"Think Naeun, think." I am close to smacking myself on the head as I pace back and forth within the four walls of Sehun's bedroom that unfortunately seemed like they were getting tighter around me. 

It's been at least a few hours since I've been ranting on what had possibly happened to me.

Was this my karma for simply existing?

If so, Satan himself can drag me to hell as of right now please. 

On second thought, I'll willingly walk there. 

It seemed like the world just had it out for me and I couldn't escape the fate I was blindly led to. At what point would life stop kicking me in the face every chance it got?

"Get it together" I exhaustingly throw my body down onto the bed, laying like a starfish hoping that the depths of dispair would drown me "Who would know how to fix this?" I ask myself and that's when it all comes to me 

Mom.

———————

"Can't help you, sorry sweetie." Her answer curt and short

"Mom!" I whine through the phone "You can't just leave me like this! I'm a wolf's mate for Satan's sake" I whisper the last part and she just scoffs, taking a short pause before asking me

"Did you die?" 

"No" I answer while sporting the biggest pout a child could give their parent

"Are you gonna die?" 

"Maybe if I tie a noose around my neck" I mumble and she just laughs 

"Like you're going to get off that easy. I'll just visit the underworld, bring you back and kill you myself" She tells me while also calling out to my father "I'll be there in a minute honey!" 

"Seriously mom?" I sigh while rubbing my temples and shutting my eyes tight, praying I was just in a really bad nightmare

"Well sweetheart, it's not my fault that you got yourself wound up in that mess." I can hear her take a sip of a drink, probably a very strong margarita. She always had a knick for those "You vowed that once you left our home, you'd become your own adult and that includes fixing your own little affair problems" I roll my eyes at her advice

"It's not an affair mother," I grit my teeth, trying to keep the itching nerves down "I told you, I drank some of his blood by accident on the night of the blood moon and somehow I became his mate. So I am begging you, my mother, to please help your only child" Desperation reeks off of me but I couldn't care less "I can feel his blood pumping with mine and I really really don't like that" 

"There's your answer my sweet girl." She states with a sigh "It was a blood exchange"  

"I don't understand" Her answer so nonchalant, I begin biting my lower lip 

"You're a witch sweetheart. Are you really that naive to think your powers wouldn't betray you? Your body wanted that boy." My breath catches at her words "Whether you knew it or not, it craved it. So much in fact that it decided to keep him forever. It wasn't a coincidence that you just happened to drink his blood on the night when a red moon flourishes everyone with power, lust, passion, desire and in your case, love." 

"I don't love him mom! I-I barely know him!" I throw my free arm up defeated, anger seething through me "And this is not my fault! If I didn't drink the damn blood then-" 

"Then what? You wouldn't be in that mess? You would be happily raising that immortal child of yours?" She puts her foot down and I immediately shut my mouth 

After a short pause she continues

"Look honey," She softly addresses "I know this must be hard for you but that boys blood running through your veins is now going to be in there until the day you die. You just have to learn to live with it." 

I am completely speechless. 

She was right. God I hate it when she’s right. 

I would have to live with this. With him. But how could I?

The pack would never accept me, much less Jieun. 

But of course when it comes to me, the unforgiving fates have spoken.

Hell, my mother has spoken and I already know it would be stupid if I didn't take her word for it. 

But instead of comforting me like a normal mother, she does what my family does best and brushes it off as if it wasn't a big deal

"Now, your father and I are about to go snorkeling in the depths of the dark sea so only call me when you have news about my future grand babies" She squeals and I blush at her statement while whining 

"Not funny mom" I shyly pout and she just chuckles "Alright sweetheart I'll stop teasing you but I really have to get going now, I love you and we'll keep in touch yes?" She says while a little shuffling takes place on the other line and I nod even though she can't see me

"Yes, I love you too mom. Call you later" I say my goodbyes and she ends the call.

I then sit on the bed in silence for a couple of seconds, my arms propping me up from behind and my head thrown back just thinking about what my next move was. 

"How about I learn to tie that noose."

But before I could live up to that dream, someone interrupts me by knocking on the door quietly

“Ahem,” She clears behind the door “N-Naeun it’s me... Seulgi” Suddenly I see images of the blonde girl with mono-lids pop up in my head, she was easily spotted as Chanyeol’s mate. Every time I came around he would stand protectively in front of her as if I was the biggest threat

"Can we talk for a second?" 

Eh I probably was. 

My eyebrows lightly scrunch at her abrupt introduction but out of my own curiosity, I answer her with a simple ‘come in’ 

I could feel the hesitation to enter but eventually when she does, her eyes train intensely on the back of my head as if I could disappear in a blink. When I hear the door close, I take this as a private conversation between us. 

Once more she clears that I could only imagine is not dry but because she can’t figure out how to not be awkward around me 

“You came in?” I say after a few seconds, still unnerved as I peer out the window, watching Jieun play in their field. Her small frame giggling as butterflies chase her 

“I-“ She starts “I- look- if- ugh” I now turn to face her with a bored expression just wanting her to spit out the words so I could be alone again. She is clearly frustrated by the sounds leaving as she blows her bangs away annoyingly

So she takes another deep breath and begins “Look. I just wanted to make it clear that I don’t hold anything against you.” She has her head slightly pointed towards the side wall I hum at her, just nodding 

“Why’s that?” 

“Well,” She drags “Of course at first I despised the idea that a witch would even be included in a wolf pack and honestly, that also meant Jieun would have to be here too.” She twirls a strand of hair while looking at my shirt “I wasn’t ready to face my friends killer,” My gaze lowers on her and she realizes this so she holds out her hands defensively 

“Don’t get me wrong, she’s a sweet child!” Her eyes wide and finally digging into my own “But to witness one of your own being mauled by vampires isn’t the best feeling” I don’t say anything, reverting back to staying calm and when she senses that, she continues 

“A-Areum- the one who passed, her name is Areum if you were ever wondering...she was really dear to us all. Jongin the most of course,” She smiles bittersweetly “Don’t take it too personal if they don’t open up to you so quickly. Everyone heals differently and scars still sting when you try to treat them” 

“I see” Is all I can come up while awkwardly darting my eyes to everything but her. She moves closer to me by sitting on the bed with her legs crossed. Was I being confronted with genuine friendship right now? 

“Unlike the rest of the pack, I’ve come to terms with this situation” She sighs “I could continue to blame and point fingers but where would that get me? Hating an seven year old child isn’t really ideal” She chuckles lightly and I have a faint smile ghosting over my lips 

“Eight” I say shyly and she tilts her head at me questioningly “Jieun. She’s eight” I correct and she smiles brightly at me as if she was the sun 

“It’s quite cute that you care so much about her” 

After that, we sit in silence for a couple of minutes, just enjoying each other’s company before she turns to me and stretches out a hand towards me. I take a glance at her face warily but she just keeps a soft smile 

“I won’t bite I promise” She tells me and I chuckle, finally taking her hand in mine. Unexpectedly, she cups my hand with both of hers and looks at me straight in the eyes. Just as I thought she was going to tell me something important or at least something close to her heart, she blurts out 

“Let’s be great friends” 

I pause for a second, confusion marked all over my face, taking in what she just said before I bust out laughing 

“What?!” I cackle while throwing my head back and she seems taken aback by my reaction, not used to me laughing “Why’d you say it like th