blank et noir

“I see. Job hunting hasn’t been going too well, then” Bora murmurs with a frown after hearing my story in more details.

She was free today and offered to meet me at a coffee near where I was so we could talk about my problem. Needless to say, she was fuming when she heard of all the comments I’ve been told since I first started this morning. I’m also pretty sure In-yeop and Dal would have gone back to every shops I went to just to give them a piece of their mind. I’m glad they didn’t in the end.

“How are you feeling, now?” the gentle beta asks, eyes taking in the glow in my eyes, like she’s looking for any signs of a hidden pain.

“Honestly? Not too bad. Hobi found me in the park earlier and… we had a talk. Not entirely fun, but needed. I felt a lot better once he left, though. He encouraged me and made me laugh before going back to work. Had I not met him, you would have found me in a worse mood”.

She nods her head slowly, relieved to know that I was found by one of my mates when I needed one the most. “That’s good. How did last night go, by the way? You said you were going to talk to them… did you?”

My smile wavers a little at her question. “Right. Erm… it didn’t go well. I mean, I spoke my mind alright, but we were both emotional, Namjoon and I, so it was like talking to a wall. I said things I shouldn’t have, and he left after saying things he shouldn’t have. Hoseok clarified things for me, but… I’m nervous about seeing the others again”.

“I understand. Despite it not going as well as you hoped for, Y/N, I’m still very proud of you for not giving up and for saying what was needed to be said” she starts, sincerity and pride making her eyes shine.

“The fact that you said things you didn’t mean… it doesn’t matter. That’s for your alpha mates to deal with, seeing as they brought you to that breaking point themselves. What matters is that you did something for yourself. You needed to speak up about something you found unfair, and you did. That’s a huge achievement for an omega in a pack full of alphas. My omegas always come to me when they need to make something known to In-yeop, but you only have yourself”.

Her praise has my eyes widening in surprise, I admit I didn’t expect that today.

“It was very hard” I confirm softly. “My legs were like jelly, it felt like my heart was going to burst out of my chest from how strong it was beating. Their heavy pheromones were seeping out in waves, and I swear I would’ve curled up on the floor and cried if it wasn’t for my anger holding me straight. It was scary”.

“I bet” she nods. “Alphas are made to be intimidating, it’s in their nature. That’s how they protect their pack, how they keep danger afar. The downside to this trait is when it turns against the pack, though they don’t do it on purpose, mind you. From what you told me, they really did their best to hold back because you should have curled up on the floor and cried. Seven alphas versus one omega? That’s a lot of pheromones”.

Oh… I’m glad they did because crying in front of them would have been a hundred times worse than what ended up happening in the end. She drinks her tea, a hum past her lips as she puts the cup back on the table.

“You have good mates, Y/N. Clumsy, but good. I don’t think you should be afraid of reaching out to them, you saw as much with Hoseok today. Of course, if you need time on your own, respect that for yourself, but if you need their company, don’t keep to yourself unnecessarily. Fights happen, what’s important is how you all learn from them. As In-yeop likes to say, never fight about the same thing twice. Once is a lesson, twice is a problem”.

“Wise words from a wise alpha” I muse with a chuckle that she echoes, eyes filled with love for her pack alpha.

“He wasn’t always so wise, you know? At first… goodness, he and I would fight all the time, and sometimes for the most ridiculous things. You got the wrong coffee beans, you stupid brained alpha! Did you eat the cupcakes I made for the omegas we’re courting? You finished the milk and didn’t think to tell me? I just got back from the grocery store, you dimwit!” she mimics the tones that she must have used back then, and I find myself laughing at her every sentences.

“All things considered, I did start most of those fights” she eventually observes before chuckling too. “But we would always talk the next day, about what happened and why it happened. Some would go well while others would go less than well, but the result was always that we would fix at least one thing. It wasn’t always the solutions that I hoped for, but when is it always exactly as we want?”

She’s right… the guys are doing their best for me. The solutions they’re trying to come up with aren’t perfect, but they’re trying for my sake. In that sense, I too need to think of what they need from me, even if it’s not easy for me to do. How can we achieve balance in a way that is good for everyone?

I ponder over that question as I sip my iced tea, eyes lost in a daze. Should I make the first step in seeking my mates, then? Or maybe I could offer some peace offering? It’s a tough situation, if only because it’s unfamiliar.

“What are you thinking about, hun?” Bora asks softly as she observes me.

“What do you normally do after a fight, Bora? To make peace, I mean” I ask back, eyes looking up to meet her gaze intently. “I’m not particularly seeking to apologize. I don’t think what I told them yesterday was that out of line, though it was said with anger. But I do think I should show them that I’m willing to try, that I want this to work between us”.

She tilts her head at my question. “Food made with love is usually my most liked method, but sometimes, a hug does the job just as well. You have to follow your heart, hun, only then will you find the way that speaks to you the most”.  

Follow my heart… I feel like this lunch break is giving me more questions than answers. “You’re giving me much to think about, Bora” I sigh. That earns me a warm laugh and an amused crease of her eyes.

“That’s a good thing, though. Part of finding the answer to those questions is by finding out more about who you are, so take your time. Don’t give yourself a headache trying to figure everything out too fast. When the timing is right, the rest will follow” she muses. “In the meantime, I think I may have a solution to your job hunt”.

My fingers clench around my cup as I look up at her in one quick move. She grins with mischief.

“Would you like to give working at a coffee shop a try? I actually have a human friend who owns one and she’s been looking for someone for a while. I know she’d be willing to train you, and she’s very kind and patient. I can give her a call if you want, set up a meeting for the two of you”.

“Bora, I sincerely could never thank you enough. Please, I would love that” I say, hands reaching out to hold hers for a thankful squeeze that warms her heart.

“Please, I’m only doing what a friend should! She’s usually busy around this time, but I’ll give her a call when she’s off work, alright? I’ll message you after, to let you know how it went” she offers with a wink. “Expect some news from me before seven this evening”.

“Thank you, thank you” I continue, going as far as to bow at the table, which her hands try to stop quickly. “If we weren’t already with mates, I would have married you, Bora. Let’s have a friendly wedding, hm? I’ll treat you well, I swear”.

“Oh, Y/N!” she giggles at my plea, cheeks blushing a pretty pink. “I didn’t know I was going to find myself a wife today! The others are going to be jealous when I let them know, In-yeop will certainly want to have a word with you”.

“He can say whatever he wants, he’s not getting in between us. This wedding will happen, whether he wants to or not”.

“Oh, I’m in good hands, then!”

---

I stroll through the street market after having parted ways with Bora, a smile still on my lips after our last giggles.

I was expecting today to leave me feeling bad, but in the end, I can safely say that I enjoyed myself. I observe the crowded tables on either sides of the street, the goodies they hold not really catching my attention. Why are the hats so expensive? They’re not even that pretty.

Still, I take my time and stop a few minutes at each of them, if only because I have nothing better to do while I wait for Bora’s call later tonight. It’s slightly past lunch time, so I have quite the hours in front of me.

Sellers try to convince me to buy their stuff at every steps I make, and I almost decide to leave this place when my eyes catch a shiny glint coming from a calm corner where an older woman is sat on the grass in silence, her lips pressed tight in boredom.

She doesn’t have a table, but rather a thin blanket on the ground where she showcases jewelry with precious gems, from earrings and necklaces to bracelets. I stop in front of her display for a moment, eyes taking in everything curiously.

The price… it’s honestly something I could afford easily, which feels nice for once. I kneel down to have a better look at the bracelets displayed on one side of the blanket and find there a few different sets for wolf packs. Sets of three bracelets, all the way up to ten.

“They’re all handmade” the woman speaks with a hard voice, almost cold as there’s no smile in her tone and face expression. Her scent is soft though, inviting, safe. I look up to smile at her, finding there a warmth in her eyes as well.

“They’re beautiful” I compliment her work, which earns me a tiny twitch in the corner of her lips. A tiny little smile that’s gone just as fast.

“You’re the first one who took the time to see what I have to sell, that means you have good taste. I’ll take the compliment, thank you. Are you a wolf? You’re looking at the bracelet sets, you must have a pack”.

I purse my lips slightly. “I… I’m not part of the pack yet, but I do have mates who form one together. Seven alphas. I’m trying to find something to gift them after we fought yesterday” I explain softly, now seated properly in front of her, the blankets and the jewelry between us.

“Hm. Fights, boy do we like those” she grumbles before looking at all the things she made.

“Alphas, you say? They normally don’t like bracelets as they get in the way of their wrists’ scent glands. I can recommend the necklaces here, or the rings closer to you. Young wolves like to get them as promise rings, if that’s something of interest to you. They’re all adjustable and come in a set, it’s less expensive that way”.

I look down at a set of dainty little rings before me, gold with elegant engraving into the flat metal. They’re simple, but not in a cheap way. I can easily imagine them wearing those on the daily. Picking one up, I try it on my right ring finger after adjusting it a little, just to see how it fits.

“I can add their initials, if you want. It won’t take more than a couple minutes and I won’t charge extra” she comments when she sees the rise of my brows at the snug fit. It’s so comfortable that I can see myself forgetting that I’m even wearing it.  

“I… I’d really like that” I mutter after a moment of reflection. “Can you do it on the inside of the ring?”

“Of course. This set?”

“Please. The one with eight rings”.

She nods and takes the rings before getting to work on the engraving. “Good choice. You have a good eye, young lady. Your mates are lucky to have someone like you at their side” she says it like it’s obvious, and it makes my heart feel warm.

Are they? I would be tempted to say that I’m the lucky one, rather than them. I don’t bring much to this relationship at the moment.

I tell her the initials I want, and she does one ring at a time, her work neat and precise. A smile blooms on my lips when I take one to see Jimin’s initials inside. I really hope they like my gift, once I figure out how and when to give them to the pack.

“I wish you the best, young girl. Be safe on your way back home”.

I bow respectfully as I hold the bag to my heart, then make my way to the bus stop feeling light like a cloud. I know I have materials to make some cute gift cards by myself at home, and it feels nice to have a reason to use them. Should I write something in them?

Even as I board the bus, my smile hasn’t gone away. It earns me a few glances, but I can’t even find it in me to care.

As soon as I’m home, I keep myself busy in the crafts room for the next few hours. Attempts are made and disliked until I finally manage something I like, and when it comes to writing inside, I decide to keep it simple.

From your omega, who loves you very much.

Should I add little hearts? … Yeah, I think I’ll add little hearts. Here… here and… here. And here. Here too. Yeah, just another one. There you go.

I raise the stack of gift cards in front of my eyes, proud of the final result when a knock on the door suddenly catches my attention. A quick look at the time lets me know that it’s already past six, and I haven’t even had anything to eat yet.

I quickly hide the cards and the rings in the desk’s bottom drawer before running to the entrance, and when I open the door to find Taehyung and Jungkook standing on the porch with a bag of restaurant food in hands, I give a small sigh of relief, like my soul just took its first breath since I saw Hoseok this morning.

“We’re bringing food as peace offering, if we may be allowed inside miss’ abode” Jungkook speaks confidently, a proud grin on his lips.

He’s wearing comfy clothes, his loose shirt with quirky game characters on it and his hair a similar, controlled kind of chaotic while Taehyung is wearing a neat outfit, his hair done skillfully like he put thoughts into every single details before coming here. Knowing him, he probably did.

Mimicking his energy, I purse my lips in uncertainty in a means to tease him. I can’t possibly make things too easy, can I? “I don’t know… I don’t think I have space for two alphas, you know? This abode is very small”.

“Oh, such a shame. Might I offer an alternative, then? The park near miss’ abode might work well for a picnic, if miss would deign get one blanket for us”.

I resist a smile as Taehyung looks back and forth between Jungkook and I, amusement flashing in our eyes. This feels nice, the ice that I was afraid of melted so fast that I didn’t even have time to feel its sting.

“Well… I suppose fetching a blanket for a picnic shouldn’t be too much work” I muse, a barely hidden smile finally poking through as I turn around to reach the closet where most of them are kept. I do think very briefly about grabbing their rings, but then decide against it.

It should be better to give them all at the same time.

When I come back, Taehyung smoothly takes the blanket from me, then offers me his other hand with a shy look on his face. “Can we hold hands on the way to the park? I miss feeling your warmth, it feels like forever ago since we last held each other”.

His admission is so very soft, and how could I ever refuse him when he makes this face? “I would love to, Tae” is my answer as I slowly reach out to hold his hand, fingers intertwining under Jungkook’s satisfied gaze.

Knowing him, he offered to come only because Taehyung was nervous, most likely a last minute decision that was done before they got dinner.

Taehyung’s scent of violets flutters around me as we exit my house, door shut and locked behind me before we get on our way together, Jungkook and his scent of hazelnuts behind us and holding the two bags of food. It looks like they got a lot, but I don’t recognize the restaurant’s logo.

“Hobi hyung told us that you two talked earlier today” the younger alpha finally approaches the delicate subject. “He explained about the pack? What our decision means, and why we did it?”

Taehyung’s fingers clench mine tighter as I nod my head with a light sound.

“Yeah, he did. I understand why you thought that would be for the best, and I appreciate the reasoning behind it. I really, really would love to be included in everything that concerns me from now on, but I know the seven of you have worked as a unit for longer than you’ve known me, so it’s a habit that’s hard to break”.  

“Yeah… we’re not very inclusive when it comes to pack decisions and I’m very sorry, pup” Jungkook mutters. “It’s hard to explain why we’re like this, and maybe there is nothing that can be said without it being an excuse. Just know that we’re aware of the problem, and that it needs a lot of work from us. How to make the pack a safe space for you without it being restraining, without keeping you out of what’s important. It should be easy, but we’re strangely stuck in a pattern”.

Taehyung gazes down at me with concern in his brown eyes. “I swear it doesn’t mean we’re looking down on you, or we’re at the very least not doing it on purpose. Namjoon had his first appointment with a therapist this morning, I say the timing couldn’t have been any better. We all have one in the course of this week” he begins with a sigh, information that surprises me.

“He’s been taking notes all day since then with a serious look on his face. I had a glance earlier while he wasn’t looking and found details about the pack from since it was created. Most of the points he wrote down were berating himself, saying it was his fault things were such a mess now. He dis-constructed habits I didn’t even know we had, trying to find a way to rebuild them so they don’t work against you in the future. I just know we’ll be sat in the living room tonight again to talk about his observations”.

I wince silently at his words. “That doesn’t sound very fun”.

“It’s needed, though” Jungkook continues as he gently directs us towards the park once we reach the little path reaching deeper between the big trees.

“We’re used to things working a certain way and didn’t find a need to adjust anything because it worked for alphas. It’s not what an omega needs, so we’re going to have to change a lot of things. Our therapist specializes in alphas with omega mates, so that ought to help a lot. Namjoon will probably ask you questions from time to time, once he finds the courage to talk to you. He feels very guilty about yesterday”.

“Well… he should” I let out with a sulky grunt. “He told me to open up to you guys, no matter what it’s about. When I saw a problem, I did it, I opened up to you. He shouldn’t have reacted the way he did, and he most especially should not have come to the conclusion that keeping me out of the pack was the right thing to do. It was stupid”.

The two alphas find themselves smiling at my reaction, the both of them nodding in agreement. Taehyung points at a corner of the field where the grass appears soft, which should be perfect for the unprompted picnic date.

“You’re right, it was very stupid. Although, stupid ideas sometimes end up bringing good results, so I can’t really go and dislike this one just yet. I kind of like this, the idea of courting you properly. Oh, this is why we decided to bring you dinner, by the way. We wanted to feed you, pamper you a little, to apologize for yesterday, but also to make up for all the lost time we didn’t behave properly”.

“Yeah, I had an inkling”.

I help Taehyung in settling the blanket on the grass while Jungkook adds little rocks he found on the way on every corners to keep them from rising with the wind. After that, we remove our shoes before sitting in a triangle, the bags of food by their sides so they can get everything out and placed between us.

“Here, we got you this drink. I hope it’s to your liking” Taehyung murmurs softly as he hands me a bottle of strawberry lemonade, which pulls a delighted hum from me, much to their relief. “We didn’t really know what to get, so we went with sandwiches and a few different pasta salads, since it’s hot today. Here, let me fill your plate for you”.  

I observe with a sentiment of peace as Taehyung and Jungkook work together to add spoons of the delicious looking salads on my plate, along with one of the impressive sandwiches. They look freshly made and very well garnished, the smell to die for.

“That looks delicious, thank you” I muse, content to just be here with them right now. Yesterday obviously impacted them, and I’m honestly really glad to see that they’re taking everything so seriously instead of brushing it off as nothing.

“Did Hoseok tell you a bit about what we talked about? Other than the pack, I mean”.

“He did. About you wanting to learn to cook, and that it was more serious than we thought. He said that you wanted to learn many things, not because you have to but because that’s what you want for yourself” Jungkook answers with a tight frown. “I’m sorry that we kept you from the kitchen, sweet pup. You made us nervous with that knife, but that was no reason to fully shut the door on you”.

“I just hope that Bora is teaching you how to hold things properly before you get hurt” Taehyung adds with a worried tone that honestly feels quite insulting. I huff and puff enough that Jungkook grins with a hand rubbing my knee.

”I’m not that bad” I complain with a frown. “I was having fun that night, it’s not like I always handle knives like a katana. That was a one time occurrence”.

“Ehhh, I’m not convinced. You looked pretty serious about holding that knife like a weapon”.

I brandish my spoon in his direction. “Everything can be a weapon with the right intentions. I don’t need a knife to be dangerous. This is good enough”.

“Then I shall use this one to defend myself” Jungkook says as he brandishes his own fork against my spoon, all while Taehyung slowly eats his first half of the sandwich in silence, eyes wide as he observes the show with interest.

“War has come, beware the omega knight” I declare before making noises as I slam my utensil against his to fake attack him.

Jungkook fails to defend himself fast enough once, and when my spoon accidentally touches his arm, he drops to the side with a groan of defeat. “Oh no, my arm has been pierced! Oh, the pain! I’m suffering! My omega has won against me! How terrible! She’s too strong for me! Too pretty!”

Taehyung and I fall into a giggle fit at the youngest alpha’s dramatic acting, and thus, dinner continues with a comfortable ambiance that I do wish could be the same forever. If everyday could be like this… I would have nothing to complain about.

But the fact that we’re all willing to learn and better ourselves… maybe there is a chance after all, for our future to be a happy one.

“Wait, hold on a minute” Woozi says with his eyes shut, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose as he processes the onslaught of information I threw at him.

“You’re saying that you met a new mate, who so happens to run a museum. The one we visited two years ago, the really fancy place. Then you’re telling me that you have an appointment with a therapist next week? You, the alpha who never accepts any help because she absolutely has to look strong all the damned time?”.

I nod my head quickly, he’s got that pretty spot on, actually.

“Can I kiss your mates?”.

“Absolutely out of the question”.

Woozi groans amicably before throwing his arms around my neck for a tight hug that I return with the same energy, his caramel scent all gooey with the weight of his joy. “I can’t believe it, bunny, that’s good! My strong best friend is finally allowing herself to breathe”.

I pout lightly in his hug. “I’ve always been breathing, Wooz”.

“Barely. Before you met your mates, you were literally dragging your feet everywhere, Y/N. You were exhausted, drained dry by every omegas and unable to take care of yourself. But now? Now, your pheromones are healthy, you look radiant, and you’re making moves to get the help that you need! You can’t not be proud of yourself for that huge progress”.

“Yeah… you’re right, I should be proud of myself” I repeat with a hardened frown. Why was I feeling bad to begin with? “I’m finally doing something good for myself, what’s wrong with that?”.

“There you go” Woozi coos as he ends the hug to smile brightly at me. “So tell me about your mates, what’s it like living with them? Have you started painting again? I heard from your brother that your parents broke everything in your apartment, have you gone there yet?”.

I lean back on the couch by his side, a deep sigh of fatigue leaving me.

“Living with them has been great, Wooz. They’re very caring and soft with me, it’s… I’m slowly getting used to feeling like I’m worth being treated that way” I start, feeling so preciously in my chest all the love that Seokjin and Yoongi continually give me, and now Namjoon too.

“As for painting… I haven’t started again yet, and I haven’t gone back to my apartment either. My landlord had to change the front door and needed to repair the kitchen, but other than that… not much of my belongings were touched. I’m pretty sure that my art room is still in the same state it was left in that day and I don’t know that I’ll ever be ready to see it with my own two eyes”.

“Oh” the beta hums softly, smile falling as he thinks back to the amount of canvases I had completed. To think that omegas could do something so mean to their only daughter. “Bunny, I’m so sorry about everything. I should’ve been by your side then, I only found out after your brother called. I wish you would’ve let me know sooner”.

I shrug a little, not sure what to say to that. I understand why he would feel let down by my silence, I usually tell him everything as soon as it happens, but I was too out of it to think of anything useful. I settle with an excuse, if only to get him off my back.

“You were busy and I didn’t want to bother you with my problems, Woozi. How were the exams, by the way? Do you think you did well?”.

Bothered by my sudden change of subject, he still answers me, knowing that there’s no forcing me to speak if I don’t want to talk about it just yet. “The exams went well. Now, all I can do is wait for the results but I’m feeling confident. I have more free time, so I’m just happy that I can spend it with you again”.

“We hadn’t done a sleepover in ages” I comment with a lazy grin, loving that we can finally cuddle on his small couch again after so long. “I missed you, Wooz. I’m happy to be here again”.

“Aww, bunny” he utters with an emotional pout. “I missed you too. No more spending so much time without seeing and talking to each other, I hated that. We used to see each other so often when we worked at the desk, but now we have to make appointments again”.

I let my head fall on his shoulder as his arm rests behind my back to keep me close. There’s a comfort that I can only find within my childhood best friend, I’m so glad that he’s still in my life despite everything that happened.

“We do, but at least we can spend quality time together when we meet up. What’s for dinner, by the way? Should we order something? What about pizza?” I ask after looking at the time, it’s getting late and we haven’t even talked about food yet.

“Oh, I got something even better. Dinosaur chicken nuggets and your favourite ice cream!” Woozi reveals, then bursts into laughter when I gasp out my delight. “I knew you’d be happy about the chicken nuggets, I thought about you as soon as my eyes saw the fun shapes. I’ll get the air fryer started, they’ll be crispy, just like you love”.

“Woozi? I love you”.

“You’re only saying that because I got your favourite food”.

“No, I’m saying that because you’re the only one who truly gets me. No one else has ever bought me dinosaur chicken nuggets other than you” I counter as I follow him to the kitchen, wanting to stay close as he makes himself busy in the tiny space.

He tuts at me as he gets the frozen bag out of the freezer.

“That’s because you never told anyone else that you love eating them. I bet you don’t know that I know how much you love those alphabet noodles too, or that you always get a kinder surprise when you see a toy inside that gets your attention. I know because I have had years of observation under my belt, but don’t expect your mates to guess everything the same way. You’ll have to talk eventually”.

Geez… I didn’t come here to be nagged by Woozi but… he makes a good point.

“Oh yeah, I also heard from Bogum - bless his soul, he’s the only one keeping me updated these days - that you met your parents’ old pack. How has that been going recently?”.

I think back to Gong Ji-cheol and Lee Dong-wook, the pack alpha and beta. We haven’t really talked much lately, but I know that the door is always within reach should I need it. That’s more than enough for me.

“They’re great people, the two men we’ve met, anyway. I know that their pack is hoping to meet Bogum and I someday soon but… I don’t know, I have too much on my mind right now to make that jump. We’re talking through text messages from time to time, though. It’s enough for the time being”.

He hums, head nodding in understanding. “I get it. It’s a lot, learning all of a sudden that your parents had mates. Take your time and don’t push yourself out of your comfort zone too quickly. Maybe you can open up to that therapist once you meet him, he might have some good advice for you. I heard really good things about that Jung Hoseok”.

“Yeah… we’ll see” I mumble with a slightly distracted voice.

My heart does a weird squeeze whenever I think about opening up about my life to someone else. I want nothing more than to run away and avoid that meeting at all cost, but I promised my mates that I would go so I can’t change my mind anymore, which I regret today.

Woozi stares at me briefly before putting the nuggets in the air fryer. He doesn’t say any more as he busies himself with prepping our side dishes, my help requested from time to time. I appreciate the silence, because sometimes, it’s okay to not say aloud what the other party already knows.

He knows that I know, so he doesn’t need to say it aloud, it happens.

“I have an idea” the beta eventually says all of a sudden, and I curiously tilt my head at him from the salad I was mixing. “We haven’t gone to karaoke in a while, what do you think? I could do with some stress release, and so could you”.

I perk up immediately, the thought of letting loose with my best friend already pulling a smile from me. We hadn’t done that in ages, the two of us. While it was fun with Seokjin and Yoongi that last time, there’s something special about going there with the one who started it all.

“I think that’s a very good idea. Let’s eat first, and screw getting dressed up. I’m going out in my pyjama, I don’t give a shit what other people think of me tonight” I claim with strength, not finding it in me to care about my appearance for once. It’s not like I’ll meet anyone that I know there anyway.

“Oh, feeling feisty” the beta chirps with a chuckle. “Then I’m going in my pyjama too. We don’t care about their opinion, as long as we have fun out there. Do let your mates know that we’re going out, though, please”.

“Why? Are you scared that we’ll be kidnapped on the way?” I tease him as I nevertheless get my phone to send them a quick message. Woozi huffs, not finding that as funny as I do.

“You know why. I’d rather they know where we are should anything happen, I haven’t forgotten that last time and I want us to have a backup in case that things go wrong. You can’t deal with assholes alone all the time. I would do it, but no one takes me seriously when I’m mad”.

I fall silent at the reminder of what happened when we last went to our usual karaoke place. There was a room filled with drunk people right next to us who kept entering ours by mistake. There even was a point when a smelly human sat next to me and tried to touch me everywhere.

Needless to say that he got his ass handed to him that night, but it still scared Woozi.

“Wooz, it’ll be fine” I try to reassure him. “You know I can handle myself. I’m an alpha, whether I like it or not, and besides, that was months ago. Those same guys probably won’t be there again. We’ve never had an issue there other than that night”.

He bites on the inside of his cheek before nodding slowly, shoulders slightly drooped. “I know you’re right, I just… I want us to have a good time there”.

“And we will” I muse as I reach his side for a strong hug that he welcomes easily. My pheromones naturally seep out to comfort him, and his tension melts away as he hugs me back, his caramel losing of that burnt edge and turning sweet again. “Let’s eat our dinosaur chicken nuggets, then let’s have us the show of a lifetime, hm?”.

He chuckles softly. “Yeah, alright. Careful so they don’t bite your tongue, though. They have an appetite of their own, those dinosaurs”.

“You’ve gotten us a dangerous dinner, Wooz”.

Woozi’s POV

“Oh man, that was so fun! Wooz the superstar!” Y/N shouts, her mind and body drunk on the alcohol she had tonight, something I could barely stop because she was too lost in the thrill of our night to listen to my warnings.

It doesn’t happen often that she falls head first in those sweet drinks, but they caught her heart with the colour and the taste this time and she just couldn’t stop. Her vision seems to turn blurry as she walks forward, balance pulling her left and right before I hold her straight with a tensed laugh.

“You’re drunk, Y/N, stay with me” I say before she goes her own way again, I truly regret allowing her to order all those drinks. It’s a good thing that I stayed off the alcohol tonight, because there’s no way we’d get anywhere safe with the both of us in her state.

Alphas aren’t particularly known to get drunk, but Y/N’s tolerance is so low that there’s no avoiding it past her fifth glass. It’ll take her a while to recover, but thankfully, she shouldn’t have too bad of a hangover tomorrow.

Or so I hope.

I’m tempted to call her mates and ask them to come pick her up, but then I’m afraid of what they would think upon seeing her that way. Y/N can be pretty daring when she’s like this, and I’d rather be the one by her side so she doesn’t do anything she’d come to regret.

She trusted me to look over her, so it’s exactly what I’ll do.

As we stand in front of the karaoke building, I try to get a taxi to stop in front of us by waving my hand at them, but it’s either they don’t see me or they don’t care because none notice me, which I find rather frustrating.

While I don’t really mind being the invisible one normally, having to keep my best friend safe right now makes me more impatient. I can already feel the low rumbling of an incoming anger teasing at my throat, I don’t think I’ll be able to keep calm if something happens to her tonight.

Y/N twirls on her toes as I keep her within my line of sight, hands patting for my pockets to find my phone. It’ll be better if I call for a taxi, otherwise we’ll spend the entire night out here. Not finding it in any of them, I turn to my best friend.

“Bunny, bunny. My phone, did you take it?” I ask as I stop her with my hands on her shoulders to keep her still. She tilts her upper body to the side, then giggles as she shakes her head. I sigh as this means I left it inside the room we just spent an hour and a half in.

Not willing to leave her alone out here in this state, I grab her hand before pulling her back inside by my side. “Come with me, we can’t leave without my phone” I tell her, to which her answer is more giggles, though she follows obediently, only waving or showing her middle finger at others when they stare at her.

Who gets which one and why is a mystery even to me.

I reach the front desk to let them know about my phone, and they send someone to have a look for me while I let Y/N read aloud the business cards lined up on the counter, her childishness coming out in ways that I have not often seen, even at a younger age.

“This one has a weird name! Hwa Bong-bong!” and then she’s falling into a fit of laughter all on her own.

I bow in apology once the staff comes back with my phone, then pull Y/N with me again while I call a taxi. I grit my teeth upon hearing that we’re going to have to wait over forty minutes before we can get someone since they’re overly busy tonight, which I learn is because of a concert happening nearby, but I agree nonetheless and then look at my options.

We can’t wait outside for that long, she’ll get cold, not to mention that we’re both in our pyjamas, it would be dangerous. I’m not strong like an alpha and she’s in no state to defend herself like this. Not with a clear mind, anyway.

Seeing nearby a little coffee shop that appears to be open 24/7, I decide that this is where I’m to keep an eye on her until we can leave.

“Follow me, bunny, okay? No straying, keep holding my hand and stay with me” I warn before pulling her towards the street we need to cross, her humming voice singing a little melody that we sang earlier as I keep my eyes on our surroundings, praying dearly that I can get her back to my place safely.

I’m never letting her drink that much ever again.

By the time we cross the street and pass a narrow and dark alley to reach the coffee shop, Y/N has attempted to stop me and go back on our steps five times. The next time has me growling in annoyance, but she doesn’t relent, arms pushing against mine and away from the shop.

“Damn it, Y/N! Can’t you help me a little here? I’m trying to get you somewhere safe while we wait for our taxi!” I exclaim with raised hands, which has her startling and ducking her head pitifully in front of me.

I point at the building I’ve been trying to take us to since earlier. “We have to go inside, bunny. I can’t keep us safe outside in the middle of the night. I swear I’m just about ready to call Seokjin and Yoongi to come pick you up if you don’t make this easier for me”.

“But there’s an omega mate inside” she whimpers softly, eyes shaking in their sockets as she takes in the building behind me. I stop breathing at her words, mind processing this as she’s currently trying to avoid meeting one of her mates because they’re an omega. How did she even smell their scent?

“Bunny-” but she shakes her head before I can say more, more steps backward and towards the busy midnight street without looking around her.

Seeing the cars not slowing down the slightest bit even as she makes a first step down the sidewalk has my heart trying to push out of my throat, and when a car gets so close that the metal grazes against her back with a loud honk, my anger has never risen as quickly as it does now, the seams bursting one after the other as I harshly grab her hand before pulling her back to the coffee shop.

We’ll deal with the mate there afterward, but I’m losing my mind right now.

My trembling hand stays firm around her wrist when she starts to throw a tantrum behind me, a hand grabbing onto the doorway her last attempt at resisting me before I manage to get her inside the empty building, the only pair of eyes on us coming from a pretty looking man behind the counter.

“Woozi, I can’t meet that mate, I can’t” she says with so much fear in her voice that it takes the omega everything in him to not burst into tears right then and there, his scared pheromones filling the room in an instant whereas hers are a huge mess by now.

I do my best to control her state, but she’s fully lost all rationality in her panic. I grit my teeth as the door too slowly closes behind her. I’m tempted to lock it just in case she tries to make a run for it, but instead lead her towards the nearest table.

I firmly sit her down on a chair, then push my hands over her shoulders before looking her straight in the eyes with a glare that immediately shuts her up, pupils blown out like this whole place screams danger to her mind.

“Behave, alpha. You stay here or I swear by the Moon Goddess that I will find and kill you before the sun rises again. You almost got hit by a car, for fuck’s sake”.

She droops on the seat at my swearing, tears already flowing down her face while her entire body shakes heavily. She’s terrified and I can’t tell if it’s because she’s drunk or if this is truly how she feels about omegas and there’s simply no more wall to hide behind.

Once sure that she won’t go anywhere behind my back, I force out a strong breath before staring at the poor staff whose chin is trembling slightly. I feel bad that I forced this kind of meeting upon them both, but she was becoming a danger for herself and I was just about ready to yeet her on my damned shoulder.

I make my way to the counter, pheromones pushing out in thick waves even while knowing that they won’t do anything to appease him. I’m rather hoping that they’ll help Y/N to calm down so she can be a little more rational about what’s going on here.

“A glass of water, please. She’s drunk and… a lot happened, it’s nothing against you, I swear” I speak softly, eyes on his face as he slowly nods his head. He glances at her again before getting to preparing the cold water that should hopefully wake the alpha in her.

When he gives me the glass, I walk back to her table before crouching by her side, water raised to her lips to have her drink some. She doesn’t fight it, and though still trembling like a leaf, she’s not eyeing the door anymore, which is good.

“You’re scaring him, Y/N. Please” I whisper when she’s had enough water, silently praying the Moon Goddess that my best friend can find it in her to stop pushing out those distressed pheromones. She’s sending all the wrong signals to that omega.

She quickly glances towards the counter, tenses, then relaxes a little before holding her head between her hands, pheromones slowly losing of their potency until she can push out better waves, strong and soothing. Her forehead hits the table then, and she stays there, exhausted.

I heave a sigh at the sight of her. I’ve never seen her like this before, never has she ever reacted this way about an omega until now and I don’t know if I could have dealt with this any better. What a mess this is.

“She looks… unwell. Did something happen to her?” the omega suddenly speaks up, his voice so gentle as he keeps a good distance between us, even though he’s no longer standing behind the counter anymore.

I pinch my lips, then tiredly stand up to take the seat besides her. She’s not sleeping, her eyes are still open, but it’s like she can’t find it in her to function anymore. Broken, that’s what she looks like right now.

“For tonight? Alcohol, but for the past few weeks? A lot of bad stuff. I’m sorry about what you just witnessed, I forced her to come here even though she wasn’t in any state to meet you, but she was putting herself in danger and I reacted the only way I could. If you don’t mind, I’ll call her pack alpha, he should be able to handle this better than I can”.

He makes a soft noise at my answer, this night shift is not going the way he’s used to, that’s for sure.

Grabbing my phone, I find Seokjin’s contact, then press on it before putting the device to my ear. It rings for a little while, but he eventually answers, although a little sleepily. They must have been sleeping already.

‘Hey Woozi, is there a problem?’

“Seokjin, I’m truly sorry for waking you up. Y/N just had a huge trauma response to meeting a new omega mate, by my fault alone. I forced her inside even though she kept refusing, but she’s drunk and almost got hit by a car, I couldn’t think straight anymore outside of bringing her to safety. I’m sorry, I think I messed that up for all of you” I mumble weakly, hear the sigh on the other side of the line as he sits up in bed.

‘Send me the address, Yoongi and I will come as quickly as we can, and tell the omega that her reaction to him is not his fault, please. I knew something like that could happen, but I hoped she’d be able to meet the therapist first. She was going to have to meet them one day or another, I’ve never heard about a pack with only alphas and a beta in it. Don’t worry about it, you didn’t do anything wrong, Woozi’.

I make a light noise. “Right… I know you’re right, but everything is happening so fast, she wasn’t ready” I utter. “I’ll let him know, and I’ll send you the address. Thank you for not getting mad at me, Seokjin. I’ll see you later”.

I end the call, then take a minute to send him the google map link of this place before putting my device on the table, the sudden adrenaline that flooded through me at the sight of danger now leaving me tired. Gosh, I really thought she was going to get in an accident earlier.

The omega comes a little closer, wary but still wanting to join us. This is his mate after all. She might have reacted poorly to his presence, but he can tell that it’s not his fault. Her scent… it’s the scent of someone scared of rejection.

“Can I ask what’s your name?” I ask him after a moment of composing myself, I don’t want to keep calling him the omega like this.

“Jimin” he answers, now close enough that he can sit on a chair from the table beside ours.

“Jimin” I repeat softly. “My name is Woozi and this is Y/N, I’m her best friend. Seokjin and Yoongi are on the way, two alphas who are also your mates. There’s another one, a beta- I forget his name, but he won’t be here. I don’t think so anyway. Seokjin said to not take her reaction personal, it’s seriously not your fault if she’s like this”.

“I know” he answers quickly, taking me by surprise as his eyes remain on her. “She’s scared. Why is she scared of me, Woozi?”.

I glance at her form, wondering how much it is that I can say without her consent but… she’s here, she’s listening, I know she is. She’ll stop me if she doesn’t want me to say anything, but he’s going to have to know at some point eventually, since his second gender affects her so strongly.

“Y/N… she’s been through a lot these past few weeks. Actually, it’s been going on for a lot longer than that, but it came into light only recently and since then, it’s been tough on her. As an alpha, Y/N has been… gosh I really hate what I’m about to say. She’s been trained by her omega parents to become every omega’s savior from as soon as she presented as an alpha. That was brought to light by her brother, but their parents didn’t react well. She’s struggling to come to terms with what they did”.

She doesn’t say or do anything as I speak, but her scent does waver a little. It’s surprisingly Jimin’s softer pheromones that come to wrap around her, a sweetness to it that feels sincere compared to all the other omegas we’d met at work.

“That’s terrible… I’ve heard that it happens sometimes to young alphas, but to have it happen to one of my mates… I understand her reaction, now” he murmurs softly, lips pursed in sadness before he angles his body toward her, his voice softening for her sake.

“You don’t have to be scared of me, Y/N. I’m not going to hurt you. Everything’s okay, but do take as long as you need until you can trust me. There’s no hurry”.

His reassurances for her stun me into silence. Most people would have gotten mad at her for being scared of the omega she should be protecting, but Jimin tried to comfort her.

He understood and tried to comfort her instead of making this all about him. He could have, we would’ve understood, but he didn’t. That shows me how selfless he is, and I can’t be thankful enough for his acceptance. She’s ending up with a very unique pack.

Y/N doesn’t say anything, but tear drops do start to fall onto the table, shoulders shuddering faintly as she silently cries on her seat. It breaks my heart to see her this way, but it also feels like I would be in the wrong for hugging her in front of Jimin. It’s like… I shouldn’t be here right now.

We wait for a good twenty minutes until the door opens to Seokjin and Yoongi, and when they find her still drooping over the table, unresponsive to anything that’s happening around her but her eyes still blankly staring down, Yoongi signs to Seokjin that he’ll handle her while he talks to their new mate.

I nod at the both of them when their attention falls on me, no hostility in their gaze despite what followed my decision. They’re good men too.

I receive a thankful smile before they focus on their pack members again, and knowing that I’m not needed anymore - and after receiving a text message from the taxi I called earlier saying that he’s arrived - I softly kiss Y/N’s cheek before making myself sparse.

I’ll call her tomorrow.

Yoongi’s POV

Cradling her against my chest before sitting down with her on my lap happens without a single word spoken, and I hug her frail form closely while Jin joins the omega seated at the other table, his eyes showing an emotional intelligence that is relieving, to say the least.

My older mate sits down so he can have both groups within his line of sight, then offers a small smile at this new unexpected addition in our life.

“Hi. I’m not sure how much Woozi told you while you waited for us, but I’m Kim Seokjin, the pack alpha, and this is Min Yoongi, second in line. Our youngest alpha here is Park Y/N, who’s going through some… complicated matters. What’s your name?”.

“Jimin. I’m Park Jimin” the omega answers with a sweet voice. His scent is that of a strawberry cake, fresh out of the oven and decorated with the freshest fruits available in the market. It’s a comforting scent that I thought would’ve made her feel safe.

“Jimin, that’s a lovely name” Jin says tenderly, wanting foremost to make him feel at ease despite what occurred in our absence.

It’s hard to tell how bad the trauma response was since Jimin seems to be handling himself fine, but I know Woozi wouldn’t have called us if he thought it wasn’t absolutely necessary. I’m glad we raised the ringtone’s volume on our phones before going to bed.

Y/N stirs a little, her puffy eyes raising to look at me, so much guilt in there that pulls at my heart. I kiss her nose softly, then her lips, everything to reassure her that she hasn’t done anything bad. Seeing as the room was filled with her comforting pheromones upon coming in, she did her best.

Jimin takes us all in, then tries a small, sincere smile.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I was really scared when she first came inside, but I could tell… I could sense that it wasn’t toward me directly. She didn’t want to come here and made a huge show of it at first, but then she calmed down and stopped pushing out her distress. She’s been like this since”.

Jin stares at her body pressed against my chest, brows furrowing slightly. My guess is that she dissociated. I wouldn’t be surprised, but it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. It’s just like that night when we went to her apartment after her parents ruined it.

“She’s in the middle of recovering from a very bad event in her life, we only just recently managed to get her to agree to meeting a therapist so… this is something I expected to happen, should she ever meet an omega mate. I’m only sorry that it fell on you, I’m sorry Jimin”.

Jimin shakes his hands in front of him when Jin bows lightly, eyes falling on me with the same stress that his scent exposes. “Please, you don’t have to keep apologizing, it’s no one’s fault. Will she be okay? Maybe I should stay away from her for a while?”.

Y/N stirs again at those words, a whine past her lips before I hug her tighter.

“There’s no need for that, Jimin” I tell him, understanding the need behind her reaction. “You’re her mate, there’s no changing that. She just needs some time to figure out her feelings, and that won’t happen while she’s drunk”.

He relaxes then, a nod of the head my way before he purses his lips. “Okay. I want to show her that not every omegas are bad. She cried when I told her that I wouldn’t hurt her and that she could take her time, it made me so sad”.

“This sweet baby” Jin murmurs at that, he looks torn between wanting to have her in his arms and comforting Jimin.

“You’re very kind, Jimin. She’ll be alright, with the right care. She’s strong, but also very hard on herself. She’s going to feel terrible tomorrow, hopefully that hangover won’t be too harsh since she’s an alpha”.

“We’re supposed to leave early tomorrow too” I mumble, displeased at the thought of leaving Jimin alone behind while Namjoon joins us for a trip that will last all weekend. That has Jin biting on a nail in thoughts, while our omega looks a bit lost.

“You’re leaving tomorrow?” he repeats, those words can mean so many things. Where? Why? For how long?

“Yoongi and I are taking Namjoon and Y/N to our hometown for the weekend. We’re leaving tomorrow morning, sleeping at an hotel for the night, then leaving on Sunday morning. We wanted to go to the beach and sight-see a little”.

“Oh… I see” Jimin utters softly, looking dejected that he’s not part of the plan. Had we met sooner, could he have come with us? That’s what his face tells me right now.

“We have space for three at the back of the car” Y/N manages to say despite the splintering headache that has her forehead starting to cover in a light sheen of sweat. That’ll teach her to get drunk like that, she should’ve drank in moderation.

But she’s right - we have space for three at the back of the car.

“Would you like to come with us?” I ask Jimin, a small smile stretching my lips when his eyes widen at the offer, one that has come from Y/N first, which raises his mood. I bring the glass of water up to her lips while I continue speaking. “If you have nothing better to do, of course. We could pick you up on the way”.

“I- but- could I really? I wouldn’t bother you? We just met”.

Jin chuckles softly as he watches Y/N drink the last of the liquid before pushing the glass away with a groan of pain. Who taught her to drink so much anyway? She hasn’t gotten near any of the alcohol at home since she started staying with us.

“And we just met Namjoon too, our new beta, I don’t see a problem in that. This trip is so we can get to know each other, so it would be a pleasure to have you accompany us. We reserved a suite, two queen beds, a living room and a small kitchen, we have more than enough room for you to come along”.

“Then… I want to come, please” Jimin muses softly, pleased at the prospect of what’s to come. Sure, Y/N’s sober reaction of him worries him, but then again, he doesn’t think it can be worse than the drunk one.

“Great” Jin chirps a little too loud for Y/N’s liking, as she hides further in my neck with a whine. I think the bright neon lights are hurting her eyes. Goodness, this baby of ours never ceases to give us something to deal with nowadays.

“Are you done with your shift soon? We could drive you home if you need a lift” I offer while pushing out some of my scent to soothe her growing hangover. We’ll have to wait until we get home to give her some painkillers.

“Very kind of you, but I came with my car” Jimin answers with a small smile. “I still have a couple of hours to work, but I’ll be sure to get my bag ready when I get back home. I might sleep on the way though, I hope you don’t mind”.

“No worries, Y/N will probably sleep too. We were supposed to leave at around four in the morning, is that too early for you?”.

“Oh, no that’ll be perfect, actually. I get home at around a half past three, so that won’t ruin my sleep schedule, which is great because I haven’t slept much these last few days. I’ll text you my address, if I could have your phone number”.

“Right, have mine for now and I’ll send you everyone’s contacts”.

“After that, we really should get going” I say, eager to put Y/N in bed for what’s left of the night.

I’ll have to let Woozi know that we’re thankful once more for the way he handled this and that I’m sorry we took her from him so soon. They were supposed to have a fun night together, but it got cut short abruptly.

“Of course, I hope she doesn’t get sick on the way. I have some medicine here, if she needs them”.

“That’s fine, she can handle herself until we get home. A little pain might stop her from getting this drunk another time”.

Y/N grunts at that, which I meet with a shrug. I can’t find it in me to care much when she did that to herself. What I care for is her trauma response, but there’s no talking about it when she’s in this state. We’ll have to wait until either tomorrow, or until she meets that Hoseok.

Jimin releases a sweet laugh, and Jin and I share a smile, glad to see that we’ll be leaving him in a much better mood than when we first got here. We’ll be seeing him again in a couple of hours too, so that’s nice.

“Alright, we won’t take more of your time” Jin says when a customer walks inside, eyes curiously taking in our lot but most especially Y/N, which I don’t like.

“At four, I’ll send you a message to tell you where we are. Namjoon will come pick us up first, and it looks like you’re a dozen minutes from where we live so it shouldn’t take too long for us to get to your place”.

“That’s fine, take your time” Jimin says as he walks around the counter to serve the customer. “And er… Y/N? Please rest well, and don’t worry too much about tonight, I swear it’s fine. It’s okay if you’re not comfortable with me right away, I’ll show you that I’m safe to be around. I’ll bring a hangover remedy tomorrow, I have them in the fridge”.

I pat her back a little as I stand up with her still in my arms. It’s like when I was holding her wolf, but easier. A lot easier. “Do you want to say something to Jimin, sweetheart? A little thank you, maybe?”.

“... ‘m sorry, Jimin” she utters under her breath, the exact opposite of what I hoped for.

I sigh, as does Jin, but the omega smiles brightly, most likely due from having her finally say his name. With a light blush on his cheeks, he waves us goodbye before getting started on the customer’s order, and Jin opens the door so I can get outside with Y/N.

The cold wind hits us right in the face, and I feel a shiver course through her body as she tries to hide deeper within my warmth, as if I’m not already holding her as close as possible. Her pyjama does feel a little too thin for that kind of temperature.

Now that I think of it, Woozi was wearing night clothes as well. Was that their way of enjoying their night out? I’m learning more about her every day.

“You better apologize to Woozi tomorrow, Y/N. He felt like he ruined the meeting with Jimin when in fact, he saved your life. Be happy that it wasn’t us with you then because you wouldn’t have seen the light of day for at least a week. Hit by a car? Fucking hell” I grumble the end as we reach the car parked on the side of the street nearby.

She purses her lips, suddenly wishing it would have been Jin holding her right now. He pokes her forehead before helping me to lower her at the back, the both of us ignoring her groans of pain because of her headache.

“I drank too much” she whines as we sit in the front, Jin behind the wheel. He huffs.

“You sure did, now deal with it”.

“But it hurtssss”.

“You’d be in a lot more pain if you’d gotten hit by a car. Like Jin said - deal with it”.

She throws her head back with a groan in response, not liking how detached we are about her predicament.

“Ughhghhh”.

Nestled in her embrace, I clung to her as if my life depended on it, an insatiable desire to remain close to her burning within me.

"Jimin, sweetheart?" Her voice, soft and melodic, washed over me, adding to her allure.

How could someone exude such strength and fragility simultaneously?

There was an aura of mystery around her, evoking both fear and excitement in equal measure.

Like a flame, she appeared harmless from a distance but held the potential to ignite a fierce passion when touched.

The tantalizing warmth of her presence, coupled with the thrill of the unknown, made any potential 'burn' worthwhile.

Meeting her penetrating gaze, I felt as though she was delving into the depths of my soul, seeking to unravel the layers I kept hidden, the darker aspects of my past that I dreaded to reveal.

Despite the shadows that lurked within me, she seemed intent on understanding me, on accepting every facet of my being, no matter how stained or flawed.

In her eyes, I saw a reflection of my true self, laid bare and vulnerable yet accepted without judgment. It was a rare and precious connection, one that transcended superficial boundaries and delved into the core of our intertwined existence.

As I basked in her presence, enveloped by her essence, I knew that she held the key to unlocking parts of myself I had long kept hidden, offering a sense of liberation and acceptance that I had never experienced before.

In her, I found not just a confidante but a guide, a beacon of light illuminating the shadows of my past and leading me towards a future filled with promise and possibility.

In the midst of the intense internal struggle, a surge of primal instinct abruptly washes over me, threatening to unleash deeply buried desires. 

Oh no, my heat!

I frantically retreat from the tempting warmth enveloping me, fighting against the overwhelming urges bubbling beneath the surface.

As I distance myself from the alluring scene, I notice her puzzled expression, indicating that my inner turmoil might not be as hidden as I had hoped.

The room quivers with the potent scent of my pheromones, a tangible reminder of the primal forces at play within us all.

An unspoken tension hangs thick in the air, each of us striving to suppress our most basic instincts in the face of the charged atmosphere.

Here we stand, a diverse group of beings united by our predatory nature - seven male Hybrid creatures, each a rare and exotic specimen in our own right, alongside one human female who stands defenseless against our combined testosterone-fueled dominance.

The power dynamics are palpable, the unspoken struggle for control simmering just beneath the surface as we grapple with our primal urges and societal norms.

In a desperate need to regain composure, I quickly walk towards the sanctuary of the bathroom, my trembling hands fumbling to secure the door behind me.

Alone in the confined space, I collapse to the cool tiles, the weight of my conflicting emotions crashing down upon me. My breath comes in ragged gasps, the stench of sweat mingling with the acrid tang of pheromones in the air as I keel over in anguish.

The pain of suppressing my natural instincts reverberates through every fiber of my being, a relentless agony that threatens to consume me whole.

With each heaving sob, I struggle to contain the primal urges clawing at the edges of my consciousness, a reminder of the precarious balance between civilization and raw animalistic desires.

I grapple with the essence of my being, a hybrid creature caught between worlds - a fragile balance that threatens to unravel at any moment. The struggle is real, the stakes are high, and the roaring tempest of desire rages on within me, a relentless force that defies control.

Heaven's POV 

As I sat there, confusion and concern swirling inside me like a whirlpool, I couldn't help but try to make sense of what had just happened.

Just moments ago, Jimin had been comfortably nestled in my arms, his presence comforting and familiar. But in a blink of an eye, he was now running away, as if something had spurred him into sudden action. 

My mind raced with questions as I attempted to unravel the mystery behind Jimin's sudden behavior.

What could have triggered this sudden change in him? Why were the others acting so hush-hush about the situation? It felt like they were keeping some sort of secret from me, and it only added to my mounting confusion.

"Guys, what's going on?" I called out to them, my voice laced with a hint of urgency.

However, they seemed engrossed in their own private conversation, their eyes darting around in furtive glances.

"Guys! Guys! GUYS!" I raised my voice, finally catching their attention. Their faces turned towards me, expressions guarded and wary.

"What's going on, and what's wrong with Jimin?" I pressed on, my worry palpable in the air. Their reluctance to share only fueled my anxiety.

"Please tell me, I'm worried. Maybe I can help in some way," I offered, hoping to lend a supportive hand.

"No!" Taehyung interjected abruptly, his voice tinged with urgency. I could see the worry etched on their faces, a silent plea for me to trust them.

"H-heaven, you can't help Jimin with his problem. Please, just trust us, please," Taehyung pleaded, his words heavy with unspoken concern.

I trusted them – all of them. Reluctantly, I nodded in agreement. "Okay, but please tell me what's wrong. I can at least offer moral support," I urged, my heart aching for whatever Jimin was going through.

Their hesitation lingered in the air, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, Namjoon gave a slight nod, and Taehyung took a deep breath before stepping closer to me.

"Jimin is on his heat," Taehyung blurted out in a rush, the words hanging heavy in the air. In an instant, realization dawned on me.

Oh.

Oh!

OH!!

That's why he's acting weird. But something still doesn't seem right.

"Okay, I understand why you're panicking but I feel like there's something else," I said slightly suspicious.

"Well, you see our heats have been suppressed for a long time, so that we wouldn't end up killing each other or from feeling, you know, yeah." Taehyung said.

"One of the numerous excruciating ways to agonize us was to deprive us of our biological need to mate and those were one of the most lamentable times we had ever experienced" Namjoon finished off, a look of pain, flushed in his eyes.

The concept of denying them their biological need to mate was not just cruel, but it went against the very essence of their existence as hybrids. They were being deprived of a fundamental aspect of their being, and it pained me to think of the suffering they must have endured as a result.

"Do you have suppressants maybe?" Namjoon asked.

His request for suppressants brought a sense of urgency to the situation, but I couldn't overlook the dangers that came with such a decision.

Suppressants may offer temporary relief, but the long-term repercussions could be catastrophic. The thought of risking their lives for momentary comfort was a risk I couldn't bear to take.

I knew that allowing them to take suppressants would only further exacerbate the damage done to their bodies and minds.

The toll it would take on their reproductive systems could have irreversible consequences, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing them to such a risky solution.

With a heavy heart, I made my decision clear to them. I couldn't in good conscience allow them to take suppressants, knowing the potential harm it could bring. 

Their safety and well-being were my top priority, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing them to a reckless decision.

"I'm sorry but you can't have suppressants," I said firmly, they all looked at me as though I had lost my mind.

"Before you say anything let me explain why, you guys were not allowed to properly and naturally take care of your heats like you are supposed to for God knows how long, and giving you suppressants will just deter everything, not to mention they are very destructive and could kill you that I will never allow to happen." I tell them firmly concern laced in my voice.

"I can't lose you, not now when I just got you" I whisper, my voice slightly breaking.

As I looked into their eyes, filled with a mixture of pain and desperation, I knew that my words had struck a chord. The weight of the situation hung heavily in the air, and I felt a sense of helplessness wash over me.

I wanted to do everything in my power to ease their suffering, but I knew that suppressants were not the answer.

In that moment, as Jimin's pain became palpable, I felt a surge of determination. I may not have all the answers, but I would do everything in my power to support them through this trying time.

Their well-being was my priority, and I would stand by them no matter what challenges lay ahead.

The tense atmosphere in the room grew even more profound as we all exchanged glances, the air heavy with a mixture of concern and fear.

Despite our shared sense of unease, we remained silent, each lost in our thoughts until a sudden, piercing wail shattered the stillness. The sound was followed by a series of powerful bangs on the bathroom door, sending shockwaves of panic through our already jittery group.

Without hesitation, the six men present sprang into action, their urgent strides carrying them swiftly towards the source of the distress.

Instinctively, I moved to follow, eager to offer whatever support I could in the face of the unfolding crisis. Yet, before I could take another step, a firm hand on my arm brought me to an abrupt halt.

It was Yoongi, his expression grave as he delivered a clear directive that brooked no argument.

"Stay back," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

"Your presence will only worsen the situation. We need a female hybrid – and we need one now."

His words resonated with a chilling urgency, compelling me to act swiftly in the face of Jimin's escalating agony.

Swallowing my own desire to offer comfort, I knew that Yoongi was right. The smell of my scent could indeed worsen Jimin's already precarious state, making it imperative to find a suitable female hybrid to provide the assistance he required.

Summoning one of my trusted men with a sense of urgency, I issued a rapid-fire instruction, tasking them to locate and bring a willing female hybrid to Jimin's side.

It was crucial that her participation be entirely consensual, even in the midst of such turmoil. Forcing anyone into such an intimate act against their will was unthinkable, a violation that I could not countenance.

As a woman myself, the notion of disregarding the autonomy and dignity of another individual, hybrid or not, struck a deep chord within me.

The line between compassion and coercion was a stark one, one that demanded to be upheld even in the most trying of circumstances.

Jimin's pain did not justify forsaking the fundamental rights of another, and I was resolute in my determination to ensure that any assistance rendered to him was offered in a manner that respected the boundaries and agency of all involved.

In that fraught moment, as the echoes of Jimin's distress reverberated through the room, I found myself grappling with a complex mix of emotions. 

So, in less than twenty minutes, I heard a knock at the door and hurriedly made my way to answer it.

It was one of my men accompanied by what seemed to be a snake hybrid. The scales trailing down from her neck, disappearing behind her shirt, hinted at her unique nature.

Snake hybrids can be quite captivating creatures.

This particular one had stunning shiny green hair and the deepest emerald green eyes that seemed to draw you in. She had a slender figure with curves in all the right places, and she exuded an aura of allure that was hard to ignore.

I found myself wondering about her breed--what kind of snake hybrid was she, and what powers or abilities did she possess?

"Okay, where is he?" she inquired, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Oh, yeah, come in. He's in the bathroom," I replied, stepping aside to let her into the suite and guiding her towards where the guys were stationed.

As she passed by, I couldn't help but notice the way she walked, her movements oozing confidence and a hint of mischief.

It was then that she made a sly comment, "My, my, you are one sneaky bitch," which instantly put me on edge.

Suddenly, my initial fascination with her appearance began to wane, and I found myself fuming in disgust.

The guys, on the other hand, couldn't take their eyes off her. I mean, who could blame them? 

She was like a walking embodiment of sensuality, and her presence seemed to command attention.

"He's in here," Taehyung spoke up, moving aside to make way for her to enter the bathroom where Jimin was.

She stood in front of Taehyung, her hand resting lightly on his chest as she traced small circles with her finger. The way she looked at him and the suggestive tone of her voice sent a chill down my spine.

"Don't you wanna join?" she purred, inviting him with a seductive smile.

Taehyung's expression twisted into one of clear disgust, his discomfort palpable in the air.

I could see from the way he shifted uneasily that the situation was beginning to weigh on him. As much as I wanted to address the situation head-on, I knew I needed to tread carefully.

The girl in question, despite her undeniable beauty, exuded an aura of arrogance that rubbed me the wrong way.

It was evident that she had a penchant for reveling in the misfortunes of other hybrids, almost relishing in their suffering as well as her own.

Her twisted tendencies towards sadism and masochism didn't escape my notice, painting a disturbing picture of her true nature.

With a sense of urgency, I moved decisively to intercept before the situation escalated any further.

The urge to confront her and put an end to her unsettling behavior surged through me, but a grim realization dawned – she was our only hope in aiding Jimin, despite my reservations.

Suppressing my rising anger, I addressed her tersely, "I suggest you carry on with what you were brought here for, don't make me repeat myself"

Her reaction, a mixture of disdain and reluctance, only served to solidify my distaste for her. Without a word, she retreated into the bathroom, locking herself inside, providing a temporary reprieve from the tense atmosphere.

Turning my attention back to Taehyung, who was visibly shaken by the ordeal, I sought to provide him with reassurance and comfort.

Embracing him tightly, I offered soothing words to alleviate his anxiety, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead and running my fingers through his hair to help him find solace in the midst of chaos.

The sudden eruption of lewd noises and destructive sounds from beyond the bathroom door signaled that it was time to make a swift exit.

Recognizing the ominous cue, we exchanged a knowing glance before silently agreeing to leave the disturbing scene behind us, prioritizing our sanity above all else.

~Two Days Later~

During the last couple of days, I've found myself in a state of absolute agony.

Jimin, well, he certainly has a wild streak to him. That snake hybrid, now known as Siren, on the other hand, let's just say she's proven to be quite the challenging presence.

After satisfying Jimin's needs and giving him his daily dose of vagina, Siren made attempts to flirt with the other guys, and I can't quite express the level of frustration that stirs within me when I witness her actions. She truly manages to get under my skin.

The temptation to take drastic measures against her, such as cutting her tongue, arose, but I managed to restrain myself from acting on such impulses. 

Thankfully, Jimin's heat has come to an end, signifying our imminent parting with little Miss Siren.

I made the conscious decision to refrain from attending the events for the past two days. One factor being my involvement with Jimin, and the other being my reluctance to witness any further mistreatment of the hybrids.

It's disheartening to observe the depths of depravity that some humans are capable of sinking to. The blatant disregard for the well-being and dignity of these hybrids is truly sickening.

Jimin strolled out of the bathroom, looking utterly refreshed and at ease.

I watched as he made his way over to me, that signature toothy-eye smile lighting up his face, a sight that never failed to tug at my heartstrings.

"Noona!" His voice held a mixture of excitement and affection as he enveloped me in a warm hug, his eyes closed as he took in a deep breath, seemingly savoring my scent. I couldn't help but smile at his endearing gesture.

"Hey, Jimin," I greeted him, a soft chuckle escaping my lips at his adorable behavior.

Jimin had a way about him that was both endearing and captivating.

One moment, he could evoke a strong desire to shield him from the harshness of the world, and in the next, he had the power to make your panties drop with just a single look.

I often found myself pondering what divine spark had created such a perfect concoction of charm and allure in him.

"I missed you, noona," Jimin's voice was muffled against my neck, his warm breath sending a shiver down my spine.

"I missed you too, Chim," I replied, relishing in the quiet connection we shared, words flowing silently between us in the comfort of our embrace. 

However, our moment was soon interrupted by an unwelcome presence.

Letting out an annoyed grumble, I turned my attention to Siren, whose voice cut through the tranquility like a piercing alarm.

"Jimin oppa, I had such a wonderful time with you. You truly know how to make a girl weak in the knees," she purred, her gaze lingering on Jimin suggestively.

Despite not being a hybrid, I could smell and see her arousal, it was practically oozing out of her.

Jimin, looking all innocent and pure, shooting me the cutest smile. He turns to me, with those doe eyes, and goes, "Noona, the air in here feels suffocating, let's bounce to another spot."

Like, can we just take a moment to appreciate the shade he just threw at Siren right in her face? It was pure comedy gold.

I had to bite my lip so hard to stop myself from cackling as Jimin scooped me up and led me to the living room where the rest of the guys were chilling. It was like a movie scene, I swear.

But, plot twist, I wasn't gonna let Siren rain on my parade. Oh no, not today.

So, I made the boss move and called in my men to escort her out. She tried to put up a fight, bless her heart, but my guys handled business like pros and had her out in a flash.

And just like that, she was gone. See ya never, sweetheart.

Bitch.

It was like something straight out of a drama, but hey, that's just another day in the life, am I right?

As I settled in next to the guys, the warm glow of the movie playing in the background created a cozy atmosphere. 

Despite their initial reservations, it seemed like they were gradually warming up to my presence, a small victory that didn't go unnoticed.

Just as I was starting to relax and enjoy the moment, my phone suddenly interrupted the scene.

With a quick glance at the caller ID, my eyebrows furrowed in surprise to see Jae's name flashing on the screen. Picking up the phone, I couldn't hide the hint of concern in my voice as I greeted him.

"Hello, Jae? What's going on?" I inquired, the urgency in his tone instantly catching my attention and drawing the curious gazes of the guys around me.

"Miss Valentino, we have a problem," Jae's words tumbled out, laced with a sense of urgency that made my heart skip a beat.

My mind raced with questions as I tried to process the situation unfolding over the phone.

"What do you mean? What's happening?" I pressed, my voice tinged with a mix of worry and determination, a combination that seemed to resonate with the growing tension in the room.

And then his words hit me like a ton of bricks. "Black Eagle, he knows," Jae's voice crackled with apprehension, the gravity of his revelation sinking in slowly.

The unexpected turn of events left me momentarily stunned, grappling with the reality of our carefully constructed plans being jeopardized so soon.

But as the initial shock faded, a steely resolve took hold of me. 

The fight was far from over, and if anything, this new development only fueled my determination to see our mission through to the end.

With a sense of determination and defiance in my voice, I responded to Jae, "I didn't expect him to figure it out this quickly. Well, he's made his move, now it's our turn to see how he plans to stop us."

As the weight of the situation settled over us, a silent agreement passed between us, an unspoken vow to stand united against whatever challenges lay ahead.

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Hey there! 🥰

I'm so glad you're enjoying the story! I love sharing all these details and twists with you. The depth of motivations, the emotional rollercoaster, the hidden secrets - it's all part of creating a rich reading experience.

And oh yes, who isn't in love with sly sneaky Jimin? He's got that charismatic charm and intriguing aura that just draws you in, right? I can totally see why you're smitten with him!

I appreciate all the love and support you show by re-blogging, liking and commenting. Your feedback means the world to me and keeps me inspired to keep crafting these stories for you.

Hope you enjoyed this latest chapter and all its drama and suspense. Can't wait to bring you more twists and turns in the next installment.

Till next time, my little farfellas, keep reading and loving our favorite Sly Jimin along with all the other boys that make this story come alive.

Much love,

Your favorite Author-nim 😉

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