This chapter contains heavy smut. This smut warning is sponsored by Rubber Duckies filled with Holy Water. Use the discount code IPKSSRTTUSBHSBTS for 7% off your first purchase.

Legends tell us that Hestia is the patron goddess of Lunas and Sols. The goddess blessed these wolves with the power to create a home. To maintain the flame within a wolf's heart. To become the heart themself. It's a selfless yet powerful role within the dynamic of the pack.

There was a time in history when the Lunas and Sols were treated poorly due to social norms and stereotypical beliefs about their heat. They blamed these wolves for causing heat in others, instead of realizing they were meant to extinguish the agonizing flame with acts of love and comfort.

Sols and Lunas are the living heartbeats. The center of the pack's livelihood. Without them, the wolves of the pack would be driven insane by heats. It's a codependent relationship that requires constant attention.

I've turned my eyes away from this relationship for far too long.

The flames of overdue heats have begun to scorch the house. The blaze threats the wooden walls of the home as smoke suffocates its inhabitants. There is tension building within the home.

I see the beginning of a deadly spark within the Bangtan Pack.

By prolonging my heat, and their heat, I've ruined the delicate balance of the home and forced the pattern to change.

My body aches as I drag myself out of bed. A weight of exhaustion falls onto my chest and forces my breaths to slow. Breathless, at the mere movement. I wince sharply as I raise my head from its bent position. A series of cracks travel down my spine and cause the space between my neck and spine to tingle.

Dizziness adds to the loss of breath. Small black dots dance across my vision like scurrying rats. It causes the shadows in the corners of the bedroom to enlarge and morph into monsters of the night.

The scents of Jimin and Taehyung linger on my slickened skin. The hot, sultry tones of orange blossoms and blackberries fog my brain, worsening the dizzy sensation. The hands of the heat-induced wolves left yellowing marks all over my body in the shape of fingerprints and thin lines. The painful ache at the base of my thighs grows stronger as I move off the bed.

The quiet snoring of Namjoon and Jungkook provide the only sound to break the night's silence. The warmth of pressed bodies and sleepy breaths raise the temperature of the dark bedroom. It clings to my body like a sticky blanket; it's too uncomfortable to stay still.

My stomach growls painfully as I stand from the collection of bed. I press my hand against my stomach, rub around the aching space, and tiptoe towards the closed door.

"Lottie..." a husky voice whines from behind me.

I stop in my tracks.

A tired and reaching hand lifts from the pile of wolves on the bed. It motions towards me, desperate for my embrace once again. "Where are you going? It's too early..."

"I'm hungry," I reply quietly, careful not to raise my voice above a whisper. I don't want to wake up the pack. They need their rest for tomorrow.

"Let me get you something..." With a heavy sigh, Yoongi sits up from the cuddle pile and moves carefully across their entangled legs.

My expression shifts from exhausted to pleading. "You don't have to do that... Go back to bed, Yoon..."

But Yoongi has already escaped the comforting grasp of his fellow packmates. He comes to my side and places his hand against my back. He nudges me forward before curling his arm around me, pulling me back against his chest. "I know you get hungry after heats, I should have set something out for you..."

"You don't need--"

"I wanted to, but I forgot," he interrupts, the scent of burnt vanilla flaring from him like a whip.

I suck in a sharp breath, surprised by the change in his scent.

I allow him to lead me to the bedroom door and into the darkened kitchen without another word.

He goes to the cabinets first and hunts for something quick to make. He settles on leftover bread from dinner and finds the butter holder. He makes a deliberate move away from the window and sets everything on the table. Then he goes to the fridge and finds the carton of milk. He pours us two glasses and motions for me to sit down.

I sit down without protest and watch in silence as he prepares bread for us.

"I didn't get to feed you last heat, I wanted to do it this time," he explains. He sets a plate of bread in front of me, freshly buttered. We received butter as a gift from Valentine a week ago; it usually lasts us a while.

"Thank you," I reply softly, massaging the sore muscle in my inner thigh. Taehyung was a bit rough earlier. I should remember to stretch before getting in bed with him.

Yoongi sits down in front of me. His dark hair falls in front of his face for a moment, shadowing his features. "Having this many heats in such a short amount of time must be exhausting."

"I love you guys, I don't want to leave you in a pre-heat. Not before tomorrow." My eyes grew soft with sadness and regret. "I didn't mean to wait this long. I thought that I could get so much done and that it would be better for everybody in the end... but I made a mistake."

"The only mistake you made was trying to shoulder the burden of preparing for winter on your own."

"I'm a Luna. Preparing the home is part of the job description."

Yoongi's eyes flash and I feel my heart seize with panic.

He looks up and meets my eyes with intense sincerity. A look that causes shivers to travel down my spine.

"This isn't a job, Charlotte. You're not required to love us. Being our Luna is your choice. Nobody is forcing you to go into a heat with us."

My stomach drops.

That's not what I meant. That's not what I meant!

Yoongi continues levelly. "You keep talking about heats like they're an awful thing. I get that you're tired, I'm not talking about that. I understand that you grew up with little understanding of the topic, and I don't disregard the struggle you had with accepting your Luna biology. Your feelings towards the subject are valid, but you need to be careful around the others when you talk about it as if it's some chore you need to fulfill."

He fiddles with the glass of milk in front of him. His eyes remain narrowed as he watches its white liquid swirl. The scent of tongue-burning bourbon and burning vanilla claw its way down my throat and scorch the inside of my nose with such an intensity I have to shield my nose with my hand.

Tears spring to my eyes even though I know he's right. I know what he's saying is right yet the stirring of emotion within me, the constant pulsing of the emotional heat is causing my senses to fall apart at the seams.

"If you are having second thoughts about continuing to be our Luna, I understand--"

"No!" I cut him off before he could even say the unspeakable. I stare at him with wide eyes, tears dripping down my cheeks. "No no, I'm not! Don't say that!"

"You need to be clear with me, with everybody, because that's what it looks like. You stopped talking with us." Yoongi's eyes widen with pleading. "Ever since the freeze began, you've been distant and ignoring us."

"I just--, I just wanted to--" I stammer as my throat closes at the swell of emotion. I gesture frantically as words start to fail me. "I didn't realize I was hurting anybody, I just thought--, what if it was more efficient--?" I grimace and stop myself in my tracks.

Am I really such an awful person?

Yoongi's expression finally softens. He sighs quietly as his scent diffuses and weakens. "You were trying to do what was best for the pack. I know."

"I made a mistake," I force out, choking up with regret. "I know I did, but I don't even know where to begin to fix it. We're leaving tomorrow, and everybody is already so stressed out about the Nightwalkers and--, and Valentine's humans with the window--, and I shot at their messenger and made everything worse!"

"We are going to get through this, we just need to work together. Today was a good start," he encourages and scoots to the edge of his seat, ready to stand at a moment's notice.

"It's not enough," I cried. "I don't think it's enough. I'm the worst Luna to exist. I don't deserve a pack like you. I don't deserve to be here, I'm ruining everything ."

"You are not ruining anything, Lottie," he argues but I can barely hear him over the sound of my own sobs.

"I'm ruining the pack's relationships. I'm making everybody upset, and I'm being selfish! In another pack, that would be enough to send me away!"

"We aren't like other packs--"

"You're too forgiving with me," I snap while gasping for air. "I'm only causing problems. If I were just normal, then we wouldn't be having these issues."

"Don't degrade yourself," Yoongi argues and stands from his chair. He comes to my side and kneels in front of me. He takes my hands in his and gazes up at me while I cry. "We love you as you are. We really do."

Yet I don't believe them. How am I deserving of their love? I feel worthless. Why did they deal with such an annoying Luna? Why did Namjoon choose me for his pack?

"Look at me, darling."

I sniffle loudly and look down at the wolf kneeling before me.

"You are part of this pack," he reassures while squeezing my hands. "We wouldn't be the Bangtan pack without you. You make us complete, please don't forget this."

"Without me, you would be able to have regular heats..." I argue weakly. My shoulder raises and wipes a tear clinging to my jaw. I glance up at the darkened ceiling to force tears back.

"We don't expect you to be perfect, and we're certainly not perfect either." Yoongi clicks his tongue in his mouth. "You were trying to help us. You did it to help us. We don't blame you for that. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything..."

"No, you were right to bring it up," I reply, still fighting the rise of emotion in my throat. It's difficult to breathe. "I have a habit of ignoring the obvious when I'm trying to do something... I get blinded by my own plans. I need somebody to tell me to knock it off."

"I didn't want to hurt your feelings, Lottie."

"You're not, you're just reminding me of something." My body sinks back into the wooden chair as exhaustion slams into me. Suddenly, it's difficult to even keep my bloodshot eyes open. I force myself to continue taking deep breaths but the effort it taking more energy from me than I realized.

Yoongi nods slowly. He stands from the ground and pushes my plate closer to me. "Eat something. You're exhausted."

I nod as a strange numbness travels through my body. I take a bite of the bread and the mere taste of food triggers an intense craving. My stomach growls loudly while I chew my food.

Yoongi sits down once again and watches me eat with concern in his eyes.

I gulp down my milk, practically chugging the cool liquid.

When I set my glass down, I realize Yoongi has pushed his plate of bread and glass of milk in front of me.

I frown in confusion and am about to push it back towards him when he holds up his hand. "Don't worry about me. I'll get some more in a minute. Besides, I feel full watching you."

I grimace and half-heartedly try to push the plate to him again. "You need to eat too..."

"I told you, I'll get my own in a minute." He points to the plate with a sincere expression. "Eat."

"But you--, it's your food, and I--" I stammer. My arms raise and flap in the air for a moment, confused and hesitant about what else to do. I struggle to find the words as my brain malfunctions on how to tell him to eat his own food.

Yoongi shakes his head stubbornly. "Charlotte. Eat ."

"But you--"

Yoongi locks eyes with me and my mouth clamps shut immediately.

" Eat ."

My cheeks flush at the intensity of his dark eyes. A quiet rolling of a heat pressure moves through the base of my stomach, aroused by his commanding tone. Without further argument, I start eating the bread.

Yoongi smiles softly as he watches me. "You love to be forced, don't you?"

I shove the rest of the bread into my mouth and swallow against its thick crust. The pressure of the food against my throat feels oddly satisfying. I press my lips together and give him a half-guilty smile with a mouthful of food.

I find a way to swallow back my food without choking. I finish my meal with another glass of milk but am more careful while drinking it. When I finish, Yoongi nods in approval. "Good girl."

"And you?"

"Yes, alright," he says and gets up from his chair. While he fixes himself some food, I sit in the dark and wait for his return.

He returns with a package of crackers in his hand. He places a few crackers on my plate and nibbles on the end of his own.

"Hey Lottie?" he asks.

"Yeah?"

"Can you believe it's been four years since we've met?"

I finish off a cracker and wipe the tips of my finger on a stray napkin. "No, actually."

"Does it feel slow? Or fast...?"

"It's weird," I admit as I search through my memories. "Some days it feels like I've known you guys for all of my life. Sometimes it's as if we've just settled down in the home. Then there's..."

I feel as if I just received the call from Namjoon that fateful night.

Namjoon was training with the Alpha of Yoongi, Hoseok, and Seokjin's pack. He was living with them for a while, and I remembered calling him often to ask him how it was going. I was struggling with heats at the time. I hid in my bedroom for long periods of time to avoid going into a heat while interacting with the rest of the pack. It wasn't as bad as when I was twelve, but I didn't have the best coping mechanism.

I guess old habits die hard.

I was eighteen at the time. I was trying to decide on my next steps in life and felt overwhelmingly lost. I had no idea what I would do or where I could go. Especially with the state of the world at that time.

It felt like I was standing on the edge of a precipice, and I truly was on the verge of it.

I received a phone call from Namjoon in the middle of the night. He was frantic on the phone. I thought he was having a nervous breakdown, and in truth, he was. He explained in broken sentences how the pack house had been attacked and burned to the ground. He was driving home with his friends. One of them was injured and would need immediate medical attention.

I sprang from my bed and ran to wake Alpha Samuel. There were strict rules when it came to approaching the Alpha at night. In a normal situation, I was supposed to contact the pack's Beta but I knew it was an emergency.

Alpha Iris's pack was being attacked, and wolves were being killed.

I didn't care for decorum when I kicked down the Alpha's door and scared Amber out of his bed. I told them everything in a rush, not bothering to take a breath in between of my explanations.

Alpha Samuel wasn't angry with me, and immediately left the comfort of his bed to escort me out into the kitchen. He called his Beta and organized a team of wolves to help their allies.

When the boys returned to the pack house, they were still choking on smoke and bleeding out. Hoseok's body was bare and stained with frantic and bloody handprints. Namjoon's eyes were wild with savage awareness; I had never seen him look so afraid. He was carrying Seokjin into the house, his hyung was unconscious from his wounds.

"Charlotte?"

I remove my focus from thoughts of the past. Coming back to myself, I shake my head and fist my hands in my lap a few times. "Yeah."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

I sink back into my chair and shrug my shoulders. As I turn my head, I feel the slight ache of bruises around my neck from the boys' hands. Their marks were deep today. They truly outdid themselves.

I hope I was able to satiate their needs in return.

Yoongi pauses before continuing. "I wish I could make it all go away."

"If only kisses could make it better," I say.

His eyes flicker in the momentary moonlight through the window. "I could try."

I lift my brow at him, my curiosity spurred by his statement. "I wouldn't be opposed to it."

Yoongi stands from his chair again and approaches me. Sweet vanilla bourbon swirls around me with its burnt tones and sticky aftertaste. There is a heat building in his scent. He comes in front of me and caresses the side of my face with his hand. He thumbs my cheekbone rubs the pad of his finger across my skin and lays a gentle kiss on my forehead.

I lean into his touch and half-shut my eyes.

"Kiss me until it doesn't hurt."

"Oh... I'll do more than that."

His arms slide down the curves of my body and wrap around my waist. He forces me to slide forward onto his propped knee. I squeeze my thighs against his leg and wrap my arms around his neck. He carries me for a moment, positioning me against his body, and holding me in his safe arms.

I rest my head on his shoulder while angling one leg around his lower waist. He takes small steps towards the living room and is careful not to drop me until we reach the couches. He lowers me onto the longest couch.

I snuggle into the cushions and await for his weight to fall over me. In the darkness of the room, Yoongi's figure moves to the fireplace.

I hear the quiet striking of a match.

A flame sputters to life in his hands, illuminating his face before he tosses it into the fireplace. The fire catches on the dry wood and soon is roaring with life. The shadows are chased away from the burning of the wood and the dancing of flames.

Yoongi dusts his hands off on his pants as he makes his way back to me.

I look over the couch with a frown of concern. "Is this going to be enough room?"

Yoongi grabs a set of folded blankets from the rocking chair. He shakes his head at me. "No, but I didn't want you to sit on the floor."

"What are you doing?"

Yoongi's lips form a shy smile as he holds the blankets up higher for me to see. "I'm making us a nest."

My heart lurches with emotion and a beautiful warmth fills my entire body. "Yoongi..." I whisper as my eyes grow soft with adoration. "You're making a nest for me?"

Yoongi's smile widens and the corners of his lips crease into half-moon lines. "Of course. It's been a while since we've nested."

Memories of last winter return to me with the softness of falling snow. Yoongi's nests are the coziest. He creates them with careful attention and lays each blanket down with purpose. I remember falling asleep at his side while he knit a scarf for Namjoon. It was a red and gold one with the fluffiest yarn he could get his hands on.

In pack culture, nest-making is almost exclusively for mates. It's an important mating ritual, and intimate between the wolves who lay within it. It's the act of creating a home for the other. The cultural implications behind it make nesting almost sacred.

Lunas and Sols aren't typically in a position to create nests or have nests built for them. They are meant to be the heart of all of the pack, and most of the pack is mated with somebody else. In some packs, they are like a therapist. In others, they are simply a reprieve from the suffocation of a heat. There is a consented agreement in these types of dynamics where the Sol or Luna is okay with being with other wolves only in the event of a heat.

It is a universal fact that Sols and Lunas don't have mates. But in Namjoon's pack... in this beautiful pack... we run by a different set of rules.

Yoongi lays out the groundwork of his nest. He uses the thickest blankets to create a barrier in the blanket space. He adds stray pillows to the edges to ensure comfiness. He makes the nest close to the fireplace where the warmth would gently envelop us. Once he finishes creating the main frameworks of his nest, he motions for me to join him at its center.

I rise from the couch, with some effort, and end up crawling to him. When I reach him, he is already pulling his shirt over his head. He turns it inside out and begins to wipe the blankets with his t-shirt. He scents the area with his clothes and occasionally rubs his face into the pillows to ensure full coverage.

I breathe in the sweet and sultry tones of him and rest in his scent presence. I close my eyes while sitting in the center of his nest and allow myself to let go of my anxious thoughts. Even if it's just for a moment, I'll enjoy this moment all that I can.

"You smell happier already," he notes as he sits beside me. His hands explore around my hips and grab at the edges of my shirt, silently asking for permission.

I hold his hands and direct them upwards, answering back to him.

He lifts my shirt over my head and balls it in his hands. Yoongi presses his nose into the shirt while making eye contact with me, breathing in my scent until his eyes are glassy with a scent-high.

I tilt my head and expose my neck to him. I motion gently to the space. "You'll get more if you go to the source."

He lowers the shirt from his face and sets it aside. "I'm just warming up."

I lean towards the aura of warmth coming from the roaring fireplace. I close my eyes again and soak in the smell of bourbon and woodsmoke. The heat within me is beginning to strengthen and causes my skin to warm.

We're warming up, I think to myself. I didn't think he would take me seriously. But I am glad he is.

Yoongi's fingers hook around my bra straps and he tugs playfully at them. He pulls them to the side, threatening to slip them over my shoulders.

"Not a fan of the plain ones?" I ask curiously.

"Mm... I prefer you in ribbons."

I duck my head out of shyness and remember when we used the ribbons. The tightening of the silk against my wrists behind my back. The restraint and constant desire to rip free from them. Being controlled by his hands like a puppet on strings. Begging for tighter reigns and forced into stillness. Clenching the bite between my teeth and taking all he gave to me like a good girl .

I was such a good girl for him.

I squeeze my thighs together at the thought of it and feel the heat burst inside the base of my stomach, threatening to travel downwards and set fire to something more tender.

"I wonder how you would do in ribbons?" I muse as I survey his exposed body.

Yoongi smirks. "I wouldn't be opposed to it."

I take his wrists in my hands and lean closer to him. I breathe in his scent and feel dizziness overtake me. "Would you take it well? Like a good boy?" I ask as my voice dips with seductive intent.

His hands push forward and brush over the curve of my bra, greedy and wanting. His dark eyes are glowing in the firelight. "Do you even have to ask? However, I'd prefer to take control tonight. I promised to kiss away your pain and I intend on keeping it."

I smile at him and nod smally. I back off and start to lean backward for him, allowing his body to come over mine. I lay down in the nest and position my head on one of the pillows. "I'm all your's."

Yoongi nods and nears my face. "Good to hear." He presses his lips against mine, kissing and drinking in my taste. I kiss him back and lift my chin slightly to a better angle.

His hands slide the straps of my bra off my shoulders while we make out. Then he reaches back and I arch my back for him. I strain my muscles as I press my body into his from a horizontal angle while he unhooks the base of my bra. Once the clip is off, he pulls off the bra with his eyes still closed.

He tosses it aside and kisses me with more energy than before. I moan quietly as he continues to kiss me, threatening to devour me, and slides his hands down my ribs. The sensitive skin on my stomach twitches from the occasional brush of his cold fingers.

He places his leg down between mine and scoots his knee up to press into that space. His tongue slides into my mouth, exploring and pushing against my teeth with intimate memory. I gasp as he opens his mouth against mine, occasionally nipping at my bottom lip.

His hand cups my ass and squeezes. My hips start to rise up and down, bucking against him, desperate to bypass all of this teasing to skip to the true climax.

" Patience... " he rumbles as he takes a brief. He kisses me once again before moving his mouth to other areas. He kisses around my lips, my cheeks, and the corners of my eyes that had recently been filled with tears, before moving downwards.

He mouths at my exposed neck and sucks at the pulsing vein. His teeth are brought down and gently bites at the skin. I grit my teeth as a low moan is tugged from my lips. I bring my hips up again, slamming against him, and eager to allow the heat to absolutely overtake me.

Yoongi's hands catch my wrists and he pins them above my head. He pulls back slightly and I catch a glimpse of his hungry eyes. An animalistic lust driven by the senseless heat.

My throat goes dry at the sight of it.

I'd let him destroy me in every possible way.

I lift my head and kiss his slick lips with an occasional nip at his bottom lip. He kisses back and forces my head to lay back down on the pillows. He removes his hands from my wrists and slides them over my shoulders, then down my arms.

My stomach flips as he slides his tongue back into my mouth. I arch my back as he kisses me with new energy. My hips buck into the air and slam against his, impatient once again. A small whine escapes my lips and he responds with a resounding grumble.

He cups the base of my breasts and squeezes them delicately. My head lolls to one side as another moan escapes my mouth. He plays for a moment before lowering his mouth. He lays a small kiss on the soft skin and nips at the tip.

Hestia save me, I plead silently as he teases my body with invasive yet feather-light touches.

Yoongi places his hand down on my hip, steadying me, and lowers down. My hands find the band of his pants and slide them down for him.

"You sure you can handle me tonight?" Yoongi mumbles as he kisses where my heart is. His warm lips linger on the skin and his breath is light yet shaky. "Taking me is different than taking the others..."

"I wanna--," my breath hitches as my heat flares inside my body. I grab at his bare waist and claw at the skin for a moment, desperate to feel him inside of me. "You're not that... big ."

Yoongi's eyes flash with a challenge. "Are you sure about that? Has it been so long that you've forgotten..?"

"Not forgotten," I say. "I'm just assuming that from earlier... with Jiminie and Tae, it would be easier now."

"Brave girl," he chuckles. "But remember, if it's too much... you know the safe word."

I nod at him but I'm barely listening to him.

"Patience, Lottie, you're so eager tonight..." Yoongi teases as he catches one of my hands. He sits back and motions for me to do the same. "But first... tell me the safe word. I need to hear you say it."

I fight the urge to grumble. The heat is making it difficult to wait for anything. But I find a moment of clarity in the wall of hot fog in my head and reply, "Sunrise."

"Good girl."

Preening at the nickname, I lift my chin with pride as I slide my shorts off my legs. I lay back down on the sea of blankets and pillows then spread my legs open for him.

A thrill of anticipation flutters through my chest. The excitement fills my blood and turns my body into an open flame.

Yoongi moves his hand first and reaches for me.

I hiss as he inserts his fingers and spreads them wide, forcing an opening in preparation. I grit my teeth as he goes wider and wider but the pain soon turns pleasurable. I fight back a moan and swallow hard against my dry throat.

"Are you sure you can take it?" Yoongi purrs, noticing my physical reaction to his mere fingers.

I shoot him a glare while peering around my propped knee. "Fuck me, Min Yoongi."

His eyebrow quirks before his lips melt into a sensual smile. "As you wish."

He fit himself within me like a puzzle piece, completing me in the most intimate and beautiful way. I fight against him, struggling to take him in, but I take him. The whole of him. I grip the blankets and writhe as he rams into me in measured beats, challenging me and playing games.

The quiet wolf is never to be underestimated, I'll fall for his trap every single time. There is a sweet taste to his type of defeat.

It's the understanding in his eyes when I force out the safe word.

It's the immediate shift of his movements from rough to gentle.

It's the sonorous tone of his voice in my ear as he holds me in his arms during the aftercare.

It's how he forces me to face my problems and ease my pain in swallowing the current reality.

"Thank you, for everything," I whisper as he cradles me in his arms. My knees are brought up to my chest to ease the aching down below. I nuzzle my head against his chest, searching for the steady beat of his heart.

His body is hot against me, a side-effect of going through a heat.

Yoongi's eyes are half-shut as he begins to come down from the heat's high. He takes a shaky breath and nods. "You're welcome."

I nod a few times and say nothing more. I don't want to ruin this moment. So I breathe it all in and settle my existence into this one moment, taking it in, and locking it into my heart.

"Good night, my love..."

"Good night, Lottie..."

A/N: I wrote this over the course of a few days in which many strange things happened. A tornado touched down, my friend's cat had kittens at 2 A.M so I stayed up with her and ended up only sleeping 2 and a half hours, a battery exploded by my head, and I started working at my summer job. This was a fun chapter to write in between the chaos! Leave a comment below, and remember to vote! Hope you enjoyed this spicy yet comforting chapter! <3 Take care of yourselves, lovelies! Drink water!!