Thank you for the lovely comments. I was able to write a new chapter thanks to those comments. Enjoy.     Lyla paced back and forth the living space trying hard to block all of Sehun's moans out of her head. It was difficult, considering she had sensitive hearing. Despite the soundproofing it did nothing to mute the activities going on behind the closed door. She turned to glare at said door before continuing her pacing. The two had been going at it for a while now, and Lyla was bored just sitting around doing nothing. If only she could leave and explore a little. But that would make Sehun mad, or panic when he didn't sense her close by. Though she doubted Sehun was in his right mind to even remember she existed.  That had been proven even before they got thus far. She had felt a presence, a very strange one at the bar coming off Nini. She swore it was a part of her signature, though faint but unmistakable. And when Sehun had jumped to kiss the other male, she had tried to tell him. But apparently Sehun wasn't ready to listen. Too lost in his lust for the other male. She didn't know why she felt drawn to Nini, something about him or on him screamed familiarity. When Nini had pulled that snake out, she had anticipated it being the reason behind what she sensed, but it turned out to be just an ordinary snake. A particular loud moan from Sehun made her groan, dropping on the floor, while she used her paws to cover her ears willing the sound to go away. Sehun was exceptionally loud, tonight. Which was very unlike him, but that meant his partner this time was different, probably the best he had ever. She didn't like the way Sehun seek release every chance he got, but her opinion didn't matter. Sehun was a stubborn bastard. If it were up to Lyla, she would very much like Sehun to find a real mate, and hopefully fall in love and have a family. She didn't understand humanoid creatures, and probably never would. Thus failed to see the need for jumping from one bed partner to another. With her kind it was different. Chastity was a must after maturity, until one find their mate, no matter how long that might take. And then just had to be with one's mate, no one else. A twinge of pain grabbed at her insides at the thought of her mate. She had accepted to live on without him, if not for herself then her for cubs. But then a few winters later, she found out that her mate miraculously lives, however out of her reach. That had been harder to accept than his death. Knowing her mate was alive somewhere should give her hope, yet it only made her more miserable than she already was.She did not know how he survived, nevertheless she was grateful. Their mating bond had been broken– their fight that day proved it. Her mate wouldn't have been able to lift a claw at her if their bond was intact. She was certain it was due to his near death experience that severed the bond. Her mate could not remember her, nor their cubs, could not even feel the bond they once had, or the promise of a new one, if they were allowed to have each other. Things were complicated, now Zi had a familiar bond with a dragon. How was she going to convince him to come back to her? Make him understand she was his family, the one that would never harm him? In his eyes she was nothing but a stranger, and the dragon was his family. Not Lyla and their cubs. And that hurt a lot. Sehun had said he would find a way to reunite them and she knew he would, she had faith in him. However Lyla didn't want to force her mate. Zi had to be willing, had to remember on his own and– Something slithered next to her before wrapping around her middle. She dropped her paws to see a glimpse of green scales. Without consideration , she swatted at it to get it moving. Just because she disguised as a cute kitten didn't mean she would act like it. The creature was either incredibly brave or pathetically stupid. Animals of all kind tend to avoid her, because they could sense the predator in her. But this idiot apparently didn't get the memo.  It refused to move, rather wrapping more securely around her. Lyla didn't know whether to be amused or enraged by the sheer display of stupidity and audacity. "You have a death wish, I just hope your owner wouldn't be too disappointed if he finds you missing." She mused. "You'll make a nice meal." A quick shift, and using the snake as midnight snack would do to the trick. She swiped her tongue over her teeth at the possibility of having a tiny meal. She was no nice Hora, and wouldn't pretend to be one. She was bonded to Sehun after all, habits tend to rub off on others. But before she could carry on with her intensions, the impossible happened. Because the damn creature lifted its head to look her, bringing out a forked tongue to hiss out– "bloody hell, don't you ing dare." What the... She pushed away in a speed, eyes wide as she stared at the snake. The snake was a sentient being like her? As if to answer her question, It glared at her fiercely– as fiercely as a snake could manage. "You dare to think me a weakling? A bloody snack?"  Okay that was very weird. Did the snake just read her mind? But that wasn't possible. Horas had defensive mechanism against psychic invasions, one that they shared with their bonded. No one could invade a Hora's mind, unless... The snake shook its body and that was when it hit her. The unmistakable scent, the connection she had with her mate for a century, stirred within her. This was no idiot, no real snake or another sentient being, but her beloved mate. Gods how the hell did she missed something so vital? Zi must have used some sort of technic to block his Aura and scent. Some magic he probably borrowed from his bonded. "Zi?" She asked, her body still shaking. It was hard to believe. "The name's Zach, lady." He bobbed his head. "Now that you know I am not what I appear to be, let's drop the facade shall we? Glamour or whatever the it is." Brightness engulfed him, and in the next moment a Hora male was stood proudly, multiple tails swishing, sharp teeth bared in a wide grin. She had been right it was Zi, the one and only she had fought. Lyla could only gape at her mate, almost lost in those gorgeous eyes that had never failed to make her heart hammer and body drip with desire. Back when her kind still thrive, Zi had been the dream of every female in their community. He was kind, handsome, and witty. She had been the luckiest to be chosen by him.  Lyla focus. She looked away from those captivating eyes. Think.  If Zi was here then that meant– Her eyes snapped to the close door.  That was a dragon in there with Sehun. Ravishing his body.  Annoyed beyond measure at the deception, Lyla lunged for the door, swiftly shifting as she did. She hope to alert Sehun before it was too late. Zi seem to anticipate her move, because he was quick to block her. "Now now, that would be incredibly rude to interrupt them at this critical moment. He took a defensive stance in front of the door, fangs –that put every male Hora to shame– in display.  "No I must warn Sehun." She insisted, making for the door again. "And risk his utmost pleasure? Come on, don't be so cruel, he's almost there" he winked at her, making himself very comfortable by the door. The huge bastard. As if on cue, the two occupants behind the door, made loud noises in sync that indicated their completion.  It had been too late. Defeated, Lyla dropped on the ground, shaking her head in despair. 'How could you do this?' This wasn't like her mate, he didn't take advantage of anyone. That wasn't how Zi was. Zi, happy for his victory, sat beside her. Which was another torture of its own, she was tempted to bury her face in his neck, at same time claw at it or give him a beating he would never forget for his very long lifetime. "Do what? Allow my bonded to have some fun? We would have gotten some action ourselves if we haven't been busy pretending. Shame it would have been really fun" he shrugged. "Fun? Is this what it is to you– By gods Zi when did you become this way?" She refused to accept her mate had turned this bad. "What way? You knew me before? And why do you keep calling me Zi?" "That's not important. You knew Sehun hated dragons and—" she could finish that sentence. She didn't know how Sehun would take it if he knew he just gave himself to be ravished by a dragon that tried to kill him few days back. A species he hated more than anything "Why? Was this some sort of revenge or something?" "Woah, hold on young Ms i don't know what–" "I am older than you by three decades, do not refer to me as such". She screamed in his mind, knowing it would make Zi uncomfortable. Sure enough, Zi shook his head, wincing. He narrowed his eyes at her dark red mane that indicated she was truly older. "Okay mama, I-" "Seriously? Mama? " She snapped. "What the do you want to be  called then?" Zi screamed back. "Stop cursing already" she growled. "And do not shout at me." She took a deep calming breath. "Just call me Lyla." She added when Zi  raised his nonexistent brows. "Fine Lyla, for one how am I supposed to know your bonded hated dragons? And do you think i forced Nini to sleep with him? Nini clearly likes the half elf." "You're hopeless." She shook her head. "Just stop talking" with that she stood and trotted to the side of the room. She needed to think and with Zi close by she wouldn't be able to. Zi didn't let her though, he followed and took his seat beside her. When she made to change location again, Zi stopped her by placing a gentle paw on hers. "Look I'm sorry okay, I didn't mean any harm, by being here" He began, looking at her earnestly. "I just had this urge to come here, like something was calling out to me. I swear I don't know what and never planned for Nini to get into the elf's pants. Meeting him here was a coincidence. I swear it." Staring back at him, Lyla knew he spoke the truth. But something else caught her attention. Urge had called Zi here? For what? Her? Hope bloomed inside her chest, but she tamped it down. "Tell me more about this urge." Zi didn't need to be asked twice, as he began to explain. When he finished, Lyla came to a conclusion, their bond hadn't been completely severed like she had assumed. A part of it still remained, and that part had called out to Zi. Here.  "I believe you." She said. "You do?" Zi glanced at her skeptically. She bobbed her head, and let her eyes met his, hoping he would see the sincerity in them. "Oh thank ." Zi slumped his shoulders, in obvious relief. "I told you to stop cursing" "Sorry, like to see you getting worked up." He winked, and Lyla couldn't help the purr that escaped her. "You're very pretty you know." "You're not bad yourself." She didn't pull away when Zi nuzzled her face. It felt like many years ago, before their mating. She really missed him. "I like your scent. Very much." He said, burying his face in her neck and she let him. "Of course you do." she joked, but Zi nodded seriously. "So tell me more about yourself" He let out, head still refusing to leave her neck. "Why? So you can use it against me?" "No," he lifted his head, his eyes glassy, and she swallowed, knowing it was a sign, her scent was arousing his desires to mate "so I can get to know you better– I want to court you, however strange but I do. Really." "We can't Zach," "Why not? I can smell it, you want me too" That was very clear. "Now we belong in different worlds. You're with the dragons," It was the truth even though she didn't have to like it. "It won't work." "A dragon, I am only loyal to Nini, no one else." "It doesn't matter." She pushed way with much difficulty. Getting re-addicted to her mate's scent wouldn't do her any good. "We can make it work" "How? Nevermind. It wouldn't." She didn't see any possibility of them being together, not when things were tight between Sehun and dragons. And no matter how she wished to be with Zi, she would never leave Sehun. She owed him that much, and besides there was more than familiar bond between them. Sehun was like a son to her. Her best friend, her family. "Nini Is different, he's not like other dragons." Zi insisted. "Still, not gonna work" "Give us a chance, to make something beautiful." We already had. She shielded that thought from Zi.  "I won't give up." Zi concluded. Lyla only shook her head, without more words. She went to lay in a far corner and was glad when Zi didn't follow her. Slightly she allowed her tears to fall, while looking away from Zi. For once in her life she wished she wasn't a sentient being, that way she would be ignorant to this type of pain. The fates were too cruel to reunite her with Zi when they couldn't be together.  "You still haven't told me why you call me Zi." Closing her eyes, she willed her body to change shape, while she ignored her mate. That was a conversation for about time– if fates ever allowed them some. She felt him changing shape as well, but wasn't strong enough to look his way. ****   Waking with a mental groan, Sehun blinked his eyes open, as he tried to determine his location, but a clawing in his head didn't allow it. He laid still momentarily glancing around the bed, in an unknown empty room. But he could feel Lyla close by, probably behind the door, which meant he wasn't totally alone. His body and mind were a mess, thus it took a while before it dawned on him how and why he was here and all the things that happened the night before. He had met a male at the bar, that had stirred up unusual feelings inside him. Feelings that suspiciously resemble the ones Jungkook had described. Last night Sehun had been confused, but now he knew. Now Sehun realized. The feelings Nini stirred went far deeper than a simple physical connection. It felt like a living, pulsing thing under his skin, a terrible ache that was only assuaged by the touch of Nini's skin beneath his palm, by the feel of the steady heartbeat, and the warm, musky smell of him. As implausible –no, as impossible – as it seemed, Nini an unknown species was Sehun's mate. The other part that fates deemed essential to complete him. The clawing tension in his head wasn’t from the restless sleep, plagued with dreams of spinning and binding threads together nor the amazing . He worked his jaw; it was still sore this morning from how hard he had resisted. No, the clawing was the longing to find his mate and cement the bond by sinking his fangs into Nini. Staking his claim, and binding them for as long as Sehun lived. "," he grabbed a fistful of his hair, which only resulted in more pain. "I am ing screwed." That much was obvious. What the hell was he supposed to do? There was no getting over one's soulmate, not after finding them, knowing what they tasted like, and most importantly, sharing body fluids. Their bond could be said to have partially formed. He didn't even know where to find Nini– not that he wanted to– he could be anywhere in the vast galaxy. he couldn't even tell his species. How the hell was he supposed accept it? Accept a stranger to live the rest of his long life with. He should be glad, soul mates were rare, not many were lucky enough to find theirs. But Sehun felt far from lucky. Accept what fates gave him? Like hell he would. Not now, not ever. Had he known Nini was his fated, he wouldn't have offered to sleep with him. Hell he would never have come to this station, if only he had known. Sehun didn't to commitments, he wasn't ready to be tied down to a stranger, fated or not. He would do his damned best to avoid it, to fight and resist it with every damn cell in his body. Besides, he had a war to fight with the dragons, and dragging a mate into it would be very unwise.He just met the guy last night, and something inside Sehun told him Nini was a good man that deserved someone better. Sehun didn't know if Nini felt it or not. Whatever the case, it would be better for Nini to find someone else, someone that would give him what he deserved. Something Sehun was incapable. "Sehun, are you awake?" Lyla called, pulling Sehun's attention. Her paws scarping against the door, as though willing to come in. She must have dropped the glamour, judging by the heaviness at the door. "Yeah" he croaked, just as the door opened, revealing Lyla. "Are you alright?" She asked, eyes full of concern. "You sound low, and I can feel your emotions." "I am okay." He scrubbed his face, letting out a sigh. "I have something to tell you." She said. Now he realized what Lyla had been wanting to tell him, to warn him, before he got himself into this, but he hadn't listen, too lost in Nini's gaze, and the whole of him. If only. Knowing what the Hora wanted to say, Sehun shook his head. He didn't need the reminder. Someone pointing it out wouldn't make it any easier. It meant acknowledging it and that's something he wanted to avoid. "Later, Lyla, let's go home now. Just give me a minute to take a quick shower" Spending more time around Nini's scent would only make things harder. The sooner he escape and scrubbed the scent away the better.  He heard Lyla sigh, but fortunately didn't in