"The palace has increased the number of patrolling guards," Jungkook announced casually, taking a sip of his milk. It seemed he had once again flown over the walls, a weekly adventure of his.

Jimin's brow furrowed in curiosity. "Any particular reason for the increase?" he inquired, focusing on his meal.

Jungkook grinned mischievously. "Well, think about it," he teased, but Jimin's serious expression prompted him to continue. "Perhaps it's because of the priestess. You know how possessive Kazimir can be." He grabbed a grape, popping it into his mouth and chewing thoughtfully. Jungkook's playful demeanor often reminded Jimin of his youthful spirit.

"Do you think that's the only reason?" Jimin mused softly, memories of the day they had left Kaya at the palace flooding back. She had been taken from them upon their arrival, along with the human, Seokjin. Jimin hoped for Seokjin's safety, though he knew the brutality of the palace guards all too well.

Jungkook chuckled and remarked, "The priestess is quite a handful, you know." His laughter was infectious, and Jimin couldn't help but join in, their amusement revolving around Kaya's potential antics. "I wouldn't be surprised if she's already causing a stir or forming alliances to escape."

"Or perhaps," Jimin added between laughs, "she's so bored that she's talking to herself and annoying even her own ears." Their laughter echoed through the room.

They laughed wholeheartedly, reminiscing about their journey with the priestess, imagining her explaining every little detail of the room and the different shades of colors to someone, just like she had done when they were in the forests. However, as they dwelled on memories of her, worry crept into their hearts. "I hope she's fine," Jungkook whispered once his laughter subsided.

Jimin studied his friend, searching for any hint of emotion. Jungkook, much like Taehyung, was reserved when it came to expressing his feelings, although Taehyung was a master at concealing his thoughts and emotions. "What are you going to do now?" Jimin asked carefully. "Now that you know who Kaya is, who her grandmother was."

Jungkook's black wings shifted uneasily, a sign to Jimin that he had touched a sensitive nerve. The angel covered his face with his hands, rubbing the weariness from his eyes. "I have no idea, but I must find a way to protect her, that I owe Celeste. But how? We don't possess our full powers, and Taehyung—Tae has been behaving strangely."

"I've noticed it too," Jimin added. Taehyung had been unusually quiet in the past few days, causing them concern. Knowing the silver-white-haired persona, Jimin knew he must be grappling with something. He was always reluctant to open up, often requiring a little push or even a literal punch from Jimin to start talking.

"Perhaps it's related to Medusa. I wouldn't be surprised if they had another confrontation," the angel remarked with a chuckle, though the amusement failed to reach his eyes. Taehyung and his mate may not have the picture-perfect, lovey-dovey relationship by the book, but Jimin knew that his friend harbored a deep desire for their bond to succeed.

"Hmm, yeah," Jimin mumbled thoughtfully, "that could be the root of the problem." Despite voicing this possibility, a nagging doubt lingered within him. Intuition, sharp as a blade, whispered to him that there was more to Taehyung's recent demeanor than mere clashes with Medusa. It wasn't based on tangible evidence but rather a deep-rooted feeling that stemmed from observing Taehyung's persistent gloom. This mood seemed to cast a shadow over his every interaction. "We need to figure something out. Kaya could be the person the prophecy talks about." He added, but Jungkook stayed quiet.

"It must be her," Jimin thought. Each night, he experienced the same vivid dream. In this dream, a woman with long, shimmering red hair appeared before him. Red, a color symbolizing luck for wolves and the promise of great things ahead. Jimin believed with unwavering certainty that Kaya was the answer to his dreams and was destined to unite the worlds.

Lost in their thoughts, the sound of dishes clattering brought them back to reality. Aleyna, Taehyung's sister, was washing the dishes in silence after returning from her time in the garden. It was already dark outside. Her red dress was dirty and had green stains from the grass. Aleyna loved plants, especially fruits, herbs, and vegetables. She would spend all day working in the garden and on rainy days, she would make medicines and ointments.

"Hey, you're back?" Jimin said as he took his plates and walked over to her. "Let me do the dishes tonight. You must be tired. Go wash up and relax." He carefully took the sponge from the sink without touching her. With her horrible past, Jimin knew she didn't like to be touched yet be alone with a male. They were the only ones who she trusted and John, her personal guard when they weren't around. Aleyna stepped aside and agreed with a nod. She took off her veil, revealing her dark, wild hair.

Taehyung had told Jimin and Jungkook about the terrible things the princes had done to Aleyna. They had cursed her and sewn her lips shut with a needle and thread. When Taehyung found her assaulted and injured, she was in great shock and couldn't speak. In the following days and weeks, she never said or left her room; only her brother could see her. Taehyung had discovered she was embarrassed about the way she looked, so he had given her a mask that covered her nose and mouth, and since then, she never took it off.

They communicated either through pen and paper or by using Jungkook's telepathic abilities to convey messages. Aleyna preferred written communication, finding it more comfortable to express her thoughts that way. Jimin observed her in silence as she closed the bathroom door behind her, feeling a deep sense of sympathy for her fate and a growing resentment towards the princes for whatever they might have done to her. Despite her turmoil, Aleyna kept the details to herself, not even confiding in her brother.

Perhaps it was for the best, even though the unknown left room for their imaginations to conjure the worst scenarios. Jimin reminisced about Aleyna's brave and kind nature, her love for dancing, and her playful spirit, always adorned with a smile resembling her mother. Every aspect of her, from her long, untamed dark locks to her facial expressions, even down to their shared skin color and manner of speaking, bore a striking resemblance to her mother. In contrast, her brother, Taehyung, carried more traits of their father, which he hated, particularly his hair color. Only his mother's gift shone through in his golden eyes, while Aleyna inherited their father's distinctive red eyes.

"I'm off to bed as well," Jungkook yawned as he patted Jimin's back. The angel had spent the entire night on patrol, ensuring their safety. Tonight, it was Jimin's turn to keep watch. While they should be safe, they could never be too cautious. King Damon and his sons were known to be moody and unpredictable; one could never tell when or where they would strike next.

Aleyna ...?

As Jimin perched in the treetops, high above the forest floor, an unshakable unease crept over him. Despite scouring every nook of the woods and the perimeter around their cozy cottage, he found nothing amiss. Nevertheless, a primal instinct gnawed at him, heightening his senses with each passing moment. "Could it be the influence of the new moon?" he whispered, gazing skyward where the distinctive silhouettes of the three dark moons loomed overhead. Different from the human world, with only one orb, the underworld possessed three moons.

This rare phenomenon occurred twice yearly in the underworld, when all three moons synchronized their phases. Differing in size, each orb traced a unique path around the underworld, casting an eerie yet captivating darkness on the land below. For him, as a wolf, it mattered; as a creature, depending on and inspired by the moon's phases, tonight, his powers were at their lowest. However, he had enough fighting skills to protect his friends and himself if harm occurred.

"It was on the night of the new moon," he recalled with a sharp pang in his heart. Jimin's memories of that fateful night were shrouded in a haze, but the events that unfolded haunted him still. When King Damon declared war, all realms stood alert and prepared for battle. However, King Damon was cunning and understood the vulnerabilities of the wolves: their strength waned during the new moon, reaching its lowest ebb, while they were at their most powerful under the full moon's glow.

Exploiting this knowledge, King Damon launched his attack on the realms of the wolves when the night sky was at its darkest, with only the stars as witnesses. Jimin's mother woke him up when their home was attacked. The sky was blackened by the shadows of wyverns and dragons, who devoured the scant light from the stars and mercilessly slaughtered every male wolf and pregnant female in their path.

Steel resolve coursed through him as he grasped his sword, ready to defend his pack. But his mother, a fae with the gift of shape-shifting, had subdued him with a potent draught and concealed him beneath the boughs of a towering magnolia tree. She had taught him that a magnolia tree could mask one's scent, and she had planted a colossal one behind their palace for this very purpose. When he awoke, the eerie stillness of death lingered, and he found himself alone amidst the aftermath of the massacre. He witnessed the last breath of his mother as she died in his arms. Her last words would never be forgotten.

— "I'm sorry for what I've done, but your bond is strong, you'll find..." — Her sentence ended there in his memories. The meaning behind her words was still a riddle to him.

As the next alpha of the Fenryr pack, he could feel a pack member's presence, as they were bonded with their loyalty for the alpha, but wherever he looked for a survivor, he had found them either dead or already captured by the demons; the underworld had decimated the Fenryr pack.

Jimin let out a deep sigh and shut his eyes. The memories felt incredibly vivid whenever they surfaced. The dark night sky, in particular, evoked a strong sense of nostalgia within him. He couldn't recall the details of how or when he ended up in the underworld; all he remembered was that Taehyung's mother discovered him in the woods.

Jimin's mother had glamoured his wolf scent and appearance and made him look and smell like a fae. That had saved him all along, yet her magic had only fully set in when Taehyung's mother had already found him.

Back then, he wondered why Taehyung's mother didn't tell anyone about him. She was from the cat realm and was a white tiger demon. She was supposed to report or kill any male or purebred wolf as ordered by the King. But she didn't turn him in. Instead, she looked after him and warned him never to use his name again. Jimin Fenryr, the rightful alpha of the Fenryr pack, died in the attack on a moonless night.

He had given up on his wolf identity and was known as the bastard's fae brute friend. However, Uriel, an angel, saw beyond the facade, recognizing his true identity and even remembering the scent and visage of his late mother. Jimin, on the other hand, struggled with a sense of emptiness, his memories of his mother fading into the mists of time.

Without warning, a shift in the air caught his attention, shaking him awake from his thoughts. The air carried the metallic tang of blood and an unsettling feeling that all was not right. Every muscle in his body tensed, and he followed his heightened senses through the dense woods, across the serene blue river, and perilously close to the shimmering magical barriers of the palace. "Oh no, could the King be up to something?" he muttered under his breath.

Approaching the palace borders, the scent of fresh blood grew more potent, intermingled with a subtle hint of sweet cinnamon that teased his senses with a sense of familiarity. But no matter how hard he searched, he couldn't find anyone, yet the trace was there. The forest was dark with all its majestic trees and rocks, no light lit the environment, even the billions of stars in the night sky were too weak.

As a wolf, Jimin, was gifted with eyes that could pierce the darkness, he raced through the labyrinth of trees. The scent lingered tantalizingly in the air, guiding him through the twisting paths like a siren's call. His powerful legs carried him effortlessly over fallen branches and moss-covered rocks as he weaved through the shadows. The urgency of his pursuit quickened his pulse, driving him deeper into the heart of the woods, where the darkness seemed to part before him like a veil.

With his senses sharp, Jimin spotted a still figure behind a big rock. Intrigued by the mysterious aura around the person, he rushed over and scooped them up before fully understanding the situation. He had to act quickly. Without hesitation, he ran away from the palace walls, aiming to put as much distance as possible between them and the danger nearby.

Too many questions swirled in his mind. Why was this person so close to the palace? Was this person a spy? Could this person be dangerous? If he sensed it right, this person belonged to the fae realm. As he carried her to what he deemed a safe distance, he finally set her down gently to examine her injuries.

The metallic scent of blood filled his nostrils, but beneath it, a tantalizing aroma of sweet cinnamon wafted into his senses, stirring something primal within him. It was a dizzying combination, overwhelming yet strangely alluring, like a spell he couldn't break free from.

Struggling to maintain his composure, he fought against the urge to give in to his wolf instincts, to delve into her scent and essence. Wolves were naturally curious creatures, especially when it came to the opposite sex, but Jimin had always prided himself on his self-control. Yet, with this enigmatic female, it was as if his senses were heightened beyond measure, every fiber of his being urging him to explore, to taste, to know.

Perhaps it was the absence of the moon that had heightened his senses to such a degree, leaving him vulnerable to the intoxicating allure of this stranger. Whatever the reason, he knew he had to tread carefully, to resist the primal urges that threatened to consume him in the presence of this captivating fae female.

Jimin carefully attempted to remove the heavy cloak that obscured the female's face and body, but as he tugged on it, she let out a pained whimper. His gaze fell upon her form, and his heart sank as he observed two arrows firmly lodged in her chest. The clean entry and exit wounds indicated the severity of the situation – she had been shot from behind, a treacherous and cowardly act that had left her in critical condition.

Realization dawned on him that she was in grave danger, rapidly losing blood with each passing moment. The situation was dire; moving her could exacerbate her injuries, potentially causing more harm than good. The lengthy arrows protruding from her chest posed a significant risk – any hasty movement could worsen the wounds, leading to further complications.

Firm resolve settled in his features as he knew what needed to be done. With a heavy heart, Jimin braced himself for the difficult task ahead. "I'm sorry," he murmured softly, his voice laced with regret, "this will be painful, but I must shorten the arrow to help you."

Suddenly, she forcefully yanked his hands away, catching him off guard. "Don't touch me," she mumbled, her voice strained and choked. Oh no. She must have blood in her lungs.

"I have no other choice!" Jimin insisted, his voice tinged with frustration. He made another attempt to reach for the arrows, but she pulled his hands away once more. "If you want to survive this, you have to let me--"

"Poison... don't touch," she managed to utter, her breaths becoming shallower and more rapid.

Jimin's eyes widened in terror. Did he hear her correctly? "The arrows are poisoned?" he inquired, seeking confirmation. She weakly nodded, then coughed, crimson liquid spilling from her mouth, causing his heart to lurch in shock. Jimin inhaled sharply, his entire body tensing; one arrow was tipped with silver, the other with iron, both coated in wolfsbane. Each element was deadly to a wolf, with iron being particularly lethal to a fae.

If he touched them, he could be poisoned as well. So if the wards used wolfsbane and iron, she had to be half wolf and half fae then.

Jimin gently guided her hands to his chest and commanded, "Hold on tightly!" She weakly clutched onto him, and he intensified his grip.

Summoning his accursed wings, Jimin revealed a part of himself he despised, as they were a symbol of betrayal. In every wolf realm, there existed a pact where wolves did not possess wings; only those who had been cursed bore them as a punishment for treachery or breaking an oath. Jimin carried this burden due to his failure to protect his pack, resulting in their capture and demise. His wings served as a visible mark of his betrayal, a warning to all creatures of wolf descent. No matter how hard he tried to conceal them, they were an unmistakable sign of ill fate, signaling others to avoid interaction with the cursed ones.

Jimin's wings served as both a warning and a burden. Crafted from black fire, they scorched his back each time he took flight, the searing pain intensifying with every moment spent soaring through the sky. The wings bore a peculiar trait—they could burn and scorch only Jimin, no one else. Despite the agony they inflicted, he knew he had to act swiftly; the situation was urgent, and the cottage was just a short distance away.

His burning black wings were quicker than his feet, giving him hope that he could save the female by taking her to Aleyna, who knew how to heal poisonings. Just because they were immortal didn't mean they couldn't die; the wounds she had were deadly because of the well chosen material the guards had used. Killing an immortal, even the strongest of creatures, could be done by beheading or ripping out their heart.

As the cold wind whispered across his heated brow, offering a soothing caress despite the burning heat on his back, she clung tenaciously to his shirt, her grip tightening with each passing moment. Sensing a subtle shift within his chest, he spoke reassuringly. "We're almost there. Hold on," he murmured, his gaze drifting downwards to meet her closed eyes.

With a gentle tug, the hood that obscured her features fell away, revealing her complete and unparalleled beauty. She was a vision to behold, radiating a captivating allure. Her hair, a resplendent hue of copper ginger, seemed to possess a life of its own, shimmering like a cascade of molten fire even in the dimness of the night. Its essence was reminiscent of wildfire—mesmerizing yet inherently dangerous. The color of her hair also reminded him of his pet he had taken care of as a kid; a fox.

The cottage came into view, and Jimin immediately spotted Jungkook standing outside. He must've sensed his inner turmoil. Jimin swiftly landed in front of the entrance with a few powerful beats of his wings. Jungkook approached him with brisk steps.

"You're flying?" Surprise sounded in the angel's voice. He knew Jimin hated to use his cursed wings. "Jimin, what are you doing?" Jungkook inquired.

"She's dying!" Jimin growled through his teeth, baring his sharp canines as a warning to the angel. "Aleyna, I need your help!" Jimin shouted as he carried the woman into the cottage and placed her on the wooden kitchen table.

"You can't just bring anyone here," Jungkook pointed out, his voice tinged with annoyance as he placed a wet towel on Jimin's back to cool the burning marks.

"I know!" Jimin turned to glare at his friend, his face etched with a deep frown and a hint of sorrow. "I can't stand idly by and watch her die."

"What if she's working for the King?" Jungkook placed a calming hand on Jimin's shoulder, but Jimin tensed in response.

"Then I'll take responsibility for whatever she does!" Jimin shrugged off Jungkook's touch. Aleyna was already examining the woman, with herbs and tonics laid out beside her. Jimin turned to Aleyna and murmured, "Will she be alright?" The dark-haired female remained silent for a moment, her red eyes briefly glowing as she glanced at Jungkook before returning her gaze to Jimin.

"Jimin, we need to step out of the room," Jungkook advised.

"Why? Maybe we can assist. I'll lend a hand, Ally," Jimin offered, rolling up his sleeves. However, Aleyna remained motionless, her focus fixed on Jimin. "What should I do?" Jimin raised both hands as if preparing for a medical procedure.

"Jimin, she needs to disrobe," Jungkook muttered.

"Alright, help her undress," Jimin echoed, reaching for the woman's cloak. Before he could touch it, Aleyna swiftly intercepted his hands. Confusion clouded Jimin's expression as he met her dark, emotionless gaze.

"Jimin!" Jungkook's warning tone cut through.

"What?" Jimin shot a defiant glare at Jungkook. The angel grasped his wrist and pulled him away. "Wait, what are you doing?"

"Aleyna needs to examine the female's injuries, which requires her to undress her. The stranger will be stripped naked," Jungkook explained, making Jimin realize that Aleyna must have communicated telepathically to him.

"And?" Jimin inquired.

"And?" Jungkook huffed in disbelief. "That's inappropriate."

"Not aiding her would be more inappropriate. I've seen enough naked bodies–all sorts of colors and sizes," Jimin argued, but he allowed Jungkook to guide him out of the room.

•••

Aleyna was taken aback by how long it had taken Jimin to realize the need for privacy with the injured female. She could sense his shock and agitation as his body tensed and trembled. Grateful for Jungkook's telepathic communication abilities, she silently conveyed to him that they needed to vacate the room.

With deliberate and practiced movements, Aleyna began to undress the injured female. With a deft tug of her sharp claws, she tore away the elegant cloak that adorned the woman. Unlike her brother, who could harness both demon sides, Aleyna had predominantly inherited the tiger traits from their mother. Her narrowed eyes focused on the wounds before her. "They came dangerously close to her heart," she thought as she examined the weapons, swiftly breaking off both arrow tips.

The female let out a whimper and clutched Aleyna's shoulders, her eyes reflecting a mixture of pain and anger. As Aleyna drew nearer to inspect her closely, she noticed the unique features of the female. Her eyes were like burning amber, and a green headband complemented her rich copper locks. Golden freckles covered her fair skin that seemed to shimmer under the soft candlelights. A smudge of dried blood marked her forehead, which Aleyna gently wiped away as she moved the female's long hair to the side.

Aleyna realized she needed to remove the headband to gather more information. Her head could be hurt as well. She reached out to take it off, but before she could, the injured female seized her wrist. "Please, don't," she pleaded with a hoarse voice, her eyes imploring Aleyna to stop. The female clung to her, as if fearing some revelation if the band was removed. Aleyna, understanding the significance of the moment, shook her head gently and offered a reassuring smile through her eyes.

Though the female could not see her lips, she sensed Aleyna's empathy and gradually loosened her grip. As the headband slipped off, Aleyna's eyes widened in astonishment, a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling within her as she realized the magnitude of her discovery. Awe and wonder gripped her as she understood the importance of keeping this incredible find hidden from prying eyes.

She met the beautiful female's gaze and silently acknowledged her treasure. "Your secret is safe with me," Aleyna assured with a gentle look that resonated through her glowing red eyes. A faint smile graced the woman's lips as a solitary tear trickled down her cheek; she understood Aleyna's intentions.

"Thank you," she whispered before succumbing to unconsciousness.

°°°

(Well, what are your thoughts?)

Jimin Fenryr (122 years old)