#andreafmn

Brick walls. Insulation. Wall panels. None of it was thick enough. At least not enough to drown out the horror that could live behind them. Broken dishes. Slammed doors. Razor-sharp words. They were the loudest melody that came from (Y/N)’s house every time her father decided to find comfort at the bottom of a bottle.  

He had been kind when she was younger, back when she couldn’t argue back or make decisions on her own. Her father had loved her then. His little princess, he used to call her. He had promised her to protect her from the monsters that roamed the earth. She had believed him, of course. At that moment, she couldn’t have known the monster already lived under her roof.  

There were days she thought about running away. She didn’t have much to pack, and she was sure no one in the house would notice her absence. Her presence had become a ghostly whisper in the space, only noticeable in the quiet of the night, where even the smallest creak would send the older man into a frenzy. (Y/N) tried her best to resign herself to the only space in the house she felt safe, but there were times when that wasn’t enough. Darkness was able to sneak in, to drown what little light she had left.  

But as much as she wanted to go, there was one person who kept her coming back home.  

Park Hu-min had decided from the moment he had laid eyes on (Y/N) that it was his job to protect her. He'd lived in his neighborhood his entire life, as did most of his neighbors. It was rare for anyone new to move in, much less a family that looked like (Y/N)'s.  

A young couple and two kids, an older boy and a girl around Hu-min's age. On the outside, they seemed perfect. And for a moment, he envied the doe-eyed girl who looked as though she had never been met with the unkindness of the world. That was until he heard the yelling. All it took was a week for the façade to shatter, gone after a night her father drowned in soju bottles and questionable company. There was no question that her family was far from perfect.  

The boy had heard it all. With his ear pressed against the wall, he had witnessed every insult, every crash, every sob. He'd heard fights before. Wives scolding their husbands for reeking of alcohol, husbands yelling at their wives, kids screaming about unfairness and frustrations. What he had never heard was a daughter yelling at her father for his wrongdoings and her mother scolding her for doing so. Hu-min heard as her mother ushered the kids to their respective rooms, telling them to keep their doors shut and not to come out until the morning. That was the first time he heard her cry through the walls.  

Hu-min knew the layout of the apartment. The entire block was built the same. The only difference was that conjoined buildings were flipped. He knew the exact room (Y/N) had locked herself in. He was standing on a replica of it.  

What took over him that night, he didn't know. One second, he felt tears well in the corners of his eyes as he listened to the girl's sniffles. And the next, he was climbing through the open window of the living room. The house had quieted by then. He snuck a glance to the side and noticed (Y/N)'s father passed out on the floor, wincing as he was reminded of his own dad and the nights he would find him sprawled on the ground. But Hu-min wasn't there to compare; he was there to help.  

Hu-min thought he knew what he'd find, but he was still surprised. Unlike his room, hers was neat, her walls covered with books and string lights. There were no bundles of dirty laundry on the ground, at least none that he could see. Her bed was made and riddled with stuffed animals and pillows. It looked safe, warm, inviting, unlike the scene he had to walk through to get to her. 

 He rapped softly on the window of her room, trying his hardest to make his presence as unthreatening as he could. Still, she yelped at the sight of him, her sadness quickly transforming into surprise. “It's just me,” Hu-min whispered as he maneuvered himself through the opening. “I came to see how you were.”  

“W-why?” (Y/N) sniffled as he sat beside her on the ground. “W-we barely know each other.”  

“We've been friends for a week, no? That's a lifetime in my books.”  

“S-so, you heard all of that?” Her eyes fell to her feet as she pulled her knees closer to her chest. She wasn't used to people knowing about her situation, much less caring. “I... I'm sorry, Baku.”  

“Why are you apologizing?”  

“I don't...” 

“It's not your fault that this happened, (Y/N),” he said. Baku wanted to bring her in, to comfort her through a physicality that wasn't natural to them yet. But the itching under his skin was unbearable, and without thinking, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, taking note of the way she flinched as he neared her body. “I just... I've been there, okay? I know what you're going through. And I'm not letting you go through this on your own.”  

“I'm not really alone,” she muttered. “My brother is right next door.”   

“Oh, well,” Hu-min cleared his throat, “I can go, if you want.”  

“No!” (Y/N) exclaimed quickly, holding onto his arm to keep him from moving. “Stay. Please.”  

You ask me what I'm thinking about I tell you that I'm thinking about Whatever you're thinking about

A smile pulled at the boy's mouth. He slid back down to the ground, stiffening as she curled up to him, resting her head on his shoulder. She was searching for warmth, for anything that could take her mind off what had happened that night. “Distract me a little, yeah?” she sniffled, trying her best to hold her tears back. “What're you thinking about?”  

Hu-min chuckled, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting hug, allowing her to take whatever it was that she needed. “Whatever you're thinking about,” he smirked. “What is it?”  

Tell me something that I'll forget And you might have to tell me again It's crazy what you'll do for a friend

“Baku, please,” she whimpered. “Tell me something, anything. Something I'll forget and you'll have to tell me again. I just don't want to think about tonight.”  

“Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I'd do anything for a friend,” Hu-min said, pulling her closer to him, ignoring the way her tears drenched his t-shirt. “Why don't I tell you about the best anime in existence?”  

Nights like that became routine over the years. Even when it was his own father the one who came home with liquor in his system and hate on his tongue, Hu-min would sneak into (Y/N)'s room and they would comfort each other. Before her, he would have escaped to his best friend's house, and Go Hyun-tak would receive him with open arms. After her, his trek had come down to minutes as he slammed the door of his father's apartment and climbed into hers.  

He was always careful. The last thing he wanted was to create more trouble for (Y/N). But there was one night he threw caution to the wind—one of the worst nights he had ever witnessed.  

Baku had heard (Y/N)'s father arrive that summer night. He was loud and impudent, yelling for his wife's help long before he even reached the front door. His steps were unstable, making him trip over every move he made forward. Hiccups took over his throat every few words, interrupted only by the sound of his dry heaving. The boy watched from his window as the man gripped the handrail tightly, walking up the front stairs clumsily. 

(Y/N) hurried outside to help, her father screaming in her ear that she had taken too long. Hu-min's fist clenched at his sides as he saw the defeated look on her face. She had lost her bite in the years she had lived there. The girl who used to fight back had withered away, hiding somewhere deep inside where she could be protected. He understood why she stopped fighting back. Survival was the top priority in her head, and with her brother gone to college, she needed to ensure she lasted, too.  

As she struggled to help the man up the stairs, Hu-min wanted nothing but to run and help her. But he knew the second he did, her situation could turn worse. So, he listened as the inebriated man cursed at the girl, calling her weak and useless as he crushed her under his weight. He flinched at the slam of the door, knowing there was nothing else he could do until he simply had to intervene.    

“Where the fuck is your mother?” her father yelled. “I called her.”  

“S-she went to bed,” (Y/N) whimpered. “Her head had been hurting all day, and I told her I would stay up to wait for you.”  

“And what could a good-for-nothing freeloader do for me?” he spat, stumbling over his own feet as he tried to move to the couch. "Wake your mother up. Tell her I want some kimchi-jjigae.”  

Anger bubbled inside the girl. Her mother's words swirled in her head. “Don't anger your father,” she had said. “You know how he gets when he drinks.” Yet, it wasn't just the alcohol that made him a bad man. It was his blatant disrespect for his wife and his family. Long gone was the little girl who wanted nothing more than to make him smile; make him laugh. Her happiest moment with him had been when she had graduated from elementary school with the highest marks, and he'd said he was proud of her. But years had passed since then, and the father she had known was now the monster she had to survive.  

“Are you stupid?” the man exclaimed as (Y/N) remained frozen in her place, tears of rage brimming on the corners of her eyes. His gaze had turned scorching, taking her resistance as defiance. He crossed the distance between them, poking harshly the healing mark he had left on her face a week before. “I said, are you fucking stupid? Wake your mother up. NOW! I'm hungry.”   

“Why don't you ask that bitch you were seeing to make you some food?” The words came out of her mouth long before she could process them or even stop them. They burned her tongue, scorching their way into existence and setting off a reaction she had no control over. “Matter of fact, maybe you should just go and be with her.”  

The slap echoed inside the house, reverberating against the walls as (Y/N) fell to the ground from the force. The taste of iron filled her mouth as her teeth vibrated from the strike. She was frozen in shock, unable to distance herself from him before he landed a kick on her stomach. “Say that again, you ungrateful brat,” he spat. “Should have never let your mother keep you. You and your brother are just disappointments. At least he'll make something of his life. You will always just be a burden.”  

(Y/N) wasn't sure what stung more, the words her father had said or the subsequent kicks he landed on her side. She didn't get up from the ground or cover herself from the attack; she couldn't. Her mind had seemed to shut down, freezing under the realization of just how deep her father's hate went.  

He had raised her once to believe in fairytales. In a world where love was given by the spoonful. It didn't have to be earned or demanded; it didn't harm or destroy. But somewhere along the line, that love had run out, replaced by a deep-rooted disdain that had lain dormant until it had taken over. (Y/N) knew her father hated her; she just never knew how much.  

At some point, the hits ceased. Her mind was hazy, blurred by the thoughts swirling in her head and the tears that clouded her eyes. She could hear her mother begging the man to stop, pulling him away toward the kitchen to create distance between her husband and the girl. The woman tried everything to diffuse the situation, to simmer the man's anger until it singed quietly. It was a dance she had done for too many years, too many times. It was second nature. It was survival.  

Once she saw the opportunity, (Y/N) ran out of the house. Her body screamed with every step she took, begging her not to move. But her brain did not let her stop. She had to get away. That wasn't the first time she had run away when her father had come home reeking of booze and bad decisions. She often put distance between herself and that monster, unable to withstand his anger and disdain. She'd even gone with Hu-min to Gotak's home after some particularly loud and violent arguments.  

Yet, there was something different in the air that night. His words stung a little more; his hits were a little more determined. There was a certain air of conviction emanating from the man, as though he'd been contemplating his choices for a long time. Deep down, (Y/N) knew if her mother had not been there that night, her situation would have turned dire.  

The girl didn't stop until she was blocks away from her home. She reached the park she frequented, leaning against a tree as her lungs burned for air. As her body settled, the pain started to bubble to the surface. Her ribs were in agony, and the taste of blood made her stomach churn. With her tongue, she felt the gash her teeth had left on her lip. The cut was deep, still oozing as she dabbed it with her t-shirt.  

“Here,” Baku said breathlessly as he handed her a handkerchief. “Try to dry it as much as you can. I'll clean it after.” 

She hadn't realized he had followed her. Too focused on getting away, her brain had not registered the boy calling for her as she sped down the hill they lived on. She allowed her legs to carry her until she couldn't run any longer, then, and only then, was she able to register anything other than her escape.  

Hu-min led her to a bench where he inspected the cut on her lip. Silently, he got to work. He started with the red mark on her cheek. It looked angry, so pooled with blood it already looked bruised. Gently, he spread ointment on her skin, his heart wrenching as she flinched at his touch. It was instinctive, but it hurt him. He couldn't stand the way she cowered from his hand, even if it was for a second. The mere thought of ever being the reason she was scared made his stomach drop. “Let me know if it hurts too much,” he whispered as he finished. “I can go get a compress or something.”  

“No,” she whimpered. “Don't go.”  

“Never,” the boy promised. His hand cradled her cheek, softly wiping away the tears that fell down her skin. “I’ll always be here for you.” 

The corners of her mouth pulled into a small smile, stretching as far as they could without ripping the wound open again. “Thank you,” she sniffled. “I’m sorry if I worried you. I didn’t think tonight would be this bad.”  

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Hu-min cooed. “I just can’t believe your mom doesn’t get you out of that house.” 

“It’s not that simple, Baku,” she sighed. “She hasn't lived an easy life.” 

(Y/N) narrated her mother's story. She spoke of the poverty she grew up in, the lack of opportunities, and just how hard she had to work to give them what little they had. The girl related the stories of the woman's first husband, the man who had been a half of her brother—a man she only knew of from her mother’s words. He had died when the boy was only two, leaving his wife with a mountain of debt and a young child to take care of. She told Baku about the cold winter they had spent on the streets, hiding in café bathrooms and curling up together in apartment stairwells to keep warm. The bills had gotten too high, and the money coming in was simply not enough for the two of them to survive. The spring after was when her mother met the man who had given her life.  

Daddy stuck around but he wasn't present Cheated on your mom but she never left him First I didn't get it, now I understand He broke her heart, left money in her hands So everything got paid for

At first, she had been told, he was an exemplary man. He took care of her brother as though he were his own and had given her mother something she had not had for a long time, a warm bed and a roof over their heads. The man was a provider, the one thing her mother had yearned for while she did her best to keep her child alive. There had been nights when he would come home drunk and get too physical—the way her mother had phrased it—and maybe the thought of leaving him had crossed her mind. But when that feeling popped into her head, the woman had found out she was pregnant with a new ray of sunshine, her little (Y/N). She had gone through the worst situations with one of her kids, and she would do everything in her power to never let it happen again.  

She made sure you and your brother had way more Than she ever had growing up But when you told me the whole story, I felt like throwing up

When the girl was born, her father had seemingly become a changed man. He was over the moon with the thought of having a daughter, going as far as proposing to his partner so their child could be raised in a united and loving home. And they had a good few years together after she was born, where they had been fed love in the form of grandiose promises and kindness so sweet they didn’t know it could be real.  

“Little did we know it wasn’t,” she sniffled. “He married my mom when I was six years old. After that, he slowly started to change. He started staying out late almost every night, coming home drunk. One day, I was helping her with the laundry, and there was a red lipstick stain on the neck of his shirt—my mom never wore red lipstick. I told her to confront him, that he had no right to be with other women.”  

Her eyes stared off at the distance, her mind forming an image as clear as the day she had witnessed it. She didn't notice Baku beside her. The way his chin trembled as he took his lip between his teeth, trying his best not to cry. She spoke of her past as though it was normal, like she deserved the hardships she'd gone through simply because she had been born. It made his stomach turn to think of all the things she had been through from such a young age, how she had become used to the pain and the abuse because it had begun so long ago.  

I could see it on your face, it was rough Left a bad taste on your tongue And she didn't even take any drugs She would rain all day, couldn't wait for her sun to shine And you made it shine There when she cried, you saved her life

 “I still remember the look on her face when I said that,” (Y/N) sighed. “Her eyes were so sad, but ultimately, she seemed resigned. It wasn't new information for her, clearly. She told me to ignore it, to never bring it up in front of him. Back then, I didn’t get it, but I do now. He gives her the one thing she wasn't able to have—financial and housing stability. I just can’t help it sometimes, and I always end up making him mad. Maybe I should just learn to keep my mouth shut.” 

“It’s not your fault,” Baku quickly stated, his voice breaking as it escaped his mouth. She let out a tearful chuckle, sure to object to his words. But they died the moment Hu-min cradled her face between his hands, his thumb wiping away the tears that stained her skin.  “None of it is your fault, (Y/N).” 

“I should have kept quiet,” she argued quietly. “I have to.” 

“Listen to me, (Y/N),” he said. “You do not have to fear that man—not while I'm around. I promise I will do everything in my power to get you out of there, okay? You and your mom.”  

“No, Hu-min, don't put that on yourself,” the girl cried. “We aren't your responsibility.”  

“You became my responsibility the moment I realized I was in love with you,” he admitted, the confession rolling off his tongue faster than his brain could process it. He only realized when (Y/N)'s eyes widened and her cheeks turned a deep shade of red. “I... uh, that's not...”  

“Y-you're in love w-with me?” she stammered, her voice breaking as new tears formed in her eyes. “S-since when?”  

“From the moment I met you,” he sheepishly answered, his signature smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. “It's okay if you don't feel the same way. I've been wanting to tell you how I feel for a long time, but I've never been able to find the right time. I'm sorry it came out this way. I...”  

His rambling was interrupted as a burst of confidence surged inside (Y/N), and she crashed her lips onto his. Instantly, the boy melted into the kiss, ignoring the taste of antiseptic cream and iron and focusing solely on her. He pulled her in gently, finding the small space between them far too big for the moment. Every move he made was soft and deliberate, too afraid of hurting her more than she already was. The kiss was perfect—slow but passionate. Hu-min did not want it to end. Not when her hands snaked around his neck to pull him in. Not when she let out a small whimper, and he was able to sneak his tongue past her lips. Not when his hands kneaded the skin of her hips.  

Unfortunately for him, they were still human, and they needed to breathe. “That was...” he grinned goofily. “Wow.”  

“If it wasn't clear,” (Y/N) smiled, as she panted between words, “I feel the same way, Baku. I honestly don't know where I'd be without you.”  

“And to think I came out all this way to comfort you,” he said. “How is it that you're the one who's made me happy?”  

“I am happy, Baku,” she replied. “You have no idea how happy I am right now.”  

“Good,” the boy mused. “Because I'm planning to make you happy for the rest of our lives. I hope you're ready, ‘cause you will never be able to get rid of me.”  

At that moment, Hu-min had meant it. Truthfully, he did. But he hadn't expected life to get in his way, much less that he would find himself working for Baek-jin and the Union. The boy had known exactly how to get Baku to comply with his demands. He went after his father—having the man thrown in jail was only a warning. He went after his friends after—hurting them seemed to be his go-to. Once that wasn’t enough, he pulled the one card he knew would send him straight to the Union.  

Getting suspended so quickly again was not in his plans. But Baku could not handle the rage that filled him as his ex-best friend’s minions sent his father to jail. His legs and his fists moved before his head could process what he was doing, and before he knew it, the boys were beaten almost unconscious. Getting suspended for defending his family didn’t hurt, but his father’d had enough. Without knowing he’d been forced to stay at home, the man thought his son was skipping school for no reason.  

Go ahead and cry, little boy You know that your daddy did too You know what your mama went through You gotta let it out soon, just let it out

As the boy read yet another menacing text from Baek-jin, the man slammed open his door, chastising him over missing days. Being sick wasn’t a good enough excuse for his father, and he let him know through threats and insults. For a moment, Baku even believed he would slap him. Anger bubbled inside him, rising to the surface as everything he had swallowed threatened to escape. Everything he was doing was to keep him and his friend safe, but his father made him question just how worth accepting Baek-jin’s demands was. Si-eun, Jun-tae, and Gotak were big enough reasons. His father? The boy still wasn’t sure.  

But (Y/N)? She was his biggest incentive. Baek-jin had not mentioned her at that point, but Hu-min could feel it in his bones that it was only a matter of time. He just couldn’t know how quickly it would happen.  

He stormed out of his room as his father finished insulting him, forcing the boy to rethink the protectiveness he still felt toward the abusive man. Rage made his limbs tingle, forcing his hands into fists as he made his way out. Yet, something stopped him before he could make it down the steps. A certain someone who was rushing up the concrete stairs, her face tinted red and her chest heaving from a lack of breath.  

“(Y-Y/N),” he stammered, his eyes widening in surprise. “What’re you doing here?” 

“I h-heard your dad yelling at you,” the girl responded, panting. “I wasn’t sure what was happening; all I heard was yelling. I thought… I didn’t know what else to do.” 

“Were you just gonna barge in there? Alone?” Hu-min said, an amused smile tugging at his mouth as he led her down the steps with an arm around her shoulders. “My girl is so brave.” 

“It’s just… you’ve been a little distant these past few days,” she muttered. “I thought something bad was happening at home, and I couldn’t bear the thought.” 

“You don’t have to worry about that, (Y/N),” he said, but his voice betrayed him. There was a tone pitch that did not go unnoticed by her. Accompanied by the slight furrow of his brow and the tiredness in his eyes, she knew there was something weighing heavily on his shoulders. “There are just a couple of things I need to handle.” 

“Baku…” 

“I’m okay,” the boy smiled before placing a kiss on her forehead. “You should go get some rest, though. I think I’m gonna go out for a walk to clear my head.” 

“I’ll go with you,” she offered.  

Panic filled his mouth with bile. Baek-jin was growing restless as he waited for his answer, and the closer she was, the easier a target she became. “Your dad’s still out on his business trip,” he said. “You should use this time to rest. Enjoy the peace and quiet.” 

“Are you sure? I don’t mind keeping you company.” 

“I’m sure.” He forced himself to smile as he cradled her cheeks and softly pecked her lips. “Dream pretty things, yeah?” 

“Alright, fine,” she smiled brightly, looking up at him like he’d put the stars in the sky. “Will you come over tonight?” 

“I’ll try.” 

As much as he wanted to, Baku didn’t sneak into her room that night. Instead, he spent that time beating up a kid under strict instructions of the boy he had once thought of as a brother. He had found Hu-min’s weakness, sticking the knife deeply in his back and twisting. Everything he had vowed to protect hung by a thin thread, and Baek-jin took a knife to it all through a phone call. 

“Make your decision. I won’t ask twice,” Baek-jin had threatened. “Your dad, your friends… ah, and that girl. What was her name? (Y/N)?”  

Her name slipped too easily from his tongue and Baku’s grip on his phone tightened. Baek-jin knew who she was and knew just how important she was to him. The boy knew Hu-min better than anyone else in the world. Sometimes he believed he was inside his mind. Using her was his last Hail Mary, and it was exactly what he needed to make his resolution shatter. “I’m the only one who can give you what you want,” the boy stated. “No one else. You said you’d do whatever I want. I’ll do whatever you want, too.” 

Baku had started skipping school then, too exhausted to focus and too ashamed to face his friends. It was easier to face his father; he was used to the man’s wrath. But he couldn’t handle the look of disappointment in any of his friends’ eyes, much less in hers. In those days, he was riddled with shame and guilt. At night, he was forced to be anywhere but home, where he could protect (Y/N). Hu-min couldn't even bring himself to see her the next day for fear of her anger, much less her discontent. He had failed her, and he had broken, yet again, another promise.  

He thought he was doing the right thing. Pushing the people he loved away to keep them from getting in the middle of his never-ending war with Baek-jin. He couldn’t bear making them casualties in their unresolved business. But he forgot he couldn’t control everything.  

Si-eun, Jun-tae, and Gotak did not accept Hu-min’s disappearance. They were physically unable to stay away while they knew Baku was under Baek-jin’s control. They got in the way, they got hurt. Still, they did everything in their power to help the boy realize protecting them was not his responsibility, at least not one he had to carry on his own. He still had to be strong, but he could do it with his friends by his side.  

After a long, defeating night, Hu-min made it back home. Si-eun’s hospitalization weighed heavily on his mind, but he tried his best to keep his guilt at bay. His accident had nothing to do with Baek-jin and the Union; he kept reminding himself. It had simply been an unfortunate accident. The heaviness of the past weeks dragged him down, and all he wanted was to lie on his bed and sleep for as long as he could.  

But (Y/N)’s father had other plans. 

“Why the fuck do I keep finding these goddamn cigarettes outside?” the man yelled as he threw used buds at (Y/N)’s face. “Who gave you permission to have that good-for-nothing guy hanging around?” 

“Do you hear yourself? Are you crazy?” the girl argued. “I don’t hang around anyone who smokes. And the last thing I would do is bring them here.” 

“Yeah? And what about that boy?” he pushed, his voice slurring as the alcohol coursed through his veins. “The one with the glasses and the tracksuit.” 

“Who? I don’t even know anyone like that.”  

“Don’t you fucking lie to me, you brat!” her father exclaimed, pushing her hard toward the wall. The bookcase next to her rattled, sending a picture frame to the ground. “You’re just a useless slut like your mother. Better not get pregnant like she did, or you’re out of here.” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” the girl yelled, holding the shoulder that slammed against the surface. “I haven’t done anything!” 

“Stop lying!” the man spat, slapping her across the face. As she stumbled from the force, he grabbed her by the collar of her shirt. “I have enough with having to pay for you to live. I won’t waste my money on another useless mouth to feed.” 

“Then maybe you should go live with that other woman,” the girl muttered. “Or maybe you should get rid of me for once. It’s not my fault I was born, and it’s not my fault you hate me so much.” 

(Y/N) could see anger building on her father’s face, painting it a deep shade of red. She knew she shouldn’t have egged him on; her mother had asked her as much. Agreeing and apologizing was an easier way to survive the rest of the time she had to live in the home. But she couldn’t help herself—not when all he could do was bring out the worst in her. 

“You really are an ungrateful brat,” he spewed, raising his hand as far back as he could. “I’m gonna show you how to respect your father.” 

She braced herself for the blow, squeezing her eyes shut as tightly as she could before he sent her to the ground. But the slap never came, and the fall never happened. Slowly, she fluttered her eyes open, her breath hitching in her throat as she witnessed Hu-min grabbing her father’s wrist with a gaze full of wrath she had never seen before.  

“Who the fuck do you think you are, kid?” her father yelled. “Let go of me!” 

“I’m the one stopping you from hurting your daughter for the millionth time,” Baku spat. “Not that you even deserve the title of father, and much less to claim (Y/N) as your daughter.” 

“Are you the one then, huh?!” the man slobbered. “You’re the one who has been smoking in my front door and sneaking into my house to see my slut of a daughter?” 

“Don’t call her that.” His tone was pointed, the words escaping through gritted teeth and a tense jaw. There was fire in the boy’s eyes, and he didn’t care to not let it burn.  

“Just be careful with girls like her,” he chuckled. “She’s the kind to get pregnant and keep you stuck for the rest of your life.” 

The next thing Baku did wasn’t talk. He towered over the man already in stature, but once he was on the ground, the young boy looked like a giant. Hu-min had pushed the man back, making him lose his footing and collide against the floor. Her father's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't dare to fight back—not when Baku looked the way he did. He dug into his pockets, pulling out a few stray bills and throwing them at him. “Why don't you go out and get yourself another drink?” he spat. “It's the only thing you can do right.”  

Without another word, Baku grabbed (Y/N)'s wrist and led her to her room, quickly locking the door behind him. Once inside, he let out the breath he was holding and turned to the girl, cradling her face as he inspected her for any injuries. “Are you okay?” he worried, trying his best to wipe away the tears that wouldn't stop. “Where does it hurt?”  

“It doesn't,” she cried. “I just... you're here.”  

“I’m sorry I haven't been,” he said sadly. “I promised I would protect you and I...”  

“It's okay,” (Y/N) smiled, tears still falling rapidly from her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him in for a tight hug. All she cared about was that he was back and, more importantly, that he was okay. “You're here now. That's all I need.”  

Baku stared at her in disbelief. He thought he was in for a reckoning. At the very least, he expected her to push him away. But she simply brought him closer. “But I...”  

“Your friends came by,” she muttered against his chest. “You have nothing to apologize for. You were protecting everyone, even if it isn't your job, Hu-min. There is nothing for you to feel guilty about.”  

Tears fell from Baku's cheeks then. He circled (Y/N)'s neck with his arms, pressing her as against him as he possibly could. Instantly, the cold that had settled in his bones for the past weeks melted, replaced instead by the warmth he'd always felt in her presence. His heart steadied, and his breathing evened. In her arms, he was at peace.   

“Has it been hard?” the boy asked in a whisper. “The time I've been away, has he done anything?”  

“He hasn't been home as much this week since mom left to visit my brother,” she sighed. They sank to the floor, using her bed as back support. Instinctively, Baku wrapped an arm around her shoulders, resting her head on his. “Most of the time, I've been locking myself in my room. I've even started using the dresser as a barricade since he's weaker when he's blackout drunk.”  

“I should have been here. I should have...”  

“Stop, Hu-min,” she said as she placed a hand on his chest. “This is not your responsibility. Sometimes you forget, but you're also just a kid. Going after my dad is not gonna change who he is. What you did tonight was reckless, and you could have gotten hurt.”  

“(Y/N)...”  

“It was,” the girl affirmed. “But thank you. You didn't have to save me, but you did. So, thank you.”  

And if you were my little girl I'd do whatever I could do I'd run away and hide with you I know that you got daddy issues

“You don't have to thank me,” he smiled, kissing the top of her head. “I just don't understand how any parent could do that to their kid. If you were my little girl, I wouldn't let the world touch you. Nothing and no one would ever be able to cause you pain or harm. You would only know the good things in life.” 

(Y/N) smiled then. The tears had finally stopped, and she allowed herself to close her eyes. She pictured the life Hu-min spoke of. A world where she had not cut herself on the knife her father had called love; where her mother had seen a better path for herself, one where she didn't have to walk in fear; where she had never known the sting of the palm of a man who was supposed to protect her. It was the same world Baku deserved, even if he wouldn't admit it. A life without knowing the pain of having to grow up because the adults around you refuse to. A life where he could simply be a kid—not a provider, not a protector, not anything other than a kid.  

She wanted that for them. A world where happiness wasn't simply an idea, but a given right. Yet, she didn't know if in that life they would have gotten the chance to meet. (Y/N) had found her happiness in Hu-min, a boy who didn't know how not to carry the world on his shoulders. He was one of the only people who showed her that love did not have to be earned through blood, sweat, and tears; that it could be given without asking much in return.  

As she listened to him talk, the tears finally stopped, stretching a satisfied smile across Hu-min's face. “That's what I like to see,” he mused. “That beautiful smile.”  

Go ahead and cry, little girl Nobody does it like you do I know how much it matters to you I know that you got daddy issues (And I do too)

“I bet you're tired of me crying every time you see me,” she chucked sadly. “And it's always about the same thing. I'm sorry you have to deal with me.”  

“Don't ever apologize for that, (Y/N),” Baku said. “Go ahead and cry all you want. Heaven knows just how much I have cried about the same things. I love you, jagiya, and I promise I'll never leave you alone in this ever again.”  

“I love you too, Hu-min,” (Y/N) beamed, her eyes glimmering with something other than tears. “I still can't believe it's our daddy issues that brought us together.”  

“I'd like to believe we were always meant to meet,” he smiled. “Regardless of who our parents are, it was always gonna end up being me and you.”  

That night, he rested. Even if it was only a few hours before the sun shone brightly on his face, forcing him to blink himself away, he rested. Waking up with her in his arms, watching as her chest rose and fell with her even breathing, he finally understood what he was fighting for. And there was no way he would allow the Union or Baek-jin to take anything from him, especially not her. 

The tears had started sometime between when Paul left the room and when she finally managed to zip herself out of the dress. (Y/N) avoided the mirror at all costs, knowing her face was streaked black from the mascara and still stained from the dirt when she hit the ground. The girl didn't want to face the aftermath of what was supposed to be a memorable night, much less the marks that made her skin ache.

The day had started perfectly—normal, in fact. She had shared a special moment with her sister, her hair and makeup had been done beautifully, and for the first time, she had been able to wear a gorgeous designer gown. Everything had been going smoothly after that as well. Paul got to spend time with the friends he had neglected, and they welcomed (Y/N) as if she had always been part of the group. The night had gotten her to believe they were capable of having a sense of normalcy even when thrust into the whirlwind world of vengeful vampires and angry werewolves.

Yet, all it took was a few words from Victoria to crack the unsteady foundation Paul and (Y/N) had built for themselves. The base wobbled and settled askew, setting them on separate sides. They were still reaching for each other, but distance had started to grow in the way.

With a wet washcloth, (Y/N) wiped her face as best as she could. She could hear a car engine nearing the house, and there was no way she would miss a single second of the conversation. The red gown was replaced by a pair of sweatpants and a sweater, and her curled hair was wrapped in a messy ponytail. Some strands were pulling at her skull, and she had tied it slightly to the side, but all she cared to know was what they were planning to do to protect her and Bella from Victoria's wrath.

The vampires were already inside the house when she got downstairs, and she could cut the tension in the air with a knife. Paul stood on one side of the room, his face frozen in a deep, angry scowl. On the other, the Cullen family stood as still as marble. Then there was Bella, sitting on the couch, wishing she could be anywhere but there.

When (Y/N) finally made her way to the first floor, a “thank god” left her sister's lips as she joined her side. “So,” she started. “Can we finally talk about what happened here tonight?”

“Alice,” Edward called. His stare was threatening, his tone demanding. “Anything to say?”

“I have no idea,” she answered defensively. “I didn't see anything.”

“How can that be possible?” he seethed.

“Edward,” Bella hissed under her breath. The boy was angry, frustrated over the fact that the girl he loved was once more in the front lines of danger. But she could not stand being misdirected to the wrong person.

In that moment, he didn't really care. “He was in here, Alice,” he argued. “He could have still been here when they got home.”

“You already have me watching the Volturis’ decisions, watching Victora's return, watching Bella's every step. You want to add another?” Alice offered, resentment lacing with her words. “You want me to watch Charlie, or this house? Might as well watch out for the whole street while I'm at it. If I do too much, things start to slip through the cracks, Edward.”

“Looks like they already have.”

“They would have been fine, leech,” Paul scoffed. “I was here with them.”

“And look how well that's worked out for (Y/N).”

Before he could do anything, (Y/N) got between Paul and Edward, stumbling as he collided with her. The mocking scoff that left the vampire did not go unnoticed. And as right as he technically was, everyone knew it was the least opportune moment to say it. “How about we keep all the insults and jabs for another time?” she offered. “I, for one, would love to keep the house standing for when dad comes back.”

“(Y/N)'s right,” Bella added. “We won't get anywhere by fighting amongst each other.”

“Of course,” Edward sighed. “We have to think about this logically. Here's what we know. Someone came into the house while Charlie was home. He was left unharmed, and all they did was take personal belongings from both Bella and (Y/N).”

Everyone seemed to calm down then, taking a seat wherever they found space. Names were being thrown around—Aro, Caius, Victoria—but (Y/N) couldn't quite catch all that was said. Her head hadn't stopped spinning since she had left her bedroom. The situation was overwhelming, and her fight—if one could call it that—with Paul had left her feeling rather vulnerable. The Cullens spoke of vampires with personal vendettas, dragged anger, murderous revenge. The girl felt she'd been thrown into the middle of a bad fantasy movie.

If she had stayed in Florida, she thought, the hardest thing she would have been going through would have been which college she would go to. There would be no wolves or vampires, no imprint bond or natural-born enemies. If she had stayed, maybe her sister wouldn't be staring at a life-long death. Maybe if she had chosen to stay behind, Bella would have brought herself out of her depression. Maybe if Renée had been able to take back her older daughter, they could have found a way out for her back in the sunny state. Instead, they were facing death every day their eyes opened again, being hunted by creatures far beyond comprehension.

(Y/N) looked around the room, and suddenly everything felt strange. A year before, none of those people meant anything to her. The Cullens were just her sister's in-laws, Edward was her weird boyfriend, and Paul was a forgotten memory of her childhood. Now, they were discussing what mysterious vampire had been written into the story. A curious traveler passing through? An angry Volturi checking on Bella's immortality? Another vampire thirsty for some Swan blood?

The kitchen door slamming snapped the girl out of her thoughts. Emmett and Jasper walked in, an exasperated look on the former and a grimace on the latter. “Well, he's long gone,” the dark-haired boy said, disappointed. He took his place next to Rosalie, draping his arm around her shoulders like it had always belonged there. “Trail went East, then South, and disappeared on a side road. Seems like he had a car waiting.”

“Tough luck,” Edward muttered. “Would've been good for the dogs to make themselves useful.”

“Edward,” Bella reprimanded. “We agreed on no insults.”

“It's not really an insult. I'm just saying it would have been good if the wolves could have tracked the vampire into their territory,” the older boy shrugged. “It'd be nice if they made themselves useful.”

“Funny how we wouldn't have any of these problems if you and your family had never shown up,” Paul grumbled. His neck was slowly starting to turn red, his anger bubbling slowly and loudly under his skin. The boy was using every ounce of his energy to keep it at bay, fighting his explosive nature to keep himself under control. “If only you had steered clear of Forks as well as you did from Bella all these months.”

The laugh that left Edward's throat was mocking, laced with a secret only he seemed to know. He took his time to let the chuckle die, allowing Paul's ire to fester for a little while longer. “As much as you hate us and the fact that we live here,” he grinned, “you wouldn't have reunited with (Y/N). Matter of fact, all of the things you're most proud of in your life would not have happened if we had not come here. I mean, you’re a wolf because of us. (Y/N) is here because of us. I think you should be a little more grateful that we’re here.”

“You're giving yourself far too much credit,” the wolf growled. “(Y/N) and I have been destined to each other for far longer than we've known any of you exist.”

“Are you sure about that?” Edward pushed, and he knew exactly how to keep pressing those buttons. “Do you really think (Y/N) would have chosen you had it not been for the imprint bond? Think of the life she could’ve had if she hadn’t gotten stuck with you.”

The shaking started instantly, and there was almost no time to get the boy outside. (Y/N) pulled him by his blazer, pushing him out through the kitchen door. The wolf ripped through his suit, sending pieces of black fabric flying onto the grass. He growled toward the house, his mouth trembling and slobbering with rage.

(Y/N) was trying her best to lead him toward the woods, keeping a safe distance while keeping him away from the street's view. But nothing she did worked. Her words fell on deaf ears, silenced by the sound of his snarls. The girl pleaded and cried for him to disappear into the woods, but his gaze never left the figures trickling onto the back porch.

“You just had to keep going?” Bella scoffed at Edward as she made her way through the Cullens. “Look at what you did. You just can't help yourself, can you?”

Edward remained quiet as he watched her move toward her sister. He knew teasing Paul would wreak havoc in the house, but something in him snapped whenever he was near one of them. Maybe it was their incessant and rampant thoughts that drove him crazy; maybe it was their scent that made him insane; maybe it was the fact that Bella kept defending them every chance she got.

“Paul, I know Edward fucked up, but you need to go,” Bella said, pulling (Y/N) behind her. “You won't be helping anyone if one of the neighbors sees you. So, please, just go.”

“Please, Paul,” (Y/N) cried. “Don't make tonight worse than it already is.”

Those words snapped something in him, stopping his growls immediately. His eyes snapped to hers, finally realizing what he was doing. A small whimper left the wolf as he tried to take a step toward the sisters. But seeing (Y/N) recoil into herself as he walked closer broke something in him. In the myriad of mistakes he had made, losing control had been the worst.

“Just go home,” Bella instructed once more. “We'll call you with whatever we decide, but you cannot stay here in this state.”

The boy was in the wrong; he knew that. Even if Edward had been taunting him, it was his responsibility to keep his wolf at bay. He'd spent months controlling his rage, finding ways of keeping his anger from (Y/N). But those months had been devoid of any Cullens, and any interaction with a vampire had warranted a shift. Control had been easier to master because the obstacles were gone.

He tried to get closer to (Y/N) once more, lowering his head in an effort to show his regret. But all it did was push her another step farther away. Her cheeks were stained with tears, her shoulders shaking with the strength of her sobs. She was overwhelmed, weighed by the array of events she'd already lived through that night. She wanted him to go, and he was sure of it.

“Paul,” Bella repeated, her tone stern and menacing. “Go. Home.”

“You can call later if you're that worried about her,” Edward called out. “But it's obvious you can't stay here in that state.”

“Thank you, Edward, but I've got this,” she interrupted. “Go home, Paul. You can call once you've calmed down and we can talk next steps, okay? Matter of fact, everyone should go to their respective homes. The night's been long enough.”

After a beat, the mind reader vampire spoke again. “We'll be around if the vampire decides to come back,” he said. “We've been keeping an eye out every night.”

When a menacing growl left Paul, (Y/N) finally stepped in between. She wiped away her tears and stared the wolf down. “Just go already, please,” the girl stated. “They will stay guarding the perimeter of the house like they've been doing for a while—you know that. We're safer with them being here, and you know that. But you're not safe while you're like that, so go home.”

“He says he'll come back as soon as he's calmed down.”

“Just come back for your truck, and that’s it,” the girl sniffled, wrapping her arms around herself. “I’ll tell you when you can come over later.”

“He says…”

“I don’t really care right now,” (Y/N) argued. Frustration was growing in her. There were too many people around, too many things shifting at the same time. It was too much to process. “Just go!”

Without another thought, the younger Swan backed into the house, the kitchen door slamming shut behind her. At that point, she didn’t care if anyone found them out. She was exhausted, stressed, angry, confused. Emotions flooded her all at once, forcing her under and keeping her from staying above water. Her perfect—normal—night had been ruined, and all she wanted was to sleep it away.

Edward’s words played in her head. Everything he’d said had been to anger Paul, dug from the deepest corners of the younger boy’s insecurities. He’d carefully picked the vocabulary, slowly piecing together the ticking bomb that he was. Yet, they had been sewn with a truthful thread. The rewriting of their story had been entirely started by the Cullens. From the moment they had come back to Forks, they had chafed the very fabric of their reality and staged a new narration.

The vampires’ presence had triggered the shifter gene in the reservation boys. Bella’s breakup with the Cullen boy had prompted (Y/N) to visit the town that had seen her be born. Before that, she had been more than happy staying in Florida with her mom, working as hard as she could on her studies to get into a good university. Before Forks, she’d had the next few years of her life planned out. Now, she wasn’t sure if she would even make it to her senior year.

“Oh, (Y/N).” Bella’s voice mixed with the sound of her sister’s cries. The bed sank where she sat, the hinges of the old bed creaking as she did. Gently, she moved the girl’s head onto her lap, running her fingers through her hair in an effort to calm the younger Swan’s sobs.

“When did everything go to shit?” (Y/N) whimpered. “It was all going so good.”

“Well, honey, you know things going good is not in our DNA,” she chuckled softly, trying her best to lighten the mood. “What really happened tonight, (Y/N)? I don't like seeing you like this.”

Truth clung to the walls of (Y/N)'s throat. She didn't want to worry Bella even more and push her to immortality even faster. After her trip to Italy, the days left of Bella's humanity were numbered, and she wanted to do nothing to shorten that timeline. But secrets had been the detriment of many of their relationships, and she didn't want to add another to the list.

But at the end of the day, she cared more about having her sister by her side than a threat that may never come to fruition. “Everything just got away from us,” she sighed. “One minute we were having fun and feeling like we were just normal kids, and the next, Jacob was running in saying Victoria was there. Then, after she was gone, Paul got very short with Jake for trying to help and the whole vampire thing here... it's just too much!”

“What do you mean Jake tried to help?”

“Victoria dropped me on the ground, and he tried to help me up. Paul didn't like that,” (Y/N) shrugged. Her cries had begun to settle; the soft caresses from Bella's hand were slowly lulling her to sleep. “I know what he's done and that Paul's angry at him, but he just took it too far.”

“Like Edward did tonight,” Bella said, her eyebrows raised in amusement. “How did we manage to find the most intense men in existence?”

“Being Swans?” The sisters laughed for a moment, still finding a sliver of happiness in the middle of the chaos. But it didn't last long, not when too much weighed on them. “Do you think he was right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think the only reason Paul and I are together is because of the imprint bond?”

Bella felt a chill spread through her spine, forcing every move she was making to freeze. “Do you think that?” the older girl asked. “You were just saying last weekend that you were close to telling him you loved him, (Y/N).”

“I do love him, and I told him that today, but...” (Y/N) breathed deeply, mustering every ounce of courage that she could to say what she was going to. “I can listen to him reassure me until we die, but I will never know what he's really thinking. I have to just trust that what he's telling me is the truth. But Edward has an insight I will never have. He can read Paul's thoughts, and it's clear that everything he used to push him over the edge is just things that are running through his mind.”

“So, you think he still believes the only reason you two are together is because of the imprint link?”

“He has, too, right? I mean, just this morning I really thought there was absolutely nothing or no one that could drive a wedge between us,” (Y/N) exclaimed, straightening herself out as she spoke. “Then Victora shows up, and everything got in the way, and now I don't even know where we stand.”

Frustration built inside (Y/N) once more, and she couldn't stop herself from muttering more. “What would you do if I were turned into a vampire?” the girl blurted. “Like, how do you think you would react if that were to happen?”

“Whoa, where is this coming from, (Y/N)?” Bella questioned. “Is this something you've been thinking about?”

“It just sort of came up,” she muttered. “But that's not the point. How would you feel about it? Actually, how do you think Edward would have reacted if you had told him you wanted to stay human?”

“That's an entirely different conversation about an entirely different person,” Bella argued. “Edward always wanted me to stay human. I was the one who kept pushing him to turn me into a vampire. But I wouldn't want you to be one, as hypocritical as it may be.” The older girl studied her sister's face, finding the words (Y/N) wanted to keep hidden. The more time passed, the easier it became to read the unsaid, learn the subtitles of the younger girl's silence. “Is that what you were fighting about with Paul? About what would happen if you were turned?”

(Y/N) sighed, wanting nothing more than to hide from the conversation she had started. “It's part of it, yeah,” she said. “It just made me question how much love can actually withstand. Like maybe there are limits. And if that's true, how can I believe that what Paul and I have is meant to be for life?”

“This isn't something you should be questioning right now, (Y/N),” the older Swan cooed, wrapping her arms around her sister. “You should be head over heels in love right now, not wondering if forever is a possibility for your relationship.”

“And you shouldn't have to turn into a vampire. And we shouldn't be hunted by them. And my boyfriend shouldn't be a werewolf, and yours shouldn't be a vampire, but here we are.” (Y/N) let out a sigh of frustration, slumping her weight onto Bella. “We are literal walking fantasy stories. Remind me to be born as a house cat in my next life. Their lives seem a lot simpler.”

“I can’t really talk about a next life, but I’m hoping that after we've dealt with Victoria, things start to fall into place.”  

A/N: *cough* *cough* it's a bit dusty here after months of inactiveness. i honestly wish I had a better explanation other than life and my health have gotten in the way, and the brain fog has been fogging. almost 80% of this was written under the effects of cold medicine so I'm not sue just how coherent it might be, but i hope you guys like it 😅 and again, so sorry for being gone for so long. my head could only take so much at a time If you’d like to be tagged in this or any other story:  click here Make sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post!

The ground crunched under her feet, quieted only by the patter of rain against the pavement. The air around her was heavy, making it impossible for her to take full breaths. But she had to remain strong, pretend her heart had not been shattered in a million pieces.  

Geum Seong-je had offered to accompany her to the hospital funeral home in an uncharacteristic move. He had appeared at her front door as she was about to leave, his head hung low. Nothing came out of his mouth—not that it was necessary. All he did was extend the umbrella toward her and walk beside her without saying a word.  

She wasn't used to this quiet character. His usual erratic energy had been drowned by a gloominess that scared her. She had seen Seong-je beat someone close to death, but his silence was far more terrifying than his explosiveness.  

Still, today was not about him or his quietness.  

Water droplets bounced off the ground, hitting her legs and soaking the black pantyhose she had chosen to wear. But all she could focus on was making sure her steps were steady and her shoes remained unscuffed. The heels she had chosen had been a bad idea to walk in, but then, he'd always liked her legs in them. It was only for a day. She could handle a day. 

The funeral home was quite empty when they arrived, which she expected. All the people who had once claimed to care for Na Baek-jin had only done so when he had something to give. In all honesty, she was even surprised Seong-je had made an appearance—the last interaction between them had not been too friendly, and she was sure there was still some resentment left. But she couldn't lie. His presence eased the knot that had formed in her chest. The two of them had never quarreled, and there were moments through the years she had even considered him a friend.  

After placing her shoes and her coat in a cubby, she followed Seong-je to the room Baek-jin was in. She held onto his arm tightly as she felt her legs growing weak, pressing the picture frame she had pulled from her bag against her chest. The closer she got to the room, the heavier realization dawned upon her. Na Baek-jin was gone. She would never feel his warmth again, never kiss his lips, never see the smiles he reserved just for her. All because he wouldn't listen to her.   

Thunder roared in the night's sky, making the windowpanes tremble. It wasn't raining yet. The rumble was a warning, a loud omen of what waited for Eunjang and the Union the coming day. The sound unnerved her, and she wished they had heeded the notice when they had gotten it.  

She was buried in sheets, staring at Baek-jin's bare back, his muscles flexing slightly as he looked down at the city. He was tense, every one of his limbs locked in the position in which he was standing. His mind was working overtime, going through every scenario that could arise in the fight. He saw himself winning, saw himself losing, saw a truce, and saw a death—not a single one satisfied him. From the moment he and Park Hu-min had agreed on the fight, he knew there would be no ending that would calm the storm that brewed inside him.  

Watching him stress made her uneasy. That was the last night they would have where things were still the same—not good, just familiar. She had known him for years, but there had never been a moment when he had seemed so overwrought.  

Hu-min, Baek-jin, and she had been close from the moment they had met. Though she appeared a year after the two boys had met, their bond was quick and natural. As though the astros had aligned for them to meet. They were all inseparable, even if she and Hu-min disagreed with Baek-jin's ever-growing anger and the path he seemed to be walking down. Still, their friendship was far stronger than any obstacle they could encounter. 

Or so they thought.  

There was a void inside Baek-jin that they didn't notice until it was too late. He had been fed abandonment and mistreatment from the moment he had been born, as though his genetic makeup had cursed him long before he had a chance to live. The boy felt deeply, took everything personally because the cards had been stacked against him. Anything and anyone that came between him and the only friends he'd been able to make were a threat, and they had to be eliminated.  

Go Hyun-tak did not stand a chance when he came into Hu-min's life. Jealousy brewed deeply and quietly inside Baek-jin from the moment they had met the charismatic athlete. He was outgoing, naturally magnetic, a complete contrast to Baku’s childhood friend, and Baek-jin didn’t like that. He could see everything he was not, everything the people he cared about the most deserved. He understood that if they left him for Hyun-tak, he was actually expecting it.  

But Hyun-tak was a variable that did not fit into his equation. The only sum that could equal forever was Baek-jin, Hu-min, and her. There was no space for a boy who went by Gotak. He had to be eliminated for the sake of his family. Perfection was one of the things he yearned for, and he had found it in his group of three.  

There were a million ways he could have gone about getting rid of Hyun-tak, but he wasn’t rational when he allowed his emotions to rule his actions—things got messy, and plans frayed at the edges. So, it was no surprise when Baek-jin sent Seong-jae not just to scare Gotak away, but to rip away something he loved and cared about. He watched from the darkness as the Wolf cornered the boy and ripped him apart bit by bit. Only when he was left broken and bleeding on the ground did he emerge, landing the final blow to Gotak’s knee. It was the punctuation to a dream, the sentence to a crime he had not committed. Baek-jin was judge, jury, and executioner, and he’d felt no remorse about it. In his head, everything he had done had a reason, and Hu-min would understand.  

Yet, he had forgotten that he and Baku did not see violence in the same manner. To Baek-jin, it was sweet and went down as easily as honey. It had been fed to him with the tip of a knife, and he’d smiled when he’d cut his tongue on it. Meanwhile, Hu-min couldn’t stomach it. It was bitter and only necessary when the right medicine had no effect on the situation.  

Breaking Hyun-tak's knee locked the door on a relationship that was already straying. It was clear Baek-jin was going down a path Hu-min would not walk down. But it left her with the most difficult decision. She could leave Baek-jin behind the door Baku closed, or she could lose her friend to stay with him. And when Baku asked her what she would do, her mind had already been made up. If she were honest, it always had been.  

Through the years, where friendship lived, something else had started to grow. It hadn’t been an instant change. The seed had been planted in silence, and it started to grow in the days they spent without Baku, in the nights they crammed for exams, in the moments they shared in private. Before they knew it, the feeling had taken root, and there was nothing that could bring it down.  

As much as it hurt to let Baku go, Baek-jin owned her heart. She knew it would break their friendship beyond repair, but there was a silent promise between her and the leader of the Union. From the moment they had met, she had decided that she would never abandon him. Even after the fights, even after the violence, after the Union, and Gotak’s injury, she remained by his side. The only steady presence in his life. The most valuable connection he’d created.  

From that day forward, she had become a ghost, a whisper in everyone’s lips. No one saw her outside of school or competitions. Baek-jin's girl. That was the only way he had allowed others to call her. He couldn’t stand anyone uttering her name, sullying the letters with mouths unworthy of her value. Baek-jin was the most influential teen in all of Yeongdeungpo, and she was his most prized possession.  

And it had been that way until the night before the big fight. No one had dared give her up, to use her as a bargaining chip, to touch a single hair on her head. They knew the moment they did, Baek-jin would burn the entire world until he found her—no one ever wanted to be on the receiving end of his wrath.  

“Come to bed,” she whispered.  

His shoulders dropped at the sound of her voice, his head turning only slightly to see her as he responded, “not yet.” There was too much running through his head to sleep, too many variables left unknown. He was so enraptured in his own mind that he didn't notice when she left the covers. It wasn't until she snuck her arms around his waist and rested her face against his back that he let out a breath of relief. He slipped his hands on top of hers, pulling her in as close as he possibly could. The warmth of her body released all the knots in his muscles, allowing him a second of comfort and relaxation.  

“Please, you need to sleep, Jin,” she muttered softly. “It won't do you well if you're sleep deprived tomorrow.” 

“I need to think,” he sighed, leaning his head back and fitting it into the crook of her neck. “I just... I need to think.” 

“You already know they have a plan to take you down. Baku wouldn't have pushed the date if he didn't,” she argued. “They already diminished your numbers—most likely Si-eun's idea. What's the point of giving it more time in your head?”  

“I just can't quite figure out what his equation is,” Baek-jin groaned. “Even if I eliminate him early in the problem, I just know he'll find a way to be part of the end. I just can't...”  

As his jaw clenched in frustration, she turned him around. Her hands cradled his cheeks as she pulled him down to place a soft kiss on his lips, swallowing all his words of discontent. “Let's run away then,” she offered. “Let's take all the money and leave Korea. Just you and me.”  

“Jagiya...”  

“Seriously, Jin. Let's just go,” she whimpered, unable to stop the tears already forming in the corners of her eyes. “Somewhere Choi can't find us. A small, quiet life.  No more crime, no more fights, nothing. Just us.”  

She knew it was futile. Baek-jin was a man of his word. He had agreed to a fight, and a fight they would have. He had to end it, once and for all.  

The fighting and the danger had always scared her, and he knew that. He'd tried his best to shield her from it all—from the blood, the broken bones, the threats, and the weapons. None of it reached it, not even a whiff. All she got was the aftermath. Bandages and ointments, the smell of antiseptic in their bathroom late in the night, the sound of pain relievers, and the quiet groans as he slipped into the bed long after her eyes had fluttered closed. She had never wanted this life for him, but she was not going to let him go through it alone.  

“Neither of you wants to do this,” she murmured. “I know you both, and this is the last thing you want. Baku would be happy if you didn't show up, if you left long before the fight.”  

“You know I can't,” he whispered, resting his forehead against hers as he wiped away her tears. Even as she crumbled in his arms, she was the only thing that kept him standing. As lost as he was, as terrified as he felt, she was the light at the end of the tunnel. He had to fight not just to keep his standing as the leader of the Union, but to keep her safe—keep his light alive. “I have to win tomorrow, jagiya. It's the only way to put an end to all of this.”  

“Then, let me go with you.” His body stiffened at her words, and she knew he would firmly forbid her from even setting foot into the yard. Baek-jin needed her as far away from it all as possible. Even the thought of seeing her reaction to him getting hurt shattered him. He needed her distant. Guarded. Safe. Always safe. “I won't fight. But I can stay in the car. Whisk you away in case things go wrong. If Choi finds out they bested you...”  

“That's not gonna happen,” he answered, but the words felt bitter in his mouth. They came out strangled and full of hesitancy. “Stay home, okay? I need to know you're here and safe. Don't you dare even come a kilometer close to the court. You need to stay here, alright?”  

“Okay,” she sniffled, mustering all her strength to gift him a smile. “But you have to promise you'll come back to me. No matter what happens tomorrow, you'll come back, and we'll run if we have to, yeah?” 

“Alright,” he chuckled softly, giving her something that had only been reserved for her. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He hugged her tightly to his body, afraid she would fade away at any moment, and embraced her like his life depended on it. “Where should we go, then?”  

“Let's go to South America,” she smiled as she melted into him. “Or the Caribbean. Somewhere warm and tropical. A real paradise.”  

“I would go to the deepest pit in hell if it meant I was with you, jagiya,” he said, and she knew he meant it. “I love you, you know? Love you more than anyone will ever know.”  

“I love you more, Jin,” she replied. “You're my home.”    

Then, she had not known she would lose it all in a matter of hours. She had wanted to keep her word, wanted to stay away from the basketball court, and stay home. But how could she when her heart had gotten up early that morning and walked out, leaving only a kiss on her forehead, an “I love you,” and an apology spoken as a final prayer. The last thing she cared about was the fight. Her only worry was always the aftermath.  

She did stay some distance away. Only a few feet from the entrance. All she wanted was to make sure he was okay, to ensure he had won. But when she saw the first three boys walk out in Eunjang uniforms, she knew, and her heart dropped to her stomach. Tears welled in her eyes as she ran to the court, ignoring the wondering stares of the boys she passed. They didn't recognize who she was, not that she cared. There was only one person in her mind as the rain soaked her skin and clothes, making everything stick to her body uncomfortably.  

Still, she didn't break until she saw him. Her Baek-jin, lying on the ground, his chest heaving and his body battered. Just a boy whose spirit had been broken by the universe long before anyone else had a chance. She broke through the circle of Union members, dropping to her knees beside him. With trembling hands, she cradled his head, carefully wiping away the dirt that mixed with his tears. “You gotta get up, Jin,” she cried. “We have to go, okay?”  

“You s-shouldn't... b-be here,” he croaked, his words coming out cracked and strangled. “G-go home, j-jagiya.”  

“Not without you,” the girl whimpered. “He can't find you like this.” 

With a groan, he raised his hand, tucking away a piece of her hair behind her ear. He hated seeing her cry, much less seeing her cry because of him. He wanted to remember her like she was that morning. Peaceful, without the weight of the world on her shoulders. Baek-jin had come to that fight with the knowledge of death, but he had wished the message wouldn't reach her until he was long gone. “He c-can't find y-you,” he said, his bloody hand caressing her cheek and staining her skin a color he did not want to witness on her. “G-go home, please.” 

“He'll kill you,” she breathed, dropping her forehead against his. “I can't let him.”  

“I'll d-die anyway i-if he g-gets you t-too,” he confessed. “I w-won't d-drag you d-down with m-me, jagiya.”  

“Don't say that, Jin. Let's just get you out of here. I'll force Baku to help me. I don't care. But I have to get you out.”  

“N-no. I'm s-sorry, jagiya,” Baek-jin said, every word a stabbing pain. “I-I c-couldn't fix t-this. G-go on w-without m-me.”  

“To the pits of hell, Jin. I'll go with you, too.”  

“N-no!” he exclaimed with what little strength he had. “G-go h-home.”  

All it took was one stare, and two Union members were grabbing her by the arms, attempting to drag her away. But her strength was driven by something bigger than brute force. She ripped herself from their grasp and dropped beside Baek-jin once more. “Don't do this, Jin,” she wailed, her body shaking under her sobs. “Please, just come with me.”  

“I w-won't let you m-meet my fate,” he groaned, struggling to prop himself onto his elbows. “Y-you've always d-deserve b-better. G-go. L-live.”  

“Please, Jin, I can't do this without you,” she bargained. “I'll go to Choi myself and serve my head on a fucking silver platter if I have to.”  

His stare darkened, but not with anger. It was the most terrified she had ever seen him. His biggest fear had come from her mouth, and she had not even meant to utter those words to him. “Don't you ever fucking say that,” he said through gritted teeth. It was the steadiest sentence he had been able to mutter. “Please go home, jagiya. Whatever has to happen will happen.”  

“I can't live without you, Baek-jin,” the girl said. “Don't make me live without you. Please, Jin. I love you.”   

“I'm sorry, jagiya,” he whispered before kissing her. It was hungry, it was raw, it was goodbye. “I love you more than I have ever loved myself.”  

Another nod, and she was dragged away once more. Only that time, they were successful. They pulled her as she yelled for Baek-jin, the rain drowning her screams and muddying her feet as she kicked with all her might. The last thing she saw was him gifting her a small smile and dropping back to the ground, accepting his fate once and for all.   

Seong-je slid the door of the room open, stepping aside to let her through, and the place went eerily quiet. She saw Baek Dong-ha and Do Seong-mok first. The former's eyes widened, and his mouth pulled down in a grimace as the latter's smile fell. She wasn't crying or even angry, but her eyes were dark, cold, pointed. It would send chills to anyone who stared at them for too long. Then, she noticed Si-eun, Baku, Gotak, and their friend, Seo Jun-tae. They had been facing Baek-jin's picture, each going through different stages in their emotions. No one knew exactly how to feel. They just knew he was gone.  

But everything halted the second they saw her. Even Baku swallowed his violent sobs as his eyes fell on her.  

She walked past them, her eyes trained on Baek-jin's altar. The picture they had chosen was not the boy she loved. It was his mask. Encased in a thick wooden frame was Na Baek-jin, star student and ruthless criminal. That was the man he was forced to be, the man he had been beaten into. But she loved and cared for the Jin he was only with her. Seong-je took the picture down for her, replacing it with the frame she had carried all the way from the apartment.  

Baek-jin would have hated it, of course. A picture where he was smiling was not the image he ever wanted to portray. It was the side he only allowed to exist in the confines of their home. But he wasn't there to complain. He wasn't there to ever complain.  

That was the Baek-jin she would bow to. The boy she loved. The boy she would always love.  

With a steadying breath, she stood on the mat in front of his altar, doing everything in her power not to cry. Her arms trembled as she crossed her right over her left, and she lowered herself onto her knees, whispering a silent prayer for Baek-in. Once she had fully knelt and her head fell onto her hands on the ground. She could feel the tears stinging behind her eyes, but she couldn't allow herself to cry—not there, not yet. Instead, she bit down on the inside of her lips to stop the fountain from sprouting. She had to remain strong for him, even if just for a day.  

She clamped her teeth into the skin of her mouth, ignoring the taste of iron that coated her tongue as her jaw trembled. All she needed was enough strength for one more bow. Ignoring the feeling of a drop of blood falling from her mouth, she tried to get back onto her feet, but her body faltered. Instantly, she felt two sets of arms helping her up. On one side, Seong-je gave her a look of reassurance. On the other, Baku stared at her with surprise in his teary eyes. The boy wiped away the streak of blood from his long-lost friend's face, unsure of anything he could say or do. 

With a small nod, she instructed them to let her go before repeating the bow once more. That time, she didn't pray. Instead, she directed her words to Baek-jin. She reminded him of the promise she had made when they had been children, the promise of forever. He was her north and always would be. “I couldn't do it in this one,” she said in her mind, “but I promise you I will never let you go in any of our next lives.” She begged his soul to wait for her. She would be with him as soon as she could without breaking his last wish.  

As his only family, she knew she had to stay and receive the reverence of the rest of the Union members who had slowly begun to trickle in. But she couldn't stand another second inside those white walls, much less with those people. She felt suffocated, like the room was becoming smaller and smaller the more time she spent in there. Rather than allowing the room to close in on her, she exchanged the pictures once more and made her way outside, not even caring to put her shoes back on and carrying them in her hand.  

She dug in her bag to find the wrapped white box she always carried but had never opened. Her hands were still shaky as she removed the plastic film and pulled a slim cigarette. Placing it in her hand, she fished for a lighter, sucking in as the butt of the cigarette lit in a fiery amber. Smoke filled her mouth instantly, and she held it for a few seconds, swallowing some before letting it out in a broken breath.  

“(Y/N),” she heard Baku's voice behind her. It was quiet, too quiet for Hu-min, but so undeniably him. The only person who still dared to use her name. “Didn't know you smoked.”  

The girl let out a broken chuckle as he closed the distance between them and leaned on the wall beside her. “I don't,” she responded. “Not really, anyway. He doesn't like it. But I just needed...”  

“I know. I get it,” he said with a sigh. “Anything that helps.” 

“Yeah,” she breathed out after a drag.  

He couldn't help but keep his gaze firmly on her. The broken shell of a girl he used to call a friend. His best friend's most guarded possession. If Baku had been Baek-jin's greatest loss, she was his most important win. “I never...,” he started after a moment, but his words died in his throat as he saw the tears forming in her eyes. “I'm sorry, (Y/N). I should have done better. I never thought...” 

“Stop, Minnie,” she sniffled, her mouth tugging into a small smile as she used the nickname he let her call him for the first time in years. “Jin would hate that. Don't you dare blame yourself. Blame him, if you have to, okay? But don’t carry this on your shoulders.” 

“How could I not?” the boy cried. “He’s dead, (Y/N)! All because I couldn’t save him.” 

“And what does that say about me?” she muttered, unable to raise her voice at him. All the hurt she was feeling wasn’t toward Baku; it never had been. “I was the one who stayed by his side, and I couldn’t stop him from going down in all of this. So, what does it say about me that I couldn’t save him either?”  

Hu-min pulled her into a crushing hug as she finally allowed herself to cry. She didn’t know where his sobs ended and hers began. All she knew was that they were both hurting, shattered by the loss of a life they had both cherished—in their own way, of course. Baek-jin wouldn’t know his death was what brought (Y/N) and Baku back together, but she knew he’d be happy it did. Because this time, Hu-min wouldn’t be there under threat or by force; he would be there with the only gentle piece that existed in Jin’s life.  

They remained in each other’s arms until Baku’s friends came out, apologizing for interrupting the moment. Every boy carried the same guilty fling in their eyes as they bowed to (Y/N), a silent apology for the part they had played. But all the girl did was smile as she directed herself to each and every one of them.  

She took her time complimenting them and thanking them for taking care of Baku. She chuckled at Jun-tae's proud smile as she spoke of his loyalty and determination. She grinned at Si-eun's surprise when she commended him not only on his fierceness in the field but on his tenacity in the academic competitions where he'd gone up against Beak-jin—it had always stuck to Jin how he was the only student who had ever come close to making him doubt his own abilities. Finally, there was Gotak, the boy who had always deserved an apology for becoming a casualty of Baek-jin's insecurity. She couldn't quite come up with the right words to say as she tentatively took one of his shaking hands into hers. When he didn't pull away, she smiled softly. Even if it didn't mean much coming from her, he was due a sincere apology.  

“None of you deserved what happened,” she whimpered, trying her best to remain strong but finding it almost impossible the more she went on. “And I hope that if any of you feel guilt, you are able to let go of it. Jin is... uh, was a very complicated person. I don't think there is anything I could say to excuse his behavior—he always knew he was in the wrong, but he never learned how to do anything else. I just wish I had been strong enough to find a way to make this stop. Maybe if I had been able to change him, we'd all be meeting under very different circumstances. I truly am sorry.”  

The girl lowered herself in a deep bow, concealing her tears from the boys. None of them knew exactly what to do. They had not expected any of her words, much less that she would absolve them of any of the culpability they carried. Only Baku felt he could do anything, grabbing her shoulders to try and straighten her back up.  

“Ya, stop. You don't have to do that, (Y/N),” he said, groaning slightly as she continued to resist his grip. “He would have never stopped. You know that. There's no reason for you to apologize.”  

Try as he might, she wouldn't budge. It took everything in him to be able to pull her up and into a hug, shielding her tear-stained face from view. She buried her face in his chest, suddenly engulfed by arms she didn't know had gotten that big. Their friendship had been lost through the passage of time, buried under resentment and disdain. Yet, it was clear that love and care still lived between them. The memories of their past were too strong to ever kill what had flourished during their childhoods.  

“Hey, how about we go and get some food and drinks, hm?” Baku offered. “I'm sure you haven't eaten yet.”  

“Yeah, uh, sure,” she said, wiping away the tears and snot that had built up on her face, embarrassment filling her as she noticed the dark spot she had created on Baku's shirt. “It'll be my treat. We can eat at my place.”  

No one dared argue. They couldn't turn down free food and drinks, much less from someone who was going through unimaginable grief. She had Baku order everything the boys mumbled about as she drove them to the one place she had only shared with Baek-jin. In another life, it would have been the three of them reunited after so many years, celebrating a truce filled with long-awaited apologies. They would rejoice in their newfound closeness and promise never to let outsiders influence their decisions.  

But in another life, Baek-jin wouldn't have been bred with hatred in his veins. He'd known love from the moment he was born and found himself in a world where he didn't have to fight tooth and nail in order to exist. In another life, he would have been allowed to simply be. To experience life the way any other boy his age would have.  

A tear ran down her face as she imagined what that life could have been. Maybe she wouldn't have even met him or Hu-min. But anything would have been better than the life she was living now. At least there, he would have still been alive, and he could have done all the things they had dreamed of. (Y/N)'s eyes met Si-eun's through the rearview mirror, and although he didn't say anything, there was a glint in his eyes that told her he knew what was running through her head, and he understood. There was no judgment, no repulsion, simply understanding. To her, Baek-jin wasn't the leader of the Union; he was simply the boy she loved.  

“I've never been here,” Baku muttered as (Y/N) typed in the code to the door. “Since when do you live here?”  

“Jin bought it last year and put it under my name,” she said. The bags of food filled the stale air with their scent, completely drowning the way the apartment would normally smell when Baek-jin was around. “He wanted us to have a place no one in the Union knew about. A place where he could feel safe. I haven't been here since the morning of the, uh...”  

“It's a beautiful apartment,” Gotak interrupted, noticing the knot that was forming in the girl's throat. “And what a view, huh?”  

It wasn't long before the boys had sat around her living room table, passing around the food. They seemed comfortable, enough so to joke around and act like the kids they still were. And (Y/N) couldn't help the smile the scene brought to her face. This was the type of environment she had always wanted to share with Jin. Regardless of the darkness they had grown up in, she wanted him to have a little light. People he could truly call his friends.  

The joy suddenly felt suffocating, and in a room full of people, she felt alone. She took advantage of the fact that the boys were distracted by whatever had popped up on the television to make an escape toward the bedroom, her second bottle of soju in hand. The furniture had accumulated a thin layer of dust, a representation of how long she had avoided the place. She was overwhelmed. It still smelled like his cologne; his pajamas were still bundled by the foot of the bed where he had kicked them off before slipping into bed with her; the sheets were still a mess from when she had woken up that morning in a frenzy when she noticed she was alone. The room had been frozen at the last moment they had been alive and happy.  

(Y/N) picked up his pajama shirt, pressing it tightly against her nose as she breathed in his scent. She closed her eyes tightly and imagined, dreaming he was still there. “Why did you have to go, Jin?” she whimpered, running her hands over the silk navy fabric as she crumbled to the ground. “I can't do this without you.”  

“You're not alone,” she could hear him whisper. “You'll always have me, jagiya.”  

“But you’re gone, Jin,” she sighed, feeling his phantom embrace around her. “You left me, and I don't know what to do anymore. Nothing matters anymore.”  

She downed the rest of the soju, unbothered by the drops that fell from the corners of her mouth. (Y/N) didn't know how to go on with her life without Baek-jin. Everything she had planned, everything she had dreamed of, had always included him. With him gone, none of it was worth it—not school, not travel, not life.  

A soft knock caught her attention before more tears could fall, Baku following soon after the sound, a piece of paper in his left hand and a bottle of water in his right. He made his way toward the girl slowly, still unsure if he was allowed to be close to her. After so long, it had simply become his nature. Anything and anyone that belonged to Baek-jin had to be handled with the same gentleness one would handle a live grenade.  

“Hey, (Y/N),” Hu-min whispered, taking cautious steps toward her. “Mind if I join you?”  

She nodded softly, already feeling her head spinning from the alcohol. When he sat next to her, she rested her head against his shoulder, letting out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. “He's really gone, Minnie,” she croaked. “We'll never see him again.”  

“I know,” he sighed. “I always thought maybe one day, when we were all too old to fight, we would be able to put it all behind us. I never thought time would just run out.”  

“He really loved you, you know?” she muttered. “He just wasn't taught the right way to love until it was too late.”   

“He loved you, too. And I think more than me,” Baku replied. “From the moment he saw you, he was done for. There wasn't a day he didn't talk about you. I used to be so angry when you chose him after what he did to Gotak because I couldn't understand how you could be with someone who could hurt another person just because he could.”  

“I'm sorry. I just...”  

“It's good that you did,” he interjected with a smile. “I think he would have been worse off if he didn't have you. You gave him hope, I think. If someone like you could still love him after everything he had done, then that meant there was something in him worthy of that love. I just wish he had believed it before he met anyone from the Union.”  

A choking sob left her throat before she could stop it. Instinctively, Baku put an arm around her shoulder. A steadying comfort that she so desperately needed. “I found this between the couch cushions,” he said as he showed her the pieces of paper he'd entered the room with. “There's one for you and one for me.”  

She inspected the carefully folded note, her breath hitching as she saw Baek-jin's perfect penmanship. “W-what is this?” she mumbled. “H-have you read it?”   

“Not yet,” he admitted. “I'm scared of what it might say. It's almost like he knew.”  

“He wouldn't go into battle without considering any possible outcome. Even if the probability was low, there was still a chance.”  

“You mean h-he thought I would k-kill him?” Baku stuttered, his heart racing as tears welled in his eyes. “I never... I wouldn't...” 

“Jin wasn't considering you,” she assured, placing a gentle hand on his trembling arm. “He knew if he lost, Choi Chang-hee wouldn't let him live.”  

“Choi Chang.... who are you talking about?”  

“His boss,” the girl sighed. “The guy he was laundering money for. The shit with the Union runs a lot deeper than some stolen cellphones or motorcycles, Minnie. It's more than just random violence in the street and wayward teens. Jin was a big part of this machine, but he wasn't the whole thing. Choi wanted Eunjang to be a part of the Union, and Jin failed because all he cared about was you.”   

"He had a weird way of showing it,” the boy chuckled. “This is all so messed up.”  

“You could say that again,” she laughed. And for the first time in the past few days, it was a genuine one. “Are you going to read your letter?”  

“I'm actually scared to,” he admitted. “Jin probably died thinking I hated him. I can't even begin to imagine the ways he could curse me out on paper.”  

“There's only one way to find out.”  

“Well, here goes nothing,” Baku said, clearing his throat as he unfolded the letter. “Dear Baku... ugh, how are the tears already starting?”  

Dear Baku, 

If you are reading this, then the most unfavorable scenario has come to pass. Not only have you beaten the Union, but I have also lost my life because of it. I always knew this could happen; the probability was just too high not to. I just wish I could have prepared myself better. There were no amends, no apologies, no gratitude. Although, if I am truly honest, I would have never admitted my wrongs—not in life.  

You never deserved all the pain I put you through, Baku. You were the first person who gave me a chance, who didn't see me as an inferior. You gave me the two things I cherished the most. (Y/N) and your friendship. Although I took the latter for granted and transmogrified it into possessive jealousy, I would never take it back. I know you blame yourself for teaching me how to fight, but if it hadn't been you, I would have found someone else. It wasn't you who filled me with the darkness I carried. I fear I was always destined to live amongst the devils that roam the earth. I’m sorry for trying to drag you with me through this void. I was just always terrified of being alone—and look where that got me.  

There was never a day that passed that I didn't regret the way I betrayed you. But I guess, it didn't hurt as much to know that you hated me as when you simply stopped caring. I know you hate me for how I turned out; I saw it in your eyes the morning you found out about Hyun-tak. Sometimes, I hate myself too for what I did. Had it not been for (Y/N), I don’t think I could have lasted as long as I did without you. 

I can’t be sure that you will ever read this letter, and I know I have no right to ask you this, but would you watch over (Y/N) for me? You’re the only person in this world I would ever trust to keep her safe. She was the only light left in my life, and I don’t want there to be anyone who dims it. She tried her best to fix me, but I was too broken, too far gone. I wouldn’t have let her cut her hands on the jagged edges of me. Don’t let her blame herself for my shortcomings, much less for the fact that I'm gone, and don’t you dare blame yourself either. And please, don’t blame her for staying by my side. She is too good for this world, just as she was far too good for me. Please make sure she is happy. I know this might be too much to ask, but you are the only person whom I can ever trust with someone as precious as her.  

Part of me hopes you never read this. And regardless of the outcome, we can somehow find our way back to being friends. I would never stop apologizing for everything I did to you and made you do. You’ve always deserved someone better than me, and I was too ashamed when you found that person that I had to remove them before you realized how worthless I was. I am sorry for what it is worth. I stole Hyun-tak’s future and killed whatever hope you had for me.  

If I am gone, I hope you don’t hurt for me. I don’t deserve your tears, and you don’t deserve more pain. And don't you dare blame yourself for what happened to me. I hope (Y/N) and you can find each other again, and that you rely on each other like you used to. I’m sorry for stealing her away from you, too. But I can’t say I wasn’t happy that I was able to. She is my everything, and if I had lost her as well, I would have been long dead before this fight.  

So, dear friend, this is my goodbye. If there is such a thing as a next life, I hope we find each other again and I can make things right. But in this one, I won't even beg that you ever forgive me or stop hating me; I only implore that you take care of (Y/N). She is the only part of me that is good, and I will never rest easy if anything happens to her. Finally, put yourself first every once in a while. It doesn't make you a bad person—not when you have every right to. Take care of yourself, too, Baku, or I will come back to haunt you.    I love you, dear friend, and that is not something I ever took lightly.   From the grave,  Na Baek-jin 

Trembling cries had overtaken Hu-min by the time he finished the letter. He crumbled onto (Y/N)'s lap as she hugged him close. He tried to speak, but the words did not come out, only strangled sobs escaped his throat as Baek-jin's words swirled in his head. There were so many things he had gotten wrong, so many things Baku had wished they'd been able to settle. But life had not granted them the maturity or the time to work through their pain. It had ripped them apart, piece by piece, until one of them had nothing left to give. 

“H-he thought I hated him,” he cried. “I-I never did. I just hated the things he did, but never him. I never could. And now he won't know that.”  

“No, Minnie, he had to have known,” she whimpered as she tried her best to soothe him. “He just... he had to.”  

“I should've stopped this fucking fight. I should have made him listen. GODDAMMIT!”  

“Stop, Hu-min. None of this was your fault, okay?” (Y/N) stated. “Don't put this on yourself. We all made decisions, good and bad, and we all had our reasons to make them. It won't do us well to blame ourselves for what happened. How will we live?”  

“He never knew how much I did love him, how I worried about him every day. I should have told him,” he exclaimed. “I should have put all this shit behind us. Even for one stupid day.”  

“Listen to me, Park Hu-min,” she said, cradling his head between her hands and forcing his eyes to meet hers. “This is exactly what Jin did not want. This guilt does not belong to you, Minnie. Let go of it all, okay? And if you can't, then share the burden with me. I cannot let you carry this. I won't.”  

No more words were shared as they waited for Baku's sobs to subside. The apartment had grown quiet save for the sporadic snore, the hum of the television, and their cries. (Y/N)'s letter was left, and if Hu-min's had been devastating, neither of them was ready for what hers said. They needed that moment of just existing to sit with Baek-jin's words. He had always kept his emotions hidden, shielded from the world. Vulnerability was the Achille's heel he could never reveal. Strong emotions other than hatred and anger were weaknesses, the door to a person's destruction. Baek-jin had only met two people whom he trusted enough to allow himself to feel. One of them, he pushed away until the only thing that lived between them was disappointment. And the other, he held onto like his life depended on it.  

Baek-jin had his intelligence and his strength. Those were the only two attributes he was allowed in the world. Love was meant to be hidden, spoken only in whispers, shown in the privacy of his home. And even then, he had to be careful what home he allowed himself to love in. There was (Y/N)'s apartment, the only place he had ever been able to call home. And there was the apartment people were allowed to know about, the place where fists and knives were the only welcome. He was always careful, calculated, cynical, and callous. He had to be, or else he would continue to be chewed up and spat out by the world.  

Once Baku's tears had slowed and his breathing had evened, he sat back up. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he thanked (Y/N) for the tissues she reached for him. The tears had started from the moment he had heard of his friend's passing. Time was measured in the hours he didn't spend crying. “I don't know how there are still tears left,” Hu-min chuckled hoarsely. “I feel like all I've done is cry these past few days.”  

“I know how you feel,” she said. “From the moment I left him at the basketball court, I haven't stopped.”  

“So, it was you,” Baku mentioned. “I wasn't sure if I was imagining things. You were there. You went to him.”  

“Yeah. I told him I wouldn't, but I couldn't help myself.” She hugged her knees to her chest, wincing as the images of Baek-jin on the ground flooded her mind. “I had to see him, you know? I had to know how things ended before Choi did.”  

“Was that the last time you saw him?” 

“Yeah,” she responded, her voice cracking as more tears started to form. “You guys really did a number on him.”  

“I, uh...” 

“Not your fault, Minnie,” the girl smiled. “He would never stop—I know that. If it wasn't for the Union, I would have taken him to a doctor and found a way to sneak him out of the country. But he wouldn't let me. He had accepted his fate, and he wouldn't let me go down with him. At least I got to tell him I loved him and got to hear it back one last time.”  

“I'm glad you had that, (Y/N). But if I had known, I...”  

“You wouldn't have been able to do anything, Hu-min. I don't think there was anything any of us could have done—not alone, at least,” she assured. “This goes far deeper than any of us can handle. At the end of the day, we're still kids.”  

“Kids forced to be adults,” he sighed, his shoulders sagging in defeat. “I mean, our worst mistake at this age should be getting too drunk to go to school.” 

“Since when are you so insightful?” she teased. “Last I heard, you had an IQ of 99.” 

“One would think you’ve been hanging out with Gotak behind my back,” he laughed. But soon that sound died too. There was still something hovering above them, calling their names as they tried to avoid it. “On a more serious note, are you ready for your letter?”  

The letter was in her hands, the paper wrinkling as her grasp tightened. “I… I don’t think I can read it, Minnie,” she shuddered. “Could you… would you read it to me?” 

“A-are you sure?” he stammered. 

“Yes. Please.” 

Her voice was already breaking as her breathing started to stagger. Those were the last words he would ever write to her. He had spent some of his last moments making sure she knew what was in his heart, and she didn’t feel strong enough to face it—not when everything was still so fresh. Her wound had not even begun to heal. It was still raw and bloody, and she didn’t know how long it would take before it started to close.  

Baku took the piece of paper from her hands and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, reminding him of the old times. When they were younger, (Y/N) would sit between him and Baek-jin reading to them novels either of them could ever imagine reading at their age. The boys would lie their heads on her shoulders, listening intently to the words. More often than not, Baku would end up dozing off, but he always woke up to the girl still reading, and his friend focused solely on her.  

Now, he’d be the one reading and (Y/N) would be listening. Going over something so personal made his limbs tremble. “Here goes nothing,” he said as he cleared his throat. “Let me know if you need me to stop at any time.”  

My dearest jagiya, my light,  

Have you eaten?  

Have you slept?  

Are you taking care of yourself? 

It seems odd to ask those questions when I know I won’t be there to hear your response. In my head, you’re at home with Hu-min, finally catching up after years apart. You’re both reminiscing about the old times and crying about the now. But I know in a few weeks, or a few months, you’ll be back to your normal selves. At least, that’s what I hope.  

I know what writing this letter means, and I’m sorry. I broke my promise. I hope you believe me when I say I wish this weren’t the most likely scenario, but I know my opponents. They will definitely have something up their sleeves. I know Baku’s determination, and I have seen Si-eun’s intelligence. The probability they will allow themselves to go down without winning is close to none. The hardest part of it all is having to say goodbye to you.  

Out there, there is a Baek-jin and a(n) (Y/N) who live happily ever after. They get to be together like we’ve always talked about—no Union, no worries, no problems. They get to travel and grow old together. They get to love openly and freely, and don’t have to spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulders. I would have loved nothing more than to escape from Korea with you, but I could not bring myself to put you through a life of constant paranoia. I refuse. So, forgive me for making this decision for both of us. I know you, and I know you would rather have a life where we would be persecuted than live without me. But as much as I want to have forever with you, I will not allow you to live in fear. With me gone, all restrictions and dangers to your life will be gone.  

Jagiya, I hope you know just how precious you are to me. How you make my life better simply by existing. You are my haven, the place where I can be myself without having to wear a façade; you are my home. You chose me and continued to choose me every day we spent together. I never knew what falling in love meant until I dove headfirst into you. Thank you for gifting me the most joyous moments of my life. I hope I was able to give you back even an ounce of the happiness you gave me.  

As much as I hope you never get to read this letter, that I somehow make it out with my life and I can burn this before you have a chance to see it, I have a strong feeling the tide will not be in my favor. I will try to reach out one last time. If there is any strength left in my body, and Choi has not gotten me, I will call. Will you pick up? Will I have to leave a message? Will I even be able to call? I don't know, but if I can't, take this as my last goodbye.  

I don't want you to carry my death with you. This is my guilt to live and die with. No one else should have to feel remorse for my decisions. I want you to live after me, jagiya. I want you to travel, study, do whatever it is that your heart desires. Don't stay stuck because of me—my soul will not rest easy. Under the floorboards of the closet, you will find the information and access to an account I created in your name. It has everything I siphoned from my accounts, and it should be enough for you to live comfortably. Sell the apartment if you want, or stay. Leave Korea and go to South America like you wanted. But please, don't put your life on pause grieving someone like me. I have never deserved it.  

My greatest regret will always be not fixing things between the three of us. I know you tried many times, and I will admit I came close to breaking on a few of them. You deserved to keep your friendship with Hu-min, but I ripped it away. I thought about mending the relationship so many times, but I didn't know how—not when Baku hated me. It didn't help that I forced him into the Union. I guess I preferred having him close and hating me than anywhere else and not even caring. I was selfish, I was jealous, and I know I hurt both of you in a way I will never be able to mend. Hopefully, now that I am gone, you will find your way back to each other. These letters could at least do that.  

I love you, (Y/N). I always have and I always will—in this life and the next. I’m sorry I won’t get the chance to say it to you again. You are the best part of me, and meeting you was the greatest gift I ever got.  

Take care, jagiya. I will not rest if anyone hurts you, not even yourself.  

Always yours, 

Your Jin 

The girl wanted to cry. She could feel the tears burning in the back of her eyes, pressing against the nerve as they begged to be let out. Her heart hammered against her chest, and her lungs yelled in agony as the knot in her throat tightened. There was a part of Baek-jin’s letter that stuck with her. She had not used her phone in days, but she remembered the last time she had used it had been the night before the fight. When she had left the next morning, she had run out of the apartment with just her keys and her wallet.  

She scrambled to her feet, surprising Baku. Her phone was the only thing on her mind as she started to look through the nightstands, taking out the drawers and spilling them on the floor. She raked her hand through the drawers of her dresser, opened her jewelry boxes, and went through Jin’s organizer. (Y/N) knew she had left her phone, but she didn’t know where, and the habit of leaving it in the strangest of places had been one shelf never shaken.  

“Ya,” Baku exclaimed, his eyes following her as she frantically destroyed the room. “What’re you doing?”  

“My phone, Minnie!” she yelled, ripping the pillows off the bed. “I need to find my fucking phone."

“You don’t have it with you?” 

“No! And if he called…” Her words died in her throat, the thought creating a storm of a headache inside her skull. “Help me!” 

“R-right,” he stuttered as he helped her stop the bed bare. The floor was a mess, and the phone was still missing. 

 (Y/N) ran her fingers through her head, pulling at it as she let out a groan in frustration. “Where the fuck is it?!” Then, an idea popped into her head. “Help me move the mattress.” 

“W-what?”  

“Move the mattress, Hu-min.” 

The boy took hold of the bottom while (Y/N) slid the top toward him. Once the mattress was off the frame, she ripped the slats off, but there was still no sign of the phone. Finally, she stuck her hand between the headboard and the bed frame, a joyful shriek escaping her. “I found it,” she said as she scrambled through the mess for the charger. “Can you charge faster? Dammit!” 

“Take it easy, (Y/N).” 

“I need to know, Minnie,” she whimpered. “I need to know if he called.” 

“You will,” he said, taking the phone from her trembling hands. “Just give the phone a chance to charge, okay? It won’t go faster just because you stare at it.”  

“I know.” 

“Let’s get you some water, huh?” Hu-min smiled. “You’ve barely eaten, and you downed two bottles of soju.” 

She followed him to the kitchen quietly, dragging her feet as she let him pull her along. The boys had fallen asleep on the couches—Jin-take sprawled practically on top of Gotak on one and Si-eun laid with crossed arms on the other. The food on the table was completely gone; the soju and the beers were scattered with the food and on the ground. They seemed calm, relaxed, as though the ghosts of the past did not haunt them as strongly.  

Baku set a glass of water and a plate with a chocolate chip Choco Pie. She took the snack between her fingers, feeling the coldness of the chocolate melt away on her fingers. The food wasn’t hers. She’d never really liked it.  

“Why aren’t you eating?” the boy asked, his mouth full of another snack cake. “Do you not like it? You know they don’t really go in the fridge.”  

“Not really,” she murmured. “It was the only sweet snack he allowed himself to eat. He would put it in the fridge and wait for it to warm up, thinking that if it took him more time to eat it, then it would be healthier.”  

“That’s not how that works,” he chuckled sadly. “I can’t imagine him eating something like this. I thought he would suck on a piece of celery as a snack.” 

“He did like to stay healthy,” the girl smiled. “There were too many things he did not care to waste his time on. Snacks were one of them.”  

“God, he really was an odd one,” Baku laughed. “But you still have to eat something. And all I saw in the kitchen was fruits and vegetables.”  

“We'll order some more food. You're gonna be here for a while, and I'm sure those guys are gonna wake up hungry.”  

“Fine. But...”  

Hu-min's words were interrupted by the soft jingle of (Y/N)’s phone turning on. Without a second thought, she ran from the kitchen back to the bedroom, her friend following close behind. She evaded the obstacles they had left on the ground, breathless as she reached the mobile. 

“H-he called,” she said, choked up. “He called me that night, Minnie.”  

“(Y/N)...”  

“He called me, and I didn't have my fucking phone!” (Y/N) exclaimed, tears falling down her cheeks. A mixture of anger and regret coursed through her veins, fueling the dread that had lived in her chest since she had left Baek-jin at the basketball court. “What if I could have gotten him out of there, Min? But I didn't have my goddamn phone. All I have is a voicemail and a text message.”  

“You couldn't have known, (Y/N),” Baku offered. “And I don't think there was anything you could have done. If that Choi guy is as dangerous as you made him seem, the last thing he would have wanted would have been for you to get in the middle of things.” 

“But I don't know there isn't something I could have done.”  

“Listen to the voicemail, (Y/N),” he said, holding her hands. “Stop focusing on what you can't change. In his worst moment, his only thought was to get a message to you, okay? He loved you so much he couldn't leave without saying one last thing. Don't ruin it by blaming yourself for a normal mistake.” 

Instead of arguing, the girl decided to heed her friend's words. With a steadying breath, she unlocked her phone and hit play on the voicemail left from Baek-jin's number. 

“Ya, jagiya, are you there? I guess not,” he chuckled hoarsely. His voice was cracked, weighed down by his pain and difficulty breathing. “It's better that you're not. I wouldn't want you to think there was anything you could do. It doesn't hurt, so I don't want you to worry. I don't have a lot of time, but I had to call you. 

“I love you, (Y/N), okay? And I don't want you to ever forget that,” he said. He spoke in broken whispers; his pauses filled with ruffling. He had to have been in a car, looking over his shoulder every few words.  

“I'm sorry I broke my promise to come home, but that fortune teller last summer did tell us I was going to die young. Maybe we should have paid her a little more—bad joke, sorry.” Baku looked at her, surprised. Baek-jin wasn't one to make fun of a situation, much less to laugh that much. This was the side of him he had reserved only for (Y/N), and he'd done an excellent job at concealing it. “I need you to do me a favor, okay? I need you to let Baku know that I understand. He never hated me. He just wanted me to stop—to stop hurting and hurting others. He never stopped caring. 

“Tell him I love him, okay? And tell him he really did a good job,” Baek-jin said, and she could see the smile that tugged at his lips. “And tell him I'm sorry, yeah? I don't have a lot of time here, jagiya. But I needed to tell you that you are the love of my life and that I'm so glad we met. I didn't want you at the court, but I'm glad I got to see you one last time. Take care of yourself, jagiya. Go on with your life, be happy. Even if it's just for me. 

“Alright, I have to go, okay?” he said, and she could hear the faint sound of a sniffle. “I love you, (Y/N). In this life and the next.”  

That time, there was no stopping the tears. Both (Y/N) and Hu-min held each other as they cried. Baek-jin's letters were not his last words. That phone call helped ease the worry his written words had created. The call had been unexpected. There was no way to know how the boy could have predicted anything, but his mind had always worked in mysterious ways.  

“W-what's the text message?” Hu-min asked in between sobs.  

She clicked on the notification, a strangled gasp leaving her mouth as she saw it. It was a picture of Baek-jin, still covered in blood, in the back of an SUV, making a heart with his fingers and a bright smile on his face. Underneath, the text read, “Love you, (Y/N). And I guess I love Hu-min, too.” It was silly, it was dangerous, it was the last picture of him alive, and he had sent it to her. That was how she knew him, a man masked with violence and threats when underneath he was only a boy in desperate need of love and affection.  

“He knew you cared, Minnie,” she said. “He didn't think you hated him.”  

“H-he knew,” the boy cried, his voice barely a whisper. “He knew.”  

They spent the next hour quietly crying as they fixed up the room and called for more food to be delivered. The boys in the living room woke up the second they smelled the scent of takeout, blissfully unaware of the rollercoaster of grief Baku and (Y/N) had gone through. 

She liked having a full house. The laughter and the boisterous energy of Jun-tae and Gotak helped ease the knot in her chest, but she needed a breather after socializing for so long. She answered some messages she'd gotten over the days, especially the one Seong-je had left her about staying at the hospital that night so she could take his ashes in the morning. He told her students from their school came by, all bringing flowers and gifts for her to take. Knowing she wasn't feeling up to it, he told her he'd help her carry them when she arrived the next day.  

Her thumb was about to press send when the door to the balcony slid open, the cigarette between her fingers almost falling to the ground.  

“What's up with you and that psycho?” Baku asked, Si-eun silently watching from behind him. “He already brought you to the hospital, and now you're texting?” 

“He's been... there these few days,” she sighed. “Told me Choi offered him Jin's job, but he turned it down. I think he might be scared of ending up like Baek-jin for refusing.”  

“You know we have to do something about that Choi Chang-hee,” Si-eun said. “He's just gonna keep hurting kids.”  

“I know,” she responded. “I just don't know how.”  

“We'll figure it out,” Baku smiled as he slung an arm around her shoulders. “Didn't you know Si-eun here took down a gangster at his old school?”  

“Well, not really.”  

“Hm, so Baek-jin was right,” she grinned softly. “You are a worthy adversary.”  

As she and Baku laughed at the boy's face growing pink with embarrassment, (Y/N) felt like she could breathe easier for the first time in days. She knew getting used to Baek-jin's absence would take her years, that she would wake thinking everything had been a bad dream and be met with disappointment. But if she had Baku and her new friends by her side, it might just make things a little easier.  

“So, still thinking about South America?”  

“Maybe in a few years,” (Y/N) smiled. “I think I'll stick around for a while and try to make some things right. I think that's what Jin would have wanted.”  

One second, Victoria was standing in front of Jacob and Paul, and the next, she was standing a few yards away from the school. She held onto (Y/N) tightly, chuckling as the girl struggled in her grasp. It was all a game to her. There was no way the puny human could escape her unless she wanted her to, but the struggle was delicious—intoxicating even.

“What do you want?” (Y/N) asked, her voice cracking under the weight of Victoria's hand. Oxygen was difficult to take in as the vampire tensed and released her throat as she saw fit, and fear coursed through her body, making her limbs feel numb. “If you're not gonna kill me, why are you here?”

“I just wanted to have a little fun in forbidden land,” the woman chuckled. “Imagine my surprise when I smelled you so close. I couldn't really help myself.”

“You're still not saying why you're here,” she struggled. “Shouldn't you be planning your revenge on the Cullens or something? You have nothing to do in the reservation.”

“Well, toying with the pups is fun. Keeps me on my toes,” Victoria grinned. “But if I had known I'd be crashing such a beautiful party, I would have dressed in my Sunday best. Maybe I could have brought out the same dress I wore for your sister's dance last year.”

Her heart hammered against her sternum, hitting her chest at a punishing pace. The woman had never left Forks. Even when Bella thought she had been safe, the red-headed vampire had been lurking in the shadows. Safety had been a mirage while danger was breathing down their necks, taking its sweet time until it was ready to attack.

“You know what would be hilarious?” the immortal mused, an amused chuckle leaving her lips. “Maybe I don't kill you. But I could turn you. Make you into something the pups can't stand, give you the one thing your sister most wants. Wouldn't that be exciting? All it takes is one simple bite. What do you say, little Swan?”

“Don't you dare put your teeth on her!” Paul exclaimed as he reached them, Jacob following close behind. (Y/N) could see the trembling in his limbs, anger oozing out of every pore on his body. He was itching to phase, to sink his canines into the pale one's neck and rip it apart. But he couldn't. Not when she was holding onto the only person he was destined to always protect. “Get your claws off her and I'll let you go on your merry way, leech.”

“Boo, that's not fun,” she pouted. “I could make things a lot more interesting in seconds. What would you do, mutt? What would you do if I turned your precious little girlfriend into your natural-born enemy? Do you think you two would last if she were one of us?”

“Turn her and it will be the last thing you do.”

“Bold of you to assume you could kill me, pup,” the woman grinned. “I mean, your only backup was more than happy to let little Swan die a few months back. What makes you think he won't do it now?”

The muscles in Paul's jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists that dug into his skin. He wanted to fight, to chase the woman until he either got her or he lost her to the water once again. Her smell made his nostrils burn, and the sight of her made his rage build. But, most of all, he hated that she was right. He couldn't trust Jacob, even if he had come to warn them about Victoria—not after everything he had done. And the thought of (Y/N) being a vampire made his stomach churn. There was no way to know what he would do if she became one of them.

“I don't have to kill you,” the boy said. “Matter of fact, I won't. Not tonight, at least. I will be taking (Y/N) and going, though.”

“Yeah? And how do you plan on doing that?”

Behind Victoria, the bushes started rustling, and a low vibration growl echoed through the forest. She turned suddenly, her eyes widening in surprise as a jet-black wolf walked out, baring his fangs. He wasn't threatening her or even announcing himself. The wolf was warning her. Closely behind, four more wolves appeared, two on each of the alpha's side, slowly circling the vampire and the girl. The woman had nowhere to go, not while she held onto (Y/N).

“Well, I guess that's my cue for tonight,” the vampire sighed. “I really wanted to test out my theory. But I guess it will have to wait. Until we meet again, little Swan.”

Without another thought, Victoria pushed (Y/N) to the ground, sending her directly in front of Jacob's feet before leaping into a tree. The wolves took off behind her, leaving the other three on their own. Jake was quick to try to help the girl up, but Paul's hand swiftly grabbed his wrist. “Don't you dare touch her either,” he seethed. “Today doesn't change what you've done.”

“Paul,” the girl called him in a reprimanding tone. “He was only helping me up.”

“I don't care,” he growled.

“Paul.”

“It's okay, (Y/N),” Jacob said, taking a step back and raising his arms. “I understand where he's coming from. I'll go join the hunt now. Just glad you're safe.”

The boy disappeared into the darkness of the forest, and reality finally sank in. Once more, (Y/N) had been knocking on death's door, and Paul was almost too late to stop it. With trembling hands, he helped the girl to her feet, wrapping her in a tight embrace once he'd deemed her unharmed enough. “You're never leaving my side,” he muttered into her hair. “Until that leech is dealt with, you're not going anywhere without me.”

“That's not feasible, Paul,” she chuckled softly, masking the shakiness of her voice as adrenaline started to drain from her. “School's not over yet.”

“I'll transfer if I have to. I don't care.”

“There's only a couple of weeks left of school,” she said. “The Cullens can look after me during that time.”

“They're of her kind,” he spat. “They couldn't even protect your sister correctly. How could they protect you?”

“Paul, you're not thinking straight. You're still shaking.”

He let out a loud sigh then, taking a moment to gather his bearings. There was no imminent danger, yet his body still reeled with anger. His limbs trembled, the wolf aching to rip through his skin. Paul wanted nothing more than to join in the chase now that he was sure (Y/N) was safe. Wanted his chance to sink his teeth into the immortal leech. He wanted to kill Victoria, and she could tell.

“Take me home, Paul,” (Y/N) whimpered. “Please, I just wanna go home.”

“Yes, of course,” Paul muttered as he wrapped an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “Let's get you home.”

The ride toward Forks was quiet. The girl was fighting the sleep that threatened to bob her head against the window, and Paul drove with white knuckles on the steering wheel and a jaw so tense (Y/N) thought it would shatter. Neither spoke of the fear that had slipped between them that night, much less of the possibility that hung above them like a dark cloud.

With Victoria lurking in the shadows, planning her revenge, the possibility that she could turn (Y/N) got higher by the minute. There was no treaty that could stop her; much less enough wolves to overpower her. The redhead had enough years under her belt to surpass even Sam. If she truly wanted to, she would have bitten the girl that very night and disappeared, leaving them to deal with the unforeseen consequences. No matter how hard they tried, they had to accept that the vampire was stronger, faster, and more cunning than they had expected.

The driveway was empty save for Bella’s truck when the truck finally rolled to a stop. The silence in the cabin turned uncomfortable as the seconds passed; the unspoken words scratched angrily at their throats. It made the air around them unbearable and quite choking. Sentences threatened to spill, yet they weren't fully formed, unthreaded and messy.

“Paul,” (Y/N) said. At the same time, Paul mumbled, “Ella.”

They shared a soft laugh before Paul motioned to (Y/N) to speak first. “Paul, tonight,” she sighed, “everything could have ended up differently. I could've...”

“Don't say it,” he begged. “Please. Don't even think about it.”

“It was a very possible outcome,” she said, her gaze falling to her lap. “If Victoria had truly wanted to, I would be turning into a vampire right now, Paul. As much as I hate to say this, she has a point. What would you have done? Is there any world out there where we could have survived this?”

“We don't have to talk about it, Ella, because it didn't happen and it's never going to happen.”

“How can you be sure?” she exclaimed. “She had me exactly where she wanted me. If she didn't enjoy the theatrics so much, she could have turned me from the moment she took me away from you. So, I need to know what you would have done, Paul.”

“I don't see how that could be productive,” Paul sighed, running his hands across his face. “It didn't happen, and that's that. We don't have to imagine things that won't happen.”

“Yet, tonight proved that it could. I don't understand why you're so opposed to talking about it,” the girl groaned. “Is it because she was right? We wouldn't survive it.”

“(Y/N)...”

“If I had turned into a vampire tonight, that would have been the end of us,” (Y/N) scoffed defeatedly.

“Of course not! I just...”

“You just wouldn't even be able to stand the sight of me if I turned into one of them. It's not that hard to piece everything together.” Before Paul could say anything, the roar of an engine killed the words that wanted to escape. (Y/N)’s van rolled to a stop behind the Rabbit, a curious Bella glancing at the couple. “I guess we'll table this conversation for later. We'll only tell my sister what she has to know about Victoria—nothing about her threat.”

“(Y/N)...”

“Enough,” she muttered through gritted teeth, watching as Bella walked closer to the truck. “Victoria was there. She grabbed me. The pack scared her off. That's that.”

“Okay,” Paul answered defeatedly. “Yeah. Let's go with that.”

By the time Bella reached them, Paul was helping (Y/N) out of the passenger side. “You guys are here early,” she chuckled. “Was prom that bad?”

“You could say that,” (Y/N) winced, feeling tears forming she didn’t know she was holding. “I just want out of this dress, out of this makeup. And I just want tonight to end.”

The girl walked past her boyfriend hurriedly, ignoring the calls from him and her sister. In that moment, she didn’t want more questions; she didn’t want pity or worry. She simply wanted to sleep the past few hours away and wake up when everything was over.

But she forgot she was the protagonist of a never-ending nightmare. The next day only brought another flurry of problems. One second inside the house, and the next dilemma erupted.

“Stop,” Paul exclaimed, forcing both Swans to stop in their tracks. “A bloodsucker has been here.”

“Well, Edward and Alice have been around the house a couple of times,” Bella explained. “You’re probably smelling them.”

“No. This scent is different,” the boy muttered, his face contorting in disgust. “It’s not a Cullen, and it’s not Victoria. Someone else was here.”

The girls followed Paul slowly up the stairs, their hands tightly grasped as though they could lose each other on the way. They were terrified, not just that a vampire had broken into their home so easily, but that they could have done it when their father was by himself. The sisters didn’t care about themselves; they knew the danger they were in, but Charlie did not deserve to be thrown in the middle of a world he didn’t know existed.

Once the boy did a walkthrough on the second floor, each girl went to their room. They weren’t in disarray, but it was clear things weren’t right.

(Y/N) remembered the way she had left her room that morning. She had thrown her pajamas on the ground after she’d gotten dressed, along with a pair of slippers. Her laundry basket had been filled halfway, but now only a few items were left at the bottom. The jacket she had slipped out of on Friday that she had left hanging on her desk chair was gone, along with her pillow and her favorite sneakers.

Yet those things weren’t what bothered her. Instead, it was the dreamcatcher that no longer hung above her bed. Now, it lay in the middle of her room; the wooden wolf was cracked in half, and the colored beads were strewn across the floor. The broken dreamcatcher should not have sent her into a spiral, but after the night she'd had, it was enough to have her break down.

The girl fell to the ground as gut-wrenching sobs left her throat, her dress pooling around her in a sea of red. She held the pieces of the dismantled gift in her hands, wanting nothing more than the barrage of thoughts to stop. A voice echoed in the back of her mind that the broken dreamcatcher was a sign. Her relationship with Paul was flawed, and a crack had begun to form that night. They had already built themselves onto unsteady foundations, and she was terrified of how easily it had started to shake.

Paul and Bella rushed to (Y/N)’s room at the sound of her crying, falling to their knees on either side of her as they noticed the item in her hands.

“It’s broken,” she croaked, looking at the pieces as though staring at them would magically restore them. “They… they broke it.”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Paul cooed, wrapping his hands over her shaky ones. “I can always get you a new one. It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. It’s…” The words died in her throat as her eyes snapped to the spindles of her headboard. “No, no, no, no…”

The word came out of her mouth like an incantation as she rose from the ground, stumbling over her dress and leaving her sister and boyfriend dumbfounded. She was a madwoman. She ripped away the sheets from her bed, shifted her mattress, unloaded her bedside table drawers on the ground, and even dropped to the ground to check under her bed. (Y/N) ignored the worried calls of Paul and Bella as a new stream of tears opened its floodgates.

For years, she had held onto that leather bracelet, making sure it was safe and intact. She had never let anyone touch it, afraid it would become damaged or somehow snap. Years of care and protection ended in an instant. “It’s gone,” she whimpered. “They took it.”

“Took what, (Y/N)?” Bella questioned. “What’s going on?”

“The bracelet!” (Y/N) exclaimed, looking at the pair with red-brimmed eyes. “It's gone! It's gone!”

She didn't want to believe in signs from the universe. That a stolen bracelet and a broken dreamcatcher could have any meaning to her connection with Paul, but she couldn’t deny the coincidence. The very night she had her first argument with him as a couple and the most priceless gifts he had given her had been torn apart. It was easier to think it had no meaning than to admit the tension that had begun to grow in the past hour.

Bella didn’t know how to comfort her sister. She simply wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close. That’s when she noticed the scratch on her neck, the dirt smudges on her arms, and the slight rip at the bottom of her dress. “What happened tonight, (Y/N)?” the older girl asked quietly as she started to connect her sister’s reactions to the situation. “What’s got you like this?”

“Victoria showed up again,” (Y/N) sniffled. “She went to the school and grabbed me. I was alone with her for like a minute, but Sam showed up with the pack and chased her away.”

“H-how… why is she going after you again?” Bella worried. “It’s me she wants. Maybe I should just…”

“Don’t you dare,” the younger Swan argued, tightening her grip around her sister. “Don’t even think it for a second. We’ll get rid of her. Somehow. Just… don’t do anything stupid.”

“I wouldn't dare,” Bella chuckled softly. “I just wanna make sure you're okay. I'm sorry you have to deal with Victoria because of me. If I had known any of this would happen...”

“Stop, Bells. It's not your fault,” (Y/N) assured.

“What's not her fault?” a sudden voice interjected, startling the girls apart. Edward stood by the entrance, Paul staring him down like he had been the vampire who had broken into the house while they were away. “What is that scent?”

“Another leech like you broke in,” the werewolf spat, taking a few steps to stand right next to (Y/N), acting like a wall between her and the vampire. “You guys sure have a very messed-up view of privacy.”

“Do you recognize the scent?” Bella interjected, knowing there wouldn't be any resolution between the two boys. “Paul says it wasn't Victoria or any of you guys. They took a lot of our personal items—I can’t be sure for what.”

“They had to be looking for something.”

“Looking for us,” she said. “Victoria attacked (Y/N) tonight.”

“Again?” Edward asked in surprise. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah,” the younger girl said. “I'm fine. Just more scared than anything.”

Edward muttered a hm before surveying the room. It was clear he noticed things Bella couldn't, especially about (Y/N)—the way her heart raced when she spoke of Victoria, the bruise forming on her neck, the scent of the redhead all over the girl. “Could be the Volturi,” he muttered. “Although I don't see why they would involve (Y/N) if they were the ones who came here. It doesn't make sense.”

He fished for his phone then, calling his brother Emmett and arranging for him and Jasper to do a search in the surrounding woods. The visitor could have been long gone already, but a small manhunt couldn't hurt, especially to keep the Swans safe. “You guys shouldn’t stay here,” he said as he ended the call. “Especially since we still don’t know if the vampire is going to come back. I’ll take you to the house while Jasper and Emmett sweep the forest, and we can ask Alice if she's seen anything.”

“Like hell you’re taking (Y/N) to your place,” Paul seethed. “I can keep them safe.”

“Right. Because (Y/N) hasn’t gotten hurt under your watch—what—three times now?” Edward retorted. “You’re lucky we’re willing to amend the treaty and allow you to be here, don’t push it.”

Ire bubbled in Paul, growing in bone-shattering tremors. This wasn’t a simple dig at the boy; it was a threat to him. In his eyes, Edward was just another leech trying to get between him and (Y/N), and he couldn’t have that.

“Do you really think it’s necessary to go?” (Y/N) interjected, placing a hand on Paul’s arm in an attempt to calm him down. The touch snapped his attention toward her, but under her palm, he was still shaking. “Do you think they’re really coming back?”

“We can’t be too sure,” he shrugged. “For the moment, we have to assume you two are still in imminent danger.”

“Then I’m taking them to the reservation.”

“The very place (Y/N) was just attacked?” Edward threw kindling to the fire. “Great idea, pup.”

“Say that again!” Paul exclaimed, only held by (Y/N)’s futile attempt at stopping him. “You’re just begging me to break the treaty.”

“I won’t stop you,” he pushed. “Go ahead and give us the green light to cross territories.”

“Are you threatening us right now?”

“I'm not the one who started this fight, mutt.”

“Yet you're surely looking for one, bloodsucker.”

Paul and Edward had taken steps closer with every word they spoke until they were staring each other down, so close their scents were surely burning their nostrils. The vampire was composed, his anger simmering quietly under the surface while the wolf trembled under the weight of his irritation. The boys were only moments away from breaking a decades-long treaty over inflated egos and the fear that the person they loved the most was in danger.

“Okay, that's enough,” Bella said, getting between them both. She motioned toward her sister, and (Y/N) pulled Paul back while Bella did the same with Edward. “If you two want to break the peace and fight, you can do it outside.”

“You're both taking this a little too far,” (Y/N) added. “Edward, why don't you call Alice here. We can think of the next steps here.”

“I don't like this, but if I must,” he conceded with a sigh. “I'll let her know.”

Bella followed Edward out of her sister's room, but not before throwing the girl an apologetic glance her way. Only a few months before, silence reigned in the Swan household. The older girl was stuck in a depressive spiral, and (Y/N) had just come back to Forks. If someone had told them they would be in the middle of a turf war between vampires and werewolves while being hunted by a revenge-hungry vampire, they would have definitely laughed. Now, they had to do their best to mediate between the two worlds that pulled them apart.

“What is up with you?” (Y/N) grumbled in a low voice as she turned toward Paul. “He's just trying to help.”

“And what are you trying to say? That I'm not?”

“You getting angry is not helping, no,” she argued. “We all want the same thing. Why can't you just put your feelings aside and work with the Cullens instead of against them?”

“Are you serious right now, (Y/N)?” he exclaimed, his anger clouding his judgment. “Why the hell are you defending him? Of all people, why him?”

“All I’m saying is that we all want the same thing, Paul,” the girl sighed loudly. While Paul grew angrier, (Y/N) grew more and more frustrated. The dress felt too tight, the pins in her hair felt like they were ripping the strands, her makeup felt like plaster on her face. Everything was just too overwhelming. “You can work with them just this once, instead of letting your anger fly off the handle like that. It won't help to find whoever it is that broke in tonight.”

“I can't believe this,” Paul scoffed. “You know, it's starting to sound like you're on their side. Almost like you wanna be one of them.”

(Y/N) wasn't able to respond before Bella announced that the rest of the Cullens had arrived. In that split second of silence, realization dawned on the boy, but it was too late. She was already at her wits' end, and the last thing she wanted was to keep arguing. “You go down first,” she said. “I want to get out of all of this.”

“(Y/N)...”

“Just go, Paul. I'll be there in a second.”  

Next ->

A/N: so sorry it took so long to update 🫣 back pain came back with a vengeance and the exhaustion with it. but i do hope you guys like the update. things are starting to heat up, and not in a good way If you’d like to be tagged in this or any other story:  click hereMake sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post!

Her heart hammered against her chest as (Y/N) took steadying breaths. It was simply prom, she kept repeating. It's Paul on the other side of the door, she reminded herself. There was no need to be nervous. There were no expectations, no grievances, no fights to fights. She was simply a normal girl going to her boyfriend's senior prom.  

“Take a breath, (Y/N),” she whispered to herself. “It's all okay.”  

Looking in the mirror once more, the girl smiled. Her hand gripped the doorknob, the coldness of the metal sending a shiver through her body. But before she could turn it, the handle gave way on its own, and the door swung open, startling her backward before it could hit her.  

“Oh, sorry,” Paul scrambled before he could see her. “I just couldn't wait any longer and...”  

Anything he wanted to say after died in his throat as his eyes finally landed on (Y/N). He found himself stuck in place, truly in awe of her beauty. His hands shook and his breath became uneven, but for the first time in a long time, it wasn't out of anger. “You look...,” he said softly, taking her hands in his gently, as though she would break. “You look absolutely gorgeous, (Y/N). You... wow. Just wow.”  

“Well, you clean up nicely yourself,” (Y/N) smiled as she took Paul's extended hand. He was in a tailored black suit and red tie. The outfit was simple, not that anyone would expect the hot-headed wolf to be much into fashion. But he’d adorned the tie with a silver wolf head pin, which felt cold under the girl's finger. She traced the figure with a smile, feeling moved by the tiny nod to his pack. “You look very handsome, Paul.”  

“I do, don't I?” he jokingly boasted. “And I can't wait to show up with the hottest date on my arm.”  

“I'd like to think you're not with me just for my looks.”  

“I guess not just your looks,” he teased. His laughter was loud as he easily dodged (Y/N)'s playful slap on the arm. He took the moment to pull her closer, softly kissing her crimson-painted lips. “You know I fell for you long before I even saw your face.” 

“You’re cheesy today,” she chuckled, melting into his gentle embrace. 

“Days like these bring it out of me.” 

“Prom, you mean?” (Y/N) laughed. “The same prom you didn’t care about weeks ago?”  

Paul joined her in her laughter, hugging her closely as though she were a figment of his imagination. “Days when it's just you and me,” he whispered. “We haven't been able to see each other as much since we've doubled patrols. I've missed you.”  

“We talk every day,” she smiled. “And even if Victoria wasn't around, we would still have finals.” 

“Who cares about that?”  

“School's important, Paul,” (Y/N) scolded him playfully. “Just because you're graduating, doesn't mean the work stops there.”  

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” the boy scoffed jokingly. “Let's just get through prom first, huh? I'm sure Jared and Kim want to go already.”  

“Fine, let's go.”  

Hand in hand, the young couple walked toward the living room. There, Sam and Emily stood like proud parents, smiling proudly at the couples in front of them. Kim was dressed in a lilac dress with flowers outlined by a darker purple, while Jared put on a gray suit with a lilac tie. They were focused on each other, fiddling with the corsage and boutonniere they had gotten each other, as Embry helped take pictures of them.  

“Well, look at you two,” Sam announced as Paul and (Y/N) joined them. “You guys look great.”  

“Thank you, Sam,” the girl said, feeling heat rising on the back of her neck. “It's all thanks to Emily, really. I wouldn't have been able to do this on my own.”  

“I didn't have to do much,” Emily chuckled. “I already had a perfect canvas to begin with.”  

“Hey, you two, stop hitting on my girlfriend,” Paul pouted as the couple laughed. He moved toward the kitchen, where he had a box with flowers, before pulling (Y/N) away to place the corsage of white roses on her wrist. “I went with Emily to get them. I thought they would match the best.”  

“It's beautiful,” (Y/N) smiled while pinning the flower onto the lapel of his suit. “You made the perfect choice.”  

“I did, didn't I?” Paul said, his eyes focused solely on the girl in front of him.  

The flashes of a camera were not enough to break his gaze. To him, there was truly no one else in that room. Not when (Y/N) was the best view he could have. He focused on the way the tip of her tongue stuck out of her mouth as she maneuvered with the pin, memorizing the furrow of her eyebrows while she concentrated. Those were the moments that seemed to stick in his head. Every fight, every argument, every ounce of anger he'd ever had dissipated the moment he was able to simply be with her. He even feared the chance of doing everything all over again. How could he be sure his decisions would lead him back to that very second?  

“Man, you guys look straight out of a magazine,” Jared boasted, breaking the couple out of their bubble. “You trying to dethrone us as the best couple at the dance?”  

“Oh, please, there's enough room for all of us at the top,” Kim chuckled at her boyfriend before turning to the other girl. “It's nice to finally meet you, (Y/N). You look beautiful.”  

“Thank you. You look amazing as well,” (Y/N) responded, feeling nervous as she shook Kim's hand—that came with the territory of being a Swan. Meeting new people was always hard for her, even if she was the best at it in her family. 

“Well, get together, guys,” Emily called. “It's time for the barrage of pictures.”  

Twenty minutes later, and the kids felt their faces were gonna remain stiff for the rest of their lives from smiling. If it wasn't Emily, it would be Embry taking pictures, and if it wasn't him, then it would be Bella. The two couples never knew where to look. All they could do was smile and hope it was all over soon.  

Once they were satisfied with the amount of pictures taken, Bella, Emilly, and Sam saw the kids off. They followed them to their cars, showering them with phrases reserved for their parents. While the alpha and his fiancée made sure Jared and Kim were good to go, Bella was stuck to Paul's window like glue.  

“Make sure you take care of her,” she scolded. “I know how these things go, okay? No alcohol, staying out too late, and no funny business.”  

Paul's face grew bright red as he kept his stare firmly on the steering wheel, nodding at everything Bella said while (Y/N) tried her best to stifle her laughter. “Of course,” he coughed out. “I already spoke to Mr. Swan, and he agreed to a one in the morning curfew. I promise nothing will happen to (Y/N) while she is with me.”  

“I'll hold you to that, Paul.”  

“Leave him alone, Bells,” (Y/N) chuckled. “We'll be fine.”  

“Just be thankful it's me and not dad with his shotgun talking to you,” the older Swan grinned. “Not that I would hesitate to get it if anything does happen.”  

“Bella!” (Y/N) exclaimed as Paul choked. “Leave him alone already!”  

“Fine,” the girl laughed, finally taking a step back from the truck. “Just be careful, you two.”  

“We will, mom,” the younger girl teased. “You take care of my baby, though. I don't wanna see any dents on my van when I get back.   

“And here I was thinking you were talking about Paul.”  

“He can take care of himself,” (Y/N) smiled, swallowing a laugh when he flinched as she threaded her fingers through his. “Just be careful getting home.”  

“Yeah, you too,” she said. “Have fun.”  

It wasn't until Bella disappeared from the rearview mirror that Paul let out the breath he was holding. (Y/N) couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled in her throat, watching as the boy beside her finally calmed and allowed himself to relax. “You know,” the girl snickered, “Bella’s not that scary.” 

“She’s a direct connection to your dad,” he said. “She’s terrifying.” 

“Oh, you mean Mr. Swan?” she laughed. “It’s hilarious to see you scrambling like that.”  

“I’m glad my pain is hilarious to you,” Paul pouted. “At least you’re happy.” 

“I am,” she grinned before placing a kiss on the back of his hand.  

The ride to the school wasn’t long. And before she knew it, (Y/N) and Paul were joining Kim and Jared at the entrance of the school. Kids streamed inside, filling the air with loud chatter and happiness. Everyone was excited. Senior students could feel freedom from high school breathing down their necks, so close they could taste it. Much like in Forks, she could feel their carefree spirit and the thrill of anticipation vibrating in the air.  

But the more people they passed, the more self-conscious (Y/N) became. Kim and Jared walked inside, continuing the flow of the other students. Yet, as Paul went to follow, the girl’s grip on his hand stopped him. She was frozen in place, her stare a million miles away. Growing tears made her eyes shimmer under the lights, her lower lip trembling as though fear was taking over her.  

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” Paul cooed, cradling her cheeks tenderly. “Why are you crying?”  

The girl reached for her back, tracing the scars she could reach. For the first time since she had tried on the dress, she realized just how exposed her back was. The realization was overwhelming, and it had slapped her across the face far too late. “What are they gonna think?” she whispered sheepishly. “Most of the marks are gone, but the scars that stayed…” 

“Who cares what they think, pretty girl?” he said, with a smile so gentle it melted her worries away. “I can already tell you, you’re the most beautiful girl in the world. And if anyone says anything about the scars, then I'll give them a few of their own. Don’t let that ruin your night, (Y/N).” 

“Paul...”  

“What?” the boy grinned teasingly. “I've been itching for a fight. But I promise I'll use human strength.”  

“Yeah, I'd be more worried about you turning into a massive canine in the middle of the school gym,” she chuckled, finally feeling her spirits lifting. “Don't think Sam will let you out of the house again if something happens.”  

“Fine, I won't fight,” Paul smiled, wiping away the stray tear that dared to fall. “But if you feel too uncomfortable, I can give you my jacket. Or we can just go. It's not like any of them deserve to see you, regardless.”  

“Alright then,” (Y/N) beamed. “Let's go inside.”  

An hour in, and all worries were gone out the window. No one asked about the scars on her back. Instead, Paul's friends hounded him for abandoning them. They asked (Y/N) how she could stand someone with such a sour attitude and teased him about how she could have done so much better. Their comments had made her laugh, especially seeing the way Paul tried to keep his nonchalant persona even though she knew how much it bothered him. His friends made her feel welcome in a place she definitely stood out—not only was she the only person who didn't go to the school, she was the only one who didn't even live on the rez. They made her feel comfortable. She felt happy. Whatever was waiting for them tomorrow could wait. She could allow herself to enjoy the moment.  

At first, a couple of Paul's friends asked her to join them on the dance floor. The music was loud and energetic, and the boy wasn't really the type to drop some moves. When she'd agreed, they laughed at Paul's huff of annoyance, pointing out every few seconds that his eyes had not left them for a moment. From their table, he watched cautiously, making sure no one made a move (Y/N) wouldn't be comfortable with. Even when Jared walked over to talk to him, his gaze never broke.  

It wasn't until Kai helped keep her steady after an unfortunate slip that Paul finally joined them. His glare was threatening, his chest heaving slightly as his nose flared. But unlike his usual explosiveness, he was in control of himself. He allowed his friend to help, thanking him with a clenched jaw, before taking (Y/N) into his arms. They teased him subsequently, saying he was whipped and overdramatic. And he let them. All he cared about was that she was okay.  

As though it had been planned, the next song that played was a slow song. A lot of the teens on the floor used the moment to rest, allowing the couples a moment with each other. With shaky hands, Paul took hold of (Y/N)'s waist, pulling her as close as he could. They had been together for months, but he felt that moment was the most intimate they shared.  

With a smile, (Y/N) crossed her arms around Paul's chest, closing the distance he'd left between them. His heart beat loudly against his chest, drowning the music they swayed to. There were words bubbling in his throat, but he was too afraid to say them. They had been clawing at his vocal cords for months, looking for a way out. Yet, fear drowned them, forcing them to remain a thought in his head rather than a statement he said out loud. The words were powerful, too important to ever be taken back. Paul had seen how much pain three words could cause. He was the aftermath of what happened when those words lost their weight. He'd lived firsthand what happened when those words were said but not meant.  

He was scared of saying them. Of saying them and having (Y/N) regret them. He was terrified of what could happen if he said them and she didn't say them back. Even worse if he said them and one day she didn't feel the same.  

“Hey, what's wrong?” His focus snapped back to her, her smile calming the storm that was brewing inside him. He leaned into the hand she rested on his cheek, smiling back at her. “Where did you go?”  

“I'm right here,” he whispered, placing a kiss on her hand. “I was just thinking.”  

“What? Thinking about your other girlfriends?”  

“Don't say that,” he mumbled. “Don't even think it.”  

“I'm just joking,” (Y/N) chuckled. “I know you wouldn't do that.”  

“Yeah, I was thinking of something else.”  

“Well, you know,” she grinned, “so was I.”  

“Yeah?” Paul asked. “What's that?”  

The hand she'd placed on his cheek moved to his chin, pulling his head down. “I was thinking,” she whispered in his ear, “about how much I love you.”  

“W-what?”  

“I love you, Paul Lahote.” 

The boy felt his heart stop in that moment. He wanted to commit to memory the scene before him. The way the lights glimmered against (Y/N)'s skin, the bright smile on her face, and the glimmer in her eyes. He never wanted to forget that moment.  

“Did you hear me?” she asked after his moment of silence. “I said...”  

Her words died in her mouth as Paul crashed his lips onto hers. He kissed her like it was the first time he'd ever tasted her, pulling her as close as he possibly could. The boy didn't care about the hollers from his friends or the stares from people around them. All he could focus on was (Y/N) and the words she had stolen right out of his own mouth.  

She was braver than him in that sense. For some time, she had stopped being afraid of the big feelings. (Y/N) understood their power, and she had lived through their destruction, but she had stopped being afraid. "Hey,” she broke the kiss, breathless and chuckling, “you haven't said it back. I guess I'll just go then.”  

(Y/N) turned to leave, a big smile tugging at her lips. Paul was quick to grab her wrist and pull her back to him, placing another kiss on her lips. “I love you,” he said, accentuating every word with a kiss. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”  

She laughed as he raised her off the ground and spun her around, forcing her arms to wrap tightly around his neck. That was what (Y/N) had been waiting for. A night full of normal. A moment she could share with Paul that didn't stink of vampires, werewolves, or stupid vendettas. Just two kids falling in love, uncertain of what the future could bring but focused on the present. 

“I can't believe you beat me to it,” Paul chuckled. “It's like you read my mind when you said it.”  

“Is that what you were thinking about?” she smiled. “You know, you don't have to be scared of saying how you feel—not anymore.”  

“I'll get better at that,” he said. “One day, at least.”  

“Tonight's a start, then,” (Y/N) assured before pecking his lips. “Just promise you'll never stop saying you love me.” 

“The day I stop is the day I die,” he muttered. “I love you, (Y/N). And I always will.”  

Before she could say anything, a loud crash brought everyone to a halt. Everyone turned toward the sound, but it was clear it had come from outside. Paul pulled (Y/N) in, his nose picking up on something no one else would be able to. “Leech,” he whispered. When his eyes met Jared, he confirmed the boy's suspicions. Someone had crossed the border, and it most likely was Victoria. 

Suddenly, the doors to the gym swung open, and Jacob ran in, heading directly to where Paul and Jared stood with their dates. “We need reinforcements,” he said, slightly out of breath. “We lost her as we were reaching the school, and we're almost certain she's inside.”  

“Victoria's h-here right now?” (Y/N) stammered. “H-how?”  

“Seth and Leah are still too new, and their stamina is not as strong,” he said. “You need to get (Y/N) out of here, now.” 

As much as he wanted to argue, Paul knew it wasn't the time to fight with Jacob. He was doing the right thing for once, and his priority had to be (Y/N)'s safety. When the music started again and the students turned their attention to anything else, he led the younger Swan out of the gym. At least they'd had three hours of being normal that night.  

The hallway felt cold as they walked out, and (Y/N) clung to Paul like a life raft. Her veins had frozen, and her limbs shivered under the weight of her fear. She had let her guard down. She believed she was allowed at least one night to simply be, but she had to have known life never worked out in that way. Victoria wanted her dead, and she had to believe the vampire would be anywhere she went.  

As they walked, a sudden breeze blew past them, making Paul hold the girl even tighter against him. “She's here,” he said through gritted teeth. “And I can't shift inside. I need to get you out of here.” 

“If she’s here right now, how are we supposed to make it outside?” 

“You guys go first,” Jake said, surprising the couple. “I’ll try to chase her down in here.” 

In their hesitation, another gust of red wind passed by them. (Y/N) winced as she felt something sting her arm one second, and the next her hand flew up to her skin to feel blood rushing out. “She’s taunting us,” she croaked. “But this is not her battleground.” 

“You’re so right, little Swan,” Victoria smirked from the chill entrance. She was all the way down the hallway, licking the blood off her fingernail as Jacob and Paul stepped in front of (Y/N). There wasn’t much they could do in their human form, and she knew that. “You boys are so serious. I’m just having a little fun.” 

In the blink of an eye, Victoria left her position at the end of the hall and reappeared a few feet behind them, (Y/N) locked between her arms. She grabbed the girl tightly by the neck, crushing her against her body. “There’s nothing you little pups can do,” she grinned as Paul growled. “But don’t worry. I’m not killing my little plaything tonight.”  

A/N: i was gonna post this earlier this weeks but I've been dealing with migraines and horrible backpain, but I was able to finish the next chapter for y'all's favorite couple. hope you enjoyed! ❤️ If you’d like to be tagged in this or any other story:  click here Make sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post!

School was an odd place to be with the Cullens back in town. Everyone could see and feel the distance that had grown between the oldest Swan daughter and the two Cullen children who had still not graduated. It didn't take a genius to see how hard Alice and Edward were trying to get close to Bella, but she would always shut them down.  

It was clear they believed the girl's distance was (Y/N)'s fault. Whenever the sisters walked down the halls together, the Cullens would send questioning stares her way, but she couldn't tell if they were filled with disdain or genuine curiosity. What she was sure of was that they knew she was the greatest obstacle standing between them and Bella.  

But if Bella blamed her sister for the space between her and the Cullens, she didn't say anything. Instead, she seemed to relish it. She seemed lighter than ever, catching up to (Y/ N)to head to the cafeteria, wearing a smile the younger Swan had missed witnessing.  

Truthfully, there was a certain weightlessness running around campus from the senior class. With graduation just around the corner, school was the last bit of their worries. Maybe there were still finals to worry about, but they didn't quite care, and it showed. Their biggest concern seemed to be who to invite to the graduation. 

“Hi, guys,” Angela smiled as the sisters reached their usual lunch table. “Bella, have you sent out your graduation announcements?”  

“Well, I don't really have anyone to give them to,” the girl shrugged. “Dad is gonna be there, and mom knows when graduation is. That's really it.”  

Unconsciously, Bella started picking the mushrooms out of her veggie pizza as she spoke, placing them on (Y/N)'s tray. Something she had done since they were little. Where the older Swan was picky with her food, her sister didn't mind taking the discards. But the smile that spread on the younger Swan's face was not because she was glad to receive mushrooms. Instead, she was happy her sister was doing things they had lost in the year of separation and the time Bella was stuck in her own mind.  

“What about you, Angela?” (Y/N) asked as Bella took her first bite, sending her sister a weird look over her smile, her actions seemingly going unnoticed by herself. “Have you finished yours?” 

“Oh, I wish,” she groaned. “My mom wants me to hand-address every single one to her thousands of cousins. I will most likely get carpal tunnel from it, and I can't keep putting it off for any longer.” 

“We can help,” Bella offered, “if you don't mind my handwriting. (Y/N)'s is better.”  

“That is true,” the younger girl chuckled. “Thankfully, the unreadable handwriting gene skipped me.”  

“That's great!” Angela exclaimed. “I can come over to yours and...”  

“Actually, can we do it at your house? I've finally been let free from my sentence. I'd do anything to go out.”  

“I thought you were grounded forever.”  

“Thought so too,” Bella grinned. “And I'm not giving dad any chance to go back on his decision.” 

“We have to celebrate this!”   

“You have no idea how good that sounds,” she chuckled. “And I have an idea.” 

While Bella explained her and her sister’s plans to go shopping for a dress that weekend and spoke of the possible celebration of the rebellious Swan's freedom, (Y/N) noticed Alice and Edward at the corner table of the cafeteria. Even with the rest of their siblings gone, their table remained just for them, as though a force field kept others far away. However, the girl was sure they wanted nothing more than to attract a particular person.  

As though he could hear what she was thinking—even if Bella had assured her he could not—Edward's eyes snapped to (Y/N)'s. There was a sadness behind the amber of his pupils that she knew far too well. It was loss. It was grief. It was... yearning. Clearly, being forced to keep a distance from Bella was unbearable. For a creature who did not sleep, every waking moment was filled with the girl who had told him no when everyone was expecting her to say yes.  

(Y/N)'s eyes were suddenly broken from Edward's gaze when she noticed Alice going into a trance. From what her sister had told her, that meant she was getting one of her visions. And from the petrified look on Edward's face, it could not be good.  

Once Angela turned to pay attention to something Jessica was saying beside her, (Y/N) elbowed her sister softly, directing her gaze toward the Cullen siblings. “She’s seeing something,” she whispered. “It’s bad. I mean, it looks bad.” 

“Yeah, it looks like something’s wrong,” Bella muttered before turning back to the meal in front of her, her eyebrow furrowed with worry. 

“Why don't you ask them what she saw?” (Y/N) questioned, noticing the concern her sister was swallowing. “I can tell you want to.”  

“That would defeat the purpose of keeping distance from them,” she sighed. “It could just be something about their family.”  

But (Y/N) couldn't help the nagging feeling that there was something more to whatever Alice was witnessing. “Victoria is still out there,” the younger girl said. It didn't go over her head the way Edward's eyes fell on them at the sound of the vampire's name, nor that the last piece of pizza Bella held stumbled out of her hand. “If there’s anyone who could see if she’ll come back, it’s her, right?”   

“I-I guess,” Bella stammered. “I’ll ask him after school about it.”   

“You won’t have to do it alone, Bells,” (Y/N) smiled, squeezing her sister’s hand comfortingly. “I'm always on your side.”  

“Thanks, (Y/N). I'm glad you're here.”  

“Where else would I be?” she grinned. “Florida?”    

The next couple of hours felt endless before the sisters found each other after their last classes of the day. It was hard not to allow their minds to imagine what worst-case scenarios could have popped up in Alice's mind.  

(Y/N) knew the red-headed vampire was still lurking in the shadows, lying in wait for the perfect time to strike. Bella had been her main focus for the past year, but after the woman's encounter with the younger Swan, it wasn't hard to deduce that both sisters had become the target for Victoria's revenge. They had escaped her clutches, and she didn't seem like the type to let a grudge go.  

As though they were waiting for them, Alice and Edward were standing by the boy's Volvo, their eyes fixed on the sisters’ every move. Their gaze followed them until they stood face to face, a sad smile spreading across their mouths as they reached them.  

“Bella,” Edward was the first to speak, his voice barely above a whisper. “How are you?”  

“I'm good,” she smiled awkwardly. “How're you guys?”  

“Could be better,” Alice responded, her eyes pleading. “We miss you, Bella.”  

“I... uh, I...”  

“We wanted to know what you saw at lunch, Alice,” (Y/N) interjected. “It looked bad. Is it... is it about Victoria?”  

Alice looked at her brother, trying to find the right answer in his silence. “I saw Jasper, my partner,” she answered. “I keep seeing him going back southwest... back to his f-former family. It's got me a bit worried, even though he says he has no inclination to go back.” 

“Are you sure?” Bella pushed. “Victoria is still out there, and she already got to (Y/N). I don't want her to get close again.”  

“I promise you are both safe, Bella,” Edward said. “I won't let anything happen to you.”  

“Thanks, I guess,” she whispered the last part. “I'll see you guys around, then.”   

Before anyone could say anything else, Bella pulled her sister toward her truck. Being around the Cullens was mind-whirling. Their very presence blurred her sight and jumbled her thoughts, pulling her in with a supernatural magnetism she still didn't know how to overpower. The more distance she put between herself and the siblings, the easier it became for her to breathe again. And as much as she wanted to turn back and be with them, she continued on until both Swans were safely inside the cabin of her truck.  

The older Swan took a steadying breath as her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, ignoring the urge to look back at the siblings she knew were still staring at her.  

“Are you okay?” (Y/N) asked, breaking Bella out of her trance and reminding her she wasn't alone. “You look paler than usual.”  

“Y-yeah, I'm okay,” she smiled.  

“You look pretty shaken up, Bells. Maybe talking to them wasn't a good idea.”  

“N-no, we had to know,” the older girl said, finally mustering up the strength to pull the truck out of the parking lot. “It's just their nature. They draw you in—their eyes, their voice, their scent. You can't help but be drawn by them.”  

“I don't see it,” (Y/N) shrugged. “Apart from their perfect skin and yellow eyes, there's not really much to them.”  

“Don't let Jessica hear you,” Bella chuckled. “She was absolutely obsessed with them and was quite angry Edward wasn't interested in anyone.”  

“Still don't see it,” she said. “I prefer my men a bit more warm-blooded.”  

“You're not funny.”  

“I think I am.”    

(Y/N) was cooking dinner while Bella read Wuthering Heights out loud when Charlie arrived home. It was the sight of a normal enough family. A single father with his two daughters, no relation to anything or anyone supernatural. They were all just almost normal.  

“That was really good, (Y/N),” Charlie said as he finished his dinner. “What was it? I mean, it looks like chicken, but it's not quite that.” 

“Uh, it's breaded cauliflower,” she said, trying her best to swallow the laughter that threatened to spill as Bella snickered quietly. “It's supposed to resemble a chicken parm, hence the sauce and the cheese.”  

“(Y/N), that's an abomination.”  

“You just said it was good, dad,” Bella argued with a grin. “And it's better for your health. You need to start eating more vegetables.” 

“I can settle for a salad or two, but you cannot take away my meat.”  

“I was trying something,” (Y/N) chuckled. “I won't take away the meats, but it's easier than making something separate for Bella. And, again, you need to eat more vegetables, dad.” 

“You know it's my job to worry about you guys, right?” Charlie argued. “Not the other way around.”  

“Old habits die hard, dad,” Bella shrugged with a smile. “At least you'll only have to worry about my diet for a few more months. After that, I'll be in college.”  

A choking silence fell on the family as realization dawned upon them. Time had seemed to slip out of their fingers, and somehow the future had made its way into the Swan home. In a few months' time, the house would be missing an integral part once more. After such a long time, they had started to resemble a real unit, but it wouldn't last for long in more ways than one.  

(Y/N) knew that Bella going away would only bring her closer to the inevitable, and no amount of time would ever be enough for her to get used to the idea of losing her sister forever. Much less to the knowledge that her sister would live forever. There would soon come a day when the face she saw was the Bella she would see until the day she died. And it was a face that would forever be etched into their father's brain when he was told his daughter had died.  

“Right,” Charlie said as he cleared his throat, breaking the unbearable tension in the room. “And, uh, have you decided what school you're gonna go to?”   

“I'm still toying with a few options,” the girl muttered as she pushed the last bits of her dinner around on her plate. “But I'm really liking the University of Alaska.”  

“If it's about the money, Bells, I already told you...”  

“It's not,” she dismissed, feeling the nerves closing her throat. “Enough about school, though. How was your day?”  

As Charlie talked about the unbelievably slow day at work and the various games of cards he played with his coworker Mark, (Y/N) couldn't stop thinking of what awaited her and her sister's future. Truthfully, she had never given it much thought. Growing old was a part of life the younger girl didn't think she wouldn't go through with Bella. They were only a few years apart, and she never thought she'd have to go through the pain of losing her for more than a couple of years after her passing. Now, the girl knew she'd have to mourn a girl who would continue living after she was gone.  

The conversation soon turned into their weekend plans and an invitation to go to Billy's house for a playoff party, and all (Y/N) wanted was to head in for the night. Her thoughts had overwhelmed her, and she didn't know how long she would go without crying by staying around her sister and her father.  

After helping to clear the dishes, she excused herself for the night, claiming to be sporting a headache she wanted to sleep away. Charlie didn't question anything, but rather kissed her temple and wished her a good night. But Bella could see the sadness behind the girl's eyes. It wasn't a headache that was tormenting her sister, but it was clear that she did not want to talk about it. If there was anything she could give her, it was space.  

Upstairs, (Y/N) could feel tears burning the back of her eyes. She felt stupid for being so affected by something that wouldn't happen, hopefully, in months, possibly years. But every day that passed, the closer they got to the fulfillment of it all. Bella would one day have to become a vampire, and (Y/N) would grow old without her.  

“Woah, what's wrong, pretty girl?” Paul whispered once she was inside her bedroom, crossing the distance from the window to her. “Why are you crying?” 

(Y/N) instantly melted into his embrace, breathing in the warm smells of the forest on his skin. “It's nothing important,” she sighed. “I'm just being stupid.”  

“If it makes you cry, it's not stupid,” he whispered into her hair. “Do you want to talk about it?”  

The girl shook her head, knowing the information would put her sister under a microscope, and the last thing she wanted was to cause another rift in the small town. “Really, it's nothing,” (Y/N) said as she pulled him to the bed. “I'm just tired.”  

“I can go home. Let you sleep.” 

“I don't want you to go. You already came all this way.”  

“You say that like it's hard,” he chuckled. “I'd go anywhere for you.”  

(Y/N) couldn't help the smile that stretched across her mouth as they settled into the bed. It wasn't the first time he'd said something like that, but she smiled because she knew he meant it. And maybe a part of her would always wonder how much of his sentiments were because of the imprint bond, but at that moment, she didn't care. Paul cared about her, and that was enough.  

She rested her head on the boy's chest, being softly lulled to sleep by his heartbeat and the gentle shapes he drew on her back. Since they had finally given in to their feelings and gotten together, (Y/N) noticed the calmness that overtook her just by being with him. It also helped that there was nothing or no one to be angry at during that moment.  

“Your sister just went down,” Paul muttered quietly after almost an hour of comfortable silence. His eyes had been closed for the better part of the time, but never fully succumbed to sleep. “And your dad is snoring on the couch. I think he's watching last year's NBA highlights.”  

“Well, the playoffs are coming up,” the girl chuckled, her voice heavy with sluggishness. “He's gotta freshen up on his talking points for Billy's party, even when he's asleep.”  

“You going to that this weekend?”  

“I think so,” she said. “I don't see why I wouldn't.”  

“Well...”  

“I'm not worried about Jake. I mean, other than the fact that he's barely at home, my dad's gonna be there. He won't try anything with him there,” she shrugged before looking up at him. “Are you worried?”  

“Not about him exactly. Just...” Paul took a steadying breath, pressing his free hand against his temple. “It's nothing. I'd rather talk about anything else.”  

“What is it, Paul?”  

“Nothing for you to worry about, okay?” He smiled warmly before pressing a kiss to her head. “It's just dumb stuff.”  

“Paul.”  

“Everything's fine,” he chuckled in an effort to undermine whatever was happening. “You have enough to worry about. Like talking to your sister.”  

“Way to turn things on me, huh?” (Y/N) chuckled. “I'm actually feeling a bit better about that. I talked to Billy and my dad about it...”  

“You went to his house?” Paul exclaimed, trying his best to keep quiet. 

“It's Billy's house, and I went to talk to him. That's all.” She knew keeping the fact that she had briefly encountered Jacob was the right move. The last thing she wanted was for him to grow angry at something she had resolved. “There was no Jake. So, you can put the paws away.”  

“I still don't like that you went there by yourself,” the boy huffed. “Anything could've happened.” 

“But it didn't, and I'm okay,” (Y/N) said, placing a hand on his chest to calm him. “And Billy's family. I'm not gonna stop seeing him just because his son sucks.”  

Paul let out an annoyed huff, trying his best to keep his emotions in check. He could feel the slight tremble of anger rumbling under his skin, the wolf inside him yelling to break free. Had they been anywhere else, he was sure he would have exploded. “You should've told me you were heading there,” he grumbled. “I can't protect you if I don't know where you are.” 

“You can't be with me every second of the day, Paul. Things are gonna happen no matter how hard you try to avoid them.” (Y/N) could see he wanted to argue more. But the longer the conversation went, the more probable a shift was to happen. “I don't want to fight about this, okay? Can you just be happy that I'm ready to talk about things with Bella? That's what this was all about.”  

“Fine,” he sighed, wrapping his arms tighter around her. “I am glad you're finally telling Bella how big of an ass Jacob is. And I hope your dad arrests him.”  

“Right, because the best thing you can do is put a wolf in jail. That's one way to reveal the tribe's secret to the world.”  

“So, what did you tell your dad?”  

“Basically what really happened,” she said. “Except the whole vampire and werewolf of it all. He thinks Jake saw me fall in the forest and left me there. Not that a bloodthirsty vampire was hot on my trail. He also knows you saved me—wants to thank you for that.”  

“I'll take what I can get,” he grinned. “The Swan boyfriends have not had good contenders until now.”  

“We sure know how to pick them. It took literal universe intervention to get you here.”  

Paul placed a hand under (Y/N)'s chin as she stretched her neck to kiss his lips, a smile pulling at the corners of their mouths. “It was bound to happen one way or another,” he said. “I would have found you anywhere.”  

“Even down in Florida?” she teased with a chuckle.  

“I would have saved you from Florida.” 

“Good,” the girl said. “My hair would have never been able to take the tropical humidity.”  

There were things they had to talk about, topics they were avoiding for the sake of maintaining the peace in their relationship. But keeping them at bay with mindless mutterings of possibilities would only work for so long. Someday, somehow, everything they were scared of saying out loud would erupt to the surface and crack the unsteady foundation they were creating. But, for the moment, it worked.  

Next ->

A/N: sorry I haven't posted in forever, life and migraine flare-ups really struck me down, but I am working on updates for all stories 😬 also, remember if you wanna be tagged to fill the 2025 form linked below If you’d like to be tagged: click here Make sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post!

“I transferred some money into your account,” Charlie said as he fussed over his daughter's jacket. “I also put some cash in your purse in case you guys get too hungry.”  

“Dad, I’m not five,” (Y/N) chuckled. “And we're just gonna go out to find a dress. We'll be back in time for the party.” 

“Well, I know. I just want to make sure you girls have everything you need,” he said. “And I want to make sure you're feeling okay about the talk you're gonna have with your sister.”  

Right. The talk. The week had come and gone faster than (Y/N) could have anticipated, and somehow the weekend had arrived. (Y/N) was ready to tell Bella everything, but she wasn’t quite ready for the aftermath. She wasn’t ready for pity, sadness, or concern. Hell, she didn't even want anger. All she wanted was to be done with the situation. “I think I'm good,” she smiled, trying her best to calm her father's worries. “After talking to you and Billy, I'm ready.”  

“Well, I'm glad, sweetheart,” Charlie sighed, hugging his daughter tightly.  

“You ready to go, (Y/N)?” Bella asked as she sauntered down the last stairs. “We got a bit of a drive.”  

“Yeah, just done.”  

“Alright,” she said. “We'll call when we're done, dad.” 

“Be safe, girls,” he said before placing a kiss on the top of both their heads. "And grab some breakfast, alright? Make sure you eat.”  

“Yes, dad,” Bella chuckled. “We'll see you later.”  

“Alright, see you soon,” he said as they walked toward the door. “Love you, girls.”  

“Love you, too,” they yelled back.  

The dynamic between the three Swans had shifted for the better. For the first time in a long time, they were vocal about their appreciation for each other. They had become a unit and less of three ships navigating the same sea. Finally, they were sailing together. Even if it was only for a short amount of time, they were a unit.  

“I'm thinking we could grab a bite at Granny's Diner,” Bella said halfway into the drive. They had been sitting in comfortable silence. Biding their time to see who would speak first. “They have some outside dining, and it might be the best place to talk. Unless, you know, you wanna do it now.” 

“I'll wait for the restaurant,” (Y/N) answered. “Don't really feel like talking about life before I've gotten some food in my stomach.”  

“It won't change the story,” her sister shrugged. “We could save ourselves an hour of coffee sipping.”  

Truthfully, (Y/N) wanted to wait until they were in a public space to avoid Bella turning the car around and killing Jacob herself. She could sense her sister was itching for the truth, unravelling under the weight of all the theories her mind was coming up with, and none of it would ever compare to reality. The moment she found out, there was no telling how she would react. “I just need the time to compose myself,” she said. “Can I?”   

“Yeah,” her sister smiled, reaching over to take her hand in his. “I just don’t want any more secrets between us, (Y/N). I want the rest of this year to be better. For you. For me. For us.”  

“I want that, too, Bella,” she replied. “We deserve calm for a while.”  

Quiet and calm were, of course, a mirage in Forks. It never lasted long, and it normally meant something big was lurking around the corner. But for a few more hours, even a few more days, they could pretend or believe it could be their future. A world where they were simply two girls, one on her way to college and the other buying her first prom dress.  

Thirty more minutes of background music, and the odd nod-off from (Y/N), and Bella was parking across the little diner. There was only one table outside, as though the very universe had conspired to make everything just right. Truth was making its way into the light, and after that day, nothing would ever be the same.  

The sisters took a seat and ordered promptly, nursing two mugs neither girl seemed too interested in. Procrastination ran in Swan veins, and they were experts at beating around the bush instead of getting to the point. But that morning, Bella would not tolerate it.  

“Okay then,” she said, finally taking a small sip of her tea, “what did Jacob really do?”  

(Y/N) sighed deeply, spinning the spoon inside her coffee with too much milk as she braced herself to tell the story. Hopefully, for the last time. “Where do you want me to start?” the girl asked. “From the very beginning, or what Edward and Paul were talking about?” 

“From the start,” Bella responded. “I need to know everything he's done to you, (Y/N).” 

And, once more, the younger Swan detailed the horrendous couple of months she spent alongside Jacob Black. She started with the good things. Because there were some, even if she could count them in one hand. There had been the crush she had harbored since she was a kid—the fluttering in her chest when she heard his name, the heat that rushed through her body when she was able to be near him, the happiness the idea of being with him brought her. There was the moment she saw him when she came back to Forks—the moment everything had rushed back, the joy and excitement of being in his arms for even a second. And there was their first kiss. Everything was so small in retrospect, but they were moments that had meant the world to her in the past. They were part of her history. She could never deny that.  

Still, there was an evil that undermined any of the sweet words, the warm kisses, and the fulfillment of a lifelong wish. And it didn't take long for that dark side to take over. (Y/N) told her sister about the sly and insulting comments he would throw her way, and how good he was at making her feel like she deserved to hear them. Told her about his misconstrued concern for Bella, how he could derail every single one of their conversations with her. She spoke of his belittlement, of his gaslighting, and his unachievable ultimatum.  

During all of this, Bella remained quiet, her grip on her mug getting tighter the more her sister talked. She wanted to give (Y/N) the space and time to let everything out, scared that if she spoke up, her sister would close up and hide the rest. As hard as it was, she had to bite her tongue to get the truth. The whole truth.  

“After I couldn't get Embry out of the pack, he stopped calling and coming over,” (Y/N) continued. “That's when you and he started hanging out again. Well, you already know that part. When we went to his house, and everything went down, he wanted us to get back together, but I wasn't sure I wanted that—not anymore. Still, he kissed me, and I didn't know how to say no.”  

Bella's jaw clenched, but instead of talking, she nodded to her sister to keep going. “He was different then, but so was I,” she sighed. “I didn't feel anything for him, and still, I tried to find what I felt for him in the past. But it was gone, and everyone was telling me to leave him.  “I tried many times, but something always happened that didn't let me,” she chuckled dryly. “Until the night after we almost drowned. I was telling him the truth, that I didn't feel the same about him, and I had to let him go. He didn't like that.”  

She told Bella how Jacob had only wanted to get close to (Y/N) just so he could get closer to her, how he only tried to fix things with her because Bella had wanted that. Then, he told her how Paul was still keeping things from her, that he was lying right to her face. “I couldn't handle it, and I took off running,” (Y/N) sniffled, feeling tears welling in her eyes as she remembered the moment. “I don't know how long I was running, I just knew I had to get as far away as I could from his house. My legs were burning, and I could barely breathe when I suddenly tripped over a raised root and fell.   “I was all alone in the forest. Until I wasn't,” she said. Her hands trembled around her cup, the liquid inside rippling as her nerves took over her body. “Victoria found me.”  

“What?!” Bella exclaimed, unable to contain her worry. It dripped from her words and splattered on her face, her hand reaching for her sister's instinctively. “Why didn't you tell me?”  

“I didn't know how without telling you the whole thing,” (Y/N) replied, her voice cracking as the tears started to fall. “She was close to killing me. She said she wanted to kill me to hurt you, that somehow my death would hurt you and make it better when she killed you.   “I was sure that was it. Victoria had her hands around my throat, even slicing into my skin.” She raised her head slowly, revealing the scar that still remained at the top of her neck. “I passed out before I could see anything else, but Paul found me. Sam and Embry joined him later, and they helped him run her out of town. I was asleep until after Harry's funeral.”  

“Oh, (Y/N).”  

“That's not the worst part, Bells,” she sighed, squeezing her hand to ground herself. “When I was ready to go home, Embry came around and told us something we didn't notice. While Victoria was attacking me, Jake was there.”  

“W-what are you saying, (Y/N)?” 

“While Jacob was on patrol with Embry, he let visions slip from the night before,” she recounted, her chin trembling with every word. “He was running to the woods after he left you at home. He was angry, Embry said. That's when he happened upon Victoria attacking me. He could have stopped her. At least, scare her long enough for reinforcements to come. Instead, he stayed hidden, watching as she took my life. He'd said it was because he thought if I died, your grief would push you to find comfort in him.”  

The older girl remained silent, anger building inside her like a volcano about to erupt. She could see why (Y/N) had decided to talk in a public space rather than in the car. Her veins itched with the need to get back in the car and yell at Jake until her voice was hoarse, hit him until her hands shattered into a million pieces. She wanted him to hurt for all the pain he had put her sister through.  

"I wanted to tell you right after it happened, but Alice was there,” the girl sobbed. “You had something more important to get to, and I couldn't stop you. After that, I couldn't find the courage to tell you the truth. I spent days stewing in what I allowed to be done to me, and I felt like an idiot. Something inside me kept telling me that telling the truth would make me look stupid, so I just kept quiet.  “And then I found out how everyone had turned on Jake, and I couldn't help but feel responsible,” she continued. “I didn't want to ruin the last relationship he had by telling you the truth, too. So, I kept it to myself and hoped he didn't say anything.”  

“(Y/N), there is no one more important in my life than you,” Bella croaked, her throat feeling tighter as her sister continued to talk. “I'm sorry I couldn't see how much you were hurting. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm just sorry for not being the sister you deserve.”  

“No, Bells, you have nothing to be sorry for,” the girl said. “I made the decision not to tell you, okay? And I wasn't alone. I had Paul to help me, and dad and uncle Billy. You had your own problems to deal with. I mean, just with the whole vampire thing...”  

“(Y/N), you almost died, and I had no idea,” Bella said, tears falling from her eyes. “I could have lost you, and I didn't know. My friend left you for dead, and I didn't know. You came out all this way for me, you almost died, and still you were looking out for me.”   

“It's not like I really helped you,” (Y/N) chuckled softly. “I mostly complained to dad about you. If anything, it's Jacob that got you out of this rut.”  

“You're wrong,” Bella smiled. “It was you.”  

“Oh, come on.”  

“I'm serious,” she said. “Jacob and I mostly talked about you, (Y/N). You knew that going back to Florida would kill me, and instead of letting mom drag me back, you left your life behind and came here for me. I know I haven't said it, and I didn't quite show it when you first came here, but I was so relieved when dad said you were coming to Forks. You're the reason I pulled myself out, (Y/N). Not Jacob. Not Edward. You.”  

(Y/N) wanted to argue, but Bella stopped her before a word could leave her mouth. “I know you don't believe me, and you find it difficult to take a compliment,” she chuckled. “But even if you did complain at the start—which I don't really mind—you still showed me that I would be okay without Edward. There are other people out there who love me enough to drop everything and be there for me. You're why it stopped being hard to be here.”  

“You're giving me too much credit, Bells,” (Y/N) said, feeling her face grow warmer as the seconds passed. “But I'll take it, nonetheless. I'm glad you're better.”  

“And I'm glad you're alive,” she smiled. “And when we get back, I'm killing Jacob.”  

The younger girl choked on her coffee at her words, scaring the waitress who had just arrived with their plates. The poor woman left with a red face and a heart that was probably hammering against her chest. Laughter erupted between the Swan sisters, hoping the server didn't hear the last bit of their conversation.  

“You can't kill Jake, by the way,” (Y/N) whispered as they started on their food. “I told you everything so we could lay it all to rest. I don't want anyone to go after him to get revenge or whatever. I just want that nightmare to be over. He's had a reckoning of his own creation.”  

“What do you mean?”  

“Well, Sam's been giving him extra patrols,” she said. Part of her was debating telling Bella what had occurred the weekend before, knowing it would only make her sister's anger grow. But she had promised the whole truth, and Bella was the only person she didn't want to keep things from—not anymore. “He's been sleeping in his garage, too. Billy barely talks to him. And, well, Paul is always just one word away from killing him.”  

“How do you know he's sleeping in the garage?” 

“Uh, well, when I dropped off Paul last weekend, I went by Billy's to talk to him,” she explained, her eyes focusing on anything but Bella. “As I was leaving, Jake showed up and asked me to talk.”  

"(Y/N),” Bella reprimanded.  

“He was basically trying to convince me not to talk to you, and he got a bit forceful.” Before Bella could complain or react much, (Y/N) shut her down. What she wanted most was to show her sister that she could handle herself. That the girl she was now was stronger than the one who had arrived to help mend her sister's broken heart. “He just grabbed my wrists, but I freed myself. He was trying to make everything my fault again, but I shut it down. And I am 100% sure he won't even come near me ever again.”  

Bella kept quiet for a second, thoughts flashing across her eyes like a blazing fire. “You know, I could probably get Edward to kill him,” she whispered. “Get him out of the state, and poof.”  

“Bells!” (Y/N) exclaimed. “You can't joke about something like that. And you can't leave Paul out of it either.”  

Both sisters erupted into a chorus of laughter once more, pretending the plan was only a funny quip to pass the time. Maybe she was imagining it, but (Y/N) felt the air around them get lighter. Now that everything was on the table, the dark cloud that seemed to hang above them dispersed and only bright and sunny skies were forecasted ahead—as sunny as it could get. It had been years since either Swan had been hopeful for the future, but at that moment, anything they dreamed of was possible.  

But they forgot about the world they lived in.  

Once they were done with their food and had apologized to the waitress with a hefty tip, the girls started their walk toward the dress shop. “So,” Bella said, linking her arm with (Y/N)'s, "what color were you thinking for the dress?”  

“Well, Paul's favorite color is red,” she said, trying to keep her smile small. “I was thinking of something in that realm.”  

“That's a good start,” Bella laughed. “Are you gonna go short or long?”  

“Long, I think is best. It is his senior prom.”  

“I wouldn't know,” she sighed dramatically. “I didn't go to mine.”  

“Well, maybe you shouldn't have gone to Italy to rescue your vampire boyfriend,” (Y/N) teased. “Thankfully, mine is more into fistfights than dramatic spectacles.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” Bella chuckled sarcastically. “He's my ex, by the way. Better get that clear.”  

“And is he gonna stay that way?”  

“Oh, look,” Bella exclaimed. “We're here!” 

The shop was smaller than other stores (Y/N) had been to, but compared to anything in Forks, it had quite the selection. As soon as they stepped inside, they were inundated with sequins and satin, beads and lace, and rows upon rows of fabric. It was slightly overwhelming, and they were completely underqualified for the task, but they had to start somewhere.  

Twenty minutes in, and (Y/N) was ready to throw in the towel. There were many red dresses—long, short, slim, puffy. It was more than she could ask for. But none of them called to her. Bella pulled dress after dress, sticking her arm into the overflowing racks and showing her sister options, but none seemed to be the one. They knew neither of them was particularly adept in the fashion department, but the girl at least knew what she liked, and nothing quite fit the bill.  

“You have to pick something, (Y/N),” Bella sighed, her arms growing sore from the gowns she had been holding. “At least, try them on. They might look different.” 

“They’re just not right,” she complained. “I want to look good.” 

“I know, but…” Bella’s words died in her mouth as her eyes fell on a figure across the street. They were unmistakable and stood out like a sore thumb. “What is Alice doing here?” 

(Y/N) swiftly turned around, her eyes falling on the vampire who sat on a bench on the other side of the store. She held a newspaper over half of her face in a failed attempt at concealing her identity, but she couldn’t hide everything else. From the clothes to the hair, to the big designer sunglasses that hung on her nose. It was Alice Cullen, and it could be no one else. “Is she following us?” the girl whispered. “Did she hear about our plans?”  

“I don’t know,” she answered as she put the dresses back on the rack. “But I intend to find out.”  

Next ->

A/N: in my head, Bella at least lands a good punch on Jacob that doesn't break her hand. but finally she gets to know everything, hopefully nothing else happens. hahaha... right? 🫣 If you’d like to be tagged in this or any other story:  click here Make sure you have my notifications on so you know every time I post!