𝐒 𝐌 𝐈 𝐋 𝐄 𝐒

The morning after you were left feeling unnerved.

The way things were left before you had gone to bet didn’t sit well in your stomach and it didn’t help that Minho had gone completely cold. This wasn’t his normal playful aloofness or the slight upset he got when someone tracked mud into the cabin, he was very clearly avoiding everyone. You tried your hardest to find time to talk with him but whenever you approached the cat hybrid he would turn and walk the other way only to disappear upstairs to his room.

Felix wasn’t much better, giving you tight smiles and short replies as you both tidied around the house together. When it was eventually time to start prep work for dinner, Minho actually glared at you standing in the kitchen and gave Felix a look before the younger hybrid spoke softly to tell you he would be helping with dinner instead and that you weren’t needed. The comment would have stung more had it only been you the pair was isolating from, but it seemed like everyone in your little family was being iced out by the pair.

Not to mention you were still grappling with the realization Seungmin had brought to you, about your potential hybrid heritage and deep down carrying hybrid dna. You had pulled him aside first thing that morning and asked that he not share anything about the situation with the others until you were more certain, until things settled and you all decided to stay or go, and you had the time to properly get the testing needed to be completely sure that this was your reality.

You had hoped the disharmony wouldn’t last long but as the days went on you felt the guilt of bringing the move up so suddenly clawing at your throat. Even now, laying in yours and Jeongin’s room staring at the ceiling, you felt the weight lay heavily over you like a blanket. After a few moments spent zoning out and worrying if anyone else was feeling this way towards the thought of moving you felt an actual weight settling around you and after blinking your eyes into focus you realized it was your beloved fox hybrid curling into your side with his arms wrapped around your midsection. “You looked like you have a lot on your mind, pretty.” He said with a thoughtful hum behind his tone, face burrowing in the crook of your neck as you rose a hand up to card gently through his ginger curls. “Yeah well…can you blame me?” You let out a little scoff mixed with a half hearted chuckle. The fox gave a whine before pulling back to hover over you, taking time to examine your face closely as if he was trying to read your mind before speaking up. “This is about Minho hyung and Felix hyung, isn’t it?”

Sighing, you gave a little nod as you covered your face with your hands. “Yes- I just don’t know what do to! Neither of them will talk to me and Minho can’t even stand to be in the same room as me-“ Jeongin shrugged, still looming over you as he tilted his head to the side cutely. “It’s not just you though, they seem to be avoiding everyone….well- I saw them let Jisung into their room the other night after dinner so I guess maybe not him…but everyone who was all for the move seems to be getting the silent treatment from those two.” You let out and exasperated groan which caused the hybrid to pull your hands away from your face to leave little kisses on your cheeks. “Relax…I’m sure they will come around, it was just a suggestion after all, an option when we’ve never really had many before….if I’m completely honest, I think it’s a good idea.” That piques your interest, moving to sit up and causing him to have to shift in your lap so his thighs straddle your hips and his big brown eyes stare down at you sheepishly. “You think it’s a good idea…?”

“Of course I do! I mean…we only stayed here for so long because it was all we had- but now? Now we have the security to be able to leave. We will never have to worry about anything ever again! A bigger house, stable income, and we will all be together? It sounds ideal.” You can’t help but giggle at his enthusiasm, hands falling to rest on his waist. “When you put it like that, yeah…I guess you’re right- but this is not just our decision, Innie. I don’t know if anyone else feels the same was as you do…i definitely know Minho doesn’t.” The Fox shrugs, ears flattening a bit against his head and he frowns. “Well no, I don’t think he really wants to go…but even though he is stubborn, hyung is also smart. I’m sure he’ll realize sooner or later that this is what will be best for us. But speaking of the others…that’s why I came in here in the first place- Channie hyung asked me to come get you so we can all discuss what we are gonna do.”

Oh, right…Chan had said you would all discuss more in the morning but the longer Minho, and now Felix, behaved like they have been the longer it got pushed off to give them time to cool down. “Okay….I guess it’s better to get it all over with now rather than later.” Jeongin gave you a soft smile as he crawled out of your lap to stand at the edge of the bed, hand outstretched for you to take. After a deep breath to settle your nerves, you took your younger mate’s hand and allowed him to lead you out into the living room where it seemed everyone was only waiting on the both of you to arrive.

Chan stood in front of the couch, back facing the hearth, his face melting into a warm smile at the sight of you joining them. “Pretty, Ayen-ah, so nice of you to join us.” You gave him a smile back, blushing slightly as he leaned in to place a kiss on your cheek. You took a glance around the room to look for a seat, using it as an opportunity to see who all was in attendance. Changbin sat beside of Chan in the arm chair, Seungmin in front of him on the floor picking at the fabric of his sweat pants as he waited for the family meeting to get started while Changbin absentmindedly played with the soft strands of hair. Seungmin didn’t seem to mind from the outside but you knew deep down that his heart was probably racing from getting such attention from the older hybrid.

Hyunjin was curled up in the armchair on the opposite side of the room, arms wrapped around himself almost protectively as he looked over to the couch in a way that seemed like he was trying not to be obvious in his staring but just couldn’t help it. Your eyes followed his gaze and you soon realized why he was acting to suspiciously. There on the couch was Jisung with a very tense Felix who looked like he would up and bolt out of the room at the slightest startle. You were shocked to see him outside of the bedroom the two cat hybrids shared, but if either of them was going to show it would be Felix with how he had been at least a little less hostile than Minho had been recently.

You carefully took a seat on the floor beside of Hyunjin’s chair, watching as Jeongin sat on the arm rest of the couch until Chan clearing his throat drew everyone’s attention. “Okay…over the past few days I have spoken with everyone one on one about their thoughts on us moving to Pretty’s grandfather’s house, and the majority vote seems to be that this move would be in our best interest.” As soon as the words left his lips you felt the air in the room shift. All eyes slowly looking around a before landing on where Felix was visibly shaking in his seat. Chan gave a sympathetic look to the feline before stepping forward slowly. “I know it’s gonna be hard, Lix…but I’m sure you and Minho will adjust over time.”

Suddenly the blonde burst into tears, sob’s racking his small frame. Instantly you were up on your feet and making your way to the cat hybrid to kneel in front of him. “Felix? Are you going to be okay?” Your voice was soft, just barely above a whisper for fear of startling him in such a vulnerable state, but it didn’t seem to work when he spoke with hiccups interrupting every few words. “N-No! I’m not okay and I won’t be okay- I’m n-not ready to leave! Th-This is our home and you’re m-making us leave?? It’s not f-fair!”

Before anyone could respond Felix pushed himself up and ran out of the room, Jisung immediately running after him as he was seemingly the only one who the cat hybrids were not upset with.

You didn’t give yourself time to think. While everyone else stood around in a mix of shock and guilt for how Felix had taken the news, you made your way silently down the hall after them and found the pair sitting on the back porch. The sun had already set by this time and the chill spring air hit your face the second you pushed through the door. Felix was sitting under one of the back windows towards the corner of the house, knees pulled to his chest tightly as he wept into his hands. Jisung was crouched in front of him trying to console the distraught feline but when he noticed you approaching the squirrel hybrid rose and stepped forward to meet you before you could fully make your way to the blonde.

“I don’t think now is a good time, Pretty-“ “Jisung please, just let me try and talk with him?” The brunette sighed, glancing back at Felix before giving you a nod. “Okay…I’ll be inside if he needs me.”

Once Jisung returned inside the house, you slowly made your way to where Felix was now merely sniffling as he attempted to regulate his emotions. You took a seat in the spot beside him, pulling your knees to your chest as you stared off into the tree line ahead. You both sat in silence for a moment before Felix finally spoke up. “I’m sorry I freaked out like that…I just- I’m scared.” You nod, taking a deep and shaky breath before finally speaking up. “I understand…I’m scared too, if I’m honest.” That caused Felix to turn and face you, eyes wide and full of disbelief. “Why?” He practically whispered. You shrugged, running a hand through your hair before turning to face him. “Change is scary. But knowing we will all be together through it makes me less scared.” The blonde gave a few slow blinks before scooting closer to rest his head against your shoulder. “You really think it will be okay?” You nod, gently running your hands through his hair before bringing one down to wipe the tears staining his freckled cheeks. “I do. It may not be super easy, but neither was the life you all built here. I do know that this could give all of us better opportunities to grow and experience new things.” You give him a soft smile, nudging his shoulder with your own. “Besides, at the new house there won’t be as many chores as here so you guys will be able to relax more and not have to worry about working so hard to survive.”

Felix let out a little giggle followed by a sniffle as the last of his tears dried up. “But…what about Minho? He won’t even really explain to me why he’s so upset about leaving and that’s part of why I’m so scared. What if he refuses to go? We can’t leave him behind, I can’t leave him.” You frown, pushing yourself up onto your feet. “Well then I guess I’m going to have to talk to him.” The hybrid scrambles to stand, looking at you like you’ve gone insane. “He won’t even talk to me about it- hell he won’t even look at you or be in the same room with you right now! How are you going to talk to him?” With one last shrug a you start to head back inside with a new found determination. “I’ve got to keep trying…we aren’t leaving him behind and he has to listen eventually even if he doesn’t want to actually talk.”

The determination you had felt while outside with Felix had almost completely dissolved the moment you were standing outside the door to his and Minho’s room, knowing the older feline was inside and that you would be imposing in his space against his wishes. Still, this was necessary. The brooding had been going on for far too long and it was time to talk or at least make him listen. You took a deep, shaky breath and used all the willpower you could muster to turn the knob and push your way inside the room.

At first you didn’t notice him, looking around in confusion at the seemingly empty space when suddenly you spotted two tiny triangles of fur sticking up from under a pile of blankets on his bed. “Minho?” You closed the door behind you and carefully made your way to sit on Felix’s bed opposite of his, hands folded in your lap carefully. “I know you’re upset, and I understand…but please- shutting me and everyone else out like this isn’t good for anyone.” Still, no movement from the bed and it was then you noticed the pile of clothes on the floor and how small the little ears in the blankets were…he must have shifted while you were outside the door in an attempt to hide from you or at the very least avoid talking. “Minho…I know change is scary and that you and Felix are afraid to move but I promise as long as we stick together everything will be-“ Before you could finish your sentence a freshly shifted and human Minho popped out from the blankets and shouted. “That’s just it! What if we don’t stick together, hm?! What if we move to this awesome new place with new opportunities and it only causes us to drift apart?!” His face was slightly red and you could see from his puffy eyes that the hybrid must have been crying, it broke your heart..but at least he was talking to you know. “What if you realize you could have so much more in life than spending all of your time with hybrids and you push us away?! What if you leave and we go back to having nothing? Or what if even worse than that you keep Jeongin and Chan with you because they are your mates and it tears the family apart when you throw us out?!” His breathing is heavy and you can tell he is holding back more tears from falling as his chest heaves. “There are too many what ifs, Pretty. I know it’s not perfect here…we work hard and we struggle to make things work some times but at least we have each other and we know for the most part what to expect.”

You both pause for a moment, his words sinking in and you realize this is a lot deeper than just the move itself. “Minho…do you think that just because Chan and Jeongin are my mates that that means I love the rest of you any differently?” The hybrid refuses to answer, turning his head away from you. Letting out a soft sigh, you push yourself off of the younger hybrid’s bed and move to sit beside him. “I love each of you, and I cherish the time I’ve gotten to know you probably most of all. I mean- we’ve spent most of our time together since I came here…you may not be able to mate with me like the canine hybrids can but our bond is something special of its own the way we had to cultivate it ourselves.”

Minho turns slowly to face you and you see now that tears are running freely down his cheeks. When he speaks, his voice comes out weak and strained as if he’s afraid of the answer. “So…you don’t think that once you’re free from here that you’re going to grow tired of us? That you’ll abandon us?” This causes a soft laugh to erupt from your chest as you pull him into your arms, resting your head against his bare chest. “Minho, if I wanted freedom away from this family like you’re claiming…then why wouldn’t I have just left to live in my grandfather’s estate by myself? Why would I leave the choice of going or staying up to everyone? It’s not about where we are, although I do think it is the best decision to move for a multitude of reasons, it’s about all of us being together.” You can hear his sniffles above your head but inside of speaking again he simply holds you tighter against his chest, burying his face in your hair.

You both lay there for a while like that, so long that you feel the lull of his heartbeat may put you to sleep, when suddenly he speaks up. “I think we should move…I- I trust you, and what you said…a fresh start will benefit all of us.” With a smile, you rest your chin on his chest to look up at him and nod before leaning up to give a soft peck to his lips. Minho’s whole face goes red and you feel his tail flicking about to the side of you, causing you to giggle but the cat hybrid says nothing of it and simply goes back to playing with the loose strands of your hair.

author’s note; woah- okay there is so much to catch you all up on…first, I wanna start by apologizing for being so gone for so long. When I first started posting on here I had just started a new job and things were so slow I was literally going crazy sitting at my desk and begging for something to do most days and so I was able to write a lot more frequently. Since then the work has picked up a lot more and I also got a promotion to a much more important job title which means I have to pay a loooot more attention to detail and don’t have as much free time during the day to write like I did in the past. I also have been dealing with a lot of stressful situations in life itself from having to move back in with my parents in my 20’s after already living on my own for over two years, the loss of a very close family member, and burning bridges with some friends that were not really helping with the horrible mental state I was in. Recently things have been good though! Work is still stressful but getting less so day by day, I have an amazing apartment I can afford all by myself and literally feels like I live in a fairy tale, also…biggest news of all I think??? I GOT ENGAGED!!! So things are definitely looking up and now that the life stress has been slowly being elevated I am starting to get back into writing! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and thank you for sticking with me throughout the impromptu hiatus- BUT SMILEY IS BACK BABY!!! One more chapter to go in this series then a short lil epilogue to wrap everything up~