Minzy awoke to the soft tapping against her face. Humming softly as if to appease the person trying to wake her, she was grateful to see little Jennie smiling down at her. "Hey Jennie," she mumbled as she started to wake. 

"Welcome home, mommy and I made some delicious dinner," Jennie almost said in a singing voice. 

"Oh really, that sounds good," Minzy said as she sat up and stretched. 

Jennie nodded, "It will be good. Come and eat!" 

Minzy chuckled as she watched the small girl race out. Sighing as she stood up, she shuffled over to her robe and threw it over herself being as she had fallen asleep in only her underwear. Tying the robe up, she made her way out of her room and towards the delicious aroma. Humming at the overwhelming smell that over rode her senses, she didn't notice Alpha Jiyong who watched her walk in. "Glad you could join us," he spoke up as she jumped at his voice. 

"Alpha Jiyong," Minzy breathed in disbelief. "What are you doing here," she asked confused by his presence. 

"Jennie invited me," he nodded to the small girl that nodded. 

"Yeah, Alpha Jiyong asked me to report to him whenever you come home," Jennie said proudly with a thumbs up to Alpha Jiyong who mimicked her action. 

Minzy shook her head as Jennie then gave Alpha Jiyong a high five, "Jennie is your little spy now?" 

"Were you going to tell me you were on the packlands," Alpha Jiyong asked changing the subject. 

She shrugged not finding the point in making an announce about her being in her own home, "I just came back to take a short rest before I leave in the morning. I didn't think I was going to be interviewed or what not." 

He shrugged, "Exactly why I enlisted Jennie to help me out." 

Minzy rolled her eyes as Bom approached with dinner in hand, "Alright you two dinner is here." 

Minzy ate quietly as she thanked Bom and Jennie who so conviently left the two of them alone. "So how was your trip? I heard you helped a Beta become an Alpha all the while protecting their pack from getting exposed to the human world," he asked.

She nodded, "Something like that, but Alpha Junsu deserves to be Alpha he gives his all to the pack." 

"Sounds like you think highly of this Alpha Junsu," he said with scrutinizing eyes. 

"Are you asking if I have a thing for Alpha Junsu," Minzy called him out. 

Alpha Jiyong coughed a laugh, "Do you?" 

Rolling her eyes, she lost her appetite as she shook her head and got up, "I'm not doing this." 

"So you do have a thing for him? Is that why you smell a little off putting," he said with distaste. 

"Alpha Jiyong," she turned to glare at him. "You and I are both grown adults. I don't need this petty jealousy !" 

"My mark makes me lose my temper quicker when I'm around you," he said through gritted teeth. "I...apologize, but you do smell a bit off putting." 

"I know, I've spent far too much time with Alpha Junsu which was why I asked to leave when I did and also why I didn't want you to see me like this," she confessed. Alpha Jiyong grew quiet as she kept explaining herself. "I did feel a connection with Alpha Junsu. He's a dear friend after all that we experienced in the short time we spent together. But I am well aware of your situation so I came to rest and collect myself before I head back to the dessert planes in the morning. I don't want to fight with you right now over petty things but I understand it is part of baring my mark. So say what you need to get out of your system and let's part ways." 

He sat quietly knowing that the mark did play a part for him wanting to rip the head off of the person who dare try to scent his mate. But he also knew that he had a mind of his own and tried to reign it in. "So...you were trying to protect me," he asked. Minzy in turn hadn't really thought about it in that way. She just wanted to avoid any misunderstandings or drama, but now thinking on it in a sense she also felt the need to protect him. Alpha Jiyong took her silence as a yes to his question as he smiled, "I think that's the sweetest thing you've done for me since you've bitten me."

"It's the least I could do for all the trouble I've put you through," she brushed off his compliment, if anything she believed she wasn't sweet. The closest thing she could feel to such a feeling was bitter sweetness that came with the acceptance of being unmarked. A feeling that she knew Alpha Jiyong would come to get a taste of when his mark fades. 

Meanwhile Alpha Jiyong's smile faded as he sat watching Minzy process a deeper meaning to her words than what she was saying to him. As he sat staring at her like a piece of art, examing her features Minzy took notice and stared rigth back. She wondered why he was looking at her in such a way and shifted uncomfortably. "What," she finally breathed, breaking the thick silence that filled the room, at least for her. 

"I would tease you about being so much trouble, but something tells me you would take that seriously," he grinned. Clasping his hands before him, he leaned forward as if to take a better glimpse of the master piece, "Yes you've gone through some things that may have you thinking that you're trouble, but you're not. You're worth the wait or in your words you're worth the trouble because you're my mate." The conviction in his voice sounded more intense from the last time she had heard him declare what she was to him that it sent a shiver down her spine. "And even when your mark fades I will still need you as my mate and will wait until you're ready for me." 

"What if I'm never ready," she asked. "What you ask of me I'm not sure I know how to do any more." 

"Then we can both learn together," he said softly. "You to refresh your memory and I for the very first time." 

She scoffed finding his optimistic attitude a little much, "Alpha Jiyong please accept my deepest apology for doing the most irresponsible thing by letting my wolf take absolute control. It was wreckless and I have put you through so much." Shaking her head in shame, she also had her wolf whimpering. "So...when your mark fades I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me or in the very least find a peace of mind of having a clear conscious with no outside influences." 

He nodded in understanding, "I'll accept your apology, but there is nothing for me to forgive. You've brought me back to life when I thought that there was no purpose in life any more. So thank you." He sighed as he gave her a warm smile, "Let's not be angsty hormonal lycans about this," he began to say, causing them both to chuckle. "But let's take a break from one another to let the mark fade and when it does I want to share something with you." 

She couldn't help to feel relief as she nodded, "I do too." Minzy thought if they were both going to come clean to one another she might as well tell him about her interactions with Chaerin. She wasn't sure he would believe her, but he deserved to know at the very least. 

"Great, it's settled. I will see you when it's over," he said cooly as he stood. 

Standing to her feet as well, she followed him to the front door,  graciously opening the door she couldn't help but grin, "Have a good night."

"You as well," he nodded before walking out. 

Closing the door behind him, she turned to make her way back to the kitchen when a knock came at the door. Wondering if Alpha Jiyong left something, she turned back to open the door to see him giving her scrutinizing eyes, "Did you forget something?" 

He scoffed a laugh as he shook his head, "You're a hard woman you know that? I'm going to lose my mind without you and you seem okay with it." 

"I never said it was going to be easy, but that you'll get a clearer understanding of your own free will. You will see that it is the mark that makes you feel as though you need me," she said feeling as though she had explained it to him so many times already. 

"Before the mark I knew we were mates, what of that," he challenged her as he leaned upon the door frame. 

She was tongue tied for a moment because what he was saying was in fact true. He had claimed her to be his mate well before she had bitten him. "True our DNA may match, but that does not mean that we have to choose to do so. In the end you always have the choice." 

"And I choose you. You are my choice as a mate and the one that has given me my mating mark that I want to wear proudly. Please Minzy I beg you as an immature angsty hormonal lycan, let me bare your mark. I can't see myself without it because I know I need this," he gave her a look of desperation. 

"Alpha Jiyong don't be this way..." 

Suddenly her back was slammed against the wall behind her with him boxing her in. Glaring at her with frustration, he placed his hands on either sides of her to hold her in place. "What if I force myself on you?! What if I bite you and take you right here, right now?!"

The fury in his eyes made him look intimidating, but in a tempting way of daring him to follow through. She wanted to dare him, but knew she had to be strong for the both of them. "But you wouldn't because you're Alpha Jiyong a man of honor and greatly respected. And most of all it's not you." She watched as his eyes softened with sadness as he hung his head low and letting his arms drop down to his sides. The silence spoke that of sadness and understanding of the pain that was to come. "It's getting late and I would like to clean up before I head back to bed," moving away from him she made her way back to the front door and stood where the door stayed open. Quietly awaiting him, she watched as he dragged his feet past her and back out. 

"You're gonna regret losing me," he called over his shoulder. Standing at the doorway, she waited for him to throw any other insults her way. She figured that maybe then she could hang onto those words to help her cope as well. But that was all he said before he shifted and rushed away, leaving her in the dust and in her thoughts.

Minzy had returned to the dessert planes within two days. She had ran a slower pace than usual. She figured that it was probably because she didn't have an emergency having her race back as she walked into the mansion. There standing with a grin stood Beta Teddy as if he was expecting her. "Welcome back how was your journey?" 

"Longer than expected," she nodded. "Today I would like to get settled back in and then you can update me on what I've missed tomorrow." 

"Then do you want to wait until tomorrow to read the other agendas that have been brought in," he asked. 

She shrugged, "I guess I can read them tonight."

Bowing in understanding, he glanced at the maids who busily went about preparing a bath for Minzy along with food. "Great to have you back Healer," Beta Teddy called after her as she moved up the stairs and into her room. 

As Minzy soaked in her bath Chaerin appeared before her, "Having a nice bath?" 

"Long time no see Chaerin, why have you come this time," Minzy asked. 

Chaerin shrugged as she smiled, "You're very interesting you know that." 

"How so," Minzy asked as she watched the angel of a woman make her way near her. 

"You could have your happiness now, but you insist on waiting even when the Gods have presented him on a silver platter to you," Chaerin said calmly. 

Minzy sighed as she looked dead at Chaerin, "I will not take advantage of him. I want him to see for himself that he does not want me." 

"You've set your mind on thinking that Alpha Jiyong will not want you after the mark has faded, but haven't even given a thought to what would happen if he still wanted you." 

"He won't," Minzy said simply that made her heart sting a bit. "You are his heart and he will see that once the mark is gone." 

"Suit yourself, let the mark fade and see just how much you needed it as much as him," Chaerin shrugged. "Good luck on your next adventure. You're going to need it," Chaerin gave her weary look before she turned and faded into the moon light to let Minzy soak in her words. 

Minzy had an over night response sent to the White Claw packlands. She was very alarmed by what was happening to the packlands there that she requested for them to send for her as soon as they could. Clutching the letter in hand, she made her way to where Beta Teddy was talking with a fellow lycan. I want to be informed now about what I've been missing. Turning back towards her room, she dismissed all the maids and sat rereading the letter in her hand until a knock came at her door. "Enter," she called out. 

"I thought you wanted to wait until tomorrow," he asked. 

"I need you to update me now because I'm leaving tomorrow," she frowned. "The White Claw packlands are in serious danger. It seems that humans are currently attacking their packlands and it is not looking well for them.

"Humans on packlands," Beta Teddy said alarmed never hearing of the two worlds ever colliding. "I should..."

"Inform me like I've asked and stay here," Minzy warned that his absence from the dessert lands was not an option. 

Beta Teddy bit his tongue as he nodded, "I understand." 

Minzy bid farewell, grateful to see that the White Claw pack had sent for a jet straight to the forbidden city and had their lycans make the journey to the Crimson Crawler lands. Bording the plane she was greated by a young man who bowed deeply. "Beta Mir at your service. We are so grateful for the speedy response and hope that your presence will help us get an edge on the humans." 

"Please tell me how this all happened," Minzy nodded as she took a seat and felt the plane take off. 

"Well we're not so sure either. It happened a few days ago actually. There was a military like army at our borders. Of course one of the guards approached the group to let them know that they were on private property but he was shot and killed on the spot. It was pretty gruesome and surprising as the other guard who escaped described it as though he had been shot but exploded into pieces. We have recently come to learn that the reason being is that the bullets are filled with wolf's bane and some kind of liquid silver that are both lethal to us lycans. Alpha Bi Rain is holding down what he can while I am here to retrieve you." 

"I hope I can be of help to your pack," she grinned seeing the exhaustion in the man's face. "For now you should take this opportunity to rest a while. Alpha Bi Rain is going to need all the help he can get." 

"Thank you, for your understanding," he slightly bowed and nestled into his seat to get some shut eye.  

Minzy awoke to the rough turbulence to see Beta Mir up and talking with the pilot's. Gazing out the window, she could see fires and smoke thick in the air as the plane dipped barely missing a missle shot at them. "We have to jump. There's nowhere safe for us to land," Beta Mir said as he handed her a parachute. "Have you used one of these before?"

Minzy shook her head as she mimicked him by fastening the pack on and feeling for the various cords and most importantly the parachute cord. Nodding in understanding, she followed Beta Mir to the door that he forced open. Bracing herself against the wall as the winds nearly them out, she watched as he jumped out. Nervously she thought of how great it was to go sky diving and wished it was under better circumstances as she took a leap of faith and jumped. Her scream was caught in as she descended out of the plane. It was like her mind was flying to the pit of her stomach as the air all but wrapped around her body. Extending her arms out, she wondered if this was what it felt like to fly like a bird. Swooping down, she noticed that Beta Mir had pulled on his parachute. Reaching for the cord, she tugged and it seemed to be stuck as she began to drop past Beta Mir. She began to panic as she yanked on the cord harder, giving it a couple more rough tugs the parachute finally gave and she was jerk back.

Gasping as she gazed up to see the parachute finally come out, she was surprised to see the plane she jumped from get shot out of the sky. Her heart sank for the pilots as she looked back to the direction she was floating to find herself slamming against a large tree branch. The force of her impact knocked the wind out of her as the parachute was caught on a limb of a tree and she was slammed into a tree trunk and entangled with the cords. Coughing and gasping for air, she tried to break out of the cords that kept her tied to the tree and ended up growling as she shifted. Ripping through the cords, she went tumbling down the rest of the way onto the ground. Forcing herself up and onto her paws, she took in the unfamiliar surroundings. Loud explosions and shouting gave her enough strength to move into the direction it was coming from.  

Rushing towards the chaos, the whimpering of someone calling for help had her stopping in her tracks. Sniffing out the area, she was able to find Beta Mir who was gruesomely impaled on a tree branch. "Queen of the dessert lands is that you," he asked pleasantly before spitting up blood. "I'm so sorry that I won't be making the journey back to the pack with you," she could see the pain in his eyes as he began to slowly die. 

But Minzy had other plans in mind as she pounced on the tree branch to put her force and weight on it to snap. Beta Mir groaned in pain as he plopped down onto the ground with the tree branch still at the middle of his chest. "This is going to hurt," Minzy warned him as dug her fangs into the tree branch and pulled. This made Beta Mir cry out in agony as Minzy continue to pull and pull until it dislodged. Beta Mir gasped as he had tears running down his face at the gaping hole in his chest. "I don't know how to heal you in my wolf form, so please excuse my indecency." Quickly shifting into her human form, she placed both of the palms of her hands onto his chest. Reliving his traumatic experience, she began to become tearful seeing how he was trying to be so brave in the face of death in front of her. But it was the excruciating pain that followed of having the tree branch pulled out to be bleeding out on the cold dirt ground. Focusing her energy all on him, she trembled feeling his wounds being transfered onto herself. She felt light headed, but did her best to stay focused on Beta Mir. Seeing the gaping hole heal over, she stayed focused for a bit longer to make sure it was but a faint dark spot before she out. 

Minzy awoke to the feel of wetness against her chest. She couldn't understand as she mindlessly let the her fingers feel the tattered shirt that was damp. She didn't understand why her clothing felt that way as she slowly opened her eyes to see that the wet feeling was blood. What had happened she thought and it was answered as she realized that she was being carried. "We are almost there," Beta Mir gazed down to her before he held her close. It was then that she noticed that it wasn't her shirt, but the shirt off of his back that she wore as he ran with her in his arms. 

"Open the gates," someone called pulling her attention towards the direction of where tall metal gates creeked open revealing an army of lycans ready for battle.