- PARK CHANYEOL -

It's almost midnight when I caught Kyungsoo's scent. I was about to enter the cottage after a long hunt but Kim Jongin burst out of the door before I pushed it open, cursing under his breath. "I can't believe he's out here," he murmured. "I thought those Hunters are watching him."

"Then you thought wrong," I said stepping inside as I heard his footsteps fade away.

It's the second night after the day Oh Sehun told us about the coming attack. One more night and everything might come to an end for everyone of us. Sehun is recovering real quick although like Baekhyun, he still can't shift to his wolf form. When I entered the cottage, I caught him and Baekhyun sitting on the floor with books at hand.

"God, I miss bears," Sehun groaned when he threw me a glance. "Thought you'll bring home one."

I shrugged. "I thought human soups are great?"

Sehun grinned. "Well, yeah. You're right."

With a sigh, Baekhyun closed the book he's reading as he stood up. "Yeol, would you go on a walk with me?" he looked up at me, eyes serious and for a second I wanted to enter his mind and read what he's thinking but I thought better of it. Might as well hear him say it.

"It's midnight, Baek." I said though I'm reaching for the door's handle already.

Baekhyun's beside me in a split second. "I know," he whispered. "I like the breeze."

"You know guys," Sehun suddenly called from the floor. "I could leave the cottage if you like. You could basically do it here. Grandma's sleeping real deep and I'll be out of earshot, I promise. Besides, it's cold outside. Do you think you could do it there? That'll be like offering yourself to pneumonia."

"What the fck are you saying?" Baekhyun hissed, turning so he could look at Sehun straight in the face. "I'm not calling Chanyeol so we could have sex in the middle of the forest. Are you out of your damned mind?"

"Sht, Baekhyun! I didn't use the word! I used 'it'!" Sehun protested, covering his ears. "I'm too young for this! I'm only what? 76 years old!"

Baekhyun tugged unto his hair in frustration. "God, Sehun! What's so wrong with the word 'sex'?!"

"Shut up, 156-year-old-Baekhyun!"

"Ugh. You're annoying." Baekhyun groaned before pulling the door open and stepping outside. He's wearing a thin t-shirt and faded pants. No shoes. Nice. When I looked at Sehun, he still has his hands over his ears and he's pouting like a child.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Okay. So what's so wrong with the word?"

"Dammit." Sehun murmured, turning away from me completely. "Just hurry up and go."

I can't help but chuckle. "Stop being too innocent about this. I know you're only jealous 'cause you don't have your mate yet." and that made Sehun glare at me. Aha. Seems like I'm right about that thing. But before I went out the door, the humor vanished from my face and I called Sehun's attention. "You better tell us more later." I said in a firm, low voice.

"I can't remember anything anymore," Sehun said, shaking his head. "I'm trying but..."

"That's why we're leaving you, okay? Have time for yourself and think. Try to remember everything you heard about Yifan's plan." Even saying his name makes a deep, angry scratch on my throat.

With that, Sehun pursed his lips and looked down. "I will," he said. "Promise."

As expected, the night is the coldest a few minutes past midnight. When I stepped into the open, Baekhyun is waiting for me by a path that leads deeper into the forest. I followed him whilst keeping a meter of distance. It's not that I don't want to touch him. I'm just worried he doesn't want me to touch him.

"I know about Jongin and his plan," Baekhyun started but we didn't stop walking. We're trying to go way, way far from the cottage to keep anyone from hearing us. Even Sehun. This is something we must discuss alone.

"I'm guessing that, too," I murmured. "We were within earshot."

Baekhyun nodded and kept walking and I kept following him. It's becoming darker and darker each passing second and the only bright things I could see right now are the stars in the sky and Baekhyun's skin against the old, brown shirt he's wearing. This is one of those many nights when his skin reflects the light in the most beautiful way possible.

"You could touch me," Baekhyun whispered and I did, slipping my hand into his as I felt his fingers tighten around mine. His hand feels so soft and very much familiar. Something I own and possess. "I know we would want to bury what happened in the past but... I'm sorry, Chanyeol. I really, really am."

We stopped walking and when I looked at Baekhyun, he's looking down, trying to avoid my gaze. For a moment, I didn't know what he was talking about but when his other hand trailed to a wound on his shoulder, I felt myself shudder in anger. "Baek, I don't want to talk about it." I said between gritted teeth.

"I just want to apologize," he murmured and I can sense the tears that are about to come. "I was careless, Chanyeol. I trusted him. I didn't know he could do such a thing..."

Gently, I pulled his other hand off the scar. "Baekhyun, please. It was not your fault." I said. "That asshole was a total pervert. He's evil, okay? And you're..." I can't even think of the right word so I looked at his face, studying every small detail I could see clearly with my eyes. "You're... you're really beautiful..."

Baekhyun looked up at me. "I just want you to know that I won't let that day happen again," he said, pursing his lips to look stronger. "That forced imprint must have weaken me but..." he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Park Chanyeol. I'm sorry I caused you too much worry."

I shook my head and slowly pulled him into a hug. "Just don't apologize anymore," I whispered against his hair that smells of cherries and forest. "I will protect you and that's my job as your mate. There's really nothing to apologize for."

"I knew you were just acting cool about it, but I could hear your thoughts, you know?" Baekhyun breathed against my chest. "I know you already thought of a hundred ways to kill him. They were all gross, by the way."

That made me laugh despite myself. "How about the thing about chains and nails?" I said, running a comforting hand on his back.

Baekhyun made a vomit sound. "Oh my god, that was the grossest thing ever." he giggled. "But I fancy cutting his stomach open, putting stones in it, stitching it close, and throwing him to the lake nearby."

I kissed his hair. "My Baby's a genius."

Then just like that, Baekhyun tensed, his hands clenching under his chin. I responded immediately, sniffing the air and preparing myself to shift. I caught his sweet scent of course, Sehun's, Grandma's, even Jongin and Kyungsoo. But I could smell nothing foreign. No Hunter. No other werewolves. The forest seems normal. Peaceful even.

"What is it?" I asked, pushing Baekhyun off me to see his eyes wide and lips gaped a little. "Hey, Baek. What is it? Are you okay?" I touched his cheek and it flushed a beautiful shade of red under my fingers.

Then he opened his lips, barely. "B-babies..." he swallowed nervously. "The... The plan?"

And everything came running back to my mind: that discussion Jongin and I had in the forest. Baekhyun tried to open up the topic a while ago but he didn't seem ready until now. Looking at him now, he seem more nervous that afraid: flushing and playing with his trembling fingers.

"Yeah. I know you heard everything about it..." I frowned, studying him. "You don't like the Alpha thing? You just have to tell me your thoughts, Baek, and we could talk to Jongin about..." I trailed off as I finally see it in his eyes. The hesitance. Fear. Doubts. Possibilities. My voice dropped to a whisper, "You're afraid about having children, aren't you?"

Then as if something snapped in him, Baekhyun let everything spill. "I know you love the idea, Yeol! I love it too, believe me! It was our dream, right? It was what we really want. It was painful knowing the Prophet couldn't give that to us and it's even more painful that we both dream about it every single day. I know how you want children, I can see you playing with the young werewolves during training. They love you, too, Yeol. They all think you're father material and I know they're right. You're so good at kids, you know what to do with them, you're like a kid-magnet and you're not even trying. You know if they're hungry, if they're sad, if they want to play. You know what to say to make them feel better every time.

"But Babe, I made a kid cry the last time because he doesn't know how to throw a knife. I can't even make him stop crying until you came and put him in your arms and..." he sniffed, the first teardrop falling. "I... I don't know if I'm even worthy for such, Chanyeol... I don't think I deserve the gift. I... I don't think I'll be a damned good parent." and without any warning, Baekhyun started sobbing like a child.

Well I think the main reason why Baekhyun isn't that good with children is because sometimes, he could be a real child himself. That thought made me chuckle but I just pulled Baekhyun closer, soothing him with my hand and wiping his tears away. "When I asked that kid why he's crying, he said he's sad he made his favorite hyung mad." I whispered. "They don't hate you, Baek. They honestly think you're the cutest werewolf in the pack."

"You're just saying that to make me feel better," he sniffed and he sounds suddenly embarrassed that he's having a breakdown. "I'm no good at it. I swear, Yeol."

"Then we'll have to try..."

"Ha." Baekhyun tried to laugh then the humor left his face. "I'm going to be the worst parent! We grew up far from our own parents and I'm going to raise my own children?! Chanyeol! Do you even know what that means?!"

I frowned, touching his cheek. "Um. A dream come true?"

"Oh my god, you're so positive about this, aren't you?" Baekhyun touched his forehead as if he's about to have a nervous breakdown.

Without warning, I kissed him. "Absolutely."

- KIM JONGIN -

The moment I got the glimpse of Kyungsoo's red riding hood, I froze.

No. There's something wrong... Something different.

I sniffed the air. Of course it smells like Kyungsoo. His red riding hood smells like him. Only the riding hood smells like Do Kyungsoo. In this distance, I could already catch the scent of the person wearing Kyungsoo's red riding hood. It's a distinct smell. A werewolf.

I bared my teeth. "Who are---"

"Kim Jongin," It's a woman and her voice sounds hoarse and tired. "I came here to deliver a message."

My heart almost stopped beating and I can't think for a moment. Where's Kyungsoo? Why is a woman wearing his riding hood? What is happening?

"He will die tonight," she whispered in a voice too low even for me. "Do Kyungsoo will die before the dawn breaks."

And before I could have time to answer, I heard the distant growls of the werewolves, fire erupting from the other side of the forest. Do Kyungsoo's home is being attacked.

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Good night everyone! xoxo