We remained silent for a long time. Granny was giving me time to think and I very much needed it at the moment.

What would I do? I clearly didn't want to fall in love with anyone else, hell! I couldn't, even if I wanted to. But, me dying the moment I mark Chae was a bit too much to digest. The curse, the fact that I had no idea that one of her parents was a wolf and all the closed doors staring me right in the face had me curl up around myself, wrapping my own arms around my shoulder for some warmth.

"Ma!" I heard mum, call her mother.

"Yes" the elder woman answered.

"Jungkook and Chae can be together if he doesn't mark her, right?"

My head snapped up..hope blooming inside.

"Yeah " Granny smiled, "but no wolf has ever led a life without marking the other" She shrugged.

"Oh cumon" I started, "She has the mark..the Crescent moon! It keeps me from marking her! If I ever go crazy and try to bite her, the tattoo on her back would repel me off " I stated clearly.

"Hmm" Granny looked down at her feet and I waited for her to say something.

"Talk to Chae's parents and find out about her mother. I just want to be sure that it is what I think it is...a curse" She finished, finally grabbing a piece of cake for herself.

Nodding, I leaned back into the cushion, relief flooding through me.

--

[ CHAE JOO EUN'S POV]

I'd basically done nothing all day. Does sleeping for 6 hours in the afternoon count as productive work?

I scrolled past memes and DIY room decor ideas on my laptop, popping tiny salt cookies into my mouth every few seconds. My back was flush against the fluffy pillows with which I'd built a fort behind me. Covered in a comforter and a blanket on top of it, I narrowed my eyes as I heard the phone buzz against the side table.

Groaning, I threw myself to the side, careful not to drop the laptop, until I could reach my phone. Yanking the device and almost ripping the socket from the wall, I squinted at the brightly lit screen.

The words on the new text message had me sit up straight with a large grin on my face.

Jungkook: baby, you up?

I typed out a quick reply, my fingers shivering in nervousness.

'yes'

I waited patiently until it vibrated again.

Jungkook: keep your windows open.

Almost squealing, my fingers worked quickly to type out a response as I rushed towards the window and pulled it open fully letting the cold air slip into my warn room.

Standing a few meters away from the now wide open window, I fought the urge to go up to it and look out.

'Are you comi-' and I felt two arms wrap around me, interrupting my typing as my phone slipped out of my hands and landed on the carpet with a shallow thud.

Warm body, the perfume that wasn't really my favorite, soft skin, tall form, firm grip, oozing affection and a familiar, gentle and needy voice whispering "I missed you".

I instantly reacted by holding him tight. Putting my leg around his waist almost as if I was trying to climb him like a tree.

"Me too! Oh my God!" Was I excited? Happy that he was back? Or did I just miss him too much? I didn't know.

"You little thing-" he chuckled against my skin, tightening his grip around me and helping me tie my legs around his hip and my arms around his neck as he carried me to my bed.

"Uff-" he huffed, plopping down on the soft bedding, with me on his lap, straddling him.

"I have good news " he grinned and I pouted. It had only been a week or two without the boy and i was so mad that he'd left without a notice.

I smacked his shoulder and then his arm, "You left without telling me!"

"Ow" he flinched as if my pathetic attempt at a hit hurt him, "sorry".

"I don't love you. Not one bit!" I sighed, glaring up at the boy.

"I love you " he pouted back, mirroring my expression, tugging me closer to his body, only to peck the tip of my nose.

"Hmm" I hummed, trying my best to stop myself from melting in his arms, like I was already.

"I have good news!" He cheered again, repeating the same words from earlier and his time, his arms squeezed my sides in excitement.

"Tell me" I smiled.

"You are my mate!" He grinned and I could only narrow my eyes at him.

"Isn't that old news?" I raised my brows.

"Uh- yeah.." He swallowed, "and my tattoo not glowing isn't a big deal".

"You aren't making any sense Kookie"

"ugh! Listen,"

"I'm listening " I nodded.

"I was afraid that you weren't my mate because this stupid tattoo wouldn't glow.. But now, I'm one hundred percent sure that you are the one. We were made for each other baby" he leaned forward to kiss my jaw.

Pushing him a bit, I asked "Why doesn't it glow then?".

"You aren't letting it glow" he frowned.

I narrowed my eyes, "me?".

"Its complicated!" He sighed.

"explain!"

His eyes were fixed at mine for a few seconds as if contemplating whether to let out a secret he'd promised to hide or nah. I was familiar with this look of his. He looked at me like this whenever he had something to tell me that I wouldn't like hearing.

"I'm still your best friend Kookie" I stated firmly, "you must tell me".

"And my girlfriend.." He smirked.

"God! Tell me already!" I tugged at his jacket, unable to contain the excitement and an odd feeling of fear bubbling inside.

"I spoke to you mother two days ago.." He started and my eyes instantly widened.

"And?" I urged.

"-and I discovered a few things.."

"Jungkook.."

"Alright. I'll tell you everything! Just don't go ask your mum or dad about it. Okay?" He looked serious and I nodded.

"Good girl!" He praised and I could feel my heart skip a beat.

Taking a deep breath, I brought my focus back to what he had to say.

He spoke endlessly for a few minutes. Curse. Ritual. Crescent shaped moon. Me preventing his tattoo from glowing and a lot other things and yet I felt like the boy was hiding something.

"You told me that you spoke to mum. What about?" I questioned, looking for some clarity.

"I asked her about the curse, and she told me a story.."He looked uncertain for a second but continued anyway, "Your mother is a wolf Chae" he grinned.

"What the fuck-"

"I know right " he flashed his whites.

"Oh my fucking-"

"Shushh" he chuckled, rubbing slow circles on my skin as I sat still on his lap, straddling the man.

"Your mother found her mate when she was twenty and unlike you, she hid it from her parents. They decided to get married and then reveal the whole 'we are mates' thing to their families, but shit happened " he shrugged.

"What happened?"

"You mother lost her mate"

"Go on.." I mumbled, confused and taken aback.

"Well yeah, he died the moment he marked her.. She went into depression for a long long time and then met your dad, married him and umm, made you" he finished.

"Dad isn't mum's mate.." I wondered out loud.

"He isn't" Jungkook confirmed.

"You aren't joking, are you? Is this another one of your shitty pranks?" I narrowed my eyes.

"No, babe what? No!" He shook his head.

"So, if you mark me, you die?"

"Yes" he nodded casually.

"Is marking important?" I asked as pain tugged at the walls of my heart.

"Somewhat.." He waved it off, "Its like marrying somebody without a wedding ring " he laughed.

I had nothing to say. All this time, I thought there was something wrong with him. Something wrong with his tattoo or that I wasn't his mate at all. But now-- it's me who's cursed. It's me who could get him killed. The defect was in me.

"I'm sorry" I apologized. I tried to fight off the tears that threatened to well up in my eyes but they fell out and rolled down my cheeks anyway.

"Shush no" he shook his head as his hands came up to cup my face.

"Its not your fault "

" of course it's not my fault! I just don't want your dumb ass to die" I cried, holding in a sob.

"I'm eternal, bitch" he winked.

"Shut up!" I slapped his hand, a laugh slipping out amidst the pain and tears that bloomed within.

"Come here" he pouted, pointing at his lips with his index finger.

I grinned wide at the sight, forgetting the scenario for a moment as I pushed myself against him and let my lips press against his.

---