JIN POV:

When the two of them return, they carry a very strong scent distinguishable even to my nose; turning as they approach and eyes brightening, wings flapping loudly at the strong scent of vanilla clinging to them, overwhelming their own scent with the sweetness of a scent I call mine.

Feel my instincts preen with a great satisfaction that goes beyond words and coherency, eyes raking over them with a hungered appreciation for the claim that has sunk skin deep on every inch of skin.

"Don't you two smell divine?" I grin, feathers rustling with inexpressible pride as I track every slight movement as they approach, hair damp and tousled and all cosily dressed; the surge of possessiveness welling higher when I see that the shirts they adorn are my own. Preening at the physical and biological claims that they're mine they've cocooned themselves in.

There's a slight tremble to (Y/N)'s legs, a flushed pinkness to her cheeks that goes beyond a hot shower and paired with the curved grin and perked ears Kook sports, hand settled on the low of her back as he steers and nudges her forward before him, there's no doubt why.

Whatever fun had transpired between them in the shower, it comes adorned with my scent stamped all over it, eyes flitting over both of them, hand tugging her close and swallowing the sweet, shaky exhale when my lips meld to hers, a bruising, fiery intensity that lances across my spine, pulses liquified heat through my veins and has my fingers curling around her nape to tug her closer.

Wings flaring wide before curving briefly around her; skimming across Kook's arms. Feel her scent pulse sweetly in response to the brush of my lips chasing to memorise hers, to learn and to tease, to explore the curved lilt of her enticing smile pressed against my lips and feel them shudder as she trembles, breath wavering at the slow flick of my tongue brushing against the seam of her lips, granted entrance with a whimpered tug as she reaches for me to draw her close, tongue curling and flicking against my own. Brushing with a heated flickering want that threatens to push everything from mind save for her, for how easily and readily she sinks into the kiss, for how easily she gives up control of it even if she tries so sweetly to dominate it.

Her fingers tremble slightly where they curl around my wrists, tighten as she seeks to anchor herself to my touch, eyes fluttering as I peer at her, thumb brushing over her bottom lip as I draw away.

"Good day at work chickie?"

She nods her head, lips ghosting along mine in a gentler, featherlight peck, eyes lowering to take in my apron, peering past to see ingredients already set up.

Eyes lighting up with fondness and excitement.

"You're quick." She muses, sinking into the embrace when I draw her close, Kookie's hands slipping away as my arms and wings wrap around her, lingering onto the moment where it's just me and her, relishing in the small, cocooned world within my wings where she's looking at me.

And seeing only me.

"Anything for my sweetheart~ especially when she asked so sweetly to be my sous-chef and to learn to bake."

Her lips curve up.

Joy and amusement flickering in wide doe eyes.

"I would be honoured for two of the most prestigious bakers I know and love would teach me how to make apple pie."

Eyes fluttering coyly, the vanilla scent unmistakeable; sweet and curling around the two of us, the loose embrace steeped with my scent, my chosen scent.

And the two of them choosing to bathe and apply my scented products is a claim they've lathered deep into every inch of their skin.

It's undeniable.

That tonight—they've doused themselves in my claim.

I tamper down the flickering heat at the thought, at the knowing that they knew exactly what they were doing when they chose my scent, resist the beckoning, unconscious lure of the glint in her eyes.

Press down the urge to pin her against a counter and bend her over it.

Not now.

Not now.

But soon. One day. I will.

Instead I let my hands around her turn looser, wings unfurling as I steer her towards the counter instead, watch as Kookie draws the apron over her, laughing against her shoulder when he tugs her back by the apron strings and brackets her body with his own.

See them share giggles as he points out the ingredients and the order they'll be used in.

Heads tilted close as she nudges at him.

"I have a baker packmate Koo, I know how to do the basics—I just wanted to make it for Amina. It's her favourite."

My wings rustle, see the fierce determination to do well for her friend, to make her something.

"Strawberry desserts are better." a deep voice remarks from the dining table that separates the living room from the kitchen, tracking every one of our movements with sharp dark eyes, tail swishing slowly as if waiting for an opportune moment to pounce.

His fangs peek out when I turn, his fingers fiddling restlessly on the table.

"Aren't you biased?" I tease.

He shrugs his shoulders.

"The babies at the centre agree—always bonking for scents. Besides~ doesn't that make me a yummy dessert?" he rumbles, eyes glinting with mischief.

Sensing the quiet approach behind him, ears flickering with attention at the fox sneaking up and yet feigning ignorance.

Chest rumbling with a loud chuff, delighted at the arms winding around his shoulders and the head settling over his; a bright chirp of happiness as his head tilts to nuzzle at the curls and stripey flickering ears, perked with attention.

"Yummiest. Just makes me want to—" Jiminie trills, head ducking to sharply nip a cheek, nuzzling and giggling against skin as he soothes it with softer scents, stripey tail swatting him at the surprise.

"Eat me up~ no-one's ever stopped you minty." He completes, coy and grinning as he tugs at him, draws him forward, chair pushed back as he tugs Jiminie onto his lap; teeth sinking unrepentantly into his shoulder.

The sudden yelp and swishing motion of his tail drawing eyes as his eyes flash at the unconscious challenge of pushing each other to an unseen limit, snapping fangs and laughing, chuffs louder and muffled against the bite, slowly soothing the sting and admiring the indent left behind on skin.

"Not at the dinner table~" I drawl, laughing at the stillness before the drooped tips to their ears, petulant but conceding. Turning back to face the two prey, watching two pair of eyes slip to me, watching and waiting.

And when (Y/N) reaches out to tug me close, draw me beside her.

Ears flickering with earnestness and focus as she follows out the gently guided instructions, more assured and determined in every instruction she carries out but her eyes still flit to both of us for reassurance, eyes wide and awed as she watches me take out the chilled pastry.

"And you do this every single day? No wonder you're all muscly." She lilts, floured hand leaving a smear on my shirt, brushing against skin as she squeezes, marvelling, a bubble of laughter rich and intoxicating and infectious ringing out when I flex under the touch, wind an arm around her to drag her back against me, sinking easily against my body.

"I try~ though train with Kookie enough and you really end up working out every single muscle, every single inch." Words dropping lower and quieter.

Her ears still, lips pressing together to hide the twitch, eyes gleaming as she watches Kookie grease and line the tins, ears perked with his focus, eyes focused on crimping the pastry carefully.

Turns against the counter, absently plucking out a chunk of apple that didn't make it into the pan, bites into it as her gaze turns contemplative and sharp.

Legs stretched out bare from underneath my shirt, I can't tell if she's wearing anything underneath—and I want to find out.

Her ankles cross over each other, skin supple and soft, the bottom of her thighs peeking out enticingly.

"Seducing me are you swan? In the kitchen of all places?" she muses, voice soft.

My lips curve wide.

"Maybe~ my kitchen, my rules. And wooing my curvy, pretty chickie is definitely allowed." I croon, stepping forward towards her, eyes catching to how Kook's cotton tail twitches, a matching grin tugging at his lips as his ears rustle.

Entirely aware of the conversation despite his focus, despite how he remains largely focused on the task at hand.

Reaching for parchment paper but incidentally he has to stoop down to where (Y/N)'s pressed against the counter, relishing in the startled burst of her scent seeping past the vanilla as he hoists her up to set onto the counter, crouching between her parted legs to tug open a drawer.

Eyes raking over the skin with a similarly flickering hunger.

Gaze appreciative and lips brushing across the inside of her thigh with a lingering touch that makes her legs jerk instinctively, closing at the touch, eyes narrowing.

"Teasy bun!" she laughs.

But her eyes both soften and burn and I know there's an audience of the two oranges at the table watching with the same eagerness bubbling in my gut.

"Apple pie first—but then you're both mine."

And the weighted promise hovers between the three of us, with the scent of caramelised sugar and the buttery richness of pastry as it bakes.

It hovers in the curls of wispy steam and the rich sweetness that clings to air.

It drags us away from the kitchen, away from the baked richness in the air and into the safe haven of our bedroom where only vanilla seems to exist and fill every crevice.

Where in the closed space of the room all I can smell, all I can focus on is I've got my prey mates alone and they're all mine.

-------------

The sweet warmth clings to the clothes they wear, Kook's eyes bright with mischief and fire and tease, playfulness making his body bristle with cagey excitement, his hands bracketing her hips, pushing her back against me, sandwiching her effectively.

"Why don't you tell Jinnie hyung what we were doing in the shower?" he croons, voice dripping with honeyed desire and insinuation, scent blooming strong; the scent of crisp cotton teasing at my nose, entangling with the vanilla scent seeped into their skin.

Her eyes widen slightly, gaze holding mine, ears flickering as she stills, the faintest jitter to her leg. A tremor that wracks her body and is suppressed between the cage of two bodies, fingers skimming across the hem of the shirt, toying with it. Fingers drifting across the outside of her bare thighs.

My eyes drift across her features, drinking in the slightly flustered expression with relish, finger crooking under her chin to tilt her face upwards, to coax her to confront my gaze, intrigued and curiosity more than piqued by the pulsing sweetness of her scent trickling from her glands, from her skin in silent tell.

"What's got you all honeyed little fawn?" I whisper.

Lips ghosting along hers, the barest of pressures that doesn't quite taste the warmth of her mouth, doesn't get to taste the sweet slightly tart tang of tangerines on her lips even if I can still feel them on my tongue, can still feel the brush of fingertips nudging the segments of fruit against our mouths by turn, accompanied by the grazing brush of a tail briefly skimming across the three of us.

"Go on my curvy doe~ tell hyung what made your legs shake."

Her breath shakes, trembles as I continue to hold her gaze, so beautifully responsive to the lightest of touches, pupils dilating slightly, lips parting but unable to say the words, unable to let the slip off the tip of her tongue.

"Come on pretty chickie~ tell me... what did my sweet bun do to you? Cat got your tongue~ come on... the words must be there somewhere." I croon, thumb brushing over her bottom lip, sweeping across the soft, giving flesh, dragging across the fullness, tugging it down.

Eyes gleaming at how her eyes flutter slightly.

"He..." she breathes, ears flickering when Kook's knuckles graze across bare flesh, dragging the t-shirt between his grip and drawing it upwards distractedly, fingers skimming across skin, staining the skin of his palm and fingers with the scent seeping off the glands on her legs, branding them in turn with the crisp cotton.

"He... what did he do chickie... use your pretty mouth."

Behind her, Kook's eyes gleam with a playfulness, with an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and preening smugness, it rolls off his body, it's set in the broad, towering set of his frame behind hers, ears perked and grin wide.

"I used my mouth on him."

My eyes gleam with a ferocious hunger, curious and searching. See the tell-tale twitch of his lips as if that isn't all, but it's something I have to reel out of her, or him whatever it takes. And there's the shaky flutter of his eyes, a soft exhale at the memory as he slowly grinds his hips against her behind. A slow purposeful drag that has her pushing back to the touch, responding so easily to it with a fluttered breath. So settled and trusting and natural to give and take pleasure and intimate touch.

I watch as one tatted hand slips inwards, hand settling on the inside of her thigh, the movement dislodges the shirt from sitting properly on her frame. Reveals that underneath she'd been wearing nothing but pretty pink satin and lace. But it's a sight that despite being unfamiliar is so familiar. I'd seen that pair before, I'd seen Kook hover over buying it, had seen the flush on his cheeks when he'd hastily locked his phone. And seen the pretty flush deepen even as he spilled words from kiss-swollen lips and release down my throat, that yes he was looking at courting gifts.

My lips curve wider. Wondering whether she knows how much he'd dithered for choice; how ultimately the same design I know moulds to her body now is one we'd both decided on eventually. Wondered if she knew how many there were waiting for her.

"Did you know my favourite colour's pink? Did you doll yourself up for me?" curious and hopeful and preening as her composure continues to crack. Melts under the cocooning bracket of me and my bun.

"Kook... Kookie said it looked pretty."

My lips curve wide, eyes flickering to hold his gaze; to see the triumph and unspoken you're-welcome in them, the way his grin is heated and wicked.

Promising and teasing; playful and heated.

Fingers tracing circles onto soft skin, drifting across fabric, inked digits toying with the fabric that clings to the inside of her thigh.

Her scent thickens. Sticky sweet floral nectar; ghosting along my nose. Drawing out the appetite to taste it on my tongue too. Coaxing the flickering tendrils of heat to burn hotter, the flustered wide-eyed doe just begging for me to draw closer.

"Did he now? Did he happen to give you these as a courting gift? To pretty you up, cover your curves with my colour? And the two of you drenched yourself in my scent..." I drawl, see the flush on her cheeks build, realisation and a mixture of desire and love burn the softness of her gaze away and replace it with a heated, feverish ache that begins to mirror my own.

"And then... you wear my clothes. You've just wrapped yourself up all pretty and for me, told every single one of the pack that tonight you're mine." I croon, voice dropping lower, head tilting forward, closing the small distance and letting my eyes settle on her parted lips.

"Sweet doe~ been walking around all night begging for a swan to do something." Kook teases, voice a low drawl, hand drawing circles, idly tracing skin and relishing in the easy comfort intimacy of it, in the naturalness of it because he's as well and thoroughly acquainted and familiarised to her body as he is to mine and his own.

He knows what touch makes her unravel and what makes her breath catch. He knows what makes her scent flood his senses and what makes her arch and cry and writhe. He knows and I want to know it all too.

I want to learn it all too and see what I do to make her that way.

Her hands skim upwards to rest on my chest, feel the thudding pulse under her palm before one hand snakes up to brush across my shoulder and wind around my nape, fingers brushing across hair lightly as she looks at me.

Doe-eyed and pink and warm.

So, so warm.

"Never a doubt about it, swan prince. You're mine just as much as I'm yours." voice soft and lilting, almost phantom in the way the claim, the possessiveness and the surrender ghosts along my skin with the sweet warmth of her body leaning close.

Lips brushing against mine, coaxing and pleading, the gentleness lasting for all but a few moments as my mouth chases the sweet heat of hers, the whimpered need against me sears and ignites the tendrils into a blaze. And her fingers curl to clutch at my shirt, clinging tightly as her eyes flutter, lips pressing harder to mine as if she needs that stability, that grounding pressure of my mouth claiming hers, tugging her closer with a hand settling on the low of her back. Feeling the small shift of her legs, her hips and realising with a groaned exhale against soft, soft pliant lips that the same inked fingers have slipped under the hem of the satin fabric, trailing inwards towards her centre.

I swallow the shaky exhale with a fervent need that claws at me, rears its head with a possessive snarled want so far away from the needs and desires and wants I've always known.

She's different. Devastatingly so in how quickly she reels out desire from the depth of my gut, yanking it upwards in a roaring impatience. In how feeling her body react to the slow teasing touches has her lips trembling against mine, surrendering to the touch as my mouth crushes to hers, fierce and unyielding and bruising in the need to claim, to leave proofs of it all scattered across every inch of skin, to leave her lips swollen and bruised and flushed with my own need melded to hers. There's a new familiarity in knowing the shape of her lips, in the slow tracing flick of my tongue mapping out the shape, in drifting across the seam of her lips and teeth sinking down into her bottom lip with a bitten curse; sharper than she anticipates, rewarded with the cry that has her mouth parting. Pliant against the roving flick of my tongue drifting past the seam of her lips to chase the feel of her own, exploring the warm welcoming shudders of breath and tongue messily sweeping against mine, coaxing it to wind with mine, hand drifting lower from her back and mapping the curve of her behind, fingers sinking in with an explorative want. Her fingers sink tighter into the shirt, the press of her knuckles felt even through fabric, body tilting to me even if I can feel her hips twist, both chase to get Kook's trailing fingers closer but also already fidgeting from the touch.

Even with my lips chasing hers, they curve up in a smile.

So sensitive.

And I know the exact moment his fingers finally give the tiniest semblance of relief, the moment his fingers have trailed inwards until they're settled where she restlessly aches for them because her keening cry of his name against my mouth has my blood burning hotter, fingers trailing down and pressing to satin, slipping up to toy with the waistband, to drift underneath to press fingertips directly to skin. Lips slowly slipping away, leaning in to press open-mouthed pecks to her pleading swollen mouth when she whimpers for the touch to brush against her jaw, fingers slipping to tilt and angle her face for me, drinking in the flushed expression of pleasure slowly ruining her with the barest touches.

My hands trail exploratively, curious in their new intent of not just holding her but learning her too, dragging the baggy expanse of clothing upwards, desperate to see how the entire set looks adorning her skin. The groaned curse slips past my lips, eyes fixating onto the way it highlights her curves, encases them in a tight, intimate embrace, skin drenched in vanilla and trussed up in my colour.

See the straps, the lace cling to the curved swells of her cleavage, see it strain against where her nipples have slowly hardened, stiff nubs that beg for reprieve or any sort of pressure.

The shirt's discarded easily... hastily and my lips slowly skim from her collarbones down, indulgently mouthing at skin, teeth trailing and scraping across the encased swells of her breasts, fingers brushing from her waist upwards; knuckles grazing across the underside of her breasts, fingers restless to feel skin against skin, cupping her breast, thumb brushing over the hardened nub. Lips trailing lower and lower until finally they close around the other nipple, teasing the hardness even through the soft fabric, teeth pinching and tugging to hear the unrestrained cry, her fingers sinking into my hair tightly.

Back arching under the dual sensation, working both nubs with the combined mixture of tongue and teeth and lips sucking over the confining fabric and fingers tugging to coax out the heady sounds of pleasure wavering past kiss-bitten lips.

The anticipation of the next touch, of the next twist or scraped tug of my teeth, the heated, wet pressure of my tongue and mouth over fabric, has her scent spurting out richer, fingers entangling tighter into hair, the whimpered moans bubbling out at the pleasure hidden but not concealed at fingers roving over and under fabric, trailing across skin.

I feel her hand tremble, drifting away from me to reach behind her, to unclasp the pattern of lace that skims across the high of her ribs, encases her breasts and winds over her shoulders.

Draw myself away to take in the sight, eyes roving hungrily over her, the flicker of her ears as her body trembles; tell-tale signs of pleasure wracking her body even as she tries to free herself from the constraint of fabric, to feel the touch against skin.

But whatever's Kook's fingers are doing under slowly ruined satin has her legs trembling, shaking as she's supported by the arm banded around her torso; muscled limb keeping her from buckling, dilated pupils as his scent thickens; arousal clouding his eyes. Fogging them with breeding instincts. The sight of the two of them slowly undoing each other; driving each other to a brink of pleasured insanity far, far quicker than my own instincts nudge me has pleasure winding tighter around me.

And I know when the time comes to mate her properly, to give her everything, it'll be a pleasure in itself to see her being undone slowly and over and over again. I know that I won't mate her once... I'll mate and claim and take her every time with every instant, with every kiss, with every touch– she's mine and I'll spend my entire life claiming her for me.

But for now... for now, her fingers tremble as she clutches at the fabric, draws it off and lets it go when I tug, marvelling at it, discarding it aside, fingers tapping chidingly on Kook's forearm.

"I won't be happy if you ruin her courting gift because you were too impatient to take it off her." voice low and heavy.

See his body respond to the low tone, the deep thrum of it, the tips of his ears folding and his hand slowly drags away from her centre; tatted fingers glistening with her arousal slicking them up.

But despite it all he's still composed, he still has that confident aura that comes from not being the bottom of the power hierarchy, not when baby fawn moulds so sweetly under his touch for the shared pleasure burning a fiery line down my throat and filling my lungs, their scents heady on my tongue as I swallow down air, greedy for it. For more.

And as he drags the final article of fabric away, draws the material down her thighs and lowers down with them, his hands come to grip at her thighs, tugging to part them, lips skimming across the low of her back and trailing down. Tongue darting out with a whetted appetite to coax her pleasure to spill down his throat, to swallow it against his lips, eyes dark and hungering.

Eyes focused on the gleam of slick arousal staining the inside of her thighs, wings rustling as my lips trail across her exposed torso, map out a path of blooming love marks that begin to colour her skin, feel every hitch of breath and shaking tremble against me, hands drifting across skin, impatient to feel and to remember how her body feels when she's slowly being worked into pleasure, slowly being brought to the edge. A mixture of featherlight pecks and open-mouthed kisses skimming across the heaving swells of her chest, teeth sinking in to suck a mark across the curved outline of her body, nose brushing lower and fingers trailing playfully slow over the clenching tightness of her stomach. And when my teeth skim across flesh, brush down to her hip bone, she bucks, arching out with a soft whimpered cry of my name, the sound of it tumbling past her lips makes my wings flare in the intimate space of my nest. Surrounded with my scent, my touch, in my space and saturating the air with her overwhelmed pheromones begging for release slowly gifted to her.

But that's for another time. To drown in her scent leisurely and to have it sink into my own skin. Tonight I want a taste. And as I lower myself down to my knees, drawn down to the same position as Kook, I see her blown-out pupils as she peers down.

Clenches her thighs when fingers trail to her centre to part her legs for me, the sight almost obscene if it isn't how natural it is to see Kook's fingers confidently brushing over her, working the swollen nub with a deft firmness that seems to trigger a new set of trembling, leg steadied with a hand, two fingers working themselves into her before my eyes.

I could spend an entire night like this. I could spend eternity seeing and watching my mates undo her. I could spend all night telling Jungkook to slowly take her apart.

Watch as he sinks in to the hilt without preamble, assured in knowing how to crook his fingers, how to see her clutch at his hand tightly, rocking her hips into the touch, chasing to alleviate some of the bubbling pressure of pleasure mounting hotter and higher, eyes clenching shut at a third finger easily slipping in, sinking deeper.

My eyes fixate onto the sight.

"Take him so easily." I murmur, voice low at the observation, leaning in to brush kisses across her thigh, peppering a trail inwards.

Kook's grin is dark and secretive; eyes gleaming as his head rests against her hip, gaze ensnaring and hypnotic.

"That's because I worked her open in the shower. I told her how much I want to play with her. How much you'd like it hyung."

The words make my skin burn, stretched taut over my limbs. Cagey by how much my limbs seem to struggle with constraint, with surging forward, teeth nipping and sucking smaller marks as my mouth trails to her centre, quicker and impatient.

Control slowly unravelling.

"My two prey mates? Playing in the shower?" I groan, nose drunk on the scent of her arousal, tongue flicking to taste it off her skin, see the way it stains his fingers that continue to work in and out in deep thrusts, leaning to taste it off his skin too. And feel his wavered groan entangle with her shaky plea.

Draw his fingers out from where she grips tightly, hips bucking and grinding into the touch, keening at the emptiness.

"I'm sure you can give her a fourth." I muse.

Her breath punctuated sharply when he complies, grin looser and wider, gripping her thigh tightly and tugging her leg open when they instinctively try to shut tightly, try to trap and avoid his hand when the pleasure makes her scent swim with approaching release.

And it's just that much more tangible to my senses, picking up on the stronger waves of floral honey pleasure that seeps off her body, lean to situate myself properly between her parted thighs, lips fluttering towards her centre; slowly accustoming myself to the pleasure that presses directly to them. Tongue flicking out to taste, to work across arousal-slick skin and to press against his fingers, the cry sharp and uncontrolled when the dual sensation of tongue and fingers probing her, spearing deep makes her legs shudder, almost buckle.

"Sweet, sweet mate aren't you princess?" I groan.

Her legs close at the nickname, at the teasing flick and thrust of my tongue, her scent seeping out thickly, arousal mounting as she unravels.

And when she shatters, legs trembling violently, it's almost undone with the slurred cry, shaking between us as the sensations continue, prolong the waves of pleasure to coax her to a second, stronger intense release that stains my lips, tongue and skin, the still slowly thrusting fingers.

Hands trembling as she reaches for my head, fingers tugging imploringly, breaths shaky.

"Please... Jin please." she wavers.

Pupils dilated widely with pleasure, lost to the sensations as her hips buck and thrust, keening as the sharp tinge of sensitivity teases her senses.

She looks breath-taking like this. She'll look even more so begging.

"What is it, flower? What do you want?" I croon, lips slowly drifting away, hand curling around her thigh and feeling the tremors under my touch, grip tightening at how feral it makes me to know that it's because of us.

Her eyes flutter, lashes brushing against skin, ears flickering as she opens and closes her mouth.

"More? That's what you want isn't it? You want to play... or be played with rather. That's what you were asking for in the shower... shame I didn't have the toy at hand. Or I'd have loved to wreck you against the wall."

The gravelly, rough tone has my feathers rustling, wings arching as they curve back, feeling the weight of his words brush against skin as if it's his touch doing so.

My head tilts.

"Which toy did you need to work her open for– oh." pleased and thrilled.

Lips curving wide in a generous grin, hand reaching over to skim across his jaw and tilt his face upwards, slipping into the strands of his hair.

He tilts his head back immediately, presenting the strong column of his throat, the glands I've claimed and sunk my teeth into countless times.

"Sharing your toys Kook? The knotting one?" pleasant surprise takes over my tone and his eyes flash as he nods, throat bobbing at the possessive splay of my fingers trailing down his throat, nail digging into the sensitive tissue, grinning when his scent bursts out strongly.

"She'll look so pretty so full." he enthuses.

Slowly drawing himself up when my hand falls away, hands snaking around her torso to wind around her and tug her against him.

Watch as his gaze focuses on the flap of my wings, on the way my hand draws the shirt off my head first, discarding it aside, feathers rustling as they resettle; preen under their weighted gazes.

See the desire pool in both their eyes as I stand, as I move forward, hands dropping to (Y/N)'s hips, tug her forward until her body's flush to mine.

"Will you let me? Will you let me do the honours of seeing you writhe on a toy I control?"

Voice a quiet whisper.

Will you let me pleasure you? Will you let me see you undone by my control, my touch? Will you let me claim your ecstasy as mine?

Her fingers curl around my forearm and tugs me impossibly closer, lips skimming shakily across my jaw, nose brushing against skin, scenting hazily.

"Please. Knot me."

My groan is unrestrained and heavy at the implored permission.

Oh sweetheart you have no idea how much those words mean. She's handing over a power, a breeding cycle that doesn't even belong to my species; but she's entrusted to the two of us regardless.

I can see blatantly why SJ during her heat had both craved to hide and boast about how much he'd been wrecking her, letting her body fall apart under his sight alone as he controlled the toy then. How his body had angled enough to hide her but enough to make it clear what he was doing.

I can't wait to be the one to tend to her during her heats.

"On the bed, pretty love."

Her legs tremble and I don't hesitate in letting my hands slip to the back of her thighs, hoisting her up against me, her arms wind around me to anchor herself to me. Palms branding the thigh glands further with my scent, the scent of vanilla still strong.

"Somehow my scent smells better on my mates." I praise.

Kook follows, slipping onto the bed, into our nest with an ease as he leans against the headboard and sinks comfortably against the pillows and cushions, legs splayed with invitation and space for (Y/N) to be settled between them.

Eyes soft and tender as she sinks back against him when I kneel on the bed to lower her against him, feel her arms tighten, her lips brushing against my throat before she slowly lets go.

My wings flap restlessly, aching to flare wide and cover both of them from sight of anyone else. But right now they're only mine to see, my mates to pleasure. Just mine.

I've never truly understood how deep predator instincts go, never understood what part of biology makes control snap.

But with these two, with my prey, my mates, I know what makes the others lose restraint. I might not be a predator but with them, my gums ache to sink my teeth into every inch of skin.

I don't need a mating bite in the same way the predators' biology pulls them to leave a visible claim but that doesn't mean I won't sink my teeth into my prey over and over again.

Kook's arms make quick work of wrapping her up in them, entirely having divested himself of clothing before he scrambled onto the bed, muscled thighs banding over hers and keeping hers forcefully pinned wide. The dominating gesture makes her trembling legs go limp under the ministrations; allowing them to be kept open, muscles loosening under the constant touches, head falling back against his shoulder as his hands skim her torso, map out the enticing curves under his fingers, lips brushing across a bare shoulder to leave a line of kisses across skin.

I lean over to tug open the drawer, see their eyes focus on every movement, every rustle of my wings as I draw the toy out, letting it trail across her parted thighs and seeing the way they clench and tighten under his pinned sprawl, the scent of arousal thick in the air.

"Going to be good for me? And take the knot? Kookie took it so well, he begged for the knot, for me to breed him." I croon, kneeling in the space between her legs, hand slowly letting the toy skim across her skin, teasing her centre with its tip, watching the shaky bob of her throat as she swallows, recognition pooling in her eyes as she takes it in.

Eyes slowly tearing away to meet the equally wrecked gaze of the bun holding her, cradling her with a mixture of possessive force and tenderness.

Keeping her body splayed for the light ministrations that heighten the sensitivity, make her away of every single fleeting touch.

"You said... experiments in the bedroom. You knotted him Jin?" voice breathy.

Heavy and molten with desire.

I grin against her collarbone, letting her feel the toy, feel my own hardness against her thigh.

"I did. Got to take care of my mate's needs... especially when knots happen in ruts. He presented so well for his breeding." I lilt.

The teeth and tongue at her skin draw out words, slow and measured.

"She takes so well. Smells and tastes so sweet when she's overwhelmed."

(Y/N)'s eyes are hooded, fluttering under every slow caress, under every touch, melting against him and hips helplessly shifting on the sheets, bucking up at the touch and lips parted with invite so when I surge forward to kiss her, gripping her hair tightly, mouth slotted over hers hungrily, she keens and tilts forward, fingers gripping at my shoulder tightly, hand skimming feverishly to taste and feel my skin under hers, her touch curious and exploratory and sending the tight coil of pleasure to wind tighter around my gut, hips bucking when her nails drag across my abdomen.

"Please... want you Jinnie. Want you... want you." breathless implored pleas muttered against my skin, shakily pressed in soft, shaky kisses as she clutches at me, a groan slipping past her lips when I let the toy sink in bit by bit.

Watch the inside of her thighs tremble, muscles straining as she's kept pinned open, the toy slowly sinking inside her seamlessly, adjusting to the thick intrusion, scent sweetening with honeyed pulses of desire trickling off her skin in heady waves.

My wings flare wide with the wavery whimpers, the glassy eyes as Kook's head rests on her shoulder, hands wound tight around her torso, slowly grinding bucks of his hips against her back, against where they're flush, chasing to alleviate some pressure, searching for some friction as he groans against her, eyes glued to the sight, following the glide of the toy slowly being worked in the slightest before drawn out.

A low throaty moan tumbling out of his lips working at her skin, bent over and watching but making no move to hasten the pace, eyes pleading and imploring for as he looks at me, skin flushed and pleasure slowly unravelling him at the sight of our mate.

My fingers skim across her thighs, working the tension out, knuckles rubbing and brushing across skin, teeth aching.

I'll mark her when her skin's slick with arousal.

Feel her sink against the sheets, hips bucking up to draw the toy deeper from the teasing slow touches.

And I watch it sink deeper, watch her shudder at the fullness and feel my head pound with a roaring urge when an inked hand sprawls over her stomach and presses, voice low and guttural.

"Going to be able to feel it. Going to feel how full Jinnie hyung makes you."

Everything feels hot, pressing in on every side, body burning with need as I continue to work the toy deeper and deeper, drawing out in shallow thrusts that despite giving some sort of relief, some satisfaction aren't enough and she thrashes under his pinned cage. Voice shaking as she begs for more.

My eyes rake over her, committing the sight to memory, letting it be branded across my mind's eye, carefully massaging the stiff tautness of her muscles, lips brushing praise and pecks across her hips.

"Can you keep going baby? Need something?" I murmur, wings tucking securely against my back. Lips drawing away when she whimpers illegibly.

Her fingers shake as they sink into my hair, throat arched as she tilts her head to Kookie.

Turned in askance for a kiss, lips messy against his equally uncomposed demeanour, groaning against his mouth, hips canting to draw my touch closer, fingers circling her swollen nub and feeling her clench around the toy, whimpering against his mouth when I let it sink deeper and deeper.

And when it's buried to the hilt, as far as it can go before knotting, she cries out under his touch over her stomach, pressing down, body arching with a tautness that makes every limb seem brittle and fragile to shatter under the cresting, building waves of ecstasy that pools in her scent and curls on my tongue when I tilt close to taste off her skin.

She's going to be my undoing.

She pants against Kook's skin, clutching at his leg tightly, fingers digging into muscle tightly, her other clutching at my shoulder as she grinds her hips down, whimpering for more as I draw it in and out, the glide seamless, toy slick with her arousal, slow as I draw it out, sharp and rough and quick as I thrust it back in deep.

A seamless fluidity in working the toy in and out of her, hand drawing it in further and eyes raking over every tremble in her body, hungering to steal the wavering breaths that shudder out as she arches and twists for reprieves even as she rocks her hips to meet each thrust, scent pooling sweeter as she's worked to one release, then another.

"Knot her hyung... make her full." Kook pleads, voice rough and pupils widely dilated, his scent entangled with hers, the two of them making the sweet vanilla somehow stronger as her skin flushes and gleams, his own body caged tight around hers and under hers, rutting against her for a pleasure that's peaked at least once.

My lips brush across her temple, nosing at her cheek and jaw, light scents she finds instinctual relief in as she sags, breathing in vanilla and feeling it curl close as she clutches at me, her grip shakier and looser.

But Kookie knows as well as I do, that I'll knot her when she's ready. That it'll push her into that beautiful, heightened sensitivity when her scent is sticky sweet with desperation just as much as it's arousal.

And it slowly thickens, inflates and pulses, stimulating a real knot as it grows at the base and sinks in deeper, pushed in entirely so she can feel the agonisingly pleasurable stretch, back arching upwards, the buds of her nipples stiff and taut and begging for my lips and teeth to tug out more cries from the depths of her chest.

Slowly sucking dark marks across the curve of her chest, gripping her tightly as I force her body to slump backwards, the boneless crumple of her limbs as she sinks against him, eyes fluttering with the haze I recognise all too well from eternity spent in between sheets learning my mate, in seeing it overwhelm Kookie's senses.

"Jinnie please..." the begged implore for something unknown but regardless I tilt closer, body bracketing hers firmly against Kookie's, groaning against her when a familiar hand brushes from my thigh to curl around my length. The touch shaky and brisk and uncoordinated, ragged pants against (Y/N)'s shoulder as he continues to suck marks across the soft curve of skin, his touch hasty and rough.

Coaxes my pleasure to mount until the pressure becomes unbearable, his familiar touch, his dilated eyes beckoning my own release, triggered and slamming into me much, much quicker at their own unravelling. Hips bucking and rocking into the touch, wings flapping unsteadily at the tightness winding around my gut, hand steadying myself on him, the other forcing the toy deeper, knot locking in place. Shakily gripping at the toy, thumb brushing against the button that makes it grow further, expanding impossibly wider; the guttural, sharp cry taut with broken surprise as it plugs her full... fuller.

An entangled mess of limbs, breaths shaking as I spill onto his fingers, onto her thigh as he continues to work me through it, my wings flaring wide as my body hunches over the two of them, lips trembling as they press to her flickering ears.

"Going to keep you full sweetheart– look so pretty like this. Between us." I mutter, voice shaking as my hips continue to buck into the touch, into the slow messy grip.

She cries out something intelligible, hand shaking as it settles on my shoulder, clinging tightly.

And as the waves of pleasure begin to slowly ebb, brought to the teetering point of oversensitivity when I draw back, catching breath as my wings rustle, pressing kisses across every single mark on her body, murmuring quietly to her.

The hand that wraps around her torso is stained with release, smears it across her skin as he tugs her back, keeps her body pinned and encased by his.

Draws messy circles onto her skin, head hooking over her shoulder, chinning as he scents lazily, indulgently, head tilted to hers, voice gravelly and rough as he coaxes her body to settle. As he lets his fingers trail to where the toy is sheathed deep. Smiling sluggishly at the broken moans and how she writhes with sensitivity and pleasure, one peak barely ebbing before the toy continues to work another out of her.

And she's beautiful, wrecked and ruined and still giving me the pleasure of her pleasure in my hands, doe eyes focused on mine, glassy with ecstasy and lips shaking as she tilts her face to me, pressing a line of pecks from my jaw to my lips.

Soft and unhurried and yet urgent and needing, wanting the closeness of our bodies all sandwiched together, unable to bear any distance whatsoever.

And then her scent tinges with a salty tang.

The weak fluttering unsteadiness to her honeyed scent draws my wings to immediately flare wide, expanding to full length and width to hide her and Kookie from sight, the tiniest subtle shift in her pheromones, eyes widening as I catch the teary gleam to her eyes, cradling her face as she sniffles slightly, whimpering between every other breath at the fullness continuing to work her arousal to a prolonged state.

My fingers immediately brushing against her heated skin, slipping down to work slow circles onto her gland, feathers drooping at the tips when it seems to calm the slight tinge of tears down but instead makes her scent burst richly; thick and sweet enough I can taste it with every breath, back arching as she twists under Kook's ensnared hold.

"Jinnie... my mate. Want my mate." she shudders out, clinging to me, sucking in a sharp breath when I lean closer, when fingers slip between her legs to slowly draw the setting down, to coax her down from her prolonged peaks with soft murmurs and lingering kisses and gentle scents.

"Sweet chickie... you have us. Right here." I murmur, our hands gentle and lingering on her, knuckles brushing across skin, pecks pressed to every inch, immediately clustering close when the slightest movement has her grip tightening, drawing us back to her.

Slowly coax her down, the tears settling– overwrought sensitivity welling in her eyeline and spilling over with a small shaky sniffle, her hands curled around my wrists as she draws in deep breaths, eyes fluttering open and shut at the gentle scents brushed directly to her glands.

"Good tears?" I murmur, needing to verify. To make sure nothing had gone wrong, that no limit, no boundary had been crossed that she wasn't willing to.

But she nods her head, tilting to the touches, body slumped bonelessly against Kookie as her legs tremble violently, wracked with tremors as the toy's taken out. Clutches at me tighter when I move away.

The discontent soothed by a cheek nudging against hers, by lips dropping to her gland to nuzzle and scent, mouthing at the sensitive bump of tissue to comfort her. Keeps her settled as I hurry away, wings tucked against my back.

Dragging on shorts once I've cleaned myself up, damp towels for both my prey, slow and gentle featherlight touches as her muscles tremble– overexerted and still so, so sensitive.

The two of them lie entangled when I discard the towels, draw the ruined sheets away and see the exhaustion and haziness clinging beautifully to their features, ears flopped over her shoulder as he curves around her, leaning against the drawers.

Wings rustling as I fix the bed, re-sort the nest and draw the both of them back down, only soothed and settling when they curl together, limbs entangled and the discarded clothes dragged over marked skin.

Heads tilted close and (Y/N)'s hand reaches out to tug me close, a loose smile curving her lips at the sudden lurch my body makes as I stumble forward; steadying myself over them before she tugs again– much lighter but my body tilts to them. I let my weight fall onto them, twisting to settle behind her, arm immediately settling over her waist, fingers tracing idle circles onto skin, settled under the shirt.

Lips brushing her flickering ears.

"When the time comes... when I have all the time in the world, that's when I want to mate you properly." I confess, words quiet.

She tilts back, doe eyes still dilated as she peers at me, lips trembling.

On her other side, Kookie's smile curves wider; shadowed with knowledge and secrets and tease.

"You'll need the time pretty girl~ trust me."

Sharing and confiding with a grin that's all too fond, tension completely having bled out every line of his body, shadowed silhouette from where he faces us.

"I want it all... want to spend forever with you. Want to take my time mating you too." she admits.

My fingers still on her skin.

Leaning forward, nose brushing against hers, lips briefly brushing against hers.

"I look forward to it, princess."

(Y/N) POV:

Rough, shaky grinds against my back are what stir me from sleep, legs wracked with weak tremors at the hardened length pressed against me, at the shaky breaths muffled against the skin of my nape where I can feel teeth working a new mark into skin, hair tickling my cheek and a leg slotting between mine. Thigh pressing to the apex of my thighs, every grind bringing a rough spark of pleasure to flicker through the heavy, heavy fog of drowsiness.

The soft punctured gasp that slips past my lips entangled with the muffled whimper I feel against my skin, teeth working the fierce, heady ache to something warmer and thicker.

"...awake?" he groans against my skin, arms wound tight around my torso, hand snaking upwards to mould my curves to his palm, fingers splayed and tugging out soft, quiet shaky breaths and muffled whimpers my head turns to silence pressed against the band of his arm.

Eyes fluttering and clenching shut as his thigh slowly rocks between my legs with every grind, his pleasure thick cotton I can taste on the back of my throat with every thrust.

"Jin's sleeping." I bite out, fingers clutching his forearm, skin heating at the sight of his inked arm disappearing under the shirt, teeth catching at my bottom lip as his fingers tug, coaxing a nipple to hardness, nail scraping.

"And we're not." He grunts, breath feverish and hot as it ghosts along my shoulder, trails to skim my gland messily, uncoordinated rough flicks of his tongue and teeth, the wet suction of his lips closing around the gland and sucking harshly tugs out a broken cry.

His scent worms through the fabric, sinks through my skin, seeps into every crevice where he moulds himself to me, body working itself up for the satisfactory release it never got last night, the tang of breeding beginning to thicken his pheromones, my body rocking back to his touch, mind slowly clouded with the burning cloying thickness of his arousal.

My body stills when Jin's wings rustle against his back, his body stirring, nose scrunching as he burrows against the pillow; curling into the soft lighter scent, chasing the vestiges of sleep undoubtedly beginning to evade him.

"Rut?" I ask through a shudder, back arching and hips pushing back into the touch, scent clouding my senses as he coaxes a sweetness from my own.

He pants against my shoulder, hips bucking forward, every thrust rough and needy, teeth skimming from my gland to scrape against the column of my throat, trailing to my jaw.

"No... not rut, feels like it but it's not." He groans, hand tugging at me, drawing me back against his aching arousal, body entangled with how every thrust doesn't just chase some friction, fingers dragging the shirt up, the hard, unrelenting muscles of his thigh sparking pleasure from where it rocks against my centre; grinding sharply.

"Worked up bun? I—I'm sure Jin would've knotted you too." I shudder, the familiar curl of heat beginning to pool heavily, limbs liquifying to molten heat as he continues to thrust against me, groans less muffled, shuddering in the air.

His teeth sink in sharper, the bite yanks out a cry, nails digging into his forearm.

"...I would've but bun didn't want a breeding did you Koo?" voice slurred and heavy, drowsy and rough. And my eyes flash to his, breaths shaky as my gaze meets Jin's. His eyes are still fogged with drowsiness, lazy in their slow trawl over the two of us. Quietly drinking in our expressions, lips curved in a loose grin.

His grip tightens on my hip as he tugs me back with a sharper, rougher thrust, other hand pressing tightly to my abdomen as he groans his agreement, flopped ears perking slightly as he registers Jin's voice, his awareness and peers with arousal-laced eyes.

"No... no, want (Y/N)... want her." the ragged want clear in his voice.

A hand slowly reaches out, fingers brushing over the tighter curl of Kook's hand on my hip.

"Going to put on a show? Let me see this way?" he murmurs, voice a low rasp that has both our scents thickening, a crooned question that has my breath catching in my throat.

Thighs slightly parting in response, allowing for the intrusion as he ruts against me and groans shakily against my skin, dragging the shirt up, bunched up high above my navel as he clutches my thigh, grips it tightly before slowly sinking in.

Filling me and shuddering when he's sheathed deep entirely, stilling inside me and letting the two of us lie like that, ragged breaths as my legs clench at the intrusion, feel his hips rock back and forth before he's spilling with a sharp cry.

A relief only momentary as he basks in lathering kisses across skin, tracing patterns onto my skin under the lazy watchful gaze of Jin.

"Going to breed her first thing?" he coos, voice lilting for all the heated words he spills, wings rustling.

His arms become a tighter cage, slowly grinding deep, aching arousal sheathing me deep as he draws back slowly to slam back in deeper and rough.

Puncturing a soft cry past my lips, the deep, rushed hungering movements so at odds with how his arms are wound around me in a cradle, bracketing me, lips and teeth skimming skin as his hips continue to thrust deeply, rough sharp snaps that fill me over and over, my own pushing back with shaky whimpered moans.

Clutching tightly at his arms, breathing ragged and eyes fluttering when a finger presses to my lips.

Eyes dark and glinting and mischievous.

"You're going to wake the pack up little love. Why don't you try keep those pretty noises in?" he croons.

Finger brushing over my bottom lip, eyes dark as he watches my back arch, every thrust jostling my body, clinging tightly to the pillows, to the sheets, finally anchoring onto Jin and gripping him tightly as he closes the distance and brushes featherlight touches alongside the impatient, feverish roving of Kook's hand slipping from between my breasts to drag down my torso, resting on the low of my abdomen.

"Pretty love—look so wrecked for him. For me..." he muses softly, voice a teasing graze against skin.

But his eyes search and assess much more carefully despite the lilting tone.

His fingers lighter as they check for sensitivity, skimming over skin.

Behind me, the snap of hips driving himself deeper and harder turn erratic and messier, fingers circling the swollen ache between my legs to make me spiral towards pleasure in a blinding hot-sear that licks at skin.

Breaths shaky and words low groans as he pleads for my pleasure alongside his.

Murmuring praise and shaky want against my skin.

"Please... please." Soft and trembling as his grip tightens on me, the words shaky against my ear, teeth catching at my lobe.

Pleading for my release alongside his, his teeth catching at my gland and the stimulation has the tight band of pleasure snapping, throat arched.

And held between the two of them as the waves of pleasure slam into me, merciless and unrelenting, pushing to a dizzying high before I feel the hands gripping me tighten before he stills, pressed flush against me, bodies entangled and lost to the fog of cotton and vanilla.

And as we slowly come down from that drowning peak, ground to each other by the gentler touches, feverish need quietened and satiated to a soft tenderness as he mouths gently at skin, as Jin murmurs quietly to the both of us.

Slowly drawing away, sheets rucked and tugged aside, hands careful as he draws me up against him.

Eyes gentler and soft, tender and sweetly protective and fretting.

Lips brushing against my flickering ears, smiling at the whined dissent as Kook reaches out an arm, half-rising before he sprawls, leg kicking at the sheets at the knowing look in Jin's eyes.

"How about separate showers? Seeing as showering is what brought it all on." he laughs, the sound rich and warm and giddy.

Eyes raking over his mate's bare form with an appreciative gleam, raking over last night's and today's pleasure lining and marring his body with marks and release.

"Take your time bun~ until you get hungry that is." Teasy lightness in his words and arms cradling me.

But despite the quietness, despite the attempt to be quiet in rooms still largely soundproofed, there's a sleep rumpled wolf who slips out of the kitchen, leaving his mug behind—eyes soft as he takes the two of us in.

"Morning." Voice a low rumbled sound that immediately soothes.

"Morning pup..."

"Morning Joonie."

His smile curves wider and dimples.

"Sleep... well?" a grin twitching at his lips. Tail cutting back and forth, audible as it cuts air.

Scent blooming light and fresh.

"A bit late... but I did."

"You're up early... no Minnie?" Jin muses, wings rustling and flapping as he continues walking towards the bathroom, the scent of forest dew trailing alongside, eyes soft as they peer at my over his shoulder.

"I was with Hobi and Tae... he's probably still asleep. Panther influence and all." Eyes creased and dimpled grin widening with tenderness, the scent of sticky caramel and berries clinging to his clothes and skin, hair rumpled not just from sleep but fingers too. Carded through and fiddled with.

The touch is all Tae.

"Chickie want to go with Joonie? I'll get breakfast started—to make up for everything you burnt off. And get something for the soreness." Words soft but eyes flickering with heated memory.

Joon perks up, tail cutting through air louder, audible wags as his ears perk from the rumpled mess of dark hair.

I press my lips to Jin's jaw. Nodding as the three of us slip into the bathroom, body cradled by my wolf's as he sinks against the bath's rim, watching Jin twist the water on and checking it with his fingers, drawing away to bend down to tug out HybridCo bath products. Designed for soothing away aches and discomforts much, much quicker.

The thoughtfulness doesn't go unnoticed and his eyes soften as he looks at the two of us.

"Take your time."

Feathers rustling as he moves away, the scent of vanilla a faint trace; warm and sweet, seeped into the air.

And Joon's every movement is careful and tender; sweetly gentle and fretting and soft, soft touches as he draws our clothes off and draws me alongside him into the shower, the heat of his body pressed close under the water, hands gentle and eyes marvelling and appreciative, soft rumbles that soothe as he cradles me to him.

Slick skin brushing against mine and his fresh, crisp scent seeping into skin as he nuzzles; soft rumbles where water spills between us, the glide of skin against skin smoother and leaning against the glass as he draws me to him, brushes wet tendrils of hair away from my face, tilts as I let my fingertips skim across his skin, content to trace him like this

To map his face under my touch, reaching for shampoo as my fingers brush past his hair.

"Who do you want to smell like?" I tease, fingers flitting and brushing across countless bottles.

His whine is low and eager when he twists and reaches for a bottle himself, pushing it into my touch.

Floral notes.

"You. This is the closest it can get without scents." Almost petulant at the knowledge. But still he tilts eagerly to the touch as I lather his hair up, steering him under the shower spray to rinse the suds off, something so lulling and soothing about the loose set of his body, limbs pliant and warm under the water and half-entangled with mine.

Body still leaning close as we get out of the shower, towels wrapped around skin, hair still trickling droplets down skin before he suddenly scoops me, the movement quick before he sets me onto the counter, arms bracketing me from either side.

"Morning." He echoes, this time the greeting grazes against my lips gently with his own and they skim across my jaw and cheek with soft sweetness.

My cheek rubs against his, nuzzling lightly as my arm winds around his neck, relishing in the heat that seeps into my skin from his.

"Morning alpha pup~"

The words murmured against his cheek, pressing a kiss to skin, content to sit like this, his body bracketing mine in the loose embrace.

"Breakfast?" He murmurs after a short while. Still hovering close, hands gently drying hair.

My eyes flutter with contentment, at the constant light scents accompanying the flitting touch.

"Breakfast." I echo.

-------------

"Knock knock... oh! Shifted today Mina?" I ask, peering past the door and spotting the familiar sight of the huddled duo curled together on the middle of the bed, the nest relocated and the mound of blankets rearranged.

Her ears perk as she registers my voice, chirping in greeting as her head rises from where she'd been tucking a half-drowsy kit up, nuzzling and scenting and grooming the soft curled circle of fur.

Her eyes track me as I enter, nose twitching as she registers the familiar curl of mint from behind me.

The hand on my back remains steady, head peering over my shoulder at the sight.

"Ah... I guess the case files will wait another day. It's not anything to worry about is it?" Minnie muses, voice taking a fretting tone, eyeing the shifted duo with a mixture of protectiveness and fondness.

But concern lingers in his gaze.

"Shifting isn't an issue— her scent's all settled. Maybe she just wanted to groom her kitten properly, maybe she wants rubs. Maybe both." I muse.

Her eyes have narrowed onto him, watching him as he brushes past me with a squeeze to move forward, tail swishing with anticipation and impatience.

I trail behind him, see her eyes silently beckon him to come closer with the files, unwilling to leave the nest and her kit as she's trying to snooze.

Lips twitching.

"The files won't vanish Mina, Officer Park is here for the morning." I say, the title rolling off my tongue with a grin, lips quirking when it makes his ears flicker and stand tall to attention, tail swishing even as he forces himself to continue taking the steps forward to the nest.

She chirps, the sound slightly louder, trying to almost hurry him along.

Tail swishing quicker.

"Still impatient? Do you want me to settle KitKat and you can go to the files?" I offer, knowing the glint in her sharp eyes, knowing full well the reason she hasn't just pounced for them to swipe with a paw is because of the dozing kit.

That moving away abruptly will ruin the nap she'd been settling KitKat for.

She chirps softer, fangs gently scraping against my fingers in thanks before she slowly unfurls, tail swishing and brushing gently across the curled kit.

And she pads away once she's seen that KitKat doesn't stir, meowling softly when my fingers brush against fur in greeting.

Drooping heavily at every brush of fingers against her folded ears, trailing from between her eyes to her nose, soft purrs rumbling against my touch.

And all the whilst my eyes trail from her to the foxy duo, watch at the files opened up and the attentive focus of both of them pouring over the details; a mixture of files I know to be some of her own and some of the ones he and Joon have been working on.

See the likeliness in their razor focus, in how with their intense concentration, their ears flicker only in the slightest, her tail swishing, eyes roving over the pages and pawing at papers to move them aside when she doesn't find what she's looking for.

Antsy is the only way to describe it.

Restless with how dissatisfied she is, with how the quiet stream of huffed chirps are anything to go by, as if the papers are wrong, as if she's not finding what she wants to show. Not finding links and connections as easily as she wants.

But it's seemingly doing the opposite for Minnie, a loose relief curling his features as he continues to set aside what I realise are staff profiles.

Figuring out who he can trust.

And there's little to no chirps or paws swiping for a certain profile, for a name she recognises.

People she'd worked with too, people who might have more insight or might've known something and been silenced. People involved in all manners of the investigation from the administration clerks to the officers who she'd last done stakeouts with.

And slowly, unconsciously, she gravitates closer and closer; whether to stave off his own warm body, or to peer better but my lips curve up, scent softening under the scent-blockers even if it doesn't trickle out.

Half sprawled over his crossed legs, peering at the file in his hand with drooped flickering ears and beady sharp eyes, tail giving slow swishes and silently absorbing the information.

When the purrs have deepened, deep, deep sleep tugging KitKat to curl smaller in the nest; soothed by the scents and the presence of Amina's sea breeze scent curled around her, then I draw away.

Feel Minnie's eyes snap up to me almost instantaneously, ears flickering and folding at the tips as he sees me move to leave.

See Amina's trail slower, blinking at me.

Chirping.

"Leaving already?" eyes wide and imploring.

Willing me to stay.

It's enough to make me dither, but I can't stay.

"I'm sorry Minnie... I have a paint date with a tiger." I call, still progressively moving towards the door even as my eyes linger on the sight, something that'd been tightly wound unravelling.

Amina was okay... she was in good hands. And I knew despite her higher ranking, both Joon and Minnie would take care of her.

That her anxiousness about working the case wasn't being overlooked by them and the draped shifted form is much as settling closer as it is that need to reassure herself the pages, Jimin... they're all tangible.

And they won't fall through her grip like sand.

My eyes drift to the half-curled fennec fox.

"Mina when you're feeling up for it, there's more apple pie."

Eyes creasing when her head rises and she lets out a louder, excited chirp, tail swishing with eagerness, head dipping into a quick nod.

There'd been a semblance of normalcy in seeing Amina enjoying apple pie and watching Jangmi's lips twitch with suppressed amusement, nudging away the offer. A teasing glint in Amina's eyes as her tail swished over her panda's lap, fangs peeking through.

I wanted that normalcy for her.

I wanted her to have everything she knew as fact, as true. Because she was getting stuck in the officer headspace, panicking over what she was forgetting that she overlooked what she did know.

And when she relaxed, when she felt secure in her present, the details forgotten or overlooked or hidden would become clear to her.

All she needed was to give herself time to feel normal again.

--------------

"I get you all to myself today~ Hobi hyung's at uni, Minnie's working... that makes you mine fawn fairy." His voice rumbles against my back, arms winding around me from behind as he tugs me backwards.

The chuff is pleased and reverberates against skin, worms past clothes as the scent of paint clings to the overalls, smeared across his cheek and endearingly pressed in the outline of small handprints where he'd stooped down to crouch in front of a small tabby, had gotten eager bonks and giggles alongside the bright pink staining his cheeks now.

He eyes the pink handprints with gleaming eyes, proud and affectionate; fingers ghosting along the dried paint, tail swishing behind him as he peers at me in the mirror, paint-stained fingertips brushing loose tendrils away from my face, nose burrowing against my hair and pressing a kiss to the back of my head.

I let the tap run, soaking the facecloth under it, wringing the excess out before I turn to start cleaning the smears of paint from his skin and curls. Somehow the paint's splashed against his throat too and as I wipe away oranges and reds from the column of his neck, my eyes linger at his glands.

He'll have to reapply the scentblockers anyways so when my hand drifts to his glands, surprise only momentarily flickers in his gaze for less than an instant before he's tilting his throat for my access, the movement of his tail swishier. His scent seeps into the crevices of the bathroom; sweet berry battering at the neutralised space.

"You're making these kids' world Tae." I murmur, fingers gentle at his gland, unable to help brushing the pad of my thumb across the sensitive tissue and scenting lightly, the touch more instinctual than anything because my scent doesn't secrete through, doesn't leave a faint imprint behind. And yet it brings him immense satisfaction and happiness, head tilting with fluttering lashes as he blinks slowly.

Rumbles as he peers at me.

Fangs peeking through slightly.

"By... making a mural?" he hedges tentatively.

Sounding so confused and uncertain.

My fingers rest against his throat, curved close to his gland, drawing him close to press pecks to his lips in a quick flurry.

"For helping them leave their mark. Leaving a bit of their stories behind on the walls even after they leave." I murmur.

His lips brush against mine in a sweet soft kiss that lingers longer, huffing a breath of laughter against me when I jolt at the brush of damp fingers trailing across skin and rubs at the paint at my jaw and cheek.

"And the ones in the original mural... their stories stay too. Just like a new chapter... a new page right?" seeking affirmation that in starting the mural project he wasn't erasing their stories, their mark.

"Of course tiger... we grow and develop as people but you're still the sweetest berry cub aren't you? Like that."

He chuffs loudly, the happy sound sinks into my skin as he leans into me.

"Your berry."

I smile at him, fingers brushing across his curls, trying to remove the paint as best as I can.

But he looks exhilarated like this; pupils slightly dilated and his scent seeping off him, paint smears painting a story onto his skin.

He's a story in himself, bearing the title of berry prince proudly around the centre.

"What's your next big wonder Tae?" I murmur, surrendering to the urge of running my fingers through his hair, pushing it away from his face, fingers entangling slightly in the silky black wild curls.

He mulls the question over before he shrugs. The gesture loose and easy.

"I don't know. But I don't mind. Whatever I want... whatever way life winds up."

There's an ease and comfort in his skin, in himself... at whatever way life carves itself to be.

I envy and cherish the free confident ease.

Because it's so hard to find in the chaos. And yet he's sweetly unchanging; a stripey cub at heart and through and through.

"Wherever the wind guides you tiger mine?" I ask, head tilted.

He grins then.

Fangy and endeared and bright.

"It'll always lead to you, to pack. To us. But~ I have been considering maybe applying for a position here. Permanent play mate and art therapist~" he drawls out, every word dripping off his tongue with exuberance, slow and purposefully taking his time.

My eyes still on him, his body hovering over mine, curved close, tail swishing and curling to band around my thigh.

"You... you want to work here? Tae that's amazing!" I exclaim, eyes bright, tugging him closer to pepper his cheeks and lips with kisses, his chuffs rumbling against my mouth as he tugs me forward, nose brushing mine tenderly, giggling against my skin when I brim with excitement beside him.

"You'll make an amazing art and recreation therapist! And the kids adore you."

"I'm not sure it'll be straight away... but in the future. One day."

My lips skim across his jaw, brushing against his gland.

Taste sweet strawberry on my lips.

"One day... when that day comes, you'll be amazing."

I know it.

"But until then I'll be your paint buddy, your favourite feline to work with, the only cub you want to cuddle all the time." he teases, voice warm as he holds me to him.

My fingers brush against his cheek.

"Hobi will hiss if he hears that." I laugh.

He shrugs unrepentantly.

"And so would Minnie if I said I was the first orange to woo you over... " voice taking a teasing lilt.

"Maybe~ but you're the first and only stripes in my life."

His fangs nip and scrape against my cheek. Nuzzling happily.

Hands lingering even as he begins to steer me out, lips brushing against my ear; unable to help the nip when it flickers.

"But right now... I have a surprise for you. There's a certain citrus waiting for you in reception with lunch."

And when his arms fall away, it's with the promise of swiping again later.

It's encased in berry that I find my citrus, his tail swishing and ears perking up when he spots me, a gummy fangy grin tugging at his lips as he holds up a takeout bag.

"Lunch?"

I smile as I reach him, eyes raking over the impeccably shining, groomed soft fur and the bundled figure he makes standing in the lobby.

Softening when he reaches for my hand immediately; lacing his fingers together with mine, tail brushing across the back of my legs.

"Want to go out or at your office?"

I don't miss the tiny shivers wracking his body, unconsciously curving inwards to himself and gravitating towards me, the slightly suppressed hiss of displeasure at the cold that's seeped into skin. Already herding him alongside me, body pressed close to his as I lead him away.

Office it is.

Watch as he sinks in relief at the warmth of the centre the further inwards we gets, tail swishing and curling with curiosity as he lets his eyes rake over the centre; over the almost-maze of the place.

Countless hybrids and humans bustling about and signs leading further towards the rooms and offices.

I steer him left, smiling at the way his ears perk slightly.

"I can see why Tae's always telling me about new adventures... he must be getting lost all the time." eyes crinkled as he laughs, awe softening his features further.

His enthusiasm is infectious, silently curious as he peers at the different winding corridors, the sheer variety of hybrids all clustered under one large centre.

"It's like a small town here." He teases as we turn down another corridor, his hand still encased in mine.

I tilt my head to him.

"Almost. But no shops or restaurants. There's a few canteens and cafes and it must look bigger because there's not another floor... it's just easier? But all the cases for hybrids that require rehabilitation or treatment or a home do end up here... it's the largest and secure." I say absently, hurrying the last stretch to usher him into my office.

Laughing when his tail swishes giddier, scent bursting in the large space, enclosed with the door shutting. Seeping into the crevices as if trying to settle and make its home there.

"You have a nest at work. And it's so big. I'll definitely be dropping by more often." He remarks, this time he draws me alongside him to the large custom mattress, sinks down with a deep purr that sinks into my bones with a liquid warmth that makes my scent batter at the blockers to trickle out and entangle with his.

"Oh? Just visiting for my nest? Not for me?" I tease, shucking off my shoes alongside his and padding over towards the centre, almost lurching when his hand wraps around my ankle and stills my step.

Watch him sprawl backwards and peer up at me with glittering eyes.

"Never knew my mate was hiding such a big courting surprise for me. Won me over all over again." He says lightly, eyes holding mine, fangs peeking out as the beginning of a gummy smile tugs at his lips.

"Well~ in that case... I've been wooing two felines without realising." I laugh.

His nose burrows against a pillow, turns towards the sheets.

"I can tell." Catching their scents undoubtedly.

And as he slowly straightens, smile full gummy when I settle in the space between his legs, half leaning against him as I rummage through the bag, draw out boxes and utensils.

But before we can begin eating, there's a knock at the door; disturbing the impromptu date before it can begin. His tail wraps around me in a protective band, unwilling to unfurl.

Tightening when I draw myself upwards with a resigned sigh when it continues.

"Yoonie I just need to check." I laugh.

He grumbles.

"No you don't. They'll go away, this is your lunch break!"

The room's soundproof but when the knock stops, he grins triumphantly, tail curling around my waist.

"Told you~"

Nudging me to start eating, his presence wrapping around me, arm loosely sprawled over my leg, tail poking at my sides teasingly and scent sweet citrus blossom.

And hidden away, door sealing the outside world from the two of us, I sink more and more against my panther, his voice a low, rumbling constant as he tells me about his day and asks me about mine; voice softer and cheeks tinged pink slightly when he tells me he saw the comments I'd left during the day.

"Public wooing and charming—you're outdoing our courting." He gripes fondly, fingers drawing mine into his, slowly drawing me up once the break winds to an inevitable close.

"You can stay... I can get you a visitor badge." I offer, lips brushing against his cheek.

His chest rumbles with a purr, soft and building gradually as I draw the door open.

And then his body brackets mine when I still, hand steadying me when it causes me to stumble slightly.

My eyes go to the cup on the floor, the takeout cup familiar in a way I wish it wasn't. And his scent sours, a protective growl swallowing the contentment whole.

He doesn't immediately place the cup as I bend down to grasp it.

Tugging it out of my lax grip gently, though his eyes are narrowed into sharp feline slits.

"Is someone secretly trying to court you?"

And suddenly... suddenly the drinks take on a new meaning.

One that leaves me feeling sickened.

Surely not.

Surely that was never an option.

But it's the first thought that came to his mind and when he notes my stiffness, when he throws it into the bin, there's protective, primal anger simmering under his skin, itching at his instincts visibly as his ears flatten. Tail bristling.

Finds the answers easily in the curled fist my hand makes where it falls away.

Surely not.

".... I don't know." Voice quiet and shaky.

"It's..."

The traffickers. Whoever was delivering the drinks.

The answer hangs unspoken and solved in front of him.

His eyes sharpen. A protectiveness that burns the softness away and melds it into something raging.

And uncertainty hangs suspended between us.

HOBI POV:

"You've really improved these last few months Hoseok... your grades have gone up, you're truly beginning to apply hybrid care theories and techniques and your report from the centre is all good news." My tutor muses, eyes scanning over the folio of essays and admissions, the monthly reports from the centre all pulled up onto the large computer screen.

His eyes gleam with pride and happiness, lips curved as he looks over me.

My own lips tug up at his positivity and approval, at the form waiting on his desk, still warm from the printer that had churned out the sheath of papers. Waiting for him to hand them over with a restless impatience that claws at me, ears twirling as I eye them.

"I think the work placement helped the most, there was always something missing because I'd always applied knowledge by the book. Witnessing and working first-hand really helped." I muse.

(Y/N)'s really helped.

I don't doubt that had I been assigned to anyone else I would have still picked up on things but not at the rate and ease I had whilst working under her watchful, guiding gaze.

That and the countless nights pouring over textbooks and exams, notes and documentaries with her insight had been an entirely different experience. Enlightening in a way I hadn't expected the placement to be. Never to this extent.

A lot of it came down to my mate. Who by a twist of fate I'd met through the placement.

And a part of me, a large part of me was motivated and driven to do better to make her proud of me. To show I was learning from under her supervision and eager for her stamp of approval, her praise.

There was just something distinctly different, something more gratifying when her eyes shone with pride and encouragement, a different satisfaction in itself because she trusted me to work without her shadowing me or me shadowing her. She trusted my judgement and my actions.

My scent sweetens, pulsing with happiness, a quiet rumbled purr bubbling from my chest, tail swishing at the thought.

The eyes studying me turn curious and slightly teasing. Lips quirking with amusement.

"And maybe a person you met through the placement too." He muses, eyes glinting knowingly, astute as he picks up small slights and tells.

He's human, he can't tell the changes in my scent, he can't pick up on pheromone changes that any hybrid would have picked up on, and yet there's a level of knowledge and experience that lines his face, years of teaching at the university, at studying his students, at learning hybrid tells.

You don't need the biological heightened senses to always pick up on small details and he's an astute man, picking up on small changes and differences. Observing them because a large part of tutoring, of teaching requires the knowledge in being able to gauge responses.

My ears twirl giddily, smile exuberant as I nod.

"I'm happy for you Hoseok, is this someone an influence in you wanting to become a caregiver post-graduation?" Voice warm and slightly teasing, finally reaching for the university seal and his stamped signature, eyes raking over the partially filled form, quickly scanning to see where the signatures are needed. Movements brisk and efficient.

I nod.

"She is... she's helped so many hybrids and she's such a strong influence at the centre. And I want to be able to do that... to help just one more hybrid when they need that shelter, that protection. And it feels right. I feel like I have a place there." Voice softer.

There's nothing but delight and warm, warm approval in his eyes as he slides the papers together, slotting them into a folder for me.

And nothing but pride when he hands it over, smile stretched wide.

"You'll be an amazing caregiver, you're just warm. You always have been."

Gaze following me as I stand, head dipped in thanks as I clutch at the folder, giddiness bubbling and welling up, impatient and eager to tell my mates, tell my pack once the form is done.

And as I move to leave, reaching for my bag, his tone is curious and veering on teasing.

"Did you ever stop tiptoeing around the fact that you were in love with the swan hybrid you studied with years ago?"

My eyes flash to his, cheeks warming slightly.

I hadn't known that even professors had picked up on it, hadn't known that it was someone anyone could've really picked up on beyond the ones who knew.

Had we been that obvious and ignorant at the same time?

He chuckles at my surprise, bemusement softening the aged features. Waving me off with a grin.

"You didn't need to be a hybrid to note how possessive the two of you were. And kids call it no strings attached."

His teasing tone and laughter is infectious and tugs a wry grin from me as I draw myself up, bag slung over my shoulder once I've tucked the folder away.

"Already been swept off my feet Professor Han."

And the weight of his warm, fond gaze follows me as I leave, hand waving as I slip out of his office.

Mind still mulling his words over, distracted by them.

Wondering curiously just how many years my personal tutor had been aware, how many teachers had picked up on it and we'd feigned ignorance every time we stumbled into our classes late, wearing each other's marks and not truly processing our scents that were seeped deep in each other.

And just how blind to a fault we'd been to our attraction and friendship had been forging something stronger and deeper.

—----------

Moans are punctured out of my chest with every deep thrust, head bent as pleasure lances at my spine, pools heavily in my gut as it winds tight again, for the nth time, not sure how many hours we've been lost in each other, not sure how long I've been fisting the sheets, lips parted with a steady stream of groaned, garbled pleas with the weighted press of a hand on my lower back, sweet grown rough croons at my nape, at my ear, and the rustle of wings from behind me.

His grip is unrelenting and heavy, pinning me under him, compelling me to take with every sharp thrust of his hips against mine, sheathing himself in deep, deeper, yanking out broken cries as I pant, hips pushing back to every touch, trying to as much as the pinned cage of his body allows.

I don't know what'd triggered the surge of bruising, biting kisses the moment he dragged me into the apartment complex, what'd caused the bracket of his body against mine in the elevator, wings flapping restlessly as his hands slipped under my t-shirt, nails leaving a stinging, blooming trail of heat where they dragged downwards from the middle of my back, hips grinding against mine, until I'd been bucking and pushing back to the touch. I don't know what'd led to the fumbling steps that had stemmed from an impatient hunger that had immediately been quelled by pushing me against the door of his flat slamming shut and dropping to his knees, fingers deft as they worked my jeans open and dragged denim and boxers down.

I don't know what's caused the rough slam of his hips as he pushes me into the sheets, ruined countless times under me, body feverishly hot with how much my skin burns with approaching release, muscles coiled tight and limbs trembling as every thrust forces friction over sensitive, heavy arousal that clings to the air with the thick fog of rich nutty caramel.

"So good for me aren't you Hob-ah... you're my kit aren't you?" Voice heavy and tight, thrusts turning erratic and sharper, rougher as he grinds them down in messy circles, hand skimming from the base of my spine upwards, squeezing at my nape, groaning when the movement, the slight scruff makes my head drop against the sheets, fingers clutching futilely at the pillows as my moan is muffled against his bed, a keening whimper where my biology just submits to the demanding roughness.

"Yours. Yours to use Jin." I shudder, breaths ragged as the pleasure turns tighter, winding around every inch of my body, his touch dragging every broken plea from my throat– raw and visceral, rough cries as his hands grip my hips to drag them back flush to his with a final snap forward, teeth sinking tightly into my shoulder as he groans my name against skin. The sharp bite of stinging pleasure drowning me in the overwhelming waves of release, body going taut, wracked with tremors as I weakly grip at the sheets, slumping as I go limp, hips still raised and held up, the shaky, messy grinds as he bucks into me, spills the final of whatever seems to have made him snap before his body sprawls over mine. Sudden weight that brackets me to the bed, lips and tongue working softer over the sharp bite, shaky breaths exhaled unevenly onto my skin as we sink exhausted onto the ruined, messy sheets, his arms winding around mine as he tilts, slotting the two of us together sideways.

Grip tightening momentarily before it loosens when I shift in his arms only to turn to face him.

Eyes drinking in post-pleasured swan, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction, skin gleaming with exertion, a sheen that has my gaze shamelessly and appreciatively raking over his bare body, his wings rustling as he preens, chest heaving as he draws breath. Letting me see what the last few rounds had denied me, from the moment his hands had clamped around my hips and turned me bodily to press against the mattress. His lips curve up, the full pinkness enticing and yet it's him who loses the moment of composure first, hand settling on my nape and dragging me forward, bruising, messy kiss that's all need, all fire and all hunger. Groaning against me when my own reciprocate, fangs sinking into the aching thickness of his bottom lip when his fingers sink into my hair and tugs sharply, grinning against his mouth at the hissed grunt, tongue flicking over the sting, soothing it over slowly even as my teeth continue to work the soft flesh between them. Tongue curling against his, groaning when his thrusts past my parted lips, determined to control the kiss, flicking and sweeping through the parted invite of my mouth with a familiarised ease.

Breaths shuddering when we draw away, his eyes softer and whatever tightness had taken place and settled in his body drained and gone. Loose ease as he watches me.

"That was... something else." I mutter, the two of us lying together, catching our breath, slowly worked down from the endless high of pleasure, limbs turning loose and heavy on the sheets, feeling contentment and exhaustion sink in.

He grins, fingers reaching to brush through my hair, gentle against my ears as they twirl and tilt to the touch, droop at the careful ministrations.

"Tired out the dance captain? What an achievement~" he croons, laughter laced into his tone.

"You have to feed me now. I want takeout from that new diner that's opened near campus." I murmur, stretching lazily and wincing at the mess my body's stained with, at the sheets.

His eyes are full of amusement as he catches the grimace.

Wings rustling as he slowly disentangles himself to stand, drawing me against him, laughter warm against my ear when I stumble, legs trembling slightly.

My fingers pinch his side, laughing at his squawked protest as he squirms slightly.

"You did this... take responsibility." I tease, slowly staggering for the shower together, pleasured relief in the hot water battering down over us, working the strains out of my muscles, sluicing away hours of rounds from our bodies.

Comfortable ease in navigating the small space with his tucked wings, bodies flushed and heated once we towel off and drag shorts on, comfortable in our own skin and each other.

And dinner is takeout in abundance, relishing in the heavy filling weight of burgers and fries. Trying to swipe the sweet potato variations from his bag, pilfering bites and sauce.

Settling with full stomachs against each other on the couch.

I don't know what'd triggered the snap but he's settled and content and half entangled with me as we lie over each other, show playing in the background and drowsiness and full stomachs tugging us to sleep.

"I don't like it when others ogle at you. You're mine."

And those words, perhaps imagined, hover at the edge of my consciousness and slip away before I can grasp them.

—---------

The waves of blistering heat are new and rare enough that the sensation is foreign and disorienting, head ducking away and stifling the prickly growls rumbling deep in my chest, eyes flashing when a predator veers too close in my space.

Feel it itch and bubble under skin, thick waves of it slowly thickening and turning thoughts to lead.

I had to get out. Had to get away.

And even navigating and weaving past the crowds, past the students has my skin itching, swarmed under the scents.

And my pheromones have thickened, yanked towards a spiralling heat that makes every limb feel heavy and suffocated; skin crawling under the sensation.

Jin.

I needed Jin.

And as I hurry away from campus, desperate to escape the thick fog of scents, I don't miss the startled looks or the way my broadcasting scent is beginning to affect some of the prey students.

And the taxi ride back to Jin's apartment is no better, my scent pressing in on me from every corner, caged by my scent– thankful that the human driver can pick up no more than the feverish gleam on my skin and the dilating eyes, the caginess of my body thrumming with a growing restlessness.

"Are you okay?" voice worried, eyes turning to peer at me at a traffic light, scanning my shaking form.

I nod, swallowing the words down– throat burning as I cling tighter to the bag.

"We can go to a medical clinic... you don't look too well." he muses.

I shake my head, a threatened growl rumbling in my throat at the thought of being surrounded by either a swarm of scents or a complete, clinical emptiness of it, of being around others I didn't want to be near as pre-rut began to spiral deeper.

I needed to be safe. Needed to get somewhere familiar.

"Need to get back home." I grunt, body antsy until the car finally pulls up, stumbling out onto the curb and hurrying towards the front door, fingers fumbling for the spare key as I let myself in, shrinking back from the few stragglers at this time of day. The students either leaving for afternoon class or returning from it, forgoing the elevator; the confined space and move towards the stairs.

Skin prickling with heat and uncomfortable under the layer of clothes.

I needed to get out of them.

And the relief of shutting the door behind me, of basking in the faintest pheromonal traces that are undoubtedly Jin as I lean against the door has my body winding down from its tight coil, fumbling with shoes and clothes, hastily discarding them as I make my way to the shower.

His flat's empty, bar of the usual rustling of his wings as he bustles about, void of the loud commentary as he games or the quiet hum as he works or cooks.

He's not home yet.

But the comfort of safety and familiarity coaxes my instincts to settle and quieten for now, lathering in his products as I shower under lukewarm water; desperate to sluice away the heat as much as I can, groaning when the scent of his products stir the memory of him to mind, arousal stirring low in my gut.

Coaxing out one release and then another; spilling too quickly at the thought of him pressed close, working out the simmering pre-rut from my system, slumping with relief when the fiery need quietens momentarily. Is satiated by the time I pull myself out and tug on shorts and a top from the small cluster of clothes he habitually left in the bathroom.

And even when I pad out, he's not there.

And restlessly I wonder about the apartment, drifting and dragging a blanket off his bed, snatching a pillow before trailing back to the living room.

Dragging cushions and throws over the blanketed carpet with a single minded determination, fussing over the uneven corners and fluffing up cushions into a semi-circle when I stop.

Bemused, a breathless laugh slipping out when I realise exactly what I'm doing.

Nesting.

Lips curved up as I continue to fiddle with it, smoothening it out before sprawling head first into the cushions, breathing in his subtle scent as I relax, coaxed to a light doze— eyes fluttering shut as I wait for Jin, let my body unwind from its restlessness as it recognises the familiar space.

Biology quieting its growls to soft purrs.

I'll wait for Jin... he'll be back soon.

"Kit... Hob-ah are you okay? You're burning up." voice soft and quiet and gentle cuts through the comforted haze of sleep, drowsiness coaxing me down towards sleep once more, burrowing into the pillows, curling into them.

But the voice doesn't let up, softly cutting through a hazy lull once again mere moments later, fingers skimming over my ears and carding through my hair, tracing circles onto my nape, soft rustling as the heat of a body veers close to mine.

My nest.

My eyes flash open, fingers catching the wrist and stilling its movement, neck stiffening under the touch, under the unknown, foreign presence in my nest, my space, my nest... oh.

Grip loosening immediately and lips curling up lazily when I draw the touch back, tilting my head to the gentle ministrations.

"Jin... was waiting for you." I mumble into the pillows, nuzzling my cheek against them, body loosening with contentment at his closeness.

"You should've gone to an emergency clinic– you're burning up, you're oh. Rut...?" he gauges uncertainly and carefully, eyes flickering as I blink up at him sluggishly, sighing with relief at how blissfully cool his touch is against my skin.

"Mhm... I could smell heat off someone and it just... snapped me into my own. Didn't mean to... you're not going to make me go are you?" words pleading and plaintive, quiet whimpered discontent scratching at my throat as I curl up, desperately clinging to his knee and burrow closer, don't make me go, instincts curling up and whimpering. Pleading.

"Shh... Hoseokie you're not leaving. Not like this... you'll get mauled smelling so sweet. You're staying here with hyung. If there's someone you want I can– get them." voice wavering but eyes determined, wings tucked against his back.

A sharp hiss leaves my mouth, fingers curling tighter as I clutch at his thigh. Sleep ebbing away at his low croon

"No. I don't sleep around hyung. It's just you. Always just been you. I don't want to spend a rut with a stranger..."

His eyes soften, body unfurling with relief almost, lips curving up as he leans forward to brush a kiss across my cheek, thumb brushing across my jaw.

"Want to breed hyung, is that it? Want to fill me with kits? Want to drown your nest and me with your scent? That got you worked up quick kit." he laughs, amusement and tease bubbling up, heat stirring low in my gut at his words, at his crooned lilts that burn searing images into my mind.

My body tilts to his, scrabbling upright to move to him, dragging him forward, lips messy and urgent against his own, straddling his legs and gripping his shoulders tightly; fangs sinking in relentlessly to suck and bruise and soothe the sting as they dig into his bottom lip, tongue swiping at the faintest tang of iron, groaning wetly against his mouth.

Hips working quick messy thrusts and grinds against his, tugging impatiently at his clothes, growling when his shirt is tossed aside, hands trailing over smooth, taut muscle. Nails dragging down his abdomen.

"This is only mine right? Mine... no-one else..." I groan, hips thrusting sharper at the thought, mind feral at the idea of his being someone else's like this, rut spiralling those thoughts into a fierce caginess as I bracket his body with mine, tug at him to be closer until his body's flush with mine.

Head tilted back as he moans, arching his throat that my fangs ache at the invite with, sucking bruising marks of purples and reds into skin, breath shuddering against his throat as his hands curve around me to drag my hips forward in rougher thrusts, friction spiralling the pleasure into something headier and intoxicating.

Something enough to make me lose my mind. And directs every thought, every sensation, every feeling to the swan underneath me, wings flapping restlessly as I lathe marks over his skin, tugging at him with a ferocious hunger that blooms wildly.

Sleep long since forgotten at the sight of him arching under my touch.

"Just yours Hob-ah... going to take care of me, going to be so good to me aren't you?" he asks, breathless shudders as my fingers skim around to trace where his wings emerge, feverishly skimming over where his back, groaning at the broken cry that tumbles past his lips.

His wings are always so, so sensitive.

"Mine. I can really breed you? You'll... you're fine with that? It's sudden and–" I pant, fighting the first wave of blistering heat and arousal mounting in my body, grasping onto the fading tendrils of lucidity,

I don't know how much time's passed since I let my eyes close, don't know whether my pre-rut's accelerating blindly into rut because of Jin– because my biology knows he's here.

I don't know how to deal with ruts, disoriented and lost in pheromones and panicking.

And then he's there, hands cupping my cheek and pressing a firm kiss to my lips, chasing away thought and silencing the fretting.

Eyes bright and coherent as he nods.

"I'll stay with you Hobi... I'm consenting okay... don't worry kit. You're okay. Just give in." he coaxes.

Drawing out the feral snap so when I surge forward, growling against his skin and body caging his– he surrenders willingly.

And satiates my predatory need.

Safe.

Safe.

Even in pre-rut, the only person I knew was safe... is the swan writhing under me.

—----------

I stop by one of our old haunts before heading to the bakery, grip tight as I grin and step through the chiming door, eyes searching already for the familiar swan-bun duo, ears twirling when I spot the familiar tucked wings when the door behind the counters is pushed open, a squirrel hybrid stepping through with another part-timer.

Holding it open as Kookie bustles through with traybakes, ears perked and face scrunched with focus, meticulously arranging brownies, hands reaching back for the proffered glass cake stands that he sets into order. Turning it a few times before he's satisfied, eyes slowly tearing away from the glass displays.

But just as his head turns, his nose scrunches, smelling me before he even sees me, somehow picking apart my scent from the bakery; eyes flitting up to me and grinning wide.

Hurrying past the counter and rushing towards me, arms suddenly full of sweet muscly bun clinging to me as he nuzzles at my cheek affectionately.

"Hobi hyungie! You fit right in with the bakery! All yummy." he greets, breath warm and teasing against skin with the bubbling warm giggles that make my heart melt, putty in his hands.

My arms wind around him, squeezing tightly.

"Oh but you're the snack bunbun." I tease, fangs nipping at the soft of his cheek just to feel him squirm, his nose scrunching with delight before his head turns at the crinkling paper, peering curiously at my encircled arms.

Watch his eyes track it as I shake the bag teasingly.

"Got time for a snack break bun? There should be enough for everyone."

His eyes crinkle as he beams, pecking the tip of my nose before his arms unwind to curl his hands around my forearms and draw me forward with him.

Leading me upto the counter and leaning against it as his head turns.

Lands on the young part-timer who smiles and wipes her hands clean on a towel. Eyes flitting over us before she tilts to the door.

"Should I get Seokjin-ssi?"

He nods eagerly.

And when she steps away, the squirrel hybrid approaches, something shy and tentative and endearing as his ears flicker. And despite his towering frame, broad and tall, he's soft in the crinkle of his smile.

(Y/N)'s packmate.

"Moonbin, right!" I enthuse, ears twirling with eagerness, tail swishing when his hazelnut scent turns softer and lighter. Nodding, his smile tugging wider.

See his eyes flit to my ears twirling quickly and somehow puts a name to me immediately.

"Hoseok hyung... I can say that right?" eyes warm with recognition.

I beam at him.

"Of course, you have every right. It's amazing I can finally meet you... though I should've dropped by ages ago." Voice tinging apologetically. Lips twisting slightly.

His eyes crease as he smiles, shaking his head.

"Can't blame or fault you for being so taken with noona."

My eyes brighten at the mention of her, ears curling and twisting with giddiness and his bubble of laughter is endeared as he spots the effect.

"Is noona doing good? Apart from the fact her scent is all over the hyungs." Teasing as he watches Kookie's cheeks tinge pink, ears flopping as he groans and gives a light swat to Moonbin's torso. Eyes glittering and giddy and lips twisted into a pout.

"She is! We're taking care of her... and her of us. She's my sweet darling."

His face expresses nothing but warmth and exuberance that his packmate is getting the same love and adoration he undoubtedly has for her, tail loosening further with relief.

"Hoseokie!" A voice calls, bright and loud and drags my eyes away from the squirrel to watch as Jin hyung bustles forward, feathers fluttering and smoothening out as he approaches. As if he's grooming himself and prettying his wings as he approaches.

Lips pecking mine in quick, sweet greeting before his eyes fall to the small cluster, to the familiar logo on the paper bag.

His entire body lights up, wings flapping and flaring wide and a grin stretches wide across his face.

"You went to get ice cream buns? From the same shop near uni?" Eyes gleaming with delight and surprise.

I nod.

"You remember! I know how much you loved their vanilla ones. But I bought a mix... I miss that shop– nothing's changed." I muse, handing over the large paper bag, watching the nostalgic happiness crease and line his features, rummaging through the bag to pluck one out.

Immediately biting into the ice-cream filled bun, eyes fluttering with happiness and delight. I know the buns are still partly warm and the ice-cream perfectly cold; soft enough to bite.

The groan he lets out around a mouthful is low and raspy.

And it directs my mind to the thoughts I'd had on the way, countless nights and days with blurred lines and lost in pleasure.

Kook laughs though, tugging the arm towards him so he can peer inside and choose; unable to discern flavours by look, holding the bag out to Binnie.

There's something nostalgic and fond about sharing a part of our past, of seeing it with the people who matter today, in seeing our mate, (Y/N)'s packmate cluster around the same buns we'd griped and teased and bargained for to each other.

I tilt my head to peer at the student, ears twirling as I slip away to proffer the bag to her, watching surprise then a smile flit across her face.

Nodding her head in thanks as she takes one.

"I'll take my break now Jungkook-ssi, Seokjin-ssi." she calls, disappearing through to the back with a smile tugging at her lips.

Giving the privacy and space she didn't need to but still chose to.

And when I turn there's a familiar sight unfolding as Jin hyung tries to lunge for the vanilla ice-cream bun Kookie's managed to pull out, laughing as he ducks away and weaves past the tables, munching happily and ignoring the squawked protests and pleas entangled together.

Dodging and rushing away from the approaching swan trying to swipe it free until the chase ends with Kookie pressed against my back and the sweet cotton scent rich on my tongue in the same way vanilla is on his.

"S hyung's scent, I'm not giving it up. Too yummy."

"Kookie~ Hobi bought that for me!" he complains.

Trying to swipe past me.

I laugh, eyeing the inside of the bag.

"I did get lots of vanilla ones anyway." I laugh, Moonbin's own amusement expressed as he watches the two of them with familiarity.

"They're like this at home too aren't they?" He muses warmly.

My face lights up.

"All the time. I don't know how they manage to not turn the bakery upside down."

There's a friendly gleam in his eyes as he shrugs.

"You haven't seen the chaos the kitchens can become but we're all a bit guilty of the occasional mess..." voice trailing off when the door chimes and his head turns automatically, posture straightening to greet the customer.

Eyes flashing with recognition and warmth, slipping away with a soft murmur as he hurries towards her.

Our eyes are drawn to the sight, the bickering quieting as he moves to the bundled figure, dwarfed by the towering mass of the squirrel hybrid.

But she sinks into a hug quick enough, eyes creasing behind her glasses, something stiff and uncertain in her posture despite the comfortable familiarity between them. Hand worrying the strap of her bag between fingers, eyeing the empty tables with a bit of confusion.

But she's come at their lunch break, seemingly looking as if she's mistimed her arrival.

A hesitant step back that's soothed away by his hand curling around her to draw her forward.

No hybrid trait immediately distinguishable or identifiable but her scent marks her as one. Honey hardened around the edges, stale and stiff with a cloying thickness, a heavy bitterness that laces through her pheromones.

And it's Kookie who smiles, toothy grin as he looks at Moonbin and her and calls out a welcome.

Watches as her eyes flit around before settling into a corner booth, an enclosed space bracketed by a large shelf dotted with plants and books.

Sinking down almost hesitantly even if something causes the stiffness to leave her shoulders. She looks so, so tired. And the sight alone tugs sympathy.

Looking overworked and strained.

And Moonbin gives her space, murmuring quietly before making his way back.

Eyes shining with hope and relief.

"Pack?" I ask.

He shakes his head.

"More... herd. She's Amina's packmate... Jangmi." He introduces with a proud fondness tinging his voice.

The missing officer's packmate.

But I mull the name in my head regardless, it's familiar somehow.

I drift to the side, a swan in tow, to sink down onto a table near the counters, eyes drawn curiously to the corner booth, watching as Kookie approaches slowly. Ears perked as he peers over Moonbin's shoulder, a hand settled on the low of his back, voice soft and quiet.

And as the two of them talk to her, she seems to slowly relax, unfurling in the slightest and nodding to something the squirrel hybrid asks.

It's only when she pushes the hood off her hair, drawing her coat and scarf off do I finally place her hybrid species.

Panda.

"She looks tired... biologically too." I murmur absently, the observation slipping past my tongue before I can bite it back, the rustling of the paper bag stilling.

Wings stilling as Jin nods.

"It's unmistakable. She's drained... hopefully something good comes of today. I'm glad she feels she can come here. I hope this isn't the only time she will."

Kookie drifts back once her order's been taken, moving to process it, reaching for a large mug.

Eyes absently drifting around the cafe with an unconscious observing gaze I've seen countless times on Jin's face for years. It's endearing how the habit's rubbed off onto Koo.

"Hobi hyungie stay for lunch. You can taste test our new menu items too! You've not got work right? Stay today!" Eager and bright as he moves behind the counter, reaching for milk and a cannister of cocoa powder.

Head half tilted as he peers at me expectantly, wide soft eyes imploring and persuasive.

I grin when an arm loops around my waist to tug me back, tug me further against my swan, smiling as my body curves towards his.

Silently taking him in all over again.

How had we gone years without realising?

But life has a strange way of playing out—and in the end our lives wound up together anyways, with more love to give and share and more mates.

What more could I ask for?

"I'll stay."

------------

Whatever unease and tension had been clinging to Jangmi seems to be slowly chipped away.

And as the bakery reopens after lunch hours, rather than shrinking smaller, she relaxes; eyes drifting curiously over the various customers that come in, eyes drifting time and time again to Binnie, to Kookie and Jin, something warm and thawed as she takes in the rich welcoming warmth that steeps the bakery with a comfortability felt resonating deep in my bones.

And slowly over the period of the first hour, she reached for the bag and drew out a notebook, at times jotting between sips of the mug she cradled happily for the heat and the sweetness of hot chocolate, sometimes head bent and hand moving swifter across the page. Sometimes... she was content with sitting there and taking people in.

Normalcy. That's what she needed, that's why she was here.

It was clear to see.

And now, my eyes drag to her curiously, catching just as hers drift away with a smile curved at her lips, cheeks flushing and wondering whether she'd caught sight of me pushing the plates of food away, complaining loudly as Jin rubbed my stomach laughingly that I was nurturing a food baby for sure.

I groan, eyes fluttering as I slump back into the chair, rubbing my stomach ruefully.

When the two had offered taste testing, I didn't realise it would be in such large quantities, nor that they'd clearly been working on a whole menu for spring.

Working with lighter ingredients, more vegetables and fillings and a varied array of drinks,

Would it be too much to drag myself upright?

I eye one of the full plates contemplatively before making a decision.

Weave my way past clustered tables and countless scents and navigate my way to her corner booth.

And she senses the approach, smells my scent too undoubtedly as her eyes drift to me, peering curiously behind her glasses and the smile curving deeper.

It's worlds better from the stiff unease.

"Hi." The one-word greeting is short as I set the plate down, carefully drawing the empty mugs back with my fingers.

"Hello. Walking off the food baby?" she asks, voice part curious, part tease.

My ears twirl, a bubble of laughter spilling out, her scent; softened honey mellowing at my response.

"Maybe... the duo are overfeeders that's for sure." I murmur, head tilted towards the counters.

"But I figured you could eat something too... unless you have a cocoa baby?" I gripe teasingly.

And it's a gamble, rewarded with sweeping relief when I realise quickly she's not opposed to my presence, hovering near the end of the booth, curiously eyeing her table.

She smiles.

"I could eat. It's not every day I meet several of (Y/N)'s mates and pack, you can sit if you want, pandas don't bite. Amina does." She informs, eyes glinting with a flicker of amusement.

My ears perk, tail swishing as I slip into the opposite cushioned seats.

Slightly wilting when she shuts her notebook and tucks it away, curiosity gnawing at me slightly.

And sensing my gaze, her scent stiffens around the edges, eyes flickering uncertainly; catching my gaze fixed on her bag.

"I... I should've asked before writing about you, I'm sorry." She murmurs, posture stiffening slightly.

My head shakes quickly.

"No, no... that's not what I'm here for... I was just curious. You write?"

I hurry to dispel her worry.

Her eyes brighten slightly.

"Had a bit of writer's block... but... the herd was right. It is easy to be here."

I tilt my head.

"What were you stuck with?"

Her lips are still curved in a smile but there's a pain flickering in her eyes, voice softer and almost whispered.

A confessed secret I don't know whether I have the right to know but my heart clenches tightly in response to.

"How pack feels and looks like."

And eyes uncertain yet hopeful.

"But maybe... maybe I can learn again."

And I don't know Jangmi, don't know Amina, don't know them both well enough to know entirely what's happened. But the little I know is more than enough to know that right now... right now normalcy is distant and foreign.

But hopefully... hopefully they can learn again.

And if needs be create a new normal.

(AND SCENE!! ON HOBI AND JANGMI MEETING, WITH SO, SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING THIS CHAPTER... WITH JIN AND KOOK'S SCENE WITH BABY FAWN (THOUGHTS??) AND JIN AND HOBI'S PAST AND JUST GAHHHHH ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH THE CHAPTER!! SO MUCH HAPPENS IN EACH CHAPTER THAT IT JUST MAKES ME IMPATIENT AND EAGER TO WRITE THE NEXT!! I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY THE GRADUALLY HEATING SPICE THAT'S GONNA GET HOTTER~ SO EYES PEELED~ @MIDIIPLIER ANYTHING PARTICULAR CATCH YOUR EYE ;) THE TRAFFICKER PLOT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO THICKEN SO EYES PEELED FOR IT ALL! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW MANY THEORIES ARE RIGHT AND HOW MANY AREN'T~ IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO RESIST~ BUT I HOPE IT'LL ALLL BE WORTH IT!! TAKE CARE AND ENJOY, PLENTY MORE SPICE, FLUFF AND TRAFFICKER TENSION TO COME!!)

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3