(Y/N) POV:

I follow him into the side room, even though my skin prickles when he closes the door, my mind immediately interpreting it in countless different ways; it's to allow us to talk undisturbed, it's for our privacy but a small hesitant and wary part of me whispers that the act blocks my only way out of the room, it means I have no choice but to stay and listen.

But that part of me worrying is eased slightly when he hovers slightly close, and it's with that closeness that I am able to see the slight puffiness under his eyes, an almost imperceptible downwards slope to his broad shoulders and his lips twist into a pained grimace.

"I'm—I'm so sorry." He breathes out, voice pained and wavering.

It makes me pause and startle. The distress in his tone is unmistakeable but when I thought of what would happen when we inevitably met- this wasn't what I was expecting.

It's such a stark contrast to our first meeting that it almost confuses me.

"What for?" I ask carefully, trying to keep my voice neutral- neither accepting nor harsh.

I'll give him something he failed to give me- a chance to speak. To explain.

He wrings his hands viciously, and I wince thinking how much force might be behind that gesture- the pain he's unconsciously inflicting onto himself. An outlet for his emotions.

  But it's not my place to stop him, to guide his hands away. Even if it pains me.

"I know it'll be incredibly hard and maybe impossible for you to forgive me. Maybe you won't. But I can't let my actions hurt everyone else. You didn't deserve to bear the brunt of my outburst. It wasn't fair." He says, voice wavering, spoken between sucked in breaths- as if he's attempting to stabilise himself, trying to maintain a composure.

I keep my face blank, even if it aches to see him so visibly hurting. Hurting because of his own actions.

"You're right. It wasn't fair. I didn't deserve it." I say levelly.

His face falls at the hurt that flashes across my face. Makes his hands tremble where they sit on his lap.

"You didn't. And I know that my actions can't be justified. I jumped to unfair conclusions, didn't give you the opportunity to speak- threw it all in your face." He adds, voice dripping with sorrow and shame for his actions.

As much as it hurts to see him suffering because of his actions, it's good that he recognises what he's done wrong- that he's apologising for the right reasons.

"My soul ached when I saw you with the Ims, it was like you fit so well and then I saw the mating mark and I lashed out to stop myself from getting hurt more. Told myself that if I focused on the fact that you were human, then maybe it'd be easier to bear, easier to forget. But it didn't. It hurts so, so bad- my mind keeps telling me to focus on what I've been taught but every inch of me yearns for your presence, to get closer, to know you. I-I—feel so out of control." He gasps before his body begins to shake with shudders, hands going to fist desperately into his hair, body trembling. His head bows dejected and lost- such a vulnerable gesture that it sends my heart reaching out for him, every part of me wishing to comfort him.

Even though he's suffered, at least he knows where he went wrong- and he doesn't deserve to have spent these past few weeks silently tormenting himself. I know how it feels to be a victim to your mind- I know how much regret fills your every fibre of being, mind constantly replaying the scene over and over in your mind.

I know because that's what my mind had been doing about Jimin.

And I know how desperate I had been to make amends. And though I had been rejected, apology shunned and discarded- I knew this man didn't deserve that.

His behaviour was the product of his upbringing and his way of trying to protect himself.

I couldn't fault him for that.

And that's why in that moment, my heart eased out the hurt- let the pain leave my heart, mind, and soul. And let it slowly begin to heal. His words were the first application of balm. And hopefully from now on, time would help in closing that wound.

I slowly get up from the chair I had sunk into when we'd entered and slowly make my way forward, to where his body is still curved inwards- as if trying to shield himself from the pain, but the pain comes from inside him.

I stop a small distance from him, my hand reaches out to rest against the jacket-clad shoulder. He raises his head, eyes flashing red before quickly becoming a soft deep brown. From this close proximity I can see the way tears cling to his lashes, the way some have stained his cheeks, the way his lips have parted and the way his eyes look beseechingly at me.

"Whilst you did give me pain. Whilst what you said hurt me, you were hurting too. And I-I would like it if you want to start afresh." I offer quietly, shyly.

His eyes widen, filled with hope.

"You're sure? You're not saying that out of force?" he asks, tone sounding as if he can't dare to believe it.

I shake my head gently.

"I'm saying it because I want to try. Because I think that maybe this could become something beautiful. Because we deserve a second chance." I say.

His lips wobble as they curve upwards into a smile.

And then he's standing up, my hand falling from his shoulder.

He's looking down at me now, intently roving over my face- searching for something.

"It would give me the greatest pleasure to be allowed to court you." he whispers reverently.

The sincerity and sheer emotion in his voice makes my own throat become clogged up with emotion.

I nod happily, feeling the sting of tears in my own eyes.

"What's your name?" he asks with a hopeful smile, looking slightly bashful as my eyes remain turned on him.

"(L/N) (Y/N)." I say.

His smile widens.

"(Y/N), I can't wait to start afresh with you." he promises and his smile coaxes my own out. My name rolls of his tongue easily, naturally.

And like that, my heart beats with a new hope. That with this new beginning, I have a shot at happiness with him.

JOON POV:

When hyung vanishes from by our side, it's not too long after that a sharp jolt of surprise and shock floods the bond, making Hobi and Yoongi hyung straighten up, eyes flashing red as they become alert- trying to assess if one of our mates are in danger, eyes roving sharply across the spacious floor. I spot him vanishing through a door, a slender girl following him- our final mate I realise with nothing less than exuberance. But then there's a sudden wave of animosity that wells up like a tidal wave and comes crashing down over us- there's the sound of splintering glass and when I turn, the flute Yoongi hyung had delicately suspended between his fingers, is shattered and glittering shards lie scattered across his hand and lap- the little remain of the bubbly drink beading on his hand and mingling with the red beads of blood that are beginning to appear.

Hobi swears, low and filthy, before he snatches up hyung's hand- the suddenness of the gesture juxtaposing the tenderness with which he cradles it on his lap- fingers deftly removing any small shards before they can embed the skin further. His eyes are flashing red and he gently traces the cuts with his fingers- the skin healing under his touch, smoothening out and dimming from the bright red to an angry pink until it vanishes- nothing but the blood that had already welled up being the only evidence that remains.

Hobi takes out the handkerchief that adorns his suit jacket- a bright silky scrap which he uses to gently dab at hyung's hand, tenderly and carefully wiping his hand clean.

And when he's done, his eyes flash as he looks at him.

"Hyung what were you thinking?" he says in an exploded whisper, words coming out as a vehement hiss, even if he continues to cradle the hand between his own.

Yoongi hyung doesn't respond immediately, eyes sliding away from Hobi's, and when he speaks it's a grated low voice.

"I saw Jin hyung go after the human girl." He bites out.

Hobi's face lights up.

"(Y/N)? You saw too!" he chirps, voice bubbling with enthusiasm and rousing a dark glare from Yoongi hyung.

So I hadn't been the only one to notice then.

The two of them are like polar opposites in this moment, and I desperately think of a way to ease the tension that could build from one wrong word.

But then it bleeds out of hyung's shoulders by itself, and he lets out a resigned sigh.

"Hoseok-ah, she can't be our mate." He says almost exasperatedly.

"Why not?" the question slips out of my mouth.

His eyes turn to me.

"Because she's human." He says, voice taking on an incredulous tone.

"And?" Hobi pushes, arms crossing slightly as he leans back- feet crossed at the ankles, an image of careless grace but the way his eyes glitter almost dangerously remind me, everyone that there's also a lethal beauty to him too.

It's one word but it's challenging somehow even with the light tone he uses.

"And she hurt Jiminie, she's the reason why hyung keeps breaking down in tears and looks so guilty and she clearly doesn't need us." He says, and suddenly his behaviour makes more sense.

The anger he holds for her is because he's harbouring them since he learnt that Jimin-ah had been hurt by her- something we don't know the full story of though, and Jin hyung's hurt stems from his own actions. But for Yoongi hyung- his mind has shown it to him as someone who's brought pain onto our mates, and his instincts are focused onto it- to the extent where they're almost overlooking the mate bond.

But I know that if we don't nip these feelings in the bud, then they'll grown into a poisonous thorny flower- one that'll have blossomed and grown into hate and resentment. And it'll be too late then.

But it's not too late yet.

We can do something. We have to do something.

Before we're left with the pieces of what could've been something infinitely beautiful, and we have nothing to help glue those pieces back together.

YUGYEOM POV:

It's between the thick haze of love, want, need and belonging that my mind breaks through, in a moment of cold clarity, that I haven't seen (Y/N). That since we've arrived, I've allowed myself to be whisked away into my hyungs' awaiting, eager arms and haven't even checked up on her.

It pushes away that fog of pleased emotions and makes me surge up from the chair where Youngjae hyung had sat on and promptly pulled me into his lap.

The teasing hands that had wondered with unrestrained eagerness threatening to sway my focus until I pull away.

And the gesture itself sends Youngjae hyung bolting upright in alarm, Jackson hyung's hand retreating from where he'd been drawing slow tantalising circles into my side.

"Are you okay love? Are we pushing this on you?" he asks carefully.

I shake my head adamantly, trapping his hand beneath my own.

"Hyungs never, the touches were nice. It's just I realised I haven't seen (Y/N) since we arrived." I confess guiltily, head ducking down at first in shyness from the way they coo, and then meet their eyes to find the same alarm and panic flood their own irises.

Jackson hyung bolts to his feet, drawing me up with him and in no time the others are surrounding us- clearly having felt something through the bond or having read the alarm in our expressions.

But they too descend into a state of panic and concern, eyes darting around to spot her in the sea of faces. And the worry only heightens when we can't spot her, as if she's vanished into the air- leaving no trace behind of her.

The coven immediately splits up, delving into the crowds separately in our search to find her.

And just as I'm passing one far end of the hall, a door slides open and Seokjin hyung appears, smiling and happy despite the obvious tear stains on his cheeks, he doesn't step out rather he steps aside, smiling at someone who then appears in the doorway.

And that someone is (Y/N) who smiles bashfully back at him, eyes sliding away and then coming to meet mine.

Her eyes widen and then she winces when she takes me in.

"Gyeomie...I can explain." She trills and then ends sheepishly, fingers fiddling with the hem of her skirt- a nervous tic I recognise too well.

And then a solid presence settles behind me, a strong hand on my waist.

"I sure hope so chickie." Comes the voice of JB hyung, eyes drinking in the sight too.

I see her throat bob as she swallows nervously- something that softens the worried jolts rolling off hyung, but still he looks expectantly at her- completely ignoring Seokjin hyung who has stepped out after her and hovers over her shoulder, flitting nervously almost.

Looks like there's quite a lot to explain.

And if my hunch is right, then it's not only my mating we're celebrating tonight, it looks like that there's another reason- one that is yet to be confirmed.

(THE TALK! I KNOW MANY OF YOU FELT THAT HE DIDN'T DESERVE TO BE FORGIVEN, THAT SHE SHOULD WALK AWAY- BUT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT EVERYONE IS FLAWED SOMEHOW, WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES, WE ALL HURT BECAUSE OF THEM BUT WE HAVE TO ALSO ALLOW PEOPLE CHANCES, ALLOW A CHANCE AT REDEMPTION. AND HONESTLY IF WE DIDN'T THEN THERE'D BE NO PLOT BUT HOPEFULLY THE CHAPTER DIDN'T MAKE FOR AN INADEQUATE FORGIVENESS SCENE- IT'S ONLY AN OFFER TO TRY REMEMBER, THERE'S STILL SIX OTHERS TO LEARN OF THIS! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS LOVELIES AND STAY SAFE!)

Your heart is something valuable, precious and fragile. It hurts and aches from wounds that can't be seen and it's emotions and changes in our lives that become the balm to heal it. Life is too short to spend pushing people away- open your hearts and love and let yourself be loved. Everyone deserves that.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3