JIMIN POV:

The upcoming days to the exhibition seem to pass in a blur of lessons and time at the nest- the excitement wiping away any real focus on anything but the anticipation that came with going to see Amparo's new work. Days dawned with sleepy cuddles with at least one mate in our beds, to lazily making our way to breakfast and when we'd be wide awake- spent time theorising what their next theme would be. Amparo was a silent yet extremely powerful presence in the art world and the fact that no-one knew who they were, that they didn't even have a name or face to go by just added and heightened the mysterious allure they had.

And at nights we'd find ourselves curled up in each other's arms, lazy slow feeds to satiate our instincts and slowly roving hands and lingering kisses as we settled down. And yet the buzz remained, like a constant presence under our skin, a repetitive thrum through the bond as the days lessened and we were growing closer and closer to finally going to the exhibition.

(Y/N) had taken several shifts at the book-café, insisting that she'd missed far too many when we'd called in and explained that she'd be unable to come for the unforeseeable future, we wanted her to be healed and healthy before she started working again.

And yet it caught me by little surprise when she announced it over dinner that she was picking up her shifts again, that she wanted the normalcy of work again even if for the past few weeks we'd rarely caught glimpse of her unless it was mornings.

But it was taken easily, nodded over. Because we'd never force her to abandon aspects of her life for the sake of it. She had every right to make her decisions and I respected her choice.

But even so I enjoyed tagging along, seeing her in her element- hair bundled up, delicate curve of her neck exposed and eyes shining with a focused gleam as she balanced the work between managing the café orders and helping customers with their book requests. And I can see that the customers have noticed a shift in her, noticed that now she's a vampire and yet she's still treated the same, accepted with warmth.

One of the most memorable moments was when we'd first walked in and a blur of limbs had gone flying into her, a small frame hurling towards (Y/N). And (Y/N) had lit up, scooping up the young girl with a fondness as she hugged her and giggled when the young girl had immediately nestled her head into the crook of her neck, pressing tiny kisses there.

It turned out the young girl was the vampire Tae had briefly mentioned, and I can see the adorable love between the two as well as the fierce protectiveness the girl holds for (Y/N). The way she'd turned to shoot me a suspicious glare when it clicked to her that I was (Y/N)'s mate, given the cursory glance to my arm around her waist. And poked at the marks on her neck with a faint curiosity before tightening her hold. The girl...Hye-Jin was wrapped around (Y/N)'s torso and even as she continued to work placed herself near her, eyes constantly darting to me with a thoughtful look.

It was almost intimidating and yet even so I found myself wanting to please the girl who clearly held such a possessive protective stance over our baby mate.

And yet it was all worth it when afterwards she came towards me, small yet firm steps until she stopped in front of me.

"Make sure you treat unnie like a princess. She deserves her happily ever after the most." She says.

I nod seriously, because I know just how much (Y/N) deserves happiness, how much she's had to endure- she deserves it more than anyone.

And then Hye-Jin's face breaks into a smile, bright and beautiful and sunny.

"You're not too bad Mr Jimin." She concludes before skipping away.

And it feels like a monumental victory.

And when (Y/N) appears at the end of her shift, she holds her hand out for me.

"Let's go home." She says. I nod.

Home.

Where we're all complete and together.

----

And when the day of the exhibition dawns, the tension is palpable in the house- thrumming and filling every crevice, every nook and cranny. Everyone's buzzing with excitement and it looks as if time is going too slowly as it progresses towards the evening.

And yet when Jin hyung calls for all of us to begin getting ready, it feels like there's no time at all. As if suddenly it's going too quickly.

As if nothing could prepare us for what tonight would hold.

(Y/N) POV:

"No." I say for yet another time.

Hobi oppa pouts from where he and Tae have sprawled across my bed.

"Why not jagi?" Tae whines.

I shake my head.

"It's an exhibition, I am not going to be the one standing out if I wear all those bright colour combinations." I say exasperated.

I'd always attended these exhibitions dressed in colours that blended into the background, colours that had allowed me to seem like just one of the crowd. It was why I'd be able to hear the honest opinions of others around me, I couldn't very much do that if I was standing out and attracting attention. There would be no way to be inconspicuous.

But it is so, so hard to keep that strong will up when the two are shooting me wounded looks, looking like dejected puppies because I refuse to indulge them by wearing the beautifully bright and vibrant pieces they hold up, refuse to let the colours slide across my skin and make me into a painting- the whole point is to be discreet, not blaringly obvious to everyone's eyes. The thought of so many turning to look at me, makes a prickle of discomfort slither through me.

But then Hobi oppa seems to read my face, maybe senses it through the bond because he nudges Tae who falls silent.

"What about one of the darker colour options then?" he suggest, drawing himself off my bed and tugging Tae to stand beside him. He gestures to the bag of clothes they hadn't thought to open but nudge me towards anyways.

"Your choice my love." He murmurs as he steps out to give me that space.

I smile gratefully at him, seeing the way his face is full of understanding.

And then just at the last moment Tae turns.

"You'll look great in any of them." He promises, voice soft and deep and gentle.

And like that hurry off to get ready themselves and leaving me behind with an important decision to make.

----

I fiddle with the hem of the dress, twisting and turning to see each angle. Maybe it's too much. And then on the other hand maybe it's too little. Maybe the colour isn't flattering, maybe they won't like it. I let out a groan of frustration. I've never dithered so much whilst getting ready for an exhibition yet it seems for this one I need to put more effort in, for this one I'm consciously aware that this is the first time I'll ever be attending it with my mates, with my coven. And that for the first time I won't be alone as I make rounds and listen to people discussing my work. I feel nervous jitters begin to build- both relating to my appearance and the exhibition. It feels like this evening is a spectacle of myself- myself as their mate and as Amparo.

But then I brush my hands down the skirt of the dress, take a deep breath. My eyes fall to the marks on my neck, that decorate it in shades of red and purple. Should I cover them up?

The immediate instinctual response is a loud no felt through my body with a shudder of revulsion and contempt- why should I have to hide a part of me, hide that I'm claimed by my 7 mates? And yet the tiniest part of me whispers about the eyes that'll be on me, the eyes that will silently judge and scrutinise.

But in the little time I did spend with my parents I remember that they taught me to never cower away, so I leave those marks be eyes stinging with remembrance about their soft, strong words and reassuring voices, wishing, and yearning that they could see me today, could see the person I'd become.

I made a mental note to visit them soon, blinking back the watery quality to my eyes as I fix my hair, piling it high. If I'm going to show the marks then I'm going to proudly own and display them. I pin it up, sweeping it away from the column of my throat, leaving the few tendrils that curl around my face.

I take a deep breath.

It's now or never.

And with that newfound resolve turn away from my reflection, taking deep breaths as I will myself to calm down and step out of the room to make the walk down the stairs. Down where I can hear all of them already congregated and waiting, small murmured compliments as they admire each other, the sound of fabric shifting as they adjust their clothes.

And then a sweet warm voice calling for me.

"(Y/N)! Come down my darling." Jinnie oppa calls, clearly having sensed me or heard my light treads towards the stairs, heels dangling on one hand.

I take a deep breath, and with it take my first step down.

HOBI POV:

Nothing could've prepared me...any of us for how stunning (Y/N) looks as she slowly makes her descent as she walks down the stairs. The sharp inhale of breath had been what made me turn as I fussed over Tae's collar, fixing it so it would highlight the necklace adorning his neck.

And when I'd turned, my hands had flared and splayed across his collar in shock before I'd let go to turn and give her my full attention as she made her way down. There's something incredible alluring in her sweet shyness, head ducked down and avoiding meeting our gazes as she takes each step down, so slow it almost feels deliberate in the way it's teasing us. The dress she's chosen isn't one of the bright, multi-coloured pieces we'd suggested to her but rather one colour, a colour that seems to glide effortlessly across her skin with the way the top half fits her curved torso and the bottom half floats from around her waist to brush temptingly across her legs.

I turn to see that everyone's eyes are burning red- a mixture of possessiveness and awe, and have no doubt that mine are also red too.

"Stunning my sweetheart, you're simply stunning." Jin hyung breathes, taking a step forward towards her, eyes looking as if he's in a daze, hand reaching out for her.

She takes his hand, a few steps away from the bottom and lets out the most adorable squeal of surprise when he steps forward, hands sliding to slip around her waist and lifting her off the ground, her hands tightening on the smart shirt that fits wonderfully across his broad shoulders.

"Oppa." She breathes, light and airy.

He sets her down carefully, looking down at her, hands still set against her waist, cupping her close.

"Now suddenly I don't want to leave." He murmurs, watching as she flushes a pretty pink hue, eyes slowly raising to meet his.

He smiles beatifically at her, eyes soft and tender as he holds our baby mate close.

"You really do look beautiful darling." I say stepping forward, hand cupping her cheek, thumb brushing back and forth the light blush on her cheek, enamoured with every bit of her.

The rest flit around her, marvelling at the cute sweet nature of our youngest as she ducks her head, fidgets on the spot, hand tightening around the heels that dangle from her fingers and squirms when Tae takes the invitation of her exposed neck to brush feathery kisses along the back of it.

"Tae stop, we'll be late." She protests, trying to shift away from him, but his hand comes to wrap around her torso, keeping her still even as his head bends down to tilt towards dangerous territory.

Dangerous because I realise when she turns away from him with a fond twitching smile that the dress gives tantalising glimpses of her skin.

She looks breath-taking, the gauzy light fabric billowing around her in a way that makes her seem like an apparition, a beautiful vision that might just slip away from our eyes if we don't grasp onto her.

And I can't help feel a mixture of desire and pride with the way the colour of her dress offsets the marks on her neck, make them starkly contrast and pop out- a clear indication to anyone and everyone that she's claimed, that she's ours.

And yet even as Tae steps away, wounding himself around Yoongi hyung and having no qualms about the way he trails slow kisses across his jaw and neck, Jiminie steps forward, silent as his hand splays across the bottom of her back, tugging her in close. His plump lips seal against hers and kisses her slowly with purposeful intent, breathing in and swallowing every small sound- every whimper and gasp he elicits as he claims her mouth, kisses her deeply- the other hand brushing teasingly against the exposed skin of her upper arm before trailing to her neck, light touches as the fingers slide up to gently rub against one of the marks at her jugular- our eyes intent and watching as the slight pressure coaxes a sinful mewl out of her.

My eyes burn brighter and I can feel the instinctual need to keep her close, to continue coaxing those sounds out rise higher and higher, feel the want, and need for her pool heavily in my gut, heady and enthralling as it begins to course through me veins- fiery and deliciously tempting.

And when he unwillingly parts their lips, looks down at the way they're swollen with the pressure of lips and teeth, rosy and glistening. Watch the way he runs the pad of his thumb across her bottom lip, the plushness of it giving way and pushing down. Or the way her tongue teasingly flicks against the pad of it, the slightest scrap of fangs as she nips at it before stepping away, her eyes morphing into a glowing red.

"We'll be late. And you've all been so excited." She says firmly, stepping away and grabbing Kookie's hand, tugging him out behind him.

The rest of us follow in a dazed haze- not quite believing the scene that's just occurred in front of our eyes, willing the racing thrum of anticipation to cool and the fire in our veins to quench.

But Tae sounds absolutely delighted as he scoops a waist around Jiminie.

"She's a fiery tease." He exclaims, sounding proud and tempted by the thought as he continues to walk on.

And I wonder whether any of us will be able to continue resisting her, continue to push away the overwhelming drowning need of wanting her close, of wanting that intimacy with her.

And whether we'll actually even be able to focus on the exhibition with the sight of our tempting mate flitting around, a vision of beauty and sweetness. It looks like our gazes will be occupied tonight, distracted even. Because apart from seeing Amparo's work, I can feel the beginning of protectiveness kick in- to look after our baby mate.

From eyes that might dare glance at her with rights only we have.

It looks like it'll be a long night.

(I SWEAR I MEANT TO WRITE THE GALLERY CHAPTER BUT IT SOMEHOW GOT PUSHED BACK BECAUSE THE BOYS FAWNING AND TRYING TO FIGHT THEIR URGES IN FRONT OF THEIR BABY MATE WHO BLOWS THEM AWAY...I THINK NOT THAT I'LL CONSIDER MISSING THOSE REACTIONS!! I HOPE YOU LIKED IT AND ENJOYED IT JUST AS MUCH AS I DID WRITING IT! AND LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS...BABY MATE HAS FANGS AND SHE'S NOT SCARED TO USE THEM AND TEASE THEM BACK! AHHHH! I WONDER HOW LONG THEY'LL RESIST! AND IMAGINE JUST HOW HARD IT'LL BE FOR THEM ONCE THEY FIND OUT SHE'S AMPARO TOO! SO MUCH STUFF PLANNED FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER ALREADY AND I AM SO SO EXCITED! I CAN'T WAIT TO WRITE IT!! STAY SAFE AND ENJOY LOVELIES!)

Perhaps the greatest test of strength is resisting temptation.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3