JIN POV:

Everything's changing. Shifting. 

It means that our lives will never be the same, that what we once had will change and adapt into a new normal. But it's a change I've longed my entire existence for.

The only thing I held onto through all the traditional teaching I'd been given from the moment I could talk.

The beautiful mirage that was a completed coven, finding the ones who'd complete you, who'd make your soul burn brighter and could make an unbeating heart skip a beat and painfully clench.

It had been centuries I'd been alive. Where time had turned to sludge and passed infinitely slow and then sometimes sped up and vanished before I could blink.

Time didn't mean much to vampires. Not when we had an infinity of it.

And yet I found myself cherishing every second, eagerly awaiting the next. Time was precious to me because I knew that no matter how much I had it would never be enough, never satisfy the deeply-rooted craving for my mates, for being with them. Time could cease to exits but my longing and want for them wouldn't.

And to realise that at the end of today our coven would finally be complete, would finally be whole was something that made my heart soar with the realisation we had our forever together. But it was also daunting.

That something I'd longed for, chased after for all my existence was finally within reach.

It made my hands tremble as I looked at my reflection, finding fear and vulnerability stare back at me in the mirror, eyes flickering red as my instincts fluctuated- recognising that the final mating was finally approaching and yet warring with the side of me that wanted everything to be perfect for her and was wondering whether I made that cut.

Whether I could be, was everything she wanted in a mate.

Suddenly now that it's all finally happening, I don't feel certain in me anymore.

"Hyung...what's wrong?" Kookie asks, slipping out from behind the shower curtain, body glistening with the distracting way water ran in rivulets down his torso, hand reaching out to snag a towel and appearing with it firmly secured around his hips.

His hand pushes his wet hair away, uncaring about drying it as he moves close to hook his head over my shoulder and hug me from behind, his wet torso making my back damp, my hand dropping to clutch at where his encircle my waist.

I shake my head. His hands tighten. Almost reprimanding and when I focus on his eyes that stare at me in the mirror, they're understanding, soft and knowing.

"What's wrong hyung? You're the one always asking us to share our feelings. You don't think that applies to you?" he says, eyes narrowing but his touch is soft as he leans his head into my neck, smiling softly, encouragingly.

I sigh.

"It's just slightly scary. The search I'd started centuries ago for all of my mates is finally coming to an end today. We'll finally be whole. It feels so unreal..." I say, words pouring out of me and eyes stinging.

I swipe at them quickly, before they have a chance to fall but Kookie has already spotted them, turning to press a kiss to the side of my throat, lips lingering and soft against my skin.

"It is scary. I know I haven't been searching for as long. But some part of me always responded to time in a human way. For me decades were equally as long. Because I thought I'd never find her, that life was too short. But I was proven wrong. In a café shop of all places." He says, smiling wryly and eyes flickering with remembrance of that memory, of the fated incident when the universe had unknowingly brought her onto our path, had begun to make our individual paths merge into one.

"We'll get through it together. Like we always have. And besides...infinity doesn't seem enough to be able to chase after my baby mate for as long as I want and for as long as she wants." He says with a wistful longing expression, excitement and anticipation for the future.

I nod.

Turn to give him a kiss, tilting his face towards mine.

"Infinity together..." I breathe against his lips like a prayer, a promise, sighing when he lets out a small noise, trying to push himself closer. I turn so I can capture his towel-clad hips and tug him firmly against me.

"I love you baby boy." I say once I part our lips, smiling at the way his eyes are flashing red with longing and want.

"I love you too hyung." He replies, wrapping his arms around me and holding me close.

I hold him back, relaxing in the familiarity of the touch, of the comfort it always brought.

Soon enough we'd have our baby mate by our side, and endless opportunities to hug her close and revel in the moment of just being comforted by each other's presence and being soothed by her sweet alluring scent, the silent siren call that beckoned us without fail and her soft doe-eyes that reeled us in and anchored us there.

I couldn't wait.

And from the way the house was in a chaos of mates rushing around trying to make everything perfect, tasks divvied up between everyone and looks of frantic panic as the air filled with shouts about matching suits and ties and final courting gifts- I smile as I'm pulled into the havoc, Kookie tugged away by the other two maknaes and a formidable Hobi filling the sight of my vision.

"Hyung why on earth did the two take so long to shower? Now everyone's running behind...by exactly fifteen minutes!" he exclaims, eyes wide as he ushers me away.

"Go get ready! Yoongi hyung and Joon should be waiting. I'll join you once I've checked the courting gifts have reached (Y/N)..." he says, already rushing off.

It makes me smile because even though we had infinity together, every one of us was in a haste to get to the beginning of that forever.

And I wondered whether it would ever get old.

The fluttery feeling of butterflies whenever I was close to them.

Whether it would ever get old seeing my mates, stealing my breath away.

Whether it would ever get old to see them as if it was my first time, the dizzying rush of pheromones never receding.

(Y/N) POV:

I wait nervously as Eunwoo shoos everyone away, save for Gyeomie who's sprawled across the bed- having rid himself of his t-shirt to begin getting ready but found himself kidnapped by Eunwoo. The third to our trio.

"Now my darling, let's get to work." Eunwoo says, slapping delightedly- making my heart clench with fearful anticipation.

But rather than fearing and dreading every second and minute of the upcoming hours, I find myself floating on a hazy fog of content and relaxation as he ushers me into a bath he's prepared- the temperature perfect and scented with something that makes the water cloudy and opaque, flower petals generously sprinkled on the top.

He appears once I'm completely submerged, body out of sight, and smiles at me.

"I want you not to even consider getting out until you're all relaxed. I'll wash your hair for you and then afterwards just shower." He says, stepping forward to perch on a small stool, gently rinsing my hair and lathering it up- fingers expertly massaging at my scalp.

"Eunwoo you didn't have to do so much." I say softly, eyes fluttering shut when he beckons me to so he can rinse my hair.

He hums, indicating he's heard.

"I wanted to. And believe it or not, but I find satisfaction in taking care of you. in doing these small things. I might not be your bonded mate, but for me you've always been family, you always will be." He says, voice soft and gentle, hands tender as he rinses the suds from my hair.

I clutch at his wrist before his hand falls away.

"We're always going to be our band of misfits aren't we?" I ask, finding myself needing to hear him confirm it, even if I see the genuine honesty flicker in his eyes.

"Of course. One fully fledged vampire, one born from a mixed couple and our baby who turned. We'll always be the group of misfits. Because it's only together that we ever belonged isn't it?" he says, eyes sparkling with unshed tears and the kiss he gives to my cheek is so full of emotion and unspoken reflection of our lives together that I lean into it, let my own tears fall.

"Now no more crying sweet cheeks, you can't be crying on a day you're meant to be at your happiest." He says, swiping the tears off my cheeks.

And once he's washed my hair, he steps up.

"Let me pamper you. Let me make you feel like the princess you've always been in my life. My dashing knight in armour." He says sweetly as he steps away.

I nod.

"Thank you Woo-ah, for sticking with me. I love you." I say, feeling my heart brim with emotion. With all the emotions that keep surging up sporadically in me. Maybe prior to mating it was normal to feel all over the place and scattered.

"Anytime baby." He says before stepping out.

And once I step out of the bathroom, towelled up in a bathrobe with the label 'Team Make-(Y/N)-into-a-vixen embroidered on the breast and laughing at it.

But the mood is entirely changed once I get out and Yugyeomie is getting the dress bag off the back of the door hook and Eunwoo turns with a sly smile playing on his lips.

"Relaxed?" he asks with a deceptively calm voice.

"Yup, what was in the water?" I ask with amazement.

He shrugs casually.

"MJ hyung and Jinyoung hyung have been experimenting with relaxing tonics, and it  smells great too. Win win." He says.

But then the calm voice and beaming smile fades.

"If you're relaxed, all you have to do now is sit there and let me do the work. First of all rub this into your skin." He says, handing over a cream in an unmarked tub save for the cute design that runs around it.

"What is it?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at him.

"It's a gift from Jinyoung hyung. Why...don't want it?" he asks.

I shake my head quickly, plopping down onto the bed and beginning to apply it to my legs, massaging it in.

"It smells...." Yugyeomie begins but then tails off, I lift my head to look at him but he's not looking at me and his head snaps to me, eyes wide.

"Smells..." I ask, taking a sniff of the tub and being greeted with a sweet enticing scent. Something warm and welcoming and familiar.

"It smells nice." I state.

He grins.

"Of course it does." He says.

And I watch as my body begins to take on a shimmering gleam once the cream is massaged in, Eunwoo turning me around and slipping the bathrobe off to rub it generously into my back all whilst I cuddle a pillow to my front.

"Is this really necessary?" I ask, more amused than anything.

He pauses, stilling his fingers where they were rubbing the knots out of the skin between my shoulder blades.

"I mean...if you don't sit still and let me pamper you then I won't show you what your mates sent over." He says.

I freeze, head whipping back to face him, shooting the most angelic bright smile I can at him.

He snorts at it, laughing.

"I'll take that as a yes Eunwoo my mighty brilliant friend, of course I'll listen to every single word you say." He retorts, shaking his head as he continues his massage.

I try not to fidget restlessly as I sit in front of him, so sure that he's purposely drawing it out just to tease me.

And it seems like decades later that he steps away, wiping his hands on a small towel before moving to open the wardrobe where inside sits an ornately wrapped box, it's so beautiful that I don't want to unwrap it and take my time running my nail under the tape to gently open it, seeing a brown box sit inside.

And when I lift up the lid, my breath catches at the shoes inside, beautiful. Stunning. And on the inside of the lid is a small note.

Charmed to keep your feet from tiring all night, hope you like the design- Joonie did it. Can't wait to see you baby mate! Hobi xx

I smile, fingers running over the heels- at the flowers and leaves design that bring that small touch of grace and elevate it.

"How did he know the colour?" I ask, fingers still running over them with marvel and awe, soul soaring.

"We might've given the slightest hint. But only because poor hyungs seemed desperate to know." Yugyeomie says, stepping up off the bed and approaching.

"Now let's get you all dressed. We need to rush to change too." Yugyeom says, rolling his eyes at the seriousness Eunwoo displays.

And it's in two hours or so I understand what a rushed, controlled tornado of action feels and looks like, Eunwoo constantly flitting in and out, around me as he continues to prepare me- not only getting me ready physically but mentally too.

And when I stand in front of the full-length mirror I try my hardest not to tear up.

"Don't you dare!" Yugyeomie warns, having left at some point to shower and returned with a half-buttoned shirt and trousers.

"You look stunning. Now, let's get you to your mating ceremony." He says, hands squeezing my bare shoulders, fingers gently rubbing at the scar I bear.

"I don't know about vixen but you do look like art mallow. And one that money can't buy." He says.

I smile at him, hand squeezing his gratefully.

It took my entire mortal existence and more to get to this point here today. 

I was going to start a new chapter, a new book with my mates.

And I couldn't think of anything I wanted more.

"Let's go." I whisper back.

Let's go. To begin that new journey together.

(THERE YOU GO! THE FIRST CHAPTER LEADING UPTO THE MATING AND OH GOD! IT REALLY GOT DRAWN OUT DIDN'T IT? OOPSIE DAISY! BUT OH WELL! THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE A WHIRL OF ACTION AND EMOTIONS AND FEELS AND A LOT OF STUNNED MATES! AND YOU'LL GET TO SEE WHAT SHE'S WEARING TOO! AND ALL THE REACTIONS!! AHHH! I'M SO SO EXCITED TO WRITE IT AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE BUILDING ANTICIPATION AS MUCH AS I LIKED WRITING IT! I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR ALL YOUR THOUGHTS- SUPER EXCITED! AND IT'S A BIT OF AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER ON BOTH SIDES AND OH GOD...SO MUCH TO COME TOO! IT MIGHT START OFF SOFT AND SLOW BUT IT'LL BE FAST PACED SO BUCKLE UP NOT FOR ANGST BUT FOR FULL-STEAM AHEAD! TAKE CARE AND STAY SAFE LOVES!)

We may constantly find something to scrutinise and put ourselves down for when we look at ourselves. We might not be perfection, we might be scarred, we might be different, we might not fit standards. But what's important is that you embrace yourself for every perfection and imperfection, for every scar and blemish, for everything that marks you as different and marks you as unique. Love yourself not for fitting in but for standing out.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3