-KIM JONGIN-

When I entered the cottage the following morning, Byun Baekhyun and Kyungsoo's grandmother are sitting crossed legged on the floor whilst reading old books. "These are all wrong," Baekhyun is saying. "Grandmother, do you want me to correct these?"

The old woman looked at Baekhyun through her glasses. "You could," she mumbles. "But don't make unnecessary marks, okay?"

"Of course!" Baekhyun exclaims, grabbing a pen from the side table. He started to correct some words written on the book he's holding and by the looks of it, it's a book about werewolves. I looked over his shoulder to see him making a large 'X' mark over a paragraph. It's something about werewolves bite and I didn't take the time to read any of it.

Grandmother glanced up at me. "Where's Kyungsoo?" she asked.

"School." I answered as I sat on one of the comfy chairs. "Chanyeol's with him so you guys don't have to worry."

"Why didn't you accompany him instead?" she asked without looking at me this time. She's reading a book about potions and I'm suddenly curious if it's the book that taught her how to make one. I rested my back on the chair, sighing.

"He doesn't want me to." I muttered. "Those Hunters would be waiting for him and he doesn't want me getting into fight with them. So I sent Chanyeol instead."

Grandmother slowly nodded. "Will he visit me again?"

"Of course," I said, smiling this time. "He said he'll come again tonight."

"That's good." the old woman answered.

Knowing I already answered Grandmother's questions, I nudged Baekhyun with my foot. "Hey, Baek. Wanna go hunting?" I asked. "I'm starving."

"What?" Baekhyun glares. "You just ate a bear last night!"

"Yeah. And I have to share it with Chanyeol. That guy's a glutton."

Baekhyun scoffs but he slowly put down the pen and book he's holding. "Grandmother, we'll just go for a hunt. Are you okay being left here?" I looked him over and he's wearing a new shirt, something free from the black blood he's been bleeding until this morning. The original flush on his cheeks has returned and he's as close to the healthy Baekhyun he had been since Yifan tried imprinting on him.

"Why, of course!" the old woman exclaimed. "I've been living alone all my life and you're going to ask me that now?"

"Yeah." Baekhyun grinned, pursing his lips. "Sorry."

Baekhyun gripped the lion's neck, breaking it with his bare arms before tossing it to my direction. I devoured it in a matter of seconds and Baekhyun just stood there, watching me as he licked his blood covered palms. He's not in his wolf form because he's not strong enough to do that yet. And for him to not feel self-conscious, I decided to hunt in human form, too.

I threw him a leg. "Aren't you eating?"

"I like blood a lot," he murmurs as he bit on the leg, thick red liquid dripping on the sides of his lips. "But I'm learning to love human food now. They're tasty." he finished the leg and tossed the bone somewhere in the forest. Baekhyun slowly sat on the ground as he watched me finish my meal.

"Seriously?" I asked. "Since when?"

"Since last night," he answered. "Grandmother's cooking skills are really, really good."

I watched him stare into the sky, avoiding my gaze. Baekhyun had always been the kindhearted one in our pack, always resorting on understanding everyone of us, even Yifan and his evil, twisted ways. He doesn't get mad easily and he would always be the peace maker. I am not surprised two powerful werewolves fell for him. 

"I'm sorry, Baek." I whispered, slowly moving to sit beside him. "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have to---"

"What are you saying?" Baekhyun frowns, looking at me. "You were right, Kim Jongin. You were right in so many levels and I don't regret staying with you until now. Chanyeol and I don't regret that, believe me."

I looked down, ashamed. "But you were attacked because of me."

"I was attacked because Yifan's an asshole." he said instead, giving me his warm smile. "I'm glad we're here. I'm glad you're with Kyungsoo and he's not leaving you. I'm glad that you're happy, Jongin. You're family and I love you."

"But please do accept my apology, Baek," I said, gazing into his warm, golden eyes. "I still feel really, really bad about what happened to you." What I said is really true. Part of me believes that if I didn't drag them into this, Yifan wouldn't have a chance to do that. Baekhyun was almost raped. He was almost taken away from Chanyeol. I would never ever forgive myself if that thing happened.

Gently, Baekhyun patted my knee. "I won't," he said quietly. "It's not your fault."

We were able to smell Chanyeol's scent the very moment we decided to visit the old mansion. He came in human form, saying Kyungsoo was taken away from him by the Hunters the very moment he appeared at their backyard.

"Real paranoid, those guys," he grinned, shaking his head. "They pulled out their guns, pointing them at my face like I'm about to attack."

"Did you show up in wolf form?" Baekhyun gasped, eyeing his mate with worry.

Chanyeol shook his head. "No. I didn't." he said. "They're just overprotective and Kyungsoo's right about not taking Jongin instead. I'm sure he'll jump into a fight with those bastards." he gave me a playful and knowing look and I just shrugged him off. Chanyeol's right, anyway, I wouldn't let them do that without making a deep scar on their faces. I can't help but smirk at the thought.

But honestly now, I am quite glad they're taking care of Kyungsoo when I'm not around. I'm glad someone's protecting him while I'm busy cleaning up my own mess. I'm glad I'm not the only one Kyungsoo could run to. I'm glad about those things.

We arrived at the mansion after walking for an hour. The whole structure is already made of nothing but coal and smoke. I could still make out the burned furniture inside, the giant staircase, the kitchen. All windows are broken and the door stood ajar. I can't fight off the gasp that escaped my lips when I realized how destructive the other werewolves had become.

This place had been our home for so many centuries. I can't believe they could put it down this easy: without feeling anything.

"Oh my god..." Baekhyun gasped, walking slowly towards the house. I let him, knowing we all want to see what's left... if ever there is. Some parts of the structure is still burning and I'm suddenly worried that it would cause a wildfire. I didn't go too close though, I'm afraid it will burn me. Not physically. Hurting myself never bothered me the least.

Chanyeol smelled the air. "They stole all weapons," he said, sounding annoyed. "Even the golds and silvers hidden at the basement."

"I'm pretty sure they're going to build a new home somewhere," I huffed, looking around the large clearing. They also destroyed the training grounds, snapping targets in half and throwing them to the scorching heat of the fire. I wonder what happened to those young werewolves, twelve years old to sixteen. I wonder if they're still alive, if Yifan thinks he could use them. I tried throwing the thought away, knowing it would do my conscience no good. But still...

Baekhyun went to the backyard and Chanyeol followed him. "I hope they didn't kill anyone," he murmurs before passing me. "That would be far from acceptable." He mimics my thought and I'm glad I'm not the only one worried for the others' safety, I'm not the only one who actually cares.

"JONGIN!"

In an instant, I'm beside Chanyeol and Baekhyun, gazing over a figure thrown against the old shelter's rear wall. He's covered in blood, not his, but it smells like sheep's blood. Or bear. I can't distinguish because the blood is too dry it's not that red anymore, clotting against the man's unconscious body. The blood maybe the reason why we can't smell him a while ago. His head is pressed on the floor so we're unable to recognize his face. The metal cuffs around his thin wrists are also covered in blood and rust.

"Is he alive?" I murmured, frowning as Chanyeol took a step closer to the body. "I can't hear a heartbeat."

There's a long pause before Chanyeol spoke. "There is," he hissed. "This sht's alive."

"Oh my god, he's badly hurt," Baekhyun whispers, following Chanyeol's steps. "Look at his wounds. The wolves did this."

There are large scratches over his chest and down to his waist. One of his legs are twisted in an awkward way and I bet it's broken. He was tortured, that's very obvious now and a large part of me knows this guy's familiar. A friend.

"Fck!" Chanyeol cursed when he gently pushed the man's arm, showing his face. "Damn, Oh Sehun, what the hell happened to you?"

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Good day guyssssss. :))

xoxo