JI SUNG POV:

It's seeing a ghost. It's hearing it first and then impossibly somehow... somehow it's seeing it and years come crashing down around me, ears ringing as my body freezes. Every limb, every cell locking into place even as my heart aches and aches-wanting nothing more than to close the distance, to fold her close into my arms.

(Y/N).

Breath shuddering out of my lungs that all of a sudden constrict painfully-suffocating the breath in my throat, swallowing it down and it aches to. Looking at the way her smile, bright and giddy, freezes on her face. Doe eyes widening and the happy expression on her face melting away.

Unable to draw steps back to turn tail and run even if right now I don't doubt that's all she wants to do.

To pretend that I hadn't seen her, and she hadn't seen me.

But her name slips past my lips.

Years of absence clawing at the gap between us and wrenching it open wider, leaving gashed wounds in its wake. Retorn and weeping blood.

And right behind her, right behind her two felines come to a still-similar expressions melting into a hardened defensiveness, a cagey protectiveness as they angle away my daughter from me, slotting themselves closer.

That restless part of me thrashes at the sight of two felines blocking her away, but it's not enough to sweep over that pained misery and aching happiness that after all these years I get to see her.

"Baby what's wrong?" a hushed murmur but not too quiet to miss. I don't think they want me to miss. Nor does he hide the sight of wrapping a hand around her to tug behind his taller frame, ears stiffly perked and feline eyes glinting. Eyes settling on the sight.

He means something to her.

But a flash of protective anger surfaces to the top, wells up, uncontrollable and furious at the sight of a hand tugging at her, a rumbled growl that has my body locking up. Eyes examining the feline, committing his features to memory even as I stare hard at him.

"(Y/N)..." voice trembling. Quiet.

"Dad." The name choked out of her, wavering with emotion, eyes pooled with uncertainty and grief. Shared years of hurt unwinding between us, making that strained, frayed tether that was forged from blood pulled taut.

It's been years since I've heard her say it, years since I've seen her and it takes one word to have those years crumbling down around me, wishing desperately that time could've been unwound, so this... this distance wouldn't exist.

Wondering if even undoing time could fix it. Fix what I'd caused to break.

Wondering if I could dare take a step forward, whether I could will frozen limbs to thaw, to even move-ears stiffening at the threatening growl that ripples in the air. The challenge directed to me, body unconsciously locking up and stiffening. Biology snapping into place, an immediate instinctive reaction to another apex predator standing in front of my daughter, blocking her off and dark feline eyes staring hard at me.

I barely hear her voice call out to the two of them, as if all my senses but sight and scent have receded to the far corners of my mind and all I can see-all I can take in is how many years it's been for her to almost... almost seem unfamiliar with how much she's grown. But it's that familiar scent-that tell-tale anise and that visceral reaction to a scent that's my daughter that has my instincts keening and thrashing... begging to be near my cub.

A strangled sound swallowed down, thrashing, when she takes a wobbling step-as if she's not sure whether that step is to nudge her forward or away.

"Dad..."

"...hi (Y/N)." words so, so quiet-staring at her as if she'll disappear any second, as if if I dare look away then she'll vanish... she'll be gone.

I look at her and see ghosts-living and gone in her, I see time, a lifetime slipped away, I see the daughter I could've had but who grew up without me, grew up and somehow I'm dragged back into the past, watching the same doe eyes fill with tears and that voice screaming, thrashing as she shrinks back, as she looks at me as if I'm unknown, as if I was never family.

"No. If he's making you uncomfortable-then he needs to go." A growling hardness that's a baring of fangs, a threat, a challenge-all of it directed at me, because just being here, just sight and presence alone was enough to disrupt whatever normalcy, whatever life my daughter had established for herself.

And even that-even that familial claim, that connection of blood crumbles as he stares at me, growling snapping tiger and caracal both.

"I-"

And as I look at her, I realise how much I've missed. And yet when I look at her, I see in her the child I'd vowed to protect with everything, my child, my flesh and blood looking at me as if she can't decide if I'm a horror or hallucination, whether I'm a distortion of her mind or a cruel reality.

It makes everything inside me teeter, the orbit I'd only found years ago once again being wrenched away from its centre of gravity.

She's grown-that was inevitable. And inside my whole heart and biology mourns the loss of having missed out on it.

Lips twisting downwards, a trembling, failing smile when her scent sours-decays because I'm here. And that's the last thing she could've ever wanted.

Desperately I cling onto these few moments, knowing that I might not get them again, that just as sudden she'd appeared, she'd vanish.

"I didn't... you work here?" voice cracking. Here of all places? A centre for hybrids? Here-this centre? Surrounded by hardships and grievances and pains and troubles when all I'd ever wanted was to shield--here?

"Sweetheart let's go." The voice is firm and coaxing, my eyes flitting to the owner of the voice, scanning the two felines once more. The nickname sinking in. The sight of two proudly visible mating bites at her throat... oh.

I can hear the crack inside my chest, can feel the way the splinters of it drives themselves deep inwards.

Two felines, two marks.

I didn't just miss her growing up, I missed her having her own pack. Her mated park.

"Mated... you're mated." And if I'd been frozen before, it's nothing compared to the ice that sinks into my veins, to the way my breaths go uneven, to the way for a moment-for a moment everything cuts off. And all I can see is that I wasn't here, and now... now she was. But she'd grown up.

And somehow... somehow I was dragged right back into the past all over again.

I don't realise when a familiar scent brushes against my senses, don't realise when it sharpens with urgency, when a rippled growl and body slotting closer to mine, hand tight at my forearm tries to tug me back. A body blocking the sight of (Y/N) away from me, an anguished half-broken sound before dark brown piercing eyes stare hard at me.

"Ji Sung what are you doing here? You know you're only visiting the case victims when I'm with you and it's pre-arranged."

"....Ji Sung. Ji Sung!"

"I wasn't..." words feeling heavy on my tongue, all that certainty, all that assuredness lost.

Mind disoriented, thoughts being pulled from it as if wading through treacle.

"Namjoon."

"You shouldn't be here." And still... still he steadfastly blocks her from view, a towering posturing alpha wolf that stares at me with a hardness, a confusion and an unwillingness to move.

"(Y/N)..."

His expression hardens.

"Ji Sung you need to go."

But I can't. Even if I tried, every nerve cell is frozen, paralysed and rooted to the sight, feet cemented to the ground, eyes frantically committing the sight of (Y/N) to memory. Changed and yet not. Grown and yet I see the child she was. Different and yet... yet that familial bond, strained and frayed, tugging-tugging as much as it can, with all the force it can muster, a force that threatens to snap that fragile tether, to the doe in front of my eyes.

Mine. My cub, my child.

"Hyung's outside. Go to the car." Head briefly turning, the words barely sinking in as an agonised pained sound slips past my lips. A shaky tremble of a breath from behind him. The resounding roughness of two voices, hushed and painstakingly careful. I don't hear the words... barely process them, but the sounds-that trembling fraught sound and the roaringly protectiveness that it elicits...

I'm the reason. I'm the hurt. I'm the cause.

"You..." you can't. Please don't. Please don't take my daughter away. The words sit at the tip of my tongue, but my throat is hoarse as if I'm screaming them, begging them-him.

A deep wavering breath.

"I don't know how you know (Y/N)-" turning back to face me, body easily acting as interference. Blocking me away from the sound of receding footsteps. Quiet and unsteady.

"She's my daughter." Anguish bleeds harshness into my voice.

Surprise and bewilderment flits through his expression before an impassiveness tries to smoothen over it. But his eyes-expressive and filled with an unwavering protectiveness, a solid firmness that won't budge even though he's confused.

"Right now she-she needs space. One she asked for and I respected. You need to do the same."

"You know her." No denial. But the carefulness in his eyes gauges how much to reveal to me.

And Namjoon... he holds his cards to his chest.

"I promised to protect her."

"She's... Namjoon she's my daughter." Voice trembling, every inch of me revolting at the thought that I would be a threat to her, that I would harm her. But the way he looks at me now, the way Namjoon looks at me-stance firm and protective and barricading... the way he looks at me is all the answer I need. I might not be a threat, I might not be an immediately classified threat but that didn't change his stance. Didn't change the fact that first and foremost came his promise to protect (Y/N).

There's a brief moment where his gaze scours and searches, trying to hunt down something... anything to ease the conflicting multitudes of thoughts that war in his head right now. I haven't had to know him long to know he's a thinker.

"I need to go to her. I need you to go home. And we need to talk." Voice firm as he reaches a decision, a hurried blur of feelings that flit through his gaze before a decision settles.

Turning to where the scent of anise lingers but the sight of her has vanished... as if she'd been truly nothing more than a haunting dream.

My eyes flit around, searching frantically, voice low and rumbling-tugging my gaze unwillingly back.

"I can't say I understand. But (Y/N) comes first."

And there's nothing more he says, nothing more that needs to be said, that forcefully levelled calmness dissipating when my head tilts into a stiff nod, surrendering to the harshness of reality that this fleeting briefness in my present, that glimpse of the person my daughter had become... that was the only glimpse I'd get of the girl I remembered so starkly in my memories.

And even as he leaves-even then there's a hollow emptiness that sinks in once I realise that Namjoon and the hyung he'd mentioned-were two more in (Y/N)'s life, a life that long since had disentangled itself from my own.

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

The next time I see Namjoon, it's with the hard ire of a glowering fox standing beside him, stance hard and unyielding, eyes trying to bore holes into me.

It's with a defensive prickliness, with a cagey restlessness that I read near instantly off his posture that I feel my eyes flick between them. Feel the intent in the way Jimin postures, standing in front of my office desk.

"...I thought visits had to be pre-arranged?"

"At the centre. What on earth were you thinking Ji Sung? What details did you need that they couldn't wait until morning, until you'd talked to one of us?"

"You're not the only case I'm working on or taken point on, there's others."

"At the centre?" a curiosity and flicker of sharpness there. Undoubtedly wondering if they overlapped.

"An old-you don't need to know." I brush off bluntly, tightness setting further into my limbs, hardening the set of my shoulders as I set the pen down.

"I do need to know if it's made (Y/N)-" before his lips clamp shut, determined to stay silent, eyes glowering with the same hardness I can feel settling further into my spine, eyes stilling on him.

An unconscious stiffness in my posture that's biological-that's my instincts getting keyed up, antsy at the thought of news about her being kept from me.

"If you're going to mention my daughter don't be so cruel Officer Park that you'll dangle her name in front of me and then choose silence."

"Knowing she's your daughter does nothing to change the promises I've made to her. It shouldn't change the work you're doing for us."

A strained weary laugh, that's hollow and without inflection.

"Knowing that my daughter is the anonymous primary caregiver for two of the victims tied to the trafficker case... I think that changes a lot of things." Eyes flitting back to the papers I'd had in front of me, looking back at old cases-one in particular.

"And why's that? You're renowned for your professionalism, for your no bullshit attitude. Does this complicate things? Affect your ability to remain level-headed?" I can hear the purposeful sharpness there, can hear the genuine questioning and the edge of provoking too. Picking it all apart easily.

My gaze hardens as I look at the two of them, gesturing to the seats in front of me if they're intending to stay.

"Are you trying to gauge my ability to resist a predator challenging an apex predator? Or assessing my capabilities as an officer to a lawyer? Or deciding whether or not I'll break because the last thing I expected is my daughter to be in the centre of this mess?" a protective, guttural sharpness hissing the words out, making them drag and roll heavy off my tongue.

A snarled, bitten back warning, ears pinning back and eyes narrowing at me.

Voice level and hard but not without that protective anger.

"All." The unflappable confidence he says it with makes the corners of my mouth less strained.

Because there's never been a hesitation in my mind that Namjoon and Jimin were extremely capable officers, that their hearts were in the right place-hearing him say those words cement that impression further.

They didn't care if (Y/N) and I were related by blood, they didn't care if it meant she was unhappy.

And even at the cost of a fading, frayed relationship-I can't help feel relief that she has people in her life who unwaveringly put her first.

I should've. And in trying to put her first, I ended up losing focus. But these two-they put her first.

Despite being entangled in this case, despite her own involvement in it... they put her first.

And I feel an aching sense of loss that I should've too.

[......]

"Alright that's enough."

"You can't drink yourself to death."

"I have no intention to. I'm trying to drink to forget."

"What was so awful you can't bear to be conscious enough to think of it?"

"I have... I have a daughter you know." Words they've heard before, a soft whisper of sound as a body sinks down next to mine. Hand firm and grounding at my forearm.

"(Y/N)."

"What happened?"

"I hadn't seen her in years."

"Ji Sung..."

"Maybe it'd be better to say I had a daughter. I lost her then."

"What's brought this on?"

"I failed her then. I can't bear to look at her now and realise I never stopped failing her."

"You didn't-"

"Nothing can change what I did. You don't need to be the perpetrator to be the only one who can wrong someone. You know that. Basics cover it."

"You never hurt her."

"I'm the reason I don't have a daughter. I'm the reason that despite trying my best to do everything for her, (Y/N) grew up without a father."

"Ji Sung I know we weren't there when it-what did go so wrong?"

"Me."

Because there aren't words enough to encapsulate what had become years blurring together and a relationship, a familial bond that became strained and taut with pain and grief, that dwindled and frayed with tensions and cracks and that snapped when everything crumbled to the ground. Because everything had been for nothing. Because in doing it I'd forgotten the one person I'd been doing it all for.

And in trying to protect (Y/N), to fight for her, to make it better for her... I lost her.

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

"Give Namjoon the benefit of the doubt. He'll come round." Jinyoung reassures, eyes worried and searching.

A strained smile curls at my lips, turning more genuine at the sound of sincerity in the pup's words.

"Is it so bad that I don't necessarily need him to come round? Just knowing-just knowing (Y/N)'s doing okay..."

"She is. She's making the best of a... strained situation."

"She's mated." His eyes light up, genuine happiness filling his eyes as he nods, the quick wagging motion of his tail only betraying his giddiness.

"She is! So you can understand why Namjoon and Jimin's so protective over her, you can't deny biological tendencies might make them flare up more-"

"Namjoon and Jimin?" a sharp incredulity bleeding into my voice, a harshness that drags my words into a rasping growl- eyes flashing as I look at Jinyoung then past him to an office I've become all too familiar with.

"You said you knew she was mated..."

"Namjoon and Jimin? They're her mates? But at the centre-"

There's a flush on his cheeks, a sinking realisation in his eyes that dawns quick and rapid, hands raised to placate and calm whatever anguish twists and wrenches itself inside me at the knowledge that my daughter had a pack and I didn't know. That she had a mated pack, and I knew nothing.

And that that silence, that stiff discomforting distance between us is one I unknowingly carved.

Knowing just how deeply it aches though is a different feeling, a keening anguished cry that ripples inside my chest, that makes my biology keen and whimper, instincts tearing themselves apart with the notion.

"Maybe... maybe talk to (Y/N)."

"I can't. I won't force her to."

Never. Never after-

"Talk to Namjoon and Jimin then. Talk to them rationally." The words added as an afterthought, a careful warning that makes my tail curl.

"Don't trust me?"

"I don't forget what a riled lion might do."

My eyes flash.

"You're a smart officer Jinyoung-ah."

"So are they. Don't-don't treat them as anything but capable just because of how they're related to (Y/N). If anything that makes them dangerous." A firmness in his words but his eyes are reassuring. Grounding.

"Why dangerous?"

And his answer makes my biology twist with a pained lurch but soothed-a part of me greatly soothed by his words.

"Because there's nothing they wouldn't do for her happiness and safety."

HOBI POV:

There's a distinct lack of three mates at breakfast. A distinct absence of a panther shaped space in the bed, sheets cold and blankets undisturbed. Hyung had never come back to bed.

But Jimin and Joon aren't there either, their bed rumpled and disturbed, uniforms still pressed and hanging up as if they'd hurried out all of a sudden.

"Do you know where they've gone hyung?" peering past Jin hyung's shoulder, watching him continue to work in the kitchen, wings fluttering as they tuck more securely to let me press against his back.

His hands don't pause in making breakfast, they don't falter, and his voice remains level and soothing.

"I don't."

"I think I do." A tenseness in (Y/N)'s posture as she enters the kitchen, fingers clutching tightly at her phone, a mixture of relief and fear and something indecipherably achingly deep in doe eyes.

Her fingers tap at her phone before she's tilting the volume up-an unfamiliar voice tinged with panic and fear that breaks the silence.

"There's lots of them. In suits. They come... they come to choose which toy they'll be taking, and they have inspections..."

And interjecting it is Yoongi hyung's voice, sharp and alert.

"Are you okay, where are you-"

"Stop stop I don't-there's no time. Every single day they keep shipping us off like we're..."

Just hearing the panic and blind terror in the young voice makes my body stiffen, makes me straighten-Jin hyung's spine just as stiff as he turns.

"Listen you're going to be found but I need you to hold on, I need you to survive."

"It's hard... I can't... I can't call the police. I can't-" Jin hyung flinches at the sound of noise, of a thud and shaky breaths. Of pain.

"...don't need to get the shipment containers ready yet. They're not fully broken in."

My eyes dart to (Y/N), to the way her eyes are fixed to her phone, the tightening of her knuckles as she clenches harder at the feral laugh that rings out, that sends unease and anger to course through me.

The sounds are muted, almost distant and then the voice returns. Hushed and shaky.

"Please... please just... I want to go home. I want to live."

There's a stiffness in my posture, one that roots me where I stand, I don't realise Jin hyung's moved until I notice him tugging her phone out of her tight grasp, tugging it away before (Y/N) replays it-a haunting grief in her eyes that I can't bear to look at, can't bear to see linger in her eyes.

"If Namjoon and Jimin are both gone that means Yoongi went to them-they'll be looking into it already."

"Men in suits-as if... as if..." her voice shakes with raw anger, eyes filling with a fury instead, body near trembling even as Jin hyung holds her, his own gaze sharp and yet so attuned to her anger and distress, grip tight to ground her, hands around her arms.

"As if it's nothing more than business." I finish, words hushed and quiet.

A ringing dissonance that echoes through me at the thought.

Business transactions. Every hybrid tied to this case was nothing more than a business transaction-a sum of money for a life.

"I'll call-" Jin hyung begins.

"How did you get that audio?" I cut off, eyes fixed to her phone, now secured in Jin hyung's hand instead.

"Yoongi's show-someone...someone called in. It's all over the internet-the news... turn the news on." Her voice carries past the kitchen, carries through the open living room, the sleepy droop of what had been Kook's body pressed to Tae, straightening up. Fingers snagging the remote, flicking through channels before he finds it.

And she's right.

It's being broadcast over the news, being reported on about a distress call that had happened at some point in the hours before dawn but now is splashed across the TV screen. Across the internet.

Being tied into the trafficker case immediately-police sources not yet commenting, the validity of the call being called into question and that questioning so thoroughly overruled.

The view switches and instinctively my body locks up, eyes flitting immediately to (Y/N), watching her eyes level and focused as she watches Ji Sung's face on the screen.

Her scent betraying nothing-still carrying the sharp tinges of anger and fury that makes her lips thin, trying to tug herself free from Jin hyung so she can move forward towards the screen. His body a flanked guard that follows her, hovering, hand brushing over her hair, coming to settle at the low of her back.

A low snarled rumble of sound emanates from the sofa and Kookie's ears pop to attention, eyes flitting to the side before taking in (Y/N), reading the ease in her body language. A tension bleeding from his posture immediately when he gauges she's okay.

"We're immediately including the distress call as evidence towards the case."

"There's no definitive proof that it gives details regarding the perpetrators."

There's a cold ruthlessness in the lion's face that sends a trickle of trepidation down the back of my neck, that makes my hairs stand on end. Something so sharply vicious in his stare as he looks beyond the camera and at the reporter that had asked the question.

"If we wait and ignore evidence such a distress call I think that comments a lot rather on your inhumanity, on your willingness to dismiss it." a coldness there.

I know the relationship between (Y/N) and her father is broken, strained at best, but despite it all there's a faint glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes.

Another voice off screen but one that makes (Y/N)'s ears perk to attention-recognising the voice.

"Whilst the police are quite aptly keeping the case details under wraps, is there something you can tell us about the persecutions and sentences awaiting anyone involved?"

The corners of Ji Sung's mouth upturn, a vicious primal sharpness there that makes no mistake to anyone present or to anyone watching that this predator will do nothing short of sink his fangs in to tear them apart.

"There's no limits to what these monsters can do. There's no limits to what their punishments can and will be."

A watery trembling laugh before (Y/N)'s eyes blaze.

Looking equally pained and strengthened by the admission, by the sharp clear threat in Ji Sung's words.

"You can trust that-he's ruthlessly brilliant at his work."

Just not as a father. But (Y/N) remains steadfastly stubborn to not let her scent dull, to not let it dip with the way it'd soured with grief and ache.

And it seemed-it seemed that for her, at a distance, from a screen, where he was not consciously or actively, physically present in her life-that she could deal with. And I'm reminded that she'd been the one to recommend him in the first place. Who'd suggested Ji Sung to Jimin and Namjoon particularly for this case. Which meant despite whatever had broken their bond as a family hadn't disintegrated her secure knowledge and confidence in him and his work.

"This is why hyung didn't come to bed." Tae murmurs, voice dipped low. Hushed. Eyes carefully focused on (Y/N), watchful and sharply attentive of any shift in her expression and despite his gaze softening, she doesn't miss it-a small smile, a quieter shake of her head.

"I told you Tae-I won't break." Voice firm, unwaveringly strong.

Hand held out for her phone that Jin hyung had kept, a lingering hesitance before she closes the recording, before she types out a message.

"I know-that doesn't mean if that lion ever makes you sad again I won't hurt him for you." voice wavering slightly, dipping lower, a rough exhale as his fingers sink into curls, ears wilting and folding. Looking up at her with an aching protectiveness in his eyes.

"Those hurts-those hurts were a long time ago."

"They still hurt."

"They shouldn't."

"They can."

"They shouldn't."

"They do."

"Stubborn."

"You are."

A bite of a smile tugs at her lips before she holds out her arms, watches him grumble, fingers a flitting nervousness before within the pan of a blink he's shot off the sofa and into her arms, burrowing desperately into her. Nose immediately crowding against her gland to ascertain the firm unwaveringness of her words, to douse her in his berry scent, arms wrapping around her to tug her closer into him even though he buries himself small into her.

Tugging until she's folded into his arms, until his tail's wrapped around her waist, a stripey belted hold, rumbles low and soothing and grounding just as much as it is for her, as it seems to be for himself-the sound growing deeper when her hand sinks into his curls, winds around him to tuck him close. A tenderness in her eyes, tilting her head to brush a kiss to his cheek, to nuzzle against his jaw in slow scents.

Somehow needing the comfort just as intent he is in being comfort, a rumbled protest when she moves to ease back, a buzz from her phone.

"Tae my phone-"

"I'll take you to work. Me and Hobi hyung."

"That's-"

"Not what you texted? Minnie?"

"Jumping a few steps cub? When did you get trained as-"

"I can protect my mate." Voice firm, hard, dipping into a low sharpness that's directed at the unseen threat, voice rumbling in his chest, but it makes her scent spark, makes her posture soften even as her fingers pinch lightly at his side. The rumble deflating into a soft whine.

"Don't you start posturing on me too cub." Soft chiding but a smile curls at her lips and even when he draws back, albeit reluctant and pouting, the scent of berries cling to her-dousing her in his scent, in the claim that sinks into her skin.

"Hyungie's just trying to be all big tiger for you (Y/N)~ won't you indulge him baby?" a soft scrunch to his nose as Kookie moves forward, crowding against Tae's back to lean close to nudge his nose to (Y/N)'s, a soft giggle as she tilts closer, pecking his nose quickly before her eyes soften.

Immediately putty.

"I feel like I'm burden enough to Namjoon and Jimin-"

"Don't you realise getting to capitalise on your attention away from the others even just to walk you to work is something purely selfish?"

"Yeah-don't you realise hyungs are a bunch of sneaks always looking for excuses to steal you away?" Kook adds, scrunch deepening when her scent softens, brushes against the mix of berry-cotton.

But unspoken, unmentioned but there-in the tight posturing towering height Tae unconsciously postures with. It's there because she's mated to him, because the urge to protect is a biological demand as much as it is a want. Because it's a visceral need that claws at him. She might not have my fangs sunken into her skin, but it doesn't make her my mate any less, it doesn't make that urge any less strong in any of us. It doesn't make me any less antsy and protective, it doesn't make me less keyed up-if anything the conscious awareness that this... that this pack, that my mates... that all of this is new is something that still amps up deeply driven instincts... that makes even the possibility of her discomfort or worse her unsafety something that makes every nerve cell to revolt against.

Eyes searching for hesitance and finding not a shred of it.

There's an unabashed grin that tugs at my lips, even as my insides tighten, coiled with a similar worry I know is burrowed away inside her, lingers in everyone's ears even after the news had been muted.

A smile that curls at my lips because somewhere in her eyes are the unspoken words. I understand.

"So what do you say kit? Indulge my selfishness?"

And her lips curl up, a tremble smoothened out, mouth slotting to hers, gentle and slow and promising. Grounding. Cherishing.

"Not if I want you more selfishly."

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

"Will you be here?"

"When Yoongi gets back?" Jin hyung nods.

"And me! I'll make sure hyung goes to sleep and gets some rest. We'll take care of him (Y/N)." something so effortlessly warm and soothing about Kookie that (Y/N) just nods, more and more worry easing off her posture, doe eyes wanting and aching, soothed immediately when without a word he just curves closer.

"Sometimes Yoongi gets quiet-" she begins, a fretting tone bleeding back into her voice, head resting over hers, chin rubbing against the crown of her hair before his head dips, pressing a soft kiss between her ears.

"You trust me don't you?"

She nods.

"Then that's it." dipping his head to nuzzle against her cheek, a soft cottony brush of scent against her blocked out anise.

"..."

"Go! I don't like chasing a mate out of a nest, but I will-I will if I have to." Eyes narrowing playfully.

Tugging a wry smile to her lips even as (Y/N) turns into the circle of his arms to press closer to him, letting herself be tucked against his broad frame. Something so soothing to pack dynamics, to predator instincts to see the automatic calm that seeps into my veins, that makes Jin hyung and Tae relax just to see them, the youngest preys curled together. Their scents a balm to unease and fear that only seems to mount these days.

And I cling to it, cling to the sight of comfort and safety and pack.

Because it will be like this-it will be better, it will be like this without the tinge of fear and worry always clouding our minds.

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

"I'm going to miss working here." I muse, flitting through the list of tasks Ji Soo needs to get done before the Spring picnic.

"You're not gone just yet hyung." at the same time as Ji Soo speaks.

"You could always come back." The offer's there in soft eyes, lined slightly with age, deeper still with experience.

"After I finish up my degree?" ears twirling at the thought.

He gives a lazy shrug, a grin that's slightly mischievous.

"I didn't have a degree when I started working here. I started off watching my mum work here, used to come by with her... and then one day it clicked. This is where I wanted to be. Not doing CSATs, not sitting endless exams or fighting for a place in college. I wanted to be here."

"Oh? Could've told me that before I committed to studies." I laugh.

There's a warmth in his eyes even as he grins at me.

"Didn't know you then-but I think had you come here years back... you'd have found that urge to stay too. You fit really well as a caregiver."

"And now you have a degree with a major in hybrid care."

"You're gold dust Hoseok-ah. We'd love to have you back once you finish studying. A specialist is what you are."

"Do people tend to go degree routes?"

"Well-it tends to be an experience based job... usually the degrees we get aren't always specific to the centre? But yours is. You could help a lot with reshaping policies and care plans."

There's a sense of pride and eagerness that makes my scent sweeten even under the blockers and Tae's face is aglow-radiant with chuffy warmth.

"You take police trainees too... SJ is." A grumbled muttered sound at that from next to me, lips twitching at it.

"Experience helps a lot-the police academy just wasn't the right fit for SJ, degree wasn't the fit for (Y/N), but sometimes working here-sometimes people find they're not a fit here." An easy shrug at the words, filtering through what seems like a mass of paperwork, hands busy even as his gaze drifts up.

"So if I wanted to-the option's there?"

"I'm sure your current supervisor would be more than happy to write your reference if not take charge of your training when you do~" a lilted tease there, a huff of laughter and Tae's voice a low richness.

"Yeah I wouldn't mind doing all those extra courses if I had a super intelligent, incredibly attractive doe bossing me around."

The thought of (Y/N) being in charge of my training, of helping officiate the role, of being there at the next step, it makes a warmth pool under my skin, suffusing with the giddy flutter of my pulse.

"I don't want her because she's my gorgeous mate." She's so much more, she's-

"No? I'll take her-"

"No! Mine. I want her to be mine. My intelligent, beautiful mate. My formidable boss."

"Sounds like this conversation is turning private-" Ji Soo starts, brows raising as he motions as if to leave, half-rising from his seat.

"No!" I laugh.

"I'm just saying people make the workplace. And working with (Y/N)-maybe I'm spoilt but she's really made me want to work here, made me want to be even half the person she is. She cares and nurtures and protects with her whole self and more and-"

"That can lead down a really self-blaming road." A pointed stare.

A pain that we both knew all too well (Y/N) harboured.

"Just work because you care-and trust me Hoseok-ah, that's always more than enough."

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

"Knock knock."

"Who's there?" voice muffled from behind the door, but I can hear the lilt in it.

"Your kit." A grin tugging at my lips.

"Your kit who-" a purposely loud yowl of sound cuts her off, ripples past my lips, not as deeply rumbled or soft as it would be had I been shifted but it makes a laugh filter through. Amusement ringing in the sound.

"Sounds like a certain twirly caramel of mine- look Min Junie~ look which kit came to say hi." As I push open the door, peering past to look inwards before rushing close.

"I didn't come to say hi, I came to play!" hands sweeping up Min Junie into my arms, whirling around him, delighted by the giggled shrieks as he flails, laughing and nodding along eagerly.

"I came to find a sweet little bear cub whose not played hide and seek with me in forever!"

Laughing as he wriggles delightedly, eyes lighting up as he nods eagerly.

"Hide hide!"

"Want to find Ji Ah to play too? And-" leaning closer, nose nudging to his, a hushed whisper as he leeeeans in to me.

"What about a pretty fawn noona too?"

"Fairy toooo!" he adds eagerly, nearly headbutting me with eagerness, twisting in my arms to stretch out a grabby hand towards her.

"You heard little bear-fairy too~"

"I have so much paperwork for the evals and visits-"

I wrap my arm around Min Junie more securely, stretching out my own hand towards her, fingers wiggling.

"How could you say no to this pretty face?" I pout, nose nudging against Min Junie's cheek-lips curling as he giggles, tilting closer to encourage the touch.

"I can't..." I sigh, lips quirking at the triumph that shines in Hobi's eyes, the victory as his fingers brush against my own before tugging me closer, hands laced together.

"Now-hiding or seeking?"

[......]

The advantage and disadvantage to any game of hide and seek in the centre is the vastness of space, endless nooks and crannies where it's so easy to tuck into to hide out of sight. Hiding in the centre, even with limiting barriers is easy-the seeking... not so much.

The diffusers in this moment do more harm than good-cleansing the air of any pheromonal build-up, keeping it neutral and distinctly blank of scents that belong to people makes it harder to pick up the soft baby powder scent when it's one of the most prominent scents in the children's part of the building. It's harder to pick it up because Min Junie's scent is lost, clouded and distorted by the other scents, by the gentle neutral pulses of scent the diffusers fill the space with. But also because the soft scent is so easily lost, no trail to chase or pick out as I try find (Y/N) and Min Junie.

There's no anise-the telltale floral sweetness would've been a dead giveaway had blockers not been centre policy but it's not as if she struggles with intentional pheromonal control. Knowing full well that even if she hadn't been wearing blockers she'd be sneaky enough to control her scent from betraying where she's hidden.

Right now though-it's a problem.

Head ducking down to peer under desks, peering past corners or open doors hoping to catch sight of flickering doe or baby bear ears. Ears twirling and twitching at the general hum of sound from the centre, trying to hone in on the sound of soft giggles or (Y/N)'s warm voice trying to hush Min Junie.

Nothing.

Cheeks steadily beginning to warm when one too many staff members interject, asking kindly, helpfully if there was something I'd lost.

"Ah no... I'm just looking for Min Junie." The brief flicker of confusion, alarm waved off hastily.

"No no we're playing hide and seek-he's getting better at finding sneakier places to hide away in." voice tinged with a laugh as the alarm melts off, as eyes warm with understanding and a soft laugh, trying to point out a direction that could be a potentially good hiding spot.

My treads are quick, quiet, brows furrowed as I take in the limited parameters of the centre where we'd agreed they'd hide within, eyes narrowing at the thought that (Y/N)'s playing dirty. Hiding away just out of reach, knowing I'd be searching and scouring a space she might not even be hidden in.

My focus is so trained on quietly peering past a corner in the hallway that I don't notice the voice behind me until it interjects curiously.

"Did you lose something Hoseok-ssi?" voice suddenly snapping me out of my focus, body jerking upright, ears perked stiff to attention, body twisting around, heart hammering rapidly in my throat as I quell the surprise.

Eyes wide.

"Oh! Hee-Chul you scared me!" I laugh, hand patting at my chest, feeling the wild thrum of my pulse as the surprise melts, watching as he smiles, stepping back.

"Sorry sorry... you just seemed to be wandering in circles so I just wanted to know if I could help."

"Ah well I've lost (Y/N). Don't suppose you've seen her?"

A flicker of a smile, amused and eyes lighting with understanding, even as his voice drops.

"I've not seen her isn't that the point?"

"Well... yes but I-she's playing dirty!" I laugh, accusation filtering through my voice, head turning as I do another sweeping search of the people walking about, trying to gauge if she's sneaking around by falling into pace with a staff member.

"Whose playing dirty?" heartrate shooting up with another flare of surprise, ears twirling quick at the interjection of another voice. This sneakiness I get-eyes narrowing at the smug coil and sway of a stripey tail, a laugh already stretched into boxy fangy grinning lips. Knowing he's startled me, sneaky, sneaky tiger with his sneaky, silent treads.

"(Y/N)!" I huff.

"Apparently (Y/N)." a calmer, more levelled echo. Cheeks warming as he shrugs. Shrinking back slightly when both our eyes turn to him.

"She doesn't cheat..." he mumbles defensively.

An amused snort, stripey ears flickering.

"Guess you don't know her well enough. She can be as sneaky as sneaky gets." A proud tinge to his words as his grin widens, my eyes catching briefly to the way Hee Chul's expression falters, confused but then smiles.

"Well if it's not work I could help you with." Stepping back as he looks at the two of us.

"Thanks Hee Chul." I smile, watch as he steps back.

Voice a hushed low murmur of conversation as Tae watches him go.

"He's picking up the hybrid trait for being extra quiet if he managed to surprise you." a teasing lilt to his words, grin slanted and mischievous.

My ears twirl, fingers batting gently at the tail that brushes up to poke at my side. Stripey swish wrapping around my fingers instead.

"Guess you've scared him a few times then." I laugh, watching as an unashamedly glint flashes in his eyes, amusement in his grin.

"Not intentionally."

I stare hard at him.

"What?" defensive and eyes gleaming far too mischievously.

"Tae..."

"So I might've growled one time when I scared him-"

"Tae!" a laugh slipping past my lips, not sure whether I'm more amused or more reproachful.

His tail brushes against my wrist, winds tighter in a hold around my fingers and palm.

Grin unapologetic.

"What! Yoongi hyung said he has a crush on (Y/N)!"

"We know Yoongi hyung has a crush-oh Hee Chul?"

A grumbling discontent even as Tae shrugs.

"So... just... scaring him off."

"Tae."

"Hyung I'm not at all sorry-"

"You beautiful menace."

Chuff.

[......]

"I found Min Junie!" Tae's voice carries over, tail swishing with excitement as he scoops him up, laughing at the giggling baby bear who flails and wriggles but ultimately settles in Tae's arms. Eyes shining as he looks at Tae.

"But where's (Y/N)?" I sigh, peering past the corner to see if somehow... if in some impossible way she'd also wedged herself into a baby bear sized space.

I know it's impossible, but I still check.

Cheeks warming when a laugh rings out behind me, fingers brushing against my side-a grin tugging on Tae's lips.

He'd seen her coming.

"You didn't really think I'd be there Hoseokie~ next you'll be checking office drawers too."

My cheeks warm, caught out even as I shake my head furiously.

"I know you can't fit into a desk!"

"But I can fit into that tiny space? I'm not a contortionist." Laughs soft as she peers past my side, eyes flitting up to grin at me, lips curled up with triumph.

My eyes narrow at the sight. Tugged to it.

"So where were you?" Questioning. Curious.

"A master of sleight never tells Hobi. I know all the ins and outs and ways around this centre... you'll have to brush up on your skills if you want to find me."

"I don't have enough time to learn them now!" indignant at the way it only makes her laugh harder even as my heart flutters at the giddy infectious sound, at the way it makes Min Junie's eyes shine and Tae's gaze to soften-besotted and smitten as he looks at her.

I know that I'm no different.

"Teach me your ways?"

"Come back to me and I may just be willing to."

Eyes shining, large doe eyes sparkling with emotion and happiness, with that bubbling sense of giddiness that she was just as excited as me coming back as a full-time caregiver.

"Done deal kit."

"Tea--ch meeee!" Min Junie interjects, voice loud and hands stretching out eagerly for (Y/N), giggling at the way Tae swirls and dips him out of reach from (Y/N) stepping forward.

Peering over his shoulder with delight as (Y/N) tries to move closer only for Tae to duck away easily, darting out of reach.

"Noona! Noona!" giddy laughed yells for her.

"Tae!" voice laughing as she tries to reach out for the grabby hands. He doesn't immediately surrender his hold, tail wrapping around her wrist to tug her closer. One arm wrapping around a swiped mate and the other around a swiped bear-looking far too pleased for himself as he looks at me.

"I don't have another arm, but I have a back you're more than welcome to hug." He grins, chuffing softly when I press close, teeth playfully nipping at the curve of his ear, grinning over his shoulder at the giggling bear in his arms, the sound of his giddiness a warmth that sinks in. Arms looped around Tae and hand reaching out to loosely clutch at (Y/N)'s.

That makes me feel a certainty that only solidifies.

This is what I wanted to do.

This is the comfort I wanted to be.

This is where I wanted to work.

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

"I can't stay?" I ask, peering past her shoulder as she pauses, hand stilling the vegetables she'd been cutting. Sous-chef to Jin hyung today.

"You don't need to stay. Training's boring." Conversation continuing off from where it'd paused earlier, immediately knowing what the question was directed towards.

"Given that you know how to get yourself out of handcuffs, I'd say training's hella more interesting now that I know that's only one thing you've been taught." Perched on top of one of the counters, leaning back, weight settled on his hands as he looks at the rest of us move about the kitchen. Watching the interaction with a slow swish of his tail.

Her eyes gleam with amusement and mischief, despite the fact it's made Joon's ears perk stiff, the way he looks at her with a renowned sense of interest and investment in the staff training that happens at the centre. Head turning from where he was sitting at the table.

"You can get yourself out of handcuffs?"

"Maybe Jiminie's just not as good at using them." The coy challenge, the taunt there, laced into a sweetness and laugh that only makes his posture stiffen.

A flash of heat and a faint growl laced into the low timbre of his words.

"Care to try again vixen?" straightening up slightly, appraising her challenge with a gleam of excitement at the possibility.

Watching as her fingers curl around the knife, a brief pause, faltering silence, before she turns back.

The angle of her smile quirked and noticeable even from her side profile.

"Care to lose again Officer?"

"Whilst I really need to see it happen, don't talk dirty in my kitchen when it's in use." Jin says, voice firm, eyes flitting between the two, though I don't miss the curiosity in his eyes. Don't miss that darker hue to his gaze as he looks between the two, wings fluttering slightly.

"Going to get distracted hyung?"

"It's a safety hazard brat. Besides if we're talking about cuffing, I think (Y/N) deserves soft sheets no?" conversation veering off, dipping into more dangerous waters.

There's a brief sudden sweet pulse to her scent but it's tinged with a crackling heat that's mirrored in her eyes, in the deceptively loose curve of her spine, in the languid movements of her hand as she continues to slice the vegetables. Not even darting a glance sideways when I note the quirk to her lips.

"Actually maybe Jimin's asking for himself. Don't think he wants the soft sheets~" the sharper flutter to Jin hyung's wings, the way his eyes spark brighter, sharper. The way it makes his lips, full and entirely distracting, quirk up. A flash of teeth before he hums vaguely.

Makes Jimin's fangs glint, snapping at air as he straightens entirely. Body thrumming with interest, with the challenging tease in her lilting voice.

Makes Joon's scent sharpen, eyes flitting with a deeper, knowing glint that comes only from experience, from firsthand involvement with said cuffing.

Makes Jin hyung's voice soft-a dangerously deceptive murmur that I know all too well.

"In that case pup you tell me the next time you're looking to get all pinned back and bound."

My throat dries.

Conversation entirely derailed from what had been the topic in hand. Treading deep, new waters. Enthralling and dangerous in equal measure.

The hushed quality to Jin hyung's words are all the more familiar... intimately so.

[......]

"You weren't playing nice kit." Voice hushed and soft, fingers featherlight against skin, doing nothing to quell the need that winds itself tighter and tighter, limbs feeling highly strung, a taut bowstring of pressure that feels closer and closer to snapping, to breaking. Hips bucking harsh into his touch, into the slow indulgent brush of his hand encircling me, a loose fist that does nothing to alleviate the need as he watches me buck into the touch. Feeling helpless and left wanting as his hand remains loose, as he watches me twist on sheets drenched with the scent of arousal, dark eyes taking me in with a laziness.

Fangs snapping at the skin of his jaw, watching him lean back, a small twitch to his lips, a spark of heat flaring to life in his eyes as he draws back, fingers easing away.

Watching with thinly veiled amusement and lust in his eyes.

"A good kit doesn't try bite when they don't get what they want." Fingers skimming upwards, over my abdomen upwards, muscles twitching and clenching against the taunt of slow touches that linger but all too soon leave. Skim to leave their touch elsewhere.

Fingers easing up, dragging slow against one nipple before the harsh twist of his fingers yank out a sharp groan, the sting of pain-pleasure fanning the heat that winds its noose tighter...tighter and then his touch withdraws again.

"Fuck-Jin..." a rasped impatience in my voice.

Feel the ghost of his breath hot against my throat before his teeth sink in hard against my gland, a shudder of breath exhaled past trembling lips that part with a cry, back arching hard off the bed, twisting futilely against the binds around my wrists.

A trembling cresting wave of pleasure that makes that the pressure snap, body jerking as it peaks and crashes over me, heat spiling onto my stomach, ruined arousal against my own skin, body going lax as I sink into the sheets-scent pouring off my glands, strong enough that he can taste it.

"Hyung... hyung..." tongue feeling heavy, the only word that slips past my lips.

A softer fluttering brush of lips against the bite left on skin, skimming lower to press butterfly kisses against skin.

"There's my kit."

Lips lingering against the curve of my shoulder, wings splayed wide and proud-possessive some slither of my mind whispers.

"If you're so jealous just say Hobi~ you know you're the only one I'm bringing back to bed."

"...not...jealous." The words shuddered past my lips even as something inside me preens at his words.

"Well I thought it was hot but I guess not-" words trailing off, petering into a laugh, wings flapping when I groan, hands still bound-unable to swat at him or shove him away as he leans in.

Eyes skimming over me, lips briefly slotting to mine.

"Shut up and fuck me hyung."

His eyes gleam.

"Don't have to tell me twice."

[......]

"Don't-" I warn, watching Jimin's eyes gleam, tail swishing quicker as it picks up pace, a flushed warmth on Joon's cheeks that's at odds with the intensity in his gaze.

Jin hyung's smile is taunting, goading. A wicked lilt to his lips, to his words.

"Oh don't be a spoilsport Hobi~"

"When you want to be bound at hyung's mercy... I suggest doing it when you have a day off afterwards."

"Oh? Jin's all about taking it slow?" (Y/N) asks. Tugged back into the conversation.

"That and-" the taunting heat in Jin hyung's eyes dares me to keep going.

Words rough to my own ears.

"You'll need the time to get feeling back into your legs."

A half strangled sound as Joon's scent spikes, coiling around sweet, crisp mint, honeyed anise and sticky-sweet caramel.

They're strong enough that Jin hyung catches the entangled mess of pheromones that so readily spike in response to the suggestion of what he can do.

"Want me to schedule you in then pup?"

A shuddered breath, ragged with want. Eyes dark.

"No. Don't tell me-just ruin me."

Famous final words Jimin-ah.

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

"You okay hyung? Been quiet."

"Didn't miss you being oh so vocal about Jin hyung's talents." Lips quirking faintly as he sinks into bed, clambering in.

It's not rare for hyung to try get a nap in before waking up for his show, but it's uncommon enough that the sight of him lifting the corner of the blanket up to clamber in makes my focus immediately go to him.

"Ah well... I was only trying to warn Jiminie what he's getting into."

"I'm sure he gets half the thrill from being completely thrown." A soft curved tilt to his lips as he tucks the blankets up around myself and him, fingers lightly brushing over my ear, skimming down my cheek before he tucks himself in.

Uncomplaining when I shuffle closer, when I knock my leg against his in silent prompt for him to loosen up, feeling the slight stiffness in his posture. Unrepentant as I reach out to tug him closer, worming my way closer until our limbs are half-entangled, nipping lightly at his jaw.

"Something's on your mind." I murmur.

Hyung doesn't refuse, he doesn't brush it off. A contemplatively quiet silence, a few moments where his eyes search mine, an almost resigned lilt to his smile. The scent of citrus softening slightly around the edges.

"I'm just stuck in my head a bit today."

"Need help getting out?"

A soft shake of his head, forehead tilting to rest against mine, eyes warm and searching, tracing over my features slowly.

"Okay then. Let me keep your mind company." Head gently nudging his.

A faint gumminess to his lips.

"Sure about that? It can get really busy up there."

"As long as there's space for me to come in."

"Just enough."

I nudge myself closer to him, burrowing towards the warmth that seeps off his body even though shuffling closer removes the warmth of the sheets already imprinted with the sprawl of my body. Tucking closer, lips softer against the curve of his cheek.

"How was the station?"

"Intense. I... I woke up Jimin-ah. And Namjoon-ah woke up too. The call had been live so we couldn't keep it private. Or hidden. And we went straight to the police station."

"That's good no? More people heard, more people know."

"Or it ends up putting him at a higher risk because it was all over the news. Even though they distorted the voice for the TV coverage... it's still everywhere. What if the people who've got him hurt him?"

"....it still gives him a fighting chance. If you'd never taken that call-no-one would've known."

"He's still at risk. They... someone-his parents called into the station. They said it was his voice."

I tilt my head back, finding that flicker of ache and worry linger in his eyes, makes his body lock up again.

"They didn't come into the station?"

"They live out of the city. But they saw the coverage of the call go round-they've probably come in by now."

His scent sharpens again, rough and prickly around the edges, a sourness to his scent that bleeds into the way his shoulders slump, ears folded.

Getting lost in thought as his voice peters off, as he falls into a silence.

My lips press to the tip of his nose, tilting to press a kiss to his forehead, voice soft. Quiet.

Fingers reaching out to entangle with his, smiling gently when he squeezes back. And then harder. Gripping onto my hand.

"Come back to my voice hyung." slowly coaxing him out, out of the spiral of his thoughts, watching his gaze flit to me, the wry quirk to his mouth.

"I'm right here." Words meant for more reassurance for himself, grounding himself to focus, to not let his thoughts tug him away.

Focus on the positives with him.

"He'll be found hyung."

"He will." He echoes softly.

"And his call might've been a risk but he's a survivor. That's what you told him isn't it? He's got to live. So he will."

"He will." More certainty in his voice.

"Just like that missing girl Joon found, just like that raid-their work, their focus-it's all paying off. They will save him too."

A soft tentative knocks turns our gaze towards the ajar door, watch as Joon lingers on the threshold of the room, waiting but not broaching it.

Watch as Yoongi hyung's head tilts, a flicker of understanding, a greater encompassing feeling of trust and gratitude shining in hyung's eyes before he just nudges at me to shuffle along.

Hyung rarely ever sleeps in the middle-complains about getting trapped under sprawled limbs, about it not being comfortable enough, about it being harder to try clamber out of bed when he needs to do his radio show. But right now whatever he reads so easily in Joon's gaze has him shuffling closer, pressing into me as he tilts his head in invite.

"Come to bed pup."

Winter's always cold, even as it chips away and begins to thaw some nights are still cold. Joon's body is warm, hot. A furnace of heat that seeps into skin even across the distance, that makes the drape of blankets feel insufficient in comparison to the heat that radiates off him.

"You okay hyung?"

Body pressing closer, soft gentleness in his eyes, in the low timbre of his voice as he looks at Yoongi, looks at him, body angled close, and head propped up. Ears flickering. Perking upright at the quiet rumbled purr, eyes fixing onto the more contented smile curled loose on his lips.

"I'm okay. And that boy... he'll be okay too." a reassurance to himself, to Joon, one perhaps he too needed to hear even as he nods determinedly.

"It's going to be okay."

It will.

It'll all be okay.

"Are you okay Namjoon-ah?" I ask softly.

Watch his eyes soften, scent turning warmer, gentler.

"I am. And the closer we get to closing the case... the more okay I am. Day by day I feel more than okay."

My voice is soft, hushed, quiet when I echo it back.

Fingers entangled with Yoongi hyung and Joon's fingers resting loose against my wrist.

"Okay."

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

"I've talked to the undercover plain clothes officers about increasing security for the picnic." Ji Soo announces as he walks into (Y/N)'s office, already having gotten the go-ahead that it was empty, (Y/N) busy with the psych evals going on for the other hybrid children that were being brought in, security amped higher in response.

Tae's ears flicker, alert and listening even from his sprawl over the nested space-looking thoroughly content to know it's her space he's sprawled across even if the scent of anise isn't engrained into the nest itself

"Will it be noticeable?" Tae asks.

"You won't even be able to pick them out from a crowd." A reassurance that makes his lips quirk, that makes Tae's eyes flit to the briefly abandoned clipboard, a countless array of tasks left on it, bright red pen lying next to it.

"It almost sounds like this is normal to you... has it happened before?" unable to help but linger on the ease, the fluidness of adjusting the plans to accommodate security details and avoiding blind spots at the park which would veer too far into being out of public sight.

"We do work closely with the police a lot... there's always matters of restraining orders and protection details... but not-" he hesitates, words lingering as he chooses how best to describe this situation.

"We've had it get bad... I've... We've had severe cases... it's never put our employees at risk."

(Y/N). Until (Y/N).

"But working here- the things that we see in the elder hybrids we take care of... it's harder to help if its long term trauma, when its something so deeply engrained that sometimes... sometimes there's a limit."

"Like the serpent?"

He winces at that.

"Like the serpent. The reports are increasingly negative. We can't treat psychological trauma until something... until the smallest opening gives."

"Not opening up at all?"

"The burns healed easy. Remarkably easy because it was his own venom... because his biology healed him. But being captive and used..." a pained expression flitting across his face.

I swallow hard, throat constricting. Tae wasn't exposed to the extent of it... not like this. Especially not like this. And Ji Soo's face turns stricken.

"He won't speak." I surmise quietly.

"I'm beginning to fear what we can do for him... but at the same time he's psychologically not fit to leave."

"No testimony?"

"That's the thing... I've met him a few times. And there isn't even a detachment... he genuinely believes he earned that pain. He... he liked being used."

The words make me flinch, recoiling back at the words Ji Soo echoes, at the shadow of grief and misery in his own gaze.

"So what... what's going to happen for him?"

"He needs a psych evaluation. We're trying to get a male professional on sexual trauma to come in. I'm calling back the officers that found him to see if there's something we might've missed, something that might be causing this level of a block."

"I could-" a firm stare stills my words.

"Absolutely not. You're finishing your placement in just over a week. And you're not a specialist. I don't throw my own into high risk Hoseok-ah."

"I wouldn't do it to (Y/N), I wouldn't do it to any children hybrid specialists or caregivers... I'm not doing it and throwing you in blind to get stung."

His look softens, the faint stress lines still etched into his features even as he looks at me, ears folded. Shaking his head.

"I can't-I can't stand the thought of (Y/N) being caught in the middle of this. What on earth makes you think I'd let someone else get thrown into it too?"

Again-that fierce protectiveness and it's not just as her boss, it's not just as someone who works with her. It's as a friend, as someone who's known her longer than we have and someone who's worked alongside her longer too. It's someone whose seen that being a caregiver takes so much, takes everything from her. She nurtures and protects and cares so fiercely, so entirely to the point of it hurting her all the more-refusing to give up Min Junie being in her care but also taking Ji Ah under her wing too.
There's a pained rough sound that slips unbidden past Tae's lips and his posture stiffens, no longer sprawled. A hard line of tension in his spine, in the set of his shoulders.

A brief flicker of Ji Soo's eyes gauging my choice to speak, his eyes softening as he looks at Tae. To have unintentionally drawn him into the midst of it in discussion.

"She does that. She does everything with all of her."

"So give it back to her. (Y/N)'s... she's so, so fiercely loving and protective and loyal. She deserves nothing short of it back."

He looks at the two of us, eyes firming with a determination as they settle on me.

"So that's a no. Keeping you out of this makes (Y/N) more protected too. Keeping the man she loves from a case she's stuck in is a way I help protect her a little bit more too."

"And Jihyun?"

"We'll do everything we can to help protect him."

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

"Have you seen (Y/N)?" I ask, watching as a lowered head rises off folded paws, the head resting against the soft glossy fur of a panther's stomach also tilting up, a look of contentment and drowsiness in Jiminie's eyes, ears flickering from their folded droops.

"She went to talk to Binnie and Eunwoo." Kook calls out from his sprawl over the couch, eyes not tearing away from the TV screen, intently focused on beating Tae at the game they're both playing-a bubble of laughter as Tae groans, trying to swat a hand in Kook's peripheral to block his view.

An indulgence in Jin hyung's eyes as he watches the two, a mischief in the way he looks at the two-eyes glimmering with interest as he waits to take on the winner of the match. Invested in the laughing swats and yelps for his turn and in amusement at the two of the youngest packmates.

"Oh! I might go say hi."

"Tell Binnie and Eunwoo I'll come say hi when I win!" Tae calls out, Kook's laughs ringing out, foot nudging at the tiger trying to block his vision. Eyes glittering.

"Might be a long while then."

"Hey!"

"Bye."

Their playful bickering filters out into the hallway as I slip out, ears twitching as they catch the faint sound of water from behind the bathroom door as I make my way down the hallway.

The door to her room's ajar, open enough that I can slot into the gap and peer inwards, lips automatically curling up into a wide smile at the sight of the burritoed figure on the bed. The duvet wrapped so thoroughly around her as (Y/N) lies on her front, peering at the screen propped up by pillows.

Listening attentively to her pack, ears flickering as she focuses on them, their faces out of sight from this angle.

"I could visit too... if Amina could get snuck in without being caught then I could too noona... I'm much smaller shifted!" my ears catch onto the conversation, pausing in the doorway, watching a tension stiffen her. Even lying on her bed it's immediate how that shift happens, her scent sharper around the edges, decaying. Her scent dips from the warm haze of anise that has permeated every inch and fibre of her room. Her room falters from the warm sweetness she'd been emitting.

Turning jagged as she stills.

Voice uncharacteristically firm.

"Absolutely not."

"Noona-"

A ragged breath but the firmness remains in her voice, even if I can hear the raw vulnerability in her words.

"I didn't leave home... I didn't leave you to bring you right into danger."

"But Amina visited..."

"She was already asleep. And we were looking after her kit."

A long paused silence that makes her body sag, wilt into the burrito she'd wrapped herself into.

The sight of it and the wilted edge to her scent makes me step into the room.

Voice quiet and slightly subdued when she speaks.

"Binnie I-I can't risk you."

My ears fold, stomach twisting with an ache as there's a quiet sound from the screen.

Another voice quiet and soothing. Both for Binnie and (Y/N).

"We don't... we miss you bokki. We miss you being home."

Her ears fold, posture wilting. Scent so so heavy and sad.

It tugs me forward, steps quiet, quiet enough she doesn't notice until I sink down on the edge of the bed, just out of sight of the camera before I tilt my head to her.

Feel her eyes flit over to me, sad, sorrowful doe eyes. A bleakness to them, an ache there and a smile she tries to drudge up but her lips tremble faintly. Head ducking away briefly, before I can catch the faint glossiness to her eyes.

"Oh sweetheart..." voice soft, fingers skimming lightly over her ears, shuffling closer to press to her drooped form.

Eyes flitting to the screen, seeing the same ache lingering heavily in both Eunwoo and Binnie's eyes-the same wobbly smiles that don't reach their eyes, pressed closer for comfort and aching to hold her too.

"Can you-can you hyung hold her?" a choked, rough plea that my body was already moving to do, heart clenching tightly at the implore in the voice that filters from the screen.

Body pressing tighter to hers, pressing closer in a draped side-hug, drawing her up to tuck her to me. Arms wrapped tight around her, cradling the curled form to my chest, watching doe eyes glimmer with longing even as she looks at me.

Words of pain and grief pooled in her eyes but ones she doesn't bring to the tip of her tongue, her ache so tangible, so visceral that even without words it's felt in the weighted heaviness of her scent, in the way her eyes duck near guiltily for a longing, for an instinct that's natural and innate. We might be her courting pack, we might be her mates, we weren't ever going to be Binnie or Eunwoo though.

We might be here now, we might be here in this very moment, but it didn't mean she didn't miss the people she'd left to protect.

Ji Soo and Tae's words ring in my ears as (Y/N) curls closer, burrowing forward for comfort.

She loves and gives with all of her.

She chose to leave to protect them.

But it didn't mean that taking that decision to leave her family was easy.

My eyes drift to the screen, watching as Eunwoo looks anguished.

Comforting his mate but not being able to comfort his pack.

Not able to reach out to hold (Y/N).

"What if you went to the bakery?"

"I don't want a pattern-"

"Once. You only met them once. It'll be okay. And you can see the two of them again." I murmur, an aching hollowness at the thought that at the cost of keeping them far from this all, she had to put herself at a greater distance.

"And... and spring won't be so lonely." Eunwoo says, a ghost of a smile on his lips, a glimmer of tears in his eyes but he smiles. The warmth of it seeping through the screen, comforting the restlessness of the squirrel hybrid pressed to him but it makes (Y/N)'s eyes soften. Her posture unfurl slightly.

Tilting to the screen, towards the gravitational tug of biology, pack, instinct.

"But... we've never been-"

"I will see you this spring too bokki." Words soft but firm, promising and certain.

I'll do anything to see her spring bloom the way it should. With family, with pack. Free.

"...noona please don't be sad."

"I'm not sad."

But reminded that her world had been upended, that it wasn't the same... that hurt lingered whether or not it remained at the forefront of her scent or the way she was processing.

"Please don't worry."

It never fails to strike me how fiercely determined and resolved she is to not let it get her down, how much of the hurt stems from being distanced from pack and from keeping them out of reach, out of threat.

"I'll worry less..."

"She's a worrier." Eunwoo says with a fond, gentle smile. The words directed to me, head dipping lower as they curl onto the bed, cheek pressed against a pillow.

I shake my head.

"She's a warrior."

Proud gleaming eyes and firm nods.

A warrior.

And we'd see it through with her.

She wasn't alone.

And until she could meet Eunwoo and Binnie, until she could meet her friends and family without fear-we'd fill every gap and crevice so that that ache could be soothed. That to her hurts, one pack could be a balm for the temporary absence of the other.

"She does that. She does everything with all of her."

"So give it back to her. (Y/N)'s... she's so, so fiercely loving and protective and loyal. She deserves nothing short of it back."

And as I hold her, as her scent lightens, I already know I've loved her with all of me. And that I'll continue to love her with all of me. Entirely. Wholly.

(Y/N) POV:

"You look hot." A voice enthuses from the doorway, quick light steps before hands grip at my hips, squeezing appreciatively. A gleaming appreciation in his eyes as Tae looks at me over my shoulder, holding my stare in the mirror.

"Trying to get into my pants?" brows rising at him. Watching as he presses himself closer to me from behind, hands lacing together-slung low over my abdomen.

"I will be getting into your pants." A confident brashness that's accompanied with a lazy swaying tail, a fangy boxiness to his lips.

"I'm not looking for a quickie before the picnic." Fingers curling loose around his wrist, moving to tug at his hold, to draw back so I can turn to face him.

"Who said anything about it being quick jagiya-we have all night when we get back." Eyes glinting with promise, hands low enough that all it'd take is his fingers to just-

Chuff.

The beginnings of a smirk toys at his lips, head cocked to the side, curls brushing against my cheek as he ducks his head low.

"What're you thinking that's got your scent trying to seduce me?"

"If you're trying to seduce (Y/N) into bed I want it to be known I helped plan!" a voice calls, slightly distant from the room but then a head pops to the side, heart-shaped grin and eyes sparkling with amusement. Half-dressed as he takes in the two of us. Ears twirling.

"Oh? The picnic was a ploy to get me to warm your sheets?" I ask, head turning to tilt upwards towards Tae, feel the brush of his curls as he angles his head.

Eyes flashing, glinting. Dangerous and sharp.

Voice low.

"You're saying it as if I wouldn't be honoured to warm the sheets for you cub. Or ruin them with you." the low rumbled promise stirs a faint coil of heat, bleeds into my scent. The glint of fangs peeking past his lips and the quirk to his lips is the only tell that he's noticed.

"Say you want me in your bed-" I begin.

"I want you in our bed." The words immediate.

"Shame-I was thinking of inviting you back to mine." I lilt.

A sharp growl, eyes laced with hunger and desire, with dark weighted appreciation and clear sharp intent.

"Why don't you ask then?" the slow curling sway and swish of his tail the slow movement of a hunter lying in wait. A predator waiting tightly coiled. Ready to pounce.

Body pressing harder against mine, the slow brush of his hips a warning, a promise, a tease of everything it could be if I did.

Fingers skim from my hips upwards, trail over my waist, knuckles brushing against the side of my bodice, against the underside of my breasts.

"Invite me back to yours?"

"Door will be open." I murmur.

"I'll beat him to it kit." An interjected claim, a slanted grin and mischief in warm brown eyes. Fingers waving briefly, laughing at the small growl it elicits before Hobi dips away, already calling away for Joon.

A nip to the curve of my ear.

"Mine."

My hands grip his, sinking back into the cradle of his body.

Tilting my lips up. Murmur it against his.

"Yours."

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

It's with a slow gentleness as Yoongi looks at me, threading the flower crown back onto my head, drawing the ribbons through my hair with a gummy smile. Eyes soft.

"You're wearing it." voice a low murmur meant only for me to hear.

"Something so beautiful from my mates and I won't?"

The gumminess stretches wider, a flash of fangs too as his scent sweetens. Fingers skimming over the ribbons and drawing them back, quick and deft at tying them together. Lips pressing to the curve of my shoulder.

"Pretty flowers for Flower Bambi." Kook murmurs, echoing the nickname, lips trailing soft butterfly pecks up the slope of my shoulder, over the strap of my dress and drawing my hair aside to press into skin. Nuzzling gently.

Leaving a faint trail of cotton where my own scent lies hidden.

"Don't like scent blockers." He mumbles against skin, nosing for a scent that's now undetectable, self-soothing by way of lathering his pheromones into skin instead, soft cottony that lingers against the crook of my neck. A soft nibble against skin that elicits a small shiver before he straightens.

"Hear hear! I tried to get Ji Soo to remove it from staff policy, but he says it's essential." A loud protesting sigh as Tae walks down the hallway.

"You always wear off the scent blockers."

"I'm a volunteer-I don't need the stronger kind. And if I happen to put really weak ones on... who knows?"

"Well now I know!" I laugh.

"Shhhhh... you heard nothing. And if Ji Soo asks I'll know it was you sneak!" nudging me forward so he can slip on his shoes, tugging sneakily at the hem of my skirt and pointing to his own loose shirt.

"Matching." A rumbly grin, so pleased as he points it out, tail swishing.

The loose material gapes at his throat and collarbones, a flicker of eyes skimming towards it, and mine aren't the only one-he notes it with an especially preening look, tail curling to brush against Yoongi and Kook. Grinning at them.

"See something you all like?"

"You know what you're doing hyung." Kook grins, neither confirming nor denying but there's a flash of amusement flickering in dark panther eyes.

"Try not to be a menace cub."

I tug open the door, the hallway clustered with the others, the beginnings of excitement and giddiness seeping into my veins.

This feels different. This feels like more.

"No promises hyung!"

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

"Now I'll be patrolling too-" A half grin at the glower on Jimin's lips, pursed and grumbling and tapping at the steering wheel. Joon's eyes flit back, skimming over the three of us.

"Won't come say hi?" I ask, ears folding slightly at the thought of having him so near but having to feign pretence, that I didn't know he was an officer. Worse-that I didn't know him.

"Sorry baby... it'll defeat the purpose. You are one of my main priorities. Throwing away cover to make sure everything goes fine defeats that." Voice softer, fingers brushing against my own before he squeezes my hand. Smile warm and soothing.

"My invite must've gotten lost in the mail or something. I'm practically a staff member with how much I've been at the centre."

"Exclusive personnel only Minnie~ and sneaking in to steal kitten time does not get you favour on my VIP list." Tae shakes his head in commiseration but a far too pleased, smug grin on his lips.

"Joon did too."

"I'm not going to the picnic-I'm keeping watch." Joon laughs, dimpled grin at the sight of the slightly huffing fox in the driver's seat, body still twisted around to peer back at us.

"So don't mind me. Have fun and... try not to make me chase too hard yeah?"

"Well I don't know about Tae or me but there'll be too many kids to chase around."

My lips curl into a smile.

"Min Junie's first picnic!"

"Not Ji Ah?"

"She didn't want to come until Hobi said he was going too. So she'll be our little meerkat backpack today."

He senses the flicker of trepidation and concern, thumb brushing over my knuckles, eyes searching and grounding all at once. Dimples deepening.

"Not a single moment will you have to worry. You just be happy baby."

Be happy.

Today... today felt like a step towards a freedom with it.

[......]

"Hide hide!" Min Junie tugs at Hobi's hand, grin eager and wide, looking thrilled at the sight of the open grass, at the seeming endlessness of it as the other kids play, some already scattered in smaller groups, a mix of rushing squeals and laughs and flopped nest piles. Taking full advantage of the open space and sun, a light warmth that has some of the kids contentedly sprawled on the grass.

"Hide! I won't go easy on you." my eyes narrow playfully, hitching Ji Ah up behind me, feel her arms and legs koala wrap around me, head peering over my shoulder-silent and curious but her scent broadcasts that warm mix of happy-happy-safe pheromones as she waves at Min Junie.

The other staff members scattered out too, some assisting, some supervising, some delegated to picnic blankets and some with a child clambered onto their lap.

"Twirly hyungie-let's goooooo!" eager and peering up with shining eyes, tugging impatiently at him until Hobi falls into pace, following the quick dash of the baby bear who leads him away, two pairs of eyes turning to look at how far they've put themselves between us, shining with giddiness.

"No peeking!" Hobi calls out with a laugh.

And just before I turn I catch sight of a stripey tail vanishing behind a bush, see the leaves of it rustle, ears catching the distant hushed laughs and giggles and chuff entangled together.

Hands clasping over my eyes even as I turn, a silent giggle pressed to my back as Ji Ah wraps herself closer. Fingers only slipping away when I count, head turning to see that her eyes had been scrunched shut as well. Fluttering open when my finger pokes her cheek.

Eyes shining and nodding eagerly. Go go!

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

There's an awkward stilted cough that tugs my gaze upwards, focus drifting from one of the picnic blankets I was trying to sort out. The other staff scattered, either rounding up the kids-buzzing with hyperactivity and sugar or sorting out the wild mess of what was left afterwards.

"(Y/N)... ah sorry-" already apologetic, words rueful and cheeks flushed. My eyes drop to the flowers he clenches tightly in his grip, a wave of pity and dismay flickering through me. Mind already trying to filter out a response.

"He has a crush on you I'm telling you!"

"He does not! He's just really helpful-"

"To just you."

"It's nothing."

"Hee-Chul... did you have a good time?" maybe if I skirt around it we can somehow avoid the conversation that swims eagerly in his eyes, that makes him nod quick as he steps closer.

"Did you?" but before I can answer, he's eagerly talking. Shuffling closer.

"You looked like you did! I wish I could've joined!" a tinge of wistfulness, a lingering weight in his eyes that veers on the wrong side-not professional... not professional.

For a brief moment-for a brief moment, the infraction is minute, but it still happens, where his gaze flits down, settles for a moment. And it's a sense of discomfort that makes me straighten up, that has my hands smoothening down the skirt of my sundress, drawing it back over my thighs, shifting the position I'd been sitting in.

Boundaries. Enforce boundaries.

"No one was stopping you-it was a centre trip."

Something weighted sits in his gaze.

"I did try but-"

"Hey pretty stranger~ now what are you doing not being whisked away?" a teasing, lilting voice interjects. The interruption so perfectly timed that it makes that sense of discomfort melt away, body unconsciously loosening, a smile tugging at my lips as I tilt my head towards the sound, towards the warm sweet voice.

Hobi's voice interjecting the conversation is an immediate salvation from the feeling of uncomfortableness that the conversation veers towards.

Watching as he ducks closer, eyes gleaming with warmth and mischief as he moves closer, hand reaching down to clasp mine, drifting to curl around my wrist instead when I wiggle my fingers at him.

He doesn't know the sheer wave of relief that pulses through me at the interjected buffer he becomes. How grateful I am for his timing.

"They're all sticky-maybe I should've just eaten the fruit than tried to salvage it."

"Either way I'm sure it's not as sweet as you could be my dear~" words lilting as he draws me up, hand curling around my waist, tugging me forward with a heart-shaped grin. Immediately that sense of warmth blooms inside me, body tilting to his.

"Charmer, don't pause for an instant do you?" attention tugged to tousled dark hair, fingers drifting to card through the strands automatically before pausing and realising, pulse quickening-a thrumming flutter that seems to be an automatic response to the close proximity of any one of my mates.

Lips pressing to the pads of my fingers, lips lingering softly, then the playful teasing nip against them, the tiniest, barest of kitten licks and his eyes flash. Sharpen.

"Hobi." I hiss.

"Was right pretty fawn." He muses, lips trailing to press a chaste kiss against the inside of my wrist.

"Trying to sweeten me up caramel?" I shake my head at him, hand pushing at his chest, but he refuses to let any distance grow, grin widening as he leans in, lips angling for a kiss-"

A soft shuffling movement and awkward hitch of breath has my head jerking back, eyes widening.

Cheeks flushing as I try tug myself out of Hobi's grip but the hand remains at my waist nonetheless.

"Hee Chul-I'm so sorry you shouldn't have had to..." a prickling discomfort at the realisation he was still there. That he hadn't left.

"No no I should've-" but he doesn't turn his gaze away, doesn't leave.

And something... something shifts.

Hobi's body pressing closer to me, angled towards me, hand curling tighter at my waist.

"You should've." Hobi affirms, the glow in his smile turning slightly stiff, brows raised as he looks at him, head angled as he looks hard at him.

The expression on Hee Chul's face falters, the grip on the flowers tightening to a crushing hold, the flowers folding in his hands as Hobi's head drops to my shoulder, something so openly proud and claiming at the way he looks at the intern. The way his head turns, lips pressing a slow lingering kiss to my throat... right over my mating bite.

A faint brush of teeth, the touch barely there, breath warm, but it still sends shivers down my spine but I can't even move-the warning tightening press of his fingers. The ghost of a growl that rumbles against my back.

Head slowly drawing away, tilting to mine.

"Sorry Hee-Chul... I couldn't resist when (Y/N) looked so-well who on earth would apologise for appreciating their mate?" no true infliction of apology in his voice at all, a bite there that perhaps would be undetectable if it hadn't been for the hardness in his voice.

An intensity in his stare.

"Hobi-" his lips soften into a heart-shaped smile, a warmer tinge to his gaze.

"...mate. Right. Ah Hoseok-ssi... it's... it's okay. I should go."

"I thought you knew Hee-Chul... I haven't been hiding it. I'm mated." but no apology comes to the tip of my tongue because there's no reason for me to be sorry. There's no reason I should apologise for having mates.

But there's a sense of ache and accusation both in his eyes before he lets his eyes drift. A wincing feeling of maybe that crush had run deeper than I'd anticipated.

Voice firm and level.

"You should go." I add. Watching the feigned smile coming to still. A stiff nod.

Fingers twisting together.

It makes Hobi's fingers flex and tighten at the curve of my waist, a rumbled pride that I feel press against my side, body pressing closer. Even though he'd already said, the pride and giddiness comes from the firm, unwavering proclamation of it to an intern whose crush just wasn't... wasn't comparable to mates.

"Can't resist my pretty mate, what's a kit meant to do?" he sighs exasperatedly. Hee Chul's frozen. The flowers in his hands twisted between the anxious turning motions. There's a tenseness that enters his body, a duck to his shoulders as he makes himself smaller and the hunch of his nape.

Eyes avoiding me.

But it was for the best.

It was better he knew than to know at some point it'd gotten deeper for him. It was better he knew than to fuel a one-sided crush.

A sense of guilt briefly flitting through me. But only briefly.

This is better. Everything aired.

Boundaries redrawn firmly.

"I feel... so stupid." His words exhaled, trembling and he turns away. A quick dip of his head.

"I'm so sorry." he mumbles.

"It's-" okay? Was it? A crush was a crush. But making someone uncomfortable with it wasn't.

"It's better you know." Words unwavering. But the look in his eyes, the confusion and hurt threatens to try make me feel guilty, body unconsciously pushing back against Hobi for comfort.

He nods.

"Sorry." he mumbles again.

Eyes dipping away before he turns.

"Can't resist my pretty mate, what's a kit meant to do?" he sighs exasperatedly but there's a smile in his words despite the fact that Hee Chul's turning away. That the flowers in his hands twisted between the anxious turning motions. Leaving and the limp flowers he'd been clutching fall to the ground, already wilted and torn.

But it was for the best.

It was better he knew than to know at some point it'd gotten deeper for him. It was better he knew than to fuel a one-sided crush.

A sense of guilt briefly flitting through me. But only briefly.

This is better. Everything aired.

Boundaries redrawn firmly.

"I..."

"Did so well beautiful." Voice soft, a warm rumbling lilt.

"But I-" I hedge, even as my cheeks heat.

Should feel not a single moment of guilt." Voice turning uncharacteristically sharp, prickly.

My head turns with surprise.

Watching the glower in feline eyes, a sharper rumble akin to a growl.

"Hobi-"

"He's not stupid (Y/N). He was going to keep trying to make some sort of advance or gesture. He knows you're mated." Words grit out.

His free hand skimming from my wrist up my arm, brushing against my shoulder before he brushes my hair back, fingers curling light against my nape, tracing the big bitten mating mark. Another on the opposite side. The brush of his lips still a phantom touch I can feel.

"He can see two can't he? Whether or not if it was someone at work or outside-humans know mating rituals. They know a mating bite... he's working at the centre isn't he? He knew he was crossing a line." Words brooking no gentleness or leniency for the intern, a glowering sharp possessiveness that bleeds into his voice, that makes his fangs glint, body crowding closer to mine.

A deep exhale.

Words sinking in.

Because it was more than a valid point.

Boundaries.

This had been crossing it.

His fingers skim against the outline of the bite, a featherlight, purposefully slow touch that I feel send sparks to skim across my skin.

"Sure you favour jumpers and the odd turtleneck when someone's extra mouthy... but even then. Even if you ignore all of that somehow... today. Just today... he would've known the moment he saw your mate marks. It's disrespectful to you (Y/N). It's crossing a limit, a line."

"Whose crossing limits? Cos I'm always up for some experimenting-" the playfully interjected voice trailing off once Tae reads the stiffness in Hobi's posture, the propriety and possessive touch at my neck.

"Hee Chul was... confessing."

A scowl. A harsh baring of fangs that snap at air.

An immediate knee-jerk reaction. Instinctive without conscious thought.

Tiger mode on.

Snapping right out of the playfulness.

"I don't like him-"

My lips curl, despite themselves, at the familiar rumble of words. An immediate grumbled dissent. From the cub who so eagerly makes friends.

"You my cub don't like quite a few people these days."

"Don't like people trying to get to mine."

"I'm going to talk to him."

"What? Why?"

"Just make sure he knows boundaries. Even if you were unmated, it's uncomfortable-you said it yourself!"

"He's... he's leaving soon. It's just a workplace schoolboy crush-"

"He's not a child."

"He makes you uncomfortable?" eyes a mixture of aching and worried but also gleaming with a sharp anger.

Tail curling and swatting at the thought.

"Not purposely-he's just... I don't think he understood. I tried telling him before-"

Two sharp growls laced with a rough fury.

"Definitely having that talk."

"No-he's going soon. There's no reason to-besides it's uncomfortable because it makes me feel bad..."

"(Y/N)."

"One. A person should understand that no means no."

"Two. You have no reason to feel bad."

"Three. It doesn't matter he's not staff, it's decency and extremely unprofessional and-"

"Rude and ill-mannered."

"Besides... if he's sorry then he should be fine with understanding where we come from."

"I just..."

"Did you do anything wrong by making your boundaries clear?"

"No."

"Did you do anything wrong by trying to talk to him about how you don't like it?"

"No."

A brief firm press of lips to mine.

"Then stop fretting cub."

"I'd hate for it to ruin things for him-"

"You kit have a bleeding heart. Let the big bad felines guard it." lips pressing to my cheek, nuzzling softly.

"Boundaries. He needs boundaries."

"A crush doesn't make people feel uncomfortable by it." words echoed, firm and steely.

Eyes soft though.

Softer when I nod, tilting my lips to brush against Hobi's jaw. Then Tae's.

"I don't need my big sweetheart felines always being the bad ones. I could do it."

"It's for my peace of mind. Not because I doubt you can't cut him down to size."

"Don't be mean." I warn, even as my lips trudge into a faint smile, heart feeling far too many flutters at the way protectiveness sears through their eyes, at the way even their grumbling soothes a lot of the unease I'd felt.

And at their unabashedly proud feline ways, protective and possessive at guarding.

"What would you do if someone tried to make a move on this pretty cub?" Hobi asks, brows raised, eyes sparkling with a confidence and assuredness when it unconsciously makes me balk at the idea. Does aren't biologically wired to growl but something akin to a harsh hiss of breath, lips thinning, and grumble makes their eyes light up.

Hand cupping my cheek.

"Was that a baby growl?"

Voice teasing and lilted with laughter, soft and teasing.

"Does our fawn kit have some fangs?"

"I'll bite you."

"Yes please."

Two pairs of eyes flashing with delight.

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

My pace quickens once I spot a familiar figure, leaning against the outside of the car, eyes brightening and dimpled indents deepening, body straightening up. Hands immediately snagging me once I'm close enough.

"Jooooooonie!"

"Hi baby~" arms folding me closer to press me to him, arms encasing me, solid warmth... heat as I tilt closer, lips brushing against his jaw in greeting.

"She didn't seem that happy to see me."

"She works with you. Let me have this." Joon laughs, the rumble of it pressing against me, a giddy infectiousness in his words and when I tilt my gaze up, there's nothing but warm shining happiness there. Not a trace of the sharp, assessing officer who had been at the park.

"You look really pretty Joonie." Delighting in the pink of his cheeks, the warm golden hue of his skin flushing with a warmth that gives me no little amount of satisfaction to know I put there. Taking in the fact that at some point he'd gotten rid of his hoodie and the clinging fit of his t-shirt, mapping out and highlighting broad shoulders and the thick strength of his arms and chest is all on display now.

Broad strength in the towering height and breadth of his frame, briefly tilting closer, resisting... resisting hard the urge to burrow myself into his chest.

"Big alpha wolf." Tae adds, voice low and rumbling with appreciation, eyes glinting as he takes him in, eyes raking over him in a way that whilst it deepens the flush on his cheeks, hand rubbing at the back of his head, it also makes his lips quirk. Lopsided dimply grin.

"Somehow I feel like all you've been doing today is taking every opportunity to seduce or charm."

"Like that hasn't been the very reason I've been given such a pretty back. To woo them~" he grins, fangy and boxy, snagging at Hobi's hands to whirl him around suddenly, laugh deep and warm, the type of sound that seeps into flesh and bones and makes its home there.

"I didn't see you trying to sweep me off my feet and dance with me in a flower garden." Joon retorts, the grumble only slightly heard in his voice, eyes narrowing as he looks at Tae continue to whirl Hobi about, their limbs entangled as they laugh. But the way his ears perk, striped ears standing to attention-I know he's heard. And over Hobi's shoulder he shoots Joon a wide grin, one arm unfurling from around Hobi to extend to Joon, a deep boxy grin.

"Didn't realise when you said you had eyes everywhere you meant everywhere-" an amusement lacing into the baritone of his voice, even as his fingers lace together with Joon's. Tugging him closer so that by extension the four of us are half-entangled with one another. A bubbling welling feeling of contentment at the way their laughs sink into my skin, the way that despite the blockers there's still a distinguishable scent of just them that clings to them as Joon's body brackets mine.

"Did you happen to see everything?" cheeks heating slightly at the intense darkening weight in his stare as he angles his head to look at me. Fingers curling tighter around me.

"Everything. Rather... adventurous and ambitious don't you think? To get pinned against a tree?"

"Should've joined us." The invite low and throaty, accompanied with the curl of a tail banding around my calf.

"Trust me-being the only officer on duty out of uniform and trying to keep people from the garden was struggle enough. Joining you-you're overestimating my restraint cub." Words laced with a bite of a growl, with a bite of impatience.

There's no knowing what he saw, how much he saw but the way his eyes glimmer, darkly, gives way to the coiling of heat that winds itself around me.

The sharp knowledge that gleams in his eyes that look all too aware. And even though there's no evidence of it now I remember that eager curiosity in gleaming tiger eyes, thumb brushing over my lips before he leant in.

"Not kiss-proof then." Eyes dilated slightly, smile trembling, swollen lips curled into a smile, his own mussed with the same shade I'd been wearing but smeared across his own before we'd left the flower garden.

And even the memory of it-fleeting and gnawing and pooling teasing want has burnt itself into my mind, branded itself into my consciousness.

A yelp slips past my lips, hand wrapping around my waist and tugging me out of sight, eyes sparkling and finger pressed to his lips.

"Shh... don't want anyone to catch us." Grin conspiring and mischievous, tugging me out of sight, tugging me away until he's steering us down past a cluster of bushes and then out into this vastness, an endless vastness of flowers, fingers tugging gently at my ribbon.

"Flower field for flower fairy."

"Where'd you find this!"

"Top secret. Can't have anyone else discovering the garden before I've gotten to bring you here."

"It's beautiful."

"You're beautiful." Without missing a beat.

"Charmer."

A rumble of a chuff, a boxy grin that stretches wider when I tug him closer, tug him further into the blooms, surrounded by the myriad of flowers that'll bloom further into richer hues, that slowly slowly will fill the entire space. But there's already flowers beginning to bloom, there's already clusters of rich vivid colours which have been grown then planted here.

"You're really, really beautiful. Pretty too. My handsome tiger."

"Sweet talking me now that you've got me alone?"

"Maybe~"

Body turning in the circle of his arms, hand skimming up from his arm to brush against the side of his neck, fingers skimming up to cup his cheek, watching as he tilts into the touch.

Leaning in towards him, fingers curled loose into his shirt to press closer to him, feel his hands tug me closer, clasping at my hips.

"You look really happy today."

"I am really happy."

"You smell happy."

"Blockers worn off?"

"Keep running around and it's all I can smell-pretty flower. Make it so hard you know." Voice dipping lower, a lilting softness to the low rumble of his words that has my body unconsciously pressing closer, fingers curling tighter into the loose fabric of his shirt. Feeling the heat of his body seep through the thin material.

"What does?"

"Knowing that if it was just us... then I'd be chasing you with a very different intention in mind."

"Whatever could my sweet berry cub intend~"

The press of his lips are laced with want, the hand that skims from my hips to brush up my spine, to tug me closer, a sudden, sharper twist of motion as he angles his mouth, kissing me deeper, with the faint remnants of a growl muffled against the parting seam of my lips. The firmer press of his body caging and looming, crowding against me, desperate to chase away any remnant or trace of memory or sight that isn't entirely taken up by him, lips chasing his. Groaning against his mouth, feel the brush of his tail banding closer, feel his hand skim up my waist as my own entangles in his hair.

And we might've been wearing scent blockers-steadily worn off during the course of the day but Joon hadn't been wearing a single trace of one. So I note it the moment his scent changes-turns stronger, sharper with

And they might be wearing blockers, but they can smell the moment my scent changes.

"Oh~ you'd like that alpha hyungie?"

A trace of mischief.

My eyes flitter over him, narrowing with curiosity, lips quirking slightly at the way his eyes flash before his expression tries... fails to perfectly smoothen out impassively, expression far too open and expressive, dark brown eyes holding far too much weight. Watch his eyes flit to my lips, watch them darken slightly. And I know... I know he's noticed that the same lipstick he'd noted earlier is more mussed over Tae's lips-faint traces of it left, than on my own.

"If you keep staring at me like that Officer, it might become public indecency."

A flash of sharp canines past his lips. A soft low rumble.

Promising. Sharp.

"I think you two have already reached past that." The scent of forest dew rich and heady, his scent betraying that what he'd seen was branded on the inside of his mind. That what he'd seen, that sharp coil of desire burns itself into his pheromones.

And then a lilted low coyness, a feigned demureness that's at odds with the lazy appraisal in slow batting lashes that do nothing to disguise the predator goading another.

"Guess you liked the show too much then alpha."

A strangled intake of breath.

A roughness in it that makes Hobi's lips curl and his fingers grip at me harder.

"Not as much as I know you liked giving it pup."

And my skin burns with the realisation, the knowledge that in those moments there'd been a second mate entangled in it. And one that Tae had had every wicked delight in taunting.

Menace.

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

"That dress." Hobi's voice is low, deep... deeper than I've heard it and the rasp in his words unconsciously makes my body still, something dark and predatory in the rough exhale, in the way his eyes are pinned to me when I turn.

"What about it?"

"I thought denim was hard enough to see your legs in but-" eyes drifting low unashamedly, gaze dragging down the length of my body then lingering at my hips, skimming lower over the skirt of the dress, over my legs.

Something so hungry in the weight of his eyes that it makes my body feel flushed, makes me tilt my head, appraising-watching the way his eyes track the movement.

"But..."

"But fuck if I won't have fantasies of you looking like that."

"Why just fantasies Hobi~ if you really like it I could dress for you like this."

"For me?" eyes flashing with a carnal want, with a searing proud possessiveness that makes my skin spark with heat.

"For you." I echo.

Watching in turn the steps closer he takes, something so predator in the unrushed pace, in the slow approaching gait that's pure animal in the way he looks at me. As if he's taking in his next hunt. Eyes sharp with focus.

"You look so gorgeous." Words laced with a sharp rumble that doesn't let the flutter in my pulse settle long enough before it skips a beat, before it lurches violently in my chest at the way his voice drips with heavy need, the way his eyes blaze with how turned on he is, how turned on he is by looking at me.

Whatever years of settling into my own skin had happened all melt with the way Hobi looks at me, with the way his gaze settles on me as if he can't bear to look away. As if to do so would physically agonise him. Whatever years it'd taken for my biology to settle with me, he looks at me as if not for a single moment could I be anything but desirable in his eyes.

And the intensity of that realisation, of that affirmation in dark irises, swimming with desire, makes me feel more and more-infinitely more emboldened in my own skin.

A part of me knows I shouldn't tease.

Some part of me knows that biologically it's harder for a prey to win against a predator.

Another part of me whispers, hushed and goading, that that's never always the case. Not if you know how to use your biology well.

And another part of me relishes in that coil of heated mischief, whispers that it's even better if I use his biology against him.

Knowing full well the damning impact of riling up a predator, knowing and having experienced it I already know that when the line teeters and blurs between attraction and carnality-it's so easy for it to be erased entirely.

But some part of me always takes that step too far, takes the step to erase the line myself.

Watching his eyes track my movements with a slow trailing gaze, an easy looseness to his limbs even as his feet come to a still.

But I see the way his throat bobs. Notice the way he swallows hard at the way my fingers tease at the hem of the dress' skirt. The way when I tease at it, his eyes drop low and settle on the expanse of skin, fabric skimming up as I tug it loosely.

And I see the way his jaw clenches, the muscle in it ticking and eyes turning feline, turning predator, turning sharp as I take a step back.

Then another.

Choosing to increase the distance. Stepping further away from him and closer to the edge of the bed.

Sinking down on the edge of it, noting the glint in his eyes before there's a sudden lunge of movement, hands slipping around to grip at my ankles, dragging upwards. A sudden lunge of movement that tears a startled yelp out my throat before I'm trying to scrabble backwards.

Hands dragging upwards from my calves to hook around the low of my thighs, a crowding motion before Hobi's pressing closer to me, hands firm as they tug to settle between my legs. Creating a space for himself.

Eyes gleaming.

Sharp intense eyes that glint with a heady promise, words low and lilted, a smooth drawled rumble that's akin to the sweetening caramel of his scent. Thick with promise and arousal.

"What're you playing at kit?"

"Me? Nothing." Lips curling into a faint grin.

His eyes drop lower, the curling smirk thrilled and goading, head ducking lower to brush his lips to the corner of my mouth, drawing back before I can tilt to the touch, before I can chase his lips.

"No? Nothing?"

"Absolutely." Word lilted, lips skimming against his jaw.

A faint nipped scrape of teeth, tongue flicking briefly over the line of his jaw, feel it tighten, feel him stiffen above me, feel his hands drag upwards, brushing against my thighs.

Touch exploratory and lazy, unrushed and thorough.

"Then... want me to do nothing?" words goading, but underneath, laced and intertwined with the deepening timbre of his voice is a genuineness to his question.

My hand grasps at his wrist, tugging him closer, skimming down to grip at his hand, drawing it upwards, thighs angling open, body tilting up to murmur against his lips.

"Don't you dare."

"Oh? Is that a challenge?"

"If you won't I'll find another feline that's perhaps willing... wouldn't want to push would I?" a hard nip of fangs sinking into my bottom lip, of one hand drifting up to curl fingers into my waistband, tugging harsh at the fabric.

His other hand darts out, grip firm as he angles my jaw to him, dark eyes piercing and sharp, a gleam of possessiveness and want rearing its head.

Tongue flicking against the harsh sting of fangs, not enough to soothe as much as it is to brush across in a sweeping slow touch that coaxes my mouth to part. Lax under his.

"Dangling yourself as bait isn't the wisest choice pretty fawn." Words dropping impossibly lower, a soft kiss that draws back all too soon, a faint tease of a taste of his mouth pressed to mine, thumb brushing over my lips, dipping lower to drag slow against the faint indents of fangs.

Eyes darkening at the brush of my tongue flickering briefly against him.

"Because you might be ours but right now-right now I don't feel like sharing your pleasure or your taste with anyone."

"Not even me? Got space for one more Hoseokie hyung?" the tight stiffness in his body firming, body cagey even as his head turns, even as the thickening scent of nutty caramel lightens a fraction, a lopsided grin, fangy and heart-shaped, as he spots the figure in the doorway.

"...I could make an exception. As long as you lock the door bun." A few long moments later, body half pressed to mine, tilted closer, the skirt of the dress pushed up. Hands possessive, sprawled over my thighs.

He slips in, the sound of the lock clicking into place sending a jolt of thrumming anticipation through me. Particularly, at the way Kook's grin is full of mischief. I've felt that grin against my skin even whilst tasting the scent of sharp arousal burning its trail through my lungs.

That grin spells trouble. Promises it.

"What happened about not sharing with anyone?" voice turning wavery when his fingers dip under the waistband, dragging the fabric down my thighs, a grinned preening satisfaction in Kook's voice, the bed dipping. Knuckles skimming against the side of my calf.

"Oh. That's one of mine."

"Pretty bun wears pretty lace?" looking dazed at the thought, the pooling headiness of his scent making my breath catch in my throat.

"One of the ones I got (Y/N)." he amends, a contemplating gleam in his eyes, teasing as he sinks onto the bed, fingers skimming over my shoulder, over where he knows that the lace came as a matching set.

"Why? Want me dolled up in lace too?"

"Fucking hell Jungkook-ah." Words rasping thickly. Head falling forward, fingers sinking into his hair, the shade of auburn having darkened slightly. Tugging at his hair to tug his lips to mine, mouth pressing hard against his in askance, in want, something to steady the spiralling headiness of his scent-needing his touch firmer, harder, lips bruising as they crush to mine. Sinking into the kiss with a groan that's swallowed by the parting of my mouth, by the sweep of my tongue chasing the heat of his as it stakes claim.

His desires silenced, poured out into the kiss, fangs turning harsh against my lips, teeth sinking in hard, tugging out a keening wanting sound that's swallowed by the press of his tongue chasing mine, by the grip of his hand skimming from my jaw to curl against my nape, tugging me up, further into the kiss, further into the possessive heat of his lips pressed to mine.

Head tilting back, the line of my throat arched, presented for the press of lips that skim down them, that linger at my pulse, teeth skimming with a slow teasing press of a smile against my skin.

"Presenting for hyung? Or me baby?"

Feel a shuddered sound slip past my lips at the skim of fingers trailing back up under my skirt, skimming across bare skin, trailing to the inside of my thigh before dragging upwards.

The first touch of his fingers are light, slowly circling closer to the apex of my thighs, torturously slow and gauging-feeling the weight of his stare fix on my face, skimming over my features, watching, testing, gauging. Lips quirking when the brush of his finger easing in, slow, slow... tormentingly slow, dipping down to press against the tremble of my mouth.

"Barely touching you and you're doing so good for me kit."

"Isn't she? Makes the prettiest sounds if you know how to." Voice lilting against skin, pressing lingering kisses against the line of my throat, dipping lower to slot grinning lips against my scent gland. The lingering kiss melting into the torment of his tongue flicking against the sensitive tissue and then the scrape of teeth, a harsh suck that has my back arching hard, moan muffled against Hobi's lips, body twisting futilely for some sort of respite from the dual simulation of lips and fingers. The curling twisting motion of his touch testing and learning.

"I'll learn how to." Eyes dark and promising, the weight of his words lingering against my lips even as he draws back slightly, gaze dropping lower-something enthralling and desperately wanting about the way his eyes track his hand, thumbing circles against my nub-sending sharp pinpricks of pleasure to jolt through my body. The pleasure harsh against my senses, growing and bubbling at the slow brush of his finger twisting and bending, throat arched under Kook's touch. Glands pulsing with scent. Betraying just how readily my scent spirals and crumbles for the two of them.

A dizzying rush that makes my head spin when another finger eases in, when the slow curling thrust of his fingers are at odds with the rough, relentless circling motions of his thumb, hips bucking up, pushing desperately into the touch. His name torn from my lips.

There's something heady in the way the low murmur against my skin is what guides the pace of the hand between my thighs. There's something dizzying about the way that Hobi doesn't need the guidance, doesn't need the tips Kook whispers into skin, lathing bitten kisses into skin, fingers tugging at the dress strap. Easing it down a shoulder so his lips can continue their downwards descent unhindered.

"How does it feel baby?" words lilted, roughened with lust.

My hand curls tight against Hobi's wrist, hips rocking into the touch even as that pleasure, that tight coiling pressure continues to wind itself around the low of my abdomen. Spiralling pleasure that sends jolts of it-sharp and electric, that make my back arch, twisting as my teeth sink hard into my bottom lip.

"Hobi...Hobi... Hobi please."

"Jungkook-ah asked you something kit."

"More."

"Not the answer."

"...feels good. Too good. Don't stop."

"You heard her hyung-don't stop."

In response his fingers sink deeper, tugging out pleasure with a gleaming hunger that pools in his eyes, that seeps into the thickening sweetness of his scent and entangles with cotton and anise.

Body shifting so he's no longer crowding over me, drawing himself lower, fingers skimming against skin before he eases back, slick fingers pressing tight to the inside of my thigh before he lowers himself down between them.

Wicked sharp fanged grin from between my thighs, dark lidded eyes hazed with pleasure, hips unconsciously rutting into the mattress as he looks at me.

"Couldn't if I tried."

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

"I thought you didn't want me to stop?"

"Fuck-Hobi... too-" hips rocking down, pushing into the touch even as my legs tremble, still feeling the strong aftershocks of the peak that's barely ebbed before he's dipping his mouth lower, tongue flicking against me. Tugging out a sharp cry, fingers carding through my hair, brushing against my side, soothing touches that's at odds with the sharp sting of teeth against my bud.

"What sort of mates would we be if we didn't give our fawn everything she wanted?"

"Jungkook-Kook I..."

"Doing so well for hyung. Doing so well for me." Praise heavy and low against my skin, sinking deeper into that fogged haze of cotton and caramel. Feeling his lips press against me, mouth sinking down against the pert bud he's worked to an achingly sensitive stiffness so that the brush of his teeth and tongue-taunting and toying tugs a broken sound from my throat, back arching as my hips buck, body twisting as I clutch at his hair. Trying to tug at him, draw the torment away, hot feverish pinpricks of heat that makes pleasure bloom low in my core.

I don't know how long it's been. Don't know how long since that door had clicked shut or the two of them had begun their slow, thorough mapping of each curve and dip with their lips. How long since the low crooning taunt in Jungkook's voice petered out to a breathlessness, eyes dilated with pleasure and hand wrapped around his length, tugging and bucking into his touch to spiral towards his peak. Don't know how long it'd been when fingers had tightened in my hair and his body had crowded mine, thumb against my bottom lip. His peak spilling down my throat, staining tongue and lips.

I don't know how long it's been since Hobi's mouth has replaced the torment of his fingers filling me. Don't know how long my mouth has parted in plea, in want, their names ragged breaths that slip past lax lips that are branded with the shape of Kook's mouth against my own.

Hazed by the fog of their scents that press closer, closer, bodies curved close to me, caging, possessive. The teasing slow flicks of his tongue, head buried between my thighs, hair entangled tightly between my fingers. The mix of pain-pleasure, stinging arousal that jolts through me, fingers toying with one pert bud, nail scraping against it, slowly circling and toying, twisting between his fingers. And the other with the heat of his mouth and the scrape of his teeth. So achingly stimulated that the barest of touches is enough to make my body jolt... twisting futilely in the sheets at the relentless dual simulation of his touch.

Trapped in that fog of pleasure that both of them inflict, that steady welling wave spirals, fingers gripping harsh at Kook's hair, angling his mouth up and to my own, breaths ragged against his lips, chasing the slow thoroughness of his mouth against mine. Chasing the soft waver of his breaths and the murmured praise entangled with my name, the brush of his hand up and down my waist, squeezing lightly.

"When you look at me like that, how am I meant to stop?" the question breathy, sparkling eyes peering down at me, a loose smile curled at his lips, pressing his smile against my mouth, tongue slowly sweeping over my own, curling through my mouth. Swallowing the petered waver of breath, the quiet groan of his name. The harsher keen of breath too when my hips buck up, a choked sob stuck in my throat at the firm pinning weight of Hobi's hand across my front, the tightening grip of his hand at my thigh-touch bruising and weighted. Keeping me trapped in place, to the scrape of his teeth sending electric pulses of arousal splintering across my skin, tongue curling as it sinks in.

My hand brushes from his hair down his nape, a faint tremble to them as they grip tight at his shoulder, dragging lower, fingers brushing against the taut muscle of his torso. Feel his body jolt, press closer with a quiet keen, with a trembling lazy smile as his lips skim against my jaw. Curving into the touch of my fingers finding his nipple, feel his body jolt harsh, hips rocking against my side, rutting against me as my fingers mimic his own, teasing touches that feel far too much as his thumb brushes over me, nail scraping against the pert stiffness. Tugging a harsh exhale, a low curse.

Lazy lingering touches that are more to steady myself, even as Kook tilts to the touch, even as his hand eases away to draw mine down the planes of his torso, feel his muscles shift and bunch under my touch. Responding to it.

"Tryna make Kook feel good too?" voice low and drawled from between my legs, lips pressing nipping kisses against the inside of my thighs, delighting in the squirmed jolts of my body, the tremors he can feel as my thighs clench around him. Attempting to close but the gripped hold of his hand pins open again, mouth inching back up.

"Pretty preys." Honeyed murmured praise that has Kook's hips rutting against my side, his hand guiding mine lower until it's wrapped around his length. Until his eyes dazed and dark hold mine, breathy want pressed to my lips.

"So pretty." I echo, fingers loosening from Hobi's hair, skimming down his nape. The other curling tighter around Jungkook, watching the flutter of his eyes, watch them dilate as he rocks into the touch, hips rolling forward to chase the slick friction of my palm. Fingers tightening. Taking in the way his throat bobs as he tilts closer, head burrowed against my throat, breaths sharp and ragged but still he tilts his mouth up for a kiss. Messy, wanting, uneven breaths muffled against one another.

Pleasure dizzying and consuming, crashing in large waves that are pushed further and further, prolonged even as my thighs lock around Hobi, even as I feel his teeth sink hard enough on the inside of my thigh to leave a bruising bite.

Dazed as I slump into the sheets, even as my hand reflexively tightens-tugs a harsh groan from the lips at my jaw, a ragged erraticness to the pace of the thrusts against my side before warmth spills over my fingers, across my hip and thigh. Before the scrape of fangs skim up, tongue against skin. Chasing the spilled pleasure with a throaty rasped groan.

Eyes dark and heavy, pure predator, when Hobi draws himself up, lips swollen and slick and grin breathless. Hair mussed and tousled and the strain in his boxers as he adjusts himself, a hazy grin at the betraying scent of arousal and release.

"You-"

"Do you know how much of a turn on it is to know this-" fingers skimming light against the inside of my thigh, grinning at the tremor.

"Is because of me?"

"It's enough to bring a man to his knees beautiful."

A breathless satiated smile in Kook's words.

"She likes that too."

[......]

"Tae's going to be so mad."

"He'll live."

"But he-"

"Gets payback."

[......]

The door's marked with a faint indent that hadn't been there before. And its owner is the glowering tiger staring hard and intently as he tracks every step.

Eyes flashing as he looks at Hobi.

"Don't even think about trying to warm my sheets tonight." He sniffs, head turned up high as he turns away from the grin on Hobi's lips, haughty swats of his tail that bat at his touch when he approaches, arms crossed over his chest. Swatting at coaxing fingers that attempt to brush down his spine, attempt to appease his riled mate.

Hand reaching out to swipe sudden at my arm as I move past, tucking me behind me, glowering, towering looming height as he stares at Hobi.

Tail swatting and nudging me back.

"Or about taking my mate from me. You're not invited to whatever rendezvous I find at work." Nose turned up, turned away, glowering and grumbling as Hobi nips at his cheek, fingers smooshing and trying to elicit a smile.

"No?"

"No! We don't believe in locked doors-you know that Hobi!"

A grin curls at heart-shaped lips.

"So it was you?"

"Here I was trying to find my cub and what's that? She's been hidden-kept under lock and key and I don't get to even watch!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" he laughs, hands held up placatingly.

Head angled ever so slightly to the side in coaxing surrender.

A sharp hiss that his laugh peters off into at the hard bite he gets at the crook of his throat, grumbled half-growls rumbling against skin even as Tae bullies his way into a hug, tugging and manoeuvring at Hobi so he's wrapped up into his hyung's hold. Tail poking sharply at his side as Hobi squirms.

"You do that again and I'll-"

"You'll?" wrong choice Hobi.

"Well you certainly won't be getting any pillow talk from me!"

"You can have pillow talk with me Tae~" I lilt from behind, watch the way his tail quickens, picks up pace. How when he wrestles himself free from the tight hug Hobi's wrapped him into, his eyes shine, a chuff rumbling in his throat.

"All yours cub~"

JIN POV:

"Jinnie?"

My head turns towards the door, pausing in fluffing up the pillows and cushions at the head of the bed, wings fluttering when I see (Y/N) step into my room, hands holding up three options.

My head tilts, a smile playing at my lips. Growing wider. Indulgent, fond and preening when she asks.

"Choose one for me?"

"Want me to decide chickie?"

"Well you have an affinity for pretty things, you're really pretty and I want to look a bit pretty too."

"Charmer. Ever thought that you're way too pretty anyways? Always make my wings and heart flutter." I lilt, watching as she steps forward, a smile on her lips but a pink flush steadily tinging her cheeks, warming them.

"Not going to help then pretty swan?"

My hands snag at her waist, tugging her close, wings flapping and fluttering even as my ears warm.

"It'll cost you."

"What will it cost?"

"A kiss."

"How so princely of you. Ending it with a kiss."

"Yet you're the one who's so charming and wooing me. Even so-do we have a deal sweetheart?" though I'd do anything for her, though the fact that she wanted my opinion, wanted to wear what I chose, to dress pretty for me makes my heart flutter with a tenderness for the curvy fawn in my arms.

"Deal. I'd kiss you without-I would hope I could kiss you regardless."

"Don't need to ask~ I would swoon for you any day beautiful. I'll give up all my time to be kissed by you." relishing in the pink hue that flushes her cheeks, the slight widening of her eyes and the way her expression startles. Blushes.

Fingers skimming over the options before tugging at the hem of the dress.

"This one."

"Prettier than the others?"

"Sometimes it's pure selfishness sweetheart. I want to see you in a dress. Want to see those pretty legs." Voice dipping lower, eyes skimming over her, delighting in how responsive she is, how the smallest, minute shifts in her body language broadcast all I need to know, all I want to know gleaned from the way her fingers curl slightly or the way her throat bobs. The slight, unconscious tilt of her head to subtly tilt her head for me, presenting her jaw and the curve of her throat without even realising.

Pretty prey presenting her neck.

There's something so wholly satisfied, on more than just a primal, biological level to know that I can affect my mate's scent without even detecting it, that I can read their body, read her tells so well that I know just what's caused it. Know that her scent sweetens and the way her instincts, just like the others, respond to me regardless of predator or prey dynamic. That I don't need to be a predator to know that every single mate, that the softness of (Y/N)'s flushed cheeks and tilted head is all the invite and willingness of her biology wanting to be encased by my own, by my scent-faint and lost had it not been for the vanilla warm sweetness that clings to my skin-she wants it to cling to her own.

"Can I help you get ready?"

A flicker of tease flashes through her eyes, even as she tilts to me, lashes fluttering-the motion of them utterly entrancing, gaze riveted to the small nod even as she lilts playfully.

"Going to charge me for that too?"

"Actually-my chickie just confessed all she wants to do is kiss me. I don't need to charge her."

There it is-that pretty flush that deepens slightly, that I know means that her scent warms too, sweetens.

I don't need to be able to smell her scent to know that it's sweetened because of me, wings fluttering at the knowledge, hands skimming up and down her sides, tugging her closer when she nods, a smile curling deeper across her lips. Head briefly ducking to brush my lips to hers, a faint ghost of a touch that's just as much torment for me as it is her, the brief peck far too short, wings flapping restless even as I draw back. Hand cupping her jaw, angling her face to me, fingers brushing against her cheek.

"That wasn't a kiss. That was barely even a peck."

"Oh? What's the difference between a peck and a kiss? I'm sure this counts." Voice teasing, fingers skimming from her jaw to her ear, dipping lower to brush slowly down the line of her throat, feel the shudder that wracks through her at the touch.

She dithers, eyes narrowing briefly.

My head angles to the side, watching her. Looking at her, or the others, is something I could never tire of. Not when each observation gleans so much about them.

Not when right now looking at her tells me so easily how she's gauging whether to let herself be pulled into the question.

Tilting her face up.

"I could show you."

My lips ghost along hers, turning at the last moment to press a kiss to the corner of her mouth, watching a faint scowl twist her features.

Wanting nothing more than to kiss it away.

Maybe... maybe wanting to tease her just a little bit more.

"Use your words beautiful. What's the difference?"

"If you'd kissed me there should've been tongue." A sharp glint in her eyes that spells trouble in the same way that perked ears and scrunched grins and the lilted hyuuung is. It's trouble in the same way that's sharp nipped kisses and low breathless murmurs, heart-shaped lips parted with a grin and body angled with welcome. It's trouble in the way that's the slow curling swished sway of a stripey tail and eyes trained sharply. Trouble in the way that's the slow drape of a puffy thick tail over a lap and saccharine sweetness from lips that are parted with pearly mischief and crinkled eyes. It's trouble in the way that's deep dimpled smiles and guilty eyes.

If there's one things my mates are is that they're trouble. And a handful.

My hand skims down from (Y/N)'s waist to her hips, eyes flashing with the same flicker of carnal want that crackles and sets fire to lust and desire that simmers dormant... controlled in my veins. Threatens to set it all ablaze.

More than a handful, all generous curves and soft supple skin and large doe eyes and an intensity in her eyes that not only draws me further, deeper into the lure of her.

"My bad." I whisper, voice hushed, fingers brushing over the soft worn material of her pyjamas, plucking lightly at them, fingers delving under skin to brush against her hip.

"I'll fix that. Once I've gotten you into the dress."

"Not right after you've gotten me out of my clothes?"

My wings flap, a bubble of laughter, low and quiet.

"You're on a mission this morning (Y/N)." name murmured soft on my lips, automatically curling up at the way she leans into me slightly, her own hand skimming up my arm.

"Maybe I've heard too much from Hobi to not be impatient now."

"Ever thought the plan was to take it slow?"

"So that you'll have me begging by the end of it? Hobi told me you like that."

My wings arch out, splaying wider, a grin tugging at my lips even as my skin burns with the knowledge that Hobi's divulged such taunting, incriminating details. Lips curling with an amusement even as my mind screams with want, eyes raking over her with a thorough intensity though all the fantasising wouldn't be able to conjure the image of the true thing.

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

"Jinnie please..." the begged implore for something unknown but regardless I tilt closer, body bracketing hers firmly against Kookie's...

No imagining could ever be the real thing.

And if I wasn't so aware of how much this picnic meant to her, how much this day meant to her, the turning of the season and this freedom that makes her eyes glow... if it wasn't so essential there'd be nothing more I'd find worthy committing my time and focus to than making her do just that.

"I'll be delighted to find out everything Hobi has mentioned and conveniently left out. But what can I say little fawn? I don't want to make you oh so awfully late by forgetting that it's about getting you ready. Not kept to my sheets."

"Jin you can't just-"

My fingers drift to the buttons of her pyjama top, deft at undoing them, eyes scanning over the expanse of skin that's bared more and more, eyes committing each line and curve and dip to memory even though it's long since branded itself there.

"Can't what?" words gauging, testing.

"Can't just tease-"

"Why not flower? Did Hobi not tell you that I love to tease? Did he leave that for you to find out?" I laugh softly, watching her eyes flash, lips twisting with a complaint that I've seen all too much on Kook and Hobi's face from thorough experience.

Only one solution for it, lips skimming across hers, this time indulgently slow, this time the brief brush of her mouth to mine isn't enough. This time my fingers skim from her jaw, sink in to cradle the back of her head, mouth angled to hers-unrushed as my lips chase hers, press to the warmth of her, lips parting easily, readily to deepen the kiss. Tongue brushing against the seam of my lips, teeth sinking against my bottom lip, tilting towards me as her hands wrap around my neck. Tugging me closer to her. Everything seems to be rushed and in haste, seems to be fleeting and blurring but this moment... this instant there's no rush, there's nothing I would let this be blurred by. Fingers brushing against her nape, skimming lower to brush the pad of my fingers against a healed mating bite but still so new, still so sensitive, something I know it'll always be, relishing in the way her body shudders and arches in my touch, the way the soft whimpered sound she makes muffled against my lips and tongue makes my wings arch and splay out, proud and preening at having elicited the sound from her, tongue flicking against her, eager to taste the sound from her lips again.

Quiet shuddery breaths tremble against my lips, against hers, tasting the honeyed sweetness of her scent, it lingers on my tongue-stronger and more detectable than it could be by nose alone. A preening satisfaction in knowing that its sweetened by my touch, lips chasing mine even as I draw back, ragged breaths shared between the small distance of our lips. My eyes skimming over swollen lips, a flash of visceral heat searing through me at the thought of lipstick mussing them instead.

Lips brushing against her jaw, briefly skimming lower, fingers pressing firmer to her mating bite at the same time as my mouth ghosts along her scent gland, the tremble of her breaths shuddering with a keen, tilting her head in a presented arch. Legs trembling, near buckling, hand tightening at her hip, tugging her further to me.

There's something innately satisfied, something beyond the predator-prey dynamic that would demand it, crave the arch of her throat, the baring of her glands, the giving willingness to present and surrender her vulnerabilities to me. There's something in her biology that trusts and gives to me but there's a greater thrum of fulfilment and pleasure at knowing I have that effect on her.

Lips skimming slower across her gland, lips stained with her scent.

"What I would give to have ruined your lips more sweetheart. Let me find you a pretty lipstick... give someone else the chance. For you to leave your claim so visibly too."

Her eyes are lidded, lashes fluttering as she blinks slowly... dazed my mind whispers with no little pleasure, fingers tightening as they skim over my nape, across my hair briefly before her hands draw back. Skim lower to grip at my forearms.

"Why do I feel you'd enjoy the sight of catching the lipstick on someone else?"

"I think you know (Y/N) that I like to see my mates lost in one another. If I can't see it-I wouldn't mind trying to guess from its aftermath."

The tilt of her head is angled, curious and amused as she leans back against the dresser, watching me rifle through to choose a lipstick, a further tilt to invite me to put it on her.

"You're a minx." The words murmured against her lips, careful to not fall into temptation, to ruin her lipstick already, a faint... faint tinge of it on my lips.

"Guess you'll learn with time Jinnie just how much."

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

Today... today there's a cloud of scents-entangled with happiness so rich and strong that I can taste it before I can even see them.

And the sight of them, flushed with giddiness and large smiles makes my wings flutter, feathers rustling at the sight of them.

Tae. it's Tae whose lips proudly bears the spoils of her lips, lipstick mussed against his grin with a pride that's in the sweet, sweet berried richness of his scent that seeps off him. That's the first thing I notice.

The second, third and fourth is that (Y/N)'s flower crown is still perfectly intact and with her own floral scent the nickname's never been more apt. Flower Bambi, that there's no trace of worry or sharp stiffness in Joon's posture and gaze, deep dimples on display and that Hobi's body is pressed close to (Y/N)'s side, ears twirling and heart-shaped grin beaming. Radiant.

The first things I notice are my mates.

What's so starkly different is (Y/N). A renewed sense of life brimming in her-a radiance that I hadn't known was missing in such depth until she glows with happiness. A piece of her life she hasn't lost.

Because there'd been a sourness, a wilted heaviness, a lingering sadness that'd clung to (Y/N) towards the end of winter, seemed to intensify all the more with the approach of the end of season.

And it'd been a sadness that she'd tried to push back, that she'd tried to evade from being caught up in but its tendrils still wound their hold around her, tried to clutch her deeper.

But that sadness melts, it thaws.

The more days progressed to the spring picnic, the more her scent lightened as if finally-finally she can breathe.

And knowing that somewhere, something inside her ached and remained trapped and isolated, that felt shut away... knowing there was nothing we could do about it, never without sacrificing her safety-and that alone stifled away countless moments when all I wanted to do was lace my hand with hers and tug her out of the apartment.

And seeing... seeing today push that ache away...

It makes me yearn, want nothing more than every day to be today for her.

For today to be the beginning of her next chapter, her next step towards freedom, normalcy and life.

"Pretty lipstick cub."

A chuffing rumble deep and proud.

"Like it? Borrowed it off (Y/N)."

"Borrowed?" brows rising as she turns to look at him, his fingers gently tugging at a loose strand of hair.

"I'll return it of course. With the same method." A gleaming promise in his eyes, in his low voice.

But the look on Hobi's eyes suggests that that all might have to wait.

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

The scents of sticky sweet caramel and cotton are tell-tale scents that my body seems to be conditioned to respond to. And entangled with the floral sweetness of (Y/N)'s scent there's an immediate, unconscious tilt towards the scent, every inch of my body freezing, stilling. Rooted in place as the base of my wings tighten, a coiling thrum of hunger that sears itself through my veins, wings splaying wide as I turn towards the scent.

And oh-that's my shirt, wings fluttering with a satisfaction as I watch (Y/N) slip out the room the next morning, her noiseless treads doing nothing to hide how thoroughly rumpled, wrecked, she looks, skin bearing the claim of their scents and touch, fingers tugging at the shirt, doe eyes widening at the rippled growl that and flash of fangs and sharp predatory eyes that track her movements. I don't know which of them had the shirt to begin with but knowing that it's mine makes the space between my wing blades, the base of them all tingle and spark as if fingers have brushed down them.

The same glowering predator watching with a slowly curling, swaying tail as she steps into the kitchen, far too much smugness on Hobi's face to even appear contrite or apologetic even as he crowds closer to Tae, heart-shaped grin just as much provoking and damning as it is meant to be coaxing.

Those tiger instincts, rearing their head, melting into cub-playful, mischievous and possessive as he wraps a tail around (Y/N), tugging her to him, arms wrapping around her in a koala hold.

A fondness bubbles up as I look at Hobi trying to appease a pouting, grumbling cub, fingers carding through messy curls and against the back of stripey ears. Easy tactile affection especially to try coax Tae and get on his good side again.

A pulse of mischief that makes my wings flutter, eyes flickering over Hobi's betrayed stare as he twists to look at me.

"You'll have to be extra alert cub-Hobi can be very selfish when it comes to stealing and hogging someone away." A glimmer of amusement at the shared countless times he'd been possessive, unexplained, unnamed jealousy that both of us had felt at times but never addressed.

And undoubtedly-since the time we'd been together at uni, the dynamic we'd shared... undoubtedly since then he's learnt to share, a smile toying at my lips.

The dynamic between the three felines, the newer, increasingly deeper and stronger bond of a pack... Hobi's learnt to share.

Even if felines in general... have a tad bit of possessiveness when it comes to certain moments, certain inclinations to even for a while steal away pleasure.

It's attractive. So, so attractive.

It doesn't mean I can't just... nudge a bit of trouble his way.

Watching Tae's eyes flash as he winds his arms more firmly, securely around (Y/N)-her own eyes catching mine, glimmering amusement in them as she reads me so easily.

"Hyung! I told you that was a misunderstanding-"

"It's okay kit~ I never said it wasn't hot. I'm just saying... some things don't always change."

His eyes spark, narrowing slightly.

That tug of attraction, of that push and pull, of knowing just which buttons to press-that hasn't changed.

It's grown.

And I'll enjoy it even more so.

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

"Will you-" hand outstretched as (Y/N) holds out a bag, looking to both me and Kookie, having rushed out into the hallway as we got ready to leave.

I know what's in the bag without checking, know what the tenderness in her eyes is, know that what she holds out is comfort for her pack.

"Don't even need to ask." Kookie grins, ears flopping with affection, brushing against his cheeks as he takes the proffered bag by looping his hand around her wrist, immediately nuzzling at her cheek. Arms wrapped around her in a bear hug, happily swaying side to side with her in his arms.

It makes her melt into his hold, wrapping her arms around him, tilting her head up to nudge her nose against his throat, nuzzling into his skin, against his gland, pressing slow pecks against the curve of his neck.

Wings fluttering where they're tucked against my back, at the way her smile and scent soften, nose nudging against her temple, against her hair as Kook briefly burrows into her, arms fractionally tightening before he slowly...slowly relinquishes his cradled hold.

"Spring-Eunwoo... Eunwoo will need them especially." A gentle tenderness in the infliction of her voice as she looks at the bag Kookie holds now, nodding as he clutches it to him.

"I'll make sure he gets them."

"Give Binnie and Woo the biggest hugs you can."

This time she's swept in both of our arms, cradling, sandwiching her tight and snug between the both of us, arms wrapped around her to somehow meld her to us, her scent to cling to clothes and skin, clutching her with the same tight hugs I know she wants to give her packmates.

"Now they'll have your hugs being given to them." I smile.

Watching as her eyes crinkle at the edges, nodding.

"And if either of them are looking sad then give them a lecture too-I do over phone, but it doesn't have the same impact of doing it face to face." And even underlying the quiet laughter laced into her words is concern for them.

"I'll do that too love." I reassure.

Though whilst it was easier to take care of Binnie because he worked with us, because we saw him on a near daily-it was harder to do with Eunwoo, though the stag dropped by the café increasingly often, steadily a constant figure we saw visit and frequent between his own work hours.

Because Binnie had already been our friend and coworker before, but he was also pack now. He was (Y/N)'s pack so he was ours too. Binnie and Eunwoo are family.

And so being there for them is important, being there for them in (Y/N)'s stead just as much more so.

[......]

Binnie's ears perk up sharply, nose twitching before he's lunging forward with a brightness in his eyes, all bushy tailed as he catches anise on us, lips tilting up in the widest smile as his arms go to snag at us.

Big muscled frame wrapping around tight, arms bracketing me, nose eagerly nudging at my jaw, a soft chittering sound, muffled and quiet against skin before a smile curls up against me, sinking into the touch when my hand sinks into his hair, to gently scratch at the base of his ears as he chases (Y/N)'s scent.

A triumphant smile curling my lips and a fondness on Kook's face as his nose scrunches, looking at Binnie with an indulgent warmth. So close to age but something about Binnie, heightened even more so now that he was pack, made Kookie doting and protective over the squirrel hybrid. That same instinct shared between Kook and Eunwoo for each other despite being the same age-that inclination to protect and guard because of the roles they held in (Y/N)'s life and their relationship with each other as friends and packmates.

"I'll get the ovens started-"

"Already ahead of you." tilting back to say it, tail and ears perked, only curving away briefly before he leans in, chasing the sweet floral tendrils of scent that cling to skin, a rushed urgency in the movements nearly.

"I'll get started on the doughs. Take your time Bin-ah."

His tail nearly buzzes with giddiness.

The tight tug of his hands clutching at me.

"Thank you hyung."

"Always Binnie."

[......]

"Trying to steal (Y/N)'s scent? I'm reserved for Eunwoo now Bin-ah." Kook darts out of Binnie's reach with a scrunched grin, laughing as Binnie tries to lean closer, nose twitching as he catches (Y/N)'s scent clinging heavier to Kook with how thoroughly Binnie had already scented and chased it off me.

"Just a bit-Woo will never know~"

"Woo will never know what?" his voice interjects, alongside the tinkle of chimes and the door being pushed open, bringing with it a cool gust of wind and a teasing smile. Head ducking to let his antlers through.

Startled and caught out, eyes widening with a guilty stare that's all too easily read as he stares at his mate, still frozen in motion where he'd been reaching for Kookie.

"Nothing!"

"Liar~ what are you trying to hide sneaky?"

"....nothing." sounding even less convincing as I watch his ears fold, eyes quickly darting away.

"What was he hiding? Jin hyung?"

My wings flutter.

"Sneaky squirrel's trying to steal a gift we brought you." I lilt, laughing at the glimmer of betrayal then the quick lunge he makes for Kook, to get to him.

Protesting as Kook just darts away, weaving in and out past the tables to rush close to the stag, arms looping around him, head tucked over his shoulder.

Cheek tilted to nudge against his.

Sees the moment understanding dawns, quick and sudden, eyes crinkling deeply as he smiles, turns in the circle of Kook's slung arms to scent his cheek. Checking.

"Bokki's scent." The murmur of his words almost lost.

Then the sudden tight clench of a hand fisting into Kook's shirt to tug him closer, giddy smile deepened as he nudges his nose against Kook's cheek.

A tension that eases out of him, makes the tall stag curl close, a relieved shudder of breath that makes me wonder and ache with how long he must've yearned for her scent, for reassurance beyond words, for his biology, his instincts to be soothed by. Grounded by.

He's not as eager and rushed as Binnie in his movements, slow careful nuzzles, hugging Kook loosely as he chases the floral scent, chases the anise of his packmate. Of someone that'd been his long before Binnie had.

A different bond, a different dynamic and something so deeply attuned to her that (Y/N)'s scent seems to unravel every inch of tension and stress from his body, makes his own scent strengthen-taking comfort and solace and encouragement from the pheromonal claim, intertwined with cotton, that now lies on his skin too.

"How is she doing?" he asks, grinning as Kook turns so he's draped over his back, arms wrapped loose as he peeks over the stag's shoulder.

Eyes flitting to Binnie-taking in the smile on his face, the buzz of joy that makes both of their expressions brighter, livelier.

"Got us all wrapped around her little finger." I muse.

"It's the big doe eyes-can't ever resist them. Can't say no." Eunwoo smiles and when he smiles like this, his whole face glows with it, eyes crinkled and scent pulsing strong, Koo's nose twitching as he catches it. Scrunched smile.

"Apart from snagging herself a pack of smitten mates~ what else?" Binnie's eyes shine, trying to glean information.

And even though I know they call nearly every night, there's want for more.

For the bits and pieces that come from us.

"She has date nights with Yoongi. And gets to work with Hobi and Tae though I think Tae might be a bit of a distraction at work." I laugh.

Watching as Binnie and Eunwoo laugh.

"Tae hyung's a free spirit. He's meant for greater, wilder things." Eunwoo says with certainty.

"He is! He loves working with the kids and he's doing this massive mural-" Kook pauses at the change of Eunwoo's scent, something far too slight and subtle to catch but I can read in the way he tilts to the words with a spark in his eyes.

"A mural? Years... years ago as part of this project me and (Y/N) did one too. She kept complaining but she kept painting outside the lines!"

"You've known her that long?" Kook asks, curious. Shiny eyed at getting to learn more about our mate.

If Eunwoo's surprised by the question he doesn't show it. If anything the love in his eyes grows.

"We grew up together."

"Hyung had such a hard time learning to share either of us. But (Y/N) noona and I'm pretty stubborn. Bulldozed through his plans." Binnie grins.

"Then I couldn't imagine why I'd been terrified to introduce the two most important people in my life to each other."

There's so much shared history between the three that we haven't even begun to know but there's no mistaking the fondness in Binnie's eyes as he looks over at his mate, tilting close to steal a kiss, Eunwoo's cheeks warm before he draws back and leaves a mug for him in his stead.

"If you-" Kook broaches hesitantly.

Eyes silently flickering to me. Then turns back to the two.

"If you grew up with (Y/N), do you know Ji Sung?"

It's instantaneous the way their eyes flash with immediate recognition of the name, the way their bodies tilt forward, the way they exchange a brief glance before looking at Jungkook, looking at me.

"Dad?" Eunwoo asks, confused but there's a distinct lack of distance between the title and the man he links it to. Immediately labelling him as dad. Close enough-significantly close enough of a relationship to.

It clashes with the memories I have, too fresh, too raw, too recent, of (Y/N) flinching from the label, from the relationship, from the blood that ties the two together. It's... it's void... absent from him.

I don't think Kook had been fishing for information in the first place, curiosity and the want to have a better understanding regarding (Y/N). Not to hunt for reasons or explanations, just what they think of the man.

A figure whose face we only know because of the news televising the case. Not a person we know in the same way Jimin and Joon do by working with him, not how (Y/N) knows him-shrinks from the connection.

But they know him.

"How do you know him hyung?"

"(Y/N) met him... at the centre."

A flicker of worry and concern, strong and tangible, exchanged between a stolen glance, hidden in the tighter curl of his fingers against the mug.

"Did she-did she talk to him?" an optimistic tinge to Eunwoo's words and this time it's my eyes that flit uncertainly to Kook.

Now I feel out of depth and certainly lost, unsure how to gauge the nature of Ji Sung's relationship with the people around him, with the people in (Y/N)'s life.

There's a gaping distance between her and her father.

But Eunwoo one of her closest friends and her packmate refers to him as dad.

And she trusts him and his capabilities for his profession, not for the relationship they should've had.

"She didn't. She doesn't want to be near him."

A flash of pain, a glimmer of ache I can't decipher in Eunwoo's eyes and the inwards, slight slump of his shoulders. Fingers curling tighter around the mug.

Voice soft and subdued.

"Still?"

"From what I know he's not been a present father in her life. Why would you want her to talk to him? Does he even deserve it?"

A rough shake of his head. Looking agonised by it.

"You don't-you don't... it's not all black and white hyung."

"So help me understand her, so I can help (Y/N). So we can be there for her. I respect that we're not entitled to know everything until she wants us to. But right now to our pack, he's a threat to my mate's happiness." A tinge of desperation, of ache that bleeds into my voice unbidden. That'd been stifled and swallowed down the whole while when the others had spoken, when I'd heard Tae and Hobi's vitriol, jagged voices rough with protectiveness that their instincts growled against, to the threat he posed to (Y/N)'s happiness.

Binnie's posture has gone still, gaze attuned sharp and alert to his mate's response.

"Hyung I can't say... I can't say something that's goes both beyond how I could ever explain fully and something that's not entirely mine alone to share."

"Just tell us-is she going to be okay if she does meet Ji Sung?"

"Dad would never do anything to put her at risk... the opposite." The defensiveness in Eunwoo's voice is tied to the anguish and turmoil in his eyes.

"...I'm sorry... I don't mean-"

The tight waver of his breath is drained and weighed down and my skin crawls with the discomfort of knowing that in some way I've caused it. A heavy sinking feeling that Eunwoo's scent has turned heavier, downcast, eyes flitting to Kook to see his ears have drooped, flopped sadly on either side of his face.

But there's a look of both determination and gentleness in his expression as he shuffles closer, leg nudging against his to draw the stag's gaze to him.

"We love (Y/N) so much. But you're also pack-in wanting to do anything we can, doesn't mean we want to hurt you... we're sorry."

"You're not-" a strangled turmoil in his voice.

"It's just a sensitive topic hyungs. If (Y/N) noona doesn't want to meet him, it's as simple as that." Binnie iterates firmly.

"Bin-ah-" Eunwoo begins.

"No hyung you know it too. Whatever your relationship doesn't mean she has to extend a hand out if she's not ready to."

There's a maturity in his words and an understanding there that goes beyond and further than simply siding with his mate or appeasing either Eunwoo or (Y/N), a firm stand he takes in letting them sort it out, how they want to and in their own time.

"When did you become the hyung Binnie? I can learn loads from you." fingers loosely curling around his wrist when he steps closer to me, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he shakes his head at Eunwoo.

"Hear that Woo? Listen to your hyung-"

"I'm the hyung if anything-"

"Barely a year, doesn't count." He waves off.

"Yah!" but there's no heat in his voice and he looks at Binnie with a mix of fondness and gratitude, for easing, for nudging back the conflict that'd been warring in his eyes but slowly ebbs away. Conceding to the firmness of Binnie's words, to being neutral.

And some part of me-some part of me recognises that for us Ji Sung is a father, an extremely competent lawyer, family to some of (Y/N)'s own pack and nothing... nothing but a stranger to me. To Kook. To Yoongi. To the kits. Anyone who might've gleaned any of his personality or nature are the two pups.

245

Some part of me wonders where I stand. Unequivocally with whatever decision (Y/N) will take regarding him. But the varying opinions of the man leaves me with a guarded perception of him. He might be extremely proficient as a lawyer but when it came to fulfilling a relationship of blood, of family­-whatever the reason might've been he wasn't there for (Y/N).

It's not black and white­­-my eyes flit to Kook, see him already looking towards me, a small soothing smile on his lips, gauging the emotional balance of everyone at that moment, something that goes beyond just heightened olfactory senses.

I tilt my head slightly. Read the words in his eyes.

(Y/N)'s pace.

Without a doubt.

Then a faint, faint glimmer of mischief.

So-do you want Binnie or Eunwoo's scent to bring home.

And slightly... slightly I tilt my head for the stag. A part of me, a great part of me, still needing to soothe and reassure Eunwoo myself.

Apologise if I had made things difficult for him, if I made him feel pressured to speak. To divulge what was a shared, complex history.

"Woo-how about a hug?"

He tilts forward even without question, eyes crinkling deeply, grip tightening when I speak.

"I'm sure (Y/N) could do with a hug from back home. That and we need to talk about how many hours you've been working lately."

He startles, jerks back when understanding flashes in his eyes.

"Bokki set you upto this!" but my arms wind around him, wings flapping as they unfurl and curve forward to usher the stag closer with a grin curling my lips.

"I am but a simple messenger." I sigh.

"And on his knees for pretty doe eyes."

"Yah Bin-ah is that how you expose your hyung?"

[......]

"We have something for you baby."

Doe eyes light up, ears perking up to attention when she hears Kook's voice, eyes flitting over the two of us and the scent of pine wood and hazelnut, earthy rich scents that cling to us.

Makes her straighten up, focus gone entirely from the film playing on the TV, the shadowy dimness of the living room does nothing to hide the glittering giddiness in her gaze.

But the scents weren't the only thing Kookie meant, hand a box in his hands, watching as she scoots along the sofa to make space, patting it in invite.

He sinks down beside her, handing over the box and watching as her eyes light up.

"This much? Sign of a hoardy squirrel doing the packing."

"I think he thinks we're not feeding you well." I sigh playfully, watching her eyes crinkle faintly.

"It's not that-Binnie is a big feeder." Fingers plucking out a cream puff, holding it out towards Kook first, nudging it against his lips to prompt him to take a bite, a smear of cream on his nose and lips, cheeks puffing briefly.

"Good?"

"We made them together."

She proffers it to me when I duck lower, lips brushing against her hairline, fingers curling around her wrist to guide to her lips instead, lips chasing the sweet remnant of cream from her mouth, watching as she in turn kisses Kook slow, the soft flick of tongue and unrushed kiss indulgent, chasing the sweetness of his mouth.

"Sweet chickie should have all the sweet things."

"Charming swan."

"All I aim to do is make you swoon~" I lilt, wings fluttering when her fingers brush against Kook's jaw, lips slotting briefly to his again before she draws back, lifts the corner of the blankets she'd piled onto the sofa for me to sink down next to her.

"You do a lot more than that-" breath hitching with surprise when my hands snag at her waist and tug her back, manoeuvring her onto my lap quickly, hands brushing over her waist-directly to skin and over the curve of her thigh.

"I do what?" I ask, voice lilting, not missing the slight widening of her pupils, the soft intake of breath.

"Charm and manhandle-it's a dangerous combo." Kook sighs, content to sink sideways and onto her lap instead, head pillowed on her thighs, fingers sinking automatically into his hair, brushing wavy strands from his face.

Chasing the hazelnut scent with soft skimming fingers that graze over the soft of his cheek, down his jaw with a slow thoroughness.

My lips press to her hair briefly before drawing it over her shoulder, head lowering to brush my lips against her nape slowly. Lingering.

Head curving over her shoulder, feathers rustling and fluttering as my wings tuck closer to my back at the brush of her cheek to my own, an affectionate scenting as she leaves floral notes on me and chases the pine wood both with her own touch and skin.

Slow, slow scents.

The flopped ear against Kook's cheek perks as (Y/N) speaks, smoothened back with a soft, light tug and the gentle scratch of fingers against fur, coaxing a fluttering brush of lashes against his cheek.

"Tag teaming on me isn't fair."

"But we both just wanted some time with you."

Her fingers sink into his hair, nails scratching at his scalp, a deep groan as Jungkook's body all but melts into the couch, head sinking further against her lap, turning to burrow into her, to tilt as much as he possibly can into the touch. If he'd been feline he'd have been purring. But the way he turns, I can see the contented wiggles of his tail, the tuft of fur wiggling as he stretches out, languid and at ease.

"By making me into a sandwich?"

"We make good sandwiches."

"We make excellent sandwiches. Award-winning." I state proudly.

"Award-winning?"

"Ah my love you've never had a sandwich unless you've had it from award winning bread that big muscle bun does all the kneading for."

"Oh? Is that where the muscles come from?" hand skimming lower to squeeze at his bicep, his muscles flexing and tightening, the curved swell of definition visible even through the long sleeve tee.

"Some of them."

"He's a muscle bun-I'm surprised he hasn't gone to train with Jimin and Joon yet."

"Why don't you just drag them with you?"

"I could work out alone-"

"Where's the fun in that? You could mess with them a bit."

His nose scrunches, my lips curling up at the mischief in (Y/N)'s voice, lips pressing against the crook of her neck, feeling her shudder slightly.

"I'm sure they'd enjoy the sight-I know I would."

"Not as much as I would seeing you train... I heard it does all sort of things to Jiminie hyung's control."

"That's just the pheromones."

"If he's a mess just catching your scent afterwards-I'd love to see what gets it there."

I haven't forgotten what was a jealous fox, amped up on pheromones and near scent drunk on her, I haven't forgotten the dilated eyes and fangs pooled over with frayed restraint and body thrumming with a tight coil of need.

Neither it seems has Jungkook.

"Well you could always help me train at home."

His eyes glint.

Cotton entangling with anise and pine wood.

"Now that's something I wouldn't say no to seeing."

"Make it a date."

"Want us to take you to dinner first before tussle it out your system?"

"Make me work up an appetite." A playful sharp gleam in (Y/N)'s eyes, in the tilt of her head as she angles her throat, lips against my jaw, the faint scrape of teeth and tongue.

My hand tightens around her.

"I could think of a few ways."

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

"Tae-ah?" I call out, the entire apartment silent, everyone else either at work or out-an odd overlap where the shifts have lined up so that (Y/N) and Hobi are working an afternoon shift, the pups out for a long interrogation and Yoongi meeting up with one of the helplines his show was connected to.

Kook was managing the closing shift at the bakery.

It's silent as I move down the hallway, the living room empty, the line of bedrooms empty as I push the doors open, peering in to see empty beds. The bathrooms empty. The kitchens empty.

"Taehyungie?"

A distant response of his voice from further down the apartment, on the other end.

"Tae kit... cub where are you?" I lilt.

Hear his voice muffled past the door and when I nudge open my bedroom door I find him sprawled across the sheets on his front, the sounds of an anime filtering through and a hand rifling through a packet of sweets.

"Are you eating in my bed?"

"I'm not making a mess! Promise!" eyes widening, ears perking upright. Alert.

"I won't find sugar everywhere will I? Koo's fiddly with sheets and keeping it clean."

"I'd never. The sheets smell like Kook." He enthuses, rolling around with an indulgent chuff, sprawled starfished over the sheets, peering at me upside down as he lies on his back, curls falling away from his eyes.

"Want to stay in bed?" I ask.

He chuffs, head tilting to rub his cheek against the sheets, a soft rumble of contentment.

"I'm never leaving!"

"I'll go to my salon alone. I wanted to take you out somewhere before, but I can see cub's happy." Stepping further into the room to move towards the wardrobe, catching the way he pauses and stares at me, halting mid-roll.

"What salon?"

"I go for my wings-I get some deep conditioning treatments from there. Every once in a while they need a nice long soak."

"I want to come too!" a brief pause and then curiosity colours his voice, the sheets rustling as he straightens up.

"Where were you going to take me?"

"Anywhere you want to go Tae. Somewhere for lunch? There's this dessert shop that makes these incredible-"

"You had me at wanting to take me out. I'd go anywhere with you Jinnie hyung."

My wings flutter.

"I'll take you anywhere cub."

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

"Hyung this salon you go to... does it do hair dye?"

My head turns sharp in his direction, his eyes glittering with a sharp gleaming intensity, tail swishing slowly. The tip of his tail curling and uncurling.

I love the dark mess of unruly curls but the notion of him sporting a colour change temporarily makes my blood fizz with excitement.

"They do- they're a hybrid specialist salon so they'll use treatments that work best for your fur, I get the oils for my wings from them." Eyes raking over his half-dressed form, his fingers stilled in buttoning up the loose silk shirt he's drawing on. Eyes lingering on the golden expanse of skin of his chest.

The gleam in his eyes only brighten.

"I've been... feeling a change."

"I love your curls." I say plaintively.

Eliciting a soft chuff.

"I love them too! But I want to try...not fair that my grand plan of turning Minnie pink backfired."

My lips twitch, struggling to bite back the grin that curls across at the reminder. At how petulantly huffy Tae had been that rather than solidify his secure standing as the prime sole orange of the pack, it'd just made everyone enamoured with the pink hues Jiminie's fur took on as it steadily wore off.

My favourite was the cotton candy pink towards the end of the hair dye washing itself out.

"So this is getting back?"

"Of course! I want everyone especially Minnie to struggle to keep his eyes off me."

"Cub that's already a given. Handsome tiger."

A deeper chuff, a slanted boxy smile that's fangy and wide.

"You're the handsome pretty one hyung."

I wave off his compliment, though I can feel the way my ears warm when his gaze remains steadfast, dark and earnest.

"Takes one pretty thing to recognise another." Watching as it makes his smile widen, tail curling and swishing quicker, wings fluttering at the visible reaction it elicits. Moving closer towards him.

"Always so charmy hyung. Do you think it'd suit me?"

"You've got the face that could pull off any colour. Or maybe I'm biased because I could see that for the others too. Or maybe I'm excited and now I can't wait to see what colour you'll choose." Fingers framing his cheeks, hands cupping his face as I tilt my head in examination, his head tilting back and to the side with a gentle nudge, angling himself for me.

"You're coming with me?"

"As if I'd let you go without me... I want to see!"

"And if I said it's meant to be a surprise?"

"Then you're a cruel mate leaving me to suffer in turmoil, not knowing what colour my cub's fur and hair will be and for tormenting me with its-"

The tilt of his head, closer towards me, dark eyes shining before he quickly kisses me. Sudden and far too quickly drawing back. Wings flapping indignantly.

"You don't kiss me and then try lean back!" Fingers angling his jaw, tilting his lips back to mine, slotting together with a soft pleased sound when he eagerly leans in.

Mouth chasing the sweetness that lingers on his lips from both the sweets and the saccharine berry that's purely Tae, fingers brushing against his jaw and skimming to sink into curls as his mouth parts under my own, a soft groan and a hand clasping my wrist, incessantly tugging me closer, further into him. Tongue brushing against my own, chasing with a fervent urgency that quickens breath and pulse, that makes me addicted to the sweet berry and the quiet low moan he makes, tail curling and swaying as it bands loosely around my waist, body tilting closer and over his, caging him in.

Body curved over his, the waver of his grin felt against me, fangs scraping at my bottom lip, softer and lighter- testing at first before they nip, my hand tightening in dark curls, hand dragging down to clasp his hip, to press close. A series of nipped kisses, soothed over with the flick of my tongue as I draw back, reflected in the heady darkness of dilated pupils.

"You stay just like that and hyung'll be more than happy to do all the work." Eyes dragging indulgently slow over skin, fingers itching to undo the buttons he'd just done up, it'd be so easy to slide the loose shirt off and-

A ragged exhale, fangs pooling over kiss-slick lips.

"You're distracting me hyung."

"Consider it persuasion. Let me go with you cub?"

A wavering resolve.

"...I'll only show you after it's all done though. You can't see the colour being chosen."

"Deal."

"When do you think they'll be able to fit me in?"

My breath rushes out of me, quick and eager. That itch in my fingers receding, overtaken by a heady thrall of getting to see him first, hair colour changed.

"I'll make a call."

(AND SCENE! THIS CHAPTER TOOK A LONG WHILE TO BE WRITTEN AND I WAS A TINY BIT WEFEWIF WITH WHERE TO GUIDE THE CHAPTER BUT THEN THE CHAOS TAE'S BEEN CAUSING OWFIHWEOIFN GUIDED THE END OF THE CHAPTER SO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR THE NEXT ONE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE Midiiplier KNOWS... THINGS WILL BE HAPPENING~ LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT JI SUNG AND JUST THE CHAPTER OVERALL! TAKE CARE! SURVIVE TAE'S ALBUM AND WIFOEF EVERYTHING!)

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3