Up until midnight, Chaeyoung hadn’t seen Kris.    She left the manor to see outside and bathe in the cold weather. Her eyes scanned over the dim-lit stars and the half-moon amongst the darkness of the sky. Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt a presence behind her.   She turned around and her eyes landed on a tall frame leant up against a tree trunk.   “Kris.” She breathed out, genuinely stunned by his abrupt appearance.   As he emerged from the darkness, his features became more evident and pronounced. His expression was collected- like Tao’s had been when he’d come by to affirm if she really were alive and breathing.   Kris examined her raptly without exchanging any words. His eyes were glowing the colour of the moonlight when he approached her. He extended his arm and timidly touched her neck. “The mark is still there.” He said, the pads of his fingertips skimming over the bite mark on her skin.   Chaeyoung had forgotten that his mark still remained on her. When he touched it, tingles danced over skin. “I know you’re mad.” Chaeyoung spoke, breaking Kris’s contact with her skin. Kris stared at her, “No. I’m furious.”   He corrected. “You broke your promise.”   “I really am sorry Kris.”   Kris shook his head, “You said you wouldn’t get hurt let alone die.”   Like the wind, Kris had Chaeyoung pressed against a tree. Chaeyoung gasped, feeling Kris’s grasp on her shoulders tense, bruising her. His eyes turned silver- similar to Kai’s when he’s angry but Kris’s eyes were a lighter, a more piercing shade. “Did you know that my wolf practically begged to die?”   Chaeyoung look at him with wide eyes. “Kris-“   “It’s because we’re bonded by this mark.” He gestured to his claim engraved on her nape. “As soon as you died, my wolf wanted to join you. Do you know how hard it was for me to convince it to stay? I had to literally beat myself until it gave into my commands and because of that, I can’t transform into a wolf anymore.”   “So you’re blaming me.”   “It is your fault.” Kris sneered.    Chaeyoung lowered her head in shame. The only thing she left when she died were angry and bitter feelings for her.    She hurt Tao, her one and only childhood friend but also Kris, the strong, charismatic noble whom even suffered from her senseless doings. He couldn’t even morph into his wolf now, which was also entirely her fault. If she hadn’t died, both Kris and Tao wouldn’t be emotionally torn.    Chaeyoung just kept her gaze focused on her dirt-stained shoes. *All I do is cause trouble.*   “No, you don’t.” Kris sighed, loosening his grip on the young phoenix but still had her flat against the tree trunk. “Don’t think you only cause trouble.”   Chaeyoung wasn’t convinced. Everything had to be her fault. Kris only marked her so the baby wouldn’t die and Tao was hurt that she’d left him without a fight and because of her un-cooperative feelings towards him.    “I missed you Chaeyoung.” He then pulled her into an embrace.   “Me too.” Chaeyoung reposed her chin over his shoulder.   -=-=-=-=-=-=-   5 months later~   “I’m so hung