Taehyung runs through the bloodied streets of Calemari. Explosions of gunfire echo in his sensitive ears. The taint of metallic smoke and fear fill the air. His nostrils flare as the scent turns sharp in his nose.

At his back, an army of wolves follow his path through the neutral zone. He weaves around fleeing wolves, occasionally clipping his shoulder as he runs past. The Nightwalker pack divides as their line of attack races through the streets. Some flee with their ears flat on their heads while others hold their ground.

He lets out a war cry of a howl as he summons a primal emotion.

The need to protect his own.

A snarling wolf leaps into his path with teeth bared. Taehyung yowls as his weight throws him forward onto the wolf, unable to break his momentum. The wolf growls from the base of their wolf. Drool flies from their gaping mouth and they snap wildly at his face. Taehyung wrestles them into the ground and grabs hold of their neck. He snaps his jaw closed and blood splashes into his mouth, coating the backs of his teeth and throat.

A whimper cuts the wolf's furious growl cut.

Taehyung jumps off of their limp body and staggers to the side. His allies race past him, nearly trampling him, and launch their attack on the Nightwalkers.

Humans fire off warning shots at the wolves, but guns aren't enough to bring down a six foot werewolf.

He breathes hard as he struggles to catch his breath.

Taehyung hasn't run like that since he ran away from his pack.

He searches the battle ground and his eyes land on his mates.

Heart lurching with panic, he runs to Jimin and Charlotte. But another wolf blocks his path. Their haunches rise as they prepare to lunge at him. Taehyung lowers to the ground as a snarl builds up his throat. His chest vibrates from the sound.

Then a flash of tawny fur moves in front of him.

Taehyung's heart lifts with relief, then throws himself into the fight. Together, they take down the wolf by ripping at their flank and sending them running toward the woods.

He meets the soft eyes of his Hobi hyung as he recovers. Hobi manages a wolfy smile and butts his head against Taehyung's neck, a brief affectionate touch. He pulls away and scans over the fight.

Taehyung notices Hobi is injured and decides to worry about it when this is all over.

Hobi barks sharply and takes off again. Taehyung follows close behind him. They finally reach Jimin and Charlotte.

Jimin cradles Charlotte in his eyes with tears in his eyes.

Taehyung's heart swoops in his chest. His eyes flick down and he feels a crash of relief.

Charlotte is alive .

A bit red in the face, but alive .

Jimin throws a nervous look over his shoulder. "Namjoon," he panics, "we have to get Namjoon!"

Taehyung's blood runs cold with fear. He looks around wildly for his alpha. He tries to sniff the air but it's too clouded to read anything.

Hobi barks again, and starts to run again.

Then Taehyung sees it.

Namjoon lays on the ground with a chain wrapped around his neck. His body is limp and covered with bloody wounds. A man holds the end of the chain with a look of outrage etched on his face. A circle of wolves protects him from the allies of the Bangtan Pack, who attempt to break the circle.

Rage boils inside of Taehyung as he slowly approaches the circle.

He swears on the name of Hestia that he will save his Alpha.

Seokjin and Jungkook break through the crowd in his wolf form and join Taehyung and Hobi. They set their eyes on the circle and the man holding their Alpha on a leash.

Memories of Alpha Grayson flash through his mind. Remembering the taste of blood and the tearing of flesh between his teeth. How managed the body looked. How it festered despite the cold air.

How the man holding Namjoon on a leash would soon become like him.

And Taehyung wonders if he'd ever regret it.

Taehyung intakes a shaky breath, bracing himself for the man he is about to become. The thought of becoming a murderer again terrifies him, but he has to do this.

It is Hoseok who takes the first step.

Taehyung's heart races in his chest as the others follow suit. They approach the circle of wolves with their heads held high.

The Bangtan Pack will never stop running, and that isn't about to change today.

"Come to get your precious Alpha?" the man goads. His Alpha scent of sickeningly sour plums radiates from his body. He lets out a laugh as blood drips from his nose, soaking his clothes. "I'd like to see you try."

Jungkook snaps his teeth threateningly. Then he advances, threatening to pass Hobi.

Their allies take notice of their arrival and start to make a path for them. They watch with wide eyes as they advance toward the Nightwalkers.

As they walk by, Taehyung notices Valentine's body on the ground, still bleeding out from a gunshot wound.

Then he refocuses on the man.

A condescending smile crosses the man's lips as he raises his gun into the air. Then lowers it at Namjoon's head.

A horrible shriek escapes Taehyung's wolf vocal chords.

Namjoon doesn't flinch.

"Take one more step closer and I'll kill him!"

They stop walking.

Slowly, the battle quiets around them.

The Nightwalkers who tried to hold their ground are either dead or one with the circle. The wolves move around the man like a snake. An ever-shifting river of fur and white fangs.

The humans are dead or long gone as well.

Taehyung holds his breath, unsure what to do.

Then, Namjoon's eye slides open and stares into the barrel of the gun.

"Then what?" a shout echoes through the air. Everyone turns to look and watches as Charlotte and Jimin move through the crowd. Charlotte rubs her throat as she stares down the man with fury in his eyes. "Then what?" she repeats flatly. "You're outnumbered, Xander. It's over."

Xander raises his brow. "I think you should take a better look, Omega."

Taehyung and his packmates explode into angered growls and barks, as do their allies.

"You're going to regret that," Charlotte vows in a low tone. Then she lifts her head and suddenly, Taehyung smells her heat scent through the settling chaos. His eyes briefly unfocus, taken aback by its strongness.

Xander snarls as a human as he turns his face sharply from her.

Charlotte stands firm as she stares him down. The scent flares out with more intensity than Taehyung has ever experienced. Burnt and syrupy peaches and cream floods the area like smoke. The ring of wolves slow their pace and their gazes snap to the Luna with unmasked lust.

A distraction, Taehyung realizes with a jolt.

Charlotte's chest swells as she inhales. Something in her eyes shifts. For a moment, Taehyung thinks he sees an ancient power hiding in her pretty eyes.

"Put the gun down, Xander."

Her voice echoes through Taehyung's mind like Namjoon's would when giving out a command. Even though he isn't holding a gun, Taehyung feels the urge to put it down.

Xander's jaw falls open in shock. Then the gun slips from his hand and clatters to the ground.

All hell breaks loose.

The Bangtan Pack breaks into a sprint and runs toward the circle. Adrenaline surges through his limbs and provides him unimaginable strength as he breaks the line. They fight like animals to reach the center.

It is Hobi who reaches Xander first, and his jaw almost swallows the man's head whole.

A muffled scream comes from Hobi's closed mouth and the man's body turns into a ragdoll. Hobi throws him down on the ground and spats out blood and hair, caught in the crooks between his teeth. Jungkook tramples over the man and takes a chunk of Xander's exposed stomach without mercy.

Seokjin snatches Xander's leg and pulls back sharply. He drags his body to the gravel and Taehyung takes the chance to grab his wrist. The one that held the chain. He bites Xander's wrist and yanks hard enough to draw blood.

Xander screams in pain as they begin to tear into him. Saliva and blood slickening his reddened face. His body writhes with pain as they continue to snap and bite at his flesh.

They toy with him. Keeping the most vital parts of his body unscathed as he dies slowly before their eyes. Xander would die regardless of if they stop now or later. He is beyond saving.

Taehyung wants Xander to suffer for what he's done. For the safety he's stolen from them. For being part of the larger problem that cost so many people their lives.

It took everything from them, and Xander is going to pay for it.

Taehyung is about to rip at his thigh, when a quiet whimper sounds from behind him. He spares it a glance and his heart halts.

Namjoon is staring at them, still laying on the ground. A look of pain washes over his face as he watches them.

A sick guilt rises in Taehyung, realizing he nearly lost himself completely.

That's when Charlotte picks up the gun and shoots Xander in the head.

Somehow, it feels like mercy.

I watch as the light fades from Xander's bulging eyes feeling rather detached from reality.

My packmates stare at the dead body. Thick, blood drips from the cuts and bites puncturing his skin. It pools around his body and spreads out like liquid rubies. Snow falls onto its surface and melts upon contact.

I lift my eyes to the sky as snow falls in beautiful flakes. Dancing through the air and swirling down.

A muzzle nudges my side, stirring me from my shock. I look down and find Hobi staring up at me. I reach down with my empty hand and pet his head, smoothing his ruffled fur down.

For a moment, the world holds its breath.

Namjoon moves slowly and lifts his head from the ground. The chains rattle with every move. I slip the gun into the band of my pants and wipe my hands on my clothes.

"Namjoon," I whisper as I fall to my knees at his side. I take his head in my hands and press my forehead into his. I close my eyes and start to cry out of relief. "Namjoon."

My precious mates shift back into humans around us. Taehyung and Seokjin quickly unwind the chain around his neck and throw it aside. Jimin cries as he wraps his arms tightly around Namjoon's body, sobbing and whispering how worried he was. Jungkook sinks to his knees beside me, openly crying as he stares at his Alpha with heartbreaking sadness. "Hyung," he says shakily, "hyung, we were so worried."

Namjoon closes his eyes and his body trembles. Then he slowly shifts back into a human. The receding fur reveals toned muscles and tan skin, and then, there he is .

Our Namjoon.

He tries to fight back a sob, but bursts into tears in front of us. "Come here," he says bleakly as he opens his arms with a wince. We try our best not to tackle him, but all of us squish into a massive hug.

I press against his body and rest my head on his shoulder. I cry into his bare skin as I hug his body tightly. "Joonie... my Joon..." His scent of woodland forests and endless paths enter my nose and fill me with the physical weight of love and adoration.

Against my back, Jin rises onto his knees and catches Namjoon's mouth with a kiss. He kisses him deeply, before pulling back with a broken laugh. "Gods, never scare me like that again."

Namjoon tries to laugh through his sobs. "I promise, hyung, I promise."

The younger wolves press against his sides. Taehyung and Jungkook lay on the ground with their heads on Namjoon's gorgeous thighs. Jimin lays between them with his arms resolutely around Namjoon's waist.

Hobi hugs from behind and rests his head on the other shoulder. "You're safe, we're safe," he repeats quietly.

All of our scents swirl together to create one, making it difficult to pick them out.

Then I blink slowly and try to pull back, but Seokjin's body keeps me from moving. "Where's Yoongi?" I ask.

Taehyung starts to answer, "He's—"

"You didn't forget about me, did you?"

Bourbon and sweet vanilla draws my head back.

Standing in the clearing is Yoongi. He clutches his side, bandages wrap around his chest, with a pained wince, but he remains standing. He looks at us with pure love in his eyes. His dark hair is still sticky from old blood. Yet he looks like the most handsome man in the world.

Taehyung sits up sharply, "Hyung! You shouldn't strain yourself!"

"I couldn't just wait in the car," he replies, half-scolding. Then he smiles and my heart stirs with warmth. He hobbles over to us and we make way for him to join us. Seokjin wraps his arms around Yoongi and leans into him. He scents Yoongi gently across the neck and kisses his throat.

Yoongi lays a kiss on Namjoon's head. "Hey pup."

We stay like this for a while. Cuddling and kissing as the world fades away around us. Our scents truly become one as a whole pack.

We are together, and we are safe.

It's all I could ever want in this life.

It isn't somebody approaches us and clears his throat. "Ah, sorry to interrupt... But we thought you might need a ride home."

I look up, bleary-eyed from happy tears, and study the newcomer. He is shockingly tall with a set of beautiful, full lips. He bows to us, "My name is Soobin, I'm the Alpha of the Tomorrow Pack." One of our allies. Their pack isn't far from our's, but it's too far to visit regularly.

Namjoon's eyes flicker with recognition. "Soobin... thank you."

Soobin smiles softly. "You're welcome, hyung."

"How did you know to come?" Hobi asks curiously.

Soobin looks at Taehyung and Yoongi. "They called us, through the radio. They sent out a distress signal about what was happening here. We gathered everyone we could."

My heart melts from the act of courage. "Thank you," I say, meaning every word. "I don't know what we would have done without you."

"You're not alone in this world," Soobin replies.

No, we aren't.

A young wolf runs up to Soobin and grabs his shoulder. "Hey, hyung, we just chased out the last of them. We should be good to go!"

"Thanks, Gyu," Soobin answers and gives him a gentle head butt.

"The cars are ready too," he adds. Then he gives us an encouraging smile. "Are you catching a ride with us?"

Namjoon nods, "Yes, thank you so much. I don't know how to repay you for today..."

"Ah, hyung," the wolf says bashfully. The wind plays with his long mullet hair. "There's no need. If we're ever in trouble, we can count on you guys to help us."

"Absolutely," I say wholeheartedly.

Soobin pats his mate on the shoulder and gestures back. "We'll be waiting for you."

The wolf gives us a cheeky smile. "Might take a while to untangle yourselves."

We laugh together and watch as they walk back toward their own pack. A group of five.

I sigh and rest my head on Namjoon's chest one more time. "I'm comfortable here," I admit.

Jimin hums from beneath me. "Me too."

"We can sleep and cuddle when we get home," Yoongi says, though he too sounds like he doesn't want to move.

"Home," Jungkook says wistfully. "Gods, I miss home. Even if it's been a few hours, it feels like forever ago."

Home.

I breathe in the combined scents of the pack, slowly. My body settles into a more comfortable position. "We'll have the biggest heat when we return," I promise quietly.

Jungkook's eyes light up. "Really?"

The pack share an excited look with each other. Yoongi chuckles, "Might need to wait until my wounds heal."

"Of course," I say, "but I mean it."

"And the Dumple," Taehyung adds hopefully.

Seokjin ruffles his hair and kisses him on the cheek. "And the Dumple. The dumpling to rule them all." They start to chatter about plans for food when they return. Food remains the utmost priority in our pack and I love to see that it isn't changed.

Namjoon kisses my cheek and presses his face into the crook of my neck. "I love you too, Lottie. Thank you for staying with me."

"I love you," I say softly. "All of you. Thank you for asking me to be part of your pack."

"It wouldn't be a pack without you. Thank you for trusting me."

"Of course." I kiss him gently and run my hands through his snow-damp hair. "I know that I'm where I should be."

And we are safe. Finally, safe.

The idea came to him as softly as morning rain. The soft pitter-pattering of a notion that overturned in Namjoon's head as he laid beneath the tree on the distant hill.

His fingers were interlocked behind his head and his legs outstretched on the leaf-riddle ground. Every shift of movement caused the leaves to rustle and crunch. The gentle autumn breeze moved through the branches overhead. A living painting of reds and yellows spread around his body as he contemplated the rest of his life.

"I had a feeling I'd find you out here."

Namjoon breathed in the wispy scent of Charlotte. Sweet as spun sugar with base notes of peach. Her scent laid over his senses and dissolved on his tongue. He wondered why she was in such a wonderful mood.

Though it was difficult not to feel happy when surrounded by such beautiful scenery.

It had been a week since the night of the fire.

Charlotte sat beside him. The golden afternoon light warmed her face as she looked to the horizon.

Namjoon scooted his body closer to her. Charlotte smiled softly as he laid his head upon her lap. She ran her hand through his hair. Namjoon's heart lurched as she traced her fingers down his cheek and jawline. Every featherlight touch spurred a deep yearning for her. To feel her lips on his again.

"Something on your mind?" she asked.

Namjoon closed his eyes as his emotions threatened to spill over again. He worked so hard to keep it under control, but he couldn't deny it any longer.

He needed help.

"I'm thinking about what comes after this."

"For the pack?"

He shook his head. "Alpha is taking care of..." his breath hitched. "Of Alpha Iris's pack. I know they are going to be okay. The world is ending all around us and yet all I can think about is... us."

Charlotte lightly swiped the pad of her thumb against his eyelid, then down underneath his eyes.

He felt a flicker of endearment, realizing she was scenting him. Coating him in her comforting scent of ripe peaches and cream. It wasn't a Luna thing, it was a Charlotte thing. To make others feel loved and treasured.

He took her silence as an invitation to continue. "I have to leave the pack soon." Saying the words out loud didn't make it any easier. "There's a plot of land I've been studying, and I want to lay claim to it before anyone else gets the chance. It's far. It might be difficult to find but... I feel like it's..."

"Home."

Namjoon nodded.

He opened his eyes and met her gaze. "Charlotte?"

Her hand stilled in his hair. She watched him intently. Waiting.

Namjoon's heart thumped faster and faster in his chest. Then he gathered his courage and went for it. "Do you want to join my pack?" It was a feat to keep his voice from shaking.

Charlotte's eyes widened a fraction.

Namjoon's heart thrashed. He sat up from her lap, panicking. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed, I... I—,"

Then she grabbed the neckline of his shirt and pulled him into a kiss. His eyes popped open in shock. Charlotte kissed him for a moment, then sat back with a soft smile. "I would be honored to join your pack, Alpha."

Namjoon's head spun with dizzying euphoria. He broke into a wide grin and started to laugh. "Oh."

" Oh ," she mimicked with a smug look.

Then his face grew serious. "But you understand what I'm asking of you. I know these are dangerous times. It's going to be difficult. I'm not sure what awaits us."

Charlotte nodded. "I understand."

"And... I won't expect you to perform any duties." Namjoon gave her a knowing look. "I don't want to make you feel obligated to do so."

"I will certainly think about it. Of becoming your pack's Luna."

My pack, Namjoon thought wistfully.

"I want to ask a few others to join as well," he said. Charlotte raised her brow in curiosity. He thought back to the night of the fire. Of his guilt. Of the bravery of Seokjin, Hobi, and Yoongi. He wanted to learn from them. Become stronger. To become an Alpha worthy of leading a pack.

He needed them, he realized. To become the man he could be proud of.

"I have no idea if they will accept," he admitted, dejectedly. Seokjin was still in recovery, and who knows what the other two would say. They had lost their pack. Everything. How could he offer them something more when he had nothing himself? Nothing but himself.

"You'll never know if you don't ask," she assured. "Who are you thinking of asking?"

"I mentioned them before. Kim Seokjin, Min Yoongi, and Jung Hoseok. They're from Alpha Iris's pack."

No, it didn't get easier to say her name.

"I haven't met them..." Charlotte sounded hesitant.

"They are..." Namjoon's heart ached with respect and deep connection toward the three wolves. "I suppose I can't imagine my life without them." He took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles gently. "You're going to love them."

Charlotte nodded slowly. He could tell she wasn't sure, but he hoped she could trust him. He couldn't force her into believing something, but he prayed she too would fall in love with the wolves from Alpha Iris's pack just as he had fallen in love with them.

He needed Charlotte, and he needed him.

Though he had a feeling that his pack wasn't complete just yet.

There was room to grow in the future.

Namjoon couldn't wait to meet them, wherever they were.

"I trust you," she said finally. She lifted her eyes to meet his.

"Thank you."

Namjoon relaxed his body as her arms wrapped around him. They held each other for a moment until Charlotte melted into him. Her head rested on his shoulder and her knees pressed up against the curve of his waist.

"Whatever happens next, I trust you," she added. "I will follow you anywhere, Kim Namjoon."

"As I would follow you, Lottie."

But she shook her head. "You'll be a wonderful leader."

Namjoon's heart bloomed with reassurance. He closed his eyes and held her closer. "Thank you," he whispered as tears pricked his eyes. "Thank you..."

**A/N: IT HAS BEEN A HOT MINUTE BUT I'M BACK!! Thank you so so much for reading this chapter and staying with me all this time! I love you more than you know!! We still have a few things to wrap up before we say good-bye : ( But thank you for reading!! Leave a comment and remember to vote!!**