KOOK POV:

(Y/N)'s words are ones we'd all been yearning desperately to hear, ears begging to hear her admission, hear that she too wishes to mate with us, to complete the mating. It was all we'd ever wanted, had felt time travel and pass like sludge, infinities passing in how long it seemed we had waited and we would wait. And yet when the time does come it's suddenly as if we've been thrown into unknown waters, submerged, and flailing helplessly in the tidal wave of excitement, elation and nervousness that swamps us all.

And since she's said it, there's been a constant flurry of butterflies in my stomach, a nervousness that comes about in nearly every waking moment and thought because this is my first time to be mating someone to bring them into the coven, when I'd joined the hyungs had done it for me.

So it was a first.

I seemed to have many firsts as a mate because of (Y/N), and it made me feel like a mixture of frazzled nerves and gooey puddle- because she was just so sweet and adorable and her, and that made me want to try my best, make every moment prefect- so that she would remember our mating as a monumental change in her life, as something she would treasure and cherish for the eternity we would share.

But my nerves seem to barely touch the tip of the icebergs that are the hyungs' worries and nerves- because her decision meant that she needed to be officially introduced to their families too, that they had the chance to meet our final mate and that all the rites of courtship were carried through properly until the last moment.

I knew just how busy the house was going to become, it was already becoming a hive of action and movement. Jin hyung after finally managing to extract himself with great difficulty, looking for all that he wanted to stay and scoop her up into another hug, another kiss, left with his phone in hand- brightness exuding out of him. For once looking happy at the idea of having to contact his parents.

But I can see the jitteriness in the usually composed hyungs, it looks like they're out of their depth even though I know it's not their first time, but it still holds the same exhilaration, the same panicky nerves, and the giddiness. That clearly doesn't get old.

And when Jin hyung announces at the dinner table that the parents have all collectively decided on a date, the upcoming weekend- it seems to hit (Y/N) then, just how daunting, and scary it could be, because her bright expression shutters with fear and apprehension and the food she'd so lovingly prepared for all of us receives the attention of her fiddling hands. I reach out to take her left hand, resting our interlaced fingers on my lap.

She shoots me a tight smile.

"Petal they'll love you." Joon hyung says from where his observing eyes have settled on her silently fretting figure.

Jin hyung makes a small sound of hurt, in the back of his throat when her wide baleful eyes turn upwards, looking into Joonie hyung's as if trying to find reassurance in them.

"My darling, I promise you we won't leave you alone to fend for yourself. Your our mate little one and that means staying with you through every fuss and bit of coddling I can only begin to imagine you'll get." Hyung says, but his eyes flicker red as he speaks, and the smile on his lips is wry- as if he already knows what's waiting for her.

She peers at him.

He winks conspiratorially to her.

"I know they'll be gushing all over you my sweetheart, I've seen it." He says, giving that push of finality that she needs, the promise that she won't be rejected or shunned by their families.

Though why she'd ever thought that is something I can't even begin to understand.

Couldn't she see how smitten we all were? How heads over heels we were for her slightest actions? If we were all a pile of mush around her, so eager and willing to please her, to be close to her- then she didn't even need to worry about the families.

They had accepted each of the hyungs and me without hesitation. There was something so inherently sacred and cherished about a mate bond that made it each person's priority. And each of the families respected and valued mates. There was no way they'd treat her with hostility or coolness- it would be with warm wide arms that she'd be accepted and considered their own. And it had been a unanimous decision that at the first sight of discomfort on our baby mate and we'd head back, no questions asked and no excuses given. Her needs were our priority. Nothing else.

But whilst she stops worrying about that, as the days count down to the weekend, she begins to return more and more to her apartment or to spend time at the Ims nest and whilst her absence was felt sorely- a gaping hole in the complete picture she'd made, we respected her distance.

Knew that nerves made her want to seek out her family, the ones she'd grown up with.

But it didn't mean that we didn't try to lessen the dullness by spending more time together, by calling her and spending small moments with her. And whenever we were in lessons with her, we grew to appreciate every moment with her.

It had been such a startling change, especially because her willingness to mate had slowly begun to push our instincts into those protective states of wanting to hover until she was claimed, that the next day when I had art with her, I'd nearly bowled her over in a hug and had it not been for Eunwoo been standing behind her, she'd have gone toppling off her chair. But those unsettled needs had been soothed by being in her presence and been giddy when she spent all day with us, returning to the Ims for the night..

But all the worry had been for nothing it seemed.

Because the only reason she'd gone to stay with them hadn't been nerves and panic but because she said they'd wanted to dress her up for the meeting on the weekend, that it was them fulfilling their long-dreamt wish to see their baby dressed up and heading off for such an important function.

And that's when we saw it, the Ims draping her in their clothes, saturating her in their scent by leaving their clothes on her or with her, taking joy in doing the small things they habitually used to, Jinyoung hyung taking joy in feeding her, the others spending time in making her laugh and giggle.

And Yugyeomie sharing the time with his bloodmate, his own emotions heightened because he was beginning to realise that the bond he shared wasn't the only official one she'd have, that she was also going to have claiming bites from all of us and not just the marks that adorned the inside of her wrist.

And though we hadn't officially discussed it, it remained unspoken hovering in the air, about whether she would stay at her apartment or at the nest full-time.

It was a decision we hadn't pushed her to make because the one she had made was already a huge monumental shift in the dynamics that already existed. We had time and so did she. There was no hurrying.

And when the day dawned for all of us to be taking (Y/N) to meet them, we were all dressed and waiting- nervous as we'd eaten breakfast, nervous as we'd straightened out collars and fixed imaginary creases off each other's clothes. And then as we waited in the doorway, I find myself losing my breath when the door opened to reveal (Y/N) on the other side, smiling and ready- flanked by Yugyeom and JB hyung.

She was unbelievably beautiful, sweet, and mesmerising to the eyes.

And I found my feet stuck to the floor when all I wanted to do was move and rush to her after days of only having spent time with her during the day, beds craving her presence too, arms yearning to hold her close as we slept.

And there she was. Standing in front of us.

And I knew when we felt so stunned and awed, then the parents had no chance.

There was no way they could resist this. This vision of tender ethereality.

(Y/N) POV:

"You look beautiful." The Ims had said as I'd made my way to the door after hugging each and every one of them and thanking them.

And standing in front of my mates, I felt it.

Felt it in the way their eyes had widened and their brown soft orbs had morphed to a deep red, felt it in the way the way all of their eyes burned as they gazed at me, seven different but inherently similar heated caresses over my skin as they took the sight of me in.

And I didn't feel the need to cower or hide or be shy, not when they looked at me with desire and want pooling in their eyes and heady longing coursing intoxicatingly through the bond.

I was slightly amused at the way they seemed to be frozen, unable to move but thought nothing of it until Tae burst out indignantly.

"Jin hyung the house isn't letting me move." He huffs, and it's then I realise that all of them seem to be experiencing the same thing, their displeasure and annoyance being expressed now that they know they're all forcefully bound from moving.

It makes me laugh at the house preventing them from rushing over even if I do wistfully wonder what would happen had they not been bound, how they would've reacted then.

And it's as if the house reads my thoughts, feels the emotional longing because no sooner than does that thought leave my head, they seem to promptly be unstuck, Kookie rushes forward first, a cute giggly endearing sound as he beams at me, the sight of his happy bright face greeting me before he carefully scoops me into a hug, mindful of my clothes and knowing how much it meant to me on making a good impression on their family.

"You look beautiful baby." He whispers in my ears before letting me go, and only because the others are nudging at him to get to me.

I laugh at the carefulness they hug and peck me lightly with, almost as if attuned to just how much it means to me that I don't have smudged lips or wrinkled clothes- even if their eyes burn and spark with a longing.

"Have fun chickie." JB oppa says when I turn, leading the others out onto the open space, wrapping me up in a hug and twirling me around, beaming when it induces a giggle.

And Yugyeomie is silent but supportive, eyes looking suspiciously wet but he scrubs his eyes and hugs me, pressing a soft lingering kiss to my wrist and holding me tight.

"Love you mallow." He murmurs, voice wavering slightly.

"Love you too Gyeomie." I whisper back, clinging all of a sudden to him, feeling his own emotions mirrored in me as well as my own fears rising at his clingy state.

And when the two of them leave I find myself snagged by Tae, Kookie and Hobi oppa, all of who pile into one car and the others get into the second, driving us farther out then I'd thought, driving until the cityscape passes by and greenery becomes more and more visible, rolling fields and hills.

I sit at the back between Tae and Kookie, finding comfort in the gentle reassuring they give in soothing phrases and light pecks to my cheek and neck, lips lingering.

The clothes I've chosen are purposely low necked to display the full extent of the marks they'd left yesterday before I headed back with the Ims, grips on my waist tight and burning the shape of their palms and fingers through the fabric and onto my skin as they tilted my head away, lips sucking, teeth nipping and tongues roving with a burning teasing patience, fanning the embers into flickering flames under my skin, as they laid stake on me again- physical proofs left behind of their desire to mark me. It had been a slow torment, gradually stoking the fire, as they drew gasps and whimpers out of me, a heady cocktail of all of our feelings and wants floating like a drugging haze in the air.

I remember, at the first firm nip, of unwillingly dragging my neck away from reach, breathlessly asking whether their parents would mind seeing me marked up. But the resounding growl I got against my throat seconds later extinguished any of those concerns.

"Don't stress, all the eomma's are doting and loving." Tae says from my left side, fingers repeatedly rubbing comforting circles on the back of my hand that he's got between his two.

But his words bring to mind a new worry.

"What do I call them? Do I call them Ma'am, do I call them Mrs Kims and Mrs Min, is it rude if I call them eommoni or is it something they're expecting- will they get offended if I assume that closeness?" I say fingers nervously twisting unsettlingly in Tae's grip.

He tightens his hands, sandwiching my fingers so they're still.

"You call them whatever you want. But I think they'll be smitten in the first few moments anyways." Hobi oppa advices from the front, shooting me a reassuring smile and empathetic glance through the rear-view mirror.

I nod, biting my lip, startling slightly when Kookie gently rubs at it, getting it to slide out the slight grip of my teeth digging into my bottom lip.

"Don't do that." He says, fussing slightly as his finger rubs back and forth gently before letting go.

From all of them it's Kookie who knows exactly what I'm going through, he'd been in the same position as me when he'd met all of the parents and families, the latest one because he was the youngest too. And now it's him guiding me through it with a gentle thoughtfulness.

He'd been so helpful the past few days, sending me small messages of advice and help and tips- promising to be there every step of the way. And the little titbits of information he'd given me about their likes and dislikes had helped in making me feel slightly prepared.

I couldn't pick out a gift. Not because I hadn't wanted to but because the Ims had told me that for courting rites, the youngest is the one that gets doted on, and that usually the gifting stage ideally happens after the mating, after the official bonding and claiming.

It had left me feeling slightly nervous, because I wanted their families to accept me, I wanted to have good relations with them.

And it seems like my worrying makes the time fly by because in no time the journey has passed and we arrive in front of an even grander old stately manor, large and imposing, beautifully old and designed with tasteful grandeur.

When I step out of the car, I feel tiny and small looking up at it. This is where I'm meeting them.

Did I dress down?

Jinnie oppa steps close, taking my hand in his after wrapping me in a tight embrace.

Every bit fiercely protective and loving and supportive.

"We've got you. And they are going to adore you." he whispers before leading the way up the ornate path, through the archs of blooms that create a flowery soft shade before reaching the door.

He doesn't step through as he could, considering that this place is where he grew up, he knocks on the door- three sharp firm raps of his knuckles against the wood.

Behind us I can feel the protective curve the others form.

I duck down behind him, feeling jittery and the butterflies bat their wings in full force in my stomach, fiddling with the fabric of his shirt.

I hear Minnie coo and gush out a 'so adorable' from behind me.

The door opens and I can hear a warm sweet voice, honey toned and gentle.

"Seokjin-ah, it's been such a long time." the female voice coos, sounding impossibly intimidating and beautifully powerful.

"Hello eomma." Jinnie oppa says voice warm and yet there's a noticeable politeness in his tone.

She clucks her tongue.

"I can see six dashing mates, where are you hiding the seventh? I'm so sure they're a gem if you don't want your own Eomma to see straight away." She says, voice warm and sweet as I imagine her eyes to fall onto the others.

Jinnie oppa sighs.

"Eomma please, please be gentle. No sudden movements okay...Eomma, meet...meet our final mate. Meet our baby mate." He says, voice sounding slightly tentative and hedging carefully.

I can't imagine why.

His voice sounds wary and slightly nervous.

And when he steps aside, I get the sight of a stunningly gorgeous woman- face lined with maturity but devastatingly beautiful. I watch as her eyes widen, turning from brown to a burning bright red. Her satin lips part but no sound comes out and before I can process anything else, I see a blur of movement before I find myself being collided into with great force, feet stumbling backwards and back arching, arms wrapping automatically around the figure.

I feel as if the air has been punches out of my lungs, but I don't find myself winded as I would've as a human.

And in my ears.

"You're just the sweetest thing." She croons, voice pitched with excitement.

And as I find my arms occupied by Jinnie oppa's mother, I think as first impressions go she's incredibly warm and welcoming.

And if this is how the day begins, then I can't wait to see where it leads me.

(THER YOU GO! WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY GET TO THE ACTUAL MEETING ITSELF- OOPS! BUT I NEVER KNEW BUILD UP COULD TAKE A WHOLE CHAPTER! AND THERE YOU GO! JINNIE'S MUM HAS BARRELLED INTO BABY MATE TO SCOOP HER UP AND I WONDER WHAT WE'LL SEE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER- I AM SUPER SUPER EXCITED TO SEE AND WRITE! AND LET ME KNOW HOW YOU FOUND THIS CHAPTER TOO MY LOVES! ALL YOUR THOUGHTS AND REACTIONS ARE EAGERLY READ BY ME! AND ACK! I FOUND IT SO CUTE THAT THE IMS WANTED HER TO STAY WITH THEM, BECAUSE THEY'RE HER FAMILY AND THEY'D BEEN WAITING FOR SO LONG, THEIR CHICKIE ALL GROWN UP AND MEETING THE PARENTS AND THEY GOT TO DRESS HER UP! AND VERY BOLD MATES LEAVING THEIR CLAIMS ON HER, BUT THE PARENTS WILL EAT THAT ALL UP! CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER ALREADY! STAY SAFE AND TAKE CARE!)

Change can be scary, daunting and upsetting. But change can bring good to our lives, it can bring us new people, new lives and new situations to our own lives and fill it with more colour. Change is part of nature, so don't be scared of it, embrace it.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3