(Y/N) POV:

Panic makes me quicken my pace, rushing after Min-Junie who still thinks that this is a game, a chase that he giggles and wriggles away, slipping out of my grip as he moves towards the edge of the road.

"Min-Junie wait! Don't go near the road!" I yell, but he rushes forward, head turning to shoot me a grin.

My heart twists and lurches with panic, stuttering when I spot his feet step off the curb.

The sight of the car approaching Min-Junie's oblivious giggly body sends panic to flood my body, jolting me into action, instincts screaming to protect as I rush forward, legs quickly crossing the distance as I hurry onto the road, running to him and twisting to shield him.

The blaring honk cuts through the air, my body tensing as I wrap my arms around him, curling to hide his body from the car that speeds forward. My legs jitter with adrenaline, wanting nothing more than to run but in that split second, my body and mind pushed me to protect, to shield the same bear cub who'd once flinched from me.

There's a guttural growl that rips through the air, melding with the blaring sound of the car horn and I hear a cry of my name.

My eyes clench shut, teeth gritted in that moment, bracing and tensing for the inevitable collision, but having no regrets as I cradle Min-Junie to me, knowing that if he was okay then it was fine. My body presses to his, holding his fear-stiffened body, his scent sharp and tart with fear and distress, the realisation slamming into him that this is very much not a game.

The screeching of brakes is loud and grating on my ears, flickering and folding and trying to curve away from the sound, tail flicking up and down at the danger and threat.

But the impact never comes.

Not in the way I expect.

Whoever's driving the car jerks and twists it away, the front tail of the car curving and slamming against my side, body thrown to the side, Min-Junie cradled in my arms as I hit the road, hands going to protect his head, my own slamming down, the world spinning and hovering in and out of focus, a groan punched out of my lungs.

There's the sound the brakes screeching and thudding footsteps, rushing forward, ears curling up as I clench my eyes shut, waiting for the world to reorientate itself.

"(Y/N).... (Y/N)...oh my god!" and then the sound of static, ears buzzing.

"10-52. Get me an ambulance right now next to the intersection to the centre, I'm sending my coordinates." Comes a harried urgent voice, a snapped growl as orders are barked out, steeped with authority.

I try to open my eyes, a pained whimper slipping out in response to the way Min-Junie trembles and burrows close, a muffled sob slipping out his throat.

I try to move, instincts restless to soothe him and tend to him, body trying to straighten up when a hand gently nudges me back, keeps me stable and coaxes me to remain still.

"Don't move (Y/N), just stay lying still, you shouldn't move when you've been in an accident. We're getting an ambulance. (Y/N) I'm so, so sorry." The voice whispers, soothing and soft and gentle; calming, the smell of burnt caramel making my head pound.

"Why sorry? Hobi you didn't do anything." I manage to get out, head turning slightly and wincing when the road drags at my skin.

The smell of cloying damp earth, heavy and clogged with rain and the scent of decaying leaves filters through too, joins the burnt caramel as a hand flits nervously across me.

"Joon...Joon you're here." I breathe, eyes blinking open, the sight of their faces hovering in and out of my vision, wincing when I turn my head slightly, a hand immediately coming to still my movement, carefully cradling the side of my face as Hobi stops me, biting down on his lip, fangs gnawing at it.

"Stop moving (Y/N)!" Hobi says, voice a rough gravelly growl, hand gentle as he cups my cheek.

I try to settle, to stay still but my hands tremble where they hold Min-Junie, needing to see if he's okay, arm pinned to the ground by the way his weight's fallen onto it.

"Min-Junie...baby bear are you ok?" I ask instead, hands trembling as I rub my hand up and down his back, ducking away from the hard stares I can feel.

His weight shifts on my arm, my lips clamping down on the discomfort but it's drowned out under the overwhelming relief when I hear a muffled voice, ears straining to catch the slightly shaken voice.

"Noona okay?" he mumbles.

And then another voice joins, my ears twitching with sensitivity as they curl inwards.

"Oh my god are they okay? I tried to swerve to avoid but I just—is the kid okay?" a harried panicked voice calls, pitched in volume and distress and it makes my body try to shrink away from the loudness of it all.

"Hobi..." I whisper but before he finishes the blaring of sirens cuts across, head twisting away despite his gentle hold in keeping me steady; wanting nothing more than wanting the sound to stop, ears trembling with pain.

"The ambulance is here. The ambulance is here." Joon's voice shudders with relief.

But when a pair of hands come to try take Min-Junie away, my hands tighten instinctively, body locking against his and trying to keep him close.

"(Y/N)....honey it's okay. They're just going to check he's okay." Joon reassures, gently drawing my hands into his, trying to calm me, scent rich earth and forest; strong and powerful and soothing.

"Joon no....Min-Junie he..." I whimper.

Lips press to my temple.

"Sweetheart I promise you he's just going to be checked over, he's going to be in the back of the ambulance with you." Hobi reassures.

And then their scents are receding, fading away to be replaced with the smell of antiseptics and the chemical scent that gives away a paramedic is crouched over me.

"Let's get you in the back of the ambulance. I need two stretchers, careful with her head, there's blood, the young boy seems to be just shaken but check him over. Stabilise her neck in case." The voice raps out and soon there's hands carefully moving me, body lifting and Min-Junie's taken away, eyes fluttering open and shut as I try to keep them wide open; searching for the sight of him.

And when I hear his small, distressed whimpers when the stretcher is set down, I force myself upright, ignoring the wet feeling on the side of my head and the way my ears seem to be constantly ringing; the sound of the blaring horn and screech vivid in my mind.

Hobi's crouched over Min-Junie, holding him as a man checks him over, small light flashing in his eyes, testing for his response time.

But thankfully from what I can see, the world tilting in and out, is that he's unharmed, tears of shock and surprise making his cheeks damp and his scent immediately softens when he sees me moving towards him, hand weakly pushing at the pandemic that reaches for me.

"You need to stay still Miss, your head is bleeding, we need to get you checked for internal injuries and signs of concussion." The woman firmly says, guiding me back down.

I comply because the sooner I'm checked, the sooner I can get to him.

My eyes blink as I focus on the light, wincing at the glaring light but keeping focused on it. Answering her questions about my name, about the incident, about the others.

"There's no problem with recollection and your pupils are focused, there's no sort of disorientation. Is your head hurting?" she asks.

I give a small nod.

"A little. More where I fell." I admit.

She nods.

"That should clear up, it seems to be a small concussion, we need to clean your temple. Are you hurting anywhere else?" her eyes scanning over me.

I shake my head, hand going to my side when the movement makes my vision temporarily blur.

"Just my head." I insist.

She hums.

"It might be the shock or adrenaline but when they fade your body might feel pain later, I've done a quick examination and nothing seems broken but you might have some bruising or scrapes. I can assign you painkillers but the main problem was your head and there's no sign of internal damage." She says. Hands careful as they examine my head, probing and checking for damage.

"I'm fine...is Min-Junie okay? He's not hurt?" I ask.

Eyes drifting to where he's slumped against Hobi, cradled against him.

I watch as Hobi's gaze falls to me, sensing my own, worry and concern flitting across his expression from where he stands besides Joon.

"The young bear? No harm, he's got a small scrape on his face but apart from that fit as a fiddle, your body shielded him from much worse."

My body sags with relief at that.

"I heard the car spun and hit your side, let me check- we don't want any broken ribs." She says with a grimace, hands shucking off my coat before going to carefully lift the side of my jumper, gently pressing across the top of my ribs and watching my face for any discomfort. Her fingers continue to probe, examining and checking but when I peer down there's nothing wrong, no pain.

"You seem to have had a lucky escape too, although try avoid running right in front of a car." She remarks, tugging her gloves off.

"He was going to get hurt, I couldn't let that happen." I admit, eyes settling back on the huddled trio just a small distance away from the open back of the ambulance.

She hums, filling out a sheet that she promptly tugs free from the clipboard.

Gesturing to them because Joon and Hobi are hurrying close.

"She'll need some scans done to confirm she's not suffering from any internal bruising or damage, best be on the safe side. Are you her guardians?" she asks.

My head swims when I try to move, hand darting out and steadied by another, an arm sliding around me and a small hurting whine slipping out from Joon.

"We're not. I'll contact them. I'll stay with her in the ambulance, Hobi take Min-Junie back to the centre. I'll see you in a bit." He says, voice tight and rough.

"I'll be there as soon as I can, take care of her." is the soft murmur.

"I don't need...I'm fine." I insist, trying to push hair away from my face when my fingers graze the scrape at my temple and come back red and sticky.

The growl that rips through the air is pure dominance and fierce protectiveness.

"Hospital. No arguments." And then Joon's clambering in, posture locked up but hands painstakingly gentle as he coaxes me to lie down, sitting opposite me, hand laced together with mine.

The doors close on us, shut me away Min-Jun and Hobi.

And that restlessness that's still frantic, melding with the jittery adrenaline that still courses through me makes my breathing uneven.

The fingers curled with mine tighten, thumb brushing across my knuckles, smeared with blood too.

"You'll be fine, I'll protect you with my life (Y/N)." Joon promises, voice a low murmur my eyes shut to fight against the way the sight of him keeps blurring.

I don't know whether he intends for me to hear, whether it's even directed to me but the words give me courage, soothe me.

And my hand squeezes gratefully around his.

-------

I raise my brows at the small cluster around the bed I'm in.

"This seems a bit overboard for a small bandage on my head." I say, the dizziness having abated considerably, staring up at Joon and Hobi's tight postures still restlessly flanking the end of my bed, unconsciously straightened up and wide stances. Protecting and forming a barrier between me and the door.

"It's not overboard! You were in a car accident." Eunwoo says with a glare, eyes puffy and red.

I wince, feeling bad for having dragged him out. So abruptly yanked to my temporary bedside, with little to go on.

His posture had been tense and defensive when he'd entered, rushing close to me, body curving over mine and touches so light and gentle that I'd had to drag him close for a hug, breathing out with relief at his scent merging with mine, his head nuzzling against my own, foreheads pressed together.

"It wasn't a car accident! The car swerved! And what was I meant to do Woo, leave Min-Junie on the road? Let him be hurt?" I ask, brows raised, wincing when it tugs at my bandage.

"Bokki what am I going to do with you? I...I don't want to hear you're hurting and be able to do nothing. We're lucky you've got only scrapes to show for it." he says with a sigh, fingers brushing carefully on the light thin bandage on my hand.

"You ran into the road. And I know...I know you acted immediately but...(Y/N) don't scare me like that." Hobi pleads, eyes flickering with pain, hands curling around the foot of the bed.

"I'm sorry...but Min-Junie's okay and I won't apologise for ensuring that." I say resolutely, head ducking at the small rumbly growl that slips out of Joon's lips; scent thickening and batting away at the chemical smell of the hospital room.

"You'll give me and my wolf grey hairs." He groans.

"What about the person who was driving?" Eunwoo asks, twisting from his perch from the bed.

"She's a bit shaken understandably. But the incident's reported and filed, no-one was expecting Min-Junie to rush out like that." Joon answers.

I take in Eunwoo's coat, thrown on hastily over a tailored suit, makeup still on. It takes a little longer to place but I figure out he's run out from a shoot.

I groan, head slumping back.

"Please tell me you didn't run out of a shoot." I mumble when his head whips back to mine with alarm, the others jerking forward too.

A sheepish smile that turns hard and defensive.

"And if I did? I got a call that my packmate was in hospital and her guardian was needed, you really thought I was going to wait to snap a few more photos?" he asks.

"Didn't you have a joint shoot...." I begin when the door is quickly opened, head ducking down to avoid antlers from hitting the edge of the doorway and SJ is stepping in, posture thrumming with nerves and the scent of peaches tart with worry as he hurries forward, uncaring to give a glance to Hobi and Joon as he hurries over, fingers gentle as they drift over my bandaged head and cup my cheek.

"Next time Eunwoo leaves me behind at a shoot to find out afterwards you'd been in an accident and he just left—friend or not, I will knock his antlers off." He groans, voice cracking with desperation and anger and hurry; flickering to shoot a glare to my packmate.

"SJ you didn't have to leave too! I'm going to be discharged when my results come back in a bit, I didn't need a bed either but guess the room is full of fussy males." I grumble, pushing the sheets back.

And when the nurse steps through it's a relief, lips stretching wide with satisfaction and eyes pointedly meeting each of theirs when the results come back clear.

Slight concussion.

A small price to pay to keep Min-Junie safe.

"So this can go." I say with a relieved sigh, tugging the sheets back, legs swinging out as I stand.

I stagger, a brief rush of dizziness making my vision swim and the hand that catches me around the waist holds me, a dull throb of pain flaring in my side.

"Yeah this doesn't look okay. You're going to head back and get rest." SJ says as he steadies me, supporting me and holding me against his side.

And this time, the small blip of shakiness has no escape from the fussiness.

And even though it feels like it's too much, feels like far too much doting on for just scrapes, I can't deny the way it makes my instincts feel settled and protected.

The way it calms that anxiousness and jitteriness that the accident had brought.

There's no denying that I feel instinctually safe.

And with the scents of protective pheromones bursting out in rich trails of nutty caramel and earthy forest that envelop me in the same way their bodies do in the car ride back, layered over with peaches and woodsy that has my body drooping and head dropping onto a shoulder. Mind pleasantly foggy.

"Let's get you home."

Home.

And in that moment home is where this feeling of safety continues. Home is in the layer of intertwined scents that my own had begun to merge with.

Home.

JIMIN POV:

When I see the message Joon hyung's sent, my blood turns to ice. Quickly gathering the files and intel I'd been planting, sorting through the mission backstory and hastily organising it, body fumbling as I rush about, grabbing keys, scooping up files and running out the station; lungs feeling as if ice burnt them with how numb my body threatens to feel. The drive back is tense and nervous, body feeling jittery and cooped up, needing nothing more than to see her and make sure she was fine.

Focusing on the first text. Car accident. Car accident. It didn't matter I'd seen the series of texts following it, updates and the conclusion that they were home and she was okay. It doesn't make the panic abate and my instincts settle; they thrash and whine at the thought of (Y/N) hurt. And the moment I've parked I'm hurrying up, forgoing the lift and feet thundering across the stairs as I rush to our floor, fingers fumbling for the key before I'm letting myself in.

I hurriedly tug off my shoes, rushing through the apartment the second my feet are free, tracing and following the merged jumbled scents of worry and nervousness that pulses through the hallways, easily guides me down towards the living room, heart in my throat as my eyes scan for (Y/N), landing on the sight of her on the far end, stretched out across the couch, body protectively cradled by Joon's, his arms holding her and her head resting against his shoulder.

Her eyes flutter open when I get close, eyes scanning her nervously, mint sharpening at the sight of the scrapes to her hand, to the dark bruise blooming on her jaw and the bandage at her temple.

"(Y/N)...this is why I can't leave you be, isn't it?" I say with a shaky sigh, reaching for her hand and curling close as I sink to my knees, nosing at her cheek and scenting, breathing in her hurting scent, pressing a row of small kisses to her bruised jaw, nosing at her skin.

"Protection officer's back." She murmurs.

I huff, nudging at her cheek with a resigned, weary sigh, sinking back slightly.

"Guess it's a 24/7 duty, I must commit." I say.

Her eyes crinkle, loose and languid, posture calm and she looks like she's fine but her scent is distressed and hurting; broadcasting her vulnerability and it takes everything in me to not curl over her and shield her.

"I don't want to put you on-edge all the time Minnie, it was just an accident. Accidents happen." She mumbles.

"I want to keep you safe. I'd do anything to keep you from hurting. How am I meant to keep my girl safe from herself though?" I say wryly.

She gives a shrug, wriggling slightly.

"No can do officer. There's no stopping me." lips curving up slightly.

But the sight of her scraped, bruised and bandaged face makes an aching yearning steadily grow inside me, to protect her, to unwind time and tug her and Min-Junie out of harm's way.

"That's not reassuring because it sounds like you're saying you'll continue to keep running out onto roads." I say with a frown.

She pats Joon's arms encircling her. Fingers brushing against his wrists as she tries to sit up, my eyes catch onto the small tug at her lips, the grimace she can't quite hide quick enough as she tries to untangle herself from his protective hold.

"No. I'm just saying I have no regrets, I've had enough nagging from Woo and SJ and Hobi at the hospital..." she says.

My hand immediately goes to steady her small wobble, teeth clenching tight at the waft of peach that seeps off of her, is intertwined with her own hurting anise.

SJ.

"SJ knew and I didn't?" I ask Joon hyung with raised brows, fighting the urge to snap my fangs at a threat that's not even here in front of me.

"He was with Eunwoo when he got the call. We needed her guardian there." he says with an apologetic shrug, eyes easily searching my shuttered expression.

It melts off my face when (Y/N)'s balance shakes and my body tilts forward, uncurling quickly as I stand, steadying her against me, her hands curling around my arms, breath hitching and wavering slightly in a way that has alarm spiking in my mind. It has Joon hyung rising off the couch, ears alert and stiff as he reaches out for her.

"I thought you said you were okay (Y/N)." I whisper, voice coming out slightly accusatory. Eyes flicking to Joon hyung's behind her for confirmation.

He gives a tight shrug of his shoulders, looking far too coiled up and tense still.

"She's got a light concussion which is why I keep telling her to stop moving so much. We're meant to keep an eye out for the next 48 hours to make sure it's nothing serious but she keeps wriggling about." Joon says through gritted teeth, a worried deep rumbly growl slipping into his words, eyeing her back with a look of resignation and worry.

"Do you need to be scooped up all over the apartment again? Because I'm telling you I have no complaints and no hesitations." I warn.

But she slumps against me, hand going to cradle her head, the sight of bandage making that fretfulness gnaw at me from the inside, fox restless to soothe and protect her.

"You don't have to..." she begins as she straightens, legs buckling with a stifled cry.

My hands curl around her back steadying her, slipping down to carefully cup the back of her thighs to lift her up.

Cradling her to me.

"Scooped up fawn it is." I confirm, nosing at her temple.

"Sorry...got a bit dizzy." She mumbles apologetically, but when I hitch her leg up more securely around my waist I feel her flinch against me. The scent of anise turns more cloying and decaying, pheromones spiking with discomfort. My hands freeze, stilling because the movement had hurt her, nudging at her cheek with my nose, instincts thrashing with the inability to see what was hurting her and being unable to stop it.

"Just a bit sore, I was going to go have a bath." She admits, cheek tilting slightly to peer at me.

"I'll run you one." Joon hyung says from behind me. Voice hovering and close behind us.

"Where's Hobi hyung and Yoongi hyung? Wasn't Hobi hyung with you?" I ask, realising that though I'd smelt burnt caramel and sour citrus cording through the worried scents, neither of them were yet to be seen.

It was odd.

"I think I've scared them both off. Hobi was meant to be all happy and celebrating his grades and I was meant to give my answer to Yoongi... now Hobi's hurting and Yoongi's with him; probably doesn't want someone who hurt his mate." (Y/N) mumbles.

My hands tighten around her thighs.

"You're too soft and sweet to be scary." I reassure, pressing a kiss to her hairline.

"Besides Yoongi hyung is just going to bring him back smelling all sweet and yummy, you relax and don't fall asleep in the bath." Joon hyung warns.

"Who shouldn't sleep in the bath?" Kookie's voice calls, looking all bright and flushed from the cold, still bundled up as he peeks around the hallway, ears perked up.

But they droop, flopping around his face which turns startled and shocked.

"(Y/N) you...oh god, what happened?" he says with a hard glare, hands flitting nervously, his usual energy morphing into something restless and panicked.

"I'm fine Koo, just fell." She reassures with a mumble.

His gaze drifts to me and Joon hyung, eyes searching the way her body's curved against mine, the way her voice comes out muffled, nose twitching as he smells her hurt.

"Liar." He says at the same time as Joon hyung speaks.

"She got hit by a car." And the bluntness has his foot thumping, ears stiffening with alarm.

"And no-one told us?" he asks, flitting behind me to peer at her, his hand carefully skimming over her face and eyes narrowing as he looks at her own.

"She needs someone to sit with her if she's got a head injury, her eyes aren't focusing properly." He says.

My hands clutch at her protectively.

I feel her head shift.

"Don't think so hard, your mint is making my eyes sting." (Y/N) complains.

I try to dampen down my scent bursting out, try to calm myself but having her hurt, having her in pain and stifling her pain was making me feel restless and antsy.

"I'm sorry...it's just..." I begin helplessly.

Hands instinctively tightening before loosening when Kookie reaches for her.

"I'll stay with her whilst she's in the bath." He offers, hands going to take her.

A keening whimpered whine slips out of my throat at letting her go and Joon hyung's hand settles on my waist, a protective, reassuring hold.

"I'm fine. Minnie don't fret." (Y/N) soothes, trying to slowly uncurl from around me, hands pushing at my shoulders.

But my hold remains, carefully walking to the nearest bathroom and setting her down on the edge of the tub.

Kneeling in front of her, hands entangled.

"You'll make my fur lose its shine, a trip to the park did this to you." I say with a groan.

"I can't have that, you won't be as comfy to snuggle with." She says with a wry grin, fingers slipping free to brush her hand through my hair, rubbing a line up and down the back of my ears.

"Stop fretting. I'm not keeling over with a minor concussion." She insists, eyes drifting knowingly to Joon hyung who's kneeling by the tub, sleeves pushed up as he adds soothing bath oils, tail quietly swishing and ears perked.

"You can't stop every hurt, it's impossible. And lesson learnt. Don't underestimate a baby bear's enthusiasm." She says with a smile.

But it doesn't do anything to soothe Kookie's jittering hovering frame or Joon hyung's tense shoulders or dampen my mint.

She sighs.

"Just go back to normal please. Treat me like normal too. I'm not broken. And if you're all going to continue being like this, I'll stay in my room alone. And I won't be opening the doors for anyone." She says pointedly.

My ears wilt under her touch. I didn't want her to feel smothered, didn't want to come across as overbearing.

It's hard to be normal when someone who my instincts, heart and mind have long since accepted as mate, continues to pine for her, feels failed at her trying to hide her pain but also brush it away. It makes my fox feel failed at being able to look after her, at being a good mate and keeping her safe.

It makes me wish that I had been there when Joon hyung had gone. Wishing I could've done something...anything to stop it, to have tugged her away, to have stopped Min-Jun from running onto the road, from shielding her body. Anything so right now my nose and lungs wouldn't be full of decaying foliage and sharp pheromones from the others.

I hadn't even seen Hobi hyung but the bitter burnt quality to his sweet warmth had permeated through the apartment; stinging my nose and in every inhale I take. And I know that if I'm this restless and panicked then seeing the accident happen, to be there and not being able to do anything, that powerlessness that must've struck both Hobi hyung and Joon hyung is the reason why their scents aren't able to settle.

And whilst I want nothing more than to stay with (Y/N), Kookie's already offered to stay with her, expression resolute.

And as much as I accept (Y/N) as my mate, see her as my everything, Joon hyung is also my mate and he's also hurting, wolf instincts frazzled and whining.

And I need to help him too.

"No falling asleep in the bath, I'll get you some painkillers and I'll find where Tae and Jin hyung are, and I'll check on Yoongi hyung and Hobi hyung." I say as I stand, fulfilling that need to protect by doing other things, by busying myself by checking up on the pack.

By making sure that in turn they were all okay.

"Fussy fox." She mumbles, fingers trailing shapes through the water and impressive mound of bubbles sitting at the top.

"I'll come with you. Kook, bun just talk to her." Joon hyung says, uncurling and walking towards me, bending down to nuzzle at (Y/N)'s temple, hands cupping her cheeks as he scents her. Her hands curl around his wrists, rubbing soothingly and scenting back to calm him.

And hyung's hands that curl around me as he walks with me are a tight fierce grip, crowding me against the wall outside the bathroom, spinning me around before he's burrowing his face into my throat, taking shuddering deep inhales of my scent, nose buried against my scent gland as he clutches me, pins me to the wall and cages me in with his broad frame.

"I just... I need...." He gasps wetly, mouthing at my gland as he curls his hands around my back, a shakiness to his words and trembling jitteriness to his body.

My hands reach for him, drawing him closer, allowing him to rest his weight against me, to pin me under him fully, throat tilting for him.

"Need to feel your pack's safe." I say softly, sensing his inner anguish.

Head tilting in submission to allow him to mouth along my throat, layering his scent over me.

"It was horrible, the way her body got flung across the road...I...if I'd reached earlier." He shudders out.

The image his words conjure make me flinch, head stiffening at the thought of her body slamming into the road.

Joon hyung's hands were still smeared with red, they skim over me, tug my waist towards him, fangs scraping at my gland and nipping.

"She's okay though. Her tests came back clear." I whisper.

Needing to hear it confirmed.

He nods, mumbling against my throat.

"She's a bit dizzy and out of sorts. Eunwoo and SJ wanted to take her back if they could." He mumbles.

My body stiffens under his touch, a groan slipping down at a particularly fussy nip.

"Obviously they couldn't, I thought SJ wasn't going to let go at one point." He adds.

My fingers tug at his hair, coaxing him away so I can look into pheromone hazy eyes that blink at me, mouth slick and panting, pheromones rolling off him in a heavy protective wave.

"But she's here Joonie hyung. And she'll be okay." I whisper. Reassuring the both of us.

He nods, ears drooping under my touch, posture loosening the slightest fraction.

She'll be okay.

"Is Hobi hyung like this too?" I ask.

He groans, the vibration felt against my skin.

"Worse. Yoongi hyung had to drag him away because his scent was making (Y/N)'s scent get even more distressed too. I think Tae had to pin him down." Hyung mumbles.

"Is there something going on? Even I can smell everyone's scents and they're stifling." Jin hyung asks, wings flapping as he takes in the way Joon hyung's still brackets mine, almost compulsively scenting to drench me in his scent, a low keening whine when he turns his head and spots hyung, reaching out for him.

The moment Jin hyung's hand slides into his he's being tugged close, my body being released with a final nip before he's wriggling close to Jin hyung, arms winding around him as he ducks himself close into a tight hug. Jin hyung looks uncertain but opens his arms for Joon, curling them around him, wings flapping with uncertainty and confusion as he peers at me.

"What's wrong pup? Talk to hyung." Jin hyung softly soothes.

"(Y/N) got hurt. And she's being stubborn." He mumbles.

Jin hyung's wings fan out, obsidian ruffling feathers that splay wide as he looks at me for confirmation, wings curving forward to cocoon Joon hyung in his arms as he holds him.

Satisfying that need to hold and cocoon her by fretting over Joon hyung instead.

"Hurt? How bad?" he asks.

"Concussion bad and aching bad. But we're too fretty so she's with Kookie now." I mumble.

His expression lightens slightly at the expression on my face, wings rustling and looking reassured by knowing that she's not alone and that Kookie's looking after her.

But frowns.

"Concussion?" he echoes.

"Car accident." I mumble.

Hyung's face flashes with a panic, wings flapping as they uncurl, hands rubbing up and down Joon hyung's pack and trying to tug himself free.

"But she's fine, her scans are fine. Nothing broken. Just need to keep an eye on her, so Kookie's there whilst she's in the bath." I say.

Hyung looks uncertain.

I roll my shoulders, trying to dispel tension.

"I know hyung, trust me I know. I said I'd get her food and some medicine, I just...she's fine, she's okay." I say, fingers tugging at the strands of my hair, pushing them away from my face as I speak.

Joon hyung grumbles, a keening stifled whine when Jin hyung moves to step away.

"I'll make her food, Joon...pup don't whine, you come with me." he says, hand curling around his wrist and shaking his wings as he tugs him alongside, fingers drawing my face up as he presses a lingering kiss to my forehead.

"Don't fret cub. She'll be fine. Now be a good boy and check on Tae for me, I can smell him but I haven't heard him, it's quite worrying." He admits.

I nod.

Focusing on the task he's given me.

Mind compartmentalising the duties to try and help feel in control of the situation, try not to feel so out of my depth, try to feel useful.

Check on Tae.

Get medicines.

Protect, protect, protect.

She was okay, she was okay.

And as I walked through the hallway I wondered whether the restlessness was because I was feeling antsy because of the mission. Because I was already so strung up because of how much the mission meant and how much more we could gain from it, intel that would give us concrete steps to take and names to pursue.

But when I catch a trail of decayed anise, steeped with discomfort cording through Yoongi hyung, Hobi hyung and Tae's room, my heart clenches tightly. Breath catching in my throat at the metallic tang of blood. Bloodied anise.

And know that I will never ever be not restless when she's hurting, know that this aching longing to provide and protect for a mate won't go.

And when I see my own feelings reflected in Yoongi hyung's eyes, I can't help but question why it is I haven't told her.

Why it is that I let my heart leap and clench and plummet and force a distance I can't stand to bear?

Why it is that I look at her, love increasing for her, but words never articulating it.

Why is it I suffer inside when I hear she's hurt, holding back from cradling her and caging her in protectively, scenting away every hurt of my mate and warding off every threat.

YOONGI POV:

When I'd gotten the text from (Y/N) it had made me sit up, tail swishing eagerly as I read the words.

I've got something to say.

A part of me had been restless and fidgety that it could mean something bad, that she was going to reject the courting, was going to shake her head and say she didn't want it. But instinct whispered otherwise, soothed and settled me and reminded me that I wasn't imagining sparks between us or a longing in each touch.

I wasn't imagining the way she tilted into the touch or the way she steadily gravitated closer and closer every night when she stepped towards my room, light knock before she peeked in with flickery ears and soft wide doe eyes and asked if she could join me.

I wasn't imagining that it wasn't just me yearning, not when her own scent softened and curled with mine, melding together in a mix that I could roll around in, nest on.

But what I don't expect is that the sound of the door opening to bring the smell of heavy earthy cloying scent corded through with burnt caramel; the mixture so strong it makes my eyes water and my pace quicken as I rush to the hallway.

And I feel my own scent burst out, tart acidic and heavy citrus when I spot (Y/N) leaning against Hobi, steps staggering when she bends to take her shoes off, stopped by a sharp intake of breath, a swallowed back hiss, and growl that ripples through the air that stills her, ears flickering nervously before she pauses, one shoe still on.

Head dipping lower at the two predatory scents crowding her.

My own growl slips out, causing their heads to snap upwards.

"I..." hurrying forward, scent batting at theirs to push the cloud of pheromones her eyes seem already hazy with, fretting as I spot the bandage on her head and around her hand, body teetering as she straightens.

"Don't crowd her with your scents! The last thing she needs is to be hurting and feeling predator scents; angry and strong. Her fawn might get threatened and feel it's directed to her." I growl out, fingers careful as they brush across the bandage, wincing when I see her eyes flutter as they follow me.

"Is she getting scent drunk or are her pupils dilated for some other reason?" I ask, peering into her eyes.

She blinks back at me.

Lips curving up.

"Yoongi I'm fine, you've got two fussy packmates." She placates, trying to tug herself free from the two pair of arms encircling her and keeping her steady.

"Fussing with good reason. Why is it that you end up in our arms when you're hurting? Is it so hard to be in them just because sweet girl?" I whisper, brushing a kiss across her grazed cheek and gently extracting her free.

Hobi's gaze tightens, eyes flashing with protectiveness and anger and worry, a distressed deep rumble slipping out, ears twirling as he looks at me.

"Hyung I...I don't want to let go." He confesses with a hushed whisper, head drooping.

(Y/N)'s head turns with alarm, bandaged hand reaching to cup his face, eyes softening when he immediately nuzzles into it, burrowing close and nosing at her palm, cheek rubbing against skin as he scents her, leaning into the invitation.

"Why's that kit?" I ask, knowing sometimes answered needed to be coaxed out, that he had to be pressed to sometimes articulate what his instincts were demanding.

"Because I let go and she got hurt. I shouldn't have gone, I would've been able to stop Min-Junie." He admits.

And injured or not (Y/N)'s unrepentant as she digs her elbow into his side. Frowning.

"Do both of you need to elbowed into being reasoned with? It's no-one's fault, not Min-Junie's, not the driver's. It's a decision I took and I'm living perfectly happy with the choice I made. So stop giving me guilty kitty and puppy eyes!" she scolds.

And then she's tugging herself free, pressing a quick kiss to Hobi's cheek before stepping away, step faltering but though my hands dart out she stabilises her balance herself and gives me a wry smile. Carefully shucking off the other shoe and nudging it back.

"Don't be a fussy kitty and keep me company? I had to leave work early." She says.

I nod, tail swishing and smiling when I hear the rushing of shoes being taken off and hurrying footsteps. The audible sound of tails swishing and cutting through air.

"Gladly, although when you said you had something to say this isn't-- (Y/N)!" my easy tone steeping with alarm when she wobbles alarmingly, hand pressing to the bandaged temple, her scent sharpening with alarm. My hand curls around her waist, steadying her and drawing her against me.

Now I have a better inkling for why the two had been fretfully hovering.

How many times had she wobbled and staggered as she walked with them?

"Do I want to know what happened?" I ask once her hand's fallen away and she gives a shaky sigh, leaning against me before she tries to straighten.

The sheepish grimace is giving and betraying away the situation.

It was clearly a matter of worry if she was trying to brush the matter under the carpet, just like she had with her post-heat aches.

She really needed to stop doing that, needed to stop casually disregarding her pain and discomfort; physical and mental.

"Depends." She admits.

I give her a hard stare, taking small steps with her towards the living room.

"I may have run out in front of a car to stop Min-Junie from getting hurt." she admits.

My heart stutters, scent seeping out heavier.

A car?

"I won't even begin to unpack that. Because you are very happy with it, with protecting. But remember that that doesn't mean that we won't worry or fret. Hearing it's making my hair stand up on edge." I say carefully helping her lower herself down onto the sofa, drawing the blinds when I see her wince, head ducking away from it.

"It just...I'm fine with my mistake so..." she begins helplessly.

"So why does it matter so much to us?" I finish.

She nods sheepishly, head ducking low.

"I'm not sorry to say sweet girl but this is a perfectly normal response from someone who cares. I was expecting my sweet girl to come in all smiles and soft teasing jibes, not hurt and wobbling and flanked by two worrying packmates. And it might come to you as news but every single one of us care for you and don't want to see you hurting." I say softly, kneeling in front of her so I can duck my head down and peer up at her, smiling softly at the contrite expression she sports.

"I hate worrying people." She admits.

I take her hands, squeezing them gently.

"I've kinda figured sweet girl. Hiding post-heat aches, shaking off injuries, forceful isolation...sweetheart you're making me worry with how little you worry for yourself." I say with a small frown.

She shrugs, head ducking lower.

Looking chagrined.

Mumbles under her breath.

"Maybe we should've said but we're a fussy bunch. You haven't seen Tae step into fussy tiger mode that's quite something and Hobi's...Hobi thrives on protecting his own. Seeing you get hit by a car..." my throat bobs, nervous and antsy by the image it brings to my mind.

It brings a stream of images to whirl through my head.

And my ears twitch, trying to curl away from the sound of screeching tires and the resounding thud of a body hitting the ground. My eyes clench shut at the thought of blood pooling out across tarmac and of her still and unmoving.

For an instance, the male body turns into hers, turns smaller, turns into the image of her shielding a faceless boy and of her eyes flickering shut, body stilling.

My throat feels like it'll close up, ears trying to shut away the sound of the screeching and thud that plays in a sickening loop.

"Seeing you get hit by a car...it's not easy. It's not something that's easily forgotten. That feeling of powerlessness, that hopelessness. I don't blame him or Joon." I finish, words coming out shaky, tail curling around me as it drops, comes to still.

"So try understand where we come from sweet girl, and try to understand why they look so shaken. It's not easy on either end. Nor being in an accident, nor watching it happen." I say, leaning forward and head tilting as it rests on her lap, watching the way her eyes slowly drift to mine.

And though she smiles, there look in her eyes has me fretting, tail swishing and curling to wind around her calves, anchoring her close to me.

Something about her gaze screams wrong, makes that tight feeling in my chest grow and when I try to usher her back, I spot the wince she tries to mask as she sags against the cushions.

And I'm not the only one.

Hobi's rushing footsteps and increasingly burnt scent has my nose stinging as he carefully wriggles close and sits down next to her, eyes scanning her.

"You said you only hurt your head!" he says accusatorily, eyes scanning her for more injuries, a whimpered growl slipping out when she flinches from his hovering touch.

"It's nothing I just feel slightly sore." She says.

I give her a pointed look.

Silently telling her to remember words I've just said.

"Maybe it's the adrenaline wearing off. You hit the ground didn't you?" I suggest, trying to keep my tone level for the two of them even if the words make that anxiousness in me grow.

Hobi's face crumples with distress.

"But I thought the nurse said nothing was broken and you said you weren't feeling aches. I should've pushed for the overnight stay so you could be monitored. I just...I didn't want to have you somewhere unprotected. But I just let you hurt more." He says shakily.

"Oh Hobi... no it's not like that. You didn't do anything. I wasn't feeling hurt, oh baby don't cry." She insists, the scent of soothed anise turning decayed and bitter, twisting and teeth gritting as her jaw clenches and hands soft as she thumbs under his eyelashes.

I rise up from the floor, tail curling around her even as I reach for him, hand rubbing up and down his leg that jolts with panic.

"Hobi I'm right here." She soothes.

"But you might not have been." He sobs, fingers trembling on his lap, face dropping forward as he sniffles.

The sound of his shaky cries as he leans towards has that anxiousness spiking.

And I don't know whether this is (Y/N)'s way of coping with the accident but she seems strangely calm, far more composed and in control than the others but her scent and hazy eyes suggest otherwise. It makes my instincts restlessly fret, silently keeping an eye on her as she wipes Hobi's tears and presses kisses to his cheeks until he's shakily smiling, scenting her as he rubs his cheek against hers, layering her in his scent still burnt with fear.

And even as she leans towards him, seeming okay, her scent keeps getting even stronger, decaying flowers, shrivelled petals and wilting leaves, as she whispers to him, ears flickering with a tension and stressor I can't see.

And so instead of calming him down, it has him fitfully looking at her, ears twirling as he tries to respond to the stress in her scent but failing to find a cause, a root.

It gets to the point where their scents clash, harsh scents slamming against each other and her body trembles, looking worried as her eyes flicker to me in silent plea for support.

"Hobi...come on kit let's get you settled." I say softly, trying to draw him away slowly, feeling the way his body struggles- torn between staying with her and desperately sinking against me.

There's the scent of cloying earth that seeps through the air and then Joon's hurrying forward, carefully slotting himself in after a cursory glance to the situation, frowning as he sees the way (Y/N) trembles and tries to reach for Hobi who's distressed small growls won't stop.

"(Y/N) it's okay, Hob-ah your scent...Hobi she's okay." He says firmly even as his arm bands carefully across her back to steady her, sensing her wobbliness even with his gaze narrowed worriedly on Hobi.

"Hyung he...their scents are distressing each other." he says softly.

I nod my head, uncurling to my feet and coaxing Hobi up, knowing exactly what to do when he got like this, murmuring in a low voice as I guide him up against me.

It takes effort to coax him out the room even whilst my instincts are torn between two, still worrying over (Y/N)'s frighteningly calm response.

The door closes behind us.

"Kit don't hold back the urge, you're going to drive yourself sick with worry." I urge.

Glassy eyes meet mine and there's raw vulnerability in how his hands fall to the side and he stands waiting in front of me.

My hands help him out his clothes, drawing it over his body as I tug the shirt off, fingers unbuckling his jeans and tugging it down alongside his boxers. My hands glide down his calves, kneading at the stiffness in his muscles and there's a ripple, body morphing and shifting.

And before I even get to draw the jeans off his ankles, there's a tan coloured caracal standing there, pawing at the denim and wide sharp eyes blinking at me.

I hold my arms out, smiling when he clambers out of the denim and moves to me, paws pressing to my hand before he hops, paws stretching across my forearms as I scoop him up. Curling into my hold.

His body stretches out, head butting at my cheek, twirly ears tickling as he rubs his scent across me, nuzzling and letting out a purr, paws pressing against my chest as his fluffy tail swishes.

"Sweet sweet kit." I murmur, carefully standing up with his body still cradled by my hands and walking over to the bed, sinking down and letting him continue to obsessively scent, bonking against my face to get me to tilt my cheek or arch my throat for him, smiling at the scrape of his fangs against my gland, rumbled purrs pressing to skin in contentment.

With every nuzzle and scent his soft mewls slip out instead, ears flickering and curling as he blinks at me with wide eyes, pawing at my top as his tail brushes against my hand, curling around my fingers, ticklish teasing touches and kitten licks to my jaw and gland.

Slowly he settles and curls around in my lap once his scent has gone sweet and nutty once more and his pheromones are skin deep in me. Sprawled over my lap and purring with satisfaction.

And that's when Tae wonders in, damp from his shower and confusion and worry making his stripey ears twitch.

"Why's there sad scents everywhere—Hobi hyung! You're being kitty hyung today!" he coos, temporarily distracted as he bounds forward, stripey tail swishing and curling through air as he rushes towards Hobi's shifted form, cooing as he presses kisses to the tips of his ears and teasingly trails a finger across the tail, snatching his hand away at the flick it gives.

"There's sad scents because (Y/N) got hurt." I hedge delicately, knowing just how easily sweet berry could turn decayed and rotting. I knew how tenderly and deeply Tae felt, living voraciously through his emotions and bright outtake on life.

I didn't want to drag his sweet soft scent into the clump of hurting pheromones.

But his scent falters, taking a sour decayed note as he stops teasing Hobi to peer at me with wide unblinking eyes.

"Fawn fairy's hurt? What? Why?" he asks.

"There was a little incident with their trip to the park." I slowly say, so wary about sending him into a panic, another mate to be distressed and fretting even though his nose twitched when he scent my own tartness.

Shrinking away slightly.

"Not little. How bad?" he presses.

"Have you not seen her yet?" I ask.

He gives a little shake, droplets of water flying out from messy wet curls and sodden ears.

I stare pointedly at them as he scoots off to grab a towel, rubbing it roughly and quickly through his hair.

"I could hear Joon hyung growling a lot. I figured he might need space, I couldn't even smell her." he says with a sad pout.

"She got hurt protecting Min-Jun." I elaborate.

His ears droop but his eyes flash with pride and admiration.

"Fawn fairy is a protector. She's so cool." He enthuses.

"But cool doesn't mean you go rushing into danger Tae. I mean it." I press.

He nods distractedly.

Reaching to draw Hobi into his arms, smiling at the purrs and nuzzles and scents Hobi lathers him with, pawing at his shirt and wriggling and nipping at slithers of skin that coaxes out boxy giggles.

It's soothing to see them distracted in each other, to see Hobi's scent slowly go back, but after a while he turns restless and scrabbles off Tae's lap and pads to the edge of the bed, hopping down, tail swishing with purpose as he pads to the door, pawing at it, head turning as he looks pointedly at us, ears twirling.

And the second Tae's tugged it open wide enough, he's slipping through the gap, tail curling around the edge and hurrying down the hallway with a silent padding that's undetected.

I hurry after him, catching the sight of him rubbing his head around her calf before he hops up to settle on her lap, peeking up at her.

Her hands reach for him and he pauses at her bandaged hand, head dipping to scrape his fangs gently across the part of exposed skin, head dipping forward to rub against the white, scenting and gently butting at it, tongue flicking against the injured hand and trying to soothe her hurts, grooming and trying to tend to her in the way that felines do. He's infinitely careful as he paws at her lap, watchful eyes on her monitoring her every slight reaction before taking any more movements. Slowly his body clambers onto her lap, paws pressing against her in a kneading motion and also pressing to see if anything hurts.

"You've got the most gorgeous caramel fur Hobi! Your scent and your fur match and it's just..." she coos, giggling when she gets a mouthful of fur when he leaps up, head bonking against her, giggle muffled against him as she rubs his paws and holds him.

Joon's still holding her, pausing his nuzzling and scenting to peek at Hobi, a happy growl when he gets a bonk and ticklish ears curling and brushing against his jaw in a scent-mark.

And Jiminie's curled at the other end of the couch, hands rubbing up and down her calves, mint scent layered into this floaty haze as they calm her down, soothe her and in turn be soothed by her increasingly softened scent.

Kookie gets dragged in to a nuzzling cuddle by Tae from where he's leaning against the couch. From the kitchen I can hear the clang of pots and the rustle of wings that my ears perk up at.

The entire pack's home.

And with (Y/N) crowded and surrounded and fussed on by all of them; eyes dulled by pain medication and scenting, she looks home too.

She belongs.

She's pack.

--------

The scent of decayed anise greets me when I step out from after the show, tail stilling and ears flickering at the trail of it, fresh and seeping through the mixed cloud that had formed earlier.

And I hurry down the hallway to find the living room empty, soft sounds of cluttering coming from the kitchen and when I peek through I spot (Y/N)'s figure curved over, hand rustling through the medicine cabinet.

"You okay sweet girl?" I ask softly, her tail flicks and legs jitter, posture stilling before she straightens, hand curling around the counter as she peers at me.

Even in the darkness of the kitchen I can see her eyes widen, startled at being caught out but she moves away from the cabinet, a tube clutched in her hand.

A tube of salve.

"Are you hurt somewhere else?" I ask with alarm.

"I may have found the reason behind all that stiffness." She admits.

I frown when I spot dried tearstains on her cheeks, notice the slight tremor to her body.

"And why are you awake (Y/N)?" I press, stepping in and walking towards her.

She comes with little effort when I tug her close and wrap my arms around her, holding her as she shakes still, hands curling around my back.

"I couldn't sleep. And I couldn't stop thinking about how close that car had come." She murmurs.

And now I find that cause of all my worry from earlier, the too calm demeanour had slipped away. And as I hear the shaky exhales pressed to my throat I know that the shock has worn off, the situation truly having sunk in.

That explains the tears and shakiness. And a part of me shrivels with guilt and shame that she'd been hurting as I was doing my show.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there sweetheart." I whisper.

She shakes her head.

"Your show helped. Made the panic stop."

My heart unclenches a little at that.

"But the salve?" I ask, peering at her as I uncurl from around her.

"It's not a pretty sight." she admits.

I frown.

Coaxing her to the couch and ushering her to lie down, hand carefully sliding away from the back of her head as I settle a cushion behind it.

"Where does it hurt sweet girl?" I whisper, hovering over her.

And her hand silently tugs her pyjama top up, revealing a dark spreading blotch of purple seeping across her skin, curling around her hip.

I wince at the large purpling bruise across her waist and hip.

"Oh love..." my fingers hover fitfully over the purple, gently tugging the salve out.

"Can I?" I ask.

She nods at me, eyes trusting as she keeps the top hitched up, her fingers grazing across the top of her ribs.

I squeeze out salve onto the tips of my fingers, hovering over her and bending down to rub it slowly and gently across the purpled skin, wincing when her breath hitches and she bites down a gasp.

"I'm sorry." I whisper.

She shakes her head.

"It's fine." She reassures.

And I know that it's a lot of trust and resolve and faith in me that allows her to keep her torso bare as I apply the salve, slowly leaning down further, a leg slotted between hers as my fingers rub circles, massaging the salve in, heart clenching at the whimpered groan, trailing over the purple. Stopping when I reach the waistband of her pyjamas.

"It's fine Yoongi. I trust you." she whispers.

And my other hand curls around her waistband, drawing it down, fingers curling into soft satin under her pyjamas as I tug it down across her hip, applying the salve as far as the purple stretches.

The hitched breath that follows sounds breathy when my fingers rub across her hipbone, and a keening whimper that has my instincts flaring with satisfaction and pride, heat curling at the thought of both providing and protecting her, soothing her pain but also being able to coax a sound out of her that comes with a burst of sweet anise.

My eyes flick to her, drinking in the sight of dilated eyes focusing on me, lips parted in a gasp.

"You okay sweet girl?" lips quirking, tail curling and swishing behind me.

"Fine...fine. More than fine." She says breathily, head falling back when I rub a circle again, fingers trailing lower and thumbing across the top of her thigh.

My head lowers to brush my lips across a patch of unmarked skin.

"To kiss it better." I say with a small smile.

"You...you're unbelievable. But everything I want in the panther courting me." she says.

My eyes widen, tail swishing quickly as I straighten up, peering at her, hands sinking into the couch on either side of her as I hover.

"You mean that?" I ask.

"I mean it. I would love to court you too." She says.

My hand draws her pyjamas back up, fingers curling around her waist as I hold her, leaning down to brush her nose against mine, sighing with relief and giddiness when she tilts her head up, lips brushing against mine, a soft press of mouths. She leans back but my other hand moves to cup her cheek, tilting her face to mine as I slot our mouths together, lips chasing hers as I seek to memorise the feel of this, of warm plushness as she sighs, tilting her face to me. Her own hands wind around my nape, curling around skin as she tugs me closer, feeling her lips imprint against mine, chasing to remember the feel and shape of each other, to learn what makes her melt against me, tongue flicking at her closed lips, brushing across the seam, lapping at her mouth before she parts to let me in, tongue roving in to slowly and thoroughly taste her, groaning against her as my hand squeezes her waist, tail flicking and curling around her calf as I keep myself positioned above her, so wary and careful of lowering myself down, instincts thrilled and satiated but also so aware of her hurts. She exhales, breathy and light when her tongue flicks against mine, pushing against mine in a slow sweet unhurried push for control, gasping when my fangs nip at her, scraping across her bottom lip as I drag it between my teeth, a small nibble that has a shuddery wave of anise seeping out, tongue flicking to lick the slight sting away.

"Your taste sweet girl..." I groan, lips sliding against hers, pressing a smatter of kisses to her parted gasping lips, to the corner of where her lips always quirk up, nosing at her cheek as I nuzzle, my breathing shaky as I feel her scent brush against mine, intertwining in a mix of citrus and anise.

"That was...wow." She breathlessly exclaims, cheek turning to let me nose at her skin, smiling as her eyes flutter open and shut, dilated blown-out pupils as she relaxes under me, body sinking into the sofa even as her head pushes upwards, arched for me.

"You're wow sweet girl. I won't ever get enough of you, of this. You've made me so happy. Thank you for letting me have the chance to make you mine." I murmur, brushing her hair away from her bandage.

She leans up, lips brushing across my jaw.

"I have every intention of claiming you for me too." She whispers.

A shared promise lingering between us as I peer down at her, hand skimming up and down her waist, tugging her shirt down and arm curling around her to carefully draw her up.

"Please do." I say with a delighted curl of my tail, tightening around her calf before unwinding and slipping away.

Hovering over her, thumb brushing across her slick kiss swollen lips before carefully winding my arms around her, scooping her up.

Her hands curl around my neck, tightening as she anchors herself to me, ears flicking with surprise.

"This may be a jump but I want to start by taking you to bed. And holding you through the night, my sweet girl." I murmur.

She leans in, lips grazing distractingly at my jaw, nosing at skin as she scents.

"Then by all means take me to bed panther of mine."

And the words ring with a finality, merging with the thud of my heart. And I know that she's mine.

And I'm hers.

Have been each other's for a long, long time.

(AND THERE WE GO!! ANOTHER CHAPTER! A NEAR MISS WITH BABY FAWN AND SHE'S OKAY, SHE'S OKAY!! BUT SHE'S GOT A FRETTY FUSSY PACK! I HOPE IT WAS SWEET AND SOFT TO READ THEM HOVERING AND WANTING TO PROTECT AND THE ONLY REASON SHE FELT SLIGHTLY OVERWHELMED IS BECAUSE A PACK OF SEVEN DOTING AND FUSSING OVER EVERY MOVE IN COMPARISON TO HER TWO IS A BIG DIFFERENCE! NOT TO SAY IN ANY WAY THAT SHE DOESN'T LIKE IT OR FEELS STIFLED OR SUFFOCATED BY IT- JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT!! LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ALL THOUGHT!! AND Midiiplier  LOVE I DID MAKE A PROMISE OF A KISS DIDN'T I~ BET NO ONE EXPECTED IT BUT IT FELT RIGHT, THEY WERE TELLING ME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN (REALLY YOONGI BUT SHHH) AND SO I HAD TO! I LET THEIR EMOTIONS GUIDE THEM!! GAHHHH! SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU THINK OF IT!! GAHHHHHH! I AM SO EXCITED! AND THERE'S SO, SO MUCH TO HAPPEN NEXT CHAPTER!! I AM SCREECHING FOR THEM! AND SO HAPPY TOO! HOPE THE CHAPTER WAS WORTH THE WAIT!)

QUESTION...WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE NEXT?

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3