t. We weren’t ourselves just yet, the adrenaline coursed through our bodies from the run, and our wolves were stronger and louder than under normal circumstances. He would’ve been so easy to touch, though, as we stopped barely a few feet away from each other, desire written all over his features, but in a last attempt to find control over my body and mind, I snapped out under my wolf’s control.

I found my voice, but just barely, as my cheeks flushed a deep red, “I’m—I—I thought nobody knew of the shed, I—I’m, uh, I’m sorry for barging in. I didn’t know—I’ve never seen you here before, I—”

“Y/N.” Yunho’s voice was deeper than ever before, his round eyes dangerous as they were narrowed into slits, watching me closely. Just hearing my name said like that shut me up really fast as my heart raced in my chest, and I knew Yunho could hear it. It was so loud. I could’ve touched him, my wolf wanted it desperately, but Yunho wasn’t himself just yet, he didn’t look like it, “I’ve gone to this Academy for longer than you, of course I know about this place. Mingi and I come here all the time.”

I released a shuddering breath, forcing my eyes to stay on his face, anywhere but lower as I couldn’t trust myself and my wolf just yet. I really wanted to reach out and trace his firm muscles, to cradle him close to myself, to burry my face between his pecks, to lick the sweat beads that rolled down his navel, lower into his happy trail until they reached his— “You should go before Mingi returns.”

I jumped, mouth dry as I realised I was staring lower than I was supposed to, my whole chest and ears burning now, not just my cheeks, “I’m sorry.” I managed to mutter before I hurried back to the table and clumsily put on my clothes. I knew I looked like I had been mauled by how messy my hair was, my shirt untucked and one of the pantlegs rolled lower than the other, but I needed to leave before I’d do something I’d regret later. Yunho wasn’t mine, we weren’t mated, and I couldn’t do anything about it. But as I went to rush past him, he caught my wrist with frightening speed, his palm hot and large. I gulped but didn’t look at him, my eyes falling on the heap next to his clothes, very clearly Mingi’s now that he had pointed it out.

“You shouldn’t show yourself to just anyone, Y/N, it’s lowly.” The pang in my heart was more painful than anything I had experienced before. What did he mean by that? I had literally been on out a run, of course, I wasn’t showing myself to just anyone, it was only normal I was naked, or was I supposed to shift while wearing my clothes only to rip them apart? Besides, who had permitted him to say such things when he was the biggest manwhore I had known to date?! His words hadn’t just hurt me, they ignited an angry fire deep in my veins that had lay dormant for too long.

“Is it lowly shifting back into my human form after a run, Yunho? Really?” I chuckled humourlessly, my next words coming out in a snare as I looked at him with a glare, “You’re rather quick to judge me when you have no shame sleeping with half of the Academy, shouldn’t that be considered lowly?”

Before Yunho could say anything and before I could regret the words I had just spoken, I stormed off, flinching as I almost collided with a large white wolf, its head tilted in confusion as we stared at each other for a second. I gulped and averted my orchid-coloured eyes, “Hello, Mingi.”

The wolf huffed and bowed his head slightly, and despite wanting to flee, I pushed the door open for him as the wolf let out an appreciative whine, its eyes switching between Yunho and me once it was halfway inside the shed. But I didn’t wait around to hear Mingi’s questions as I rushed back to campus, checking my phone to see five missed calls from San and ten even angrier texts than the voicemails he left, clearly upplaying his sadness. I could hear Wooyoung’s witchy cackle in the background as he no doubt was playing on San’s new PlayStation. A quick text later, I let San know that I had lost track of time while I was on my run and that we’d see each other during breakfast the next morning. Sneaking around the dorms to sleep in San’s bed tonight would’ve been worth, if only my heart and mind weren’t in turmoil, aching all over again due to Yunho’s nasty and undeserved assumptions. I had no idea why he acted so differently with me, it’s like he was a completely different person in my presence, and I didn’t enjoy it. It hurt me deeply. What had I done to deserve such coldness from him?

            The ride home with the Chois was filled with laughter and sharing stories, the radio lowered once San and I started telling them about the Academy and our classes. San’s family had always felt like a second family to me. They were warm and very loving people, even if I had initially struggled to warm up to them, they had never pushed or pried for any information, no matter how insignificant it was. Thus, I came to trust them rather quickly since Mrs. Choi loved baking and would often invite me over during the holidays. Besides, I’d always leave with a basketful of whichever cookies Mrs. Choi decided to bake that day, and since my mother has a sweet tooth, she was always more than eager to send me over to the Chois to help them out. San’s parents' business trip was successful and they managed to expand their branches to the North as well, which would require them frequent trips to Aurora Falls, which was the biggest human settlement in our country. It seemed that there were human investors who were eager to expand their businesses to the South, which would benefit them a lot since their franchises were mostly nonexistent around here. It was a day to celebrate, which the Chois were really good at doing. I knew they’d smuggle in some really expensive champagne tonight to the bonfire, after all, they did everything with grandeur.

My parents had been lounging around the front porch when the Chois's expensive SUV pulled up in front of our humble abode, my mother’s face had lit up like a Christmas tree as she came to welcome me home, and the Chois as well. After quick hugs and kisses, the Chois were off and I was left with my parents, who were smiling from ear to ear.

“Look at you!” My father had said as he engulfed me in a bear hug and spun me around, making me giggle into his chest, “You’re radiating, what are they feeding you at the Academy?”

“Mrs. Nam’s cooking is really delicious, but I don’t think it’s because of the food.” I giggled as my feet had finally touched the ground. My mother stood to the side, my duffle bag already in her hand as she shook her head at our antics, “I suspect it’s the clear air and the vast forest grounds.”

“You’re still running on your own?” My mother’s eyebrows had furrowed as I walked up to her, throwing an arm around her shoulders as we headed for the house. The rumble of a loud engine reached our ears as we took the steps up the porch. I knew whose car it was, it was hard to miss when nobody else’s car engine was as loud as the Song twins, “Mrs. Song told me her sons had proposed to go on runs with you, but you’ve turned them down each time. I know we’re all still adjusting to living in a pack, but having company on your runs is actually very healthy for you and your wolf, my dear.”

I wished to correct my mother that it had been Mingi who had proposed to come on runs with me, no mention of Yunho. We had crossed paths once while we were both out hunting during a full moon and because my cramps had been really bad that day, Mingi was nice enough to remain a respectable distance away and guide me for the night, keeping an eye out for other not-so-kind predators. There were months when my shifting went a little haywire during the full moon, my senses dull and my bones all miss shaped. Again, the doctors hadn’t found anything wrong with me, they suspected it was due to my early blooming, which wasn’t helping much. As we reached the front door, my father already opening it for us, the honk of a loud car made us turn back and look towards the orange Jeep, its windows rolled down, and the younger Song siblings cooped up in the backseat.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Byun!” Mingi called from the driver’s seat, all smiles as his glasses looked to be slipping off his nose. Wooyoung was just as enthusiastic as he leaned out the window, the car going at a slow pace now that they had almost reached their house.

“See you tonight, right?!” Wooyoung shouted as he grinned widely, pointing specifically at me, “Can’t leave Sannie on his own, right?!”

“Right.” My voice didn’t have much force to it as my eyes stalled on Yunho, who was facing the windshield, his jaw set tight as he looked at Mingi and said something inaudible. I released a quiet sigh as we stepped through the doorway, my parents sharing a laugh at the siblings' antics. I tried to ignore the lump in my throat, the fire in my veins, the ache of my heart. Yunho’s hurtful words were still too fresh in my mind, the look in his eyes and the vivid image of his body a constant image in the front of my mind. It wasn’t surprising that I was still thinking about him. We had encountered each other just last night, after all, but I wished we never had. It was hard to ignore the yearning, especially when we were back at home, forced to visit the Songs weekly since our parents had grown so close with each other. I was happy for them, don’t misunderstand me, but I wished the Song parents stopped blaming my ‘loneliness’ on being an only child, thus forcing me to constantly hang out with their children. I didn’t have any issues with the five of them, per se, but I hardly found anything I had in common with them—minus Yunho, since he wouldn’t even look my way, let alone have a conversation with me.

“You should tell San to sleep over tonight, maybe his parents can stay too!” My father’s words distracted me from my thoughts as I headed for the stairs, eager to fall into my comfortable bed, no Yeri to disturb my peace this time.

“Honey, they had barely returned home, let the Chois enjoy having their son home for at least three more days.” My mother gently chastised my father as she headed up the stairs after me, my duffle bag still in her hand, “He’ll sleep over before they go back to the Academy.”

“Fine, but I found a really cool book about genealogy, I’m sure he’d love reading through it.”

“Sure, honey, sure.” My mother and I shared an amused look which made us chuckle, my father’s mumbled words blending into the background as he was headed for his study room, surely eager to get back to whatever book he was reading this time, “Get some sleep before lunch, Mama Song asked us to head over before they set the bonfire, she’s making a new mushroom stew recipe she’d like us to try.”

“Yeah, okay,” I mumbled as I fell face-first into my pillows, groaning loudly as my muscles finally eased up, my body cocooned in the safety of my own scent. Finally, a little peace of mind.

But that peace of mind didn’t last for long. The Song household was buzzing with life and laughter even before the other members of our community had started joining the bonfire. The mushroom stew was beyond delicious, and if I wasn’t too shy, I would’ve asked for a second plate but decided I could sneak in sometime during the evening and have a second plate, I knew Mrs. Song wouldn’t mind since she was generous like that. Lunch went surprisingly well, mostly with everyone talking over each other, especially Wooyoung, Yeri, and Mr. Song, but that was to be expected. The Songs were very eccentric people and their household had always been chaotic. However, what did take me by surprise was the presence of a newcomer, someone who wasn’t a werewolf. Her hair was dark and fell in long curls, her skin pale and her eyes very sharp, her lips the colour of blood and her stance very elegant. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve thought she hated us, but anytime Mingi looked at her she’d smile at him and her heartbeat would waver whenever he laughed. It wasn’t hard to guess that she was the Petrova heir, the youngest vampire of the Bae’s. Knowing so much about them, thanks to my father, sitting at a table with her now felt surreal.

She didn’t look like she wanted to talk much, but when my father’s innocent curiosity got the best of him and he started asking questions, she seemed rather pleased that she could gloat about her family. Her tone was sharp and she spoke rather straightforwardly, yet it was somehow obvious she didn’t mean bad. She was a peculiar person and I felt immense respect for her, no real reason as to why, maybe it’s because I thought she was very cool. I wasn’t brave enough to speak to her, so, besides stolen glances and a few shared glances, no words passed between the two of us. Besides, she was an amazing distraction to preoccupy my busy mind since conveniently Yunho and I ended up sitting next to each other. His body was warm, his scent almost tangible, and with every bite I took of my stew, it felt as if Yunho’s sandalwood scent was deep in my throat, forcing me to gulp down copious amounts of water as if I was sitient all the time. Yunho sat rigidly next to me, his body mostly turned away from me and facing Dahyun, his youngest sister, who looked absent-minded as she played with her fork, occasionally staring at Mingi if he made the vampire girl laugh. She carried Mingi’s scent and a bite mark was visible on her nape, it wasn’t hard to guess what she and Mingi were. Mates.

Thankfully, after lunch was over, San shortly arrived too and I could escape from the Song family, from Yunho, walking around the back garden as we searched for timber that would be good for the bonfire. Wooyoung, of course, came to join us and Dahyun was quick to do so too, with Mingi and Yunho busy setting up the back garden as our parents all helped. The vampire girl was busy in the kitchen, apparently, she could bake really yummy muffins, so she was busy doing just that. Once everything was set and people were coming over, Wooyoung sneaked off to bring us cans of beer, San cheering as we all uncapped ours, clinking them together loudly. The cold sparkling drink burned my parched throat as I wolfed it down, making San chuckle as Wooyoung was busy checking his friend’s free hand for splinters. I said nothing as a blush covered San’s cheeks, his eyes fond, as Wooyoung fussed about his friend.

“Mom said she’d leave us a little bit of champagne,” San grinned as he switched the hand holding his can of beer, Wooyoung’s eyebrows furrowed as his fingers gently traced San’s free palm, “It’ll be in the highest cupboard.”

“Only Mingi and Yunho can reach that high, though,” Wooyoung mumbled with a pout, still holding onto San’s hand despite being done with his inspection. I chuckled as San gave Wooyoung a look, his chest almost puffing out more.

“Are you sure about that?” He raised a straight eyebrow, leaning closer to Wooyoung’s face. I watched with intrigue as Wooyoung slightly caved in on himself, gulping almost nervously. His heartbeat remained steady, though, so I couldn’t tell for sure whether San’s proximity made him nervous, “Who got that stuck ball off the basket last time, I don’t reckon it was your brothers?”

“Well,” Wooyoung huffed, averting his eyes when San only leaned closer. I almost grinned when Wooyoung’s heart very loudly skipped a beat, but his eyebrows furrowed as he swiftly straightened himself, giving San a pointed look, “You can jump high. And I suppose you have strong arms, it was sheer luck, really.”

Before the two could start bickering, I chuckled and reached a hand out towards Wooyoung, “Won’t you check my hands for blisters too?”

Wooyoung seemed a little bit too eager to scurry off the log he was sharing with San as he kneeled in front of me, taking my hand into his. I chuckled and looked at San as I took a swing of my beer, Wooyoung’s warm fingers tracing lines as he hummed under his breath, turning my palm over, “You have pretty hands, Y/N.”

“Thank you,” I said, then switched my hands as Wooyoung continued to inspect them, a flush appearing on his face when San reached out to pet his hair since it was tousled by the wind earlier. It had settled now into a pleasant evening breeze. The chatter, music, and laughter coming from around the bonfire felt nice, warm. As I gazed at the fire, I was greeted by the sight of werewolves cosying up and sharing drinks and stories. I’ve never had this in the big city, it felt really nice to be surrounded by creatures that had your back even if they didn’t know you well.

Wooyoung chuckled, his finger digging into my skin, right underneath my pinkie, “Yunho has the same exact moles here too, on the same hand as well.”

My body froze as San’s eyebrows raised, he quickly scurried off the log to join Wooyoung crouching in front of me. I tried to keep the smile on my face, but the taste in my mouth soured as I looked down at the three moles that I’ve always had on my left palm, right underneath my pinkie finger.

“Really?” San sounded surprised and excited at the same time, “Are you sure?”

“Of course,” Wooyoung scoffed as he gave San a side glance, “He’s my brother, I know him. He’s always said that they look like stars. Before our sisters were born, he’d said they represented him, Mingi, and me. Of course, the closest to the one he called himself was Mingi because they are twins and blah blah, sometimes this twin thing gets old.”

“You’re just jealous.” San teased Wooyoung as my eyes were stuck on the three moles, something in my stomach dropping. I’ve always said the three dots looked like stars and represented my family: my mom, my father, and me. We’d always be there for each other, close by, looking over one another. Wooyoung and San’s voices drowned out as they started bickering about whether Mingi and Yunho had a deeper bond than any other werewolf due to them being twins, but my mind was spinning with this new piece of information. It suddenly felt wrong having those moles there, especially since Yunho didn’t want to have to do anything with me. I gulped, retracting my hand from Wooyoung’s hold as I stood abruptly, taking the two guys off guard.

“Uhm, I’ll just see what my parents are up to if you don’t mind…” I knew my scent had soured, San’s furrowed eyebrows told me he had realised something had upset me. But I just smiled and patted Wooyoung’s head before I walked around my friends, my heart slightly racing as the chilly evening seemed to bite at my nose, making me sniff harder and harder by the time I reached my parents, who were talking to the Academy’s Principal, Mr. Kim.

“Oh, Miss Byun,” The Principal was the first one to spot me, and he smiled as my parents beckoned me even closer, “I was just complimenting you. Ever since Miss Yeri started rooming with you, her grades not only went up but she’s been better behaved too.”

“Oh, uhm, that’s great.” I tried to even out my expression, praying that my parents wouldn’t question my souring mood, “I didn’t do much, just asked her to follow some rules. She also asked if I could sometimes help her out with her homework.”

“Fascinating,” The Principal muttered as my parents looked at me proudly, making me feel a little bit shy, “I knew letting her room with Miss Son wasn’t too smart, those two gave me more headache than the ruling board does on the daily.”

The Principal’s comment had my parents laughing, the shared glance between them amused, and suddenly I realised I’d never have that. I would never have a mate that stood by my side, cosied up to me, spoke to me about whatever insanity crossed their minds, no shared understanding glances, no cheek or neck nuzzles, no unbreakable bond, nothing. My jaw tightened as the air spiked with sandalwood and vanilla, and I hoped it would pass by before the tears could spring into my eyes. But the Universe seemed to be working against me today because the Principal caught Yunho’s bicep before he could stalk off, his expression soft and his eyes questioning. He hadn’t noticed my presence yet, because I knew his round eyes would turn harsh and his pouty lips would pull into a straight line the second he noticed me. His outgrown hair was tousled by the breeze, long strands framing his face handsomely as they brushed against his nape, some strands darker than the others.

“Mr. Song, fancy seeing you.” The Principal patted Yunho’s strong back with a proud smile, “I was just telling Mr. and Mrs. Byun how your little sister has been improving both academically and behaviour-wise too.”

“Oh,” Yunho’s pale cheeks flushed with colour as he slightly bowed, I could see my parents practically fawn over him. He was handsome, too handsome, everyone around here was in love with him whether they wanted to be or not, “I know my siblings give you a lot of headaches, but if it helps, you’ll have to deal with fewer of us after this year.”

The Principal laughed as he shook his head, “Between you and me, I’d rather have you and Mingi attend the Academy for five more years than your younger siblings, although Dahyun is a sweet girl despite being odd.”

Even if the comment wasn’t well received by Yunho, his left eye twitched slightly and his smile looked a bit forced all of a sudden, he just chuckled and bowed his head again, “They’ll mature with time, Mingi and I did too.”

“Indeed, that is true.” Then the Principal was suddenly facing me, and I noticed the way Yunho’s eyes slightly widened as if he actually hadn’t noticed me standing just a few feet away, “You’d be surprised to hear that Yunho was unstoppable as a child, we had to sedate him more than once during his runs. He also struggled to shift back until he became ten, isn’t that peculiar?”

Before Yunho could interject, however, my mother spoke up to my horror, “My daughter still struggles to shift, being an early bloomer is really straining.”

“I’m not an early bloomer, though.” Yunho’s tone was a bit harsher, but I bet nobody noticed but me as his eyes bore into mine, his face void of any emotion. I sighed and looked away, trying to push the image of his exposed collarbones due to his unbuttoned shirt out of my head. His cheeks seemed unnaturally pink, he must’ve used some blush before coming down for the bonfire.

“Sometimes when mates—”

“I think we should leave the younglings alone, no?” My father cut the Principal off with a charming smile as I looked at him, slightly taken aback. Nobody knew Yunho and I were supposed to be mates, not even Yunho, I hadn’t told a soul. I doubt my father knows, he must’ve misinterpreted Yunho and my exchange as I winced and he just cleared his throat, sounding uncomfortable. Then, without wasting another second, my father was rushing us towards the bonfire, my mother laughing at something the Principal said as I turned to look at my dad. He was smiling gently and winked when he caught my stare, making me question whether he truly was oblivious to whether I had already found my mate or not. Yunho and I marched towards the bonfire wordlessly, and I flinched when I felt his warm knuckles brush against the back of my hand, but almost as if it was a fragment of my imagination, Yunho was beelining it towards a log on which a girl I didn’t know sat, next to her Yeri with a bored expression on her face.

“Yunho!” The unknown girl called out, making grabby hands at him. I watched as Yunho grinned and sat next to her, leaning into her space as the girl instantly flushed. My stomach coiled as I averted my eyes towards the fire, feeling its warmth slowly seep into my bones, but my muscles didn’t ease up, they remained tense.

“Did you miss me, baby?” I tried not to whine as my wolf told me to pounce on the girl and drag her into the forest and show her what happens to those who touch Yunho, but I would’ve looked completely insane if I had done that. Yunho wasn’t done speaking, however, and I felt eyes on me which made my skin crawl, “I got held up, but I’m all yours now.”

I tried not to feel sick as I chanced a glance towards Yunho, who was looking at me with a smirk. I could feel tears threatening to appear in my eyes, I didn’t want to look pathetic, however, Yeri seemed to save me from the shame, “Dude, did you get me a beer?”

“Of course, I did.” Yunho chuckled, finally looking away from me, “Just don’t tell mom or Wooyoung.”

“I won’t, chill out.” Yeri scoffed as she opened her can of beer, grinning to herself in triumph, “My room is yours tonight, then.”

They shared a look and I released a shaky breath as I had decided that I needed a moment away from everything. I knew everyone could smell my spiked scent and hear my heart thudding in an uneven rhythm, I didn’t want them staring at me, so I quickly hurried inside the house and headed for the kitchen hoping it was deserted. Maybe I’d find that bottle of champagne San was talking about and help myself to it, I knew nobody would mind. The kitchen was dark when I stepped through the archway, so I quickly felt around the wall for the light switch and gasped when light flooded the kitchen. When I got too into my head, I completely missed other scents or heartbeats around me, otherwise the vampire girl wouldn’t have taken me off guard. She tilted her head and raised an amused eyebrow as she nibbled on a cherry.

“Did I scare you?” She asked, her tone still cold, “I thought werewolves have heightened senses too.”

“Uh, we do.” I muttered as I walked further inside the kitchen, “I was distracted.”

“Why is that?” The girl asked, looking curious as her expression slightly shifted.

“No reason.” I lied as I opened a cupboard and grabbed a tall glass.

“Are you drinking wine?” She looked surprised as I walked to the cupboard I knew the champagne was hidden in, “Can I have some too?”

I paused and considered her question for a second, then shrugged, “Sure, but it’s champagne.”

“Good, I like that more.” She smirked as she grabbed a tall glass too, then approached me. She was cold, she lacked the warmth werewolves emanated, but her scent was oddly not exactly hers. I studied her from my peripheral as I got on my tiptoes and grabbed the bottle of champagne. I had been around the Songs for long enough to know them by scent, and she very strongly reeked of Mingi. There was no further information needed to know they really were mated if only someone failed to notice her bite mark. The vampire girl said nothing as I opened the bottle of champagne, mindful of leaving some for San and Wooyoung as I poured the bubbly drink for the vampire before for myself. I could feel her eyes on me, studying me closely, and then she hummed, leaning her hip against the counter, “I might not be a werewolf, but you absolutely stink. Don’t get me wrong, all werewolves do besides Mingi, but your scent is very bothersome right now.”

I gulped, feeling my cheeks heating up as I placed the bottle of champagne back into the cupboard. Getting told that you stink certainly wasn’t very nice, but I knew firsthand that werewolves had distinctive scents, perhaps vampires weren’t too fond of it. Not that I knew much about vampires, there were few in Colourful River and they seemed to frolic more with the humans since they were their blood bags. Still, her comment only worsened my mood as I handed her one of the glasses, trying not to grimace.

“Sorry, I’ll try to keep it down next time,” I muttered over the rim of my glass, and then I took a bigger gulp than necessary. The vampire girl watched me with a raised eyebrow as she took a small sip, savouring the sweet taste unlike me. I didn’t like the amused glint in her eyes, it felt as if she was looking down on me, but I really wasn’t up for a confrontation right now.

“As much as I would love to insult you right now,” My eyes widened as the vampire girl sighed, “Over the past year I learned that when your scent turns sour, or just becomes really unbearable to me, it means that you’re upset. So, I didn’t mean to further upset you, I’m just not very good at understanding how werewolves function.”

I chuckled under my breath as my next words escaped before I could stop myself, “Funny you say that when you’re surrounded by werewolves only right now. Why do you even hang around us if you can’t stand us?”

Despite expecting harsh words as an answer to my jab, the vampire looked dejected as she leaned back into the counter, sighing loudly as she averted her eyes, “If it wasn’t for Mingi and I being—mates, then I certainly wouldn’t be here. When I was young, I had a really bad encounter with a rogue wolf and I have hated you all ever since, but I can’t deny the pull I feel towards Mingi, it’s weird, but it’s there. And when I had tried ignoring it, it had hurt the both of us, so I’m here now, trying to still embrace the fact that now I’m part of this pack that I’ve hated my whole life and of the family that’s been getting on my nerves ever since they moved to Nocturnal Parade.”

I hummed in surprise and took another sip of my drink, now suddenly understanding why the Song twins had reacted with disdain when I had brought up the Petrova family a year ago, I assume she and Mingi weren’t together yet then.

“It must’ve been hard accepting Mingi, then.” The girl’s cold exterior slowly melted away as she looked at me with surprise. I suppose she had been judged by many for her prejudices, but didn’t everyone have some? I couldn’t completely blame her for them, “Seeing a werewolf and a vampire together isn’t uncommon, but I haven’t heard of them being mated before. Do you mind if I ask how that happened?”

The vampire chuckled as she turned her head towards the window, gazing out as she took another sip of her champagne, “We were drunk and had sex. I, apparently, bit Mingi where his scent gland is and triggered his imprinting. It feels weird to think about it, that maybe we would’ve never ended up together otherwise, but I don’t think that’s true. I think I had always liked Mingi, my hatred had just gotten in the way of me realising my true feelings for him.”

I hummed, gaining a new perspective on their relationship. I have heard bits and pieces from Yeri, even Wooyoung sometimes, but Mingi’s younger sister was mostly speaking ill of the Petrova girl. Yeri didn’t like the vampire at all and never failed to go on angry rants about how much she wanted to rip Mingi’s mate apart, but she couldn’t because she’d been accepted by the family, so the vampire girl was now untouchable. Speaking to the vampire, however, wasn’t as awful as Yeri made me think it would be. She faced me again, her head tilted as she looked at me with a curious expression on her face.

“What’s your story? I don’t think we had spoken before, right?” She asked as I shook my head, plastering on a small smile.

“We moved here a year ago, the big city just wasn’t for us anymore.” I shrugged, then traced the edge of the counter with my finger as I averted my eyes from the vampire, “Nothing is interesting about me, I think I’m just a regular, boring, werewolf. I did make a friend, though, it’s Choi San, if you know him?”

“Of course, I do,” The vampire scoffed, rolling her eyes as if hearing my best friend’s name was irritating to her, “Wooyoung never shuts up about him, if I wouldn’t have known better, I’d suspect he’s in love with San.”

That caught my attention as I perked up, subconsciously leaning closer to the vampire. It felt as if she was wearing a patch of Mingi’s familiar scent, it was almost endearing if it wouldn’t have reminded me of the fact that I’d never have this with Yunho, “Really? You think Wooyoung is in love with San?”

The girl chuckled, looking at me with a smirk, “I wouldn’t want to assume such a thing, but you must know Wooyoung is very irritating, so he only settles down when I threaten to tell San he’s always gushing about him behind his back. That must mean something, no?”

I bit my lower lip, buzzing with excitement at the prospect of Wooyoung returning San’s feelings. However, I’d have to trade forward with this information very smartly, I didn’t want to ruin something that apparently had so much potential. I only wanted to see San happy with the person he loved with his whole might.

“I hope it means something,” I muttered into my glass as I took another sip, making the vampire girl’s eyes gain a mischievous glint. I hoped she wouldn’t say anything that would set back the two boys' relationship, but maybe I had finally gained an insider who could help me give tips to San to push their relationship a step forward.

“Interesting,” She mumbled as she took another sip as well, raising an eyebrow, “What about you, though? I know you’re rooming with Yeri, for which you have my condolences, but you’re connected to this family in more ways, right?”

I felt my palms sweat all of a sudden, “What do you mean?”

“I have sharp eyes, and very sensitive hearing. What’s between you and Yun—”

“Nothing, absolutely nothing.” I would’ve looked guilty even to a newcomer by how quick I was to shut down the vampire’s question and assumption, she hadn’t even fully spelled Yunho’s name yet. I gulped, feeling my heartbeat pick up, then I averted my eyes and hoped she would just drop the subject…but she didn’t.

“It’s not my place to say what I’m about to say next, but be careful.” My eyebrows furrowed as I dared take a peek at her from between my eyelashes, “The Song twins aren’t bad creatures, they really aren’t, but Yunho is…a jackass, simply put. He’s dated Seulgi, my friend, and things were really messy between them. I hear now he’s messing around with a girl who finished the Academy last year, I just don’t want to see you end up like Seulgi. You seem like a genuine werewolf, kind-hearted too, I would hate to see Yunho destroy it all. It’s not my place at all, I know, but maybe just let it be? Maybe it’s better if you’re not meant to be, you know?”

But we are meant to be, I wanted to say it, I wanted to snap at her, but she knew better. If she could see it, a complete outsider, then who was I to correct her? She had known Yunho for longer than me, she probably didn’t have any bad intentions by warning me, but it still hurt. I gulped and downed the last of my champagne, knowing that my scent had soured once again. I came here to escape everything that was Yunho, yet, he was the subject once again. I hated it, but I couldn’t do anything about it. As long as the both of us lived in this town, Yunho would somehow always be the subject, he was too popular and well-liked by the others.

“No, you’re right, I—” I paused when I realised I sounded shaky, “I don’t even like him, don’t worry. I know the type of guy he is, I won’t mingle with him. I’m glad you found Mingi, his scent is all over you, by the way.”

The vampire blushed all of a sudden, it surprised me, but I was glad I had successfully diverted the subject from Yunho. She had a fond look on her face as she tried to save herself with a loud scoff, downing her champagne quickly, “Mingi isn’t too possessive, but since I don’t have a scent as you guys do, he’s scenting me all the time. It was annoying at the beginning, but he wouldn’t stop, so, I just had to accept the fact that everyone would know I was with him now. It’s kind of endearing, but don’t let him know, please! His ego is already through the roof.”

I chuckled, wondering what she was talking about because Mingi was one of the nicest creatures I had ever met. We weren’t very close, but he always stopped to talk to me if we crossed paths in the hallways, and during the summer break, he’d even come over sometimes with baked goods, eager to discuss whatever book he’d lately read. I liked Mingi, he was nice to me and my family, sometimes perhaps too nice. Silence settled between the vampire girl and me, so I decided it was my time to excuse myself and join San and Wooyoung in the back garden once again. Surprisingly, I felt more at ease after speaking to the Petrova girl, I had always thought she was intimidating and too cold, but she was a lot nicer than I have been told. I cleared my throat and pointed towards the archway, an awkward smile making it onto my face.

“I’ll head back outside if you don’t mind.” But as I took off, she called out for me to stop.

“Wait,” The vampire cleared her throat and looked a bit embarrassed as she dug into her pocket, her lips pursed as she avoided making eye contact, “So, uhm, Dahyun forced me today to make some shitty bracelets with her and, honestly, I can’t give this shit to any of my friends, they aren’t werewolves.”

I quirked an eyebrow as she took her hand out of her pocket, then extended it towards me without meeting my eyes. Her palm opened and a simple, but pretty, brown leather bracelet sat in it. I chuckled, reaching for it with an amused smile. The bracelet was braided and it had a cute wood wolf charm, it looked like it was howling upon closer inspection. I was just about to make a playful comment about it when I noticed a very similar bracelet peeking out from underneath the sleeve of her blouse. The only difference was that the leather was a lighter brown than mine, so, I swallowed down my comment and instead looked at her with a big smile.

“Thank you!” It oddly felt like a friendship offer too, but I didn’t want to get too ahead of myself. Maybe she just genuinely didn’t want to give it to her other friends, maybe she was embarrassed to do so, “It’s really pretty.”

“Whatever,” The vampire grumbled as she lowered her hand, fidgeting with her bracelet absentmindedly, “That little animal forced me to—not that I’m calling Dahyun an animal, or other werewolves, I—well.”

I laughed quietly as I wore the bracelet, looking at it for a longer second before I grinned at the Petrova girl, “Don’t worry, I get what you’re saying. We are animals, after all, and since you’ve already brought that up, please be a little nicer to Yeri, I can’t keep listening to her whine about you.”

“I hate that brat.” The vampire scowled, but quickly caught herself, “I mean, sure, I’ll try to be nicer…sort of.”

I chuckled and raised my hand to wriggle my wrist, the wolf charm moving around, “Friends, maybe?”

The vampire seemed to think for a second before she smiled, a real smile that reached her sharp eyes too, “Yeah, friends.”

I felt rather happy as I left the kitchen, fulfilled even, that I had managed to befriend another creature, and this was the Petrova, well now Bae, heir on top of it all. It made me feel excited as I hurried out of the house, planning to tell San and even Wooyoung, but I almost collided with two creatures once out on the porch. The girl's giggles became quiet as my wide eyes stared up into Yunho’s equally surprised ones, but then, his grip tightened around the girl’s waist and he was suddenly manoeuvring themselves around me, a dark look crossing Yunho’s features. I gulped, my heart racing as I heard the girl mutter something about me to Yunho, and then both were laughing. It was fine, I was alright. Yunho was free to do however he pleased, he didn’t owe me anything, no explanations or promises. But my wolf howled inside my mind, a harsh ache suddenly hitting my insides, freezing me into my spot for a second as I gasped for air. I wondered if this exact feeling was the same as the vampire and Mingi had experienced when they tried ignoring their bond. If yes, it made me wonder how was I strong enough to still be going and acting as if Yunho wasn’t my mate, as if his ignorance wasn’t slowly killing me on the inside. All I wanted was to crumble to the ground and let the sobs wreck my body, but instead, I tried to clear my mind and find San’s scent to cosy up with him, burry my pain deep down, and revel in the safety my best friend had always offered me.

But as I finally reached my best friend, he was sitting by the bonfire with a very drunk Wooyoung stuck to his side, arms around San’s middle as his head was pressed into San’s collarbones. We made eye contact and San’s eyes were sparkling with elation and something else as he gestured with his head subtly at Wooyoung, so I knew I couldn’t bother them. I didn’t want to ruin their moment, I could basically smell just how happy, and drunk, San was. I would’ve been a terrible friend if I had walked up to them just to mop around without telling them the real reason for my displeasure, so I decided to just head home for the night. The champagne had left my blood buzzing, and even though I wasn’t tipsy, I knew how my night would end. I’d bury myself deep underneath my pillows and blanket and cry myself to sleep, letting out my wails since nobody would be able to hear me. My parents wouldn’t return for a few more hours, so I could just wallow in misery as loudly as I wanted to. But to leave, I had to grab my jacket first, which was in Wooyoung’s room courtesy to San who had thrown our jackets somewhere on his bed.

The house was silent as I made my way back inside, the kitchen dark once again, and since I couldn’t hear a second heartbeat, I knew the vampire girl had left, probably, to find Mingi. I realised I was fiddling with the wolf charm as I made my way up the stairs, my body covered in goosebumps for no reason. I had been inside this house multiple times, I knew where everything was, but for some reason, my intuition was telling me to turn around and just go home without my jacket. My wolf was basically whimpering in my mind, trying to convince me to turn around as I stepped off the last stair, ears picking up on a faint noise. The hallway wasn’t too narrow but it was long, and Wooyoung’s room was next to the upstairs bathroom, across from Yeri’s. The scents were so mingled up here that I couldn’t tell whether anyone was upstairs, so I just hoped I didn’t run into anyone because I wasn’t capable of conversing right now. I felt spent, upset, and heartbroken at the same time. I knew this would happen, I’d get ignored by Yunho once again, but it still stung each time it happened, I thought I had gotten used to it. Maybe I was reacting this badly because he had insulted me last night as well, and now his actions from tonight were also bugging me.

The faint noises got louder the closer I got to Wooyoung’s room, and with slight terror, I realised they sounded like hushed whispers and muffled moans. Glancing towards Yeri’s room, the door had been left slightly ajar, and despite dread filling my stomach, I found myself walking towards it, eyebrows furrowed once I picked up on a foreign citrusy scent. That, however, was the least of my worries as Yunho’s intoxicating sandalwood and vanilla scent carried through the air in intense pumps, twisting something in my lower stomach, and making my mouth go dry. It was so intoxicating that I found myself creeping towards the door, my breath baited and my hands slightly trembling as my wolf whined at me to barge inside and let Yunho have us, ravish us. But the small crack left by the door being ajar was enough for me to see inside the dim room, making my heart drop in seconds. The girl Yunho had been hanging out with all night was on her knees in front of Yunho as he sat on the edge of the bed, leaning back on his hands as his mouth hung open, eyebrows furrowed, and eyes squeezed shut as low moans left his swollen lips. I couldn’t pry my eyes away from Yunho’s face despite the sudden urge to cry as my wolf howled loudly, making my blood boil now that I knew for sure others could have Yunho like this. At a particularly high-pitched moan, Yunho’s eyes snapped open and found mine through the crack of the door, making me gasp loudly as I jumped back, feeling disgusted and full of rage at the same time. It wasn’t fair of Yunho to constantly push me away, whether he knew I was his mate or not, and it wasn’t fair that he could easily mess around with others while I was forced to suffer and watch him from afar. I didn’t stall any longer, I was out of the house before I could hear more of the sounds they were making, Yunho’s strong scent burning my throat even the next morning.

            The Spring Break passed by in a frenzy, and I had barely gotten any rest while I was home for the week. Every invite to the Songs I had turned down, disgusted at the thought of facing Yunho after everything. I didn’t want to see him, I didn’t want to hear him, I didn’t want to smell him. I had made up my mind. If he didn’t want me, I wouldn’t want him either anymore. I have yearned enough after someone I’d never have, so, I decided what’s enough is enough. I knew the change wouldn’t happen overnight, especially when my wolf snarled at me anytime I pushed the thought of Yunho away, whining loudly whenever he came up in a conversation. My wolf wasn’t happy with my decision, but I was the one in control, and I was done being hurt all the time. I missed the serenity I once had before meeting Yunho and the rest of the Songs, but if finally living the life my parents had always wished for came with the price of finding an unrequited mate, then I could live with that for now. Perhaps if I went far enough from here then the bond would somehow finally completely break. I could only hope that was the case and I wouldn’t get somehow incurably sick, I’ve heard of it happening before, and it scared me.

Today had been a long day, I felt tired and my back muscles were aching from having been sitting all day long, my brain sore from having been paying close attention in my classes. My notebooks were filled with notes, there was not a second to rest now that we were back at the Academy. San and I had wandered on our own paths sometime during the afternoon, his classes different from mine, besides, I knew he liked working out before going for his run, where he’d most probably be joined by Wooyoung. He had texted me asking whether I wanted to join the two of them, but I had politely declined. San knew I liked being on my own, so he never pushed me if I wasn’t feeling up to it. I always enjoyed my runs more on the Academy grounds than back at home, because here the forest was large and I rarely ran into other wolves while being out there. At home, the boundaries were clearly fenced in, to keep us from wandering too far into the Haunted Woods and getting lost. Other creatures than us, more ferocious ones, lurked deep in the forest, and some of us from Nocturnal Parade had never returned once they ventured too far in.

I knew I couldn’t go back to the shed, especially not now, out of fear of running into Yunho. And as if the Universe was laughing at me today, the way my wolf started purring before the scent even hit my nose should’ve been a clear sign to turn around and go the other way towards the campus, on the backroads where not many liked walking. It was a good spot for the Fae to hide away and drink in nature’s powers, so most of us kept clear of it to offer them privacy. I knew they wouldn’t mind if I stumbled upon them, and I’d rather face their wrath than run into Yunho right now. As I rounded the corner, I stopped walking just in time to avoid crashing into Yunho’s larger body. He gasped and pressed a hand against his chest, gulping almost too loudly. I didn’t look at him as I averted my eyes, nor said anything despite my wolf trying to nudge me towards Yunho. I just tried to step around him and hurry towards the entrance. However, something very unexpected happened. Yunho’s low voice sounded unsure, almost, a little breathy as well.

“Are you headed for a run right now?” My body froze upon hearing Yunho’s question, and I tried to fight every particle of my body from stepping closer to him when his sandalwood scent called out to me. It was deeper, more earthy than ever before, and my wolf was purring so loudly it echoed in my ears as if it were real.

“Yes.” My answer was short, but before I could leave, Yunho followed up with another question.

“May I join you?” He sounded more confident this time, I could feel his eyes on me as my eyebrows furrowed.

What? I gulped, trying to keep my heartbeat even as his question echoed in my mind. Why now? Why did he want to join me on my run all of a sudden? Why was he even talking to me? Why was he acknowledging me? Without even realising it, I had started fiddling with the wolf charm of my bracelet, finding courage as I raised my head and looked into his chocolate brown eyes.

“No.” Yunho’s face became blank as he gulped again, his left eye slightly twitching, “I don’t like going on runs with others.”

Yunho was silent for another second as I raised my eyebrow at him, challengingly. What did he want? His tongue poked the inside of his cheek as he huffed, a cynical smile crossing his features, “I see.”

I hummed, fingers tightening around the charm as I was displeased with his reaction, but I didn’t say anything as I nodded once, stepping around him this time to resume my walk. But, once again, Yunho spoke up before I could leave.

“Have you done the assignment? For our Literature class.” Just what was he on? My eyebrows furrowed again as I looked at him confused, Yunho slightly turned his body to face mine since I was standing next to him.

“Yes, we were supposed to hand it in before the Spring Break.” I knew my tone was sharp as I deadpanned, but I couldn’t help myself. Yunho had never spoken to me like this before, let alone asked about a run or an assignment. If he stumbled into me on accident, he wouldn’t even apologise, so this whole interaction was bizarre, “Why? Have you not done yours?”

“I have.” Yunho’s eyes narrowed then, slowly trailing down my body until it stopped on my wrist. I shivered and hid my arm behind my back as if I had done something I wasn’t allowed to, my wolf whispered at me that I was wearing something that hadn’t always belonged to me, “Are you—did Mingi give you something of his?”

Once again, what? I huffed, closing my eyes for a second as I could feel irritation seep through my body. It wasn’t just my scent souring, Yunho’s sandalwood got replaced by the vanilla, which didn’t smell as sweet as usual, “No, why would he?”

But Yunho didn’t answer as his jaw tightened, his eyes switching between mine before they fell back down to my wrist as if he were trying to see through the sleeve of my jacket. His long hair was tousled, almost as if he had been running his fingers through it too often, and his cheeks were covered in a coral blush and littered with fake freckles. His nails were painted yellow this time and they matched the neon yellow of his bomber jacket, which seemed to hide a purple mesh shirt underneath. A blue tie hung loosely around his neck, and his jeans had daisies stamped on his thighs. He looked amazing, even if peculiar, he made my wolf purr in a dreamy way that had me move slightly towards him, hoping that he hadn’t noticed since he was still busy staring at my wrist, which I was still hiding behind my back.

“Are you lying to me right now?” Yunho’s tone had turned a tad bit aggressive, and suddenly, I found him all up in my face, closing the distance between us with an alarming speed. My heart skipped a beat and my wolf leered at Yunho’s actions, whispering sweet nothings into my ear, distracting me for a second from Yunho’s sudden, and unwarranted, fury.

“What is your problem, Yunho?” Despite craving to touch him and nuzzle into the crook of his neck, I pushed through the sudden lustful haze and made my anger apparent. That seemed to catch Yunho off guard as his expression fell a bit, his eyebrows furrowing as he gulped, opening his mouth before he closed it again, seemingly not knowing how to answer my question. I scoffed, gave him a fierce glare, and ignored my wolf’s whimpers when I stepped back. Then I turned around to storm towards the exit. Where was all that audacity coming from?!

            It was a warm spring day, the sun had finally melted the last remnants of frostbite and dew, yet most students were cooped up in the Study Hall or Library, busy catching up with the projects and assignments they had procrastinated on so far. Perhaps going to the Library would’ve been a smarter choice since the cacophony of the grand room distracted me more than once from my coursework. Midterms were right around the corner and everyone was squeezing in study time even on the weekends, determined to memorise as much material as possible. Thankfully, I wasn’t behind in any of my classes but I still had to finish my Alchemy assignment, which was proving to be a headache. San was busy reading through his Anatomy notes and scribbling down even more information in his notebook as four different books were opened and strewn around him on the table. The sight made me chuckle, but I didn’t bother San as I knew he’d get anxious if he wasn’t able to finish checking all the materials he had proposed for himself to go over that day. He was quite literally a prodigy, yet he strived for even more perfection. I knew his whole future depended on his grades, but San was too smart for his own good…academically, at least.

As I jotted down another sentence about my failed experiment just from last night, Yeri’s chewing gum snapped loudly, making San flinch. He was so focused he didn’t even look up, but his eyebrows slightly furrowed. I peeked at Yeri from above my laptop and raised an eyebrow at her when I realised, she had been staring at me already. She sighed as she placed her chin in her palm, grimacing as the chewing gum had stuck to the corner of her lips. I chuckled as she quickly got rid of it, and cleared her throat.

“Do you think you’ll pass your Alchemy class this semester?” Yeri’s tone was deadpan, and it almost made me laugh. Maybe I should’ve gone to the Library where we weren’t allowed to speak much to each other, maybe then Yeri would’ve spared me from her brutally honest questions.

“I sure hope so,” I muttered as I searched for the right formula on the internet, which was much faster than flipping through old pages of books, trying to find the answer for my magick elixir.

“Will you have to retake your class if you fail?” Yeri pressed, genuinely interested all of a sudden.

“No, it would be the first time I failed this class, I’d just retake the final exam,” I explained as San hummed next to me, highlighting something with green in the book he had borrowed from the Library. I was sure he’d get a good scrutinising from the librarian for that.

“How many passes do I get before they fail me? Like the exams and shit.”

“Which class are you failing, Yeri?” San spoke up with an amused tone as he sneaked a glance at her. I chuckled as I found the formula, then copied it into my notebook before putting it into my slideshow.

“Don’t tell my brothers,” Yeri lowered her voice as she leaned over the table to be closer to San and me, “But I might be failing Literature this year.”

“Literature of all subjects?” San started laughing, prompting me to giggle as well. It was one of our easiest classes, trust Yeri to fail it. It seemed like the Songs were easily tricked by the easiest of tasks, Wooyoung was another prime example of that. He failed his Sports class last year, which should’ve physically been impossible for a werewolf…even all of the vampires had passed it.

“Stop making fun of me,” Yeri pouted as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest, “Not everyone likes to read—I certainly don’t.”

“Well, you should from now on, or you’ll have to retake the whole class next year.” Yeri’s eyes widened at my inoffensive threat.

“Whatever,” She grumbled under her breath as her ears perked up, eyes looking around the room. San’s body seemed to tense too for a second before he relaxed, his ears tinged slightly red, “Don’t wait for me to come back to our room tonight.”

“Where are you going?” I felt like an older sister worrying about their younger sibling as my eyebrows furrowed. Yeri just rolled her eyes with a loud huff, eyes fixed on something behind me as she started smiling.

“I’m sleeping in Seungwannie’s room tonight.” I could hear footsteps approaching us rapidly.

“What about her roommate?” I asked as a familiar citrusy scent caught my attention, I didn’t have to turn around to know who was coming.

“She’ll be fine, we like her.” I chuckled as Yeri winked, and then her eyes settled on San, or rather who stood now next to him. Before any of us could react, Wooyoung leaned down and pressed a fat kiss against San’s cheek, unleashing a heavy thundering of heartbeats. I ignored San’s heartbeats as I smiled at Wooyoung, who looked embarrassed by his actions, but he was grinning sheepishly as he lowered his head.

“Hi!” He greeted us as San finally snapped out of his frozen state, giving Wooyoung a genuinely wide smile.

“Hello, Woo,” I said as the younger pulled out a chair and sat in it, dismissing Yeri when she stuck her tongue out at her brother. Wooyoung rested his chin in his palm, head tilted as he looked at San.

“Are you still studying?” Wooyoung’s tone was impatient as San’s sigh was exasperated. I chuckled under my breath and went back to my slide show, looking over it for the nth time, “I’m so bored, San, you promised to come back to my room with me and entertain me.”

“Oh, did you now, San?” Yeri grinned mischievously as she giggled, making Wooyoung’s eyes widen as he shot her an alarmed look. I watched the exchange wordlessly as San’s ears flushed a darker shade while he tried to make his body look even smaller as his wide shoulders hunched forward, “Does that form of entertainment involve—”

“Song Yeri.” Mingi’s tone was authoritative as Yeri’s eyes widened, lips pressing into a straight line. How have I missed them approaching? Yunho was directly looking at me, his soft and chocolate brown eyes drilling into my forehead as I quickly looked away, once again busy with my PowerPoint presentation, “Leave your brother and San alone, must you always be such a menace?”

“If they are idiots…” Yeri grumbled under her breath, and I watched curiously as both San and Wooyoung looked away, blushing and their hearts skipping a beat. I suppose it won’t take them much longer to finally come to terms that they like each other, Wooyoung’s been rather reactive lately around San, it was certainly fun to watch. What wasn’t fun at all, however, was Yunho’s unrelenting stare and his scrunched nose as he sniffed at the air.

“Hello, Y/N.” I didn’t expect the vampire girl to speak to me, she even had a smile on her face as my round eyes fell on her. It was a small smile, but it was there. I watched the people around us turn around surprised as they looked between me and the Petrova girl. I smiled and waved at her, the small wolf charm swishing around on my wrist. I didn’t miss Yunho’s eyes instantly falling onto it, nor the vampire girl’s satisfied smirk when Yeri scowled at her, “Are these rascals bothering you?”

“Oh, not at all.” I chuckled, looking at San and Wooyoung as Yeri scoffed, but everyone just ignored her.

“Well, if you ever get bored of them, you can always join me and my friends.” The vampire girl’s eyes fell pointedly on Yeri and Wooyoung as Mingi’s grip tightened on her waist, “I know some creatures forget they cohabit a place with others whom they are constantly bothering and irritating.”

“Oh, shove something up your—”

“Alright!” Mingi chuckled, jumping in to de-escalate the situation, as always, “Before this turns into another argument, my lovely girlfriend and I will be on our way.”

The Petrova girl winked at Yeri as she kissed Mingi’s cheek, and then the two turned and were off to a table where three creatures sat, all smiling at them except for one. She had long black hair, bangs that fell into her eyes, and a fierce glare as she stared at Yunho, then at me once she realised, I was looking at her.

“Won’t you sit?” Wooyoung gestured towards the empty seat next to Yeri, and that seemed to snap Yunho out of whatever train of thought he seemed to be lost in. I chanced a glance at him before I went back to check for typos in my presentation, trying to ignore Yunho’s vanilla scent spiking all of a sudden, so sweet it almost made me gasp. The last time it had been that sweet was when I caught him and that girl at the bonfire enjoying each other. I gulped and willed my wolf to remain silent as suddenly it took me everything to remain seated and not throw myself at Yunho, God, I so desperately wished to touch him and inhale him whole, but once again I had to remind myself that I had made a choice. No more Yunho, no more yearning, it was over. I deserved better, I could do better than this.

“No, see you around.” Yunho’s voice was strained as he quickly walked off, sitting alone at a large and almost empty table.

“That was strange,” Wooyoung mumbled as Yeri hummed, turning around to stare at her brother with a frown.

“He’s been acting strange ever since Y/N came to town,” I froze as Yeri faced me again, lips pursed, “Not that I’m blaming you for my brother’s behaviour, I just don’t understand what’s up with him. His scent gets stronger around you and he’s always moodier and snappier after he sees you, did you do something to him?”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes too as I closed my laptop, “Right, as if your brother had given me the chance to do something to him.”

Before anyone could question me, I stood and stormed towards the large bookcases lined closely to the exit, my muscles tense. Now that I had decided that I wanted nothing more to do with Yunho, my wolf had turned even more stubborn than it had been. I wanted to consume him, I wanted him to touch me and feel me up, it felt like I couldn’t think or breathe in his presence. And when he wasn’t around, my wolf whined and cried, begging me to find him and make him want us. But my will was stronger and I was determined to stay away even if it became harder and harder daily to go against my wolf. I wondered if Yunho felt the same way, if the thoughts of me were eating him up alive, if he was desperate to have me, if his wolf whined at him just like mine did. I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to ground myself into the present and push away all thoughts of the mate who didn’t want me back. I would’ve been struggling more half a year ago, but now it was second nature yearning after Yunho one second, then blocking him out the next one.

I still needed one more book for my presentation, the one that I could document myself from more in-depth as to why my experiment had failed…and I also shouldn’t forget to cut the sound for the recording since Yeri is giggling and making fun of me in the background for almost ruining my desk. My fingers traced the sturdy shelf of the bookcase as I craned my neck back, reading the titles of the books, wondering whether I was in the right section. I was tall, but these bookcases were over two meters, so I might need a ladder if I find my book and it’s way too high up on the shelf. As I scanned the next aisle, I grinned in triumph when I read the title of the book I was searching for, Do’s and Don’ts in Elixir Making, Alchemy, Level: kindergarten, by A. Turner. I chuckled under my breath at the blatant jab before I pushed myself up on my tiptoes, reaching forward and finding stability in the bookshelf when a sudden invasive warmth burned my nape, the scent of sandalwood forcing my eyes shut as I took a deep breath, my wolf purring when the sweet vanilla seemed to linger in my throat and oesophagus even after exhaling.

“Is this the one you were looking for?” Yunho’s voice was low, too close to my ear, and I couldn’t stop my heart from jolting in both fright and excitement. I whirled around, which was a mistake. There was barely any distance between our bodies as Yunho held the book in his big hand, long fingers curling around its old spine, his eyes soft, but his expression hardened. I gulped since my mouth felt dry, but the words didn’t come to me as Yunho and I stood staring at each other. His grip tightened around the book and I finally looked at it, nodding hesitantly. He hummed and handed it over, our fingers brushing in the process and making my body lurch forward. Yunho’s eyes widened, and I wondered if he had felt it too. The electricity, the low humming, the sudden tremble of my body at the fleeting touch, the depravation and desperation that was suddenly flowing through my veins, so close to claiming him as mine.

“Yes.” My voice was steady despite my hammering heart, and the sweat that coated my brows. I cradled the book against my chest as if I was trying to protect myself from Yunho, protect my heart and mind too. But Yunho didn’t look like he was about to move away, and I was too scared of making any moves, knowing that my legs would carry me straight in his arms, shamelessly at that. I couldn’t let that happen, it would’ve been humiliating. Yunho’s lips parted as his eyebrows furrowed, long strands falling into his eyes, and he swiftly ran a hand through his hair as my eyes followed the motion. I gulped, wishing to do the same, but then Yunho exhaled and I felt my body lean towards him again, vanilla so sweet my mind was clouded with want.

“Mingi’s girlfriend told me she had given you the sparse bracelet she and Dahyun had made.” I hadn’t expected that, so I was curious where Yunho was going with this, “She reeks of Mingi, so it’s no surprise your bracelet also reeks of Mingi.”

My eyebrows furrowed as I raised my hand, staring at it incredulously. Does it? I hadn’t even noticed, how come? After all, Mingi’s scent had never been as invasive and constant as Yunho’s. Bringing my wrist closer to my nose, I sniffed at it for a second, eyebrows furrowing when I noticed the faint hint of the earthy and cinnamon scent that was Mingi. It was barely even there, I wondered why Yunho was so sensitive towards it.

“Oh, well, I can faintly smell it now that you’ve pointed it out,” I muttered with a shrug as I lowered my arm, looking at Yunho with a questioning gaze. He bit his bottom lip and my eyes stayed there, wondering what the pink plush flesh would feel like underneath my teeth, whether Yunho would whine or growl if I were to sink my fangs into it and nip at the sensitive lip. But before my face could flush at the vivid image created in my mind, Yunho cleared his throat and took a small step towards me, making me press myself up against the bookcase. My body felt alive, my heart was racing, and my ears were ringing. I felt like I could do anything with Yunho around, as if I was untouchable.

“Listen,” Yunho seemed to hesitate for a second before his eyes glazed over with conviction, his scent so overbearing that for a second it was all I could focus on, and his racing heart, “I had never meant to assume things about you, nor insinuate anything, but I realise my words had come off wrong more than once. I was harsh when I didn’t mean to be, and I know you think I’m a dick. Frankly, you have all the right to think that about me, I hadn’t been the nicest to you until now.”

I wanted to ask why now, what had changed that he was finally acknowledging me, what was spurring him on to even talk to me like this, because it sounded like he was about to apologise and I hated how my heart was beating harder, making my wolf was howl in happiness, ready to accept Yunho’s apology even if he didn’t say the words. I remained silent as Yunho licked his pouty lips, and my eyes seemed to remain on them even as he continued to speak, “Do you—do you believe in soulmates?”

I couldn’t help but give Yunho an amused look, quirking an eyebrow, “We’re literally werewolves who imprint on each other and have lifelong mates, do you believe in soulmates?”

Yunho froze, a little taken aback that I had answered his question with a question, “What about mates? Do you believe in mates, then?”

It seemed like neither one of us wanted to answer questions right now, but I sighed as I gave Yunho a resigned look, “I do, I believe in mates.”

“Since when?” Yunho’s tone was turning slightly desperate as he kept pressing on, and I cleared my throat, averting my eyes for a bit.

“Since I was little, but I suppose I started firmly believing that mates do exist after I came here.” Maybe if I didn’t say it too directly, he’d still understand what I was trying to hint at.

“Yeah?” Yunho’s tone was faint, his face suddenly softening as he exhaled quietly.

“What about you? I don’t think I’ve seen you settle with anyone for a longer period since I came here.” Yunho’s jaw clenched as I looked back into his eyes, tilting my head as my eyes narrowed at him.

“The concept of mates was silly to me…” Yunho’s tone was hard as he took a step back, making my wolf whine in protest, but I remained silent and ignored the sudden coldness that plunged through my body, “Until you came to Nocturnal Parade.”

My whole body went cold upon hearing his words, and my eyes widened as Yunho’s admission echoed in my ears. Did that mean he knew we were mates? Could that mean that Yunho was aware that we were fated, but he was ignoring it on purpose? That was utterly more painful than being in a one-sided mated situation, because it meant he was purposefully rejecting me. My eyebrows furrowed as Yunho’s expression was blank once again, his eyes hardening the longer I stared at him in silence.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

I felt like I couldn’t breathe, so many questions whirling in my head, making me question every little interaction that we’ve had in the past year, even more so the recent ones. Why would he ignore me? Was I not good enough? Was I not pretty to him? Was I not appealing to his wolf? Why did Yunho hate me so much that he ignored the fact that we were mates for a whole year, making it so hard for me to be in his vicinity? I blinked, suddenly aware that I had tears in my eyes, even my wolf was whining at the realisation. Yunho didn’t say anything as he watched my shocked expression morph into something of sadness mixed with anger, and then I squared my shoulders and glared at him. I didn’t say anything as I pressed the book against his chest to push him back, trying to keep it together in front of him despite wanting to scream at him, demand answers, and throw all the books from the shelves at him. Yunho looked taken off guard as I pushed him back by his chest, his gasp loud as I ripped the book away from his chest and stormed back to the table I shared with San and the Song siblings, my blood fuming and my thoughts running a mile per hour. Yunho was horrible and he didn’t deserve me, even if we were mates. As I loudly and aggressively sat back down in my chair, heads turned to look at me curiously, but nobody bothered me when San shook his head once he noticed Wooyoung open his mouth to drill me with questions.

There was one insistent pair of eyes, however, that didn’t look away even after I had given them a death glare, and it was the creature who was sitting with Mingi and the Petrova girl. Her eyes tracked Yunho as he hurriedly gathered his things from the table and left the hall, a scowl settling on her face before she was watching me again. I opened my book and opted to ignore her, I didn’t have time for all this drama, I had to finish an assignment and study for the midterms as well.

            The next day wasn’t much different, except that there were barely any empty seats to find in both the Library and the Study Hall. After San and I had squeezed ourselves in between a Fae and a Druid, we spent four hours in the Library, our backs aching by the time we headed for lunch. My brain felt numb and my eyes ached from dehydration, and if I thought San would stop his revision while we enjoyed our meal, I was wrong. He was reciting a whole paragraph as he mumbled to himself over a mouthful of vegetable soup, scooping up the baby carrots into his spoon and placing them in my bowl absentmindedly. I smiled at his antics and found myself feeling fond of San and our friendship. Even though I have been here for a year and three months now, I got to experience so many new things and emotions. It was as if I was born for the first time, eager to experience our world through new lenses. If I thought back to my whole life spent in the big city, I couldn’t help but feel sad over how much I had missed out on. The community, however, in Nocturnal Parade had a way of filling in the gaps, and the absence of fond and good memories in a way that tricked my brain into believing that I was always part of this town, of this community, of this pack. It was exhilarating, and for the first time in months, I found myself craving partnership.

So, when San finally started complaining about physically being unable to revise and learn anymore, his muscles crying out for a good stretch, I proposed we go on a run together. It took San only a few seconds to realise what I saying, and then he sprung up from his seat with newfound energy, packing all of his belongings in mere minutes. I giggled as I followed suit, my backpack almost falling from my hands when San grabbed my biceps and hurled me after himself with little care that I was struggling to keep my feet from tangling together as we basically ran out of the Library. I ended up giggling as San faced me with sparkling eyes, his mouth wide but curling into a dimpled smile.

“I’ve been waiting for this day since forever!” San exclaimed as we hurried down the hallway for no reason, but San’s excitement was so palpable that I could almost touch it. It would be the second time I’d join San on his run, so I understood why this felt like a life-changing event to him. I chuckled and linked our arms together to try and slow San down, calm him down a little bit, “Which deity must I thank that you chose me as your companion for a run?”

I rolled my eyes and turned my head to watch San as I released his arm to let him hop down the stairs, “It’s warm outside and I can’t study anymore, I feel tired. I thought you also needed a second away from it all.”

“I sure do,” San muttered under his breath as he waited at the foot of the stairs for me to reach him, “All this studying just for me to not know which major I actually want, we’re four months away from graduating from the Academy, Y/N.”

I hummed and linked our arms together again as I veered us towards the backroads leading to campus, “I know, but you’ve got this San. Whether you choose Medical Engineering or Medicine and Pharmacy, you’ll do well, I just know it.”

“I want to do so much, but I feel like we have so little time,” San mumbled, his lips downturned as we left the building.

“We might not be vampires, but we certainly have more than enough time to live a lifetime full of completing our wishes and wants, don’t you think?” I tried to cheer my best friend up as I nudged his shoulder, but San just sighed long and stopped walking. His scent suddenly soured, and I frowned as he shuffled on his feet, keeping his eyes on the ground.

“I’m just…” He sighed and I hummed, spurring him on to continue, “What if Wooyoung doesn’t like me the way I like him?”

That was a tough question, I would hate myself if I answered it the wrong way and only saddened San more. I gulped and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him lightly, “San, do you not see the way Wooyoung just gravitates towards you? His eyes glimmer when he looks at you, he’s always smiling and laughing in your presence, and he’s always whiney when you don’t pay attention to him. He searches for you in every room, and he’s always talking about you, somehow roping you up into a conversation that has nothing to do with you. I know baring our feelings is scary, but what if…what if Wooyoung likes you the way you like him, and you’re just both wasting time? And if he somehow isn’t into you, it’s Wooyoung, you know nothing will change. He’ll treat you the same way, San. You might be heartbroken but life goes on, and you’ll find someone who is…not Wooyoung.”

“Wow,” San chuckled, biting his bottom lip to stop himself from laughing, “You really were doing so well until you brought up Wooyoung not being into me.”

“I’m sorry!” I exclaimed, feeling bad only for a second as San started laughing. I huffed as he threw an arm over my shoulders and pulled me into his side, a light flush settling over his cheeks. He was still smiling and his scent had evened out, so I knew he wasn’t upset anymore. Maybe my speech was good, after all, even if I ruined it by insinuating Wooyoung might not be into San.

“You’re right, Y/N,” San and I started walking again, “I won’t waste any more time. I’ll tell him before the next full moon.”

My eyes widened as I looked at San’s side profile, “That’s in five days.”

“I know.” San and I shared a look before I hummed, grabbing him around the hips to give him a reassuring squeeze. He smiled in contentment as we wobbled our way through the grass-covered path, thankful that we didn’t come across any Fae that was drinking up the warm sun rays as they lay in the grass.

And, well, that’s how I ended up on a run not just with San, but Wooyoung also. It didn’t bother me, it turned out that Wooyoung was a lot more coordinated and serious when in wolf form than he was in his human shape. His wolf wasn’t too large, but it had great stamina as it ran ahead of San and me, its fur a mixture of black and white, reminding me of his brothers, who both had beautiful fur and majestic builds. At first glance, it seemed as if Wooyoung was aimlessly leading us around the forest, but I was proven wrong when we arrived at a small waterfall, of which I had no idea it even existed. My wolf purred as it shook its fur, looking around with sharp eyes, making me chuckle inside my head when I noticed San headed towards Wooyoung, rubbing their muzzles together. My wolf howled, making me feel embarrassed when both San and Wooyoung looked my way, the amused glint in Wooyoung’s wolf eyes unmistakable even like this. When I was in my wolf form, it was hard to control its reactions, so I was forced to wallow in the embarrassment of the jealousy my wolf felt over what San and Wooyoung had. Even to my wolf, it was obvious that the two’s bond ran deep, that there was something they wouldn’t be able to deny for much longer.

As if San’s wolf had sensed my shift in mood, he approached with strong footsteps, rising a little taller than my own wolf. He was nowhere near as large as Yunho or Mingi, but the wolf was still big and menacing looking. The darkness of its eyes was intimidating to anyone who didn’t know it was San. The sourness of my scent, however, disappeared the second San affectionately brushed its body against mine, huffing under his breath as our heads bumped together in an acknowledging way. It was sweet, it tempered my wolf’s antics if only for a second as we heard the bushes rustling, the steps sounding closer and closer. My skin twitched as I bared my fangs for any unwelcome predator, but even my wolf was shocked to see a black and white wolf emerge from behind a large boulder. It was hard to think straight when your wolf was in control of your body and mind, and I had to pull every part of my mind together to stop my wolf from pouncing on Yunho the second they made eye contact. Something deep rumbled out of the black wolf’s throat as Wooyoung skipped over gleefully, its mouth opened as it made a funny sound.

Mingi imitated the sound as they bopped their noses together, a rumble leaving San’s throat as he stood next to me, protectively, as he watched Yunho’s wolf. A very quiet whine managed to somehow slip past my clenched jaw still when Yunho and Wooyoung acknowledged each other, and the second I realised my wolf would actually throw itself at Yunho, I somehow gathered enough mental strength to force myself to jump away from the group, a loud howl leaving my throat. I knew everyone was watching me, but I was panting and my wolf was purring, I knew I had to leave before I created an even bigger scene. So, when I took off, hopeful that the others would let me be, my wolf almost leered at me when Yunho’s vanilla scent permeated every part of my being, its burning gaze on my body making me choke up as I could see the big, black, wolf chase after me. Everyone else wasn’t far behind, but Yunho seemed to run faster than any of them, forcing me to push myself as my paws hit the forest ground harshly, my lungs heaving for air as we waved through the trees, racing through the forest.

Yunho’s loud puffs of air would’ve covered my skin in goosebumps, a constant reminder of just how close he was to me, to catching me. Because it felt like a chase, as if I was running away from a dangerous predator, and would end up dead, my windpipe crushed between its malicious fangs. My heart raced in my chest and my lungs burned from the lack of air, but my wolf wasn’t tired yet. In fact, it was elated that Yunho was relentlessly chasing, loud huffs and growls leaving its mouth anytime he thought he had finally caught up to us, only to realise my wolf was just tricking him and would speed up once again. My wolf was thrilled as it howled loudly, it would’ve sounded like laughter if I was in my human form, and then it took a sharp left cut as we jumped over numerous fallen logs. My skin was on fire as adrenaline coursed through my body at an alarming state, and I couldn’t remember a time when I had been so in touch with my wolf and the nature that surrounded us. I couldn’t lie, I was excited as well as I listened closely to Yunho’s heavy breaths, still hot on our trail even though he couldn’t quite catch up with us.

I couldn’t tell whether the others were still after us because Yunho’s scent was so intense that it was the only thing my wolf could smell and focus on, but I hoped the others would forgive me for my sudden departure once I had apologised to them. I just hoped San wouldn’t worry about me, but then again, it’s not like I couldn’t take care of myself, and right now it didn’t feel like I was in danger despite Yunho breathing down our neck. Before I could question where my wolf was taking us, the trees became less dense and the soil a little muddier, and I realised we were headed towards the shed. I suppose my muscles had eased up enough for me to end my run, but I wouldn’t want to come to the shed since this isn’t where I had left my clothes, I felt confusion spike through my senses, but my wolf was quick to completely push it down. My bones started aching as I gasped loudly for air, the shed now in eyesight as I realised my wolf was forcing me to shift. I didn’t want to be naked out in the wild, but I couldn’t stop the transformation if my wolf forced it upon me. I groaned when my bones snapped into place, the burgundy fur slowly disappearing as I was forced up onto my legs, my claws slowly retracting into normal nails as my jaw snapped into place, a little sore from the sudden action.

I could feel my hair brush just above my shoulders and I gasped as I tumbled forward into the shed’s door, my feet aching and numb from having pushed myself too hard in the chase. My body felt on fire as my heart raced loudly in my chest, the adrenaline making me more alert than normal as I hurried inside the shed, trying to shift back so that I wouldn’t have to walk to campus naked, but my wolf was opposed to the idea. Before I could wonder why, all my questions were answered. The shed’s door slammed shut loudly behind me and I jumped, whirling around in panic as Yunho’s tall form stood looming in the doorway. There was something different about him right now, about the air between us. It was tense, I felt like I couldn’t breathe in the dim lighting of the shed, and I gulped as I took in Yunho’s appearance. His long brown hair was all over the place, falling into his dark eyes, which lacked their warmth. They were narrowed into slits as he was panting through his mouth, his cheeks tinged a deep red, the flush continuing down to his chest. His fangs hadn’t retracted yet, though, and they were poking past his pink bottom lip. Yunho’s nose was scrunched up as he leered at me, and I gulped nervously, all of a sudden too aware of my nakedness as I tried to shield my exposed private parts with my hand and arm.

Something prompted Yunho to suddenly push forward, consequently making me backtrack until I collided with the old wooden table, making my heart race even faster as Yunho slowly stalked towards me, his eyes an intense orchid colour. I felt shy all of a sudden as if we hadn’t already seen each other naked, but my wolf purred at me and forced my hands away from my body as I felt frozen in place, big eyes looking up at Yunho once he stood too close, too easy to reach. His heart was pounding just as hard as mine as his chest fell and rose rapidly, and my eyes fluttered shut when his vanilla scent made my head swim. It felt as if I was underwater, trying to grip onto my last string of sanity as Yunho growled, hot fingers digging into my hip. My eyes flew open, widening as I looked down at Yunho’s hand holding me, leaving crescent moons as his chapped yellow nails dug into my warm skin. He stepped even closer, caging me in, and making me look up at him as I felt hazy. My wolf was whispering at me to spread my legs just a little further and let him nestle in between them. I wanted Yunho like nothing else before.

“Y/N.” Yunho’s voice was the lowest I have ever heard it be. His eyes seemed to be unfocused as he grabbed me with both hands now, slowly tracing my sides as if he were memorising my body. I had to bite my bottom lip to stop any sounds from escaping, and in a moment of weakness, I allowed my wolf to do to its liking as I raised my right hand, fingers almost hesitantly touching Yunho’s left peck. He shivered as his jaw tightened, stepping even closer until our bodies were touching. It was too much to feel all of him against my skin, his body burning mine up in a way I thought wasn’t possible. My breath stuttered in my throat when Yunho’s fingers ghosted over my breasts, mine travelling lower on his torso until they were massaging circles right above his happy trail, making him growl, “I can’t do it anymore.”

It was hard to speak, but I needed to understand what he meant. I swallowed around nothing, letting my head fall back as Yunho’s pupils dilated upon seeing my exposed neck, “What—what do you mean?”

Without realising, my hands were tracing his lower back, slipping lower and lower until they hovered right above his ass cheeks, hesitant to touch until Yunho roughly grabbed my left breast, rutting against my thigh. I keened, pressing him closer as my fingers dug into his naked flesh, my skin practically singing as he tilted my head even further back with his free hand, his index finger pressing against my bottom lip insistently. I couldn’t breathe as the wooden edge of the table dug into my back, but I didn’t care as my body experienced things it never had before. It was exhilarating, but also scary that I had given in so quickly. I knew it was mostly my wolf doing this, but I couldn’t find my grip. I actually didn’t want to, so I let my wolf take the lead for once when it came to Yunho. It’s what we’ve wanted for a year, after all, to feel him all over us, close to us, in us.

“You’re so alluring,” Yunho whispered as his head lowered, his hot lips pressing against my cheek as I flushed a darker red, “Maddening to the point I can’t sleep at night, Y/N. I want to devour you whole, take you as you are. I need you.”

I whimpered as Yunho and I made eye contact, his hand which was holding my breast now sneaking to my lower back as he made me arch into him, my lower stomach coiling at how easy it would be to just let him take whatever he needed. And I wanted it too, my wolf was desperate for it, so I leaned up until our lips were brushing together, my own orchid eyes reflected in his.

“Why now?” I whispered, watching as Yunho gulped, lips parting as if he was trying to inhale my very breath, “Why do you want me now?”

I gasped when Yunho suddenly hoisted me up, my legs crushing his hips as I latched onto him, my eyes shaking slightly as he nipped at my jawline, his fangs dangerous but not there to harm, “It’s not just now, I always want you. Even when I’m sleeping, you’re in my every dream.”

My eyes fluttered close as Yunho kissed behind my ear, making me sigh in pleasure as he trailed more kisses on my neck until he was dangerously close to my scent gland, “But you’ve always ignored me, I thought you didn’t like me.”

Yunho growled as he nipped at my skin, making me lick my lips as we came eye to eye once again. I wanted to kiss him breathless, but he was talking before I could do so, “I don’t like you, I’m obsessed with you. I want you to be mine, forever. I had known you belonged to me the second I first saw you.”

My wolf purred and I moaned as he pressed open-mouthed kisses against my neck, up to my jawline until our cheeks were pressed together, and he was nuzzling his nose into it, his sandalwood scent rubbing deeply into my skin. Our noses bumped together and my wolf was leering, so happy that we were in Yunho’s arms, so lenient to let him mark us, mate us. And just like that, my heartbeat stuttered and my eyebrows furrowed, somehow my mind clearing through the lustful fog that was clouding it, “Since the second you first saw me?”

“Yes,” Yunho muttered lowly, kissing my cheek before he looked into my eyes, “I had smelled you before I had even seen you, I thought I was going crazy, turns out I wasn’t. I had just found my mate.”

Before my wolf could let me gloss over this new piece of information, I pressed, “So you knew all this time that we were mates? That I was fated to be with you?”

“Yes, Y/N, I knew.” The grin on Yunho’s face was anything but pleasant as my heart dropped all the way to my stomach. He knew all this time and he left me in the dark to suffer alone, cry myself to sleep thinking I wasn’t good enough, that even my own mate didn’t want anything to do with me. I had thought all this time that I was too weird, too much, too shy to be fated with someone like Yunho, I had thought it was a cruel joke made by the Universe to laugh at me, I couldn’t have a peaceful and perfect life even if we left the city. I had been suffering for the past year and all this time Yunho knew, and yet, he did it on purpose. He didn’t care for me, he didn’t think for a second what this did to my mental health and image of myself. He was my mate, yet instead of protecting me, making me happy, and keeping me safe, he pushed me towards my darkest times where I felt like I wasn’t even real, that I didn’t matter to anyone, that I’d never be enough.

“Put me down.” My tone was just as shaky as my whole mental state right now, crumbling faster than my wolf could grasp the situation and try to silence me again. Yunho’s eyes widened slightly, then his eyebrows furrowed, and instead of doing what I asked, he only held me tighter, “Yunho, put me down right now.”

“Y/N, I don’t—listen, we can discuss this. I messed up, if you listen to the whole—”

“If you don’t put me down right now, Yunho, you’ll never see me again.” My wolf was whining as Yunho’s expression crumbled into hurt and panic, his chest falling and rising rapidly as I could hear his heart race for different reasons now. But I wouldn’t let this go his way, I couldn’t just gloss over this and act as if I hadn’t been miserable since the moment I met him. It hurt too much, even my wolf was finally realising what was happening, that he had actively refused his mate for whatever reason I wasn’t curious to know. And even though I could see it in Yunho’s eyes, the need to go against my demand and keep me here, very slowly, he started to move, letting one leg down at a time. My feet were cold as they touched the shed’s flooring, and I gulped as Yunho still hounded me into the table. I tried to keep the tears out of my eyes as I gulped, taking a shaky breath. Then, I pushed him back since he wasn’t moving away, and closed my eyes as I felt my bones shift around without me having to force my wolf to cooperate. So much for running with your pack.

            The tables have somehow turned. It wasn’t me yearning after Yunho anymore, it was him yearning after me now. He was everywhere I went, albeit the Academy’s grounds weren’t as humongous as a town’s grounds, but he was everywhere. I couldn’t enjoy my meals anymore, I couldn’t study in the Library or the Study Hall, I couldn’t sit out in the Flower Fields on a blanket reading, and I couldn’t even go on runs at a reasonable hour because Yunho was always there. It was slightly frightening and disarming, but my wolf was elated. She was practically mewling at all times, baring her neck in Yunho’s direction anytime she could. Good thing my will was stronger than hers. It was peculiar to see how good I was at actually dismissing Yunho’s whole existence, giving him a taste of his own medicine. I didn’t find joy in ignoring him, but I was mad and hurt. I wouldn’t allow him to just crawl back into my life as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t known all this time that we were mates. Only a week had passed since our encounter on the run and the whole thing that went down in the shed, and I was positive Yunho was close to losing his mind.

I had felt like that for a good two months, but I took it a lot better than he was right now. He looked like he hadn’t slept for two days at least, with dark bags under his eyes and his hair all wavy and in a man-bun since it looked unwashed. His nails lacked their usual vibrant colour and his outfits seemed less crazy, as if he wasn’t putting much thought into them anymore, just wearing whatever was at hand. Yesterday, he had even worn one of Mingi’s black hoodies, a colour unseen on Yunho previously. It was jarring, I couldn’t lie, but I wasn’t going to give in to him just because he was moping about me keeping my distance from him. It wasn’t even that deep, I hadn’t even rejected him like he had done with me, I just needed time to sort out my feelings and thoughts, but I suppose Yunho didn’t know that and assumed things were over between us. As if there had been anything, to begin with. Yeri, who had no issues rooming with me but didn’t usually hang out much with me otherwise, was now suspiciously all up in my business every damn day, resulting in Yunho tagging along. I knew the Song siblings were close, but I hadn’t seen Yunho and Yeri spend more than one hour together at the Academy, so they weren’t slick with it when Yunho followed after Yeri, and subsequently me, all day like a kicked puppy.

But if it wasn’t Yeri, then it was Dahyun, who had never spoken to me more than five words at once, but was now eager to get to know me, complimenting me about my rusty coloured hair and forcing me to do beaded bracelets with her in the Study Hall while Yunho sat a few seats away from us, staring at me without even blinking. Their antics had gotten old and irritating quite quickly, but the last nail had been today during lunch. I sat with San and Wooyoung, who were disgustingly sweet now that they had finally sorted out their relationship. They weren’t dating, but they were certainly something more than friends, and they seemed fine with that, so, who was I to judge them? Our lunch was full of chatter as Wooyoung cackled at every small thing, animatedly retelling a time when San had tried to sneak into his room, only to slip down the roof and fall face-first into the mud. He had broken two teeth and had almost fractured his cheekbone if it wasn’t for our magical werewolf healing. My appetite had even returned as my wolf was finally done acting as if it was the end of the world, however, when Yunho’s oppressing sandalwood scent wafted through the air, it felt like my whole day was ruined.

Mingi and his girlfriend joined our table with quiet greetings as they sat, Yunho hot in tow as his eyes burned into the side of my head. I have had enough, but before I could excuse myself, Wooyoung was already talking to Yunho. The vampire girl gave me an understanding look before she sat back, pushing around the vegetables until Mingi noticed and took them from her. I watched their interactions while paying attention to Wooyoung, who had slightly settled down when San squeezed his thigh. But Yunho was still staring, breathing shallowly, his bottom lip jutting out almost pitifully. I wanted to yell at him that this was his fault and that I was sick of everything, but I kept my composure until I couldn’t anymore. A scoff made us all look up, and I realised it was the same creature from the Library, part of Petrova’s friend group.

“Look at you,” She sneered at Yunho malevolently, her lips curling into a wicked smirk, “You thought you had found another bitch just to get kicked to the curb by her, didn’t you? How pitiful.”

Before I could stop myself, I pushed my chair back and looked at the creature with a glare, “Who are you calling a bitch?”

I hadn’t intended to growl, but my wolf was just as triggered as me, and we really didn’t want to be provoked today. I wasn’t confrontational, but I was beyond stressed by the midterms, and now Yunho’s behaviour too.

Before this whole ordeal could escalate into something else, the Petrova girl scoffed, rolling her eyes, “Really, Seulgi? I thought we agreed you’d finally let it go.”

Seulgi, Yunho’s ex-girlfriend I realised, bared her fangs at the other vampire, “Just because you suck your werewolf boyfriend’s dick, you shouldn’t look down on your kin. Or did you forget who you are and where you come from?”

I hadn’t seen anyone get angry as fast as the Petrova girl, her whole face going red, but before the two vampires could turn this into something physical, Mingi stood and faced Seulgi, “I would appreciate it if you stopped harassing my girlfriend, your own friend, Seulgi. Last time I checked, you and Yunho broke up because you cheated on him. What’s your fucking problem, huh? Do you want me to rip you apart? I would love to sink my fangs into—”

“Mingi.” His girlfriend looked sick as she gripped his hand tightly, shaking her head at him. Mingi took a sharp breath and looked at her with a guilty expression before he faced Seulgi again, who looked to be fuming. I exhaled, then grabbed my backpack and tapped San’s shoulder.

“I’m not hungry anymore, see you later.” Before San could ask where I was going, I was basically running out of the canteen, desperate to get away from everyone. The other students were staring at us curiously, and I hated it. I was tired and irritated, I just wanted to be alone and away from anything that was connected to Yunho. I knew I’d have to face him and have a conversation with him sooner or later, but maybe I’d first make him suffer for his choices for another few months. Maybe until we graduate.

My footsteps echoed down the corridor as I decided to head back to my dorm and take a nap, I still had some time until my Calculus class. However, footsteps followed mine hurriedly, and judging based on the absence of an overbearing scent, I guessed it was a vampire that was trailing me. Maybe it was the Petrova girl, I actually hoped it was her since I didn’t really want to speak to anyone who couldn’t take a hint. She was rather good at reading the room, over the past week we’ve hung out more, and I got to know her a bit better. She was anything like Yeri had made her sound, and I was just glad to have a friend who was a female and my age. I was snapped out of my thoughts when I felt sharp nails digging through my sleeve and into my skin, making my wolf growl as I turned around with a sharp glare. It was Yunho’s ex, the black-haired girl, Seulgi.

“What do you want?” I snapped, my eyebrows furrowing when she didn’t let go of my arm. She looked me up and down with a grimace, scoffing under her breath.

“Are you Yunho’s new bitch?” My jaw tensed and my wolf growled, but Seulgi continued before I could speak, “Have you fucked already? Did he tell you that you are the love of his life only to cheat on you with a fucking dog the next day?”

So, she was associating werewolves with dogs now, huh? I couldn’t have disliked her more than I already did, but I gulped down the nasty names I could’ve called her, and opted to be the adult in this damn conversation, “Even if my answers to your questions were all yes, how is that your concern? Aren’t you just his ex?”

“I might be his ex,” Seulgi snickered, stepping closer, “But I know him better than anyone else—”

“I highly doubt that’s true since he has a twin brother, but sure, whatever you say, darling.” I cut her off, my tone turning cold as something like jealousy gripped my heart. My wolf was far from exhilarated to know that Seulgi and Yunho shared a past, but everyone had a life before they met their mates, no? I couldn’t flip out over something like this.

“Listen here, bitch,” Seulgi hissed, stepping so close I could smell her breath. It reeked of blood and menthol, “I’m just here to warn you, but since you want to get smart with me, I might as well give you a piece of my mind. You are nothing to—”

“Kang Seulgi.” Yunho’s sharp and dark tone made me shiver and Seulgi’s eyes widened. I hadn’t even heard him approach, too focused on Seulgi and my own anger. His scent was strong, the sandalwood making it hard to breathe as it spiked sourly, “Haven’t I told you countless times to leave alone anyone that comes in contact with me?”

“Are you scared I’ll let them know who you really are? This bitch isn’t even into you, I can—”

“You can’t do nothing, shut the fuck up, you know nothing.” Yunho sneered as he stopped next to me, a few good heads taller than Seulgi as he loomed over her. She didn’t look intimidated or scared as she grinned widely, almost insane looking. She tilted her head, her eyes slipping between the two of us.

“You think just because you scent this bitch others won’t touch—” I flinched when Yunho suddenly grabbed her by the throat, yanking her towards himself. Even Seulgi seemed shocked, her eyes turning wide as she gripped Yunho’s wrist in fear.

“If you call her a bitch one more time, Seulgi, I swear to fucking God, I will murder you right here and right now.” Yunho’s growl was guttural, I knew his wolf was talking rather than him, but Seulgi didn’t seem to realise that as she started shaking like a leaf. She gasped, her eyes flickering to me before she tried to smooth out her face and look friendlier.

“Is she—Yunho, it hurts.” She whined, lower lip trembling as Yunho’s nails grew sharper and dug more into her neck. I stepped up, knowing that Yunho wasn’t completely himself.

“Let her go, Yunho, you’re hurting her.” My tone was harsh, and I gripped his lower arm to squeeze it painfully. Yunho huffed and let go of Seulgi, who I grabbed before she could stumble over her own feet.

“Are you alright?” I asked quietly as she started to hyperventilate, her eyes filled with tears.

“Are you mates?” Her voice was quiet as she looked back at Yunho, leaving me speechless. I opened my mouth to deny it, but no words came out.

“Yes.” It was Yunho who answered, firm and loud, I could feel him step closer as his warmth mingled with mine. Seulgi gulped, then looked at him before at me, brushing my touch off her.

“I’m sorry.” Then she turned and hurried off before we could stop her, her sobs quite loud as they echoed down the corridors. I gulped, feeling a lump in my throat as Yunho was still behind me, hovering over me as if I would run away if he didn’t.

Even I had a breaking point, so I gave in, “What do you want—”

“Forgive me, for everything.” Yunho was speaking before I could even finish my sentence as he came around me, and gripped my cheeks, taking me off guard, “I don’t demand you do it right away, I know you must be very angry with me right now, but please, listen to me before you say anything. I didn’t believe in mates because my parents aren’t true mates. My father’s mate died when they were children and my mother denied her real mate to be with my father, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and not wait for love to find me. I—I also might’ve been selfish and a jackass for not wanting to settle down just yet, that is mainly the reason I’ve tried to ignore our bond this whole time.

“It’s so shitty of me and I’m so ashamed of myself, but I was scared that you might not want me back, that I might be in a one-sided situationship. My parents had always told us that we have the right to deny whoever the Universe destined us with and find our own person, but they were wrong, they—they don’t know what the pull of a true mate feels like. When Mingi and Petrova started going out, I was so angry, I felt so abandoned. Mingi and I had promised we would never imprint on anyone, but he broke his promise when he imprinted on Petrova. I was so dumb to be mad at him, and I was even more dumb to try and deny what we two have. I realised I was jealous of Mingi at some point because I thought I’d never have what he has, and then you showed up and I—I didn’t know what to do, how to navigate all these new emotions. I also had a girlfriend at the time and I seriously thought we’d work out, but…you were all I could think about and want. In fact, I don’t want anyone else but you, Y/N. I’m just—I’m asking you to give me a chance. Just one chance.”

I gulped, overwhelmed by Yunho’s confession and his proximity altogether as my wolf purred, prompting me to nuzzle my cheek into Yunho’s palm, inhale his scent deeply as my nose brushed against his hot wrist, “One chance?”

Yunho’s heart skipped a beat as vanilla wrapped around us, his eyes regaining that pretty spark in them, “Yes, just one chance, I beg. I’ll prove myself to you, I’ll treat you right, and I’ll love you unconditionally. I want to make up for the lost time, may I—can you let me? I’ll do whatever you ask of me.”

I licked my lips and watched as Yunho’s mouth parted, inhaling through his lips as his heart started racing. His ears were flushed and I smiled, a little amused, as I raised my left hand and cupped his cheek, making his eyes widen. But he didn’t stay frozen, he let his right hand fall from my cheek as he pressed his palm over my hand to keep it firmly pressing into his cheek, “I won’t forgive you overnight, I hope you’re aware of that. You made me really suffer, Yunho, it was so painful at some points, I thought the broken bond would kill me.”

“I’m sorry,” Yunho whispered sorrowfully as he leaned forward to press his forehead against mine, and I sighed, closing my eyes. For a second, it felt as if it were just the two of us in the world, our scents mixed and creating a safe cocoon that couldn’t be broken unless we wanted it to. I felt my heart beat in a new rhythm, one that was stronger and more frantic somehow. I realised it was Yunho’s heartbeat I was feeling, and not my own, it made me wonder whether he could feel mine too.

“I haven’t felt this complete my whole life,” Yunho whispered in a shaky tone and I gulped, angling my head so that our noses would brush together. Yunho’s sharp exhale fanned over my face and I smiled, listening to the whisper of my wolf. She was right, I finally had him, and I didn’t have to withhold anymore. Even if with baby steps, we could work this out, I could forgive him if he proves himself to be a respectable and trustworthy werewolf. So, I tilted my head away, hearing Yunho’s breath catch as if he was panicking until my lips were pressing against his pink ones. They were warm, just like I had fantasized they would be, and they tasted like strawberries. I almost giggled, but I was too focused on the feeling that spread through my body, stealing my breath away even if it was just an innocent and fleeting peck to Yunho’s lips. My body tingled, and it felt like I saw the world for the first time when my eyes fluttered open, Yunho was already staring at me deeply. His cheeks were flushed dark, his fake blush all but disappearing under his real blush, and he was smiling so widely his cheeks must’ve hurt once we pulled away. I chuckled and shook my head, gently placing my arms around his neck as he hugged me close to himself.

“This isn’t me forgiving you, by the way, my wolf is just too desperate at this point for me to fight against her,” I muttered and Yunho laughed, his eyes creasing as he threw his head back, the sound of his joy music to my ears. I couldn’t help but grin widely and tighten my arms around him, wondering how I had gotten so lucky to have him of all werewolves as my mate.

“Mine too, are you busy right now?” The mischievous glint in Yunho’s eyes told me whatever we were about to do would define how we’d move forward with our relationship.

“Not really, why?”

“Mingi won’t be back until late evening, the dorm is all mine,” Yunho whispered, biting his bottom lip as his pupils dilated, eyes slowly trailing down my body as if I was already naked.

“Good, because I forbid Yeri from bringing back boys to our dorm, I can’t go around breaking my own rule.” I wriggled my eyebrows at Yunho, making him laugh as his hands slowly slipped lower on my torso, feeling me all up. It made me feel hot all over, my wolf purring loudly as I fought the urge to tilt my head back and bare my neck at Yunho.

“Oh, the horror on her face if she’d see her brother under your sheets.” Yunho made a mocking sound as he pressed a hand against his mouth, my eyes lingered on his long fingers. I’m sure he noticed because he suddenly smirked, then swiftly pecked my lips before he detached himself from me, intertwining our fingers as he eagerly led the way towards our side of campus, “Let’s stop wasting time.”

I hummed, feeling my chest all warm from Yunho’s warmth, my cheeks flushed and my heart racing in my chest. All this time I thought my mate would never want me back, yet here we were now, headed to explore what the future held for us. My wolf and I couldn’t have been happier.

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[yoinkschief]

I did it - I finally did it, I made concept doodles of the different leaders

I've been meaning to do this for a while now, I've just kept forgetting to and then get distracted with much more pressing matters n shit so yk but I decided fuck it they don't need to be good so long as they just get my idea across,,, and then later on when I have the time, energy and patience to I can fully render them

These are all also leaning into who they are in my HCs, simply because I think it's kinda boring to just go "well what if we put person a in person b's body and keep everything else the exact same" like where's the nuance in that,,,

So all the same story beats still happen, just minor differences, like Tord still leaves and has the robot explode causing the damage (but different contexts now) and Tom is still possessed by the rage demon or whateva and Edd still gets powers and Matt still becomes a vampire,, they just are put in different plot points in the story

I don't like the idea of just reskinning characters, yk, if I were to change story beats for things like "instead of matt getting bitten by the vampire bite it was tord" I wouldn't want it to just be the same shit happens because Tord wouldn't react the same way to it as Matt would, yk ?? I don't wanna give the character's the others personalities, just their plot beats

But in this things stay relatively the same

Except in this Tom, in a desperation to live after failing to dismantle Tord's robot in an act of rage against Tord returning and pretending like nothing happened, makes a deal with his more demonic half and gives up part of his soul to live

Edd gets blown up trying to use Tord's robot against Tord's wishes and something something main characters can't die or whatever so he painfully finds out that his "poweredd" powers grant him a very fucked up version of immortality,,, I made it look goopy because I can and I'm madly in love with my partner and they've given me this idea so fuck them blame them if you want

Matt gets no lasting consequences for his actions because he's a vampire and they have MAD regenerative abilities, but he does still blow up but this time when him and Edd are fucking around in Tord's little office ?? whatever the hell it is he has stuffed in his room as a secondary room, yk when him and Edd are touching all those buttons they're not supposed to, that's what caused the robot to malfunction and Matt ends up getting the brunt of it - I mean so does Edd, and since this would be Tom's world that would probably why Matt and Edd's relationship grows sour since Edd got caught up in the blast too n whatnot I dunno I'm mostly spitballing here I haven't sat down and properly thought out these AUs yet so yk

take all of this with a grain of salt this is ALLLL subject to change in the future but for now this is what I have in my head for everything :p

[starclancy]

Request: I adored your little Sanji fluffy drabble! The dialogue was so charming, I kept giggling at Sanji's lines.

If you're up to write more of him, can I request a scenario with fem!reader where she's new to the crew and still doesn't know about Sanji's "never ever hurt a woman rule"? I love the idea of Sanji having a bad luck streak when she joins that makes him accidentally hurt the reader (spilling hot tea on her, elbowing her in the ribs cause he was gesticulating too wildly, in general him being uncharacteristically clumsy around her). It would be as fun to read for me as heartbreaking for Sanji to live through lmao Bonus points if the reader starts to think he might just actually dislike her and he's being passive-aggresive about suddenly having her around all the time!

Of course, no pressure no write any of this if it's not your style xoxo

Thank you! this is a great request and i loved writing it!

~ Stirring Trouble ~

PAIRING: Fem!Reader/Sanji

CONTENTS: 💔 - angst / 🩷 - fluff

WORDCOUNT: 1010

Request status: Open

The Thousand Sunny was alive with the hum of activity as its new crew member—you—tried to find her place. You hadn’t been aboard long, but you’d already learned one thing: fitting in with this crew of chaotic misfits was no easy task.

Particularly when it came to him.

Sanji.

Blond hair swept back, suit sharp even in the heat of battle, and a voice that could make compliments sound like poetry. He was charming, flirtatious, and seemingly smooth as butter. Or so you thought—until you joined the crew.

It started innocently enough.

“Tea for the lovely new addition,” Sanji had said during breakfast your first morning. You smiled, reaching for the cup. Then—disaster.

His hand twitched. Maybe it was a sudden sway of the ship or just bad luck, but before you could grab the cup, its contents splashed right onto your hand.

“Ah!” you yelped, jerking back.

Sanji’s face drained of color. “Oh, no—no! My goddess, I’m so sorry! Did I burn you? Let me see!”

You waved him off with an awkward laugh. “It’s fine, really! Just caught me off guard.”

But that wasn’t the end of it.

Later that day, you stood in the galley as Sanji gestured wildly while recounting a story to Usopp. You turned to grab a plate when his elbow jabbed you—hard—in the ribs.

“Ow!”

Sanji froze mid-sentence. His face turned pale again. “Oh no, did I—?!”

You clutched your side, blinking at him in confusion. “It’s okay. Just… be careful, maybe?”

From there, it only got worse. A flurry of small but noticeable accidents followed: bumping into you while carrying a pot of soup, knocking over a chair you were about to sit in, accidentally flinging flour at you during prep. Each time, Sanji’s face twisted in agony as he apologized profusely.

At first, you chalked it up to nerves. Maybe he was just unused to you being there. But after the fourth or fifth incident, you began to wonder if there was something more.

~ A Few Days Later ~

By the time you’d been with the crew for nearly a week, you couldn’t shake the thought that Sanji might dislike you.

He was sweet and doting to everyone else: Zoro got hearty portions of food despite their bickering; Nami had fresh fruit delivered to her lounging spot; Robin got delicate pastries with her afternoon tea.

And you? Well, if clumsy spills and near-constant accidents were “attention,” you weren’t sure you wanted it.

Your growing frustration finally boiled over during dinner prep. You were helping chop vegetables when Sanji accidentally nudged a bowl of chopped onions, sending it flying toward your lap.

“Seriously?!” you snapped, standing up abruptly as the bowl clattered to the floor.

Sanji’s eyes widened. “I—I didn’t mean—”

“Do you have some kind of problem with me?” you interrupted, crossing your arms. “Because if you do, just say it. All this passive-aggressive nonsense is driving me insane.”

The room fell silent. Even Luffy paused mid-bite, a rare sight.

“Passive… aggressive?” Sanji repeated, his voice faint.

“You keep spilling things, elbowing me, tripping me—I get it, you don’t want me here!”

Sanji staggered back, clutching his chest like your words had physically struck him. “What?! I would never—!”

“Then what is it?” you demanded. “Because I’m tired of feeling like some kind of walking target!”

Sanji dropped to his knees so fast you thought he might’ve lost consciousness. “Mon dieu, please forgive me! I’m such a clumsy fool!” He grabbed your hands desperately, tears threatening to spill from his eyes.

You blinked, startled. “Wait… what?”

“I swear on my honor as a chef, I would rather throw myself into the Grand Line than harm you! I—” He took a shaky breath. “I’ve been nervous. You’re so… radiant, and perfect, and I—” He looked away, guilt written all over his face. “I think my admiration is making me act like an idiot. I can’t help it!”

The room went deathly quiet for a moment. Then, from across the room:

“Pfft—”

Luffy burst into laughter, followed by Usopp and Chopper. Even Zoro snorted behind his sake cup.

“Sanji, you’re an idiot,” Nami muttered, shaking her head fondly.

You stared at him, heat rushing to your face. “Wait, so… you don’t hate me?”

“Hate you?!” He looked horrified. “I worship the ground you walk on!”

The honesty in his voice made your heart skip a beat.

“…Oh.” You glanced down, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

He knelt there, still holding your hands, his face red but sincere. “Please forgive me, my goddess. I’ll do anything to make it up to you.”

“Anything?” you teased, a small smile tugging at your lips despite yourself.

“Anything,” he vowed solemnly.

“…Okay. You can start by helping me clean up this mess.”

Sanji sprang to his feet, a hand on his heart. “It would be my honor.”

As he scrambled to fetch a broom, you couldn’t help but laugh softly. Maybe fitting in with this crew wouldn’t be so bad after all.

[kokiriri]

Time in Emrub vs. The World of Twelve

Soo I was scrolling thru Pinterest and found a manga screenshot that caught my attention.

Now I haven't actually read the Wakfu manga (I need to read it, I know) but I found enough screenshots to piece together an idea of what happened leading up to this scene. From what I've got, the manga covers when Chibi and Grougal are kidnapped by Jiva, the guardian of the months in the Wakfu/Dofus universe. The Brotherhood of the Tofu try to find a way to safely retrieve the Ebony twins and on the way, they stop by Emrub, the dimension where the Eliatrope people live.

Now here's where things get interesting: as shown in both the manga and television series, all the Eliatropes residing in Emrub are children. Qilby mentions that time flows differently in Emrub than it does on the World of Twelve, but not much else is said besides that. This scene in the manga however, sheds more light on just how large the difference is between the two dimensions. The dragon character on the left page asks the Brotherhood "what took them so long" to which Amalia retorts they had only been gone for "a few hours." The dragon then explains that nearly a year had passed on the World of Twelve, which obviously shocks the Brotherhood.

Now what am I getting at? Well, because I was bored and wanted to do something besides my homework, I decided to do a little math to see if the manga accurately explores the difference in time flow between the two dimensions. Keep in mind, a lot of this math is approximate and based on various contextual assumptions, but yeah, let's get into it.

For starters, we know that all the children living in Emrub have resided there since the Eliatrope War that took place thousands of years prior to the events covered in Wakfu. They all are still clearly children when Yugo visits them during his confrontation with Qilby in Season 2, meaning that despite having thousands of years gone by, they haven't really aged at all. There are toddlers amidst the crowd as well, looking around 3-5 years old. Based on this observation, the children couldn't have stayed in Emrub for over 3-5 years, otherwise the existence of those younger children simply wouldn't make sense.

Now, another thing to keep in mind; back in Season 1, Yugo asks the specifics behind his and Adamai's most recent rebirth, to which Grougaloragram explains that since the Emerald twins made the greatest sacrifice during the Eliatrope War, it then took them thousands of years to regenerate wakfu within their dofus. I'm assuming that the Eliatrope children were sent to Emrub shortly before Yugo and Adamai died in combat. This, in part, means that the Eliatropes have lived in Emrub for thousands of earth years. From here is where we apply the math from the manga, as well as where I begin to make some approximations.

For the sake of convenience, I'll be assuming that it took roughly 10,000 years for Yugo and Adamai to reincarnate. I'll also presume that the Brotherhood of the Tofu spent 3 hours in Emrub, since no number is explicitly defined (the only point being made was they spent "a few hours" there, meaning not one, but multiple hours.)

Now let's break it down.

The dragon stated that nearly a year had passed on the World of Twelve while Emrub only experienced 3 hours (again, I'm approximating here.) I'm guessing that "nearly a year" means 11 or so months, but I'll be rounding up to a year because I'm lazy. Therefore, 3 Emrub hours = 1 WoT (World of Twelve) year.

Based on this, 10,000 WoT years = 30,000 Emrub hours. Covert those hours into years, and you get 3.4 years.

During the 10,000 WoT years it took for Yugo and Adamai to be reborn, it was only 3.4 years for the children in Emrub. Pretty crazy.

Here are some other comparisons between the two dimensions to help you wrap your head around the difference:

Sleeping for 9 hours in Emrub takes 3 years on the World of Twelve.

The time it took for Yugo to grow from 0-12 years old on the World of Twelve took 36 hours (or 1.5 days if you prefer) in Emrub.

In the Wakfu OVA, Joris Jurgen is 598 years old. That's 74.75 days (~2.5 months) in Emrub.

And we can break it down even further if you'd like:

15 minutes in Emrub = a month on the World of Twelve

1 minute in Emrub = 2 days on the World of Twelve

1 second in Emrub = 48 minutes on the World of Twelve

(Again, I’m here to remind you that these are all approximations)

These numbers align with what I was discussing earlier -- as the youngest children in the audience appear to be 3-5 years old, 3.4 years is an entirely plausible conclusion. Now, this math is heavily simplified, and I honestly doubt Yugo and Adamai took 10,000 years to reincarnate. ((Grougal's choice to use "thousands of years" as opposed to "TENS of thousands of years" has me thinking that they spent under 10,000 years in their dofus. I simply used 10,000 to show that even at the maximum amount of time Yugo and Ad could've spent in their dofus, the mathematical differences between the two time zones still make sense.)) You get the point.

It's pretty cool to see a piece of media that takes the time to consider details and accuracies like this, because I feel like so often I see plot holes and inconsistencies that books or shows don't bother to cover up. (Don't get me wrong, Wakfu has its fair share of plot holes, it's just nice knowing they took time to think about this small detail.) And although no amount of hours or months are explicitly defined in the canon material, the series recognized that the difference had to be such that the World of Twelve had to experience a year in the time it took Emrub to experience a couple of hours in order for certain developments to make logical sense.

Anyways, that's the end of my insane ramblings. I did this math at like 1 am, so there's a good chance I made a mistake somewhere in my calculations. Don't be shy to correct me if you see any errors or whatever.

[starmatzz]

ok but like imagine mingi’s hand cupping the back of yunho’s neck, holding him steady as he fucks wildly into his mouth. yunho’s eyes watering, he is VERY much overwhelmed, but he takes it all

muhehehhee

Vase Of Secrets

yunho x mingi

smut | mdni

4.1k

Yunho, the quiet and reserved bodyguard to the powerful CEO Mr. Song, has always kept his distance from the Song family, focusing solely on his duties. But everything changes when Mingi, the CEO’s charming yet cocky younger son, begins to blur the lines between professional and personal.

It starts with a simple mistake—breaking an expensive vase. In an unexpected turn of events, Mingi offers Yunho a way out: take the blame, and in exchange, he asks for a favor. But when the two lock eyes in the aftermath, something shifts. A quiet tension grows between them, an unspoken understanding that neither can ignore.

nsfw tags under

oral sex, deepthroat, office blow jobs, fluff and smut, pet names, suit kink, bodyguard, teasing, praise, age gap, sub!mingi, top!mingi, dom!yunho, bottom!yunho, power play

author’s note: uhm so this is my first oneshot, I should’ve probably kept it as a short scenario but I got a bit carried away haha

Read on ao3

Mingi, the brash and cocky heir to a vast empire, lived a life of luxury with the kind of confidence only a rich son could afford. His father, a highly successful CEO, had built a sprawling business empire, and Mingi was expected to eventually take the reins. But instead of taking his responsibilities seriously, Mingi preferred to flaunt his wealth and indulge in the fast-paced life of parties, expensive cars, and a constant stream of admirers. His arrogance was his armor, his way of asserting power, even if it alienated those around him.

Yunho, on the other hand, lived in the shadows of that empire, a loyal right-hand man to Mingi’s father. He was the CEO’s trusted bodyguard and chief advisor, the steady presence in a world full of chaos. Calm, composed, and fiercely dedicated, Yunho kept the company running smoothly—and more importantly, kept Mingi safe, even if the younger man often pushed the limits of his protection.

But beneath Yunho’s professional exterior was a secret he had kept buried for years: he harbored a quiet, intense crush on Mingi. Every glance, every careless smile from the younger man sent his heart into turmoil. Yunho knew it was forbidden—knew that nothing could ever come of it—but it didn’t stop the longing. As Mingi’s recklessness grew, so did the silent ache in Yunho’s chest.

In this world of power, privilege, and hidden desires, both men were trapped—one in a life of expectations, the other in a love he could never have.

Mingi’s life was one of excess and indulgence, yet beneath the confident facade, there were hidden longings he couldn’t escape. He’d always known that his status as the heir to a powerful business empire meant living under a microscope, but it also meant he had a lot of freedom—freedom to enjoy everything he wanted, but also to keep the things he didn’t understand locked away.

One of those things was Yunho. The older man, his father’s trusted right-hand and bodyguard, had always been a figure Mingi admired—though he’d never dared to admit it to anyone, least of all himself. It was subtle at first: the way Yunho moved, the quiet authority he carried, the way his eyes would linger just a moment too long when they spoke. Mingi found himself distracted by the sight of him, by the calm and strength Yunho exuded in contrast to his own impulsive, reckless nature. There was an attraction that Mingi couldn’t explain—a pull that gnawed at him every time Yunho was near. He would often spend lonely nights with his hand in his pajama pants, lazily stroking himself at the thought of the tall and handsome bodyguard.

It was an ordinary afternoon when Yunho found himself back at the Song family’s sprawling estate, though his presence here was far from unusual. As Mr. Song’s personal bodyguard and right-hand man, he was often dispatched on various errands. Today, it was something simple—deliver the important documents his boss had left behind in the rush to attend a high-stakes business meeting. Yunho’s footsteps echoed softly in the marble-floored hallway as he made his way through the expansive mansion. The house was quiet, the kind of silence that made everything feel distant, as though the world beyond the walls of the estate didn’t exist.

He’d been to this house a hundred times before, but it always seemed different when Mingi wasn’t around—less chaotic, less alive. Mingi had a way of making the space feel full, whether it was with his loud laughter or his cocky remarks. Yunho, despite himself, always found it hard to ignore the younger man’s presence when he was home. It wasn’t just that Mingi was his boss’s son, and thus strictly off-limits—it was that Mingi had a kind of magnetism that Yunho couldn’t resist, even though he tried.

Today, though, it was just him and the empty house.

As he entered the study, where Mr. Song usually kept his most important documents, Yunho set the briefcase down and began rifling through the papers. The hum of the house’s heating system was the only sound breaking the silence, and Yunho could feel the weight of the moment. Normally, he wouldn’t stay here for long. He’d drop off the papers, send a quick text to Mr. Song to confirm, and then leave. But something about the stillness today seemed… off. Almost like he was being watched.

As he reached for a final folder near the edge of the desk, a voice suddenly broke through the silence, making him freeze in place.

“What are you doing here?”

The words were smooth, laced with that cocky edge that Mingi always carried, yet this time, there was something different in his tone—almost curious, almost amused.

Yunho’s heart skipped. He hadn’t heard Mingi’s approach, hadn’t even noticed he was in the room until the voice rang out so unexpectedly. Startled, he spun around a little too quickly, his hand brushing the edge of the shelf behind him. Before he could react, the delicate porcelain vase perched there wobbled, then tipped over the edge.

Time seemed to slow as the vase fell, crashing to the floor with a sharp, deafening crack. Yunho’s eyes widened in panic, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. The vase shattered into pieces, its fragments scattering across the polished floor in a jagged, dangerous mess.

Mingi’s gaze flickered from the broken vase back to Yunho, his expression unreadable for a moment. Yunho stood frozen, his heart racing, trying to process what had just happened.

“I—” Yunho began, but the words caught in his throat. He wasn’t sure if he was more embarrassed or worried about what Mr. Song would say.

Mingi’s lips quirked into a grin, one that was equal parts amused and bemused. “I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said with a chuckle, though his voice carried a hint of teasing. He stepped forward, looking at the mess with a slightly raised brow. “You know, you’re not exactly the most graceful bodyguard.”

Yunho’s hands were still slightly trembling as he bent down to start picking up the shattered pieces, a mix of frustration and awkwardness swirling inside him. “Sorry,” he muttered, his voice stiff, trying to regain control of the situation.

Yunho carefully scooped up the jagged pieces of the shattered vase, his mind racing. The crash still echoed in his ears, and his hands trembled slightly as he tried to gather the remains of the porcelain. He was hyper-aware of Mingi’s presence, standing just a few feet away, watching him with that trademark mischievous grin. It felt like the younger man was enjoying his discomfort a little too much.

As Yunho reached for another fragment, Mingi’s voice broke through the silence, light and teasing. “You know, that vase was my father’s favorite,” he said, the words laced with an edge of amusement. His tone was so casual, but the weight of the statement made Yunho freeze, his heart skipping a beat.

Yunho looked up, startled, meeting Mingi’s eyes. “W-what?”

Mingi leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, the corner of his mouth curling up as he watched Yunho’s reaction. “Yeah. He always said it was a family heirloom,” he continued, as though talking about a trivial matter. “He’s going to love hearing about this.”

Yunho’s throat tightened, a rush of panic coursing through him. He had always tried to stay professional, always kept a strict distance, but the thought of having to face Mr. Song after breaking something so important—something sentimental to him—sent a wave of dread through Yunho. His mind spun, already preparing himself for the worst.

“I— I didn’t mean to—” Yunho stammered, his voice strained, tears brimming his eyes as he thought about the consequences of his actions.

As Yunho carefully gathered the pieces of the vase, Mingi’s eyes lit up with a mischievous glint. He leaned closer, his voice low and teasing. “You know, I could always take the blame for this… If you want to avoid my father’s wrath.”

Yunho froze, his heart skipping a beat. “What do you mean?”

Mingi smirked, stepping closer, his gaze locking onto Yunho’s. “I mean, I could say it was me. I’m always breaking things around here anyway,” he said, his tone casual, but there was something calculated behind his words. “And you won’t have to deal with Mr. Song’s temper. All I need is a small favor in return.”

Yunho blinked, trying to process the offer. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What do you want?”

Mingi grinned, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “It’s simple. You just have to do one thing for me, Yunho… And I’ll handle the vase situation.”

Yunho hesitated, the weight of the offer hanging in the air. The tension between them felt unbearable, but he knew he couldn’t afford to get too involved. Yet, as Mingi’s grin widened, Yunho realized it might not be as easy to refuse as he hoped.

As Yunho bent down to pick up another shard of porcelain, his gaze inadvertently dropped to Mingi’s legs. The younger man was wearing gray sweatpants, casual but tight enough to leave little to the imagination. Yunho quickly looked away, his heart pounding in his chest, trying to focus on the broken vase.

But Mingi, ever observant, noticed the shift. He grinned, stepping closer, his voice playful yet laced with a challenge. “What’s wrong, Yunho? You like what you see?”

Yunho’s face flushed with heat. He could feel Mingi’s eyes on him, almost teasing him, and it was all Yunho could do to keep his composure. “I—I wasn’t…” His words faltered, his mind racing for a way out of the uncomfortable situation.

Mingi’s grin widened, clearly enjoying the effect he was having. “It’s okay, you know,” he teased, voice lowering. “No need to pretend. You can look all you want.”

Yunho stood up quickly, brushing off the last of the shards, his heart pounding in his ears. He didn’t know how to respond to Mingi’s boldness, but he couldn’t help but feel the heat of the moment—a line being crossed, and the tension thickening between them.

Mingi took a step closer to Yunho, a playful smile playing on his lips. "You've been staring at me like that for a while, you know," he said, his voice dripping with confidence. "I can't help but notice the way your eyes follow me whenever I'm in the same room as you." Slowly, Mingi took hold of Yunho's hand, leading it toward his own lap. He pressed the man's palm against his own clothed cock, letting him feel the hardness that was already starting to grow there. "You've wanted me for a long time, haven't you?"

Mingi suddenly let out a soft moan as he felt the heat of Yunho's big hand against his own crotch. He bit his lip to stifle the sound, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment as he ground against his hand. The friction between them was sending jolts of pleasure through his body, and his desire was growing with eachpassing moment. Yunho, on the other hand, was surprised by the situation, his nerves palpable. But he couldn't deny the fact that he'd been fantasizing about this moment for a long time.

The air between them was thick with tension, and Yunho’s heart raced, his mind struggling to focus. Taking a deep breath, Yunho steadied himself and glanced up, meeting Mingi’s eyes. “What’s the favor?” he asked, his voice a little firmer than he intended, trying to pull himself back into control. “You said you’d take the blame for the vase. But what do you want in return?”

Mingi’s smile didn’t fade, but there was a spark of amusement in his eyes. He grabbed his hand again, hooking Yunho's slender fingers over the hem of his sweatpants. “I thought you figured out already,” he said, his voice smooth. “I know you want this too.”

Mingi’s gaze softened as he grabbed Yunho's tie, pulling him closer. For a moment, everything seemed to still, the world outside their little bubble of space vanishing entirely.

He placed a hand gently on Yunho’s head, a quiet command in the gesture that spoke volumes. There was no need for words. The pressure of his touch, though subtle, was firm, as if conveying that this was a moment of understanding between them—unspoken, yet clear.

Yunho’s breath hitched at the sudden intensity of the gesture, a wave of realization washing over him. He didn’t need Mingi to say more. The look in his eyes, the soft but insistent touch, made Yunho understand exactly what Mingi wanted. The shift in their dynamic was unmistakable.

His heart raced, and for a brief second, Yunho hesitated, unsure if he should push back or give in. But the pull of the younger man’s presence was undeniable. Slowly, he lowered himself, kneeling in front of Mingi without a word. It wasn’t just the favor anymore—it was something deeper, something that Yunho wasn’t sure he was ready to confront but couldn’t resist.

Mingi watched him silently, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It was a power play, but it was also something else. A challenge. A question. And Yunho found himself caught in the web, unable to look away.

He looked at Mingi with wide eyes—almost like a puppy, unsure but eager to please, as if silently asking for permission to proceed.

Mingi noticed immediately. There was something about Yunho’s eyes in that moment—soft, almost pleading—that made him pause. It was as if the older man had let go of all his reservations, giving Mingi full control over the situation.

The shift didn’t escape Mingi’s notice. His lips quirked into a knowing smirk, but there was something almost fond in his gaze as he watched Yunho, kneeling at his feet. “That’s what I thought,” Mingi murmured softly, the words heavy with meaning.

Mingi's voice was sultrily low as he looked up at Yunho, his eyes dark with desire. "Don't stop," he whispered, his words laced with unabashed need. Yunho, taking the cue, began to pull down Mingi's sweatpants, his movements careful yet filled with a growing hunger to see more.

His mind whirled with a cocktail of excitement and nervousness, the weight of the moment making him feel both vulnerable and alive. He couldn’t stop the grin that tugged at the corner of his lips, nor could he suppress the racing thoughts that filled his head. This wasn’t a dream—it was real, and it was happening now.

Mingi's hand grabbed the back of Yunho's head, guiding him closer to his aching erection in his boxers. While looking up at him with desire, Yunho nuzzled his head against Mingi's clothed cock, earning a sharp gasp from the younger.

The man's patience was wearing thin, and he couldn't help but urge Yunho on. "Hurry up," he panted out, his voice rough with desire. "I need you now." Yunho understood the urgency in Mingi's voice and moved quickly, taking off his boxers in record time. The action left Mingi exposed, and he couldn't help but feel a wave of vulnerability as he stood there before the guard.

Yunho wrapped his hands around Mingi's soft thighs, looking at his cock already dripping with pre-cum right in front of his face.

Mingi looked down at Yunho with a knowing smile, his gaze holding a dark promise. "Open your mouth for me, puppy" he repeated, his voice a low, seductive command. Yunho couldn't help but feel a mixture of embarrassment and excitement as he slowly opened his mouth, unable to keep his eyes still, flicking nervously from one spot to another.

"Look at me." he let his hand slide up to Yunho's chin, gently tilting his head so they were looking directly into each other's eyes. "I want you to keep your eyes on me." There was a mixture of command and tenderness in his gaze, and it was clear that Mingi was taking control of the situation.

"And stick out your tongue." Yunho stuck out his tongue, obediently holding an eye contact with his boss's son. While still holding the back of Yunho's head steadily with one hand, he grabbed his cock with another, slapping it teasingly on Yunho's tongue.

But Mingi wanted more, wanted to feel the bodyguard's lips wrap around his cock. And it seemed that Yunho felt the same way, as he, without hesitation, put Mingi's whole length in his mouth. The sensation made the younger groan deeply, barely holding himself back from fucking into his mouth. He wanted to give the man time to adjust, as he saw him struggle a bit with his mouth full.

"Mmm..what a good pup," he praised, grabbing a handful of Yunho's hair. The reaction he got from the bodyguard was priceless; the man whined, looking up at him with dedication in his eyes, eyebrows pulled in in taunt. "Look at you, who would've thought a big guy like you would be kneeling in front of his boss's son, sucking his cock like a whore." The humiliation only made Yunho blush, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red.

Yunho decided to take the control, bobbing his head and swirling his tongue around Mingi's cock, earning a high pitched moan from the younger. Mingi's hand tangled in Yunho's hair, his fingers gripping and pulling gently at the silky strands. The action was commanding, a way of letting Yunho know that he was still in control, even in this intimate moment. It sent a thrill through the older man as he continued to pleasure Mingi with his mouth, the other's grip guiding him.

Mingi let himself go and moved his hand, cupping the back of Yunho's neck as he held him steady. "Fuck..you feel so good puppy," he groaned, fucking wildly into his mouth.

Yunho was both overwhelmed and enjoying every second of it. He could feel the pleasure building within him, but there was also a sense of submission as he looked up into Mingi's eyes. His own desires were growing stronger, his tongue moving over the younger's member with increasing need. It was as if a switch had been flipped, and all he could think about was pleasing him.

"Just like that, keep going." Mingi moaned, the sound being a smooth melody for Yunho's ears. Mingi’s gaze locked with Yunho’s, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop around them. The tension between them thickened, each of them silently trying to read the other. Yunho felt his breath catch as Mingi’s eyes held his, steady and unblinking, as if daring him to look away. The air was thick with something unspoken, an uncharted territory neither of them wanted to explore yet couldn’t seem to resist, the silence between them only being broken by wet sounds, groans and Yunho's occasional gagging.

As the pleasure continued to build within Mingi, the he found it increasingly difficult to speak, his words becoming more strained and breathless. "Just... don't stop..." he panted out, his voice barely above a whisper. "Right... there... just like that..." He dug his fingers into Yunho's hair, his body trembling with need. Each movement of Yunho's mouth brought him closer to the edge, and he could feel his release nearing.

Yunho continued to give pleasure to Mingi, feeling his eyes water. The sensation was overwhelming, his emotions mixing with the physical demands of the moment. It was a combination of pleasure and vulnerability, a feeling of submitting completely to the other’s desires. The tears that started to run down his face, were a statement to the depth of his own surrender.

Feeling the younger's sensitivity and the power that came with it, Yunho took advantage of the situation, allowing Mingi's cock to slide deeper into his throat. He relished in the feeling of submitting to him, the knowledge that he was pleasing him making his own desire grow stronger. His hands roamed over the other's thighs, leaving a trail of tingles in their wake.

"God..I am about to—" Mingi let out a whimper, his body tensing and his eyes rolled back. The squeeze on his thighs, Yunho's lips wrapped around his cock and the warmth of his mouth—it was all too much. His hips thrusted forward for the last time, releasing the salty substance deep into Yunho's throat.

Yunho squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to gag as he felt the strings of cum aim for his throat. When Mingi rode down from his climax, Yunho continued to lazily suck on his cock, paying extra attention and care to his swollen tip.

"Nobody..," he panted, combing Yunho's hair back, "nobody should know about this, okay?" As Yunho finally pulled away with a loud 'pop' sound, he nodded and wiped his mouth.

Mingi’s fingers gently lifted Yunho’s chin, tilting his head upward with surprising tenderness. The simple motion was enough to make Yunho’s heart skip a beat, his breath catching in his throat. Mingi’s touch lingered for a second, before he softly guided Yunho to his feet.

As Yunho stood, Mingi found himself momentarily stunned. He had always known Yunho was tall, but in this close space, standing face-to-face, the difference was even more striking. Yunho’s height made him feel almost dwarfed in comparison, and Mingi couldn’t help but blush slightly, caught off guard by the sudden realization. The tall, commanding presence of Yunho seemed to draw him in further, and for a fleeting moment, Mingi hesitated, his heart racing.

Mingi leaned in, his lips brushing softly against Yunho’s cheek in a quick, almost teasing kiss. Yunho’s breath caught in his throat, caught off guard by the sudden intimacy. Mingi pulled back slightly, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“You better bring those documents to my father now,” Mingi said, his voice smooth, like he was giving an order. But there was something almost affectionate in the way he said it, his tone laced with amusement.

Before Yunho could respond, Mingi smirked, his gaze playful. “And don’t worry about the vase,” he added with a casual wave of his hand. “It was a cheap one. My dad won’t care.”

Yunho blinked, still trying to process the unexpected kiss, the sudden shift in energy. Mingi was looking at him like he knew exactly what had just happened—like he was in control of the whole situation.

Yunho felt his face flush, but he couldn’t deny the lingering thrill of the moment. He nodded quickly, eager to move on from the awkwardness, but still acutely aware of how close they had been just seconds before.

As Yunho turned toward the door, Mingi’s voice stopped him. “Thank you for the service, Yunho,” he said, his tone light but sincere.

Yunho paused, a small smile tugging at his lips. He turned back to face Mingi, his posture still professional, but his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement. “The pleasure was on my side, Mingi,” he replied smoothly, his voice warm but teasing. “And for that, I’d gladly break more vases… if it means getting your attention.”

Mingi raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk curling on his lips. “I’ll hold you to that,” he said, clearly enjoying the banter.

Yunho offered one last polite bow before turning to leave, his smile lingering as he walked out of the room. The tension between them hadn’t eased, but there was a new understanding—a mutual acknowledgment of something more than just the task at hand.

After that encounter, something subtle yet undeniable shifted between Yunho and Mingi. What had begun as professional distance, masked by layers of formality, started to unravel, thread by thread. Each interaction that followed carried a quiet weight, an unspoken understanding that neither of them fully acknowledged—at least not out loud.

Yunho found himself lingering a little longer when he delivered documents or when Mr. Song had tasks for him. Mingi would always find a reason to engage him in conversation, whether it was a casual question or a playful remark. Their exchanges, though lighthearted, were now laced with a deeper layer of meaning.

Yunho could no longer ignore the pull he felt when Mingi’s eyes caught his, or the way Mingi’s teasing smile seemed to linger longer than usual. Each glance, each subtle shift in tone, added to the growing tension between them. The connection, once tentative, began to solidify with each passing day.

Mingi, too, noticed the difference. He started seeking out Yunho more often, not out of necessity, but because he enjoyed the dynamic that had developed between them. The teasing had turned into something more. There was a playful tension between them now—a dance of words and glances, a bond forged in the heat of a shared moment neither of them would forget.

It wasn’t just about the vase anymore. What began with a simple joke had evolved into something deeper, something that neither of them were entirely ready to define. But the connection was there, undeniable, and it had only grown stronger with time.

[yourfavoritewitchbitch]

Chapter 6 - Best Laid Plans

A Mafia!Steve Harrington AU (featuring Mafia!Eddie Munson)

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Masterlist

Summary: Nothing can stay secret forever when there are such high stakes. Bliss becomes a nightmare as things start to unravel and Nik isn't as clueless as he seems to be.

18+ Only! Minors DNI!

This chapter contains very heavy content but is crucial to the continuation of the story. Read at your own risk!

CW: Reader is referred to as "Dove" as well as other pet names. Tense situations. Violent threats. Physical and mental spousal abuse (reader is slapped, choked and kicked). Sexual Assault (not explicit but heavily implied).

WC: 5.7K

The days pass slowly, yet quickly in the presence of his company, giving way to weeks in the blink of an eye. You're so wrapped up in each other the outside world fades away each time, leaving you in this perfect bubble you've created for yourselves.

Steve and you manage to meet a few times a week. Making sure to be cautious, always during the evening, never staying too late and slipping back into the gallery without so much as a hair out of place to meet your driver back out front for the small trek home.

Loving him was to live again, though keeping him hidden away in the dark felt like a sin. Each time you were in his light your leaves unfurled a little more, trying to catch his golden rays to flourish and bloom, feeling once more like the woman you were all those years ago.

He was warm sunshine on your skin after Winter's long, bitter embrace. He was the embodiment of hope and everything good in the world. It felt like that part of you that had been missing had finally found its way back.

You were afraid that Nik would grow suspicious, but he hasn't said anything in the few weeks that passed, barely giving you the time of day, business as usual. You remained playing the part of dutiful wife in public settings if absolutely necessary, while behind closed doors you practically never saw him.

Steve wanted nothing more than to call you and tell you about his day. He longed for the mundane experiences. The things that most people take for granted but for now, he would keep you to himself until he could finally tell the entire world that you were his once more.

Playing pretend here in this apartment, in this little world of make believe and to share a bed with the man you loved, felt like pure bliss but it wasn't solely about sex. It had always been deeper with Steve, a connection beyond the physical. You'd known it since you were teenagers, though then you hadn't fully understood.

You took turns cooking for each other, while some nights it was takeout. Mind numbingly boring TV played in the background as you talked about your day while sipping wine. It was hand holding, stolen glances, and talking about the future. Everything you had been missing.

It was perfect. It was a refuge. It was home.

A moment of weakness or a mistake of passion, in between tipsy kisses and whispers of “I should head home” followed by “I know”. Wandering hands and moans of pleasure quickly pushed those more sensible thoughts away as the night slowly edged toward morning.

He slowly began to rouse, releasing a soft breath while reluctantly letting his eyelashes flutter open, only to be met with your still naked form cocooned in the sheets beside him.

The early spring sun had started to settle through the open curtains, casting its luminous rays across the bed. A patch of warm sunlight highlights your body so perfectly that for a brief moment he swears you’re an angel sent to Earth just for him.

He'd left the window open the night before. The sounds of the outside world began to trickle in with the soft breeze prickling his skin. The city was just beginning to come to life, the birds were chirping loudly, almost enough to drown out the engines and horns of the cars on the already busy street below.

Your hair lightly blows with that same breeze sending the intoxicating scent of your lilac and jasmine scented shampoo his way. The bed would smell like you until he inevitably has the sheets washed in the coming days.

You'd explained that Nik was away the entire weekend, business in New York, teasing him you should just stay in the apartment the entire time.

Drunk on wine and high on each other, you hadn't meant to fall asleep but the lure of tender touches and inviting warmth was too intoxicating to leave so soon.

It was stupid and reckless.

He laid there a few more moments basking in what he thought was still a dream before his waking mind caught up to the gravity of the situation.

“Shit,” he hissed, wiping the sleep from his eyes before his blurry vision focused enough to see the time on his watch.

You groaned softly, waking up from his sudden movements when he untangled his legs from yours.

“Dove. Baby, wake up.” He called urgently, but no louder than a whisper, trying not to alarm you too much.

You hum and try to bury your face further into the pillow as he runs his knuckles lightly across your cheek.

“Dove,” he whispers once more, pressing his face into your neck, while warm lips place soft kisses along your jaw.

Another low hum escapes you as he whispers against your skin.

“You fell asleep, tesoro. We both did.”

The moment those words register, your eyes fly open, as you jolt up.

“Shit! What time is it?” Hissing out, as you quickly move off the bed, bending down to pick up your discarded clothes from the floor with a foggy mind.

“Almost 6:30.” He replies, pulling his shirt over his head, crossing the room.

You pull your underwear on, grabbing your phone, fingers working fast to open your notifications. There were numerous missed calls and texts from your driver. No doubt he'd already alerted Nik that you hadn't gone home.

“Fuck! Have you seen my bra?” You ask, eyes searching your side of the bed.

“Over here.” He holds it up and tosses it your way when you turn back around.

He notices the frantic nature of your movements as you rush to finish getting dressed.

“Hey, Dove. Baby.” He says, trying to gain your attention but you don't even bat an eyelash, already too caught up in your own mind.

He finally knocks you from the spiral when he comes to stand in front of you, wrapping his hand around the nape of your neck as your gaze drifts up to those warm, honey hued irises, pulling you back from the brink.

“Hey, it's okay, tesoro.” He says, calm and reassuring as you search his face, wrapping your hand around his wrist, anchoring him to you. He brings his lips to your forehead, pulling you further into his chest. “Take a deep breath.”

And you do. Slowly expanding your lungs, breathing him in, holding it a moment before releasing.

“That's it.” He reassures you with a kiss to your temple. “Finish getting dressed. Call your driver on the way to the office. You fell asleep there. Got it? Right at your desk.”

He pulls back, cradling your face between his hands as you nod.

“Good.” Responding with another kiss to your forehead, lips warm and grounding.

Though he was calm on the outside, his own worry was there. You'd both fucked up. He knew it and was hesitant to let you leave but eventually gave in. It was too early to make a play.

He watches you from the window as you get into the car, silently praying this isn't going to derail everything he'd worked so hard for.

Your heart was beating wildly against your ribcage as the car approached home, wringing your hands nervously as you sat silently in the backseat. You could feel the eyes of your driver every few minutes through the rearview mirror, but you ignore his glances.

As the large house came into view, it seemed to loom over you as if your demise was imminent. You tried to dismiss those thoughts. Now was the time to maintain a level head and not let your emotions get in the way.

Play it cool. Play it cool. Play it cool. You repeat over and over in your head.

The driver opened the door with a “Mrs,” knocking you from your daze. You said nothing exiting the vehicle, as sure and steady steps lead you to the front door.

Silence as you stepped into the foyer, holding your breath for a beat as your heels clicked across the marble flooring, not bothering to look for him as your legs carried you to the stairs. One at a time, they lead you to the second-floor landing and then to the safety of your room.

It was only then you finally let out a heavy sigh, shoulders sagging, as you leaned against the closed door, locking it.

Nik hadn't rushed home, quelling most of your fears but not extinguishing them. He hadn’t called or bothered to check in, which wasn’t unusual, but your guard was still up.

You'd been too careless. Foolish.

Maintaining the facade that nothing was amiss, you lazed about the rest of the weekend, barely leaving your room unless it was for the occasional meal or walking around the grounds for some fresh air.

He had stayed on his “business” trip, until Monday morning rolled around.

It was raining as you sat in the breakfast nook, distracted by the steady stream of raindrops pelting the window surrounded by the peaceful silence sipping your coffee.

His heavy footsteps quickly approaching caught your attention, as your posture stiffened.

Just breathe. You could hear Steve's voice, as you closed your eyes for a brief moment.

“Kitten.” His deep voice cut through, smirking at you when you turned to look up at him.

“Nik.” You grumbled, taking a quick sip and looking back out the window.

He poured his coffee, crossed the room and took the seat across from you.

His eyes were practically burning into you, the way his gaze never wavered as you steeled your features, never giving him a hint of the turmoil churning inside of you. It's as if he was waiting for you to confess, drop to the floor and beg for forgiveness.

“My, my. What did you get into this weekend?” He asked, chuckling. A deep throaty sound that sets your already frazzled nerves ablaze.

“Don't start.” You sighed, bringing your mug back down to the table as you finally held his eye contact. Icy blue shards of indifference peered back at you.

He suddenly reached across the table and gripped your chin forcefully, making a small mewling sound escape your throat. He kept moving forward until his nose grazed yours.

“Oh, Kitten. You know very well who started this.” He spoke, shoving your face away, as you winced. “And you won't soon forget this is all on you.”

You shot up from your seat, backing away from him as quickly as possible. His mocking laughter followed you down the hall as you rushed back to your room.

His threats were no longer idle. You could feel the walls closing in around you, trying not to panic as a familiar sting was felt behind your eyes. He wouldn't do anything, not yet. That thought alone gives you a small amount of hope. If he wanted you dead, he would have already done it.

There was still time.

You arrived at work earlier than usual, feeling a sense of impending doom as you walked through the doors of your office and immediately retrieved your burner.

Steve had thought it best for no contact until you went back to work. Now, more than ever, it felt as if you were being watched.

No missed calls. No new notifications. You only hoped it was a good sign.

“Mrs. Petrov?” The voice of Abigail startled you enough that you nearly dropped the phone, as you clutched your chest.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.” She began, walking further into the office as you shoved the phone into the nearest desk drawer.

“That's quite alright.” You replied, straightening up and smoothing the nonexistent wrinkles from your shirt. “Today's agenda?”

“Right here.” She extends the paper toward you, glancing over it and immediately dismissing her.

Your attention went back to Steve as soon as the door shut, grabbing the burner and quickly dialing his number.

He picked up on the second ring.

“Are you okay?” He asks, with a hint of relief in his voice.

“I— I'm ok.” There was a slight hitch to your breath that didn’t go unnoticed.

“Tesoro, did he do anything to you?” He asks, his voice coming out a bit more strained.

���No.” You lie. “I just— I have to see you. Tonight.”

“Dove, that's not—”

“I know it's not a good idea, but I need you!” You all but wail out, cutting him off.

He sighs but doesn't say anything as your meek voice comes through again.

“Please.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose. How could he deny you? His tesoro. His heart. His everything.

“Okay, okay Tesoro. Be ready at 6 pm. And Dove?” He pauses. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

The line went dead as you sat back in your plush, leather chair with a forlorn sigh, wiping away the evidence you'd been crying and reapplying some fresh mascara. Everything was fine. Work as normal. Not a hair out of place.

Internally you were a frazzled mess, counting down every second until then.

Somehow you managed to keep your mind preoccupied for most of the day. As the time edged a little past 5:30, your phone lit up with a new message. You smiled. It was no doubt Steve telling you he had made it to the apartment, as he normally would.

Your heart suddenly sank as you read and reread the message in bold print.

921-987-5555 5:32 PM: DO NOT LEAVE THE OFFICE! THE APARTMENT HAS BEEN COMPROMISED.

Four weeks of pure bliss. Four weeks of living in your little fantasy world. Four weeks of feeling like everything would work out and one single text brought this false sense of security crashing down.

You slowly sank back into your chair on trembling legs.

It could only be Nik.

You quickly called Steve.

“Dove, do not leave. I'm coming to get you.” He breathes out heavily.

“No, you can’t— I can't go with you.” You bite back the sob threatening to spill out. At least for his sake, you could pretend you weren't scared.

“You can and will. I'll be there in five.” He insists.

“Steve, he won't stop. It's better if I go home and act like I don't know anything.” Was it though?

“What?! No, that's bullshit! You're coming home with me.” He rushes out.

“Steve, baby please. Just listen to me. He's going to dinner with my father tonight. We have to act like everything is normal. I trust you. You have to trust me.” You urged, though you didn't believe it yourself.

“Dove.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I trust you.”

You ended the call with more “I love yous” and telling him that everything would be okay. Nik wouldn't possibly be so stupid to do anything to you tonight. Steve finally resigned himself, as his own plan began to form in his mind. He still had the upper hand.

Once he hung up with you, he made another call. He was no longer willing to be separated from you, risking your life was not in the cards for him.

It was time.

You crept through the foyer, hoping the small sound of the door closing wouldn’t rouse anyone in the large house.

Removing your heels from your stocking clad feet, so that you could silently move through the room and quickly check your surroundings, pausing, listening. You were met with nothing but the sound of your heartbeat reverberating in your chest.

You thought you were in the clear, but your false sense of security was quickly shattered, rounding the corner only to be met with your Nik’s steely glare. A cigarette and stiff drink in hand. He was home early. Much too early. It immediately set you on high alert.

He was sitting in front of the large fireplace in the study. When you caught his gaze, he bid you to come forward as he set the drink down. Brining the cigarette to his lips, taking a long inhale before resting it alongside his drink.

Dressed in his usual suit, his jacket left on the chair behind him, leaving him in a white button up with the sleeves rolled up on his forearms revealing an expanse of black ink beneath.

You shuffled forward slowly, crossing your arms behind your back with your heels still dangling from your fingertips.

“Tough day, my love?” he cooed, in a sickly-sweet voice that would almost sound sincere to anyone else. His lips turned up into a cruel smirk as he turned to look at you.

“You know exactly how my day has been.” You hissed, already over his little games.

“Now kitten, a little birdie told me you were seen with him. Though, it doesn't come as a surprise.” A calm tone, in contrast to his wild eyes. He knows. He goddamn knows.

“Nik,” you started, as his palm met your cheek with a sharp smack that echoed in the otherwise quiet space, along with the thud of your heels that fell from your grasp. Your eye instantly welled, unable to control the tears forming from the force of his blow. Pain instantly searing the skin.

You could taste the familiar metallic tang in your mouth, as you reached up trying to soothe the discomfort.

Ever defiant, you raise your head slowly, to meet his cold, indifferent gaze.

He gripped your chin, forcing your face closer to his.

“Now, kitten,” no feeling whatsoever behind those words.

“This kind of behavior just won’t do for my reputation. I can't let you go whoring around with him out in public, making me look like a fool in the process.” He couldn't have seen. You were too careful… unless…

He removed his hand slightly, only to cup your cheek engulfing it with his large palm. It was tender, a stark contrast to the pain he had just inflicted. Raised welts began to form under his touch.

He pushed your face a little harshly, putting some distance between you to take his leave.

“Clean yourself up and get ready for dinner. Your father will be joining us.” He leaned down, pressing his lips to yours, catching the back of your head pressing you closer to his larger frame. You made no attempt to push him away, knowing it would only spur his anger.

He released you, grabbing his jacket and turning back one last time before he spoke.

“And kitten, end it. Or I will.”

He left you standing there wilted and bruised, standing in the warm glow of the lit fireplace contemplating your next move, releasing a shuddering breath. If there was a fate worse than death, this was surely it.

Your hand was pressed to your cheek as you turned, slowly trudging up the stairs with your head held high. He was trying to break you.

Nik was a goddamn idiot. It was painfully obvious he'd hit you. There was only so much you could do to hide the welts. You iced it, hoping it would alleviate some of the pain and swelling enough that your father wouldn't take notice.

It worked mildly. Makeup covered the rest. A red lip to also hide the small laceration he had caused.

You changed into a more modest dress with flats. Something sweet. You were in no mood to play the part of a doting wife, but you would behave in front of your father lest there be consequences for you both. Nik was capable of anything.

Voices drifted from the foyer as you came from your room, alerting you that your guest had already arrived.

Turning the corner, your hand gripped the railing to the stairs so hard your knuckles turned white, suddenly feeling like your heart had stopped.

Oh God no! Anything but this.

It took your brain a moment to truly register what your eyes were seeing. Steve was standing by your father, shaking hands with Nik as you stared on with a look of abject horror. As your mind caught up, you began to descend the stairs holding your breath.

Your father followed Nik into the study without so much as a glance your way, but Steve turned, briefly catching your gaze, nodding slightly before disappearing along with them.

“Fuck,” you hissed under your breath, heading straight into the dining room, promptly pouring yourself a glass of bourbon with shaky hands. You tipped it back, downing it with one large gulp, slamming the glass down against the bar top with a resounding thud. The amber liquid burned, settling in the pit of your stomach doing little to settle your nerves, your mind completely starting to spiral with a thousand different scenarios.

Your father and Nik were supposed to go out. Why was Steve here?!

“Miss?” The voice from one of the kitchen staff drifting from the doorway jars you back to the present and the reality of the situation. “Will we be having another guest for dinner this evening?”

“Um…” You didn't trust your own voice, clearing your throat before replying. “Yes, I think so.”

The young lady nods and heads back into the kitchen, returning quickly with another place setting as you take your usual seat at the table, to the right of Nik. You felt numb, as if your body was on autopilot, staring blankly at the plate in front of you as their voices crossed the threshold.

It was all business as they entered the room, one after the other. Nik, followed by your father and then Steve.

You didn't dare meet his gaze, too afraid of what it might hold but he immediately clocked your unusual demeanor taking a seat beside your father. You were withdrawn, scared, nothing like the woman he knows and loves.

“Hey Kiddo. I've missed you for our Sunday lunches.” Your father spoke up. It had been weeks since you'd properly seen him. The bags under his eyes doing nothing to hide the exhaustion evident in his features.

“I know, daddy.” You reply, with a slight lilt to your voice. “We'll do them again soon.. I've been… busy.”

He smiles over at you with a nod, not pressing any further as the wine was poured for the table.

No one spoke as the salads were served. The tension hangs thick in the air, Nik's eyes darting between you and Steve as you lift your fork to begin your meal.

“So, Steve,” Nik's voice laced with venom, as if saying his name out loud physically pained him. “I heard you were going back to Italy. Leaving Chicago to the big boys.” He smirks.

“Ahh, little Niki, do you believe every rumor you hear?” He replies with a nonchalance, taking a sip of wine to cleanse his palette.

Nik’s jaw visibly clenched. Steve knew exactly how to get under his skin, using his old nickname.

The small talk was left to a minimum, a few mumbles from your father about the Cubs as he tried to steer the conversation to more lighthearted topics as the entrees were finally served.

Braised lamb with a red wine sauce served over a medley of stewed veggies.

The meat was tender but as you chewed, Steve noticed you slightly wince, pausing as your eyelashes fluttered closed a brief moment before continuing.

He regarded you closely, taking in your appearance. His eyes widened a little when he finally noticed your flushed appearance and the makeup trying to cover your cheek, a bruise beginning to form just below your red rimmed eye. It was his turn for his jaw to tighten, his fist clenching beneath the table.

Nik followed Steve's gaze, the flicker of irritation passing his face made him smirk to himself as the silence stretched on. The only sounds were forks and knives lightly clanking against the fine china echoing around the room.

Nik’s hand stretched under the table, suddenly wrapping around your thigh with a bruising grip that caused you to slightly jolt upright. It suddenly takes all the willpower that Steve can muster to not jump over the table and end him.

“Kitten?” He suddenly speaks up, in an overly affectionate voice, as you look over to him. “Go on to bed. I'll be up in a little bit. The men are going to talk now."

“But—,”

“Shh, shh, shh. No buts.” He coos, gripping your leg even tighter leaving no room for arguments.

You nod, scooting your chair back from the table, and standing to take your leave, glancing back at Steve, whose face is now set with a heavy frown. His eyes held immense fiery rage as he stared at Nik.

The tension was now at a boiling point, at least from one end of the table.

Nik grabs your wrist before you get too far, pulling you his way suddenly, gripping the back of your neck with his free hand and pressing his lips to yours. The sudden movement caught you off guard, as your lips parted with a gasp, he took the opportunity to push his tongue forward, an unwanted intrusion but you were powerless to fight his advances.

The few moments seemed to stretch on for eternity as he finally pulled back with a sickly-sweet grin, licking his lips and releasing his hold on you. You straighten up to bid your father and Steve both a farewell.

“Goodnight Daddy. Steve.”

Both men rose from their chairs.

“Night kiddo.” Your father kisses your cheek, pulling you into a small embrace.

Steve swallows around the lump in his throat as you take a step toward him, desperation written all over your features as you gaze up at him with an almost pleading look. Don't. You tried to convey.

"Night, Dove." He whispers, still searching your eyes, as your husband stares daggers at him. He leans in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to your cheek as a silent tear escapes you going unnoticed by the other two men in the room as you finally brush past Steve.

He sits back down, his eyes trailing after you long after you disappear up the stairs. Regardless if you and Steve had been having an affair, the way you looked at each other was all the confirmation that Nik needed. He sighs heavily, loosening his tie.

“So, this is how it's going to be. My own father-in-law is conspiring against me.” He paused, eyes cutting over to Steve.

“And you Harrington, how long have you been fucking my wife?” He sneered.

Both men were a little stunned, heads snapping in his direction. Their best laid plans falling apart before their eyes, with the other seemingly knowing enough.

“Nik,” David started but he quickly cut him off.

“That whore is still my wife. Still MY fucking property.” Raising his voice as his fists come down against the table.

“Don't fucking call her that.” Steve hissed, eyes turning dark, trained on Nik. His calm demeanor hides the maelstrom of emotions churning within him.

“Oh Steven, don't pretend if you were in my shoes, you wouldn't feel the exact same way.” He cruelly grins but turns his attention back to your father.

“And David, I think it's time you shut your mouth and do some listening for a change so before any threats start flying around, let me make it abundantly clear. She's not going anywhere, with either of you.” A sickly, sweet smile grew across his face. He knew he had the upper hand.

Steve quickly rose, but David stopped him before he came over the table at Nik, pressing a hand to his chest.

“I swear to God, if you lay a finger on her, I'll fucking kill you.” He spits, gritting his teeth and pointing his finger at the other man. Pure rage was all he saw.

Nik rolls his eyes, as if unamused by the entire situation, making himself more comfortable in his chair.

“I don't think either of you gentlemen are in the position to make any demands at this point.” He finally rose, nodding to his security in the corners of the room. “Now if you'll kindly see yourselves out, I need to have a chat with my lovely wife.”

Steve made an attempt to lunge at Nik, who only laughed when two of the men grabbed either of his arms, halting his movements. Two more men stepped in, escorting your father out along with him.

“I'll fucking kill you! Do you hear me? I will end you!” He yells before being forcefully dragged from the house, his eyes focused up the stairs, where you had retired moments ago, before they slammed the door in his face.

His stomach sank at the thought of leaving you alone with him. His head was screaming at him to get you out of that house.

Unintentionally, this had caused you to be stuck in the middle when he was trying to spare you from all of this. He should have told you the truth. Gotten you away from all of it when he had the chance. This was HIS fault.

Both men stood there in utter shock. Everything was falling apart.

“You know what he's capable of. We can't leave her here.” Steve turned to your father, a sudden desperation to his voice.

“Steve, he's not going to do anything to her. He knows what would happen if he did.” The other man reasons.

“Did you not see the goddamn bruises and welts on her face?” Steve steps forward, his frustration evident, inching into your father's space.

“What bruises?” He asks, brows furrowed.

“She did a good job at covering them, but the way she winced while eating gave it away. Her cheek was slightly swollen. He's already laid his goddamn hands on her, David!”

Your father gaped in silence at the implications as he stared at the younger man.

“Goddamnit!” Steve shouts out into the night, with other option but to leave without you. Nik had entirely too much security on duty to try anything else. He prayed to whomever would listen to keep you safe until he could get you back.

-

You heard the commotion, Steve audibly yelling, as you jumped from the small sofa and ran to the top of the stairs just in time to see the front door being slammed in his face. Your heart sank.

Nik came into view, rounding the corner, tie shed, unbuttoning his sleeves and rolling it up his forearms. You locked eyes as a smirk lit up his face. He enjoyed seeing the sheer terror written on yours.

You turned, your feet carrying you into the bedroom far too slowly as he took the stairs two at a time, slamming your door shut, trying to lock it before he reached it, your fingers fumbling with the knob.

He smashed into it with all the force he had, forcing it open and knocking you down in the process.

Your head flew back, hitting the floor, dazing you for a moment but it was enough for him to rush forward, grabbing the back of your hair forcing you to look at him. His fingers tangled in your locks, making you hiss out at the sudden sting as your eyes met his.

Pure rage. Animalistic, predatory dominance staring back at you. No emotion. No hint of regret to be found. Any semblance of a human being was nowhere to be found.

“So this is how you repay me? After all these years? Scheming and whoring around behind my back?!” He screamed like a madman. “You and your fucking father!”

“Nik—please.” Your eyes well up with tears from the searing pain at the back of your head, hands clawing, trying to pry him away.

“Please?!” He yelled, laughing out. “That's all you have to say for yourself?”

You watched on, unable to do anything as he reared back and smacked you across the face. Searing white hot heat, on an already bruised cheek, has you crying out.

Helpless. Hopeless. No one was coming to your rescue.

Gathering as much strength as you could, you slammed your foot up into his crotch. He let go of you as he doubled over in pain, granting you a small reprieve as you started to crawl away.

“You fucking bitch!” He screamed, grabbing your ankle. Your fingertips dug into the carpet, as he dragged you back toward him, flipping you over as you fought but he easily overpowered you, sitting on your abdomen. His weight pressed you into the carpet and his hands wound around your neck, quickly shutting your air supply off.

He was crazed, eyes black with murderous intent, squeezing a little tighter as you continued to fight to pull his hands away. This was it. You were going to die here. He was going to kill you.

“I would love nothing more to see the light go dim in those pretty, pleading little eyes, taking delight to see your precious Steve become a broken man, but unfortunately I have other plans for the two of you.” He spat.

His grasp relented, air once again filling your lungs with a gasp as he moved off of you. You rolled away, clutching your neck, chest heaving trying to take in as much oxygen as possible laying on your side away from him.

He stood, chuckling to himself. You didn't see him coming toward you until it was too late. Intense pain shot through your back. He was a fucking coward, kicking you while you were already down.

Your ears were ringing, too stunned and shocked to keep fighting. A scream tried to erupt from your chest, but there was no sound that escaped your raw and bruised throat as a steady stream of tears fell from your eyes, your mind suddenly on the brink of unconsciousness.

He was saying something you couldn't make out, sounding as though he was so far away when you felt like you were floating, no longer in your body. You didn't feel him haul you over to the bed, tearing your clothes away from you. Your conscious mind was disassociating and shielding you from the abrupt and painful intrusion between your thighs.

You close your eyes, as he takes what he wants from you, leaving his filthy seed behind. Your body was bruised and battered, a broken, withered husk.

Hope was shattered.

Taglist: @teen--marvel @micheledawn1975 @thecreelhouse @girlwiththerubyslippers @bunnyhargrove @taccobelle @madaboutjoe @hazydespair

[faghubby]

More, please

I laid on my back my feet on her shoulders as she fucked me with her huge 8 inch strapon. Jen had become a pro at fucking my ass. As she pounded away driving her 8 inch fake cock in and out of my ass with such force I kept banging my head on the headboard.

"Yes, oh god yes fuck me" I cried out.

"You are such a horny little slut" Jen hissed driving deep and holding it there. She paused as she shoved a penis shaped gag into my mouth. "Maybe this will keep you quiet" she laughed and fucked me some more.

Jen had been abusing my ass for months now. It started with me asking her to try anal. She informed me only if I did first. I loved the idea. Having been a closet crossdresser since I was 12. I pretended to be hesitate. I was a bit never having more then my own fingers in my ass. Jen didn't think I was serious. But I set it all up. I bought her a strapon, shaved and dressed in sexy lingerie. As if it was all a big. Joke. When she came home she didn't laugh. Instead took me to bed and fucked me with her new toy. After she was very serious and we had a long conversation about if I was gay, where do we go from here.

Jen figured it all out rather quick. I found myself getting fucked daily. Always wearing lingerie. Jen immediately bought me my own lingerie and many more toys.

"Baby you are my lesbian lover" she would tell me. It had been a month when she suggested I start only wearing panties. It had also been a month since I had fucked her. Only being allowed to preform oral on her.

"I was wondering baby, how you play with yourself?" Jen asked one day while coming up behind me, rubbing my nipples.

"I well you know" I said hesitately

"No I don't, I saw you where looking at those horrible flashlight things on your computer" Jen teased. "Pretty sissy girls like you should just rub yourself" her hand slid down my panties and she used two fingers to rub me thru my satin panties. "Like this" she giggled in my ear.

I moaned and quickly came in my panties. She pulled out her hand and stuck her fingers in my mouth.

"Like that?" She teased as I tasted my own cum on her fingers. She grabbed my hand and led me to the bedroom. On the bed she had laid out a whole outfit.

"Get dressed" she told me. As she sat and watched me strip down. There was a bright pink thong and bra set. With lots of lace. Followed by a very short tight skirt. That rode up to show my panties whenever I moved and a tight white belly shirt that you could easily see my bra thru. To top it off she produced a pair of high heal shoes in my size. She pulled out her strapon and had me help her tighten the straps over her clothes.

"I want you to learn to suck cock baby" Jen told me. I had never worn more then panties and a nightie a few times and now. I was dressed like a slut as Jen pushed me down to my knees. I looked up at her she smiled and guided her cock into my mouth.

"Go slow, kiss it" she told me. "That's it now suck on the big mushroom head" she encouraged. For the next 30 minutes I slobbered all over her cock. As she told me how sweet I was and ran her fingers thru my hair.

"You are going to grow this out" she informed me. "And start shaving off all your body hair for me" when she let me stop sucking her cock my jaw hurt.

"Leave this outfit on, it suits you" Jen said kissing me.

I stumbled around in the 3 inch stilettos for the rest of the day. My feet and legs where killing me. But she frowned when I kicked them off when I sat down next to her. She pulled my skirt up.

"Show me how you are going to play with yourself from now on" Jen teased cuddling against me. I started to rub myself. Jen rubbed my nipples thru my bra.

"You like sucking cock and getting fucked up the ass don't you baby?" Jen teased as she nibbled on my ear. I didn't answer but kept rubbing myself harder.

"What if I found us a real cock to play with?" Jen whispered just as I came in my panties again. She had me stand and take them off right in the living room. Then sit back down next to her.

"Lick up all that nasty cum and I will lick up the rest" Jen told me pushing my panties into my mouth as she lowered her head and licked my soft dick and balls. She checked to make sure I was sucking all my sperm out of the panties before she continued. She stopped as soon as I started to get hard again.

"Go take a nice hot bath and get rid of the rest of this manly hair" Jen told me. As she got up and went outside. I did as she said. I wasn't sure about shaving my pits and legs but did it anyway. It took awhile and I thought about what was happening and what Jen had said. Is this what I wanted? Was I gay, or maybe bi? When I got out of the tub I found Jen had laid out clothes for me again. Again a thong and bra. With a pair of white shorts. Much tighter then anything I would of worn. They also seemed to sit low. Exposing the waist band of my panties. I tried to tuck in. And a polo shirt in pink. Some no show socks. And my sneakers. With a note COME HELP ME IN THE YARD

I stood at the back door scared to go outside. What if someone noticed my shaved legs? But Jen saw me and waved me out. She was bent over weeding her flower garden. I slowly made my way out to her. I was rock hard in my tight shorts. It was so exciting and terrifying to be exposed. Jen looked up and laughed noticing the bulge in my shorts. She had me help her weed. I had not thought about my thong showing until. Mr Longmere appeared by the fence.

"Beautiful day" he called out I panicked and wanted to hide. Jen laughed and took my hand and led me over to say hello. Mr longmere looked at me a bit odd, but said nothing.

"Good afternoon" Jen said kissing him on the cheek. Mr longmere was in his 60s his name was George but no one in the neighborhood called him that. "Paulie here is rediscovering himself" Jen laughed and smacked my ass.

"Is that what he is doing? I thought he was finally telling everyone he is a fairy" Mr Longmere laughed. He reached out and cupped my face.

"Is that right? Are you a little fairy?" He teased. I blushed and wanted to hide. As Jen told him how I had my first cock sucking practice today. I was harder then I had ever been as Jen held my hand tight not letting me squirm away. Mr longmere laughed and went back to his yard work and Jen led me inside.

"Someone needs to masterbate again!" She laughed as I squeezed out of my shorts but grabbed my dick and started to jerk off.

"Stop that!" Jen scolded as she smacked my hand away. "You are awful excited by being exposed. I guess I should expose you alot more" she told me as she once again put on her cock.

"You know what to do?" She smiled I dropped to my knees and sucked her cock. She produced a thick plug.

"Sit on this while you suck my cock bitch" she ordered I quickly lubed it and slid it into my ass. And went back to sucking her toy. For the next month every weekend she would dress me up and expose me to someone. Mr longmere even saw me in a short flower print sun dress. All while she had me suck her cock more and more. Within a few weeks I could take a few inches down my throat by the end of the month Jen could throat fuck me. Only Mr Longmere knew who I was everyone else I was exposed to was a stranger. Jen also had me wearing not only panties but bras under my boy clothes.

"Paulie, I need to tell you something" Jen smiled as she walked in the door from work one night. I was in the kitchen cooking dinner. She grabbed my pink frilly apron strings. I turned off the stove and sat down at the table next to her.

"I sucked Pete's big cock today" she blurted out with a grin.

"What? Really?" I wimpered as tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Don't be lime that baby, you had to have known eventually I would need a real cock to fuck me" Jen said pulling me close.

"You are a good little sissy husband. But you wear panties and love to suck on my cock" Jen said she tossled my now long hair.

"You really need to go to the salon and get this styled" she said changing the subject. She let me go finish dinner. But came out naked a few minutes later.

"I am so horny, come eat my pussy" she told me. I dropped and did as she asked. She was so wet. I knew she was thinking about Pete's cock. After I made her cum she rushed back to the bedroom and returned with the strapon. This time with a toy shoved deep inside her she bent me over the table and drove all 8 inches deep into me with one thrust. I moaned and cried as she pounded away till I came all over the table.

"Lick it up, faggot lick up all HIS yummy cum" Jen said pushing my face into my mess.

The next day Jen was late coming home. When she did she rushed in stripping as she did. She pulled me to the floor and sat on my face. Immediately a huge glob of cum dropped into my mouth. Jen ground on my face as I consumed what I figured was Pete's load he had pumped into her. Jen never said a word. But twice a week a was fed a cream pie from her freshly fucked swollen pussy.

Jen pressed me to wear my REAL clothes whenever I was at home. My wardrobe had grown to include a dozen dress, skirts, low ride jeans and blouses. Not to mention stockings, garters, even a girdle. My hair was cut so I could curl it and it would look very femine or straight and seemed more masculine but not sure many really believed it any more. A few of the woman at work had noticed a bra strap. Or that my slacks where actually ladies.

Jen had several lovers. Over the next year. But it was our vacation to Hawaii that I really gave up any hope of being a man again.

"You are not bringing any boy clothes" Jen informed me as she showed me my new bikinis. One was hot pink the bottom a thong the top if I had tirs wouldn't of covered much. The second was bright yellow tied with strings "for easy access" Jen laughed. Jen had made all the arrangements. I was surprised to see she had booked adjoining rooms.

"You are going to want your privacy" she informed me. The first night she dolled me all up in a mini skirt and a tank top and took me to a gay bar. Immediately I had some guy buying me drinks. When he asked me to dance Jen answered for me pushing me into his arms. On the dance floor he had his hand under my skirt. I rested my head on his shoulder as he played with my dick.

"I never been with a man" I told him. He led me put of the bar I even forgot about Jen. I was sucking his cock as he drove to the hotel. I was so proud as I deep treated him and swallowed every drop of his cum. When we made it to bed I laid next him kissing him. Again he started to stroke me.

"I don't want you to" I told him. I want you to fuck me use me. But don't." He seemed to understand even if I didn't. And he did exactly that he fucked me. Twice that night and in the morning fucked my throat. But denied anything but teasing me. I did cum while he fucked me the second time. He seemed made at me and made me lick the sheets clean. After he left I went Jens room to find her on bed with two men. I quietly lifted the covers and licked her cum leaking used cumt. She rubbed my head as I did. One of the guys woke whole I was doing this.

"Just my fairy little husband" she told him and started to suck his cock. I quietly went back to my room. I went back to the same bar alone. This time I met Dean. Dean taught me about disapline. I spent the whole vacation. Learning to obey and worship him. Jen even watched as he had me suck his beautiful cock right in the open on the beach. While I wore my little pink bikini.

Jen and I are still married and I serve her however she desires. But I have Master Greg. Who I drop everything to make sure he is satisfied.

[takingstockofwhatmattersmost]

What Is Love

First Love i’m First Love...and i never learned how to leave i’m the flutter in a young heart the rush of blood to cheeks the scribbled names on notebook margins i burned bright and fast a spark in the dark they say i’m unforgettable...and it’s true i linger like the smell of summer rain but the truth is i don’t know how to end things gently i vanish like a wisp and i never, ever fully move on

Unrequited Love

i’m Unrequited Love...and i can’t stop hoping i’m the hand that reaches out into empty space the gaze that lingers a second too long i live in half-spoken words and awkward silences in the late-night messages never sent i give everything ...expecting nothing except maybe the chance to be seen just once like sunlight through a cracked door

Familial Love

i’m Familial Love...and i hold it all together i’m the embrace of a parent the laughter at the dinner table the unspoken understanding across generations i’ve survived wars distance silence and time but i am not always easy...i can be heavy a duty a responsibility that binds too tight i carry the weight of a thousand yesterdays and sometimes i fear i am taken for granted

Forbidden Love

i’m Forbidden Love...and i thrive in the shadows i’m the kiss stolen in the dark the secret held close i live in whispers in the spaces between glances in the thrill of what should never be i promise everything...but give nothing i leave a trail of scars wrapped in sweet memories and though i seem intoxicating i always fade with the sunrise

Self-Love

i’m Self-Love...and i’m still learning how to speak up i am the mirror that smiles back the deep breath of relief i grow slowly like roots finding their way through rock i’m the warm bath after a long day the quiet forgiveness the small victories no one else notices but i’m often overshadowed by my louder siblings drowned out by guilt shame...or comparison i’m here tonight because i want to learn to take up space to be as big as the love i give away

Enduring Love

i’m Enduring Love...and i’ve been around forever i’m the hand held through hospital beds the wrinkles shared the ‘i love you’ said for the thousandth time with new meaning i am not perfect i’ve faced doubts temptations storms i’ve learned the art of patience the practice of forgiveness i am what remains when the fireworks fade the gentle glow of embers that keeps the cold away but sometimes i wonder...am i still enough or have i forgotten what it means to stay

[fumifooms]

What if we were both magic prodigies and it otherized us in different ways and we devoted ourselves to protecting a family member who has general other goals & priorities. What if we both did self-sacrifical devotion in opposite ways.

What if we were dark mirrors of each other and where I've grown overcontrolling you've grown complacent. What if, bought as a servant into a pretty loving home, ownership and control is what love looks like to me, and to you neglected and lonely growing up, love is gratefully taking any scraps of it you’re lent.

By belonging to someone, even if she comes back injured or fails at finding Delgal, she feels like she belongs and is cherished, by owning someone he feels safe in them not leaving him.

She’s what’s tethering him do you see… And he’s the only thing giving her direction and purpose in her state. She needs a compass and he needs a support.

They’re both so out of it 😭 It’s the weirdly intense and unearned mutual trust and reliance on each other?? They’re each other’s weird little comfort codependent teddy bear. Or at least they were headed towards that before SHE DIED THEN HE DIED THEN THEY BOTH FORGOT ABOUT EACH OTHER AND NEVER MET EVER AGAIN. Though she’s also the guard attack hound keeping him safe… And vice versa he heals her and can rewrite her very being with just one wave of his hand. They’re both so so mentally and physically vulnerable both but they cling onto each other. They can’t perceive things accurately but despite it all someway somehow they stumble into something closer to resembling companionship just before they both die. Falin is just that kind and Thistle is just that lonely. Overworked. We both haven’t lived for ourselves in a very long time, haven’t we.

They both have a similar devotion to the people they love but again the difference is that Thistle starts overtsepping while Falin is self-effacing. The other difference between them is that people care about Falin <3 People have given up on Thistle long ago, and he has given people reasons to, while people refuse to give up on Falin. Yaad has a mini arc about it dw about it it’s ok he’s not all alone in the end 😭😭 He reached out for Marcille’s hand but they already all wanted to help him, they just had to be given the chance to, Yaad just had to be given the chance to, it’s okay I’m okay

Hey what if we learned to get in touch with our own identity and the world around us and living in the present again through being in the worst codependent situationship ever.

Falin and Thistle sitting in a tree, sucking on flowers together because they’re h-u-n-g-r-y 💕💕💕

I bet he’s only ever thought of flowers as useless ornaments. Weak weeds. But she shows him they’re tasty and useful and good and pretty in their own right too and deserve existing without proving their worth and waaa <33 Thistles…... Did you know thistles taste sweet if you remove the thorns and eat them?

"Even as a chimera, her kind nature remains" you can’t suppress her in the way that matters. You can’t soothe him in the way that matters. It’s doomed. You’re doomed. It’s all doomed. Save me.

[doverstar]

actually I love Tentoo and he is the Doctor and it was the only ending for Rose that worked and it is a huge gift to be able to have the man she loves grow old with her, they were always heading for that, y'all be quiet. I 100% understand the angst but it's okay, they're okay, good ending-

[charkyzombicorn]

are usopp and luffy getting a divorce in yuor selkie au

Usopp: No????

Luffy: if Usopp wants one

Usopp:

Usopp: What're you talking about

Luffy: If Usopp wants to divorce that's okay, I don't want one but I get it if you do, I can't swim.

Usopp:

[autistic-katara]

icl i would be at least a little happy with almost any ending for stranger things but one thing that would ruin all of it would be an epilogue (of a decade or more later)

[bloodcoveredgf]

longlegs is a movie about mother/daughterhood for real. throws up thinking about it actually

[siriscrafts]

How to ecoprint a t-shirt!

Take the cloth you want to dye – natural fibers like cotton, linen, wool and silk work best, but also polyamide! It it's new, it's good to wash it first to get rid of any surface treatments on the cloth.

Then you'll need mordant for your fabric: alum and tannins for cellulose fibers, or just alum for protein fibers. Mordanting will help the print stick to the fabric and stay vibrant! To pre-mordant, simply dissolve the mordant into hot water and dip your cloth in it. To calculate how much mordant you need, simply weigh your dry cloth and divide by ten.

After mordanting, you can let your cloth dry or simply wring it and continue to the next step. Using wet cloth will result in a more watercolour-like print, as the dyes spread a bit. For crisper prints, it's better to use dry cloth.

Next you'll need plant stuff! Most green stuff will give yellowish hues, but there are some plants that are special dye plants. Do your research or experiment! (I used dyers chamomille, st. john's wort and some purpleish plants that I'm hoping will give red.) Some kitchen scraps like onion skins, and some mushrooms (eg. surprise webcap) are also commonly used! You can use fresh or dried plants. Arrange them on your cloth in whatever pattern you like! I'm folding my shirt in half to get a mirrored print, so I placed some flowers facing up and some facing down, but generally you'll want to place the flower face down and leaves face up!

Then it's time for wrapping up your cloth! You'll need another fabric or plastic to cover the cloth and something solid to wrap your fabric around, like a stick, some rulers or a piece of pipe. A rolling pin can be helpful in getting the plants flat against the fabric before wrapping. I used a big glass jar, like so!

Place the other fabric or plastic on top of your cloth and roll tightly! Tie the roll with some scrap yarn so it stays tight and finally wrap it in a towel. If you want a background colour, you can use a transfer cloth that's dipped in dye in place of the plastic or other fabric.

Next this roll will be steamed to get the colours from the plants into the cloth. A big kettle and small flower pot upside down work well, if you don't want to sacrifice a juicer. I used a bucket, a styrofoam box and an elecric kettle to save energy. Let it steam for 1,5 hours. If your cloth and plants were dried, it will take longer.

Once it's steamed, let it cool completely. Then it's time for the reveal! Dry and iron, wear and hand-wash.

I'll post the finished shirt once it's ready!

[lemongogo]