“Can we speak?...Privately” 

The words still rang true in my ear even when we were already sitting together on his bed, very very awkwardly may I add. I was completely pressing myself against the foot of his bed stand as he sat near the head of the bed, both hands in our laps and not speaking a word 

“So...” I start “What was it you wanted to talk about?” My tone soft and quiet

He must have thought that this was unusual since he’s never heard me speak like this and it shows when he hesitantly stutters “U-Uh” I giggle at him and he looks at me in awe which causes me to turn towards the male 

“Am I that scary?” I ask teasingly but he actually answers

“Yes” He gapes at me stupidly and my expression flatters but he hastily shakes his head “I- no- I mean- I think you’re just intimidating that’s all” His cheeks flushed like spring roses  

“Thank you?” I say while tucking a strand of hair behind my ear as if I was a high school girl. 

God, did having a crush always feel this damn good? 

“I didn’t know if you’d even speak to me,” I look away and bite my lips unconsciously

Unbeknownst to me however, he was watching your every move and fortunately you don’t catch it because Satan knows you'd be more embarrassed than you already were “After you know... trying to kill Jongin... twice” 

“Yeah,” He replies blankly while intensely taking in my side profile

When s told him having a mate would make you feel like a love sick puppy, he didn’t know what the hype was about until this very moment. It was as if all the horrible things you’ve done washed away and all he could see within your beautiful brown orbs where stars and there was always flower petals falling around you. . 

“Yeah?” I retorted 

Baekhyun was flustered and tongue tied at this sudden feeling. Why in all the two weeks since he’s known you, it had to be this moment exactly when he didn’t know how to speak. He was always good at talking peoples ears off but around you, it was like he was a shadow running away from the sunlight 

“I mean-“ Again he can’t fathom words “About that-“ I look at him and he’s cursing under his breath, his gaze pointed at the window. 

He takes a second to breathe and finally spits a sentence without stuttering “About the whole Jongin situation, you can’t do that anymore” I scoff at his statement 

“I didn’t know I could do it in the beginning” I tell him with a small smirk and a tilt of my head that leaves him silent “Don’t get me wrong Baekhyun,” His name rolls off your tongue to nicely that it causes him to shutter “I know I pushed the limits. It’s not like me to use such force and I apologize if I created this fear surrounding me for everyone. That wasn’t my intention” I honestly say while fumbling with my fingers, eyes trained on the picture frame that's sitting on his desk 

“I was just upset and sometimes I take off like a rocket” I admit bashfully “Jieun is my priority and it’ll stay that way. Even if you don’t support me” I don’t hide my feelings and open up to him like a book 

“I know that you probably hate me and that’s okay but please just let me get distance bond broken. T-Then I’ll be out of your way” The words just begin snowballing out my mouth as I refer to the first few moments of being mates with a wolf. 

The 'distance bond' as they call it, allows mates to become close enough where their scents can rub off on one another, simply warding off other wolves and creatures. In addition, it also formulates trust for each partner and slowly permits distance between the two to be larger and longer. 

Which is why I need it to be broken. 

I couldn’t stand feeling queasy and weak each time I would go to my own home miles and miles on the other side of the woods

“It feels like I’m getting my heart ripped out every time I leave. I can barely breathe being away from you and that’s just me being on your yard” I meant for the words to be strong and straightforward but it really comes out as sad and heartfelt

Everything betraying me in one sitting 

“ I didn’t mean for it to sound like that” I catch myself wide eyed at Baekhyun but he just has a hard stare on me now 

“No” He says and my eyebrows scrunch at him confused "You don't wanna bre-" Before I could finish, he cuts me off

“The distance bond will be broken yes.” He explains and I can’t help but gulp at his sudden masculinity, nothing toxic about him 

“But only because you’ll be sharing a room with me.” 

———————

“See this is where Nauen’s house is at” Junmyeon points on the side map filled that’s pretty much just woods “And we’re here” He pins his other finger on the opposite side of the paper.

We were all currently huddled around the dining table, peering down at the map after I caved in on the idea that Jieun and I would move in with them. Mainly due to Baekhyun’s persuasion that didn’t take that much effort. 

“So I think it’ll be best to move somewhere near a lake, that way no one can attack us in our blind spots” He says while furrowing his eyebrows, intensely thinking

“Oh what about here?” Yebin, his mate proposes while her red hair covers the picture as she bent down to see it more clearly. He gently brushes her hair out of the way and we all look at a small lake she’s pointing at. It’s just a little farther from my home and I immediately shake my head 

“No not that one” I tell them strictly while Jieun twirls in my arms, entertaining herself as she stays non-interested in grown up talk 

“Why? Little Nauen can’t swim?” Sehun pokes fun at me and I roll my eyes at him 

“Jieun,” I call out and she stops her soft singing to look up at me with wide eyes “Tell your Sehun oppa what’s at that lake” I push my chin out and she follows the path that lands where Yubin taps twice at, showing her what we’re talking about 

“Oh! Lela lives there!” She squeals happily “So does Irina and Nina! They always sing that pretty song” She tells him with certainty “But I don’t know why it got louder when those men came” Her facial expression filled with confusion and pure innocence 

“That’s right” I pat her head “The Nymphs like to sing that pretty song” I pierce a killing stare at Sehun and he shifts uncomfortably in his seat 

“Whatever” He grumbles and Jieun goes back to playing idly

“Sooo- definitely not this one then” Junmyeon crosses out the Lake with a big X and I nod, contempt with it 

“Maybe here” Baekhyun proposes next to me and marks a mid size body of water with his slender finger “It’s not too far off the edge of the woods and I’m pretty sure there are no other-“ He pauses shortly “Creatures around the area” 

Everyone quietly nods and I squint at the said spot “That would actually work.” I back him up “The diety Aceso lives there” I bring my hand up to show them nonchalantly and they give me questionable look 

“What? I ran into her once when I was looking for spell ingredients” I mumble “She visits occasionally because that part of the woods is filled with herbal medicine. Completely harmless to us as long as we respect her” Junmyeon hums approvingly 

“Guess it’s settled then. We move here” He circles the spot “Everyone agree?” He asks while glancing around at everyone but Kyungsoo suddenly speaks up 

“Jongin isn’t here” This causes everyone to look around for the male but when he’s nowhere to be seen, Sehun says quietly  “He’s locked up in his room. Said he doesn’t feel like coming out” 

We all go quiet knowing he’s still been grieving and well aware that the presence of Jieun and I make it worse, I feel a tinge of sorrow for him 

“Okay well, go over with him later Sehun” Junmyeon tells the younger male and he nods firmly “Everyone should begin packing. The move will be on Monday. That’ll be all for this meeting” He begins rolling up the map and everyone groans, even Baekhyun who is sporting a pout that I can’t help but coo at 

“But hyung that’s so soon” Chanyeol complains while throwing his head back and Seulgi rubs his arm affectionately 

“You have two days. That’s all I’m giving you.” Junmyeon is serious when he says this and everyone just silently whines “If I give you more time then you’re never going to get it done” 

Junmyeon calmly stands, everyone looking up at him 

“And we need to leave before the next attack comes” 

———————

“Ready to go?” I look down at Jieun and she nods silently as she holds onto her stuffed lamb with one arm, her other hand in mine 

Today was moving day and we both successfully packed everything we had. The brown boxes were squeezed inside my car and the two front seats free for us to sit in. 

My home didn’t have too much in it, a simple three story home that I was more than happy to leave. My dear friend had gifted it to me when I left home and since the furniture was already there when I moved in, I simply left it there when leaving it. 

The home treated me well of course, I spent at least two years in it by myself. Through the rain, snow and sun. It never felt lonely and I was forever grateful for that. 

I locked the door behind me after taking one good sweep of the house just in case we missed something but since Jieun and I were thorough with the packing, it was pretty much empty. 

Before we got into the car however, I quickly chanted a spell on the home so no one would break into the dark place. If I needed to come back, I know there would be a safe place for me. Who knows what could happen? 

“Let’s go Jieun” I tell her, turning around and going down the steps

She skips to the passenger side and quickly hops in, also excited to move in to a new place 

I chuckle and get into the drivers side, taking one good look at the house through my side mirrors “Thank you” I say to the home that lightly shakes at the sound of my voice

With that, I turn on the ignition and drive off, leaving my past behind me    

———————

When we finally reach the new house, I notice it’s much bigger than their last home. The land stretches out for at least three miles and the home is located all the way at the end of the dirt road. The lake peeks out from behind the building and the hot day makes it look even more inviting  

But as we get closer, I realize it’s much bigger than I anticipated. The main building has big multiple windows and looks more than enough room for us, it’s then connected by what looks like a hall that leads to another building that’s much smaller than the main part but still has those marvelous big windows. 

Geez, Junmyeon went all out 

“You guys are here!” Yubin greets happily and gives each of us a big hug that I grunt at when she squeezes me a little to hard. 

Yubin, much like the others were wary of me at first but soon when she realized Seulgi was getting more comfortable with me, she decided she would also try. She became welcoming and sweet towards