Moon Kkum

The sun had dipped low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow throughout the living room as Jiwon and I settled into the couch. We had chosen a light-hearted movie, hoping to escape the weight of our realities, at least for a little while. The sound of laughter filled the air, and for a moment, everything felt normal.

Jiwon snuggled up beside me, popcorn in hand, her laughter contagious. “I can’t believe he did that! He’s such a dork!” she exclaimed, eyes glued to the screen.

“Right?” I giggled, my attention drifting momentarily to her bright smile. But as I watched her, a familiar unease crept into my gut. Something was off. Elysia, my wolf, was quiet, but I sensed a storm brewing beneath the surface.

As the movie progressed, that storm became a tempest. Elysia began to claw at the walls of my mind, restless and frantic. I could feel her energy surging, almost as if she were trying to escape.

“What’s wrong, Kkum?” Jiwon asked, her brow furrowing in concern as she noticed my unease.

“I—I don’t know,” I stammered, biting my lip as I tried to connect with Elysia. What’s happening? I called out to her, my thoughts echoing in the silence of my mind.

Elysia responded with a low growl that reverberated through me, clawing at my instincts.

Mate is in danger!

The words hit me like a physical blow. “Mate?” I whispered, the confusion washing over me like ice water. The thought that I had a mate was foreign, especially after losing  Jong-suk. My heart ached at the mere thought, and the reality of Elysia’s words didn’t register at first.

Jiwon’s eyes widened in worry. “Kkum, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

“I don’t know! Elysia keeps saying… ‘mate is in danger.’ But my mate—he’s dead!” I said, my voice trembling with agony.

As soon as the words left my mouth, a sudden flash gripped my mind, pulling me into a vision that was hazy yet vivid. I saw shadows moving swiftly, teeth bared, and heard the chilling sounds of growls and yelps echoing through the chaos. The details were muddled, but one thing was clear—a wolf was attacking someone. Panic surged through me.

“Kkum!” Jiwon shook my shoulder, her voice cutting through the disorienting swirl of images. “What happen?”

“I don’t know! It's just… it's just my wolf keeps saying that Mate is in danger!” I stammered, my voice laced with fear.

Jiwon’s expression shifted, her worry transforming into something sharper. “I think I know who Elysia is talking about,” she said, a sudden urgency seeping into her tone. “It’s Jungkook, isn’t it? He’s in danger!”

My heart dropped. The realization that Jungkook might be the one in danger filled me with dread. “What? No!” I gasped, but Jiwon was already moving. She stood up abruptly, her instincts kicking in as she headed for the door.

“I need to mind-link him!” Jiwon said, determination radiating from her. But as she tried, her brow furrowed deeper. “He’s not responding! What the hell is going on?”

I felt a surge of helplessness as I watched her pace back and forth, her worry evident. “Jiwon, please—”

Suddenly, Jiwon’s face went pale. “I’ll contact Beta Min!” she shouted, her fingers flying over her mind-link, desperation creeping into her voice.

“Min!” she called out, urgency lacing her tone. “Jungkook isn’t answering! We think he’s in danger! Where is he?”

Beta Min’s voice came through, strained and pained. “They’re near the border of the pack! I’m on my way, but we need to hurry!”

Jiwon turned to me, her expression filled with panic. “We have to go! We can’t waste any time!”

I hesitated, feeling a whirlwind of emotions—fear, confusion, and an unexplainable urgency. I reached for her arm, desperate to make sense of it all. “Jiwon, I can’t just sit here! I want to help. I can’t just wait!”

“Kkum, you need to stay here,” she replied firmly, but I saw the fear in her eyes.

“No, I’m coming with you,” I insisted, my heart racing. Elysia was roaring within me, demanding action, and I could no longer ignore her.

“Kkum—”

“Please! I don’t care if I don’t know who my mate is! I have to go!” I interjected, the urgency in my voice making Jiwon hesitate.

Finally, she nodded, her resolve wavering. “Okay. But we need to stick together.”

As we moved towards the door, Elysia surged forward, taking control as instinct kicked in. My body reacted before my mind could comprehend, and I felt my legs moving, pulling me out into the night, racing toward the unseen danger. I could feel the moon’s energy surging through me, urging me to run faster.

“Wait! Kkum!” Jiwon called, struggling to keep up.

But I didn’t stop. Elysia guided me, our bond intertwining with the pulse of the night, and I could sense Jungkook’s presence growing stronger as we neared the border.

With each step, the fear clawed at my chest, but a strange determination filled the space where dread once lingered. I was on a mission. We needed to find him before it was too late.

And as we raced through the trees, the shadows of doubt flickered, but the fire within me burned brighter. Whatever it was that awaited us beyond the edge of the pack, I was ready to face it.

The night held its breath as we sprinted toward our destinies, united in the face of danger, driven by the unbreakable bond that pulsed between us.

______________________

The night air was thick as I sprinted toward the border, my heart pounding with a dread I couldn’t shake. Elysia, my wolf, had taken the reins of my senses, guiding me toward a presence I didn’t understand, yet couldn’t deny. The closer I got, the stronger a familiar scent became—vanilla and rain, the same fragrance I’d caught that day back in the Lunae Pack cabin. That scent hit me hard, enveloping my senses and making Elysia’s howl echo louder within me.

Mate.

Her declaration was like a lightning strike, shocking me to the core. Mate? How could that be? My mate, Lee Jong-suk, was gone—lost to me forever. And yet, here was Elysia, screaming that word in my mind, her possessive instincts clawing at me with a fierce urgency I’d never felt before.

I broke through the trees to the sight of a figure lying on the ground, with Beta Min kneeling beside him. As I drew closer, my breath caught in my throat. Jungkook lay motionless, his skin pale, his breathing shallow. Beside him, Yoongi knelt, his face as cold and expressionless as ever, but his hands trembled as he checked Jungkook’s injuries.

A surge of panic flooded my veins, and before I knew it, Elysia had fully taken control. I dropped to my knees beside Jungkook, gathering his head in my lap with a tenderness I didn’t understand. My fingers brushed his cheek, feeling the chill of his skin, and my heart clenched at the sight of him in this state.

And as I gazed into his face, his eyes flickered open, locking onto mine with a whispered word that sent shivers down my spine "Mine." But before I could respond, his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness, his body going limp in my arms. I screamed his name, but it was drowned out by the sound of my own heartbeat... and the faint whisper of Jungkook's voice, echoing in my mind: "Mine."

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"Hey everyone, I'm so sorry for the ridiculously late update! Life got crazy, and this chapter took way longer to finish than I expected. I'm also sorry that it's a bit shorter than usual - I promise to make up for it in the next chapter!

Speaking of which... I need your help! If I don't see some love in the form of votes and comments, I'll be forced to put the next chapter on hold. I want to know that you're all still invested in the story, so please take a minute to let me know what you think!

Thanks for sticking with me, and I'll see you all in the next chapter... if you help make it happen!"

- lavendermiso