YUGYEOM POV:

There's a storm of emotions transferring through the bond, strong fast and constant- a mix of hurt, pain, anger, and longing and with every step (Y/N) takes away from Jimin- it only increases. As much as I dislike him, hate the way he's brought her nothing but pain; I can't help wishing that things work out. Because under it all, all I've ever wanted is for her to be happy. She deserves to have the happiness that comes with mates, with courting and with belonging to a coven who'll cherish her. 

And even though I want to turn and make him understand just how much he's hurting her; the look of devastation and utter loss is clear on his face as I leave. It's finally dawning on him.

And I know reflecting on it himself will do far better than the words and actions I had planned. Not that they can't come in to use later...if he still doesn't learn.

And when we finally get home; she whirls and scans me immediately.

"Are you hurt?" she asks, eyes roving over me carefully; trying to detect any visible problem.

My back had flared out in pain when I'd been thrown against the wall but the accelerated healing that came with being a vampire was already operating, lessening the sharp flare into a dull throb.

"I'm fine marshmallow." I say, the old nickname slipping out easily.

Her face scrunches.

"Maybe I should call MJ oppa anyways...have him to take a look. And maybe Jinyoung oppa too..." she muses worriedly, aloud, even as she whips out her phone and dials the number before I can even protest or stop her.

I wince when my ears pick up on Jinyoung hyung's worried voice coming through, frantic and loud and I can hear the rustle of movement as he clearly rushes about.

"He says he's fine but the sound that was made...I don't know. I'm a bit worried, you know the passcode." She murmurs into the phone, ending the call, tapping out a text with furrowed brows.

I can only watch exasperatedly and wait for the storm of hyungs to descend in full force.

----

Where I'd been expecting MJ hyung, Jinyoung hyung and perhaps one of the others. I don't expect the front door to be thrown open and Jinyoung hyung barging in with all the power of a small battalion of people ascending with full force. Behind him is MJ hyung who darts over and quickly runs his scanning eyes over me, assessing that there's some bruising that should be treated. Jinyoung hyung brings out a few tonics- more than just ones for pain relief, a mix of sleep medication, soothing tonics and relaxation tonics, hands fretting and lips twisted down as he fusses.

Behind them though is Eunwoo who pops up over his mate's shoulder, eyes twinkling with a mixture of worry and amusement as he relishes over the two fussing over me. But once he's ascertained all is well, the worry bleeds out and he just grins at the sight of me practically being pinned down by Jinyoung hyung as MJ hyung pulls my shirt unceremoniously over my head and places his cool hands on the middle of my back. He scuttles over to wrap (Y/N) up into a bearhug, effectively pinning her onto the couch and trapping her between his limbs, already having sensed the inner turmoil bubbling and brewing inside her. Not to mention she looks seconds away from bursting into tears.

From what I can see lying down, her eyes are red and she keeps sniffling, small heart-breaking sounds that indicate that she's well on the way to crying and just as I think it, MJ hyung removes his hands declaring me 'better than new' and Jinyoung hyung props me back up, pulling me into his side, one arm snaking around my waist and remaining there. There's a small hum of conversation and just then Eunwoo says something. Something that seems normal and any other day would've been ordinary, accepted.

"(Y/N) you smell like a different coven..." he remarks observantly, head settled on her shoulder. And then she stiffens, face distraught and looking as if she's been struck. And then the tears finally spill down her cheeks, body wracked with the force of her sobs, curling into herself, caged still within Eunwoo's arms but seeming alone and lost.

It sends everyone into a greater panic. Because my bruising had been superficial, easy to heal. It had just been (Y/N) acting out of worry.

But this....this is unexpected and frightening and sudden.

MJ hyung freezes, eyes widening as they land on her distraught figure; propelled into action by the way Eunwoo rocks her gently and she lets out a hiccupping sob, fingers reaching down to bunch in the fabric of his trousers. He rushes forward and kneels down in front of the two, hand coming to settle on her bunched fist.

Jinyoung hyung bolts in alarm, but I'm already moving; bond unsettled with her emotions and the overwhelming need to comfort and protect.

I don't know that a keening sound, low and distressed has left my throat until hyung is putting a stabilising hand on my lower back murmuring comforting words to me.

But it aches seeing her in pain, when clearly she'd acted to protect me from her own mate; the betrayal she is feeling is clear through the bond, mixing with the hurt and longing she associated with him.

"Oh (Y/N)-ah...let it all out." Eunwoo whispers to her bent head, just holding her as she cries.

The look of devastation is clear on everyone's faces. We all want to help her and bring an end to the heartache but this is something that no-one can fix, not easily. And not unless we were them. We can only try and help her through it.

Jinyoung hyung looks upset, carding his hand through her hair even as MJ hyung draws loose circles onto her bunched hand, trying to urge the tension to be released through the touch. 

And when she raises her head, skin blotchy with tears, cheeks flushed and eyes glassy- a silent plea on her lips, I hurry forward and allow her to bury her head into my stomach, sobbing against the bare skin; hot tears trickling down.

Jinyoung hyung looks to me; for explanation, any thing that could help.

"She bonded with Jimin as she pulled him away." I murmur and see his pallor blanch.

The implications are clear.

She pulled away from a mate she bonded with, she has no intention of going to meet him; but her soul needs that closeness before it begins to revolt in need and longing.

And we know that any impacts it'll have will be nothing short of pain for both her body and soul.

JOON POV:

Something's wrong. So profoundly wrong. I sense it in the bon and I feel it when Jimin steps through the wards, an uneasy panicky shift that causes all of us to pause and turn fearfully towards the living room door, which today he doesn't bypass as he often does when he's upset; usually seeking respite in the garden. Today he walks in with the posture of someone who's defeated and lost and needs someone to save him, help him.

Hobi who's seated closest to the door reaches out for Jiminie, drawing him into his arms with a fondness that just naturally emanates from being near each other.

"Jiminie baby..." is all Jin hyung manages to get out as the rest of us gravitate towards him when he just breaks.

A pained sharp gasp before heart-wrenching sobs escape him, body shaking with the force of his tears as he turns and hides his face into the crook of Hobi's neck. The rest of us exchange pained and worried looks, our haste to get to him quicker and when we pull him and Hoseokie into the centre, his legs buckle as if he's lost all strength- but Kookie's arm darts out to steady him and him and Hobi sink downwards onto the carpet. Two strong arms wrap around Jimin, Hobi holding him close through each tear, each gasp and each pained whimper.

"What is it sweetheart? What's wrong?" I ask, fearing what it is that he'll answer with.

And then between pained cries, he murmurs brokenly.

"I ruined it all...(Y/N) will always hate me." he confesses and the name of our youngest mate sends another jolt of fear through us.

Jin hyung kneels down, arms gently trying to unlatch Jimin from Hobi's frame, drawing him around so he's seated sideways onto his lap, head still bent.

"Won't you look at me my darling?" Jin hyung asks in a gentle imploring voice.

Jimin's head raises, almost reacting against his will- turning to the soft plea of his eldest mate.

When I see red-rimmed eyes, tears flowing down his soft cheeks and lips quivering- I feel my heart shatter.

"Hyung...I-I messed up so, so bad." He confesses, tears still pouring out.

Yoongi hyung stiffened slightly when he'd mentioned (Y/N) but there's worry swimming in the back of his eyes, concern for what it is that's happened.

"I hurt her blood mate. And she touched me only to get me away from him...he had...he had her blood on his lips and my instincts went haywire." He reveals guiltily.

But the image it brings, of someone else's lips stained with her blood stirs a faint trace of jealousy and protectiveness. If I hadn't known Yugyeom and her shared a bond, I'd have gotten the same conclusion.

"Oh Jimin-ah..." Taehyung says sadly, reaching out for his same-age mate.

"She said she was a fool for wanting me when I didn't want her...there's no hope now is there? I was a coward and I have to pay for my mistakes, for my words." He says, clutching at Taehyung desperately, frantically.

Taehyung shakes his head furiously even though there's tears slipping down his own cheeks.

"It'll work out, we were meant to be eight. It'll work out." He whispers as a mantra, as if chanting it will make it true, erase the mistakes made. Even if they echo what we all want. What silently...Yoongi hyung wants too.

"Hyung..." Kookie gasps, shaking slightly from where he kneels next to me. I draw his trembling frame into my arms, rocking him gently.

Jimin looks shattered as his eyes land on Kookie, feeling as if he'd hurt our baby in a way that can't be resolved, I can see the guilt brewing but it needs to be quenched before it becomes a raging fire.

"You made mistakes Jiminie, but we can fix them. You can...you have to try with every part of your soul. You need to make those steps towards her. Before it hurts her." I say.

Jin hyung's eyes flash to me in understanding.

From what we've gathered, (Y/N) had triggered the bond by pulling him away but she'd left. And the bond needed proximity to settle. If Jimin didn't act fast- it would take a toll on her, far quicker and deeper than on Jimin. Because Jimin was with us, we could soothe and abate the pain. But she wasn't with us. Who'd help her through it?

(Y/N) POV:

It's like playing a twisted version of hide-and-seek except in plain sight and it was a game of avoidance. Avoiding Jimin as much as I could. No longer did my eyes glance to the back of the class where he'd sit, I didn't sit in the middle either, I ducked down between two of the human students- enclosing myself in a way that he wouldn't broach. Didn't ever want to.

Whenever I saw him waiting outside, using his speed to place himself at the entrance of the door- I shifted away, only feeling shards of pain at being close to him but knowing I'd never have him. It seemed as if the ache seemed to settle in my soul, twist viciously whenever I moved away. I knew part of it was the bond revolting in hurt and part of the grief I held. But it didn't mean that to soothe it I would approach him.

I'd suffer alone.

But when that pain spread out from my soul and through my body- I tried to pretend for as long as I could that the aches in my limbs, the heaviness that grew each morning as I forcefully pried my eyes open, the cold chill that seemed to seep itself into my bones and didn't vanish- no matter how much I bundled up or turned the water up to near scalding when I showered, was just the lingering effects of winter. Tried to ignore the way my eyes flickered with a dim light, a paleness coming into my complexion.

I avoided exploring the nest without one of mate's by my side, no longer wanting to play games of chase- which gave their instincts such a thrill to run after their mate, because I feared who I could stumble into. I felt his presence even heavier in the nest, saw his penetrating stares at times when he'd sit quietly with Taehyung and Jungkook, twisted when I saw his lips part- so sure that he'd have nothing but hurt to inflict.

I ignored the dizzy spells, the slow loss of appetite even as Jin oppa, which I'd recently began calling him to his immense pleasure, never stopped sending cutely decorated meals or sat me down in front of a table laden with his hard work. 

But I couldn't run anymore, couldn't hide anymore when the weekend came and began with a tapping at the door. I staggered towards the door, wincing at how my feet seem to be overheated against the cool flooring and the way the walls spun for a few moments. I pause in front of the shut door, breathing heavily.

And when I swing open the door, the blood in my veins run cold and I stare at the sight in front of my eyes. Panting and a slight sheen to his face, eyes weary and exhausted, body sagging slightly. But those eyes land on me. And my soul screams in agony from how close he is and yet still infinitely far. My soul screams mate even whilst my brain tries to block the hurt that comes with the word.

"(Y/N)..." he gasps, my name coming out as a plea and lament.

But that's all I hear when my hand slips off the door and a sudden pain explodes in my head, making my vision white. I can feel my body slip away and there's a loud cry. Before it all vanishes and I gratefully accept the nothingness that follows. The respite it becomes.

(OUCH AND OUCH AND OUCH! THE PAIN I FELT WRITING THIS ANGSTY CHAPTER! HOW'D YOU THINK IT WENT? HAPPILY EVER AFTERS BEGIN FROM HERE- FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE END THAT THIS HURT HAS BROUGHT US. JIMIN'S REPENTANCE BEGINS NOW AND SOON...HOPEFULLY! YOONGI WILL SEE THE LIGHT- AND SEE IT WAS HER THAT HE'D NEEDED. LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS! I WAS HAPPY WRITING THIS- EVEN IF THE ANGST GETS TO ME TOO! STAY SAFE!)

We are constantly affected by what is in the world around us. We allow it to shape us, change us, help us become who we are. But there are also things within you, things you control- that allow you to decide how you want to be, what it is you want to follow and become. So even though we live in a world that leaves an impression on us, don't forget to leave your impression on the world too.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3