I and the pack stand frozen in the shadow of a huge, blood-drenched stranger. His vicious eyes are trained on me.
"Your father told me I would find you here. Time to go, (Y/N)."
My father?
He takes a step toward me and I step back, nearly running into Lee Know.
"Hyunjin. Shit. He found us." he says with a growl in his voice.
"Hyunjin?"
Han whispers in my ear, clutching I.N close.
"He's Taecyeon's right-hand man, and he's ruthless."
Hyunjin is deep in the house now, circling me like prey. I back up the stairs.
"You're a delicious little thing, aren't you? Your father was right to make you my mate."
"I will kill you before you touch me."
A low, sarcastic laugh boils out from his blood-stained mouth.
"Good. I like a little challenge in my conquests. It makes my submission that much better."
"But (Y/N) is Bang Chan's true mate!'
Han claps a hand over I.N's mouth, but it's too late. Hyunjin chuckles, crouching down to I.N's level.
"Yeah, we all felt that little soul bond the other night, didn't we, boy? But that doesn't matter."
In a flash, Hyunjin is behind me. He locks my arms in a deathgrip.
"Once I mate and breed her properly, their little "bond" will mean nothing."
Hyunjin sniffs my neck. My gut twists with revulsion.
"Ugh…go to hell, you monster." I growl at him.
"You don't know the meaning of hell yet, girl. But I'll show you what it's like."
Hyunjin leans into me, but someone hits him from the side, knocking me out of his grasp.
"She said no. You have no right to claim her."
Felix lunges, but Hyunjin throws him off, launching his body 20 feet to smack hard into the wall.
"Felix!" I yell.
"Now, then…"
Hyunjin rushes me, shoving me into the window. My head wacks the glass with a loud crack.
Shit. I need to get out of his grip.
I twist and throw a roundhouse kick. My foot lands, but it barely moves him.
"Is that all you've got for me? How disappointing."
My vision blurs as dozens of enemy wolves rush in, forcing the pack to surrender.
"C'mon. You can give me a little more."
Hyunjin leans in close enough that I can smell his foul, metallic breath.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Suddenly, I see Bang Chan in the entryway, tall and furious. A wave of relief floods my body.
"Bang Chan…save the others!"
When he catches my gaze, his eyes flash gold with intense rage. For a moment, time slows, and I feel it again; that heat, that unmistakable pull toward Bang Chan.
"Look who it is. The little stray pup."
Bang Chan growls, low and threatening, as he takes a step forward.
"Let go of my mate."
"Your mate? Oh, no, no, no."
Hyunjin grins as his grip tightens on me. I wince in pain.
"I said let go of her!!!"
Bang Chan's voice is louder and more violent than I've ever heard it. He sprints toward me. But two massive enemy wolves slam him to the ground, restraining him.
"Stop!"
Bang Chan struggles, throwing one of them off, but another is there. He's outnumbered.
"She's mine, you weak little pup."
"No–!"
I can't tear my eyes from Bang Chan. He stares at me with something foreign…fury mixed with desperation.
"Tell him, (Y/N). Tell him how you're mine."
I furrow my brows and turn my attention to Hyunjin.
"No. I am Bang Chan's mate. There's no denying it. I've felt it, and so has he."
I smile in spite of Hyunjin's hold on my throat. His eyes darken.
"If I'm anyone's mate, I'm Bang Chan's."
"(Y/N)…"
Even in his struggle, Bang Chan's eyes shine. I see something else in him, too. An emotion I can't quite name. Hyunjin's grip on me tightens. I glare daggers at him, full of righteous fury.
"You little…"
"I'll say it again, Hyunjin. Let go of my mate."
Hyunjin's face clouds with utter rage, his eyes flashing red. He clenches his jaw, closes his eyes, and breathes. When he looks at me again, his false smile is back in place.
"You're not ready to accept the truth yet. That's okay. I'll just have to show you who you belong to."
His claws dig into my neck. I try to cry out, but my airway is blocked. My feet rise off the ground.
"Ngh…is that all you got?"
"Far from it. Let me show you."
He lifts me higher, his smile widening. Then, as if I weigh nothing, he tosses me across the room like a ragdoll.
I skid across the floor, sliding back until I crash against the far wall.
"No!" Bang Chan cries out.
With a sudden surge of power, Bang Chan throws the wolves off of him, his eyes glowing. In a flash, he rushes at Hyunjin, swinging his fist back. But Hyunjin is fast. Unnaturally fast. He stops Bang Chan's fist with his hand, pulling him back until he stumbles.
"Nice try, Bang Chan."
Then, he hits him. Hard. Bang Chan hisses, falling to the ground. Hyunjin moves to kick him…
"Bang Chan…trip him!"
He tries, but Hyunjin kicks him in the stomach. I hear a sickening crunch.
How is he so strong?
Hyunjin kicks him again and again. Bang Chan buckles, and coughs up a spray of red blood.
"Bang Chan!!"
I have to do something. Now. I can't just punch this guy. He's too strong.
Frantically, I look around the room for something I can use. When my eyes land on a chair in the corner of the room, an idea strikes me.
Yes.
As fast as I can, I grant he chair and rush at Hyunjin. I raise it over my head and bring it down on him with all my strength.
"Agh!"
The heavy chair smashes on impact, sending Hyunjin crashing to the floor. Breathing heavily, I rush to Bang Chan and hold my hand out. He looks up at me with barely-concealed amazement.
"Thank you."
"No problem." I smile at him.
"Help!"
I turn and freeze in utter horror; I.N is held roughly in Hyunjin's arms.
"I.N!!"
Han's cry is clear from the other side of the room. He bolts for his son.
"Enough!"
Suddenly, Han, I and every other pack member is forced flat on the floor. I hear the same tremor of power in Hyunjin's command that I've heard in Bang Chan's: Obey. But unlike Bang Chan's molten, deep voice, Hyunjin's scrapes down my spine like a jagged rock.
No. He has I.N!
"Let. Him. Go!"
Fighting the command, I stumble forward, intending to attack Hyunjin. I gather speed. But Hyunjin sidesteps my charge and knocks me aside easily.
"Don't make this difficult, (Y/N). I'd hate to hurt the boy."
Hyunjin's hand closes almost gently around I.N, pulling him up on his tiptoes.
"Dad!!"
"Stop! Please, stop!" Han begs
"Let him go, you bastard!" Bang Chan commands.
"Hmm…no. Don't think I will."
Hyunjin gives a hollow laugh before he meets my gaze, pinning me with empty, lifeless eyes.
"I think I need to teach my new mate a lesson. Disobey me, and reap the consequences."
"You can take me instead!"
"I intend to…but I think this lesson is important. So…"
He hauls I.N up under his arm.
"I'll be taking this until you've decided to be a good girl."
"No!!" yells I.N.
"See you soon, (Y/N)."
Hyunjin sweeps out of the estate with the rest of the rival pack. Bang Chan bolts after him, but it's no use. He's too fast.
"No…damn it…"
Silence falls over the hall, so stifling I can barely breathe. The only thing that cuts through it is Han's muffled sobs.
"You…this is your fault."
Seething, with hot tears running down his face, Lee Know points a shaking finger at me.
"You're the reason Hyunjin was here. You're the reason that bastard took my son."
"What?"
Lee Know takes a staggering step toward me, his whole body crippled with grief.
"It's your fault. My son. My little boy is–"
Lee Know falls to his knees before me, breaking down in racked sobs. Han stares at the spot I.N was taken from.
"Our boy…our little boy…"
"Lee Know, Han…I'm sorry. I swear I'll do all I can to get him back."
"You will?" Han asked with teary eyes.
"Yes. I swear. I will save him myself. Even if it means they take me instead. And until then, I.N's going to be okay. He's a strong kid, and he's resourceful."
Han's eyes flood with new tears as he takes his husband's hand.
"Thank you."
Lee Know eyes me warily, the wall he built up for himself still in place. But I see a small crack, a small peak behind his gruff exterior.
"That means a lot, (Y/N)."
He takes my shoulder and gives it a squeeze.
"You're right. He is a tough kid. And we're going to save him no matter what."
I nod, wiping a tear from my eye. Around me, the pack murmurs their approval. My gaze locks with Bang Chan's, and he gives me a small nod, pride and respect clear on his face.
"Thank you, (Y/N). Everyone, gather supplies. I'm going after them."
"I'm going with you." Lee Know rises.
"Me, too." Felix joins.
Soon another member stands and joins the journey to save I.N. Felix steps forward, alongside the snarky young guard I almost took on when I escaped.
"Alright. Lee Know, Felix, and O.de, make your preparations and meet back here in–"
"I'm going, too."
They all turn to look at me.
"(Y/N)–" Bang Chan looks at me in worry.
"I made a promise. I'm going. I can't sleep until I.N's safe. Just imagining how scared he must be is tearing me up inside.
"Yeah, we all feel that way. But we'll move faster if–" Felix speaks but Bang Chan cuts him off.
"She can come."
Everyone turns to Bang Chan. His voice reverberates with an Alpha's command.
"You saw me during that fight. I…I need her."
I watch Bang Chan ball his hands into shaking fists.
"(Y/N) is my true mate. One touch and I'll be strong enough to stop him. It's the only way."
The pack bow their heads in agreement, and quickly move to gather weapons and supplies. I move to help, but then I spot Bang Chan; He stalks off up the stairs, his head bowed low.
What's wrong with him?
I follow Bang Chan at a distance as he travels up a corridor and out onto a balcony. Finally alone, he grips the ledge, his shoulders high. He looks as though he bares the weight of the world.
"Bang Chan?"
"What–?"
He whips around, surprised to find me standing there. His eyes are glassy.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see if you were alright."
"I'm fine."
Bang Chan turns away again.
Something is clearly bothering him.
"Bang Chan, what's wrong? Really?"
"I…"
He growls and claws at the wooden balcony, leaving large ridges in it.
"I…couldn't protect my pack. My family."
Every muscle in Bang Chan's body quakes as he fights back rage and anguish. He shatters the wooden balcony with his tight grip.
"I couldn't do it on my own. If I could, I.N would…"
In the spray of splinters, he meets my eyes again.
"I failed everyone."
Without a second thought, I close the distance between Bang Chan and I, falling into his outstretched arms. For a moment, he doesn't move. But that doesn't matter to me.
"You didn't fail anyone, Bang Chan."
I bury my face in his broad, warm chest. His heart beats against my ear.
"Everyone here needs you. And no one expects you to do this on your own. You need a weapon. I'm that weapon. So, use me."
"(Y/N)…"
"Use me. I'll help you get I.N back. I'll help you kill them if it comes to that."
Slowly, his large arms fold over my body, pulling me closer. Our true mate bond flares, but neither of us care.
"You're stronger than you look."
"Always the tone of surprise with you." I smile.
I swim in his burning embrace. Something shifts inside me, as if alining correctly for the first time. But that part of me shifts out of place again as soon as Bang Chan releases me. He holds me at arm's length.
"This isn't going to be easy. You scared?" He asks caringly.
"I'm terrified, honestly."
"Good. A little fear is healthy. It'll keep you alive out there."
There's no hint of humor in his tone. I nod.
"Noted."
I and the others set off through the mountains, with Bang Chan at the front. No one talks for the first hour into our hike. Then, Lee Know finds footprints.
"It must be them. How much further?"
"Taecyeon's camp is on the other side of the mountain pass." Bang Chan points showing the way.
"We should shift. We'll get there in half the time." O.de suggests.
"We can't shift. (Y/N)'s an omega, remember?" Bang Chan reminds him.
"An omega for a daughter. A fitting punishment for that scumbag."
Felix spits in the dirt, and I feel another painful lurch of guilt.
Felix mentioned his sister one time. My father did something to him.
"Felix, I'm sorry."
"What for? Being slow and too human?"
"No. For my father. I don't know what he did, but you mentioned your sister and–"
Felix stops short. Everyone, including Bang Chan, turns.
"He skinned my sister alive."
"Wh…what?"
"He skinned her. For speaking out against me being forced to work as a servent in his kitchen. He took pieces of him, little by little, for three days. Three days. That's how long it took for her to die."
Felix's words slice through me, immobilizing me.
"I…I'm so sorry…"
"Sorry. Sorry won't bring my sister back."
"Hey. That's enough. We need to get going." Bang Chan redirects.
"Right. To save I.N. but who saved Olivia?!"
Felix slams her fist hard against the side of the mountain. An ominous rumble builds along the cliff above us. The ground starts to tremor, and small pebbles shift at our feet.
Oh no…
I look up in horror as several large rocks crash down the mountain.
"Shit–!"
Felix and the others quickly shift into their wolf forms, effortlessly bounding out of the way.
"Don't move!" warns Bang Chan.
Through the rockslide, I see Bang Chan, still in human form.
"Bang Chan, what are you–"
Before I can finish my sentence, the rumbling grows louder. He lurches forward…as a massive boulder careens right for me.
"(Y/N)!!"