Walking into Sanctuary the morning after being marked by my mate, I was met with knowing smiles from the hybrid staff that I encountered. Offers of congratulations flowed freely, each one making my skin burn a brighter crimson.

When did it become normal to congratulate people when they had sex and were marked by their hybrid mate?

I quickly made my way into my office, sighing in content as I sunk into the plush swivel chair. I stared out the window at the snow fluttering down, enjoying the peace as I followed particular snowflakes as they fell before swapping to another after I couldn't see them anymore.

I internally groaned as a knock on my seldomly closed door interrupted my tranquil silence. Swapping my frustrated grimace with a soft smile, I relaxed when three of my favourite hybrids sauntered in. Hobi, Bang Chan and Jungkook all sported excited and happy faces as they walked towards me.

"Holy shit! You smell delicious," Jungkook blurted, sniffing the air.

"Like a creamy strawberry milkshake," Bang Chan added, adorably grinning as he moved to sit in one of the two seats placed in front of my desk. Jungkook took the other, while Hobi came to hug me before perching on the corner of my desk.

Unlike other shelters and hospitals around, Sanctuary had a no scent blockers rule. While other places used the blockers so hybrids didn't get too overwhelmed by scents, Jin and I wanted the hybrids in our care to be able to smell the intentions in the staffs' scents. We wanted our hybrid residents and patients to understand that our staff were here to help them, and the best way to do that was to allow them to smell it through scent.

"So how was it?" the monkey hybrid asked, wiggling his eyebrows as a smirk grew. "Did he give you that good 'd'?"

"Hoseok!" I flushed a bright scarlet red; I knew the colour would seem brighter due to my fair skin. "I'm not talking about my sex life with you." The three hybrids whined, each trying to look extra adorable to make me cave into their guilt trips. "Ugghh, I can't with you three. All I'll say is that Yoongi made the night really romantic, and very memorable."

"Cat's got game," Bang Chan grinned, entertained by my embarrassed state.

The three hybrids stayed chatting and teasing me for another five minutes. I actually had to remind them that they were at work, not at my home where they could gossip all they wanted.

I was relieved to see that many of the hybrids in our shelter interacted with me more today than usual, particularly those who had come into our care because of abuse. One of the most stand-offish long-term residents, a Bengal tiger hybrid named Shownu, had actually not only come to engage in a conversation with me on his own volition, but had asked if I could stay and eat lunch with him.

During the meal, the tiger had apologised. He said that he didn't trust any humans after he'd been forced to perform in an illegal travelling zoo. When Shownu told me through large, fat tears that humans had beaten and whipped him whenever he didn't do what they wanted, my heart broke and my blood boiled. The tiger sitting in front of me wasn't dangerous at all; he was an oversized kitty just desperate for love and affection.

"When I was brought here, I thought you might do the same – even though you've been nothing but kind to me," he'd admitted quietly, clutching the well-loved teddy that used to be white but was now a mottled brown colour. "But smelling that you're mated and marked to a hybrid, I know now that you're nothing like those animals."

I reached my hand slowly up to his striped ears and as my fingers grazed the soft fur, rumbling chuffs began pouring from Shownu's throat. If tigers could purr, he'd be doing that right now. I chuckled as his head bunted against my hand.

"You're just a big pussy cat, aren't you?" I mused quietly, happy to be giving some comfort to the tiger. It made me so delighted that I could help him start his forgiveness journey.

I spent another hour or so downstairs in the shelter before I headed back to my paperwork. My mind kept wandering to my mate, making me not as productive as I usually was. By about 2.30pm I'd had enough of reading the same line for the fourth time, so I packed up and locked my office door.

"Can't concentrate?" my beagle assistant enquired between airy chuckles. I nodded in frustration. "Yeah, it's gonna be like this for a few days while your body chemistry equilibrates again. Taemin, Joy and I have things covered here if you want to take a couple of days off or work from home instead."

I was about to turn down his suggestion until he added, "plus, with all the hormones surging in his body, Yoongi's going to be extra clingy and he may even be a bit possessive over your attention. Then, to add on, he'll be heading into pre-rut very soon so don't be surprised if he's more randy tomcat instead of sweet pussycat."

I understood where my assistant was coming from, and I was grateful that he had put it in a straightforward way for me. I was needed at home with my hybrid mate, more than I was needed here. After all, I had hired Taemin and Joy for precisely this reason – to help carry some of the weight my job placed on my shoulders.

"Thanks, Bang Chan. I'll take my laptop home with me and work from home."

I let my assistant know that he, Taemin and Joy were in charge while I was working from home, and to call me any time of the day if I was needed.

"I've been working for you for years," he said, smiling brightly and steering me towards the elevators. "I got it handled, boss. You go get loved up with your mate."

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ ⋆͛♡⋆͛ ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

The house was so quiet when I got home. I wandered from room to room looking for my mate but all I was met with was silence and emptiness. I started to panic, wondering where the hell Yoongi was. He could come and go when he wanted, and often did during the day, but he always sent me a message telling me where he was heading. It was more of a 'just letting you know because I love you and don't want you to worry if you come home and I'm not here' type of message rather than one where he felt like he had to tell me where he was at all times of the day.

I checked my phone just in case a message had come through that I hadn't seen, but there was nothing. Heading up the stairs to check the rooms up there, I called out his name again, panic lacing the tone with each step I took.

I hope he hasn't had second thoughts about me being his mate. I wouldn't blame him if he wanted someone skinnier and sexier to be by his side.

Seeing the upstairs rooms devoid of my mate, I rushed back down and into the lounge. I was calling for Yoongi when I heard a sweet little meow, followed by a large fluffy grey cat emerging from the side of the caramel-coloured suede armchair.

"Yoongi?" A mixture of slight confusion and amazement overwhelmed my senses. Either Yoongi was in his animal form for the first time since I'd met him, or some strange grey cat had let itself into my house and was basking in one of my mate's favourite sunny places.

The cat meowed again, this time rubbing its furry head against my calf. "Is that you, Honey?" I asked, moving to sit on the floor in the sun with my back resting on the side of armchair.

Along with a soft meow as if to confirm my suspicions, I was met with the same eyes I'd been looking into for weeks; the same ones I'd gazed into in the throes of passion moments before me marked me as his own.

I giggled as Yoongi jumped onto the seat and head-butted me softly, rubbing his face against my cheek whilst purring insanely loud.

I knew I'd need to come up with a nickname for when he was in his animal form – like how Hobi was Seokie when in his emperor tamarin form, or Jungkook was Kookie, and Bang Chan became Channie when he was a beagle. All of the other hybrids' animal names had been chosen while they were in their animal form, so I began to do the same to Yoongi.

"Yoongi, what would you like your animal name to be?" He looked at me and gave me the cutest little meow as if he I could understand what he was saying. "Honey, do you want me to call you Lil Meow Meow?" I asked and immediately burst into laughter at the disgusted and indignant look he shot me. Him turning and baring his bum to me was a very clear signal that he absolutely detested that suggestion.

"Okay, not that one," I told him with a giggle, patting his extremely soft fur.

I may have been biased, but Yoongi was hands down the most beautiful cat I'd ever seen. His dark grey and black fur was long and incredibly soft and silky, like he was part mink. He had such a gorgeous face with an adorable little nose, his golden eyes that I loved looking into, and a tongue that was so tiny and cute. I marvelled at his large paws, which were significantly bigger than those of other cat breeds. His tail was just like it was in his hybrid form, just shorter and in proportion to his feline body size. 

I began rattling off names, each one met with a glare or him turning around and not looking at me.

Animal form Yoongi is a savage little kitty!

"Ugh, I give up, Yoongles," I murmured to myself. Immediately he came over and began rubbing his face on my cheek again, his purr loud and proud. "Yoongles? Do you like that one?" I asked, giggling as he gave me a tiny lick on the tip of my nose.

Yoongles it is.

That afternoon, I found out that Yoongles was similar in personality to my Yoongi, but the cat had a bit of a split personality. One minute he was lounging in the sun, then the next he was zooming throughout the lounge, running and jumping on the couches like they were his own personal obstacle course.

I cheered him on, impressed with Yoongles' speed and agility. After several minutes of acting like a psycho kitty cat that was high on a mixture of cocaine and catnip, he jumped onto my lap and proceeded to fall into a loudly purring slumber.

As I patted him gently, running my fingers through his soft fur, I thought about how my life had changed over the past couple of weeks. I had a crazy cat as a mate, but he was also the most loving and caring man I had ever met.

All I knew was that I wouldn't change Yoongi, or Yoongles, for anyone else. I loved both sides of him and through his actions, I knew he loved me for me too.

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

"Hi honey," I smiled as my hybrid mate sauntered into the kitchen where I was preparing dinner. After spending several hours in his animal form, Yoongles strutted into our bedroom abruptly, and a minute later my handsome man emerged.

"Hey Baby. Smells good." His raspy voice tickled the side of my neck as he peppered kisses to my skin. "What's for dinner? I'm starving."

I had my famous roast chicken in the oven, along with a tray of herbed potatoes. I placed down the knife I was using to trim the green beans and turned in Yoongi's arms.

Looking at him, I knew I'd never get over how insanely beautiful he was, what with long eyelashes of his, those stunning feline eyes and his cute little button nose. As attractive as his visual appearance was, Yoongi's heart was even more stunning and magnificent.

"Yoongles is so cute," I teased, kissing the tip of his nose in the same way his cat form had done to me earlier. I giggled quietly at his complaints that he was a tough cat, not a cute one. "Are you always that energetic?"

He shook his head, blushing and hiding his face into my neck. I heard him faintly say it was because he was so excited that he marked me and officially sealed our bond as mates last night.

"I didn't hurt you, did I?" The concern in Yoongi's voice moved me. He was always more concerned about those he cared about than himself.

"No, it was perfect," I admitted, pressing my lips against his in a slow kiss. Neither of us deepened it, just simply enjoying the feelings that came from being with our mate.

"It was nearly perfect," he whispered, causing me to freeze against him. "I didn't get to do the last part that I wanted to," he pouted cutely, his lips and cheeks puffed out to make him look so soft and adorable.

'Tough cat' my ass. He's too fucking cute right now to be tough and scary.

I suggested that we could do whatever he'd had planned tonight instead if he wanted, to which he nodded and said he'd get everything ready once dinner was nearly done. Together, we worked on trimming the beans before snuggling on the couch. This was the one thing I had wanted to do with Yoongles – cuddling the furry kitty and enjoying his small body on mine while he purred like crazy. I reminded myself that we had our whole lives ahead of us to do that.

While I finished putting the last touches of the dinner together, my mate set the table. As I placed the plates down, I smiled seeing the romantic candle-lit table set just for the two of us. Yoongi was a closet romantic I'd learned; a man who liked to do little things that were special and romantic when it was just the two of us.

I'd always found large, open declarations of love tacky and cringy. When I was younger and pictured falling in love, I envisioned private PDAs or if we were in public, some hand holding and maybe a couple of chaste kisses. That's the type of man I'd found that Yoongi was – preferring to keep things just for us rather than flaunting our love for all to see.

In the middle of our meal, I noticed my mate had some gravy on the corner of his mouth. Instead of telling him, I leaned over and gently wiped it off using my thumb and then sucked the delicious sauce off my digit. I didn't miss the way his eyes dilated, or the slow, languid movement of his tongue over his lower lip.

"Fuck, Baby. I'm trying to be a gentleman right now but you're so fucking sexy that it's just making me want to claim you again and again."

I closed my eyes at his erotic words as a tiny moan slipped from my lips. I didn't have to look at him to know he could smell my arousal thick in the air, the growl rumbling from his throat told me he caught the change to my scent.

No longer hungry for food, I pushed my plate to the side and leaned across the table to place my lips on Yoongi's. I basked in the taste of the meal combined with his strawberry flavour as our lips massaged against each other in a frenzied, bruising kiss.

Not parting, I crawled onto the table, silently hoping that it would hold my weight. I sighed in pleasure at the feeling of his tongue sliding against mine, the spines on his warm muscle massaging and caressing me just perfectly.

"Fuck, Baby. I love how you always smell so fucking incredible," he breathed out against my jaw between kisses. Yoongi helped relieve me of my clothes before he laid me onto the table, my head pointing towards him. He chuckled at the shiver that ran through my body, the feeling the cold wood underneath me and the desire that coursed through me as he slowly stripped out of his sweats.

Leaning forward, he kissed me hard and fast. Even though I was getting used to his different kisses, being kissed upside down was one I'd never had before. I felt that that woman in the movie about the spider hybrid superhero. I was experiencing my own Spiderman moment.

I was just getting into the rhythm when he pulled away and slid me towards him so that my head was slightly off the edge.

Looking up at his throbbing cock, I knew what he wanted. A wave of anxiety, mixed with excitement, washed over me.

"You okay, Kitten?" he asked so softly, kneeling so his head was next to mine. I could never hide anything from Yoongi – he would always be able to tell by my scent what I was feeling. "We don't have to do this if you don't want to."

I shook my head rapidly. I wanted to. I really wanted to have Yoongi's dick in my mouth... but I'd never done that before.

"It's not that," I replied meekly. "I want to, but..."

I was thankful my mate finished my train of thought. "You've never given a blowjob?"

"Yeah, and I'm scared I won't be any good."

Yoongi caressed my cheek as he brushed his lips over mine softly. "Baby, I promise you that whatever you do will feel fucking incredible. You're my mate – my destined mate. You were literally made for me."

I was still a little unsure, wanting nothing more than to please him like he has done to me. "Can... can you teach me what you like?"

A soft, pleased smile lit up his face, making his eyes twinkle. "For you, Kitten, I'll do anything."

Yoongi quickly kissed me before standing. His cock throbbed to the beat of his heart, the tip leaking precum. I took the time to actually look at him – thick, the perfect length with a slight curve that hit me in all the right places.

As much as I wanted to suck him while on the table like this, I allowed Yoongi to help me hop off. Together, we walked into the lounge with him sitting comfortably on the couch, his knees parted, and me kneeling on a cushion on the floor in front of him.

I followed Yoongi's first direction, tentatively licking his full length. Strawberries burst on my tongue, enticing my taste buds into wanting more. Salivating and eager to taste all of him, I opened my mouth wide and allowed the tip to slide onto my tongue.

Yoongi's moans filled the air and made me internally tremble and flutter with pride as my pussy twitched in need. I could feel myself dripping, leaking because I was the one bringing him pleasure.

It was me who was making his thighs shake and his breath tremble.

It was my mouth that had him calling my name in passion.

"Oh fuck," he gasped as I took him deep within my mouth and began bobbing my head. I hollowed my cheeks, sucking like he was my own strawberry flavoured lollipop. "So fucking good, Kitten. I've fantasised about your lips wrapped around me but this is so much better than I could've imagined."

Yoongi's words of praise mingling with his dirty talk had my pussy clenching around nothing. I could feel dampness forming in my panties and with the way Yoongi sniffed the air, he could smell it too.

"Look at you, my good little mate with a fucking incredible mouth," he growled out lowly, the sound of his voice making me drip like a leaky faucet.

Wanting nothing more than to make him cum, I wrapped one hand around the base of Yoongi's cock where my mouth couldn't quite reach and the other cupped his heavy balls, gently rolling and squeezing them with my fingers.

"Ah, fuck!" Yoongi moaned sexily.

I looked up at him through my lashes and him losing control was one of the sexiest things I'd ever seen; the way his head was thrown back had me doubling down on my ministrations. I wanted him to cum.

"You're doing so good, Kitten. Shit, Baby ... a-are you sure you've never done this before?"

I hummed a no, relishing in the string of curses intermingled with moans and groans that came from the man I loved. I could feel Yoongi's cock pulsating, and from what I've experienced when he was buried inside me, I knew he wouldn't last much longer.

I removed my hand from his balls and slid it upwards until I met his bellybutton and then around his thin, toned waist to his lean back. Gripping hold of his tail at the base, I gently tugged.

"Holy fucking shit!" Yoongi screamed, erupting in my mouth. I swallowed every drop of his delicious cum, the flavour of juicy strawberries incredibly strong and delectable. He tasted like the most heavenly dessert, my own personal sweet treat.

I helped him ride out his high by stroking his length and licking up any remaining cum that leaked out. His sigh and little giggle of relief was music to my ears.

I was pulled up and nestled into Yoongi's arms, the both of us wriggling so we were comfortable lying on the couch. The kiss he gave me conveyed his gratitude, love and contentment.

"Best blowjob ever!" he panted out between deep, heaving breaths. The bright gummy grin on his face made me giggle with glee.

"So, I don't need more practice?" I teased, leaning my head against his chest. I could hear my mate's heart still thumping like crazy.

"Practice no, but we have to make sure your skills don't decline, Baby."