TAE POV:

"Bye Jimin-ah~ I'm sure we'll be fine without a day of mint trying to steal my fawn." I laugh, drawing (Y/N) closer to me on the couch, see her doe eyes shine, scent pulsing sweet with amusement and warmth.

He lingers at the doorway, eyes narrowing at me, tail swishing as he watches (Y/N), ears folding as he glowers half-heartedly at me.

The pink's slowly beginning to wash out, bringing with it a rich pink-orange ombre hue that has my eyes dragging over him, lips curving up, watching his gaze flicker to where my tongue flicks against my fangs.

"Eyeing me like I'm your next meal won't make your scent less preeny."

I shrug, fingers brushing over the back of flickering ears, drifting lower to lightly run my fingers through (Y/N)'s soft down, lingering over the white spotted markings at her back, head dipping low to press a kiss to the tip of her nose where she tilts her head to peer up at me.

"Well~ too bad... baby fawn's all mine today... have fun at work Jimin-ah." Eyes distractedly turning to him, grinning at the small grunt he gives, frustrated and huffing before he draws away from the door, steps dithering as if he's half a beat away from tugging off his uniform and pouncing shifted or not to join in.

I shake my head at (Y/N) when he withdraws, the crisp freshness of his mint scent receding with every step he takes down the hallway, his grumbles near the front door heard loud and clear regardless of his muttering as Joon hyung teases him.

"Love you!" I yell out, hands shielding (Y/N)'s ears before, cupping them to shield the brunt of the noise but even so she still gives an unconscious, reflexive jolt, eyes wide and shining as she gives a soft bleat, head nudging my jaw in reprimand.

"Sorry baby..." I coo, fingers brushing over the tip of her ears, nipping lightly at them and feeling her jolt before she lowers her head closer, resting on her folded legs.

Her eyes blink up at me, head tilting up to peer at me expectantly as I nuzzle at her ears, nose nudging against hers softly, a warm delighted laugh bubbling out when she presses a smatter of grooming licks to my jaw, nudging against my lips in soft pecks.

My hands cup her cheeks, drawing her closer, peppering endless kisses to her face, watching her doe eyes flutter, scent sweetening and softening as she rises up on wobbly legs, fumbling for balance, my tail swishing and curling to steady her, loosely wrapped around her leg until she straightens, poking against her side and watching her try dodge, tail flicking.

Bleating louder when my tail pokes at her sides, squirming as I continue to press kisses, fangs nipping lightly at her ears, cheek rubbing against her smaller one, nuzzling against me as she sets her legs against my torso, trying to stretch out and up shakily for me.

"Sweet baby... your scent's all sweet and soft." I murmur, fingers brushing over her soft brown and white speckled down, feel her tilt to the touch, scent softening when my fingers skim under her eyes. Large lashes and doe eyes blinking trustingly and when I lean forward I can smell the trail of berries that clings strongly to under her eyes despite the gentle fleeting touch.

"Does have scent glands under their eyes. You can always smell when she's sad...."

And right now she smells nothing but happy and warm and content. She smells settled, berry scent clinging to her just as much as her anise scent clings to me in turn, seeped into skin where she nudges her nose against my jaw, head dipping to snuffle and press small grooming licks to my gland, chuffs rumbling deep and happy and so, so settled. My mate to myself. No sharing.

"Want to eat something... you've only nibbled on toast."

A gentle nudge at my gland, the faintest nip before she settles against me, sprawled across me.

My lips curve into a wide grin.

"Or we can cuddle. Cuddling's good." More than good.

"Nap time." I mumble, nipping lightly at her ears before my hand smoothens over her back.

Nap time.

-----------

Nap time lasts for all but a few minutes trying to settle in the couch, displeased with the lack of blankets and cushions piled about the space, the fawn in my arms shuffling to try settle more comfortably against me.

There's simply not enough space to stretch and sprawl with greater comfort and after a few long painstaking minutes stretched out, I carefully scoop her up.

"(Y/N)... little love..." and without explaining, her legs wobble slightly as she stands before carefully clambering off, front legs stretching out as she hops off, taking steady steps towards the centre of the living room before she peers back at me.

A soft bleat as she tilts her head to the floor before trotting to the opposite couch, leaning to tug a cushion closer and closer to the edge of the sofa before it falls to the ground with a quiet thump.

The next cushion she stretches out for, wobbles as she reaches her front legs for, nudging it to the floor lands with a louder bleat, before shining eyes tilt to me.

Eyes purposely dragging over to the floor where the two cushions lie before she paws at them.

My chest rumbles with a loud growing chuff, tail swishing as I bound off the couch, hurrying over to her.

"Want to nest with me pretty? Going to build it with me?"

A soft bleat muffled against my neck, head ducking lower in a nod. Brushing against my calves, gently nudging her head against my leg in a soft bonk, the gesture reminding me so much of Hobi hyung, laughing when she weaves past my leg to nudge at the back of my knees, brushing against my legs as she peers up at me.

"Sweet baby cub... I've missed having you all to myself." I murmur, fingers brushing over the back of her ears.

Her head briefly nudges against the inside of my leg, rubbing her cheek gently against skin.

Eyes fluttering with agreement.

And she pads alongside me, moving a few steps forward as she leads the way to the nearest bedroom, nudging the door open. The scent of mint and forest dew that immediately seems to sink into skin, encircle the two of us as she makes a slow unfaltering beeline for their bed, nosing along where the tip of a blanket hangs over the side, head tilting to nudge against it before peering at me in silent askance to pluck some of the pillows and to rifle about for some clothes still heavily carrying their scent.

There's soft muffled bleats of contentment trailing behind me as she drags the blanket alongside her, slow faltering steps and stumbling over the fabric until I lean down to gently tug it up away from entangling her legs.

A pattern of taking bits and pieces from their bedroom to trail into mine, her eyes shining when she finds a jumper that smells strongly of sweet citrus, fresh and crisp and tart, discarded on the bed, trying to clamber up to reach for it, butting her head against my cheek when I crouch down to drape it over her back, tying a loose knot with the sleeves so it remains settled over her.

"Like Yoongi hyung's scent little love? I should huff it's not my scent, but the jumper is~"

Her head dips to nuzzle against the fabric, watching with attentive eyes as I scoop a pillow that smells like the three of us, tugging at the wardrobe doors to rummage through Hobi hyung's meticulous arrangement of clothes to tug out a t-shirt or two, briefly nuzzling into them, tail swishing and curling to check for the entangled pulse of scents warm and sweet, present enough that when we build the nest it'll truly encase the pack's scent in them.

But even so my hands tug at clothes and a blanket that's drenched in berry, snagging more items that are immediately distinguishable as mine by scent and sight.

The same itching need tugs at me until I'm gathering the large duvet off her bed, clouded with sleepy anise, a chuff rumbling deep at the way her scent surrounds me, encases me in its warmth.

Slowly the pile grows, materials for nesting becoming a mass I can't see past, stumbling down the hallways back to the living room, feet treading carefully and hearing the soft bleats and nudges to my legs to guide me. Nudging and steering my steps from stumbling over her or myself until I reach the living room, the large pile dumped to the floor.

An indignant huffed sound when it makes her topple over immediately, legs buckling at the immediate obstacle the clothes and blankets pose, ears flickering as she stares at me reproachfully when I can't bite back the giggles at the sight, floundering as she tries to stand, body tilting close to steady her even as my scent blooms with fond amusement at her trying to clamber upright properly.

"Sorry... sorry..." I laugh, kneeling down to try extract her from the pile she's stubbornly trying to make leeway in by shuffling forward, even if it keeps making her stumble and wobble.

The nip when she bites my hand is firmer, tail flicking as she resolutely tries to move forward a few steps, nudging my hand away when she's nuzzled against it for a few beats, pointedly nosing at other scented clothes that don't belong to me.

"Aww baby I am sorry... careful!" teases turning into a yelp, hand darting out to steady her when she teeters suddenly.

My hand curls around her hindleg, body hovering close when my fingers don't curl around her buckling leg but grip at the curve of her calf, her hands darting out to steady herself.

Body bare and stretched out across the pile of clothes, supple curves sprawled over jumpers and blankets and her tail flicking as she twists to shoot me a half-heated glare.

"Not funny Tae! It's all because of how much you scented!" eyes dark and pupils dilated, the faint fog of a scent haze clouding her senses, coaxing her biology to a teetering wobbliness.

Where the white spot pattern had been across her back, there's only the expanse of her back partially covered, hair brushing against skin and the dip just above her hips, the back of her thighs and the curve of her behind and legs stretched out, curvy and unmarked.

I feel my fangs pool over my bottom lip, gaze dragging across the sight of her bare body, of her eyes flashing with indignancy even as her lips curve into a full grin, warm and inviting, ears flickering as she pushes hair away from her face, drawing herself up on her forearms.

The sight of her body on all fours, though unintentional drags a guttural growled sound from the depth of my chest, the jumper I'd loosely twined around her neck still settled there as she brushes a hand across the sleeve, lips twitching when she realises where my eyes linger, eyes clouding with a searing pulse of arousal, legs shifting as she moves to sit upright.

I don't realise when I lunge forward, growling as my body surges for her, tackling her to the pile of clothes and pillows, tail swishing when she laughs, arms buckling as my weight sprawls over her.

Hand dragging across her side, brushing her hair away from her shoulder, teeth nipping at the sloping curve of her arm, sinking in with a rough groan. Palm skimming across her side, ghosting along the underside of her breast, down the dip of her waist and curling tight around her hip.

"You can't just do that with no warning—" I groan against her skin, tongue flicking against the faint indent of teeth, of where fangs have left a deeper mark, mouth closing around the bite as she squirms under me, hips bushing back against me before she tilts her head back, eyes shining.

"I needed better balance!"

"So you shift back naked right where I was trying to build a nest?"

"Well you kept laughing—you weren't even helping me!" squirming underneath me, her hips pushing back against me, my fingers curling tight, groaning with frustration at the barrier the shorts act as.

Feel her hiss when my hips rut forward with a rough thrust, arousal pooling thickly into my scent at the sight of my curvy fawn squirming and naked under me.

Hear her laugh peter off into a throaty keen, fingers curling into the pillow under her head, gripping at it tightly, scent blooming thicker, honeyed on my tongue.

"Well if I'd known you'd seduce me right on top of everyone's blankets and clothes... wanted to ruin them with your arousal and scent I'd have convinced you to shift back long before." Words heavy and aching, the same weighted intensity thickening the growl that rumbled underneath my words, drags them into a rougher lower timbre that I can see her react to, ears flickering as her head dips, body lowering as the pressure of her hips flush to mine eases away.

But before I can chase to close the touch she twists, my hand loosening on her hip as she sprawls and faces me, eyes dark with desire and lips parted in a silent shaky exhale, body taut and stretched out, the curves and lines and angles of her body proudly and unabashedly on display.

Inviting my eyes to rake hungrily over the sight of her, a different ache in my fangs to the playful, gentler nips when she'd been shifted.

Right now I want nothing more than to sink my fangs into her and devour her.

Her hand stretches out to nudge at me, lips quirking into a loose grin, body slightly arched because of the pile of nesting materials that prop her body up, fit to push the dip of her spine into a more pronounced curve.

But my body doesn't give, doesn't even dare considering moving anything but closer to her, hands settling on either side of her, propped up over her, eyes dragging to her lips when she shifts under me, see the way they part.

"Had a different morning in mind did you tiger?" she lilts, squirming when my fingers grip tighter at her waist, a growl rumbling in my throat at the sight of her, eyes raking over her curves, over the way she's indulgently comfortable in her own skin, her hand trailing down my torso, a teasing drag of nails before she settles it on my shoulder.

Safe territory she presumes but the press of her fingertips against my shoulder, curling tight into skin makes the faint ghosting pressure of her hand at my torso, of her nails against skin burn through my mind. Wondering how her hand would feel clawing for purchase, mind veering into dangerous, heated depths instead.

"Well if you'd have shifted earlier we could've started the day off with a show—everyone had to go to work... such a shame for them..." I murmur, head dipping lower to press a kiss to the corner of her lips, feel them quirk before I tilt my mouth to hers, kissing the growing smile. Head ducking lower at the generous invite of her body, nosing along her jaw, teeth skimming against skin, mouth pressing open mouthed kisses to the curve of her throat. Feel her body move as she swallows, breath hitching when my fangs scrape against her pulse point, feel it throb against my teeth and tongue.

"Not for you... I'm learning more and more you don't like sharing. My tiger doesn't like sharing... my cub does every now and then." She teases, throat arching slightly when my teeth sink in sharper, sucking a mark into the column of her throat, hand trailing from her hip to curl at her thigh, tugging so I can settle in between.

My assent rumbles against her throat, her gland unmarked and inviting, the steady pulse of pheromones on my tongue, fingers reflexively tightening in the softness of the inside of her thigh, aching to leave a map of marks behind.

My fangs feel heavy in my mouth, gums itching with need, not satisfied with the small mark at her pulse point, letting them sink in sharper and rougher at the mating bite at her gland, pressure enough that I feel her back arch, curves pressing flush to my chest, crying out, fingers clutching tighter at me.

"Tae..."

"We don't have to nest..."

I feel her tremble under me, hand slipping from my shoulder to my nape, slipping into curls to tug, harsh and fierce, groan shuddered against my jaw.

"Cheater."

"I play to win jagi... whatever the cost, whatever means necessary."

Her leg curls around my calf, dragging me down with coaxing insistence, hand entangled in curls, nails dragging across my scalp, her touch makes my head arch, tilting into the touch. Groaning at the drag of her fingers carding through my hair.

"You promised me a nap and a nest!" she teases, eyes dark and wicked.

"I thought I was making a nest for my sweet baby fawn... not a tigress to shift to seduce me." Head dipping lower, closer to her, nose nudging at her gland, at the fang marks I'd sealed my own over.

My other hand drags across her side before settling against her back, sprawled across the low of her spine, dragging across the curve of her behind before I tug, drawing her entirely flush with me, groaning when her legs band tighter around me, curved around my calf and the other drawn around my waist, hand settling on my shoulder before skimming down.

The hand that's entangled in curls drags lower, brushing dizzying slow circles onto my nape, body leaning heavily into her, hips grinding slowly against hers, feeling the brush of Yoongi's jumper still loosely draped around her, the faint trail of citrus burning a line where it touches.

A scent distinctively hyung.

And when she arches up, her head tilts to sink a sharp bite into my shoulder, fingers dragging from my nape. There's no fangs piercing skin but there's a tight unrelenting pressure that has my body bucking forward with a sharp hiss, tail curling at the mark she sucks into skin, teeth sinking into flesh.

The harsh growl that rumbles past my lips is drowned with predatory want, growling to snap my fangs back and sink countless bites into the curves of her body, gripping her tighter as I feel her tongue flick over the indent of her teeth, lips brushing slowly and teasingly over it.

"Looks like cub bites too." I grit.

Her lips curve into a grin against my shoulder, mouthing slowly at the darkening mark, eyes dark and shining with smug satisfaction, hand reaching to brush against my jaw, head tilting coy and enticing, dragging my sight down her throat to her collarbones, to the curves of her breasts.

"If a tiger wants it why not?"

Gaze playful and glittering, hair rumpled and my fingers itch to tug and entangle in the thick strands, to draw her throat up so I can let my teeth rake over the curve of her throat, to drag lower against her collarbones and lower still.

My tail curls with anticipation, hand reaching to draw against her hair, body leaning heavier against her, a sharp frustrated angry growl slipping past my lips when the blaring sound of a ringtone has my body jerking with surprise.

Ears twisting and flickering at the obstinate sound cutting through the deep haze, fangs snapping as my head twists to locate the sound, body hunkering lower over her to prevent her from leaving.

Because that's her phone.

"Tae baby—my phone..."

"Forget it." I growl, head dipping lower to nose at her cheek, tail curling and swaying and posture stiff, eyes turning wide when it continues to ring out and underneath me, my fawn shifts and wriggles.

"Baby it might be important... everyone knows I'm not scheduled for work, what if it's one of the babies?" eyes turning sharper and more alert, ears twisting as her grip on me loosens.

I feel a forlorn, agonised sound slip past my lips, fangs nipping her jaw.

"If it's not work, you're not answering." I grumble, trying to force the looseness from my body, trying to will myself to move away, see the softness in her eyes, hand brushing over my shoulder, over taut muscle and coiled up limbs in slow reassurance even as the phone continues to ring over and over.

"If it's not work I'll be right back." She promises, startling that when I draw away, I don't let go, arms still banded around her, keeping her tugged to me as I stand, unfurling as I draw myself up, hands gripping tightly as her legs lock around my waist. A softer chaste peck against my jaw before she rubs her cheek gently against mine.

And as I walk towards her phone, walk towards the bookshelf, her hand stretches out for it, leaning against me before she scans the screen, a small frown furrowing her features that has my grip unconsciously tightening, body instinctively trying to curve closer to remove whatever it is making her expression furrow.

"SJ... is something the matter?"

I grind my teeth, fangs pooling over my lips at the sound of his name, tail swishing low, hands curling tighter around her, a low growl rumbling in my throat.

"Cut the call, it's just SJ." I grumble, watching her lips quirk, nudging at her jaw with a discontent growl.

Her fingers brush my curls back, pushing them away from my face with a fond smile, my eyes tracking her wrist as she continues to card her fingers through my hair, trailing them down to my jaw.

"...I heard that. Don't cut the call on SJ, it's important!" a voice makes out through the speaker, slightly tinny and muffled but heard loud and clear, words wringing with the faint tendrils of amusement.

"You know it's my day off Seo Junie... what is it? And I know I didn't miss training—" voice slightly petulant, the curve of her bottom lip jutting out, my head automatically tilting to nip against her wrist glands, nuzzling at them even as she speaks. Tilting to nip her bottom lip, fangs sinking in slightly to the sensitive flesh, relishing in her small silent response, eyes fluttering slightly.

"...Mi's....really....cub."

Her ears perk up and from the thick honeyed trickle of her scent, sweet, fresh happiness pulses from her glands, secretes the air immediately and entangles with my own.

Pure unadulterated giddiness in her scent that lightens the honeyed sweetness as she squirms in my arms, thumb brushing over my cheekbone, leaning down to press a kiss to my fluttering eyes. Lips brushing against one eyelid then the other.

"What is it?" I ask, leaning impossibly closer, ears fully perked and trying to catch the words through the tinniness of the speaker, tail swishing at how addicting and infectious her happiness is, body unconsciously feeling uplifted.

"Jangmi wants to adopt Min Junie~" voice hushed as she echoes SJ's words, eyes bright and sparkling, doe eyes turning sharper with focus, her scent steadily losing its sticky sweetness in favour for something bright and automatically lifts my own. Tail swishing giddily at the thought, hands cradling her closer, pressing to warm curves as she leans against me, head tilting to gently nudge against mine.

"Baby bear gets a mama bear!" I lilt, content to take the slow steps back onto the pile of clothes and blankets, set her down gently and watch as she leans against me. Steadying the faint wobble by curving into me, letting me unloop the loose knot of the sleeves to slowly thread the jumper over her. Plucking the phone and putting it on speaker, her grip on the phone loosening as it tumbles with a soft thud onto a cushion.

"That's what I said! She's worried about not qualifying as an appropriate caregiver figure... given everything. But I told her she should, they really do have a special bond." His voice softens and goes tender, something sweetly wistful about it.

If I wasn't so rankled at his disruption, if the news hadn't been important and good as it were, then the call would've been long ended.

And I stare at his name on the screen, on the speaker icon as (Y/N) tries to peer about for shorts. My hands busying in smoothening over rumpled askew hair, brushing it away from her face, letting my fingers entangle to lightly tug at a strand before pressing a kiss to her jaw.

"I've only met her a few times, but you know when you can just tell someone has strong protective, nurturing instincts?" I murmur to (Y/N), hear her hum her assent, my eyes distracted by the sight of her bent over to draw a pair of shorts over her legs, the fabric slightly clinging to the curve of her thighs, stretched taut around the curve of her hips and behind, tail flicking when I silently pounce. Laughing at her jolt and yelp when I draw her up, arms wound around her.

"....is this a booty call?" voice incredulous and turning louder.

Her yelp turns into breathless laughter, curving over the band of my arms as her ears flicker with amusement, incredulity making her scent pulse sweet.

"God no! And you called me! Why would I want to share—"

"If they weren't your courting mates then it may well be... it wouldn't be the first time would it, remember..." a rippled, threatened growl tumbles past my lips, fangs and teeth bared at the phone as I grip her tighter to me, tail curling and ears stiff at the honeyed lilt in his words, the low crooning drawl that can't be heard over the sudden stiffness the sound that shudders past my fangs is.

"SJ you're terrible! Tae... don't listen to him..." twisting in the circle of my arms with difficulty, eyes wide and lips twitching before she tries to placate me, tries to draw my gaze to her over the bubbling laughter that rings out the speaker.

"Sorry Tae... I'm sorry. I'm teasing..."

My fangs snap at the offending phone.

"She's mine!"

"Tae baby I don't think you need to worry... SJ's got a crush~" she lilts, hand brushing over my arm, eyes soft and smile curved deep, tilting her face up for me, arching her throat to bare her gland to me, that still pulses with scent, her fingers digging in tight when my thumb crooks against it, digging in to coax that sweet thickening scent once more.

There's quiet after the small keening sound she makes, burrowing against me to hide when a small cough breaks the silence.

"Next time don't answer if you're getting all handsy with your tiger, or any of your mates."

I growl in assent, blood pulsing with unfiltered, sharp possessiveness despite SJ's splutters as he loudly calls her out, hands curving around her before she reaches down to pluck the phone.

"Good idea."

Impatient as I tug the phone out of her hand and abruptly cut the call.

Nose nuzzling against her hair, breathing in her scent, grip tightening when she leans into the touch, head half-tilted to mine.

And there's nothing more I want then to drench her in my scent, rubbing my cheek against her shoulder, against the thick knit fabric that smells of citrus.

And that meant every other scent in the nest had to be covered in berry and lost under it.

"I told you not to pick up." I grumble against her hair.

Curling closer when she pecks my nose, hand cupping my cheek to draw me closer, head tilting to mine.

"But then I'd never know I need to get paperwork done for Jangmi!" wriggling with excitement, scent sweet and fresh.

My lips quirk up against her shoulder, nosing at the fabric.

"And you can sleep easy knowing Min Junie is in safe, safe arms. With his honey bear... I'm pretty sure Hobi's caramel is being replaced." I tease, delighted to see the way her eyes brighten, amusement and fondness rolling off her in heavy waves.

"Honey and caramel are different! I think you're preening you'll always be his favourite fruity cat."

I let my teeth scrape against her jaw, nipping playfully.

"I'm the only fruity Min Junie loves!"

"....what if ask Yoongi to meet him?"

I growl against her throat, lips curving into a grin.

"Never."

-----------

I sink against the cushions, cocooned with sweet anise, arm curled around (Y/N)'s waist in a jumper that carries my berry scent much stronger than the remaining faint trails of citrus, chest rumbling with a chuff as she leans against me.

Head resting on my chest, eyes flickering to me, trailing up to focus on me rather than the show playing in the background.

And though my eyes are fixed on the sight of the now unshifted cat padding about the graphic designer's house, my lips curve up when I can feel her gaze linger longer and longer, dragging from the screen to me.

"See something you like beautiful?" tail teasing against her side in a ticklish motion, dragging across her jumper to poke at her, eyes drifting to her to see how she squirms, cheeks curving up when she smiles.

"I do. Pretty, pretty tiger. Made such a pretty, pretty nest."

My tail swishes at the praise, chuff deepening at the compliment, at the way her eyes linger, reflecting back my image in her despite how dim the room is, despite the main lighting coming from the tv.

"Aren't you a sweet talker?" I croon, hand brushing over her hair, dragging lightly across her jaw and neck, unable to help myself from giving her gland a few cursory swipes with the pad of my thumb. Dragging across the soft sensitive responsive bump that immediately pulses sweet anise in response, her eyes fluttering.

"And you're quite the action taker aren't you Tae? Tackling me to the sheets, making a nest for me, scenting away and swiping."

I grin at her, unabashed and proud.

"I didn't hear complaining~"

She smiles at me, fingers curled loosely around my waist and legs sprawled over mine, her ears flickering against my jaw.

"I wasn't... I'm just saying I can't focus on an on-screen kitty when I have a full tiger right here." Voice coy and lilting. Teasingly playful in a way that threatens to spark embers across my body, to disrupt the content pulse of our scents entangled with drowsiness and settled comfort.

Hand fiddling with the hem of her jumper before delving underneath, fingers and palm sprawling heavily across her waist, squeezing tightly.

"Don't say that in front of Hobi hyung~" I tease, nose nudging against hers when she tilts her head back, see the way her eyes flutter with contentment, shifting where she's half-sprawled over me.

"I think you like causing chaos!" she laughs, tilting forward to peck my lips lightly, the faint taste of mint still lingering. And though Minnie's not here, I feel my lips curve into a smile against her mouth, drawing her forward to kiss her, mouth slotted against hers and swallowing the soft exhale as she curls closer, fingers curving around her nape to angle her face to mine, deepening the kiss with a low groan. Relishing in the reminder of our fellow mate, of my competitor as I cradle her close, hand roving over the softness of her skin, squeezing when she cups my jaw.

"No comment." I murmur against her lips, drawing back the slightest fraction before she tilts closer to press butterfly kisses to my lips, fleeting quick presses of her smile against my own.

"Isn't that why you dyed Minnie's hair pink?"

I nip her bottom lip, watching her eyes glitter with amusement.

"Didn't work out well though did it? Keeps using the pinkness to get his way... keeps stealing everyone." I grumble, no heat in my words.

He'd used the supposed unfairness of being denied his orangeness on me countless times. Used it whether it was to worm into the middle of a cuddle, stealing my spot curled against the hyungs, whether it was all preening and faux-dismay, lips tilting in askance for kisses or whether it was as he was grooming his tail, lamenting for an orange that was already beginning to bleed back into the pink.

He was using the pink as an advantage against me.

Maybe I should dye my own hair...

"He does... but he looks so pretty as a pink circle."

"And I'm a pretty stripey blanket... perfect for the winter!" I rebut, watching her eyes crinkle, giggles muffled against my lips as she cups my cheeks, nose rubbing against mine.

"Pretty, pretty Tae... I can't just use you as a blanket, you're much more than that."

"I'm just saying... I'm your mate and I'll keep your sheets warm."

She shifts before she moves to completely straddle my lap, arms loosely winding around my neck, thighs parted as she settles flush to my own.

"Well aren't you the whole package?"

"You bet... what else could you possibly need?"

"At this moment... nothing else... no-one else."

And right now there's only the two of us in the bubble of berry-anise, in a nest that's solely ours.

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

I still, my hand hovering over clothes; eyes drifting away from my wardrobe to turn towards the open doorway, as if staring hard enough will make (Y/N) materialise immediately in front of my eyes.

Nose full of berry– the scent steeped richly and heavily saturating the clothes, a carrier for pheromones, for the scent-stamp that marks them as mine, no matter how much they're washed, intertwined into the very fibres of the clothes.

My ears perk up at the sound of quiet footsteps accompanying the sound of the door being opened. Bringing with it the sweet unfiltered freshness of her scent unhindered or blocked by others, entangled with a trickle of berry that I can smell despite not having my nose burrowed against her skin. She still smells like me, berry scent sunk past skin deep and settled there. Her scent and mine, warm and heavy and trickling out to seep into the crevices of the apartment. Threatening to be lost to the air and not me, body hastening towards her, towards the footsteps trying to quietly sneak away to the other end of the apartment. Legs hurrying after her, noiseless in their tread, quick and agile as my scent bursts sweet, thrilled at how my biology immediately takes it as a brief chase.

My cub, my mate, must catch. Need to hurry, need to get to her. Need her, need her, need her.

Mind buzzing with instinct and the endorphin rush that makes my blood sing, arms already stretching out and snagging onto the towelled form before I process that I've quickly closed the distance, winding around her and tugging her back. Bodily drawing her back against me, nose suddenly engulfed in her scent; rich and unhindered and mine, breathing it in deeply, nose burrowing into her crown, damp hair pressed to skin and my hands curled around her waist. Latching on as I hold onto her. Keep her tucked against my front.

"Got you."

I can feel her smile in her words before I can even catch sight of it, a small sharp inhale of surprise, scent stuttering with surprise before her hand moves to grip my wrist tightly. Head turning as she peers at me, ears flickering against my jaw.

"Tae... you surprised me." she murmurs, large doe eyes peering at me.

I grin, leaning forward to nudge my nose against her cheek, chuffing happily, arms tightening reflexively at the way her eyes flutter at breath ghosting along skin, across her gland; so wonderfully unmarked and void of scent-blockers.

All mine for the taking, tail swishing at the thought.

"Going somewhere pretty?"

"To... change?"

I grin.

"Without me? I was waiting for you, you locked the door, or I'd have joined you." I grumble, already overcoming the slight as my cheek rubs against hers, indulgently scenting, chasing the soft pink warmth of her skin against mine.

And tried I had. When I'd awoken to her scent still clinging to me but no fawn curled beside me or with me, with the warmth of her body still lingering on the pillows and blankets but no (Y/N) there for me to tug closer.

The scent of anise sweetens, pulsing thicker for an instant, hand tightening for another reason entirely. The sweeping flutter of her lashes as she blinks up at me, turns slightly, body half-angled towards me.

"Force of habit."

I nose at her temple, nuzzling lightly before murmuring softly to her.

"We'll remedy that, don't worry pretty~" breathing in her scent with a growing rumble of satisfaction, giddiness making my tail swish as I curl around her, cradling her.

"You smell happy." she murmurs softly, eyes bright as they hold mine, fingers skimming across my cheek before her palm cups skin, watches as I tilt into the touch immediately, cheek nuzzling against soft skin, chest rumbling softly as I scent-mark her skin and in turn leave the trail of sweet floral notes brushed against my skin, lips brushing across her hand, nosing gently.

"I am very happy. Missed you."

Her smile deepens, fond and endeared.

"I was with you all day pretty cub~ we stole Yoongi's clothes and Joonie's blankets and Jinnie's pillows to nest. Miss me already?" though she'd barely been gone long enough after I woke for me to even rummage through my clothes to find ones largely saturated with my scent. It's impossible to find clothes without any other scents clinging to it; especially citrus and caramel, so entangled with my own pheromones more often than not, that I can't remember a time when they were distinctly separate. I didn't even have enough time to find a change of clothes for her that were solely drenched in my pheromones alone.

"But we didn't get to making smoothies! And stealing cookies." I protest, laughing when she squirms at fangs scraping against her wrist before nipping slightly, pushing back against me and scent pooling with happiness.

Instincts rumbling with pleasure at seeing her so happy, at her scent seeping into my skin, at having her like this, holding her close to me, arms winding tighter around her waist, tugging her against me, towel soft under the touch and yet I absently let my fingers skim to the edge, eyeing it with distaste for barring her from me, from hiding her away from sight. Especially when all I want to do is spend my time appreciating my mate, burning the sight of her to memory, to touch, to taste.

"We can do that... just let me get dressed? I don't think just a towel will help– Tae!" a startled yelp as I tug her to me, twisting so her body's pressed against the wall, bracketed there with my weight settling against her back, a pinned hold that doesn't really press her there, keep her there.

I like feeling her squirm against me, a hand slipping away to draw her hair to the side, leaving her nape and the gentle slope of her shoulders bare, fangs aching; a restless tingle in my gums that coax me to mark the unblemished, smooth expanse of skin. To sink my teeth in countless times and leave blooming marks of nips scattered across the canvas awaiting my touch.

It's a momentary displeasure that I can't see the way her expression shifts when my lips first press to her nape, tongue flicking against skin to mark the spot before my fangs rake over it, the shudder that wracks her body has my own instinctively pressing closer, nose skimming her nape before my teeth close around skin, tugging slightly, teeth sinking in hard enough for her to feel the press of fangs, hard enough for it to leave an indent, hard enough for her legs to tremble and her scent to soften in automatic, immediate response of prey submitting to predator, of fawn to tiger. Hold the sensitive, vulnerable skin between my teeth, hand settling on the low of her back; just as much grounding and steadying as it is pinning her further.

The small whimpered sound that slips past her lips is one I ache to taste and swallow against my mouth, to coax more out and see her features shift with pleasure and want. Instead, I let my teeth hold the pressure for a few moments longer, tongue flicking at the light indents left behind with a growing rumble of satisfaction of how well she adorns my teeth marks on her skin, how she'd look covered in them.

Some primal part growls at the sight of her legs trembling; so sensitive, so beautifully receptive to a bite meant to hold, meant to just remind her of the weighted sprawl of my body sinking eagerly, readily against her back, crowding close. It's just a bite and yet my instincts rumble as if she's already marked as mine, even if the mark isn't hard enough to bruise or linger, a fading redness that diminishes as my lips trail across her nape, skimming across her shoulders and fingers pressing firmly against the low of her back, wishing to settle into the dip before her hips flare, to sprawl across the low of her spine, across soft flesh.

Her hair is damp, silky strands entangling around my fingers when they sink in, skimming across her scalp before purposely winding messier into tendrils. Tug to arch her throat, lips skimming across the arched curve of her neck, teeth scraping and nipping at her ear lobe, tongue flicking behind her ear and relishing in the soft shudder she rewards me with, body still and presented. All I can smell, all that brushes against my nose is soft, floral anise; pulsing steadily sweeter under my touch, under me, body tilting closer to bracket hers, teeth skimming across skin before my nose burrows against her scent gland, burrow against the crook of her neck, drawing in sweet inhales of her pheromones that respond so readily to every touch.

Fangs aching to sink my teeth into the soft tissue, to have her scent branding me on the inside just as much on the outside, instead they rake over the sensitive skin, mouthing at the soft bump, her scent pooling on my tongue; sticky sweet and inviting.

Fingers tightening in her hair and unconsciously tugging, the soft muffled whimper keening and trembling slightly, baring her throat for me further.

The vulnerable curve of her throat bared to me, her scent softened with prey pheromones submitting to my own, tail and ears flicking as her eyes flutter, lips parting silently. Berry scent thickening in automatic, instinctive response to my prey mate caged under my body and surrendering so sweetly to my scent and touch; tongue flicking against her gland, against the mating bite left behind. Jimin's.

And even now a great part of me delights on my mate's bite on her, rumbles at the satisfaction of grooming and nuzzling and scenting over it. Knowing full well that mating bites made her receptive to particularly Joon hyung and Minnie's scents, their pheromones, their instincts and biology surging to protect and dominate hers. It also left (Y/N) so prettily susceptible to stronger pulses of scent, even now her pupils dilate slightly, and her posture loosens, her fingers lightly clutching at the towel.

"Pretty mate, pretty flower." I murmur against skin, open-mouthed kisses as I taste her scent burst out richer, tongue flicking against the mating bite and feel the tremor that wracks her body.

"Tae..."

Breathy and soft and when she arches her throat it's to angle her face to mine, lips turned in askance.

I crowd closer, lips brushing across her jaw and trailing to the corner of her mouth, fingers crooking under her chin to tilt her face closer, lips brushing against hers. The barest of touches.

But any restraint, any control, any semblance of holding back has long since shattered. Any patience has long since dissolved, because now that I've long since tasted her scent still slick on my lips, now that I know how her scent dizzyingly leaves its brand on my tongue and teeth long after her mouth has slipped lower, brushing heady kisses to skin, I can't ever be satiated.

And when I kiss her, there's nothing but the ever-present hunger that gnaws at me from the inside out, lips melding to hers, groaning impatiently against the seam of her lips, nose nudging against hers and swallowing the soft, needy sound, fingers relenting their grounding pressure on her, drifting away from the base of her spine to curve across her waist, turning her to face me, lips chasing the soft, quiet intensity of hers. Her hands skim across my arms, trailing upwards, mapping my shoulders under her touch before they wind around my neck, entangle as she tugs me closer, leaning against the wall and welcomes my weight against her. Smiles against my lips when I groan at the tug of her fingers at my curls, fangs nipping briefly. But it's her tongue that flicks against my lip, sweeps across the seam and flits across the dip, it's her teeth that tug my bottom lip between them, sinking in with the blunt force of no fangs, so uniquely different from the other felines, from Minnie and Joon hyung. She was my prey. And she playfully teases, easily tugging a groaned moan from the depth of my chest, tongue and teeth merciless and equally fervent in branding herself against me. Chasing for entrance into the parting seam of my lips, equally giving as much as she takes, surrendering but making me surrender to the flicking tease of her tongue brushing against mine, soft keen making my tail swish, move to curl against her, teasing and drifting against the side of her waist.

"Been possessive these days Tae, is kitten–" the nickname makes me growl, a thick, rumbly sound that tumbles out even without my realising before I surge forward, hand gripping her waist tightly, the other angling her jaw up, fingers splayed across skin, thumb brushing against her gland in slow, rough swipes.

Skin stained with honeyed floral scent.

Gripping tighter, fingers digging into the towel instead of flesh, skimming lower to slip past its edge to settle across her bare thigh. Fingers moving to curl around the edge to tug her thigh open, settling in the space I make for myself, bodies slotting closer and slowly grinding forward, fangs sinking sharply into her bottom lip; hard enough to almost pierce through, the muffled whimper drives me further, tugging at the towel, baring the softness of her thighs, hand moulding the supple flesh to my touch, in turn branding my scent across skin.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

I crowd against her, hips pushing forward to pin her against the wall, a phantom tingling sensation under my nails as I grip her nape, fingers pressing a fraction tighter as her scent smears across my fingertips. Stain them with her pulsing arousal that curls through her pheromones, thickens them to a honeyed sweetness that I taste with every inhale, lips skimming feverishly across skin.

Hand dragging her thigh closer, hitched higher, digging tighter to drag out a broken shudder against my jaw, hips rutting against hers, body melding and chasing the soft curves hidden away by a layer and softly cursing against her throat, fangs sinking into skin lightly when her hand entangles into my hair, teeth skimming across my shoulder.

With her there's always a feverish intensity that sears at my skin, a restless itch that bubbles away, a gnawing hunger that's never ever satiated no matter how much I try to bury myself into her skin.

And there's never ever the rarity of an empty apartment with just the two of us, where I can hide her away and then sink into skin and scent, there's never the rarity of indulging in her knowing full well I can get intoxicated on her scent without disturbance.

It's a rarity I'll take full advantage of.

"Tae your scent..." she groans against my skin, teeth sinking in lightly even if her fingers are bruising pressures that skim to settle in my shoulders, tugging me closer even as her head tilts back, welcoming the press of my lips to trail across skin.

A rumbled growl presses to the juncture of her neck and shoulder, nose skimming across skin and feeling the small tremor as the leg hitched around me tightens, draws me closer, hips pushing back when my own buck forward. Hand kneading at the soft flesh, skin supple and warm and giving under my touch, knuckles skimming across the inside of her thigh, dragging across skin, leaving scent trails of berry behind on the unnoticeable glands. Branding her as taken. As mine.

Hand sprawled across the inside of her thigh, fingers inched close enough towards the apex of her thigh, the barest, loosest hold on the towel still covering her, threatening to unravel and fall apart, threatening to shatter the final barrier of control that stops me from sinking into her, melding our bodies together pressed and encased against the wall.

Her back arches as she pushes into the movement, silently coaxes my hand closer, further, unspoken encouragement, invite and permission that she echoes with a ragged breath.

Echoes it with an equally fervent press of her lips to skin, fingers tugging closer, pressing hard enough to leave thin slithers of marks behind, raking across my shoulders for purchase when the spark of pain blooming into heady desire has my hips snapping forward roughly, aching arousal making the stiffness of my length press against her core. Grinding for a modicum of relief that her scent doesn't allow; instead it reels me into her, drags me closer until barely any distance remains.

My fingers curl into skin, drift closer as I pluck at the towel, tug it aside, baring the expanse of her hip, her stomach, her centre, eyes raking over her limbs; soft and dewy still from her shower, groan shuddering and reverberating against her skin as my eyes flutter.

The sight of her burned into memory, mouth skimming lower to immediately mouth at the exposed swells of her cleavage where the towel slips and loosens, fangs aching and the relentless itch only soothed when I sink my teeth into the soft curved flesh, leaving a trail of blooming reds and purpling bites across the top of her breasts, heaving for breath as her teeth sink into my shoulder; tugging a cry from my throat, guttural and raw and her scent blooming as it entangles further with mine. Berried flowers.

"Going to take me in the hallway? Where anyone can see us when they get back? Thought a tiger doesn't like to share–" her fingers skimming away from my shoulder, brushing against my forearm before clutching tightly at my wrist, hips bucking into the featherlight, careless skimming of fingertips circling closer.

Relishing in the sweetening trickle of her scent turning thicker and molten on my tongue, dragging my instincts closer to feral, even if it doesn't feel like I'll plunge into that carnal need, there's a headiness in indulging in it regardless. With toying with my own instincts unravelling at her whim, at her doing.

My mouth skims across the curved slope of her shoulder, fingers trailing painfully slow, inching forward and circling her centre, feel the tremor in her thigh when I draw back to let my thumb brush messy circles at her centre, skin slick with arousal.

"And you think I care? You think I'll miss the chance of showing the entire pack how well you look taking me, how feral you make me? You think I won't give a show to anyone who wants to watch? Me taking our sweet fawn~"

Her eyes flutter, pupils visibly dilating as she tilts her face to me, a slow gentle scent-mark sweet and light as she rubs her cheek against my shoulder, lips chasing the closeness of mine. But the searing intensity, the slick brush of tongue and lips against my own, the soft shaky exhale muffled and swallowed against by my mouth surging for hers, desperate to claim her in every way and yet willingly surrender to the soft heat of her lips drawing me closer, further into the floral haze.

Knuckles rubbing lines across skin, letting my thumb slip away to knead and palm the soft flesh under my touch, feel the warmth seep readily into skin and off hers. Her hips push back into the slow circled grinds, lips brushing against my gland, tongue tasting the saccharine sweetness. A shaky curved lilt pressed to my throat, dilated eyes holding my own. Just as wrecked, just as ruined.

"And if they want in?"

The words are a possessive snarl, growled out against her skin.

"Then too bad the most they get is to see."

There's a feral ache that blooms heavy and uncontrollable, a wildfire that sears through my veins and sets my skin ablaze, body burning with the molten need to claim her.

I've barely touched her, barely even begun to indulge in the headiness of her scent sweetening and thickening under my touch and already her body so receptively responds, her lips trembling at my throat, my fangs skimming across her jaw before ducking lower to drag across the curve of her neck, lower across collarbones and the soft curves peeking past the loosening towel.

My fingers trace the slickness between her thighs, dragging across her centre, drawing my head back to drink in her expression as her eyes flutter, her hand curling tight around my bicep, clutching tightly, the bob of her throat as she swallows. Half-lidded eyes peering at me, slick lips parted as I continue to trace circles and patterns teasingly slow, instincts roaring with the satisfaction of observing the most minute changes to her expression, her body broadcasting her pleasure.

I feel the drag of her hand skimming lower, brushing over fabric to clutch at me, fingers gripping at my wrist, trying to draw me closer, body pinned to the wall and thighs parted as she tries to rock into the touch, a frustrated, keening sound tumbling past her lips.

"I don't like sharing. Not when I get to see you like this... so responsive... just for me." Words low and guttural, groaning against her lips as I surge forward to taste the feverish desperation from her parted lips, the keening sound as she tugs at me, shuddering against the seam of my mouth when my fingers inch closer, thumb brushing over her nub, tugging out a needy sound. A soft pant against my lips, tongue brushing against me, brushing against mine with slick, heated intensity as she grips at me, hips bucking forward to chase more of the touch.

A rough, possessive noise tearing past my throat, swallowed by the soft shaky exhale as she tilts to me, fingers curling tight, back arching when I finally let two fingers sink in knuckle deep, feel her legs instinctively close even as she rocks forward, lips tearing away, slick and swollen as her head tilts back.

The fingers curled around my wrist tug, silently imploring me to move, to do something as she rocks her hips down, fingers drawing out before sinking deeper, her lips trembling as she keens, pupils dilating.

Her scent is rich on my tongue, fangs pooling over my lips, tongue whetting my bottom lip as I stare at her, watch her back arch as my fingers drag as they sheath themselves fully before drawing out, slow, unrushed thrusts and curls of my fingers drawing out pleasure that her scent thickens with.

The towel loosens as (Y/N) reaches out a hand at my shoulder, fingers dragging across fabric, impatient and needing as her fingers curl against my throat, fingers digging tight into my gland, berry sweetness bursting out under her touch. A rumbling growl at the tight pressure, at the sharp pleasure she reels out with trembling fingers, back arching as she tries to rut against me, tries to draw me closer, hips rocking as she tries to sheath my fingers deeper, crying out when my fingers curl and thrust sharp.

There's a tremble in her thighs, legs shaking slightly at a particularly rough, deep thrust, her hand gripping for purchase in the towel, unravelled and falling apart, knuckles pressed to my torso, the faintest touch burning heat across my skin, her other hand curled tight at my nape, pupils dilating, irises getting swallowed up with the need that pulses through her scent with sticky sweet rivulets of honeyed pleasure. Hips rocking into the motion, keening at the drag of fingers curling deep before drawing out, back arching and teeth catching at my jaw when I ease in a third finger. Feel her thighs tremble, feel them reflexively close around my hand, trying to keep me both anchored to her all the whilst shifting her hips to draw away from the sensation that briefly overwhelms her.

"Wish you could see how you look. How prettily you take~"

Leg slotting between her thighs, keeping her from clenching them shut entirely, her eyes dark and dilated, ears flickering as her throat bobs. Swallowing heavily as her scent pours out saccharine sweet with her arousal, her lips parted in shaky askance, melding to mine with a carnal hunger that drives every single thing but her pleasure, her undoing at my hand, tongue curling against my own as she groans against my parted lips.

My fingers slowly thrust, thumb brushing messily over her nub, slow dragging circles as my fingers coax out the pleasure that stains them, slickness against her thighs, her breaths shaky pants against my jaw as I draw my lips away, fangs grazing her throat, the sharp nip at her pulse point at the already darkening mark there coaxing a shuddering arch of her back, body pinned between me and the wall.

"Did you know...?" my lips drag lower across her collarbone, taking my time to let my teeth scrape and nip at skin, breath fanning across where my mouth lingers.

"What?" voice breathy, hand skimming up my arm, fingers curled around my bicep.

"When a tiger hunts... you don't realise until the very last moment."

Voice dipping lower, her hips rocking slower as she tries to sheathe my fingers deeper, every thrust dragging and slow, dragging her to that reeling point of pleasure that's dizzying to taste, that thickens the air as she squirms under me.

"Taehyung..."

Her voice trembles, heavy and laden with desire, groaning out my name as damp hair brushes against my cheek, fangs grazing across the sharp line of her collarbone, marking a trail as my teeth pinch at skin.

And in the heady sensation of her utterly being mine, in my instincts growling at having her like this, of her body arching and twisting with pleasure, my name spilling from kiss-swollen lips, glands pulsing out scent and entangling with my own, there's nothing but a fierce, unwavering possessiveness to covet her, to covet this all for myself.

To be selfish with her.

Ears stiffening at the sound of a key sliding into the lock, of the door being pushed open and quiet footsteps and rustling wings accompanying the faint, approaching intrusion.

And though the sound doesn't register as threat, though in my subconscious I know it's pack... know it's my mate... a greater part of me, the larger part of my mind that's consumed with (Y/N) refuses to share.

So when the steps grow closer, when the rustling of wings flap and seem to batter at my skin, my body instinctively cages (Y/N) in, a threatened growl rumbling past my lips, body pressing closer to pin hers to the wall, fingers drawing out to curl against the inside of her thigh, gripping tight enough to bruise.

Barely registering the voice, soft and soothing, barely register it under the faint sweetness of vanilla before both the scent and voice recede, before the fluttering wings quieten and there's no longer an immediate competitor for (Y/N). For my fawn.

Glazed eyes peering past my arm to where a swan had stood.

"Jin just—"

I growl, fangs catching at a flickering ear, the sound rumbling past my throat, reverberating against her skin before my hands slip lower, gripping her hip tight and squeezing before my body curves over hers, hands curling around the back of her thighs before hoisting her up. Tugging her body closer to me as I cradle her to me, her arms winding around me to clutch at me.

Her bedroom door barely shuts behind us, my foot nudging the door shut, tail swishing and curling before reaching for the lock. Clicking it shut loud in the fraught quiet between us, in the quiet unevenness of her breaths and the small growls rippling past my lips.

The towel falls away entirely, body jostled against the clean sheets and made bed, body sprawling before her arms push herself upright, trying to find her balance and right herself, body bare and dewy from her shower, curved thighs parted and slick. Legs half-angled and propped up, every breath drawing my attention from her red-bitten lips down to the bob of her throat, lower between taut curved breasts and the softness of her stomach, the curve of her hips as she shifts on the sheets.

"If you can still remember your own name let alone others by the end of this... then we're far from done cub."

Body hovering over hers, fangs pooling over my bottom lip when her scent sweetens with arousal and interest at my words, body half-propped up and caged under mine.

Palming at her gland, now branded with the thick sweet syrupy stickiness of my scent over her arousal, both staining skin, the touch makes her thigh tremble, muscles clenching and tightening before they loosen, legs sinking against the sheets and splaying open wider at the growl that shudders through the air.

Watch as her hips shift restlessly, squirming over the towel that's fallen open, long since given up on covering the sight of her.

"Legs open cub... you're not closing them until your glands are drenched in your pleasure."

And alongside the headiness of arousal pooling in her scent, I smell the sharp razor edge of something carnal burn through mine.

----------

My head sinks down against her hip, breaths drawing in shuddering gulps of her scent, greedy for the thick cloying sweetness of it that melds to my lungs, that overwhelms the room until it's all that defines it. (Y/N)'s room. Her sweet scent lost in my own. Scent-drunk on the pheromones that continue to seep off her glands, rolling off in her in heavy waves of overwhelmed pleasured release. My hand skims over her thigh, watching with a grin as they jolt violently, tremors wracking her soft curves as her breath hitches. Another strong burst of her scent that greets my senses, heavy with its sweet intensity as she gives a weak exhale, overwrought with ecstasy, fingers curling against my nape, words a pleading groan.

"I don't think I can give anymore Tae..." voice shaking and when I tilt my head up, peering at her, it's to see eyes glassy with overstimulated tears, body still jolting and trembling through the aftermath of the last round. The scent of her pleasure is burned into every crevice of my skin and I can still hear her cries ringing with desperation and need, the clamp of her thighs around my hand and the shudder of her chest arching up to my lips and fangs, body a veritable treasure of reds and purples blooming across her skin.

"So sensitive..." I croon, fingers skimming from up to squeeze her hip, ears flickering and perking at the breathless shaky whimper as her hips buck.

"It's been hours Tae... I think everyone's already gone to bed." Voice keening, sprawled bonelessly over sheets ruined by her hands, the towel long since discarded, her honeyed pleasure still heavy on my tongue and lips.

"And you did so well cub... I could get addicted to the sounds you make. To your pretty begging." Lips brushing over a mark at her hip, nosing at it gently, tongue flicking over it gently, lathing the attention to one of the countless marks that darken against the lines and curves of her body.

Hours of the sight of her overwhelmed with pleasure, fingers beckoning out peak after peak until my hand was stained with her arousal, until it was so heavy I could taste it in the air, on my tongue long before I brought drenched fingers to my mouth to lap the taste of honeyed release off them.

Hours of seeing her eyes glaze, overwhelmed with my scent, nose burrowing against my gland, the bite marks lining the column of my throat, down my collarbone and shoulder proud remnants of the day.

And hours since we'd slumped together. Hours since I'd stepped out briefly, this end of the apartment vacant and blissfully quiet and scentless, our pheromones still marking a visible trail from the bathroom to her room. It'd been hours since I'd carefully wiped her down, gentle, sweeping touches to trembling limbs, mindful of her sensitivity. Hours since I'd circled around her, drawing away ruined sheets and clothes, sprawling beside her on a clean bed, slowly scenting and body half-settled over hers.

It'd been hours since I'd felt her sink into sleep and let her scent coax me to nap.

Hours and hours blurred together in a mindless haze solely defined by the anise that corded through them, that remain sprawled limp on the sheets under me, still beautifully responsive to my fleeting touches against legs that jolted with tremors that she'd been arching and crying out with hours ago, hand curled around my wrist as she rocked her hips desperately down to reach a high that came with overstimulated tears trickling down dewy flushed cheeks, body writhing under my touch, lips pressing to her throat and gland. Mouthing and biting at the two mating bites on her skin, learning that stimulation to them alone was enough to have her spiralling to a peak without any other touch needed, tail banded over her torso as she clutched at me.

My sweet receptive mate.

"You smell like..."

"Like I'm still trying to catch my breath? Cos I am Tae... lesson learnt. Don't call the tiger a kitten when he has a day alone with you."

I nip gently at the soft curve of her hip, nuzzling against skin. Grinning against her.

"Lesson well learnt I'd say no?"

Her fingers pinch at my nape, tugging at the curls brushing against skin.

"And now I don't have strength to close my legs." Hissing in sensitivity as she shifts restlessly.

I draw myself up, peering up at her, eyes searching her gaze for discomfort, for anything other than content and satiated. Eyes raking over her with an indulgent hum, her hand swatting at my side as she turns her gaze upwards with a twitch to her lips.

"I can smell your preening Tae."

I let my hand brush against her arm, trailing lower to brush my fingers gently across her wrist glands.

"I'll get you some salve. Don't need your legs cramping up. And some food too."

Drawing up to hover over her, lips slotting to hers, slow and unrushed, her exhale shaky and amused before her hand sinks into my curls, tugs to draw me closer, pliant and loose-limbed under me but coaxing me closer with her hand dragging across my scalp, chuff rumbling against the seam of her lips. Tongue flicking slow and gentle against her lips, feel a groan bubble in my throat when she tugs my curls before drawing away without parting her mouth.

"Let a fawn rest tiger. You're insatiable."

My nose nudges against hers, tilting close to press a peck to her smiling lips.

"You say that as if it's a bad thing."

"I'm just saying... when you go into rut. It might just break me." Voice lilting and when I peer at her from the door, hand curled around the handle, there's a loose grin on her lips as she cranes her head to peer at me.

Watches my eyes drift lower, unable to help themselves before she scoffs lightly, amusement pooling in her scent before she reaches to tug a blanket around her, drawing it over her bare body.

Hiding herself away from sight.

A low whine slips past my lips and she laughs, flushed and beautiful.

"You're an animal Tae!"

"Anyone in this pack who tells you otherwise is a liar. You draw out the wild untamed side to us all."

"Tae! Foooood!"

I snap my fangs at her playfully.

"I could—" I offer.

Laughing when she throws a pillow towards me, the missile falling short, her arm slumping back as she sinks against the pillows.

"Get out... I'll just ask Koo!"

(Y/N) POV:

Today seems to be one of Tae's calmer days, cheek squished to Joon's shoulder as he lazily scent-marks, chuffs a constant rumbling stream of contentedness as Joon's hand brushes over his swishing tail, coming to wind around his calf and squeeze. Rumpled and clad in a shirt distinctly loose around the shoulders, stretched by a broader frame as he watches everyone with narrowed slitted eyes, smile boxy and half-asleep.

Calmer after a sequence of days that had coaxed out the deepest, most primal possessiveness out of him than any of the pack had seen from him. And even days later the berry scent was still skin deep, it wouldn't wash off, hadn't been hidden or blocked away by suppressors. He'd taken every advantage over the rare short shifts and long time sprawled about to thoroughly douse me with his scent. Even now, despite the constant airing and diffusers, my room still smelt like the two of us. His scent branded across every furnishing and woven into every fibre of the bed.

I could still feel the pressure of his fangs at my throat and his hands at my thighs and even he knew it, sleepy tiger eyes slipping to me to quirk his lips up at me, fangs peeking when Kook's hand on my knee makes it jolt before I relax. Tail winding tighter around Joon in preening response, chuff deepening with pride.

"Still jolty little fawn?" Kook teases, nose skimming across my cheek in light scent, smiling against my lips when I turn to kiss him, fingers brushing the long wavy strand of hair away from his face. Tucking it behind his ear and watching as it slips forward almost immediately, ears flopped as he grins wide at me.

"You knew what you were doing." I murmur quietly, watching his nose scrunch, eyes teasing and bright as he shrugs.

"Did I? I don't know... I think Jiminie hyung has a thing for seeing my hand on your leg though?" eyes flickering to the fox on the other side of my seat, grin wicked as the mint scent thickens tellingly, betrayingly. The flicker of orangey-pink ears and curved lips warm and inviting, tail swishing behind him as he nudges my mug forward.

"Guilty as charged bun. Now eat up vixen... I want to see if little KitKat shifts today." Eyes bright and scent sweetening at the thought, smile curving his cheeks up as his eyes crinkle, fingers curling around his own mug when Joon speaks.

"Remember you still have that meeting with the team you've got—" he begins when the perked tips of his ears fold with dismay, eyes fluttering as he sighs.

"That surveillance meeting. I know... so I hope she does shift when I'm dropping (Y/N) off!" perked and eager and I don't have the heart to tell him that her shifts were going to be irregular and unpredictable. That it was a matter of luck and good timing if he happened to be there when she shifted back again.

"Are you swamped at the station?" I ask, nudging forward the toast towards him, lips tugging down at the thought.

He shrugs in response, eyes crinkling in thanks as he reaches for the butter.

"No more than usual... I think JB's surveillance op is meant to be reporting back soon too."

My ears flicker at the mention of the older dog hybrid, perking up as I catch the silent communication that passes between the two officers.

"JB? How is he and Jinyoung doing? I miss the alphas—" surprised when it's not one growl that cuts me off but two, eyes flashing with bemusement at the tight grip Minnie's got around the butterknife, fingers clutching at it as his tail swishes back and forth.

"Minnie... but I've never called you alpha. Does it rile up your pretty tail?" I tease, watching the glower in his eyes, see petulance in Joon's as his tail sags, eyes dark and baleful.

Alpha pup.

"Maybe... yes." He answers shortly, full lips twisting into a frown as he tries to busy himself, tries to loosen the stiffness he clutches the butterknife with, scent sharp with jealousy.

My lips twitch, leaning forward to press a kiss to his jaw, nuzzling gently.

"Jealous pup... they are my pack's pseudo-guardians you know. Our emergency contacts if all three of us are unreachable."

The hand on my knee squeezes gently and there's the similar amusement at the wolf-fox duo's jealously curving his lips as Kookie reaches for eggs, nose scrunching when Hobi catches his hand, tugging it forward to press a soft nip to first. Fond and affectionate.

"It's not truly news to you... you work with them." I laugh, nose catching the faint trails of sharp mint and waterlogged earth, strong in their intensity, jealousy seeping into their scent.

"But still... I hear enough about JB and Jinyoung calling you pup and missing you in pack pup-piles but it's another to hear you call them alpha." Joon grumbles, though there's a faint blush colouring his cheeks at being called out for being openly jealous and possessive, grumbles and growls soft and low but all very audible to Yoongi who grins at him. Pours him a refill from the coffee press.

"I do miss the pup-piles... an entire dog hybrid pack... now they do pup piles right." Lips twitching as I reach for the fruit salad, not missing the low whine that rumbles in the back of Minnie's throat, his tail swishing before he reaches for my chair's leg. Bodily tugging me closer with a grumbling mutter, nosing at my cheek and nipping.

"Teasing vixen." Before his tail's draped over my lap, soft and poofy and thick, thick orangey-pink fur that swishes lazily as I peer at it. Fingers automatically dropping to sink into fur, petting lightly, watching with fondness as the lighter tip wriggles, brushing ticklishly on the inside of my wrist.

"You're going to make us late for work if you rile up Joon pup... it just makes him extra scenty if he's all whiney." Hobi coos, eyes dark and mischievous, fond as he rounds the table, playfully nipping one flickering ear then the other, nuzzling at the crown of his head when Joonie whines low in his throat. Scent pooling sweet and flustered, leg jolting under the table when Hobi's head dips lower to nip playfully at his nape before smoothening over the sting with slow drags of his fingers.

"It's cute when Joonie hyung whines." Kookie defends with a scrunchy grin, ears flopping at the fond, helplessly endeared look he gets in return.

"Can't be late... Minnie will never let me hear the end of it if Kit shifts and he's not there."

Fangs nip at my jaw.

"So eat up little fawn. Before Joon demands a pack pile before work—cos there's no way anyone's going anywhere then." He grins knowingly.

"I wouldn't be opposed~" Jin smiles, wings flapping against his back and when my eyes drift there's no missing the pink flush on my sweet citrus panther's cheeks, tail curled around Jin's leg/

"Cub piles are clearly better little fawn. I'll show you next time." Tae half-slurs, eyes blinking drowsily, cheek squished as he grins boxy at me.

"Next time extend the invite berry." Yoongi teases, eyes narrowing into feline slits, ears flickering as he stares at his mate, fangs peeking as his gummy smile deepens.

My hand sinks into the thick fur of Minnie's tail when it bristles slightly, smoothening over the poofier appearance it takes, hiding a smile at his instinctive reaction at being so wrongfully denied entry to my room, no wheedling seeming to coax a tiger to share.

"Next time we'll do a pack pile." I soothe.

And know with certainty that Minnie would be the first one to scrabble to the centre to ensure prime spot for snuggling and scenting.

The bristly edge to his tail softens, thick fur wriggling under my touch, dragging across my lap when we finally get up to leave.

"Dibs on the preys." He mutters quietly.

But not quiet enough that one of Koo's ears don't perk as we leave. Silently aware of the plan.

-----------

"Minnie's just grabbing his jacket... come on little dear~" Hobi murmurs, hand slipping down to draw mine into his, tugging me alongside him with a mischevious grin as he opens the front door.

"Stealing me away from an officer?" I tease, tugged out of Kookie's hug, his grin lingering against my lips long after he draws away after a quick peck, following us to the door as we slip outside.

"Maybe... got to keep him on his toes you know?" a hushed whisper and twirling ears, eyes bright with mischief as he draws me out onto the hallway, shining eyes following us as we leave, hurry towards the elevators.

From inside the apartment I can hear Minnie's voice filter out, still away from the front door as he rummages about inside.

"....seen my car keys?"

The elevator begins its slow ascent upwards, my eyes tracking the numbers changing, drawing it level by level to our floor, continuing without pause. Feel Hobi pressed against my back, hiding me from view as he peers back to check for an approaching fox.

"What's the betting we'll make it onto the lift before he catches us?" voice a low drawl at my ears, flickering and brushing against his jaw, twisting when he nips at them.

"Min Junie's bath time. You planned too rushed... to trick a fox you have to set a trap." I hiss, body poised to dash, draw into the thrill of trying even though a greater, concrete knowledge tells me he's going to catch onto us.

"Foxes are cunning... you really think he's not going to realise?" he mutters, hand reaching out to press at the button again.

"Not if the right planning is in place... I'll show you one day—hurry!" tugging him closer to me when the doors slide open, yanking him alongside me as I rush into the lift, hearing his laugh as he quickens his pace.

His back presses against mine, hand reaching to twist for the button to shut the lift, victory so close as the doors begin to slide shut, Kook's grin cheering on the triumph before a figure lunges past the open doorway, my body instinctively pressing back, Hobi's fingers pressing frantically as the doors close more and more.

But sweet, sweet victory slips through our grasp, his hand slotting into the still closing gap, eyes sharp and predatory and pinning me as the doors slide back open quietly, tail swishing and ears standing tall to attention.

"Going somewhere my pretty mates? Without me?" low voice and drawling, rumbling with authority, dripping lower into that natural rolling timbre that adds the weight of the growl to his words. Tone rumbling as he slips into the elevator, fangs peeking past his lips as he grins, pure fox as he looks at the two of us.

"Downstairs."

"I thought I told you little vixen that you're meant to wait for me. Or were you asking to be chased again?" eyes narrowing with a familiar predatory gleam that's both coaxing and riling in equal dangereous measure.

"If it was I'd make sure to get down a few floors at least before getting caught~" grinning as I tug Hobi back to shield me away from the carnal ache simmering in Minnie's gaze, peering past him when there's a small growl but my caracal barrier remains firm, tail swishing with coy amusement.

"You underestimate me—as if I couldn't hear you three plotting away..." tail swishing lazily, the faint pink of its tip dragging my attention, humour in the dripping weight of the words rolling off his tongue.

"Then you know we know better than that Jimin-ah... you'll have to up your game. You have a pack actively trying to steal little love away." Hands winding to draw me against him, head nudging against mine in a light scenting gesture, turning so the two of us face the assessing fox in front of us.

"Challenge accepted."

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

"I can smell stripes all over you." SJ says in lieu of greeting, eyes wicked with amusement, lips curved up as he watches me lather on scentblockers in my office, hovering in the doorway and somehow crowding the space as he watches me hiss at the sensitivity of my glands as I rub on the blockers.

Three days of his scent lathered into skin, and it'd seem to have made its home there. Settled bone deep, the rich sweetness of his scent that no showers, no scents from everyone else seemed to have dimmed in any way.

And it'd brought preening swishes and deep chuffs that swallowed the forlorn protesting whines and chirps when Minnie finally managed to swipe a seat next to me at breakfast.

"Is it that strong? I know Min Junie doesn't mind fruity scents, but I can hardly wait for Hobi and Jisoo smelling like a tiger went feral."

"Didn't he though? You've always bruised like a peach, and they must be days old, but you still look like you got mauled. Ever thinking of getting something to cover them up. A turtleneck say?" voice drawling and mischievous, eyes flashing knowingly as he tilts his head. Watching me with amusement sweetening his peach scent into something teasing and playful.

"I didn't have time! And it was Tae who picked the—" I trail off. Smelling the thick syrup sweetness of berries dim slightly, the scentblockers trying to subdue the richness of his pheromones layered into skin and glands, nose detecting it as it's slowly hidden away under countless layers.

"Of course... tiger wants to broadcast his claim. Have fun explaining to the babies why it looks like fawn fairy got ravaged by a predator." Words drawled and insinuating, grin too smug and amused as he watches me before he pushes away from the doorway to nudge it shut, blocking out the scent from leaving.

"It's not funny SJ! I'm not going to be the one telling them it's good to sink teeth into someone you like. They're babies... Tae's already a bad influence." I laugh, fingers reaching for the bottle of pills, shaking one out to pop into my mouth.

"Taking a suppressor too?"

"It's a mild one. It'll wear off in ten hours. I don't need everyone smelling Tae on me... they can see his handiwork well enough."

"I think that might've been his intent." He mutters, watching me tug the neck of my t-shirt back up, slipping the blockers back into my desk drawer before turning to face him.

"I just didn't think I'd ever be the centre's main gossip. Mating marks and countless bites... I think one of these days Mrs. Kim's heart will give out on me, sweet mother hen..." I sigh, twisting to try find the recent set of files Jisoo had sent through.

More prospective parents for Min Junie and the new counterconditioning programme for Ji Ah, now approved and verified by him.

"She loves the gossip... we all know it. She was the one who spread the rumours about one of the old backrooms, the offices we used to sneak off to?"

I stare at him, mouth parted slightly in shock before my eyes slide past to the door.

As if I could see through it to the desk opposite it, to where on days when my door was opened, I could see her from my desk.

"But how did she even know? It took us forever to find those offices."

He laughs, infectious and unbothered, watching me gather the files with a burning curiosity that's undisguised in the spike his peach scent takes.

"She was quite possibly around when they were still in use I don't know... sweets what's the procedure for registering as a prospective adoptive parent?" words trailing off, softer and lighter. Unsure and slightly out of his depth and when I tilt my head to peer at him, there's warmth in his cheeks and tentative excitement curving his lips.

"Jangmi's taking the step?"

He nods, eyes flashing with delight when I hurry forward, arms curving tight around me to scoop me close in a tight hug, spinning me around, laughter ringing out to meld with my voice. Clutching at me even as he sets me down, holding onto me, antlers gently nudging at my cheek to scent.

"That's amazing! What changed her mind? I don't think anyone will be a better fit than our own sweet honey bear."

"She decided it's worth taking the leap... it's still baby steps and early days but I think their pack of two's going to grow." He confides with a hushed giddiness that I feel buzzing under my own skin. Feel it in the pulse of his pheromones seeping off him rich and strong, arms cradling me close to him. Feel it in the quickened beat of his heart, ears flickering at his exuberance.

"Maybe there's space for a buck you know..." I murmur, drawing back to peer at him, see dark shining eyes as he tilts his head down.

"Really?"

I feel my lips stretch into a wide smile.

"Ask panda bear and find out."

His eyes flash, grinning at me but before he can speak there's a knock on the door, the beeping of the electronic lock being accessed before the door swings open.

"Knock knock vixen still trying to scrub Tae off—oh... I can't say I miss this sight." Narrowed eyes paired with a fangy grin, full lips stretching wide as he nudges the door open wider before slipping in.

The pink's steadily started to wash off, leaving him with an orangey-pink ombre he sports preeningly, suited for work and when he steps through his mint isn't sharp with jealousy... just prickling around the edges with the familiar possessiveness he wears so openly.

"Officer Park... long time no see." SJ grins, hands curling around me as I turn to peer at my fox, watching his fangs snap playfully before he grins.

"Because SJ she has several mates lined up right behind me to tend to her every whim and desire... I can see why it's been a while." Eyes crinkling when I jolt in SJ's arms, feeling the throbbing pulse of the bite marks scattered down the length of my throat.

Feel my glands throb, trying to pump out scent from under the blockers.

"Touché... did you need her officer? Or can I get the paperwork from sweets first." Teasing and lilting as he unravels his arms around me, eyes bright with expectation as he watches me hurry to round the desk, tugging open a drawer for a copy of the application.

"No rush... although I've heard KitKat's vitals are strong, I checked with the doctor and she's happy with how quickly little kitten's putting on healthy weight and the psychologist said—"

"Still waiting for that magic shift so you can steal her away?" I tease, verifying the forms before holding them out for Seo Jun, watching his pace quicken as he strides forward to pluck them from my hand.

"Yes! It's not fair Yoongi hyung and Joon saw her first! I was the one who found them." He gripes, eyes curiously tracking SJ's moves as he heads towards the doorway, tail lazily swishing as he steps aside for him.

"I'll see you at training vixen~" before he leaves, laughter as he rushes away from the growled swipe for him.

"Only I get to call her that!" yelling to the retreating figure who rounds the next corner and leaves, tail bristling slightly as he twists to face me. Lips jutted into a harsh pout.

"Oh you big baby... you're so poofy when you get riled up and jealous." I laugh, slipping closer to him, fingers brushing over his ears to smoothen the rumpled fur, watch his tail sag, slow lazy drags at the gentle petting.

"And then putty when someone knows just the right spot." I coo, pressing a kiss to the corner of his lips, smiling when he groans when my nails scratch at the base of his ear, pecking his lips when his ear folds, tilting eagerly for more.

He growls against my throat when he tries to tilt closer, tilting his lips to mine but I slip away, his hand trying to tug me back.

"Against centre procedure sweetheart~" I coo, stepping forward, hand reaching back for the handle, head tilting towards the hallway.

"You get handsy with Hobi hyung and Tae in the centre! I remember when you came home smelling of caramel!" griping as he trails behind me, voice carrying a tad bit too loud that the feathers of Mrs. Kim's wings rustle and a clucking sound as her eyes peer at me from over the rim of her spectacles.

"Shhhh... at this rate it's my own mates running the rumour mill."

"Not rumours if they're true." He grumbles, trailing behind me on the way to Ji Ah's room.

But despite his grumblings, he perks up as we approach her room, peering past my shoulder as I knock, stepping through after a few moments, his tail brushing against my side as he moves into the room.

"Hi little love. Sleep well?" watching as Minnie bounds forwards towards her bed, clambering on alongside her where she's sitting cross-legged, tail tickling her side and watching as she squirms in silent giggles.

She nods, squirming from Minnie's tail, hands closing the diary that'd been on her lap, shutting it away with a silent quietness that doesn't go unmissed, narrowed eyes slipping from the shut notebook to her, poking her ears gently.

"Did baby bear sneak in again?" I tease, eyeing the blankets and pillows on the floor, Min Junie's substitute currently occupying the small nest, her teddy bear tucked inside the layered and folded blanket.

An eager nod, lips stretching into a wide smile.

"Where's little cub?" he asks, watching as she peers at him before turning to find the notepad she always wrote on for us. Unrelenting to use the notebook she keeps curled tightly in her hands.

Eyes flickering with uncertainty when his hand taps against the cover.

"You could use this." Voice soft and persuasive.

She shakes her head.

And I can see what he's trying to do, to slowly encourage her to share, to maybe catch a glimpse of any of the pages inside. But never pushing, never forcing. The things she was writing or confiding to the diary... the things she was hiding inside them... if she was forced then she might stop writing in the diary. She might stop trying to find an outlet for her trauma, for her experiences, for the nightmares that still ringed her eyes no matter how much progress she was physically making.

"You don't want to share sweetheart? I can find you another notepad." I offer, already unfurling from my crouch to stand, surprised when her hand darts out for me, catching at my wrist.

Trying to draw me closer to her.

"Is what's inside a secret? Even from me?" voice quiet and soft, leaning closer to her at her insistent tugs.

She hesitates for a long while before nodding, fear and nervousness in her eyes as she tugs the notebook out of sight.

"That's fine sweetheart. Do you want to go spend some time with Min Junie?" I offer.

She dithers, eyeing her notebook, then the two of us before her eyes stray to the front door, to the teddy tucked in her makeshift nest, still steadfastly turned away from the window. Never facing outwards.

Her hand is hesitant and dithers as she reaches it out, unfurling it from her notebook to take mine, tugging herself upright and away from Minnie.

Clambering up on the bed to stand upright as I straighten up, feet unsteady as she moves a few steps forward before winding her arms around me, a silent cue to be scooped up, notebook clutched in her grip before I scoop her up.

Behind her Minnie's eyes are dark and assessing, contemplative, lips curving into an encouraging nod as he watches me scoop Ji Ah to me, hands supporting her as she settles her head on my shoulder. A small quiet unsettled sound muffled against me, faint enough that without sharper hearing I'd have missed it.

"Do you want officer foxy to leave?" I murmur gently, hand smoothening over her back, a small satisfaction and relief at the fact I don't feel the sharp knobs of her spine anymore, that she's steadily and slowly putting on weight.

She shakes her head, her grip tightening on me and when I tilt my head to the door he silently stands to nudge it shut, drifting to the windows to tug at the curtains when she peers at them with such miserableness I wonder how she's ever managed to draw herself to sit at the sill for hours.

"Do you want to nest?"

A shake of her head.

"Want to write it?"

She nods slowly, letting me draw her against me as I settle against the headboard, drawing her onto my lap, lips quirking into a fond smile when Minnie takes the opportunity to shuck off his shoes and sprawl on the other side of my lap, head resting on my thigh.

Watch as her hand pats his cheek gently, silently giggling when he leans forward, his tail swishing and settling across his waist, her eyes trailing to it.

"Have you been sleeping okay sweetheart?"

Her fingers tremble as she reaches for the proffered pen, hand absently smoothening over the notepad that sits on her lap.

Eyes seeking mine for reassurance, slowly reaching for the page.

Nightmares. Scorpions.

My eyes drift to hers, hand gently brushing over her arm.

"Is that why you feel itchy baby? Feel sore?"

She nods, shrinking into my side at Minnie's sympathetic eyes, gaze inquisitive and searching.

"She's been scratching as a nervous tic for the past week or so, mostly where the stinging marks are." I murmur, hand rubbing circles against her side, her tail flicking slowly, ears stiff and standing tall to attention. Posture locked up.

"What did the doctor say?" he asks, voice gentle, soothing and quiet and his eyes are settled on Ji Ah, watching her intently.

Stress triggers.

I tilt my head to hers, nuzzling gently at the crown of her head.

"Is something on your mind little meerkat? You can tell us... foxy is a fierce protector. And if I can't protect you then he most definitely will."

"Fawn fairy is fiercer than me." Minnie adds solemnly, fangs peeking when Ji Ah wriggles, eyeing his uniform and the badge and gun at his belt with furrowed brows, looking as if she doesn't believe his words until I poke at her sides.

"I can take him down you know but... shhh... he doesn't like to talk about it." I whisper hushed and quiet, pressing my finger to her lips when she giggles quietly, eyes bright with amusement.

His ears flicker and fold, eyes flashing but his face softens with Ji Ah's silent laughter, at the way she reaches for the pen with less hesitation.

Scorpions were big.

There's a quiet alertness that slips into Minnie's eyes, assessing even as his scent remains perfectly composed, mint scent soft and fresh, tail swishing to tickle at her hand to invite the soft pats as he continues to lie down.

Peering up at her.

"Shifted scorpions?" I ask quietly.

A violent shake of her head.

Big scorpion men. Bit me because I would warn the others.

But what were the triggers reminding her specifically of them? What was causing the stress for her to be haunted with nightmares again? What was causing a reversal?

"Ji Ah do all big men scare you?"

Wolfie officer is big and safe.

My lips tug up at that, at the shining earnestness in her eyes, in the way she seems to be trying to placate and calm despite slowly opening up.

"He is. Do any of the officers outside scare you? We can't have that..."

She flinches and tenses at Jimin's question, shrinking away at the thought. And something in his expression hardens before it's smoothened over imperceptibly, brushed away that even I could be deceived it's imagined.

Her hand clutches at my shirt, tugging tight as she presses against my side, eyes sorrowful and brimming with misery, blinking down at Jimin before she reaches out to gently pat his cheek.

Consoling him for what her reaction's triggered.

Pen shaking in her tight grip before she reaches for the notepad.

Once. Once an officer came. Didn't smell nice. Sharp eyes...always watching.

I exchange a look over her head with Jimin, watch the sharp thoughtfulness glimmer in the narrowed slant to his eyes before he playfully tries to nip at her next patpat to his cheek, smiling when some tension eases out her shoulders.

Even now... even after months she was struggling, she couldn't fully open up because every bit of information she did divulge seem to come after great contemplation and thought.

Even now everything seemed to rest on her shoulders and was crushing her.

The weight of whatever the notebook held was crushing her.

She doesn't say anymore. She clams up, body turning to press into an embrace, the tremble in her hands felt as she clutches at me, burrowing away long after the words hang suspended over us.

And it's quiet as the salty tang of shaking tears soak my shirt and tinge the air with the unbearable weight of her grief and horror.

And there's a matching burning ache in Jimin's eyes long after Ji Ah stills, curled against me fully when he draws himself up. Slow and careful to not stir her as he leans over me, hands gentle as he draws her out of my arms, watching as I slip off the bed, settling her curved form against the sheets, eyes tracking as I draw a blanket over her.

"I'm going to get Jinyoung to raid the shelter Kookie mentioned. I think the scorpions are hiding there. I'm also getting the rotation checked to see who was working since a few days prior to when Ji Ah started getting stressed." Voice quiet as he follows me out of her room, hand brushing down my spine in a soothing gesture.

I tilt my head to peer at him, nose brushing against his jaw, catching the sharp tinge to the mint he'd been carefully stifling for her, catching the faint trail of mint burning and stinging my throat before drawing him away from her room, eyes flickering to the female officer on duty, her head dipping towards us.

Petite. She couldn't be the big officer Ji Ah had been terrified by, the officer who at some point must've been on rotation to guard her bedroom.

Falling silent as we pass her, Jimin's eyes habitually falling to check for her badge.

And once we're out of earshot, pass the human officer, I let my eyes rake over our surroundings, for any hybrid in the near vicinity that could pick up our conversation.

"There's a human there, she's been abused by the scorpions, she was homeless before, so I don't know about any sort of id flagging up and she doesn't like the police so..." I wince, watching resignation flash across his face, his hand curling around my waist to steer me to the side and out of the hurrying male that brushes past quickly.

"One problem at a time. We're going to need a bigger team of officers working. And any that fit the vaguest criteria of our prime hybrid suspects won't make the cut." Voice low and firm, body loosely coiled and at ease. Never truly letting his body or scent betray him... never to others.

"Why don't you ask who Amina worked with at her station... she must have people she trusts and people she doesn't."

His fingers squeeze my side, nose nudging against my ear, skimming across skin before he presses a featherlight peck to his mating bite, the gesture coaxing my scent to pulse strong under the blockers, feeling the slight wobble to my legs before I draw away, before his teeth skim where his lips have.

But there's a faint glimmering wickedness in his eyes, shining with knowledge as he lets me move a step away, tail swishing contentedly.

"I'll be back after I wrap a few stuff up at the station and ask then. And then later again to pick you up."

I nod, tilting my head with a soft smile.

"I have training, so I'll be late."

There's a brief flash of possessiveness in his eyes but he nods, rolling his shoulders slightly, dispelling the stiffness that's locked in his spine.

"Training's good... I might have to test you. See how much you've learnt.

"SJ's an ex police academy recruit... I think I'm in good hands."

He steps forward to close the distance once more, hands loosely entwining around me to draw me into a hug, lips pressing to my cheek.

"And I excelled at the academy... you'll be in much better shape once I'm done with you." Words low and insinuating, voice dripping with heated playfulness, hands drifting lower to squeeze at my hips, fingers sprawled over curves.

"Go do your work Officer Park... and let me do mine."

He grins at me, scent softening at the playfulness that brims between us, coaxing the sharpness of his pheromones to recede.

"Anything for you jagiya, I'll see you later."

And the weighted promise of later hangs over me long after he leaves.

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

"A certain orange won't share you anymore." A voice grumbles at my nape, hands winding around my waist to tug me away from the other couches, drawing me against him onto one of the lone armchairs, my body sinking back against his.

Almost immediately his arms wind tighter to keep me bodily tucked against him, nose burrowing against the crook of my neck, tail swishing before it drapes across my lap, banding over to bar the slightest possibility of me leaving his lap.

"So it makes my pink foxy jealous~" I tease, fingers immediately sinking into thick soft fur, brushing my fingers slowly over it, letting them settle there as I marvel at the glossy shine to his tail, swishing and wriggling under my touch.

"Of course it does. Big bad predator won't share our fawn." He grumbles, nosing along my throat, nuzzling at skin with slow, featherlight fleeting touches. Gentle and unrushed and indulgent and I can feel his gaze drift past me, fingers curling against my sides to squeeze my waist, skimming over the jumper.

And I know that his eyes are drifting to narrow onto the sight of the tiger sprawled across the floor, starfished and face plopped on Joon's stomach, chuffing where he lazily scent-marks his t-shirt, fingers fiddling with the hem and teasing along the waistband, tail swishing behind him.

"There's plenty of pack to go around you know?" I laugh, eyes fluttering when his teeth nip at my earlobe, nose nudging at me before he mouths at skin, lips tugging up when it elicits a shiver, squirming with sensitivity, fingers curling into fur.

"I know... but there's one fawn, unmated and unclaimed but she has my mating mark. Why won't I want to hoard her?" voice low and crooning, teeth catching at skin to suck a mark under my ear, fangs scraping in a way that has my head tilting back, his tail wriggling and swishing with delight under my touch.

"Because sharing is... caring?" voice tinged with a laugh, fingers brushing over his tail, marvelling at the warmth of the soft weight settled on my lap, at the way his minty scent sweetens, amusement lacing his words, quietly murmured to me.

"Wrong thing to preach to predators sweetheart. But I don't know... I wouldn't mind sharing the experience of taking you apart... remember how pretty you were crying on Joonie's knot and still begging for me?"

My cheeks flush with a searing heat, feel it lancing at my spine at the low drawling croon, breath fanning across my throat and nape, his lips brushing lower, slowly dragging open-mouthed kisses across skin, tongue flicking to taste the betraying sweetness to my scent.

"I'm surprised you remember anything from your triggered rut. You were barely coherent pup, whining and thrashing."

His fangs scrape against my gland, slow and unrushed and there's something purely predatory about the gesture, the drawn out anticipation of whether or not his fangs will sink in, fingers gripping my waist in warning, trying to meld to flesh to leave behind their claim.

"You and I remember our mating very differently it seems vixen... I wouldn't mind refreshing the memory. And I think Joon... your alpha wouldn't mind recounting just how much we shared our sweet little fawn. How much you writhed on our knots." Words dripping with a thicker, heavier timbre, every syllable drawn out, cloying molten fire burning where he murmurs them against my skin.

"You and I remember our mating very differently it seems vixen... I wouldn't mind refreshing the memory. And I think Joon... your alpha wouldn't mind recounting just how much we shared our sweet little fawn. How much you writhed on our knots." Words dripping with a thicker, heavier timbre, every syllable drawn out, cloying molten honeyed desire, quiet enough that I feel the reverberations of his words against my skin. But even so it doesn't go unmissed by the entirety of the pack, it doesn't go unmissed by the tiger who sinks his fangs into Joon's stomach, biting down over the shirt, growling against skin, the curl and sway of his tail predatory and challenged.

A startled yelp at the sudden pressure of fangs, the smirk against my skin telling just how much he wanted the reaction.

"Menace... keep being a teasing Jimin... I'm sure you'll find how much that keeps you from getting what you want pretty fox." Head tilting back to invite the drag of his fangs playfully nipping at skin, tail swishing contentedly as my hands pet it, brushing against the inside of my wrists when my hands settle on it.

A grin against the crook of my neck, playfully huffing as he lazily scent marks, rubbing his cheek against skin with a low throaty chirp. As if his words haven't made my hips shift with a restlessness, a phantom searing reminder as he pulls me more firmly against him, his hips flush against my curves.

"I don't care how dirty I have to play to take a tumble with you in my sheets again beautiful." Low sensual promise murmured against skin, my fingers drifting to grip tight at his forearm, all too aware at the way his words make the predatory biology in the pack's eyes sharpen. Razor sharp focus even in the deceptive light flutter of Jin's wings, head tilting as he appraises the room, dark eyes catching every single shift in expression, full lips curved at the corners with amusement. And when he catches my gaze he gives me a playful wink, patting his lap in offer instead, grin deepening when I make an attempt to rise. The hands around me tightening and bodily tugging me back with a whine against skin, tail bristly when I draw it back onto my lap, tilting to nuzzle his cheek, smiling against the soft pink.

"It's my turn for scents."

"And you cheat for it­—" I lilt, words falling short at the wide eyed stare he gives me, leaning close to rub his cheek against mine, whining low until my fingers continue their petting, brushing over thick fur, glossy and soft to the touch. Until it's swishing and wriggling happily on my lap and my body's turned to face him, head resting against his shoulder.

"Big baby." I whisper, leaning close to nudge my nose against his jaw, hearing the smile in his content chirp, in Hobi's tease as he moves past, hand playfully tugging at a perked pink ear before scratching lightly.

Smiling at how quickly he changes from being teasing and fiery to a soft sweetheart.

"All that pining has to bring him some whining advantage. Tae wasn't any better when he first sank his fangs into us."

There's muffled grumbles, Tae's head burrowed against Joon's stomach, nuzzling at where he'd bitten, fingers curled tight around a thigh to keep the wolf under him anchored but a pleasing tinge to his berry scent, tail curling with satisfaction instead.

"So what I'm trying to say is both oranges are as bad as each other." Grinning as he peeks over the two of us, ears twirling when a playful poke to Minnie's gland has him trying to retaliate by snapping his fangs, trying to catch his finger.

"The orange's coming back more and more." I remark, carding my fingers through his hair, admiring the ombre tinge it seems to have developed, lips tugging up at the low groan he makes. Head tilting back as he arches into the touch, eyes fluttering with contentment, scent pulsing sweet and crisp.

Pheromones losing their sharper tinge as they bloom into something heavy and content and soft, tail swishing slowly, low throaty whines where my hand drags from his hair down to his nape, massaging lightly at the tension in his neck. Watching as it bleeds out of his posture and subsequently makes him sag against the back of the armchair, hands loosening slightly around me.

Sweetly trusting and vulnerable as he peers at me from half-lidded eyes, pupils dilating at the instinctive comfort, at the way my hand cups his nape, his head tilting immediately to the touch, throat arched and presented without care.

"Tired?"

He hums in response, eyes fluttering when my fingers skim from his nape to his gland, leaning against him to press a line of kisses from his jaw down his throat, lips lingering longer and longer until they reach his gland.

Coaxing out the sweet freshness of his scent, mint pooling warm and relaxed under my touch, nose nuzzling against his gland, slow, thorough scents that has his arms around me loosening. A low content chirp rumbling in the back of his throat.

"We've been looking through missing report case files most of the day. Min-ah isn't used to desk work." Voice wry and faintly teasing, his hand drifting to settle in Tae's hair, playing and gently tugging at wild black curls as he continues to nuzzle and rub his cheek against a soft worn tee that I recognise as Yoongi's.

"It's so long. Makes my eyes hurt." He whines, lips jutting out, face scrunching with his petulance, voice petering into a breathy exhale when my mouth slots over his gland, pressing open mouthed kisses to the sensitive tissue, relishing in the way he shudders at the featherlight touches. Tilting to arch into the touch, to invite more, kisses turning into small nuzzles, tongue flicking against his gland, reeling out the sweetness of his scent.

"Poor pup... you need to rest more. And you need to get a bigger team to handle this—it doesn't rest on just you and Joonie you know." Mouthing gently at his gland, teeth dragging slowly across the slowly stimulated tissue, head tilting to watch his eyes flutter heavily, his tail sagging on my lap, half-draped there.

"I know... just want to nap." He mumbles blearily, everything else in the room seeming to fall away in the wake of his drowsiness, playfulness melting to a heavy drowsiness that sinks over his limbs.

"I thought you wanted to share me with the pack." I murmur quietly, words hushed and amused, smelling the brief spike in his scent, the sight of fangs pooling over his bottom lip, my eyes dragging over it, smile playing at my lips when he tilts his head to appraise me.

"He's too tired... why don't you have an early night?" Yoongi murmurs, stretched out across the sofa, his tail swishing and curling, occasionally poking at Jin's side, gummy smile infectious and warm every time it makes his wings flap.

"Nooooo I'm never tired for a mate." He protests, hand trying to tug me closer, sprawling across my front, eyes fluttering open.

"Except when you're overworked. You don't need to go back and forth from the centre to the station all the time you know. I'm the caregiver and protector... you just be the officer."

Fingers slowly circling his gland, lips drawing away to let my thumb brush over the puffy tissue, coaxing out his scent, drawing with it a slow groan that reverberates against my skin.

"But I like visiting."

"And I love seeing you at the centre baby, but you need to stop trying to be everywhere."

The curve of his pout deepens, unconsciously jutting out, grumbling quietly until he tilts to my touch, head turning to peer at me with doleful eyes.

Nodding reluctantly.

I lean closer to him, lips brushing gently against his in a featherlight peck, smiling when he tilts into the touch, head still angled back so that I have to turn on his lap, moving to straddle him fully, thighs astride his hips.

There's a low appreciative hum and when I tilt my head, Kook's eyes are fixed on me and a grin tugs at his lips, inked fingers busy poking and teasing at twirling ears, drifting away from nipping fangs as Hobi tilts and wriggles to try catch his hand. Playing and teasing Hobi but eyes dragging to my hips, grin deepening as he meets my gaze.

But a hand tugging at my jumper draws me back, tugging me closer until I'm leaning over Minnie, until my head curves down towards his, lips slotting to his once more.

Warm plushness chasing the heat of my mouth, fingers curled tight to keep me anchored to him, refusing to let go, fingers sprawling possessively over his nape, palming at his gland, swallowing the shuddered exhale he makes as he tugs me incessantly closer, hips flush to his.

Lips lazy and slow as I kiss him, indulging in how readily his mouth goes pliant, head tilting under my gentle nudge, mint seeping out to sink into my skin, tracing the fullness of his bottom lip with my tongue, dipping against his cupid's bow.

Hand cupping his cheek, fingers brushing against skin, angling his head to mine, body curving forward to his. Tongue brushing against the seam of his lips, fingers drifting to skim my knuckles across his gland, feel the way he steadily turns boneless under me, hand drifting to grip my hip, whine low and keening against my tongue, mouth parting laxly with a heated groan.

There's something dizzying about how readily he parts his lips, how readily he surrenders the little control, tongue brushing against mine with slow languid ease, my teeth dragging across his bottom lip, nipping gently. There's an unrushed haze that seems to drag the two of us deeper, the scent of his mint seeping into the room. Clouded with a sweet gentleness, fangs scraping at my lips, hand tugging me closer as he tilts his head up, hooded gaze peering at me, knuckles rubbing at his gland.

"Want to take you to bed. And tuck you up pretty fox. Keep my pink mate bundly and nested." I coo, murmuring the words a hairsbreadth away from his lips.

Hands cupping his cheeks, nose nudging against his, warm plush lips chasing mine, whining low in his throat with a rumbled faint growl of displeasure that it's still not close enough, tugging at me until my lips are ghosting along his and I let my mouth meld to his once more. Lingering pecks as I let my fingers slip into his hair, gently carding through strands and angling his head to mine, teeth nipping at deep pink lips.

"Nesty?" word half-slurred, eyes blinking imploringly up at me, lips slightly puffy.

"All warm and tucked. Bedtime?" I ask softly, fingers brushing against pink cheeks, squishing and watching his lips turn into a pucker, leaning close to kiss the inviting jut of his mouth.

There's low happy purrs rumbling from behind us and soft warmth in the pheromones that cloud the living room with a cocoon of soft scents.

Watching him nod slowly, drawing himself up to press closer to me, arms winding around me to burrow against me, head tucked under mine, chirps soft and barely audible against the hollow of my throat. Lips pressing messy soft kisses to skin.

Ears flickering against the underside of my jaw, the flutter of his lashes brushing against my throat as he clutches me to him.

"Bedtime."

Slowly trying to ease back, to coax him onto his feet, smiling endeared when he whines against my throat, messily rubbing his cheek against my jumper, staggering up and trying to keep me fully pressed against him.

"Early night for you too then?" Jin asks, wings flapping when Yoongi's tail pokes teasingly in quick succession.

"Seems like it." Lips quirking when Minnie's arms around me tighten, trying to tug me closer to him, refusing to relent his grip for the slightest gap so I can draw him alongside me. Lead him to bed.

Hand slipping to scratch at the back of his ears.

"Come on pup." Coaxing him to lean against me, tail sagging low, limp with fatigue and swishing slowly, mint pooling heavy and blanketing as he takes steps alongside me, fingers clutching at my side to keep the two of us anchored to each other.

As I steer him past the couches, a stripey tail comes to brush against my ankle, soft and ticklish, winding around skin to keep me there for a few moments as he tilts his head to peer up at the two of us, smile boxy and fond.

Scent sweeter, the pulse of sticky sweet strawberries radiating just how content he is, pheromones softening further at the sight of his fellow orange, fangs peeking over his lips.

"Goodnight." Voice low as he murmurs it, eyes shining with tenderness, tail squeezing gently before swishing, curving towards Minnie to brush against him gently too.

His words are echoed by the others, bodies naturally gravitated towards one another in the same likeliness that Minnie tilts to me, tugs me closer so the closeness between us is even more so. Hand drawing mine around his waist until I'm pressing to his back, hugging him from behind.

A slow shuffle of steps and the ticklish brush of his tail pressed between us as he takes steps towards the doorway.

"Bedtime pretty." I mumble against Minnie's nape, letting him lead the slow unrushed walk to my room, bypassing his and the other predators. Stepping past the open partition to the other end.

The air is lighter, unclouded with pheromones and softer because of the combined naturally gentler scents of preys. Of Kookie and Jin alongside mine.

And it seems to drag Jimin under a floaty haze, tail swishing eagerly against my leg, scent sweetening in automatic biological response.

And when I coax him towards the bed he sinks into it eagerly, rolling about the sheets and pillows with a low groan of ultimate satisfaction, half-lidded eyes that peer at me as he sits up. Tugging off the loose shirt and pyjamas he'd been wearing.

Something disarming and dangerously attractive about a rumpled officer sitting almost bare in my bed, discarding the clothes readily to the side before he leans against the pillows. All lines and lithe muscle and toned definition. Softness and hard corded strength.

Something playful in the sleepiness of his gaze, a flickering remnant of a fox's fiery embers.

Hand stretching out for me.

"How about bedtime kisses?"

My hand slips into his, yelping at the sudden tug that has me stumbling forward, tugging until I'm clambering into bed, drawn closer and closer to him until I'm half-hovering over him.

The slightly swollen state of his lips are beckoning and inviting, dark eyes reeling me closer.

"Anything for my mate." Before I relent to the addictive heady slow unrushed haze of his lips slotting to mine once more.

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

There's no particular reason why my brain won't shut off. There's no reason why it should stay awake long after night's settled. There's no reason why my brain should feel glaringly awake, but it is. And it's not for a lack of trying, tugging pillows down to curl them closer to me, hands tugging at the blankets, twisting and turning and even trying to shift. Eyes constantly flicking to the sprawled sleeping figure, mindful not to wake him, smoothening over the blankets and redrawing them over Minnie.

But sleep doesn't come and as I shift back, tugging my pyjamas back on, smiling when even unconsciously Minnie gravitates closer, his tail wriggling and swishing under the blanket, cheek squished against the pillows.

He remains asleep as I smoothen the rumpled fur over his ears, watch them as they flicker under my touch, soft breathy chirps rumbling quietly, hands skimming lower to card through his hair, scratching lightly before drifting lower to rub circles into his nape.

Watching as the scent of his mint deepens, his lips parted slightly as he exhales, back rising and falling slightly with deep breaths.

Sleep doesn't come and so I let my hands habitually reach for my phone, tuning into the radio show, lips curving up when I realise that it's almost time for Yoongi's show. That somehow my body clock is still attuned to staying awake for his show, to hear his voice filtering through the speaker smooth and low and rich warmth.

Ears absently flickering as I draw myself up, reaching for the lamp on the bedside table, leaning against the pillows to make myself comfortable as the other show draws to a close, feeling a contentedness as the minutes dwindle away and the opening intro of Yoongi's show plays out. Filling the quiet and emptiness of my room with the familiar low timbre of his voice, body sinking back against the pillows. All the whilst Minnie's ears flicker but he doesn't awake, seeming to be coaxed into deeper sleep by Yoongi's voice, my eyes drifting to check on him regardless.

"...late night workers, students and insomniacs." My lips tug up at his introduction, can hear the faint tinge of amusement that filters through his voice.

"Hi sweet panther." I murmur in response, sinking against the pillows, drawing another to my lap, setting my phone onto it as he surmises what he's going to talk about today, the segments he has planned. Hand absently settling into Minnie's hair, scratching lightly at his scalp, petting gently and coaxing out the sleepy stream of chirps, still quiet under the warmth of Yoongi's voice seeping out into the crevices of my room.

"We're going to be opening a new segment today. Survivor stories and introducing a new helpline for hybrids that I've been working with for months to see how they operate, to see the good they do for people."

My ears flicker at that, perking in curiosity as I peer at the screen, trying to will the image of him in that very instant, body shifting and moving as I draw the blankets closer to me, eyes drifting to the lit up phone on my lap.

And as he speaks, his voice draws me back into a comforting lull, the depth of his voice coaxing and inviting, head sinking back to rest against the mound of pillows, turning my head to nose along the closest one, smile pressed against it at the familiar sweet scent of vanilla and cotton.

He's not in the room but I can feel the reverberation of his voice and the warmth that must be seeping into his citrus scent, fingers tugging the phone closer as I wriggle to lie down, curling onto my side, facing Minnie.

A smile curves at my lips, fingers playing with the strands of hair obscuring his face slightly, slipping lower to cup his cheek, knuckles skimming across soft skin.

"We don't always look at police statistics but there's a rise in Seoul and city crimes towards hybrids particularly in their early adulthood. And an even greater amount of missing hybrids whose reports don't go through, don't go processed properly."

My eyes narrow at the phone, at the ringing similarity Yoongi's words have to the trafficker case, having no idea that Yoongi had spent months investing into creating something permanent to help hybrids suffering from the same issues. And in his sleep Minnie's ears flicker.

I had no idea he'd been working on this for just as long.

I reach for the phone, typing out a message to his show's forum, watching as it's lost in the stream of others.

Sleepy during the day, superhero kit by night?

It's highly unlikely he'll even see the comment, unlikely that he'll see it until later but my lips curve into a grin at the rare slim possibility.

Not expecting for him to say it aloud, my ears flickering and standing to attention when he does, scent seeping off my glands sweet and soft. Hopelessly endeared.

"Sleepy after I hide the cape from my pack." He confides with a hushed whisper as if divulging the secret to me alone across the masses that listen to him.

As if his answer is for me alone and the depth in his answer, the amusement curling his voice, the laugh rumbling at the end of his words immediately picked up. Knowing full well his tail's curling behind him, ears perking to the same attention, eyes narrowed as he plucks and sees my comment from countless others.

"But even if I can only listen for a few hours for the nights you can't sleep... even if you feel the slightest bit unburdened by whatever's keeping you awake... then I'll be here." Voice warm and soothing.

I can immediately conjure him to mind, can envision the gummy smile sweet and tentative, dark feline eyes watchful and quietly observant, ears flickering as he listens, listens to not just me but every single sleepless soul who finds comfort and solace in his show.

I'm here too. If any night you can't find comfort, I'll listen too.

But that message goes directly to him, goes to his phone.

And a few minutes later I can hear warmth seep into the low rasp of his voice, can hear the smile in his words.

"Like Anpanman... did any of you ever read the comic? I don't have much to offer, I don't have a superpower that'll save the world... but any way I can help. I will." Voice soft and reassuring, tinged with a tentative shyness that filters through the radio, unhidden in the genuineness of his words.

The name doesn't strike an immediate familiarity and whilst his voice continues to brush over me, I search up the name.

Smile wobbling slightly, heart inexplicably fond for my panther, for the voice on the other side of the apartment, for the voice who'd always reached out first for me.

And drawn me to settle by his side.

Had let me find sleep and solace in the low rumble of his voice filling the emptiness and the sleepless nights.

Anpanman panther.

Giving away parts of himself to keep others happy.

And that was just Yoongi. Always giving. Always finding happiness in silently watching everyone else be happy.

Superhero feline. Would you lend me your cape? It gets chilly these days.

"There's a new helpline that's catered specifically to hybrids and they provide legal counsel and medical care and it's truly giving fighting chances to where cases don't seem to be processed properly. Or if there's any sort of negligence..."

There's a huff of wry amusement a few minutes later.

"If you need my cape because you're chilly then go bundle. Nest and be warm. You shouldn't be listening to my show and not being the most comfortable as you physically can."

Then my phone dings.

If you're not in bed when I find you afterwards...

There's a sleepy mumble from beside me and I instantly lean closer, lips brushing against his cheek, hand sinking into his hair. Crowding close to smoothen out the slightly pinched expression as he registers the sound, ears folding to shield against it.

Wriggling so I'm curled closer to Minnie, hand slipping lower to wind around his waist, brushing against warm skin, his tail swishing before it curves to drape over my thigh, lips pressing to his temple, nose nudging against his gently.

His scent heavy with sleep. Pheromones pulsing out sweet and drowsy.

Then we'll see panther.

My body curves close to Minnie but far enough that the soft piano music that begins playing in between the segment doesn't wake him.

Close enough that if I reach out my hand I can cup his jaw, drift lower to brush fingers against a swollen puffy gland.

Close enough that my arm remains draped around his waist and his tail swishes before settling over the two of us, as much as it can.

My ears perk at the soft tinkling melody that seeps out, drawing the phone closer to me, eyes drifting to my sleeping fox curled beside me, finally deeply asleep and resting.

Long, unrushed minutes stretch by as the music plays, my eyes settling on Minnie, watching the fatigue finally be smoothened out, smell the weight of my pheromones clinging to his skin. Keeping my unruly fox settled, cheeks pink and soft, features gentler and smoothened out with rest.

Fingers hurriedly switching the sound off when it pings, the sound slightly muffled against the pillow but not enough that even in sleep Minnie's ears flicker at the sound, harsher to the enhanced hybrid hearing.

Drawing it close, heart thumping and feeling giddy, scent seeping out soft and sweet and thrilled, lips quirking up at the message.

I'll bite.

I look forward to it.

Listening as one segment progresses into another. As he moves from talk of the new hybrid helpline, the awareness his show is bringing on a larger platform. Moving onto lighter topics, his voice turning softer and gentler as he begins responding to comments.

My eyes drifting to peer at the screen and the gummy smile I can hear in his words.

"I like the night. It's perfect for nesting and for stolen moments with your pack, with your mates. It's for reading and tea, it's a time that's just mine to cherish with my flower."

I can hear the fondness in his words, the affection that seeps through because even if the world doesn't know, even if his listeners don't know... I know who he's talking about.

And his voice continues to coax out a gentleness to my scent, still not sleepy nor drowsy; not drawn to the comforting lull that eases me into sleep. Content to remain curled beside Minnie, hand brushing from his waist to against his side when he shifts, settling onto his front, the droopy stream of chirps breaking rhythm as his tail swishes, slipping away from resting against my leg to droop down his back.

The movement rustles the blankets, dragging them down the plane of his back and shoulders, settling on the low of his spine, blanket rustling where it sits just above the base of his tail and the dimpled grooves at this low back.

My ears perk when there's a sleepy mumble, the quiet flutter of lashes and the hoarse drowsy haze to Minnie's voice as he peers at me. Eyes blinking open as he raises his head slightly, hand stretching out to tug me closer, unsatisfied with the small distance, rumpled orangey-pink ears flickering as he registers Yoongi's voice.

"Can't sleep baby?" voice huskier and rasping with a rough timbre.

"No but I'm fine... sorry if I woke you." I murmur quietly, blanket rustling as his tail swishes slowly, gaze sluggish as he shakes his head.

"Don't be...not nightmares? Or stressed?"

I lean over him, fingers skimming across his nape, closing the distance as I shake my head, ducking lower to press a kiss to his gland.

Nosing along the sensitive tissue, mouthing softly, hand rubbing between his shoulders when he whines low in his throat, slumping down and curving closer to me, shuffling to press against my side.

"I was just listening to Yoongi's show." I confide, lips curved against his throat, nuzzling gently at his gland, hand skimming over skin, knuckles rubbing down his spine.

Head tilting to peer as he nods, slumping as his eyes flutter, tail wriggling as my fingers ghost along the low of his back before drifting up once more.

"Cuddle?"

"Of course." Sinking back against the pillows before patting the space beside me, hearing Yoongi's voice wash over the two of us before Minnie's shuffling closer, eyes already drooping with sleep, scent and breaths deepening at the repeated ministrations of my hand rubbing across his back, rubbing at his ears and scratching lightly, chirps and whines petering into soft exhales.

Mint deepening into a weighted blanket, coaxed back to sleep, Yoongi's voice coaxing and calming. Soothing even without being directly into the room, the hand at my waist going lax.

So when the show begins to draw to an end, when I slowly slip out of bed to find Yoongi, to draw him to sleep too—Minnie doesn't stir. Doesn't stir as I lean close to brush a kiss to his cheek, nosing at skin.

Scent entangled with mine, limbs sinking laxly into the sheets, surrounded by my scent.

One pup asleep.

Time to draw a kit to bed too.

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

"You beat me to it today." Voice low and fond, quiet padding steps that would easily be noiseless but the quiet slow shuffle, the rustle of fabric and the soft curl of citrus brushing against me all soothes the startle before it can even happen.

The gentle low hum of his voice with the natural deep timbre brushes over me with a soothing cadence, tail brushing across the back of my calves before arms slowly wind around me. Peering over my shoulder.

"I figured I had some time whilst you were finishing up your show to get the kettle boiling." Leaning back slightly against him, his body a caging comfort as he looms over my shoulder, touches fleetingly gentle and careful, watching as I pour the boiling water into a teapot, steam curling wisps that brush against my fingers before trailing upwards.

"That's a new teapot." He observes, his gaze falling towards the floral pattern, something in his scent sweetening at the sight of the matching cups waiting on their tray.

"I ordered it and Koo picked it up for me. I think our pre-dawn teatime deserves at least one tea set for it no?" turning my head to peer at him, once I've set the lid on top, watching sleepy narrowed slits crinkle fondly, the corner of his lips curving up flashing a peek of gums and fangs.

"At least one... you wanted a tea set just for us?" eyes soft and dark, holding my gaze with a quiet intensity that doesn't need to burn to hold me rooted in place, dark bottomless depths that drag me down into them, holds me just as his hands remain loosely entangled around my hips.

"I know every day seems so busy and it's everyone... it's pack. But tea time and spending time like this with you is just ours. I don't have to share my panther." Shrugging my shoulders loosely and feeling his hands squeeze me tight in response, my cheeks warming at the intensity of his gaze as he looks at me, smile inexplicably soft and tender, leaning forward to nudge his nose against mine, head tilted to rest to mine.

"I get it. I don't work with you, I'm not your protection detail... I'm not a prey. So these moments... when you're only mine. I wouldn't surrender these for the world. My sweet girl."

Because the stolen moments when night and day are still blurred, when everyone else is asleep, when the world is asleep save for the two of us... our world comes to orbit solely around each other. A citrus hazed world that begins and ends with my panther, curled beside him with tea.

I wanted something that was solely ours... solely his.

My lips brush against his softly, a soft stolen breath before his lips chase mine, curling closer to me to bracket me against the counter, against him as his arms wind tighter, securer around my hips, holding me to him as he kisses me slow and unrushed. Languid with the ever burning intensity that swallows me whole, lips warm and lazy, curved into a smile that coaxes out a soft whimper, his hands panning across me, sprawled in quite possession. Smile deepening into a preening, proud smirk when his fangs and teeth sink in sharp, dragging across my bottom lip, startling a small groan at the back of my throat. Tongue flicking over the sting slowly, unrushed in lathing over the small indents left behind before it slips to brush against my own tongue, tilting my head to deepen the kiss, angling my jaw as he controls the kiss. Guides it with a soft rumbling growl that's warning and predatory, the sound softening into an approving rumble when my mouth goes lax with pliancy for him, tongue sweeping through my mouth, fingers curling tight around my jaw to keep my mouth angled for him.

The sweetly coaxing kiss melds to something heated and impatient, to something hungering as his fangs drag across my lips, teeth nipping harsher, fingers pressing tight against my hips, dragging lower, tail banding around my hand when I reach for him, loosely encircling my wrist. Tugging it away.

A sharp unravelling control that falls away, disintegrates as his mouth slants to mine, tongue thrusting in, breaths shuddered and shaky, groaning against the swollen slick heat of my lips. Fangs nipping once, twice, thrice at my lips before he draws back, fingers still crooked under my jaw to keep my face tilted to his. Dark feline eyes lazily trailing over me, lips tugged at the corners into a slowly growing fangy smirk, his own reddened and swollen.

Eyes dragging lower to linger at my lips, fangs peeking as if he can feel the sensitivity in them tingling from pressure, still feeling the sharp brand of his mouth against mine, the weight of fangs sinking in with the knowledge that if he truly wanted to he could bite harder.

"I thought I told you to be warm sweet girl."

My breath shudders as I exhale, his body caging mine, tail curling tighter, the soft pressure of his fur grazing against skin.

"I was making tea..."

"But you could've been in bed."

"Warming the sheets for you?"

His eyes flash and in that moment I can't distinguish the dark of his irises from his pupils, see them pin me, his fangs dragging briefly across his bottom lip, hands bruising at my hips before he smiles wider and deeper.

"Exactly." Voice gravelly and rough, crackling with embers of heat that I feel scorching my skin, feel his hands burn where they grip at me before he leans forward, fangs dragging slowly across my jaw, head tilted to mine, the raking pressure eliciting shivers.

"Well they're not cold and after tea I wouldn't mind warming them again." Trying to be teasing but the dark predatory weight of his stare as he tilts his head to peer at me silently roots me where I stand, something charged and crackling before he shudders out a breath, fingers dragging up to cup my waist, slender fingers melding to skin before he leans closer, nose nudging against my ear, dragging lower, slowly turning to putty in his hands.

Feel the ghost of a smirk against my throat.

"I'd love to help...." Words lingering, hanging suspended in the air, in the barest of gaps between us.

Lips dragging a slow path up, fingers lowering before he lets his hands sprawl at my hips.

"Tea's steeped." Voice rumbling and low, the same raspy drawl but this time ghosting along the length of my body as he draws back, steering me aside to draw the tray into his hands.

Gaze pure feline, simmering with tease as he tilts his head to me.

"Sofa?"

And the swish and curl of his tail beckons me to follow behind him as he walks out of the kitchen, the silent sway beckoning.

Drawing me to my panther yet again.

And the two of us, prey and predator, panther and fawn, mates drift to each other's orbit over and over.

And now again once more.

(AND SCENE! THE END OF A LONG 40K+ CHAPTER WHEW... LOVED EVERY MOMENT IN WRITING IT AND I COULDN'T MAKE MYSELF STOP... THE WORDS KEPT COMING AND EVEN NOW I HAD MORE TO SAY BUT I HAD TO REIN IT IN ALAS.... TILL THE NEXT CHAPTER!! KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR A TIGER BECOMING MORE AND MORE PREDATORY AND SOME BUILDING SUBPLOT—I HOPE THE PACE OF THIS STORY ISN'T TOO SLOW T___T BUT I REALLY AM TRYING TO KEEP IT ON A EVEN MOMENTUM... LET ME KNOW IF THAT ISN'T HAPPENING. @MIDIIPLIER  HOW WAS THE FIRST TASTE OF A TIGER IN THIS~ HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY!)

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3