GYEOM POV:

There's a shifted dynamic in the Bangtan coven- it's apparent to see with the way all of them have become protective of their youngest vampire nestling; it's endearing to see because (Y/N) deserves to be pampered and coddled and spoiled. And I can see it in the hyungs' eyes when they turn red with pride and satisfaction that their nestling is being taken care of and properly.

And it's an entirely new experience when  (Y/N) comes to me and tells me she's had her first feed, talking about it as she proffers her wrist to me, stroking my hair as I suckle at the inner skin. And that begins to explain the healthy glow and flush around her, the soft rosy cheeks and how painstakingly similar she looks to her old self, as if bit by bit she's returning to the person she'd been before the incident. It still comes as a surprise when her eyes flash red when she's experiencing heavy emotions or the fact that now she can give me a run for my money quite literally with her heightened senses.

And it's no little amount of satisfaction that I see her sitting down for our weekly nest dinners and eating food that has blood-infusions or ones that are rich in iron; Jinyoung hyung physically preens with pride as he watches her eat, albeit there's still this hesitant air around her but she's trying, and seeing the way her eyes burn red when she's happy or when she's curled up between us- instincts satiated by being home.

It makes JB hyung look proud when he wraps his little chick in his arms and sees the red sparks of sleepiness come in; know that with her returning to her old self has had everyone's instincts purring with content, that the youngest nestling of the Im coven is happier these days.

And there's the old sense of camaraderie and trust when she calls me to tell me that Ryan hyung has taken the paintings and that they'll be displayed as an exhibition soon.

In fact, JB hyung is so proud that he and Mark hyung whisk her away after her History class, calling empty apologies to Jimin hyung who looks both surprised and affronted, at the theft of his mate in broad daylight from his arms, as they lead her away to treat her to lunch, all of us sitting in Stigma and toasting to her happiness. That with this exhibition she is able to heal a bit.

Because that's what each exhibit has stood for, her pouring out her emotions and memories and experiences onto canvases so that they let her heal- so that they don't stay bottled up inside her.

And yet I wonder whether she's told her mates that she's Amparo, whether she's confessed about her hidden identity.

But as I head off with her to meet Ryan hyung and Deok-mi noona, I bring it up in the car, turning the radio off.

"Does the Bangtan coven know you're Amparo?" I ask, treading lightly.

She turns to face me; I can see her eyes turn a dark red- restless and uncomfortable.

"No." she answers shortly for how long the silence had drawn out afterwards.

"Why not? They're your mates" I ask.

"I don't think I'm ready to reveal that part of me. The most broken and ugly piece of me." she mumbles, fiddling with the belt.

The car comes to a stop at a traffic light and I turn to face her.

"It's not the ugliest part of you...it's the strongest part of you. And the most beautiful. I love that part of you the most- because it's brought you to this point." I say, trying to tell her just how much I treasure her, how much that part of her means to me, to her, to everyone who knows her as Amparo.

"And besides, you've unknowingly been wooing your mates with your art this entire time. Who would've thought that a once vampire exclusive coven was head over heels in admiration and awe for a human artist, their mate?" I say, voice filled with amusement and wonder- it really had been some unique sort of twist of fate. Some sort of unknown force pushing them together this entire time.

And I wonder how they'd react when they found out. It was something I know would make for great late-night chats and giggles and laughter under blankets when she'd tell me.

But I don't push her to tell them, it's her decision. And I can more than respect that- I'll support whatever decision she makes.

"And besides, they'll be smitten and on their knees when they find out." I tease as we drive to the gallery, laughing when she whacks me in my side- the gesture holding barely any strength; because for all her heightened senses, under it all she was a soft marshmallow and had no heat behind the gesture.

(Y/N) POV:

We step inside the gallery, finding Ryan oppa and Deok-mi unnie standing there waiting for us.

The two of them scoop us into hugs, only stopping to swap the person in their arms as Gyeomie is nudged into Ryan oppa's arms and I am into Deok-mi unnie's. And the light atmosphere remains as we walk, only faltering slightly when I step into the large open exhibition space and I catch sight of the wrapped packages sitting in the centre.

Where under each cover is the most recent agonies I've experienced, the hurt I've been suffering with.

"I know Deok-mi asked you already but this is the last chance you'll have. Are you entirely sure you want to go ahead with this?" Ryan oppa asks.

I nod distractedly, eyes still glued to the works in the centre- to the massive canvasses that are wrapped underneath.

"I'm sure. You can give the green light to the promoting team, and we can come up with the layout and details and pamphlets too. I'll come over every day after lessons and we can push to get it done as soon as possible." I say stepping forward to run a careful gaze over the inside.

There's a slip from friendly casual to friendly professional and the two of them become serious as they run through what hall I want to exhibit in.

But this one feels too large and airy. When all my work is focused around a period of my life when everything had been overwhelming and confusing. I want the exhibit to capture that.

"We need to change the exhibit hall. One that's smaller and has more walls." I state.

The two of them nod, notes being made and Gyeomie trailing around fascinatedly.

But when time passes by in hours, I send Gyeomie off home.

"It's getting late, the Ims will worry." I say when he lingers, dithering at the spot in front of me.

"But what about you? It's already dark out." He comments worriedly.

Ryan oppa steps up from where he'd been talking to his mate, running a gentle caring hand down her back as she leaned tiredly into him.

"We won't be long. The two of us will drop her off. And make sure she's eaten too. I've called Mark, he should be here in a few minutes." Oppa reassures him and only then is he appeased and minutes later when he leaves it's with a final peck and squeezing hug before he exits, waving at the three of us.

And it's only another half-hour that he lets me continue to examine each space, each of the walls to see where I want to place the paintings before Deok-mi unnie comes and drags me away, hand firm and tight around mine as she pulls me with her.

The two of them take me out for dinner, eyes constantly darting to me and hands refilling my plate until I've eaten my fill and it's then that they drive me back to the nest, a feeling of apprehension filling me.

How was I meant to explain why I'd been with them? Would they ask why I had vanished after lunch with the Ims and only turned up at home now?

But the worries are all swept away when the two of them don't go any further then the small drive through the barriers- ensuring I'm within the protective wards before leaving, telling me they'll see me tomorrow.

And then it's alone that I trudge to the front door, ambling slowly through the large gardens, taking my time, and enjoying the fresh gentle breeze brushing past my face; a relief and fresh change after being at the gallery for the remainder of the day.

I wonder whether I should ring the bell, hand pressed against the door when it silently slips open for me, without a creak of noise as it swings inwards, welcoming me with the sight of the softly lit hallway, the rush of warmth a constant presence as always as I step in. 

I bend to take my shoes off, feeling and noting the shoe-rack shift slightly forward so I can rest my hand on it and maintain my balance- smiling at the unseen force that the house operates with.

And as I'm straightening back up I hear my name being called.

"(Y/N)...you're back!" Minnie greets, the first one to appear in the hallway and rush to me, hugging me close and breathing me in, tugging me insistently into him, back curved inwards.

"Hi Minnie." I greet quietly as I hug him back, smiling when he leans back and pecks me on the lips, tugging me into the living room where the others are.

There's postures that shift, straighten up and turn towards me, red eyes running careful gazes over me before melting back into their deep soft browns.

"A little warning please if you're going to vanish the entire day." Jinnie oppa quips when I move forward to greet him, a peck on his cheek before moving towards the others.

"Yeah...you nearly gave hyung grey hairs when you didn't appear for dinner." Hobi oppa quips teasingly as he hums happily when I hug him.

As I go to greet the others, I note their postures loosen once I get close enough and I feel a twist of guilt that I hadn't remembered to inform them.

"It's okay, hyungs are just worrywarts- Yugyeomie sent me a text that you and him went out afterwards." Kookie reassures me, tugging me onto his lap when I reach him, smiling when the others protest at him calling them out.

And it seems like they'd been waiting for me, because all of them are in several states of sleepiness and clothed in pyjamas and it's only been a few minutes of curled up on Kookie's lap when Minnie pads over, looking so soft with his sleepy face and holding his hand out for me.

"Let's go to bed." He says, leading me out of the room.

And when the two of us are curled on his bed, as he spoons me from behind he shifts with unrest. First going to pull me further into his embrace until our bodies are flush against each other, then going to tuck his head in the crook of my neck and breathing in my scent.

But he was still a bit fidgety, a bit restless.

I shift to move forward a bit, angling my head so my throat is exposed to him, I knew marking was a way of soothing frazzled or unsettled instincts and it seemed like that was Minnie needed at the moment- it wasn't something I knew for certain but more that I had this instinctual feeling.

And that feeling prompted me to arch my neck towards him, bodies still flush- pushing back a slightly bit more, the shift in position causing his nose to brush against the skin.

He sucks in a sharp breath.

"Go on Minnie." I urge.

He sighs with relief with that, lips immediately seeking purchase on my skin, kissing along my throat slowly, lips plump and soft as they brush against me. He stops on the higher half of my throat, teeth nibbling lightly at the skin, the feeling of teeth scraping against the mark a teasing hint of what's to come, tongue slowly roving over with purposely slow licks. And then he suddenly clamps his teeth down, tugging at the skin as he sucks hard on it, the pressure on it mounting and sending waves of both pleasure, contentment and relief rushing through me- bond flaring with tender affection and want in a heady cocktail mix. He drags his teeth off the mark slowly, taking his time to soothe the sting it induced by laving his tongue over it,  lips moving over the mark with hot wet open-mouthed kisses. His arms tighten around me, my head dropping back to rest against his shoulder as he continues his ministrations, tending to the mark with a soft affection that contradicts with the fiery sparks his touch sets off. And when he leans back satisfied, the unease has left him.

And we fall asleep, my hand resting over where his encircle my abdomen, the physical touch a constant reassurance to the two of us, giving me a greater sense of relaxation than had I been sleeping without touching him.

But even so I find myself tugged out of sleep by the two voices of Kookie and Tae who come to wake me up, smiling down softly at me as the two manoeuvre me out of Minnie's arms, drawing me into their awaiting and very willing substitutes that their arms offer.

Kookie smiles at me.

"We have class." He says softly.

I nod, allowing Tae to droop his warm, slightly sleepy, weight across my back as I look up at Kookie.

"Jin hyung and Hobi hyung are making breakfast. They won't let you leave without eating because they didn't see you at dinner last night." He comments, lips tugged in a wry fond smile at the fussing of our older mates.

I smile at the notion, trying to drag myself out of Tae's embrace so I can go shower and get dressed, but he continues to cling on, murmuring he wants morning cuddles.

And when at long last we eventually make it to the kitchen; the others are already there save for Minnie and Yoongi oppa.

And I sit down between Tae and Joonie oppa for breakfast, not missing the intent eyes that rove over me to make sure I'm eating.

It's definitely unwarranted fussing, but because it's them- it sends bolts of warmth through me, knowing they're always looking out for me and fulfilling those instincts to care by feeding us.

It makes me want to remain under those warm fond gazes.

And as I'm getting ready to leave I realise that I won't be making it back to the nest until late at night.

"I'll be late, you don't need to wait up." I call as I'm pulling on my shoes but before Jinnie oppa and Hobi oppa who'd followed us out to watch us leave can even ask questions, Kookie is already tugging me with him and out the door.

"Bye love you oppas!" I call very much knowing that my words might momentarily distract them from asking those questions.

Those questions that Kookie has unknowingly saved me from answering.

But when we get into the car, he turns to watch as I belt myself in- the knowing glimmer in his eyes suggest otherwise, but he doesn't push.

"It's your time." he states, making it very clear that how I spend it is upto me.

Providing me with that confidence and support without prying.

Just one of the many reasons I love him.

And I make sure he knows that, when I pull him in for a kiss before he can turn away- melding our lips together in sweet slow sync; letting the kiss say what my heart feels.

That day by day I'm falling further in love with him.

And his sweet bright grin makes it all worth it. Makes my day shine that much brighter.

(THERE YOU GO MY LOVELIES! I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT! THAT AMPARO IS COMING BACK FOR ANOTHER EXHIBITION AND MAYBE JUST MAYBE THE POSSIBILITY OF HER IDENTITY BEING REVEALED IS SO EXCITING TO ME!! AHHHH! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHERE IT GOES NEXT AND HOW IT'LL EVENUTALLY LEAD TO THEM AS GYEOMIE VERY APTLY SAID....HEADS OVER HEELS AND ON THEIR KNEES WITH ADMIRATION! I CAN'T WAIT TO WRITE THEIR CUTE FANBOYING RESPONSES!! SO EAGER TO GET TO THAT POINT! AND LOOK-  (Y/N) IS STARTING TO FOLLOW AND LISTEN TO THOSE INSTINCTS AND THEN WE HAVE KOOKIE SWEEPING IN TO THE RESCUE COS EVERYONE DESERVES THEIR SPACE AND HE'LL BE DAMNED IF HE LETS HIS BABY MATE FEEL EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BIT UNCOMFORTABLE! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND STAY SAFE DARLINGS!! WE HAVE REACHED AN ASTONISHING, AMAZING 225K READS AND IT'S ALL DOWN TO YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT! THANK YOU~)

Where there is light, there is darkness. But where there is light, there is also hope and beauty and life. It all depends on whether you let the darkness grow bigger and your shadows consume you or whether you let that light burn brighter and bolder.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3