GYEOM POV:

When (Y/N) turns up at the nest at night, alone and with a determined look on her face despite the fact her hair is slightly tousled in the wind and her hands are tight around her, because she arrived sans jacket, it's a sight that pushes everyone in the coven into action. Pronto.

Jinyoung hyung takes one look at her, at the way she shivers at the doorstep before bustling off immediately, making a beeline for the kitchen and his adjacent and very trusty stocked-up store. JB hyung and Mark hyung rush to their feet to tug her inside, hands gentle for all that their actions are rushed and slightly panicked. Jackson hyung and Youngjae hyung are quick to draw her between them, immediately fussing and drawing a throw over her- eyes flaring red as they try to assess what's wrong. And Bambam's already jumped up to twist the dial up to a warmer temperature, and even though we know she's changed- everything that happens is a flurry of habitual movement.

And the sight of her shivering had just set everyone off.

It wasn't that she was cold in the same sense any more but she hadn't lost her human response to the weather- it was toon soon for her to lose those habits.

And that's why when JB hyung sinks to his knees in front of her, he looks at her just as he had all those years ago when he'd seen her as someone as his, someone he wanted to cherish and protect and dote over just as much as they had to me. When he'd quickly grown to realise that the bond we shared was different, special.

He looks at her like he's seeing her for the first time.

Or perhaps like the first time as seeing her as vulnerable all over again. When she'd woken up shaking and crying  one night at the nest, when her heartbroken haunted cries had him bolting out of bed and rushing to get to her, overwhelmed with the instinct to protect.

He's seeing her as someone he wants to cradle in the embrace of his arms and never let go.

I step forward, as if hyung's gesture is what snaps me out of my daze, out of the slightly disconnected way I'd been looking at her.

Because those eyes of hers turn to me, flicker red and she opens her mouth and filled with vulnerability speaks.

"Please help me." she says, so pleading, so broken and bruised that I'm already nodding before I know what it is.

Because for her I would do anything, give anything. For her I wouldn't hesitate to go above and beyond all extremes to help even in the slightest. Because she's suffered far too much, because she's hurt too much. Because when I see her I remember the young version of her I'd met, who'd offered me help and a hand up when I was beaten down, who despite the hostility I gave her, she welcomed me with nothing but sweetness.

Because we'd grown up together, because even though we'd come from different races, different backgrounds, and different lives- we'd melded into each other's so easily.

"We'll help." JB hyung replies, there's nothing but assurance and firmness to his voice, because he wouldn't hesitate a single second, no-one would when it came to her. 

And as Jinyoung hyung steps back in bearing a mug of hot chocolate and some vials in the other hand, shooting her a stern scolding look- I realise that it was something extreme that drove her to this, that drove her to leaving her nest and coming to us; when she'd never wandered alone since her attack. And I didn't know whether I had the courage or strength to handle it.

Whether any of us did.

----

My arms tighten around her.

"What?!" Jackson hyung says, voice raised in anger and rage and disbelief.

She nods, slightly moulding herself to me, pressing herself back as she tries to make herself smaller, to shrink away from the angry tone.

He immediately softens, reaching for her and giving a small kiss to the hand he's grabbed.

"Never angry at you chickie. But you mean to tell me that the man...no the animal that attacked you, that turned your life upside down, caused you to be changed and just ruined everything basically is also the same man who stole your parents away from you? Who slaughtered them?" he surmises, looking at her as if he's begging for her to say no, that it's not the case.

Because if it is, then that means that somehow there was a way he'd been keeping tabs on her, or he'd somehow recognised her and tried to finish what he'd started that night all those years ago.

And either thought, possibility makes me blood freeze, makes my body stiffen- arms curling protectively around her because that means she's not safe, hasn't been safe and that even now she's in danger.

She flinches at Jackson hyung's words, body wilting as she grabs at my arms, seeking comfort. I shoot him a reproachful look, for the way he's worded it and he shoots her an apologetic look but it doesn't change things.

Especially when she gives a frightened, small nod.

"And you came here alone?!" Jinyoung hyung says. He sounds indignant, worried and above all...seething with repressed disbelief and fear.

"(Y/N), I love you sweetheart but there is no way I will happily accept how reckless you were coming here alone. What if he'd been out there? What if you hadn't made it here?" he says, voice panicked and scared and it elicits a sad sniffle from the curved-up figure in my arms, silencing him.

And I lean forward just in time to see the tear-filled eyes, the way she bites her lip when it wobbles; a sign of approaching tears.

"My love, you have got to be careful. How did you get here?" he asks.

"In Jinnie oppa's car, it's warded and the house gave me the keys too." She says sadly.

There seems to a bit of tension that leaves his face, when he knows she got here in a vehicle that was warded, protecting her from any sort of harm or danger or threat.

"Did you tell anyone?" Youngjae hyung asks from where he's sitting to my right.

A small shake of the head.

"I left a note next to Hobi oppa." She confesses. 

But there's nothing that can be done now.

Unless they wake up during the night, there won't be that mad frantic panic if hyung called with the news that their youngest mate had travelled across town during the middle of the night without a mention.

And when she leans into my touch, it makes me feel protective- not wanting her to leave my embrace with how distressed she is.

"Chickie...you know we want what's best for you. But do the boys know...do they know your attacker has a personal connection with you, that he might have had his eyes on you this entire time?" Mark hyung asks, looking gentle at (Y/N).

Another shake.

"I don't know how to tell them. I don't know how to bring it about in conversation to my mates that newsflash- Chul murdered my parents and tried to kill me too as a child but didn't get to. I just don't know how." She says, words beginning with slight confusion and frustration but she chokes up, words filled with the pain of how hard it is, bursting out, tears finally spilling over.

She buries her head into her hands, sobbing as she shakes, hiding away from the anger and rage she's clearly expecting as a backlash from them.

What she doesn't expect is for Mark hyung to gently pry her hands away and slowly kiss her cheeks, lips coming back stained with her tears, or his red eyes filled with empathy to look into her own red ones of doubt and hurt.

"I know it hurts. I know it aches and that telling them will be the hardest things you'll ever have to do. But you also need to, not because of Chul only but because how long will you carry this burden alone? Mates are there through sorrows as well as joy, and think how sad they'll be when they learn you've been aching and hurting alone." He says softly, eyes full of compassion as he explains it to her.

She nods slowly, unwinding from her curled-up position to reach over to hug him- her trembling form cocooned into his arms.

"You can do it chickie. We're all here supporting you. I'll even be there if you want." He promises.

When she leans back she's still teary-eyed but looking slightly more reassured, mumbling a soft 'promise' which is echoed back with sincerity.

Once the atmosphere shifts from tears to a slightly calmed but still tension thrumming room, it's Bambam who leans forward from where he'd curled around Jinyoung hyung- whether to stop hyung from pouncing on (Y/N) and letting the full extent of his mothering instincts rain on her, or whether he needs the comfort too- looking equally as shaken as I'd felt.

"But what is it you needed help with?" he asks, referring to the first words she'd said.

She looks at him, a tiny smile on her face- but it makes him beam at her with encouragement, nodding at her to speak, that she can do it.

"I need you to do me some favours. I need you to get me the files on my parents' murder." She says.

There's a sharp intake of breath and despite the warm temperature of the room, it suddenly seems to plummet into dangerous icy waters.

"(Y/N)..." Youngjae hyung begins.

She shakes her read, resolute even with her red-rimmed eyes and tearstained cheeks.

"If this needs to come to an end, then we need to start at the beginning. We need to know what kind of monster Chul is." She says, even if her voice wavers, even if it fills with pain.

"But before all that. Maybe it's time to tell them. Maybe the first thing I need to do is tell my mates." She says, voice lowered in volume, as if the idea has caused the strength to drain out of her.

JB hyung nods.

He vowed to help her, so help her he will. He stands up, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Let's get you home then chickie." He says.

(Y/N) POV:

The fear that rolls through my stomach makes me feel like it's doing somersaults, a constant round motion of tumbling and turning that threatens to make me feel sick. That threatens to make the hot chocolate and the soothing and calming tonics make a reappearance.

Gyeomie gives my hand a small squeeze, taking my fingers out through the large sweater sleeves to grip them reassuringly. The entire coven had wanted to be there so here we were in two cars, I'm driving Jinnie oppa's car back, passenger seat occupied by Gyeomie and the middle row with Jackson oppa, Mark oppa and Bambam. The others were coming separately because though this car could easily fit us all, they would need a car to get back.

The closer we get to the nest, the more the tension grows, the more anxious and scarier and daunting the reality of what I'm about to do hits me. Makes me clench at the steering wheel tightly and makes me wish that somehow they could know without me having to say anything.

I was worried how they'd respond not to just my past but the way I'd left without telling anyone, worried whether any of them had noticed I was gone and how they'd react to me turning up in the early hours of the morning, flanked by the Ims. It made me feel tense and tightly coiled up, a spring ready to burst out and as I drive through the wards, now feeling nothing but a sense of welcoming and peace and belonging, I wonder just what it'll be like to finally open up about the past I'd so desperately hidden.

And when we step out of the car, the garage door sliding open to allow me to drive in to park the car exactly where I'd gotten it from, I lead the group to the front door, resting my hand against the old yet extremely well-kept, strong door. The way it silently slid open to give me entry, door silent as it swung inwards, welcoming me into a warm hallway that's dimly lit and the slippers awaiting me, moving forward.

The others step in and it seems almost instantaneously I feel a shift internally- feel as if the back of my hand, behind a veil, a shadow of sorts I feel their presences- realise that this is what the others feel when someone enters the nest that isn't part of the coven.

And though it's a subtle shift, not forceful nor sudden- a gentle indication in my mind, it's enough to have feet hurrying around the house, enough to cause action as my mates come into view, sleepy and bleary states sharpening with awareness, rumpled pyjamas, and some throwing on dressing gowns as they head down the stairs, noting that we're all gathered in the hallway still.

And bringing up the rear, with a look of panic, hysteria and worry and mixing together before sliding off with a look of relief so profound it seems to cause him to shake and grip tightly at the railing is Hobi oppa, note clutched tightly in his hand and eyes burning crimson.

"We need to talk." I manage to force out, voice sounding slightly strained but still carrying through.

I meet Hobi oppa's eyes, that are roving over me intently- trying to confirm to himself I'm there.

"Yeah we really do." He replies, voice thick and rough.

All I know is that no matter that I'm having a conversation with my mates and the Ims- my family, the one who've had my back for everything. I know this conversation won't be an easy one.

But I'm not going to back away from it either.

((Y/N)!! WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING SNEAKING AWAY FROM THE NEST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO MEET THE IMS AND HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT, MUCH NEEDED HEART TO HEART?! MY DARLING THERE ARE THINGS SUCH AS PHONE CALLS OR TELLING SOMEONE AT THE LEAST!! BUT STILL- ADORE HER, CHERISH HER AND THE OTHERS WILL SO EASILY FORGIVE HER EVEN IF IT MAKES THEIR STILL HEARTS SUDDENLY BREAK INTO A NERVOUS RAPID HEARTBEAT!  AHHHH! IT'S HAPPENING! IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING! AND I'M SO NERVOUS IT FEELS LIKE IT'S TOO SOON THOUGH IT'S BEEN WHAT? 90+ CHAPTERS?! I'M SO NERVOUS FOR HER, AND SO SCARED TOO! BUT BOY WILL IT MAKE EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY YOONGI, S E E T H E! ANY BELTS ON EXTRA SECURE COS IT'S A BUMPY RIDE OUTWARDS! LET ME KNOW ALL YOUR THOUGHTS, REACTIONS AND TAKE CARE! STAY SAFE LOVELIES!)

Our bodies age with time, grow and develop and mature at a constant rate. But our hearts and souls can age quickly, can become matured before their time, and sometimes weakened too! But what's important is that we keep on going, keep on having courage and keep on believing that things will get better.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3