“You stay here.” 

“What? No!” I tried to disclose the arms Suho had wrapped around me to stop me from moving away from the bed against his will. 

When Chanyeol and Kai came to tell us the horrible news (that made my heart clench and clench and clench) everything grow into hysterics. At first, I didn’t know how to react, as the news shocked me – and not, at the same time. I had already known they’d find me, I just never knew they’d find me so soon – then, when it all settled into my groggy mind, I exploded from within. I tried to sit up, leave for my bed and, ..—  I don’t honestly knew what I wanted to do after that. 

What would I do? Attack them? But Kai and Chanyeol said they brought company, and I knew enough of werewolves and their pack to realize company meant every single available member of their back. That usually meant they were ready for war, or whatever. That was exactly what happened when my pack was attacked. They brought a lot of company, the mere reason our pack was destroyed to begin with.

“What are you even going to do?” Suho tried to persuade me gently, in spite of his aflame eyes. It was in that moment that I knew he was a true Alpha, he was practically radiating power and patience. “You are who they want, imagine going there to them with your own two legs.”

“Then, you want me to stay here? Hidden?” I looked at him with exasperation, Kai and Chanyeol fiddling uncomfortably besides us, not knowing what to do (or if they should leave.) “I have been hidden for so long. I don’t want you to fight a battle of mine while I hide away like a mice!”

“It’s not a battle of your own alone, not anymore,” Suho said gently, taking the hands of mine I was throwing around angrily in his own hands, bringing them close to his mouth and kissing each and every one of my knuckles. My heart thumped in ease at the gesture, my wolf howling, and my anger dissipated a huge fraction. “I’m not letting you hide, and I won’t stop you if you wanted to fight too, but going there without a plan might jeopardize everything.”

“What are we gonna do?” Kai finally said something, his eyes flashing worriedly and his fingers fiddling with each other anxiously, Chanyeol was nodding beside him, similar expressions of Kai painting his face. 

“I’m going to go check, you stay here with Yoojin.” Suho mumbled, leaving my hands and standing up from the bed to dress up and check. I didn’t say anything, only watching him with attentive eyes as he attended to his things, putting on some decent clothes and walking downstairs, shooting me a look I didn’t understand the meaning of, and I was left frowning.

“Don’t worry,” Kai mumbled soothingly, sitting beside me on the bed gently; while Chanyeol all but bounced on my other side, causing the bed to squeak and release a swoosh soon after. He was just an overgrown puppy. “Everything will be.. alright. We have two elementals in our group, one of them is an Alpha. We’re a strong bunch.”

I knew that already, I believed in them. But I’m not sure if I believed in myself.

“Yeah!” Chanyeol exclaimed, showcasing a large smile that didn’t exactly suit the situation, but I appreciated his efforts. “You’re one of us now.”

I was glad I belonged, truthfully this time.

-

We stayed in that room for ten minutes or more, talking softly to each other to pass the time. But I wasn’t really listening, or talking for that matter; I was busy thinking about what was going on down there. I found out that I could see what was happening if I leaned against the window, but the two werewolves who were assigned to be with me didn’t allow me, saying something like ‘You really don’t want to see that.’

And finally, after a few more minutes, Baekhyun came through the door, panting and looking all bothered. His eyes were wide and anxious, and his attire was rugged, not neat like usual. I immediately stood up on my place, and once his panicking eyes flew to me, he walked towards me, ignoring the two werewolves.

“Suho told me to get you down there.” He took my shoulders in his hands, his beautiful fingers drawing characters and drawings on my blades, his eyes pinning me down on my place. My heart raced, at both his words and his mere presence.

“What is happening?” Kai snatched the words from my own mouth, and now Baekhyun had three pairs of eyes on him. The boy looked at Kai and Chanyeol for a second, acknowledging their presence, before focusing back on me, his eyes softening even more than earlier.

“They didn’t come for trouble,” Baekhyun started explaining, his hands still rubbing soothing circles on my shoulders. “The old Alpha didn’t come either. His son is here, Kris, and.. he wants to have a word with you.”

“Why?” I softly asked, my heart thumping more on my chest now that I heard his words. I didn’t.. know what exactly he needed to talk to me about. Their pack wasn’t known for being a talkative pack. They want something, they don’t negotiate for it, they yank it right from your teeth. The idea they want to talk to me, after everything, is.. unsettling.

“The son has taken over his father, and he wants to do things differently,” Baekhyun explained. “He didn’t say what exactly he wants with you, he said he wouldn’t explain unless you are there listening.”

“What do you think? Do you think they’ll hurt her once she’s down?” Chanyeol asked, standing up and looking absolutely worried despite us being not that close. I watched him with awe, because his worry was too genuine for me not to believe. 

“I don’t think they’ll be able to even if they want to, she’ll stay beside me.” Baekhyun murmured distractedly, his eyes on me and one of his hands falling down to wrap itself around one of my hands, the gentleness he radiated made my heart swell with warmth. “You’ll stay beside me, okay?”

I nodded.

-

When I emerged outside the front door, I didn’t expect to see so many warm bodies around.

The boys I grew up used to inside the pack house – whom all stood in front of the house protectively, menacing scowls decorating each and every one of their faces. Kai and Chanyeol didn’t hesitate to join their side, leaving Baekhyun and I to walk forward to join Suho, who was standing face to face with a tall man, taller than Chanyeol if it was possible. His hair as blonde and burning as the sun itself, and his eyes squinted, looking angry despite the warmth they held. I could see Luhan standing beside him, just like Baekhyun and I were doing with Suho. Luhan’s eyes itself was calculating, shameful, and holding nothing of the absurdity I know he always harbored.

That didn’t exactly surprise me, not like the large number of werewolves standing behind Kris and Luhan. The number was so large that I couldn’t possibly count the heads that were looking at me when I appeared, and were still looking at me while I was standing beside Suho.

My heart started to race again when I reached Suho’s side, Baekhyun beside me, his hand locked with m