"This troid is still happening, (Y/N). but you won't be fighting my guard."
Bang Chan moves in front of the pack, facing off against me.
"You'll fight me instead."
I stiffen at Bang Chan's challenge, feeling the pack's countless eyes on me.
"Fine…let's really test your metal against mine."
"It'll be far from a fair match, omega."
I narrow my eyes at Bang Chan.
Omega. A wolf without powers. He says it like an insult.
"Speaking of powers, let's make this interesting."
"How so?"
"By making it fair. Me against you. No supernatural wolfie tricks, Alpha."
A slow, delicious grin appears on Bang Chan's face.
"A clean fight. That's fine by me."
The sun rises over the trees as I and the rest of the pack follow Bang Chan out to an elaborate training ring.
Wow. This reminds me of the dojo.
With a pang, I remember my old life. My countless hours of martial arts training, my friend Jooe…
"Ladies first."
Bang Chan gestures for me to enter the ring. I do, shifting my feet in the dirt to get used to it.
"What do I get if I win?"
Felix laughs as if I said something funny.
"If you win, you're forgiven for the offense you made against me."
"What about me? I was attacked by Seungmin! He practically killed me back at the dojo."
"And Seungmin answered for that, believe me. Now, you answer for yourself and–" Bang Chan begins to say but is quickly interrupted.
"You said she was going to be part of our pack, Bang Chan!"
Little I.N suddenly squeezes out of the crowd and runs toward the ring.
"You said you were bringing back someone who was meant to be part of our pack."
Bang Chan's lip twitches, and I can't tell if he's suppressing a smile or a frown.
"She isn't pack yet." Bang Chan says softly.
"But she'll never be if we don't treat her like she could be.
"I.N, stop this."
Lee Know takes I.N's hand and tries to pull him back, but I.N shrugs him off.
"No, Dad! I met (Y/N) and she is good. She's my friend."
My heart swells when I.N marches right up to Bang Chan, as though he is just as tall.
"Tell him, (Y/N). Tell him you're my friend and you're pack."
I.N turns to me, his childlike eyes filled with as much intensity as he can muster. I feel Bang Chan's eyes, too. And the packs.
"I.N, we're friends. And I would be honored to call you pack."
I.N lights up like fireworks at my words, jumping up and down in front of Bang Chan.
"See? See? I told you!"
Over the bouncing boy, I catch Bang Chan's eye. His look is softer than I've ever seen it.
What's that expression on his face? It almost looks like he…respects me.
The members of the pack murmur around me, a few relaxing and looking at me with curiosity rather than hatred.
"Now, you don't have to fight!" I.N cheers.
"Not so fast there, bud. You know the rules. Once a troid is declared, it can't be canceled.
I.N stops bouncing.
"Oh yeah."
"If (Y/N) wants to be part of this pack like she says, she'll prove it and respect our customs."
Bang Chan raises an eyebrow at me.
"Still up for a good clean fight?"
"Sure. As long as I win something other than 'forgiveness'."
I.N snickers and, to my surprise, a few pack members do, too. Bang Chan pushes his hair back and sighs.
"Fine. What are you fighting for, (Y/N)? What do you want if you win? And don't say your freedom. That's clearly not on the table."
"Alright. I'm fighting for my dignity. I won't be caged like an animal."
"I like your resolve. It's a deal."
Bang Chan moves into the ring opposite of me, pulling off his shirt to reveal slopes of toned sinew.
"Too bad you won't win."
Seungmin steps up between us two, lifting an arm and shooting a glare at me.
"I'll be watching. No cheap shots or little tricks. The first one out of the ring, or the first to surrender, loses." Seungmin explains the rules still glaring at me.
"Don't count on me surrendering." I state strongly.
"Likewise." Bang Chan grins.
He bends his knees, a wolf ready to pounce.
I'm a professional fighter. I know how I want to play this match.
Bang Chan launches at me, initiating the first attack. I stand still.
"Giving up already? Where's the fun in that?"
I wait until the last possible second, duck, and grab his wrist.
"What are you–"
Without pausing, I twist his arm back and put my hands on two separate pressure points. The rest of the wolves gasp as their leader drops to his knees.
"Giving up already? Where's the fun in that, Bang Chan?" I ask with a devilish smile.
"N-no…"
With all his might, Bang Chan throws me over his shoulder and to the ground.
"Not so fast–"
He lunges, grappling me. I just manage to throw up my own arms to lock him in a fighter's hold.
Damn. We're so close to the edge of the ring.
"Out of ideas, (Y/N)? Just submit and this will all be over."
To my left, I hear a wolf snicker.
"She'll probably try to cheat. I'd expect no less from Taecyeon's daughter."
No. I won't become what these wolves believe I am. I won't be like my father. I'm going to fight with honor.
I inhale, letting my body relax. Bang Chan's eyes widen a fraction too late as my body falls back.
"No. No. No!"
I pull Bang Chan down on top of me. His hand flies out to absorb the impact, and it lands outside of the ring.
Yes! My plan worked!
But the weight of him, the hot gust of his breath against my ear, is more than I can take. My body flames to life, and my eyes glow.
"You–you lose."
Bang Chan swims in my cool blue gaze, mesmerized. He reaches up, perhaps to touch me, and the color fades.
"Oh wow! That last move was awesome!"
As I.N runs up, Bang Chan quickly gets off of me, hiding his face in shadow.
"I think…(Y/N) wins." Seungmin says unsure and surprised.
"Yes. She won." Bang Chan says accepting defeat.
"Oh hell yeah I did!"
"Alright, don't get too cocky. You fought well out there. You held your own."
Bang Chan claps me on the shoulder.
"Tell you what; When you go back to your room, we'll keep the door unlocked."
"Really?"
"You deserve dignity, (Y/N). You'll be free to roam the halls."
"Thank you. I…appreciate it."
"You earned it."
Bang Chan's eyes glint. He whispers in my ear.
"No one's ever gotten one up on me like that."
I flush a confident grin. He pulls his shirt back on and turns to the rest of the pack.
"(Y/N) has won the troid. She's paid her debt."
Several pack members cheer for me, genuinely impressed with my skills.
"I'm taking her up to her room. I don't want to hear about this in the future."
With that, he picks me up by the waist and throws me over his shoulder.
"Hey! Put me down! I won and–"
"Can't risk you using winning as an excuse to run again."
Bang Chan carries me back to the house, ignoring my kicking and furious protests. He drops me on the bed, and I'm instantly back on my feet, hands balled into fists.
"After the day you've had, you still want to fight?"
"I'm on edge. Lack of sleep."
"Well, you can relax now."
He closes his hands over my fists and gently lowers them.
"Listen. I want to…apologize."
"For what exactly? Keeping me here with a bunch of wolves that hate my guts? Just let me go and all will be forgiven."
"You know I can't do that."
Bang Chan sinks down on my bed, rubbing the back of his head.
"This is for your safety but…I know all this change must be difficult for you."
"Difficult is something I'm used to."
"You've been in a lot of situations like this?"
"Not exactly. But when you're put into the system, difficult becomes a running theme in your life." I sigh. "Look, I'm saying don't worry about me. I'm used to adjusting to new situations. I've been doing it since I was a kid."
"What do you mean?"
"Sometimes I'd be in three different foster homes in one year."
Bang Chan turns to look at me, shock and sadness in his once steel eyes.
"God. I had no idea, (Y/N)."
The memories rush back in. Slammed doors. Screaming. Rooms that never felt like they were mine. Shoving those dark thoughts down, I sink onto the bed beside Bang Chan.
"It's okay. I learned to make home something constant. Something that just lived inside me. And for the hardest nights I had this little secret treasure. It was small enough that no one ever took it away from me."
"What was it?"
"It was a bracelet. I've had it longer than I can remember. I actually have no idea where it came from."
I draw a circle over my bare wrist. Bang Chan watches me closely.
"In the middle of the night, I would twist it on my wrist…imagine the person who gave it to me… It made me feel less alone."
Bang Chan puts his hand over my wrist. I can feel my true mate bond simmer beneath his touch.
"Where is it now?"
"I keep it in my locker. Back at the dojo."
"I see… So, it's my fault you don't have it."
Bang Chan stares at my hand in his, running a thumb over my wrist. Then, he turns my arm over…and finds a long, deep cut down my forearm.
"Fuck. How did this happen?"
"It must have happened during our fight. When I fell."
A low, wretched growl boils in Bang Chan's throat. He traces the edge of the red slash with the lightest touch.
"It's fine, really. It doesn't hurt that bad and–"
Ignoring me, Bang Chan lifts my injured arm to his mouth…and drags his tongue over the wound.
"Whoa…what are you doing?!"
"Licking you."
I jerk my arm back.
"What's wrong this time?"
"You just said it–you licked me!"
"Wait for it to kick in."
I clutch my arm and look at Bang Chan with curiosity. My skin starts to tingle where his tongue briefly connected. The sensation spreads, heating that part of my arm, making it feel energized and sensitive.
"Why do you think dogs lick their wounds. By licking you, I can take pain away…and replace it with something better. Something that feels good."
He carefully lifts my injured arm again. My skin hums where he licked me, craving more.
"Just trust me."
I stare at his parted mouth…hot and promising, and just inches from my throbbing flesh.
"Okay…"
I lift my arm to Bang Chan's mouth. A small smile appears at the corner of his lips.
"Don't look so nervous."
"I'm not, I–"
Bang Chan drags his tongue slowly up my arm, using just enough force to steal my words. What follows is a wash of sensation, warm and slick and tingling with pleasure.
"How does it feel?"
Keeping his eyes on mine, he licks me again. I practically buckle against the new wave of burning delight. It sparks wherever his mouth moves.
"It feels…really good."
"Oh, yeah? How good?"
Another lick and I repress a shiver of pleasure. But it doesn't come from my arm.
"Are you…sore there?"
I follow his eyes to my shoulder. I clutch it where the spasm traveled up my arm. Bang Chan shifts closer to me, a golden shimmer swimming just beneath the surface of his eyes.
"Just say the word, (Y/N). I'll lick you there, too."
I hesitate for a moment.
"Yeah. I think I threw my shoulder out or something."
"Bang Chan's hands travel up my arms, gripping me steadily as he brings his face to the slope below my neck.
"Here?"
His breath hits my exposed skin. I do everything I can to keep my pulse from racing.
"Yes. There."
Bang Chan's tongue is hot now, and a little rough, as he drags it over my flesh. A renewed wave of vibrant sparks burst beneath his lick. My vision blurs.
"Hmm. I think you need a little more."
Bang Chan doesn't wait for permission. His mouth is on me, hungry, lapping sensually at my shoulder.
"B-Bang Chan–"
Our true mate bond flares, turning his teasing licks into a storm of fire neither of us can handle. Bang Chan pulls back.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. Thank you, that was…it helped a lot."
A husky laugh leaves Bang Chan's mouth. He tears off a bit of his shirt and bandages my arm.
"I'm glad you feel better."
A small knock at the door makes us both turn.
"(Y/N)?"
The door cracks open, and I.N peaks through. But he isn't alone. Behind him are two men; His father, Lee Know, and another man with a kind smile and eyes to match."
"Forgive the intrusion. My name's Han. And I think you've met my husband, Lee Know.
Lee Know's husband? That guy found someone willing to marry him?
"It's nice to meet you, Han. And nice to see you both again."
Han and I.N smile. Lee Know grunts and stares at a spot on the wall.
"See? She's nice like I said."
I.N skips into the room and holds up a big wrapped box for me.
"What did you bring her?" Bang Chan smiled.
"Clothes!"
I.N pulls the lid off the box and, sure enough, inside are several bright, stylish pieces of clothing.
"Dad thought you might like something clean to wear."
I.N points at Lee Know. He looks away, clearly embarrassed.
"Well, uh, I was just in town and…just try them on."
"If you insist."
"We do!"
I.N pushes me toward my bathroom. I catch Bang Chan grinning out of the corner of my eye.
"This will be fun." Bang Chan whispers.
With no way out, I close the door to the bathroom and look at my options.
I can recognize a peace offering when I see one. This is actually really nice.
Through the door, I can hear I.N talking.
"We've only seen her in gym clothes. Do you think she'll pick something pretty, Alpha Bang Chan?"
"Maybe."
"Bet you'd like to see her in something niiiiice." I.N says wiggling his eyebrows.
"She'll pick whatever she feels most herself in." Bang Chan tells the boy messing up his hair.
After choosing an outfit, I step out into the bedroom, running my hands over my new outfit. Everyone looks up at once.
"Whoa…you look extra pretty." I.N smiles.
"I do?"
"I.N's right. You do. Doesn't she, Bang Chan?" Han says raising his eyes to Bang Chan.
I turn to Bang Chan. He stands motionless, his eyes fixed on the fabric hugging my body.
"Yeah. You look…really nice, (Y/N)."
"Well, I picked it out." Lee Know says holding his nose up.
"Yes, yes, we're all very grateful, honey. Thank you." Han replies rolling his eyes with a smile.
I barely hear Lee Know's grunts or I.N's laughter. All I can focus on is Bang Chan as he looks me up and down.
"Did I pick out something that meets with the Alpha's approval?"
Catching himself staring, Bang Chan drops his gaze. I'm certain I catch color in his cheeks.
"Let's just say you'll fit in well here. You look the part of a pack member."
"A hot pack member!" says I.N fanning his face with his hand.
"Okay, I think it's time we let (Y/N) get some rest."
Han ushers both Lee Know and I.N through the door. Bang Chan follows them.
"I should go, too. You've been through a lot the past 24 hours."
"Yeah…I could use some sleep."
"Well, I hope you get a lot of it."
When he reaches the door, Bang Chan smiles.
"See you tomorrow, omega."
Bang Chan closes the door. It isn't long before I crash on my mattress and fall asleep.
When I wake up, I'm surprised to find it dark outside.
How long was I out?
I shift on the bed, and find a note on my pillow:
"Gone to town to get some stuff. Breakfast is downstairs. Behave. -Bang Chan"
Ugh. "Behave". Like he's anyone to talk.
I rise from my bed and hear people bustling around downstairs.
Maybe it's actually early morning…
I walk to the door and it opens easily. No lock, just as Bang Chan promised. Sure enough, the sun starts to rise as I walk downstairs. The whole pack is settling in for breakfast.
"You actually stayed put for a night. I'm surprised."
Felix saunters over to me, his hands deep in his pockets.
"Yeah, well I wouldn't want you to miss me."
"Me miss a traitor like you?"
His words catch me off guard. But then she claps me on the shoulder.
"I'm joking. You fought well out there yesterday. Consider us even. For now."
"Thanks, I–"
A thundering crash cuts me off. I and the others whip around to find a pack member staggering in, out of breath and bleeding.
"It's…it's them!"
Suddenly, everyone panics and takes up arms. I watch as Han grabs I.N's hand.
"We need to hide!"
"Someone find Bang Chan!" Seungmin yells.
But before anyone can move, a long shadow darkens the entrance. I hear one booming footstep, then another. A tall, blood-soaked man surveys the room, his lip curling into a grin as he releases a soft snarl.
"Mmm…I thought I smelled fresh meat in here."
His dead eyes land on me. With just a look, I feel an ice-cold chill run up my spine.
"Perfect. My mate is right here waiting for me. Time to collect."