Y/N'S POV

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. That’s how it’s done, right?

I repeated the thought, grounding myself as I leaned forward, my heart hammering against my ribs. My wings—they weren’t there anymore. I could feel it.

"Y/N—"

A voice, panicked and familiar, cut through my focus. Before I could turn to see who it was, I crashed hard against the cold marble of the balcony. A heavy weight pinned me down, pressing all the air from my lungs.

"What were you doing?" Jungkook’s voice, sharp and demanding, filled the air as I blinked up at him. My vision slowly cleared, and there he was, his golden eyes blazing with intensity, his hands braced on either side of my head, trapping me beneath him.

"Huh?" I managed to utter, dazed and confused. Then it hit me. Pressing my back against the ground, I felt nothing—no feathers, no wings. I had done it.

"I did it!" I exclaimed, a triumphant grin spreading across my face. Jungkook’s anger wavered, confusion taking its place.

"What?" he breathed out, his voice low, as though trying to release his frustration. He pulled back just enough for me to sit up.

"I contracted my wings! Just like you showed me!" My excitement spilled out as I reached behind to touch my now-normal back. No feathers, no sign of wings.

Jungkook stared, clearly dumbfounded. "You... weren’t trying to escape?" His voice was almost too soft, as though he didn’t believe his own question.

I shook my head firmly, watching his tense expression soften. His eyes lit up, a flicker of relief washing over him.

"Why would I? I’ve learned my lesson after the last two times," I teased lightly, though my words carried weight. Jungkook didn’t respond. Instead, he pulled me into a tight embrace, burying his face in the crook of my neck.

For a moment, I was still, caught off guard by his sudden warmth. But then, instinctively, I ran my fingers through his hair, soothing him. He murmured something, his voice muffled against my skin. I couldn’t make out the words, but his tone was unmistakably relieved.

And then it happened. A ripple of energy surged through me, and I felt the soft, familiar weight of feathers pressing against my back. My wings had reappeared.

Breaking free from the hug, I stood up quickly, determined to try again. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, focusing on retracting them once more. Sure enough, they vanished.

I turned to Jungkook, whose knowing smirk told me he was already anticipating my question. "How is this possible? How do they disappear but not ruin my clothes?"

"Our wings are developed enough to phase through clothing in human society," he explained casually. "Unlike the chains they used to bind me in prison."

The way he spoke of his past so nonchalantly made my chest tighten. I nodded, following him back into the room.

As we walked, I noticed his curious gaze lingering on me. "What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He looked away, shaking his head. "Nothing. I’ve got work to do. Go see Jennie or something."

Before I could respond, he left, and I decided to take his advice.

---

Sure enough, I found Jennie in the training room, throwing punches at a heavy bag. She looked fierce, but when she missed a punch and stumbled, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Jennie turned, her face lighting up when she saw me. "Y/N!" She rushed forward to hug me but paused, her eyes widening when she noticed my bare back.

"I learned how to retract my wings!" I announced proudly, letting them appear again for emphasis.

Jennie’s jaw dropped. "You’re talking to Jungkook again? What made you do it?" Her tone was playful, her grin teasing.

I hesitated, my cheeks heating up. "We... may have kissed," I admitted, barely above a whisper.

Jennie’s reaction was immediate. She gasped, her jaw falling open as she gawked at me. "You WHAT?"

I quickly explained everything—the hospital room, the masquerade party. Her expression shifted from shock to delight, and she hugged me tightly.

"This is amazing! Do you have any idea how long Jungkook’s been waiting for this?"

Her words caught me off guard. "He’s been waiting?"

Jennie gave me a knowing look. "Of course he has! He’s been head over heels for you since you were his psychologist. He just won’t admit it."

My heart skipped a beat at her words. The idea of Jungkook feeling that way about me was both thrilling and terrifying.

---

Later, Jennie reluctantly let me practice throwing knives. Under her guidance, I managed a bullseye with my first throw. My excitement was short-lived, however, as the door burst open, and Jungkook stormed in.

Before I could react, he pulled me against his chest, his scowl unmistakable.

"You could’ve hurt yourself!" he scolded, his voice sharp with anger.

"I hit the bullseye!" I tried to defend myself, but his glare only deepened.

"With a knife, Y/N! Do you even realize how dangerous that is?"

His use of my full name, instead of his usual nickname for me, stung. But I held my ground. "If you’re going to keep me here, with these wings that you gave me, then I need to learn how to defend myself!"

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—hurt, perhaps—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. He sighed heavily, finally relenting. "Fine. But from now on, you only train with my approval."

I nodded, grateful for the compromise.

---

The days passed, and Jungkook’s surprise turned out to be a flying lesson. Standing on the roof, my heart raced as he instructed me to jump.

"Jump?" I repeated nervously, looking at the vast sky ahead of me.

Jungkook’s wings spread wide as he nodded confidently. "Trust me."

And for reasons I couldn’t explain, I did.