~ Chapter Thirty: Jae Snaps ~

The Fallen

***

Please, just leave us alone.

Kris' words still echoed in my mind, but it was mostly the way he said it that stood out to me. It was a genuine, earnest plead of someone who obviously cared deeply for his friends - brothers - and his face... His eyes were so concerned, so gentle. Werewolves shouldn't be able to look like that, right?

Unless they were puppies... 

I sighed. Was I seriously contemplating the possibility that Kris and his eleven 'brothers' were actually werewolves? Rational, logic thinking would state that I needed to be admitted to the nearest psychiatric hospital, but when I think about putting my observations and facts together, them being otherworldly might not be such an impossible idea. I mean, come on, it's a little weird that Kris reacted so startled when I told him that I thought the twelve of them reminded me of wolves. And, what was with the sudden change of attitude when he asked me who I was? 

Other, normal people would have reacted differently, right? They would have laughed or looked at me weirdly for saying they reminded me of wolves. And that request! 

Please, just leave us alone. 

I mean- what even?! Why would he say something like that unless he wanted to prevent me from finding something out? 

But, next to Kris' plead, there was something else that was bothering me. Luhan. And Xiumin. I know I heard their voices, loud and clear, as though they were speaking directly at me. Tomorrow night, Luhan had said, and Xiumin had responded enthusiastically. What was going on tomorrow night? I knew then and there that there was no way for me to accomplish Kris' request. I didn't know exactly what I was doing here, but I knew that I was in it too deep. 

"Jade? Jae, baby." 

I blinked, woken from my thoughts and looked at my father, who gave me a questioning look. "Are you alright, sweetheart? You seem a bit preoccupied this evening," he pointed out, casually eating his steak dinner while waiting for me to respond. Mom was eying me curiously as well, trying to hide the smirk that was forming on her face. As usual, she was making the wrong assumptions. 

"I guess I'm just a little bit tired," I said, looking at my food as though I just noticed that it was there. All of a sudden, I was overwhelmed by a ravenous appetite and started eating quickly. 

"Maybe you're still a bit weak after what happened last-," Mom abruptly stopped talking mid-sentence when she caught sight of me eating. "Are you planning to chew your food are you going to keep gorging it all down like that?" she remarked sarcastically, shaking her head in disapproval at me. 

I stopped eating and swallowed. What was she talking about?

"Hungry much, Jade?" Dad chuckled, looking at me. "What, did you skip lunch at school, or something?" 

I frowned. "Eh, no. Why?" I responded, wishing I could grab the juicy piece of steak with both my hands and devour it. This was one seriously delicious dinner. Mom outdone herself tonight. 

"What did you eat at school then?" Mom wanted to know, staring at me while I was eating. 

"Uh, I had fried chicken and some salad," I answered, helping myself to some more mashed potatoes. 

"And what? Did you only eat the drumstick or something?" Dad asked and he sounded amused, but I didn't know why. 

"No, I think I ate the whole thing," I replied casually, grabbing a roll of bread and buttering it. 

"The whole thing?" Mom repeated in shock and I shrugged. 

"I was hungry. Don't worry, I'll watch my weight," I assured her. 

"You sure about that, honey?" Mom asked and I blinked at her. 

"Yeah. Why are you guys staring at me like this, by the way? Never saw me eat before?" I asked, a little agitated. I noticed Dad exchanging a glance with Mom before I looked down at my dinner again. 

PMS?

"No, Dad, it's not PMS, that's so lame to use that as an excuse to describe a woman's behavior," I answered and I looked up when he dropped his cutlery, startled. "What?" I looked at him, bewildered, just as he was looking at me. 

"Is there something wrong, honey?" Mom added, looking concerned and lost. 

"I...eh- I didn't say anything, sweetie," he told me and I froze. 

"Yes, you did. You said 'PMS' just now," I pointed out and directed myself at my mother. "Mom, you heard him say it, right?"

She fluttered her eyes at me in astonishment before glancing over at my confused father. "Sorry, honey, I didn't hear him say anything." 

"In all fairness, I was thinking it, though. Are you a psychic, or something, Jade?" he attempted to laugh it off, grabbing his knife and fork, glancing at me from time to time. But I was feeling nauseous. I heard his voice, loud and clear... What's wrong with me?

"Honey, maybe you should take Jae to the doctor again," Mom was suddenly by my side, holding my forehead while I was still chewing my food. "Oh my God, baby, you're burning up," she wiped the sweat from my brow while I tried to move away. 

"I'm- I'm fine," I said, shaking her hand off, still stuffing my face with food. I was so hungry...

"No, you're not, you're sweating and you're trembling! Ryo, we should get her to the doctor," Mom fussed over me, trying to make me put down my knife and fork, while she was discussing with my father how worried she was and how I should get a physical checkup. Her hands were on my back, my neck, my forehead and I knew she was just concerned about me, but did she have to be so clingy?

"Mom! I said I'm fine, will you just let me eat?!" I burst out, standing up and knocking my chair over in the process. After seeing the utter shock on my mother's face, I startled myself. I never raised my voice at my parents like that- ever! Even if I was angry- which I was, right now, but I don't know for the life of me why. She was only concerned because I had fainted last night and didn't want me to get sick. 

"Jae-In Miyano! What the hell do you think you're doing, young lady? That is your mother you're talking to!" Dad shouted, just as surprised as I was at my outburst. 

"Did something happen at school?" Mom then asked, thinking that that would explain why I was acting like this. 

"No. Nothing happened at school," I said, feeling very strange. I wiped the sweat of my brow with trembling hands, a feeling of pure agitation lingering in my chest. I wanted to be left alone.

"Then why are you shouting like this?" Mom asked, eerily calm, which usually meant that she was pissed off. 

"So, what? I can't shout? I have to be the perfect teenage daughter all the time?" Jae, what the hell? Why are you saying these things? I was frightened because I couldn't control myself. That's not what I wanted to say. Why did you say that?

"Where is this coming from?" Dad interjected, absolutely taken aback. 

"As if you don't know. You dragged me here so you can play CEO and healer of the world and I had to turn my life upside down for it and pretend everything is fine?" I abruptly closed my mouth. This wasn't me. Why was I saying these things to them? A sharp pain in my head make me wince, drawing my breath through clenched teeth. And my parents being my parents didn't get upset with me, rather, they noticed my pain and fussed over that instead. 

"Okay, that's it, I don't know what's going on with you, missy, but you're staying home. I'll call your school tomorrow morning," Mom decided, but I pushed her away from me before I was able to stop myself. "Jae!" she exclaimed, surprised. She rubbed her arm where I had shoved her. 

"No! I want to go to school tomorrow! I need to go to school!" I exclaimed. "I-I'm sorry, okay? I-I'm just hungry and tired and I just need you to leave me alone, that's all," I tried, trying to make sense of my behavior, holding my head. A deafening silence fell, with my parents looking at each other and at me in concern. I was panting, not because I was exhausted, but because I was- angry. Which made no sense at all. I wasn't the type that got angry like this. 

"Well, whatever the case, Jae, you're going to your room this instant. We'll see tomorrow whether you're going to school or not," Dad stated firmly. 

"You're grounding me?" I challenged, blinking through the pain in my head. 

"I'm very inclined to do so," he replied. "Now get to your room, now!" he ordered and I snarled - I never snarl!

"Fine!" I shouted and left the dining room, stomping my feet as I walked up the stairs. However, I could still hear them talking when I moved away. 

"What's wrong with her?" 

"Maybe she's still not feeling well..."

"That's not like Jae, Ryo. She's never done this before."

"Maybe those rebellious, teenage hormones finally caught up? Here, let me see your arm." 

"That's another thing! When did that kid get this strong? It's all red." 

"Well, it's a full moon tomorrow...That looks like it's going to bruise. I'll talk to her a little later." 

When I got into my room I felt my body shivering and I grabbed my head in agony, but my father's words still stayed in my mind. Full moon tomorrow. That had to be it. What Luhan and Xiumin meant. Why else would they get excited? I felt that familiar surge of panic again when I thought about what I had just done to my parents. Oddly, the anger I was feeling didn't make way for the guilt that came with it. Was I still sick? My head was hurting like hell, but even when I was extremely ill, I never acted like that. 

"Ah!" I groaned, shutting my door and heading towards my bed. At this point, the pain in my head became too much to bear and I fell to my knees, lying on the floor exactly where the light of the moon shone brightest. My head was thumping and felt like it was going to explode any moment. Changing my mind for a split second, I tried crawling back towards my door to call for help, but it felt like the moonlight kept me trapped. I didn't want to move away from it. Was this it? Was this lunacy? 

"Argh!" I curled up on the floor, grabbing my head and crushing my eyes shut. In flooded images of twelve stars- my stars - as they fell mercilessly from the sky. Around me, the world was burning, the air was frozen as lightning tried to break the silence, and the earth shook wildly. I fell into the darkness, the rays of light unable to catch me. When I opened my eyes, I saw twelve symbols and a tree, a green heart shining within it. I've seen this before, but never have I felt the pain I was feeling now. The tree changed slowly before me, the green, beating heart turning into eyes, a white wolf its lips and bearing its teeth at me. I briefly saw a glimpse of another pair of lips, shining alluringly to be kissed. But then, I screamed when the wolf ran towards me and devoured all of me without warning. 

Jae. 

A multitude of voices sang. 

You're mine. 

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Nin-Nin
Hi guys~ my first original ebook is available on Amazon and I'm having a lot of feels. If you have the time, check out my previous blog post for more details - I'd appreciate the support <3 Thank you and have a lovely weekend! Love, Nin-Nin

Comments

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Wanderer_bj
#1
I don't even know how many times I have read this.😍
BeckyBooGirl
#2
Chapter 4: This is one of my favorite exo fanfic. I have read this story 5 or 6 times already and still love it like i did when I first read it❤
InspiritCarolyn
#3
This is one of those fics I can come back to again and again without getting tired of re-reading it. Each time I read it, I love it the same as the first time.
aonani_k
#4
Chapter 109: I finished it once again and as before, I enjoyed reading such a great story. Hope all is well. :)
aonani_k
#5
Chapter 2: It's been years since I read the story and today I just felt like re-reading it! Glad it's still here. :)
Sehixneeo
#6
Chapter 109: Argh, I will never ever forget this story. Ever. 🥺💛
Jaerin
#7
Chapter 109: This story will always be one of my favorite, a masterpiece 🤧💞❤️
Pxnellyxq #8
Chapter 107: WHAT IM LEGITIMATELY SHOCKED AND TEARING UP
Pxnellyxq #9
Chapter 100: why is the white wolf making me feel emotional :///
Pxnellyxq #10
Chapter 61: Stinky kumiho