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A low and drawn out whine echoes around the four walls of Namjoon's bedroom—my temporary cage. I want my mate. She promised she would come see me and I want her now. Namjoon is patient but I can't be. There's nothing I hate more than not seeing her, smelling her, being in her presence, knowing she's safe.

It's full moon and I haven't seen her all day. Today she didn't want to spend any time with me or Namjoon, she chose to spend it with her friends. The only sign I have to know that she's safe is where she texted Namjoon's phone an hour ago saying she was on the way. Barely any contact with her all day was torture, but if my mate wants to be with her friends then that's what she gets.

As much as I hate it.

If that In-guk fellow touches her, he might have to die. Mate won't like it but she will understand. I think. She's mine. That's not something she likes to admit, and I understand why, even if she nor Namjoon are unable to.

Mate's inner animal...it's very quiet and nearly undetectable. If we hadn't caught her, I can't definitively say I ever would have been able to know that side of her existed. But it's there, and it's defiant.

Sometimes I can sense her better than others. Mate obviously has no idea, and I think it's because she's spent so long refusing to connect to that side of herself.

For the most part, her animal is dormant. Knowing it's a cat, I can only conclude that it's sleeping, as cats tend to spend most of their time doing. But then other times (usually when she gets angry) her inner cat is annoyed, bothered and in a violent mood. I'm willing to bet that Mate probably has a lot of violent thoughts. She doesn't know those aren't just her thoughts. They're Hers, too.

I want to talk to Her. We can only communicate through skin contact, but every time I try she ignores me. Didn't Mate say that was the 'furry shoulder'? Yeah, that. She always gives me the furry shoulder, but at the same time, I get the feeling she likes me?

The point I'm getting at is, it's because of Her that Mate doesn't like to admit she's mine. Everyone who knows anything understands that people don't own cats.

Cats own people.

Not that I want to own Mate. I want her to be mine, like I'm hers.

And I'm all the way hers. All of me, she can have it.

I love her so much.

I want her. Where is she?!?

Hoseok's wolf is prowling downstairs and he ordered me to stay in this room, so I don't dare exit. While the thought of an un-mated wolf anywhere in the same vacinity as my mate gives me the desire to rip their throat out, I have to control that urge for my self preservation

Hoseok's wolf is really scary. Besides the thought of losing Mate, which is unbearable, He's the only other thing I'm afraid of. He doesn't come out often, but when he does, I feel small and helpless in comparison. Every cell in my body warns me not to cross him and to silently obey, though at times it can be hard. Sometimes he can even overcome my natural instinct to protect Mate, which is crazy, but true.

I don't like it.

But I can't challenge him and risk losing out on time spent with Mate.

Namjoon argued hard for us to be able to spend tonight with her. Being without her was too hard during full moon; it even hurts. Knowing she's out there, unprotected.

Protecting her. That's the main thing I want to do tonight and it's the only reason we were granted our request.

Even still, Hoseok's scary wolf was required to stand guard in case I tried to do something crazy.

That's unlikely. I won't hurt Mate. Not even if she's hurting me. I want to mark her so much but she might cry if I do that and I refuse to be the reason for her tears.

I just want to protect her. And hold her. And kiss her. And smell her. And lay my head in her lap while she pets my hair and tells me I'm a good wolf.

I love my mate.

My mate. .

Unable to exit, I sit by the door and listen. I can hear Hoseok, still on two legs pacing back and forth. The sound of his footfalls are loud to my sensitive hearing, and apart from that I can hear every single sound in the house. The light pitter patter of one of the kittens feet on the hardwood planks, the sound of another lapping from the water bowl, the movements of another's muscles as they stretch out, the soft music Taehyung had left playing in his room before they all left the house. The roll of a set of tires and the rumble of a car as it pulls up to the house.

Is that Mate?!?

I shoot to my feet, forehead leaning against the door as another whine escapes me. It's her. The smell of fresh rain, the morning dew, the sunrise, and all things natural and right hits my senses along with the sound of a steady heartbeat.

My favorite heartbeat.

One more cry makes it way out when I can hear her entering the house and I begin to bounce on the balls of my feet. Please hurry, Mate. I missed you so much.

Don't be so intense. You're going to scare her again. You're right.

Namjoon is right. He's more human so he understands that side of her better than I do. Forcing myself to breathe evenly, I move five paces backwards away from the door. And wait. And listen.

"If he starts acting aggressive in any way, or if he does something that doesn't feel normal, you have to call me." Hoseok is speaking as they make their way up the stairs. She makes a sound of agreement, and hearing her voice sends my heart pounding painfully against my rib cage. "Don't worry about me not hearing you, because I definitely will. I'll be shifting soon, too, so if worse comes to worse, don't be afraid of my wolf form."

The footsteps stop when they reach the new landing and Mate's voice drops to a whisper.

"If something bad happens...you won't hurt him, right?"

It's quiet for a second until Hoseok's breath comes out in a deep sigh. "Y/n. I don't want to hurt him. But if he starts acting up, I'll be forced to. Even Namjoon would agree that it's better him than you." the sound of a hand patting something—is it her shoulder? makes my stomach twist in rage.

Don't.Touch. My. Mate.

Even if you are scary, I'll bite you.

She's .

Calm down. Deep breaths. She's mine!

She's ours. And she's coming this way. Calm down.

My anger takes the backseat in my mind when the doorknob begins to turn. I wait with bated breath while it seems to take a lifetime before the door opens and she pokes her head in.

And there she is, beautiful as ever. The other half of my heart and my sole reason for living.

Hoseok is nowhere in sight. Good thing because I don't know what it would have done to me to see him so close to her right now.

Wordlessly she slips into the room and the door shuts behind her with a soft click. All I want is to rush at her and grab hold and never let go, but Namjoon's voice is persistent and I obey, as much as I loathe to. I remember too well how angry she was my after last full moon.

Wait. No sudden movements. Let her come to you.

After dropping her bag, sock covered feet pad softly onto the floor as she approaches, her pretty eyes wide and staring into my own imploringly. Will she know it's me? I wait, eager but anxious, hoping, and yet somehow knowing in my heart that she will recognize me this time around.

After a few heartbeats, she blinks prettily and asks in curiosity, "Fluffy?"

My human mouth grins widely as my heart nearly bursts with affection. My mate knows me. My mate recognized me. She's my mate and I love her so much. I want to wag my tail, but this form is absent of one so instead I open my arms wide; a silent request for her to be in them.

A shy smile and pink face is all I see before she rushes into my hug. I hold her tightly, amazed at how tiny and perfect she feels in my arms. My nose nuzzles into her hair and I respond to the name she'd given me with the one I reserved for her. Only for her.

"Mate."

I don't know how long I hold her like that, but I do know it isn't long enough. No matter how much I hold her it's never enough to satisfy. For a moment I wonder if I'm hugging her too tightly, but she doesn't complain so I continue squeezing her and sway us from side to side.

"I missed you so much." I pout and she giggles, sending me into a state of bliss. I could listen to her laugh all day. I like when she's happy. My mate should always be happy.

"Sorry I'm late. In-guk insisted we stay after the credits in case there was an extra scene."

The sound of her male friend's name exiting her mouth causes me to frown but I hide it in her hair. It smells like cinnamon rolls and it kind of makes me want to lick it.

Please don't.

"I forgive you."

On a normal day her touch never fails to bring little sparks to my skin, igniting that ever burning flame of my love for her. But it's full moon, the time of the month where every sense is heightened. Now her touch is like lightening, two hands on my back patting innocently and yet stoking that fire all over again. Her scent is so prevalent, invading not just my nose, but all of my senses. Washing over me, filling me up and satisfying every part of my heart and soul, which are singing for her, always for her, forever for her. I could drown in it, and happily at that.

"Fluffy?"

Mate has pulled away just enough to be able to see me properly. The muscles in her forehead twitch as eyebrows furrow. The look speaks of wariness and caution. Did I scare her? I don't sense any fear...

"Yes, Mate?" I wait for a reply as her bottom lip is pulled between her teeth and lightly chewed on. A microscopic hint of envy touches me. I want to bite that lip too.

"How come..." her words trail off as she continues to study my face. After a small amount of time she finds them again. "Why do you look at me like that?"

"Like what?" What do I look like in Mate's eyes? I have to hear her words to know and understand it. The only person's feelings that matter are her own so her opinion is held in the highest respect.

"Like you...well—it's just very...intense."

I cock my head to the side in slight confusion and something about the gesture brings a smile to her face. "I don't mean to be." I start slowly. "It's just that I-"

Don't do it.

But I-

DON'T.

I actively ignore Namjoon's voice. I don't care what he has to say about it. He holds back on his feelings too much but I can't do that. Not anymore. With slow, careful movements I unwrap one of her arms from around my waist and trail one hand down the length of the limb until I come to stop at her hand. The movement has fireworks shooting up my veins from my fingertips and I have to wonder if she feels even a fraction of the gratification the touch brings me. She must feel something, but no doubt what I experience is exponentially more.

When my fingers touch the back of her palm I bring her hand up and lay it to rest on my chest.

"Because you're this."

An eyebrow goes up and her look is quizzical so I elaborate.

"My heart. You're my heart. You're my dream, my life, my whole world. You're my mate. I love you a whole lot. Like a LOT a lot."

Mate's mouth is halfway open and stays that way as she stares at me. Namjoon is screaming in my head for me to 'calm down' which makes no sense because I'm the calmest I've ever been. I love my mate and she should know it. Which reminds me! I also want to tell her-

"And you smell reeeeaally good!"

This statement at least gets her to unfreeze. She blinks a few times before laughing breathlessly and pulling the hand from my chest to pinch the tip of my nose. I nip at her fingers playfully and she giggles, then stands on her tip toes to plant a quick kiss on my lips. I go to reciprocate, but she's already moving away, taking the second that I was distracted to break free from my arms.

I follow her like a lost puppy across the room until she stops to sit on the edge of the bed. Namjoon had explicitly warned me not to sit there with her, so I follow his instructions and sit cross legged on the ground, my chin resting on her knees. I don't know why he told me not to sit there, cause it seems a lot more comfortable. Was it because he didn't want me to mate with her?

Yes. I won't do that unless Mate says I can.

You won't do it regardless! I might.

I ignore Namjoon in favor of gazing up lovingly at my mate who, honestly, is the only thing worth looking at in this world.

"Why are you on the floor?" she pats the spot on the bed next to her.

"I have a better view from here." I decide on this, because for one it's true, and for two I don't want Namjoon and I to get in trouble. Mate gets mad easily and I don't know why. I think it's because of Her, but who knows. I don't want to risk it.

"Are you just gonna look at me all night?" she laughs, apparently finding my never ending affection for her humorous to some degree.

"If you let me." I shrug. But it's true. I could look at her all day and night as long as she allowed it.

"Fluffy," she sighs and runs a hand through my hair. The touch feels insanely good. "What am I going to do with you?"

Her fingers stroke over my scalp and sends shivers down my spine. It's with half hooded eyes and a deep and desire ridden voice I answer with, "Whatever you want."

All movements come to a halt. She stares for a moment and whispers to 'fight her in the pit' under her breath, but that can't be right. Namjoon is screaming at me to stop talking, but what did I say wrong?

It's only feelings. She was the one that told us to say how we feel and to be honest. So I'm going to be. I'll tell her my deepest desire.

"Mate? Can I mark you?"

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Edited 5/30/22