(Y/N) POV:

"You're not actually considering not inviting your parents are you oppa?" I ask whilst chopping the ingredients for Yoongi oppa's famed stew.

He stops collecting ingredients for the seasoning to face me instead, sighing.

"I don't want you to ever go through what you endured today. Hyung's brother was out of line and none of them said anything." He says, voice tight and forcefully measured and controlled- trying not to let the ire that was bubbling away in the bond make it self physically expressed.

I stop chopping, setting the knife down and smiling when the chopping board slides back a bit, knife away from reach so it doesn't lead to any accidents.

"But what's that got to do with your parents? And well...I kinda regret smacking him." I say fiddling with my fingers now that they're not busy in doing something. 

Oppa freezes at that. Turns to face me and I can feel the heavy weight of his gaze, a burning simmer that grazes across the side of my face.

"Why? Why would you regret it?" he asks, voice slightly sharp.

I turn to face him.

"I don't regret slapping him in response to the vile things he said. I regret that he had to be a family member- whether or not they agree with his outdated views, it doesn't change the fact that they're blood related.

"Well...don't." he says bluntly and so petulantly, arms crossed that it surprises me, a giggle bubbling out of me.

"I'm trying to be serious." I say.

"So am I. Don't be sorry. Not a single one of the parents felt anything negative for you when you did that. Though I did sense lots of pride." He adds, lips curving up in a pleased proud smirk.

A dangerous look on him.

Because it makes a shiver dance down my spine when I realise what a thrill it gives me. Dark and dangerous.

He cocks his head, lips quirking up further and eyes dancing with mischief.

He steps forward, the flame of the stove spluttering low when a deft pale large hand goes to twist the dial, looking ridiculously small and crushable.

"Something wrong little one?" he asks, closing the distance between us.

I shake my head, unable to tear my eyes away from his glittering dark eyes- soft sensual dark depths tugging me in, reeling and inviting.

"Stop that!" I insist, certain that he's letting out waves of emotion, subtly influencing why I'm so entranced.

"I'm not doing anything. Promise." he says immediately. No mischief there.

"But I will say one thing sweet fiery mate. Don't ever apologise for sticking up for yourself or for your mates. Ever." He reiterates, punctuating the words in a low voice and taking another step towards me.

I feel my cheeks warm at his close proximity, at the way his voice becomes a laced growl barely kept back- see the burning passion simmer in his eyes.

"I won't." I breathe, breath hitching when he slides an arm around my waist to splay against my back, a small gummy smile breaking through the powerful allure with the sign of sweetness.

"Good." He murmurs, and then that hand tugs me forward- a powerful single fluid movement that has me positioned close to him, lower bodies flush. He smiles at me.

"Promise?" he asks, voice soft.

I nod.

"Promise." I say back.

And he seals that promise between us by cradling the back of my head with his other hand, tilting my face towards him to press our lips together, a short, sweet taste of his softness cushioning my lips. My hands slide around his waist, interlocking at the base of his back as I kiss him back, smiling against his lips. Slow, unhurried kisses as he languidly moves his lips against mine, gently shifting me so my back is supported against the counter, space crowded and filled with his presence as his hips pin me there, hand sliding away from my waist to cup my cheek. My hand rises to grip at his arm, feeling safe and protected and cherished as his he slowly kisses me deep, lips sliding away to press to the curve of my jaw, kissing along it upwards to gently tug the lobe of my ear between his teeth, a teasing nip before stepping back, my head slightly arched back.

"Look at you....perfect sweet mate." He murmurs, thumb brushing against my bottom lip, eyes filled with wonder and want, anchoring me there.

And I feel my eyes flutter when he tilts my head back, nose gently brushing against the side of my neck, a shaky exhale coming out when he presses a soft burning kiss to the mark he'd left behind- bold and beautifully vibrant; I'd been putty in his arms as he'd taken his time to mark me, and my chest tightens with anticipation, heart squeezing- had I been human still, my heart would've thudded rapidly, a skyrocketing pulse that he'd have detected immediately.

And then I feel his teeth scrape against my skin, teasing and toying and tongue flicking lightly there, and my hands slide into the silky dark strands of his hair, gently tugging.

I feel all tightly coiled up, a balloon ready to burst and body taut against his own when suddenly the gentle teasing of his mouth turning harsh. A sudden sharp nip to the mark he's left behind, fangs clamping down but not piercing my skin- holding onto the skin for a few long moments. A settling nip I realise through the foggy haze as my body relaxes, becoming loose and pliant-  sagging against the counter and supported by him.

"You are my sweet little baby mate. But I will not have you ever questioning your actions- especially when they make perfect sense. Is that clear sweetheart?" Yoongi oppa murmurs, voice both gentle and firm, driving his point in.

I nod, curling into him and sighing against his throat.

"Sorry oppa." I mumble, his hands dropping to my waist and squeezing reassuringly.

"It's fine. No mate of mine should ever feel hesitant to speak up. Ever." He says, leaning in for a hug, all sweetness and softness as he bundles the two of us close, feeling all the tension drain away as well as the second thoughts I'd had.

And I realise he'd slowly eased me into it, rather than bundling me close and nipping at my throat to calm me down, he'd talked through my worries, kissed them away and then settled me. And hadn't even let me guess it.

His lips quirk up.

"What are you thinking?" he asks, still leaning into me, my body supported by him and the counter.

"So smart, you're really smart oppa." I murmur, smiling at him.

His gummy grin comes into full display.

"Don't tell anyone." He whispers conspiratorially.

And when Jinnie oppa enters a few minutes later it's to find us still intertwined with each other.

"So this is what the vision meant by me rushing around cooking." He sighs, taking over the kitchen promptly and seamlessly slotting into where we left things.

But the fond happy look he shoots us indicates silently that he doesn't mind. Not at all.

----

"Have you thought about who you want to invite to the ceremony? I was thinking of drawing up a guest list." Joonie oppa asks after I've swallowed my mouthful of stew, eyes carefully monitoring the bob of my throat before he asks.

I fiddle with my spoon, tucked up close next to Yoongi oppa, his hand a grounding settling weight on my thigh. The others shoot me encouraging bright smiles, filled with giddiness and barely restrained excitement.

"A few people not counting family I'm presuming?" I ask, stirring the stew and scooping up a spoonful.

Tae and Minnie nod, leaning forward with bright eyes- almost vibrating in their seats with repressed energetic enthusiasm.

"Definitely Hye-Jin and her family. She's the true owner of my heart." I tease when some of their eyes alight with confusion and watch as their eyes flicker red with slight jealousy.

But Minnie and Tae laugh, bursting the silence with their pealing giggles.

"Hye-Jin is a child hyungs. A very important child you all have to impress by the way." Minnie quips, eyes filled with remembrance of how hard it was getting into her good books.

And I note that they all take him seriously, nodding along and faces sombre and contemplative, Jinnie oppa looking a moment's notice away from rushing to get paper.

But a few seconds later he pulls out his phone anyways, tapping away busily and then peering at me.

"Who else do we need to impress?" he asks, voice serious and eyes wide. But the expression makes me laugh, leaning into Yoongi oppa, who's own hand on my thigh tightens momentarily.

"Is she that hard to impress?" he voices worriedly.

And then the laughter bubbles out even more at the silent worry the others seem to be occupying.

"Maybe...I'm not telling." I say, silencing myself by busying myself in eating the stew, eyes crinkling when I spot the two opposite me do the same.

"Who else?" Hobi oppa asks, pouting but dropping the topic.

"MJ oppa, Eunwoo, Jaehyunie...maybe Daniel and Sanmi too. What do you think Minnie?" I ask, directing the second half of my sentence for his opinion. He's worked with them too.

And Sanmi had been one of the female students I could call a friend slightly.

We didn't have other lessons together but she hadn't singled me out and cut me off when she'd heard I was a vampire. She still had that shy sweetness.

But at the same time I was already hesitant at the idea. Because I know she wouldn't feel comfortable as one of the few humans present. I didn't want to force that on her.

"Never mind the two of them, I think it'd be unfair to them." I say, answering my own question as I shake my head.

"Ooh Heeseungie! I'll ask if he can come, but it'll be an option- poor love gets shy still." I say, frowning sadly at the end, recalling the sweet text messages we'd exchanged, and how under that shy surface was a hardworking boy with such a fresh take on life, sweet humour thrown in too..

I smile unconsciously, blinking when I see several pairs of eyes trained onto me.

Tae who'd been chewing rice, swallows, and pipes up.

"Ahh the boy you were with at the gallery?" he surmises, nodding in remembrance.

But that just seems to make the reaction worse, eyes bulging slightly.

"What boy?" Kookie pipes up, eyes flickering the slightest shade of red.

I don't bother hiding my smile.

Looks like their instincts were still flaring. 

And it made me feel a mixture of giggly giddiness and fond amusement intertwined with burning longing.

"My cutie little dongsaeng." I say.

Maybe it's not too bad seeing them get riled up and huffy protective at the smallest of things. I remember how much Gyeomie took advantage of his mates' heightened instincts phases- using it to get him snacks and cuddles at the mere bat of his eyelashes and a coy small smile. He'd been thoroughly pampered and spoiled, always sporting fresh marks and dazed eyes- as if he was in a foggy state of exhilarating anticipation.

We hadn't even decided on a date yet but I had no doubt that when we did, I knew they'd go above and beyond that too.

They didn't like being beaten, had competitive streaks miles long.

Good thing I did too.

And I wondered just how much it was I could get them riled up, the thought making me smile as I helped clear the table.

----

"(Y/N) can I ask you something?" Kookie hedges carefully once I step out of the bathroom, having stood there waiting outside, hands fumbling with the sleeves of his hoodie as he peers wide-eyed at me.

I nod, muffling a yawn behind my hand and padding over towards him.

"Anything." I say, tugging him along by his hoodie sleeve as we slip into my room for the night, sliding under the blankets and twisting around to face him as he joins me, knees touching.

"About the guest list, I know obviously you'll be inviting Ryan ssi and Deok-mi ssi..." he begins, taking in my quick easy nod.

He seems hesitant now, doe-eyes wide and soft and silently contemplating. I nudge my knee against his.

"You can tell me." I say softly, heads resting close, near the point where the two pillows meet.

"Aren't you going to introduce us to them?" he asks.

I pause.

"But you already know them, you've met them many times before you knew we were mates too." I say, slightly confused.

He shakes his head, eyes sparking a soft red.

"Aren't you going to introduce us as your mates?" he asks.

"But they know already. Kookie what do you mean?" I press, shifting closer slightly.

He sighs. A deep thoughtful sigh. Something's bothering him.

"(Y/N), you got the blessing from our parents', don't we get to take your parents' blessings? We want to meet them too; we want to officially meet them and get their approval too." He says, voice soft but tinged with want and longing.

"But they're not..." I begin but he shakes his head.

"They're your parents in every sense except by biology. They raised you and brought you up. They were your support and so they matter in every sense." He says.

My lips wobble as I smile, reaching out to cup his cheek and feeling my heart stretch- fit to burst when he turns to press a kiss to the inside of my palm, nuzzling into it before facing me again.

"What about the Ims?" I ask, voice a shaky whisper.

"Already done, JB hyung gave their blessing both as head of the coven and all of them individually did so too." He says.

I wonder when they'd done that? How I hadn't even realised?

"You really want to meet them huh?" I ask.

He nods eagerly.

"Then I'll set up a date. But you Jeon Jungkook are a man after my heart." I say, leaning close, noses brushing against each other.

He smiles gently even as his eyes spark red at my words.

"I want to be a man who's gotten it but loves chasing after it anyways." He says insistently.

I laugh.

"You already have it. And you can chase after it, I'll give it to you everytime." I say, leaning in to peck his lips lightly.

Another stubborn shake.

"Don't make it easy, I like the thrill of a chase." He replies, leaning in to steal my lips, mouth hot and warm and sweet, lingering and burning a claim across my own. I sigh against his lips, our ankles locking together as we shift close, gravitating towards each other, arms loosely splayed across each other when we part, foreheads touching. 

"Okay deal...let's see just how many chases you win." I say when my arm is comfortably sprawled across his waist, mirroring his own.

He smiles, sleepiness fading as his eyes become alert, glittering red.

Suddenly the ankle locked with mine shifts, him spinning so suddenly he's pinning me into the mattress, body all firm muscle and strength as he peers down at me, hands brushing and skimming my sides to grip the low of my waist, on the curve of my hips.

His body straddles mine and he leans in close, hair falling forward as he peers at me.

"This round I win. You're mine." He says, low and voice laced with sleep.

But his touch is anything but, and his lips are hungry and laced with crackling embers that burn and scorch me, kissing me deep and slow.

His lips barely part from mine when I whisper back.

"Yours." I say, sighing when he peppers my face with kisses, slowly exploring my skin.

And when he's done showering me with a hail of burning pecks, he twists the two of us, a strong fluid move so I'm on top, body sprawled across his, legs laced together.

His hands rest against my back.

"Sleep baby." He mumbles, a soft kiss pressed to my hairline.

I sigh, relaxing into him.

I wonder if this is how my instincts are flaring and surging, with the never-ending consuming desire to be close to them, to be wrapped up in them.

Wonder if this is what it feels to be close to your mates, heart swelling and souls expanding to bind together, to merge and become one. And whether it'll ever get old.

Or whether the thrill will always remain the way it does with every smile, every touch, and every word.

If the us of today is a reflection, a glimpse of the us tomorrow then I can't wait. Can't wait for eternity together.

Can't wait for an eternity of this.

And it's in his arms with the promise of our lives together, of moments like this together that we fall asleep, never shifting or moving away from each other.

(THERE YOU GO! LOTS OF KISSIES AND CUDDLES AND SMOOCHES AND WORDS EXCHANGED BETWEEN MATES. IT WAS A BASICALLY FILLER CHAPTER OF JUST MATE FLUFF! AND I WONDER JUST WHAT TIPS AND TRICKS SHE'LL HAVE NOTED AND GET FROM GYEOMIE, WONDER HOW IT'LL BE TO GET RYAN AND DEOK-MI'S BLESSINGS AND JUST AHHHHH! SO MUCH TO COME! I LOVED WRITING SWEET YOONGI THROWING IN A SETTLING NIP, DRIVING IT HOME THAT HE WON'T LET HER SECOND GUESS HERSELF, LOVED HOW EAGER THE BOYS WERE AND HOW NERVOUSLY SHY KOOKIE WAS TO ASK! I LOVED WRITING THE CHAPTER AND I HOPE YOU'LL LOVE READING IT TOO! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS, TAKE CARE AND STAY SAFE LOVES!)

When the end seems far, and the light at the tunnel seems too small and distant, don't lose hope. But rather become your own light, each other's light. Become support and hope and stability for each other and bring each other up. When life is dark, be that ray of happiness in it. Keep faith.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3