He stares ahead of the pub. It has such a long time since he came here, it looks so worn off like business isn’t going well for all of this time. Taemin gets in the pub. There aren’t many customers considering it’s in the middle of afternoon. His eyes scan the dimly lit pub, looking for the man he once knew. His eyes stop at the only man sitting at the bar, a drink in his hand. The back of his head very much familiar. Taemin sighs and makes his way to the man.

He takes a sit and orders a coke. “It’s been so long, Taemin,” the man next to him says. Taemin lets out huff of breath. When his drink comes, he drinks it in one shot.

“So why do you want to see me?” Taemin starts.

The man chuckles, “You don’t miss me, then? Come one, we haven’t met for like 9 years.”

“I don’t really care about that, Jonghyun,” Taemin scowls. “Why are you drinking whiskey in a very daylight and you shouldn’t have come back. He’s going to get you and kill you. That’s one thing for sure.”

Jonghyun turns his body to Taemin. “I know” he ignores the first question on drinking whiskey. “But even then, he’s still going to get me and kill me wherever I go for hiding.” He drinks his newly poured whiskey. “He almost got me, though.” Taemin looks up at him finally. “But I got away, didn’t I?” he adds quickly. Taemin turns his body and leans his back against the bar counter. He watches the band on the stage that is performing a ballad song.

“Okay, enough about me. The reason I want to meet you isn’t because I want to tell you my sappy sob story.” Jonghyun says cheerfully. “I heard…” he leans closer to Taemin, “that you’ve found a Healer?” Taemin eyes the man from the corner of his eyes then focus back on the band. Jonghyun laughs, “It’s true then?”

“Actually, I found her long before you heard of the news,” he corrects the man.

“’Her’, huh?” he turns to the bar and pours another glass of whiskey. “Are we talking about Miss Kang Seulgi?” Upon hearing the name, Taemin’s head snaps to Jonghyun that he can hear it cracks a little.

“How do you know about her?” he asks.

Jonghyun smiles.

They say it’s okay but she hates it to feel indebted so she insists on working for the Choi at the clinic. She doesn’t really mind animals. In fact, she loves them. And how can she just sit there doing nothing while the couple have told her about them paying for her universities fees and giving her allowance every month. ‘You’re our family, now. We don’t mind, really,’ Minho says.

But Seulgi minds. She insists on the only way she could pay them back is to work with them. They refused at first but they lose it at the very stubborn Seulgi.

It’s been three months since she comes to stay with the Choi and that’s enough for her to get to know them. Minho is a 34-year-old man and Gwiboon is a year younger. They’ve been married for 7 years but they still haven’t got a child. To them, their child is that little brat Taemin. The kid’s been staying with them for over 5 years. They accepted him when Minho found a very injured big ‘dog’ when he’s returning home from visiting his parents. When Seulgi asks how can he mistake it as a dog than a wolf, his explanation is, ‘It’s dark, how can I see what it was?’ He only realized it was a wolf the moment he put it down under the light. He was very scared, to be honest. How can he not? What’s a wolf doing in a city? But the wolf was whimpering that he brushed it off.

Minho tended the wolf then, stitched its cuts, cleaned the blood and everything he could. Gwiboon remembers she came down and screamed to find her husband is treating a wolf in the middle of the night. She yells at him asking where did he get it and stuff. She then told him to call the animal protection centre because wolves are very dangerous and they shouldn’t be kept as pets or in the house. He promised he’d do it in the morning.

However, when they came down the next morning, to check on its well doing, they were shocked to find a man lying on the metal table. Gwiboon’s yells of horror shocked the man to wake. He sat up and looked at them with fear. Minho was making his way to call the police when Taemin, very injured, jumped off the table and begged Minho not to call or report him to anyone. He begged and swore he’ll never hurt them. He swore he’s not dangerous. He told them how he’s being kicked out from his pack and that he’s nothing like the rest of them.

They didn’t want to believe a word from a half-human but the pity and desperate look on him made them think otherwise. It took them some time to trust the werewolf. Taemin was recovering and he’s good enough to walk and live, he tried to leave the couple. But, Gwiboon said he can stay as long as he wanted though she can barely look at the younger in the eyes. Taemin was reluctant to stay but Minho assured him it was okay. That they’d need some time to get used to him. Taemin was nothing but a grateful young man. He promised he’d behave like a ‘good dog’.

“We are happy to have him with us, actually. Before Minho found him, we weren’t in a good relationship. We were almost breaking up. But when Taemin came, somehow we realized how much we loved each other and how much Taemin needs love from people. He’s become part of our family and he’s our brother, our child,” Gwiboon tells.

Seulgi can’t help but smile. She learns that Taemin is actually a very spoiled and loveable man. He’s not really what she thinks he is. Sometimes, he’d cling on the both of them like a child. Seulgi laughs at this. That’s cute.

That afternoon, Seulgi goes and help Minho tending a sick cat meanwhile Gwiboon sits outside, chatting with the owner. It looks like it had been in a fight with some other cat. It got a nasty cut on its ear. While watching the vet treating, Seulgi lets out a question before she could stop . “Aren’t you going to have your own child, Minho?”

Minho stops his doings altogether and straightened up. He smiles wearily at Seulgi and continues his work. Seulgi wishes she would do anything to get away from this room. Minho then says, shocking her out of her reverie, “I do want our own child. But Gwiboon…” he eyes his wife from the glass wall that separates them.

“She’s not ready?” she guesses. Seulgi is looking at the woman too, who is smiling while cheering the owner of the cat. She looks so happy like there’s nothing bad in the world ever bothers her.

“She can’t get pregnant, actually,” Minho says softly, making Seulgi to tear her eyes away from Gwiboon. She gapes, trying to say something, anything. “I’m… I’m sorry… I didn’t know…” is all she could manage.

Minho grins sadly, “It’s okay. How could you know? Anyway, we wouldn’t stop trying. There are couples who have been married for 20 years and didn’t have a child until they got so old. So we’re not giving up.”

Seulgi pats the man’s shoulder before putting back her hand on the cat, holding it from escaping. Suddenly she has a thought. She doesn’t know whether it’s going to work but… “Do you… do you think it’s okay for me…” Minho looks up to her for a moment then back at the cat. “Yes?”

“Do you think it’s okay for me to heal her?” she voices out softly. Minho stops his work again and frowns at her. “What do you mean?”

Her heart beats against her ribcage so hard it hurts. Minho looks scary frowning at her like that. “Well… I’ve once heard… my dad said… about… helping a couple – a woman – she wanted to – get pregnant – but she – couldn’t – so…” she stutters.

“It works?” he asks and his focus is back on the cat, he is putting some liquid on its ear.

“Yes, they had twins by the way,” she answers.

He sighs, “I don’t know, Seulgi. She might get upset. What if she thinks she’s incapable of giving me a child and need help from someone else? She used to have a worst breakdown when we found out she couldn’t get pregnant.”

Seulgi’s lips form a thin line. Minho finally finishes his work and goes to clean his hands. “We don’t have to tell her, then?”

“No, Seulgi. If she finds out, it’ll be much worse than we tell her beforehand. I don’t want to see her getting upset again.”

The young woman nods her head. “I’m sorry, I just want to help.”

Minho pats her on her arm. “It’s okay, I understand. And thank you.”

She grins and lifts the cat up, following Minho out of the operation room.

Taemin leaves the pub when it’s already dark outside. He walks along the pavement lane. Everything is too much for him to handle. Jonghyun coming back and Jonghyun’s story on Seulgi. He sighs deeply. How can he didn’t see it before? How can he be oblivious?

“How did you know about her?” he asks.

Jonghyun smiles. He brings his glass of whiskey to his lips. “Jonghyun,” Taemin asks sternly.

“Although I’m a hunter, you know how much I’m interested in your world? I-“

“Cut off all the crap, Jonghyun and tell me.”

Jonghyun raises both his hands. “Okay,” he says. “Well, let see. You’re not the only one who found her long before I told you the news just now. In fact, I found her long before you did, Sherlock.”

Taemin’s eyebrows connected, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you found her like four, five years ago? Well, I found her 10 years ago,” Jonghyun says.

Taemin stands abruptly causing the stool to topple down. He grabs Jonghyun by the collar. “Are you telling me, that you’re the bastard that hurt her when she was young?” he says to gritted teeth. His eyes are seeing red.

“Whoa, whoa. That wasn’t me,” Jonghyun pushes Taemin’s hand away from his collar. “Sit down, you dog. The bastard wasn’t me. I was the police who came to rescue her. The bastard however, was some mental dude who had just killed her daughter. We found his dead daughter in the basement. I don’t think Miss Seulgi noticed the poor girl as it was too dark down there.” He stops to drink his whiskey. “Anyway, you must be asking, how did I know she’s Healer? When we were interrogating the man, he said he saw her did something to her friend. He said he saw her healed her bleeding friend. So, he thought if he had her, bring her to his home, she might be able to bring her daughter back to life. I thought he was crazy. But you know we hunters have that ability to smell the certain scent? When I went to visit her at the hospital to check on her, I smelled it. In fact, her scent is stronger than ever. I think you noticed it too?” he turns to look at Taemin who has already on his stool back.

Taemin’s heart leaps. Yes, she does have a very strong scent but he thinks it’s because he never knew how a Healer smelled like unless he’s been alive for centuries. Jonghyun grins at Taemin’s reaction. “Thought so. You know, she’s not just some Healer. In fact, she’s very strong; it’s all because she has a royal blood in her.”

“What-“ royal blood? That means…

“She’s part angel, Taemin,” Jonghyun continues his thought. “I’m aware that she doesn’t have parents?” Taemin nods. “Figures, those weren’t even her real parents, anyway.”

“I don’t understand.”

“She was raised by some couple whose surnames are by Kang. She’s to believe that she was raised by the couple who have the same family name with her as to not cause suspicion. She was to believe that she was born with the ability out of miracle.”

“But… her parents… the human…?”

“Let’s say it’s like how the Choi took you in. But the only difference is that they knew who her parents are. Her mother is human and her father is the angel.” Jonghyun stops his story to think for a while. He turns his head to Taemin. “Taemin, her mother is dead. However, her father is still out there. He’s collecting his own army.”

Taemin is bewildered. “Army? For what?”

“What else, Taemin? War,” Jonghyun lips form a smile.

Taemin gapes at him like the older man is crazy. “What war? Can you be more specific, Jonghyun?”

Jonghyun chuckles, “You’re so stupid sometimes, Taemin. I swear to God.” He orders another bottle of whiskey. “Jinki has learned that Seulgi is a Healer and royal blood too. He’s very much interested on that Healer. Not only she can heal for whatever he needs her to heal for him but she can also bring someone back to life for him. And you know who we are talking about.”

Taemin clenches his fists on the table. He knows of course. He was there when Jinki told about the plan. He hates the Alpha even more now that he knows why he needs Seulgi so much. “Why are you telling me all of this?”

Jonghyun rolls his eyes in annoyance. “God, why is he so stupid.” He gives Taemin as very nasty look, “So that you can keep her under your nose forever until her father and his army return. Jinki will act any moment from now on. I would suggest you to take her somewhere else but that would be fruitless. Jinki has his men all over the place. And that Choi couple, protect them too. They’re humans but they know so much. I don’t doubt Jinki wouldn’t hesitate to kill them if that’s his only way to have her in his grasp.”

“What about the hunters? Don’t they come and protect her?” Taemin asks desperately. The hunters are always there to protect the Healers. They don’t mind to have the Healers on their side.

“The hunters, I’m not too sure. I haven’t been in contact with any of them when I’m on the run.” He finishes his last drop of whiskey and looks at Taemin in the eyes. “Taemin, listen. I have a feeling that the moment I leave this pub, I’m going to be taken away by his men. I’m very much sure – no, listen! – I’m very much sure this is going to be our last meeting. And my warn is that you keep her safe as long you can until her father returns. Stay with the Choi no matter what, okay? Don’t you ever let them off of sight, do you understand? I wouldn’t be there to save your neck next time. So do what you can do to have her and the Choi safe and alive. They don’t deserve to be killed. Do you understand?”

Taemin’s eyes shake. He stares hard the man in front of him. Jonghyun can’t leave him! He’s not going to let that happen. He’s been a brother figure to him like Minho does but even longer than Minho. How Jonghyun can say something like that? He really shouldn’t have come back. He wants to protest but the older man knows better. He closes his eyes and nods in agreement.

Jonghyun smiles. “Good. Now, get the hell out of here. I’m going to enjoy my last bottles of whiskey before I regret it when I died.”

Taemin gets off the stool. He’s made to leave but turns back. “Jonghyun hyung,” he calls softly. Jonghyun turns and Taemin wraps his arms around the man’s neck. “I’m sorry.”

“Ah, this brat. When I’m reaching my end he calls me ‘hyung’,” he says, trying to sound cheerful but failed. He pats Taemin’s back. “It’s okay. I’m too old to live anyway.”

“You’re only 35, old man,” Taemin says in the hunter’s neck. Jonghyun laughs. They hug for the whole three minutes before Taemin finally let go of him. “Thanks for everything,” he says and he leaves the pub.

Jonghyun grins at the retreating back of Taemin. “You’re welcome. Take care,” he whispers to himself.

Taemin has no idea when was the last time he cried but it’s been a long time. He starts to cry the moment he takes a sit in the park near the clinic. Hands on his knees, face hidden in his palms, he cries as hard as he could. He should’ve asked Jonghyun to stay with him with the Choi but sure the man would refuse. ‘It’ll be dangerous for the Choi and Seulgi,’ he’ll say.

“YOU ARE A VERY STUPID SELFISH MAN!” he bellows. He cries even harder.

“Tae – Taemin…” Taemin looks up and once. And there stands Seulgi in her pyjamas and a hoodie. He wipes away his tears and looks away from her as quick as he can manage.

He feels her taking a seat next to his rather slowly. He seems couldn’t stop sobbing. “Are you okay?” she asks.

“I’m fine,” he chokes.

He then feels her putting her hand on his back. He feels a sudden rush of warmth for her hand. He doesn’t need to be told twice what she is doing. He feels a bit calmer than he does before. He leans back against her and she wraps her hands around him, radiating more warmth for him. He sobs quietly in her arms.

“It’s going to be okay,” she says. He wants to tell her it’s not going to be okay but he is too comfortable to snap at her so he lets go.

They stay like that until he stops crying.