(Y/N) POV:

Even though the events of what happened just above those stairs leave me aching and hurt, I allow Namjoon to guide me down the stairs- his eyes constantly darting over his shoulder to make sure I'm there, that I'm fine- maybe there's multitudinous reasons. And I don't know whether the coven is telepathic or just extremely attuned to each other because the four of them are already looking at the doorway we enter through and there faces are nothing less of sad understanding.

Seokjin is the closest so when I enter and our eyes meet, I wonder if it's a trick of the light that I see a slightly golden hue to his irises- but then within the next instant they've vanished and his normal soft brown greet me.

The intensity of all four of them staring at me and Namjoon as we enter makes me duck the bottom half of my face into the scarf Namjoon wrapped around me; I breathe in the light soft scent of detergent- one familiar thing amidst the unfamiliar surroundings I'm still in.

Hoseok's look is sympathetic and understanding- he's been perhaps the one I've easily connected to, someone who has been genuine and friendly from day one, from before we even knew that we were mates, so when he gestures with a slight tilt of his head; indicating that the seat next to him is there for me should I want it. I easily walk over and sink into the couch, not missing the way that Taehyung eyes the gesture with an intent look from where he's perched on Seokjin's lap. There's a soft intimacy in the way he's nestled close to Seokjin's neck, mouthing lightly at it and it makes me avert my eyes because it's not something that includes me, not yet anyways.

But today hasn't gone catastrophically and it's shown me a ray of hope that is surprisingly vivid and illuminous- basking a warm glow over me with the potential of what our tomorrow could hold, even if those shadows exist and threaten to grow and loom out, I can't let it overwhelm the light that does exist. I have to give this a chance.

Not only for me. But for them too. So no regrets remain.

There's a small silence until Hoseok speaks up from next to me.

"For what it's worth I'm sorry that hyung and Jimin-ah are treating you like that. I can't justify their actions but they're hurting on an extremely deep level and not coping well with it." He says with a sad sigh, hands running through his hair with slight frustration and hurt, red tinging his eyes.

"No Hoseok, you don't need to apologise for them. We all make our choices. I guess I'll just have to live with the decision they've made." I reply, but there's hurt in my voice that I can't disguise, at the knowledge that two of my mates have rejected me before we could begin.

"But—but, if you're all willing too then I'm willing to try." I add, turning my body to face the rest of them where now Namjoon has pulled Jungkook into his side.

The others look at me with glittering eyes, eyes that melt from brown to red and I can see the thick charge of energy that suddenly fills the room. The flower pot that had been next to me suddenly jerks and the tendrils slowly come forward, gently brushing across my hand that is resting on one of the arms of the couch. I flinch at the sudden touch but turn in awe when the soft curious touches of the plant continue to run and intertwine over my hand- as if it's greeting me, intertwining with me.

And then Namjoon coughs and the tendrils retreat.

I turn to him.

"Sorry, my magic flared just a bit after what you said." He says abashed.

But the apologetic bashful look just brings a smile to my face.

And then Seokjin speaks, voice slightly hoarse- leaning forward with a bright gleam in those red eyes.

"Are you saying what we think you're saying?" he asks hesitantly, almost as he doesn't dare to believe it.

I nod shyly.

Taehyung bolts off Seokjin's lap, rushing forward so quick that the movement itself is unnoticeable until he's standing in front of me; towering over me, and it's intimidating.

But the second that thought comes into my mind, he sinks to his knees and I see the rawness in his eyes that look up at me; the position making him look oddly vulnerable and exposed.

"So, (Y/N) we can court you?" he breathes, staring at me as if he can't tear his eyes away.

That flicker of hope that grows in him and me, burns bright through the red of his eyes, bubbles and flows like the blood in my veins.

We're from two different races, there'll be hurdles, obstacles, and challenges. But I want nothing more.

"Yes...I'd love to be courted by you all." I reply.

And Taehyung's face transforms as he beams, a beautiful boxy smile that shows where his fangs have slipped free. But he looks beautiful. And elated.

And the others are sporting similar smiles and joyed expressions.

What more could I need?

The other two...my mind whispers sadly, that's what you need.

But within this moment, I feel the beginning of something new starting, a seed that with time will flourish and grow and blossom. I hope into something beautiful.

----

It's Jungkook who makes the offer to take me home, a hopeful smile tugging at his lips as he looks at me with shining brown eyes. The others pause and startle too before their faces become fond expressions; looking proudly at him.

And with such an earnest question, I can't refuse.

What I don't expect is the act of chivalry as he holds the passenger door open for me, waiting for me to sit down and be belted in before he closes the door and rush to the other side. What I don't expect is for his eyes to stare at me with a softness before he shakes himself out of it and turns to start the car.

The car roars to life under his touch, operating smoothly as he drives and where I thought there'd be a stilted silence, an awkwardness founded on the fact that this is our first meeting but it's Jungkook who initiates the conversation, who with his soft joyful voice asks me more questions about art- having picked up on that detail when Taehyung had asked what I studied. His eagerness rivals my own, and it's easily that he engages me into a heated discussion that somehow makes the journey tide over extremely quickly and in no time at all that we reach the apartment complex I live at.

And just as I'm about to unbuckle the seatbelt and leave, Jungkook appears on the passenger side door and opens it.

"I'd like to walk you up. If that's fine..." he adds on shyly, quietly.

"I'd like that, but you don't have to." I reply, not wanting him to feel pressurised into doing it. But I'm more than pleasantly surprised when he replies with a firm

"I want to." And so he walks me up and when the door opens and Yugyeomie throws it open before I even get my keys out, I see him and Jungkook freeze.

The two of them seem to size each other up, a silent examination of the other.

But it's Gyeomie who makes the first move.

"Thanks Jungkook-ah for bringing her back safe and unhurt." He says but his eyes trawl over me when he says the last part, as if silently questioning me if I'm fine.

I nod back and his posture loosens.

I step inside, the familiar warmth of it easing the worry that had hovered over me.

"Do you want to come in Jungkook? Stay for tea?" I ask.

Yugyeom eyes him shrewdly.

And when the question slips out and Jungkook flushes a stark red and his mouth gapes- the answer hits me immediately.

"You're inviting me in?" he says, incredulously and disbelieving.

Inviting someone into your home, your nest to a vampire's eyes, is an act of trust, of faith- of allowing someone to see your home, that safe space of yours, where you are at your most vulnerable.

But the question had come out and I didn't have intention of changing it.

But then Jungkook takes a step back, nose scrunching.

"I shouldn't...not because of you or anything, it's just that your home is saturated in your scent. And I don't want to lose control." He confesses shyly, hands fidgeting slightly.

Yugyeomie's slight shake of his head gestures to me not to pry or ask anything else regarding it. So I nod- even though a part of me sinks in disappointment.

"Oh, okay...but the offer is there for you Jungkook."  I add, and it's worth it when his face splits into a radiant smile and he nods eagerly.

And I see the reluctance as he turns away, waving a goodbye with both his hands and am warmed by the knowledge- that it's not only me affected as much.

KOOK POV:

The moment Yugyeom closes the door, though not without a sly understanding grin on his face, I groan lowly and breathe shallowly- trying to rid my nose of the enthralling scent that is so overwhelmingly sweet and intoxicating; one that sends my head into a spin, a dizzying rush of instincts battling with sheer need for my mate that is on the other side of the door. I know my eyes are a vibrant crimson and my fangs have slipped free- a dull sting from where they pierce the flesh of my bottom lip.

Even though I've fed so that my hunger is satiated, I can feel a gnawing ache in the pit of my stomach and my heart and soul- as if all are suddenly starved and needing her. I pant, the strain of holding control requiring every part of my resolve.

Even though I don't feel a particular incline to the scent of human blood, there's something so starkly different about hers that makes me wonder if I was never truly tempted before or she somehow manages to tear away any thought of control.

My hands are trembling, from holding back, from the silent force needed to hold back or just from going to her- every part of me screaming to hold her close, my mind puzzled and overwhelmed by how much it aches to see that door close, to have not closed the distance between us to get to her- to breathe in her scent freely without restraint. To breathe her in deeply without any fear or worry.

Was it meant to be this hard? To feel like my soul was screaming in agony with each step I took away from her. It was a blissful torment to have the ghost of her with me in the car, still thick and overflowing with her scent, saturated into the passenger seat. I knew whoever sat there next would be immensely pleased, overjoyed. And I could already see the way Tae hyung would argue with Jiminie hyung...no that wasn't right. Jiminie hyung had been hiding away from her, too hurt and ashamed and pessimistic that she'd reject him to even make himself known today.

But Hobi hyung would definitely fight over the seat with Tae hyung, I could imagine the dirty tactics they'd pull on each other.

Even as she'd turned up today, a tiny part of me had fearfully for her to show some signs similar to the humans I'd known, for her sweet smile to turn vicious. But when she hadn't, those demons from my past have a looser grip on me, their claws not as sharply piercing into my mind. And it happens because of (Y/N)- because she becomes that shield against them, her own sweet nature reminding me that humans don't have to be villains.

----

When I reach home, Jiminie hyung and Yoongi hyung have emerged from upstairs and are sitting dazedly in the room we had all been sitting in before dinner.

The hyungs look dishevelled. All of them do. There's a familiar urge in their red irises that I relate to too well. There's a hunger in them- and still her scent hasn't faded out, it's as if it's merged into our own and somehow mingled into our home, merging into the corners and edges, and imprinting itself onto the furnishings.

And when I enter the room, all eyes land on me and dilate- clearly smelling the thicker scent on me.

And their knuckles tighten, furniture protesting under their strength.

And Yoongi hyung groans, a low pleading sound.

"Kook-ah come here." He urges, voice slightly raspy- eyes widened with hunger.

But Jin hyung's hand snags around my wrist and tugging me towards him- easily pulling my unresistant figure onto his lap.

Yoongi hyung's eyes narrow.

"You didn't want her remember. Either make things better or remain tortured by her scent. You can't punish her like this Yoongi-ah. You're hurting both of you." hyung says, chest reverberating against my back as he speaks in a voice that's both soft and firm.

But then his arms around my waist tighten and he lets out a pained gasp.

I twist to see his eyes burning a bright molten gold- gaze unfocused and far away.

"Hyung!" several voices cry out and I clutch tightly at his shoulders, fear flooding me.

The rest of them hurry forward, nearly crashing into us and stand wide-eyed and afraid and still.

And then a few long moments later he gasps, shuddering as his head drops to rest against my shoulder- chest heaving as though trying to force air in, air he never has felt a need for.

And a trickle of fear trails down my spine.

Jin hyung looks up and his eyes desperately latch onto Yoongi hyung's.

"Yoongi you have to make things right before you end up making a mistake you'll spend eternity regretting." He pleads, tears spilling out of those eyes where the gold is bleeding out, mingling with the tears.

And I fear what it is that hyung has seen.

(AHHH! I CAN'T STOP SCREAMING! WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NOW, WHAT DID JIN SEE? A BIT OF KOOK POV BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN HIS FOR A WHILE AND NOW WE KNOW WHAT THE YOUNGEST TURNED VAMPIRE IS THINKING! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AS USUAL AS WELL AS WHAT YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN! AND...BTS ARE DROPPING A NEW SINGLE IN AUGUST- LIKE PLEASE YOU BEAUTIFUL SOULS, REST A BIT TOO! BUT I WILL ALWAYS BE THANKFUL- THEY DO SO MUCH FOR US! GOD...I LOVE THEM SO, SO MUCH! 33K READS AND STILL AT NUMBER ONE! STAY SAFE MY LOVES- I CHERISH YOU ALL!)

When you feel like your mind is void of thoughts and emotions- fill it. Colour it in the shades and hues you want to see, paint the picture you want engrained it, fill it with thoughts and memories that make life glow brighter!

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3