Did you see her?!? Did you see?!? She's so cute and tiny and perfect—I saw it.

Did you see her tail? Yes.

Did you see her little paws? Yes.

Good. Maybe.

It was hard enough already wrestling Hoseok down to the cellar without Fluffy putting ideas in my head. His throat is right there I might be able to get away with choking him a little under the guise of struggling to get him to cooperate. Obviously I'm not going to try but the thought is alluring.

Mine. That's my line.

Hoseok is absurdly strong. It was taking a group effort, all six of us at once to physically remove him from my bedroom and get him down to the wine cellar, now equipped with a new door, this one comprised of steel bars. Welcome to my home, which is relatively normal with the exception of the prison in the basement.

Getting him through said door was proving to be the most difficult task out of this adventure, mostly because he'd started to grind on it and no one wanted to look.

"Jungkook, shield your virgin eyes!" Jin-hyung screamed dramatically before adding, "the rest of you dirty pigs stay focused and get him in there."

Why are we dirty pigs? But he's right. Jungkook shouldn't see this, he needs to be protected at all costs. I don't care what Y/n says; she's wrong. Jungkook is an innocent bunny and I refuse to believe otherwise.

You know bunnies actually tend to be mean? I wouldn't describe them as innocent. It was an expression. Jungkook is innocent. No, mate is right.

With his dismissal, Jungkook gives out a cute giggle and then skips away.

See? Innocent.

Nope. You're wrong.

For once, I'm glad I'm not alpha. Anything to avoid this shame. Hoseok continues to grind onto the door, everyone tries not to look, but eventually Yoongi-hyung snaps and bites him. This does not help matters.

At all.

It makes them worse.

Hoseok sees the bite as a challenge and lunges for Yoongi, who just barely manages to dodge at the last second, so instead I'm the one who takes the brunt force of his tackle. The air completely gets knocked out of my lungs when I hit the floor, but all I see is red and all I feel is anger. Anger at how stupid this situation is, anger at Yoongi-hyung for provoking him in the first place, and FURY because he dared to even think about my mate while in his rut.

"Namjoon?" Hoseok sits up after tackling me, staring down at me in shock and blinking like he's waking from a bad dream.

"Oh thank GOD," Jimin groans. "Quick! Get in the cell before-"

Before anyone can stop me, (including myself) my fist connects with Hoseok's jaw and he falls over. The pain that spreads over my knuckles and up my arm is nothing compared to this rage. The alpha snarls dangerously but I don't care. He attempted to touch Y/n.

I don't try to stop it. I can't. It's close to full moon and we're all sensitive. My anger, and Fluffy, take over and my fists keep flying. It doesn't matter where I hit, just as long as he hurts. Everyone jumps in to pull us apart and now I'm part of the problem, struggling in what quickly becomes a pit of bodies. It's already dark down here and now I don't know which way is up anymore. Someone kicks me in the face and it only spurns me on more, though now I've stopped swinging and now am wrestling everyone I come into contact with while Jin-hyung screams continuously, "STOB IT!"

Eventually I end up fighting against a backwards bear hug Taehyung manages to trap me in while the others attempt to take down a now very pissed off Hoseok.

"Sprite! Hyung, look!" Jungkook's voice comes from inside the cellar, (who knows when he got there) accompanied by a pop and a hiss as he opens the can of soda in his hand.

Miraculously, Hoseok, and subsequently everyone, stops. Then, as if none of this ever happened, he nonchalantly stands and runs into the cellar. I growl as he passes but he pays it no mind. Apparently his precious soda is more important.

Jungkook strolls out a minute later and pulls the door along behind him until it clicks shut. Rubbing his palms together, his grin stretches from ear to ear. "Easy peasy!"

"That was NOT easy!" Jimin groans and flops onto his back, running his hands through his air in agitation.

We all spend a few minutes catching our breathes until my favorite hyung speaks up.

"Namjoon-" Jin-hyung begins but I immediately growl in response. His eyes flash and he launches into a tirade, scolding so fast he sounds like he's rapping. "Don't-you-raise-your-hackles-at-me-young-man-I'm-your-hyung-and-I-have-control-of-what-goes-into-your-food-so-you-best-remember-that! We-all-came-to-help-you-and-your-mate-so-don't-you-dare-disrespect-any-of-your-brothers-in-this-house! It's-close-to-full-moon-you-aren't-the-only-sensitive-one-here-right-now-and-YOU." he points a finger at Yoongi-hyung and sucks in a deep breath before continuing on his rant. "What-the-hell-are-you-thinking-biting-him-right-then-does-this-look-like-a-game-to-you?!? Did-it-look-like-we-were-having-fun?!? At-least-Namjoon-has-an-excuse! Next-time-evaluate-the-situation-and-THINK BEFORE ACTING!"

This rapping chastisement was met with a series of 'sorry hyung', even from the three younger guys who hadn't done anything wrong, but felt the need to apologize anyway. No one wanted to get on hyung's bad side. His worst form of punishment was leaving us to fend for ourselves at dinner time. It was horrible.

"Good." he sends us all one more steely look and his eyes land on me. "Are you going to calm down?"

"Yes. Sorry hyung."

"Good." he nods and Taehyung finally releases me from his grip. "Now get your clothes back on and find Kitty because I'm ninety nine percent sure I saw her turn into an actual kitty."

Oops. How did I forget about that?

I didn't. She's puurfect. Jin-hyung would be proud of you for that pun.

"What!" Taehyung and Jimin both ask in unison.

"That was her?"

"Has she always been like that?"

"Did you know she could do that?"

"She looked just like my baby girl. Just not as pretty."

I roll my eyes at Yoongi-hyung's comment. That psycho cat of his had become his 'baby girl' and on some days was the only thing that got him to smile. No matter how mean she was to the rest of us, he remained fiercely protective of her, forever on the defensive.

There was always a 'reasonable explanation' for her bad behavior. She chased Princess Jinglebell because she was in her territory (his bedroom). She scratched Jungkook's ankle because he ran too fast and scared her. She jumped on the kitchen counter because she was curious. She was antisocial because we were too lame and she was a swag cat.

The list of excuses was a mile long and infuriatingly, but not surprisingly, my mate agreed with them every time. She and Yoongi-hyung had developed a strange friendship of sorts over this. They rarely interacted or spoke, but when they did it was strictly to talk about and gush over his cat.

We'd all thought that over time Lil' Meow Meow would get used to us and we'd be able to go back to regularly interacting with Yoongi-hyung with her around. On the contrary, she'd gotten worse. Now she wouldn't even let the other cats near him. The only people in her good graces were of course Yoongi, and in addition, Y/n, but cats in general tended to gravitate to her so that wasn't unusual.

We need to find Mate and make sure she isn't upset. Was she scared earlier? No, that's the strange thing. She was really happy. It's because she thinks heats are funny, remember? Mate is really crazy. I can't disagree on that point.

When Hoseok comes back to his right mind he's going to feel humiliated for what happened today. While I should sympathize with him as his friend, I can't find it in me to care. Anger is still present in my chest and the overprotective part of me wants to lock Hoseok up in there forever, or beat him to a pulp, whichever.

You need to calm down before you see mate. You're right...Since when are you the logical thinker?

It's true. Fluffy isn't the same wolf anymore. Something about the way Y/n was so broken hearted after BooBoo died had transformed him. She was depressed, and due to the mate bond, we were too. But that didn't mean I knew I how to help her.

Fluffy was never confused. He knew when she needed us and when she didn't. The experience had turned him from an impatient and needy wolf to one of compassion and understanding. Before, he (well both of us) constantly wanted to hold her, and if she wanted out of a hug she would have to fight or negotiate for it. Over the course of that first month he became tender and careful, always giving what he sensed she needed but never taking what he wanted.

There were times where our roles were reversed and he was the one telling me to back off and give her space.

It was hard. Seeing her in so much pain and being unable to fix it. I'm the one who thinks with my brain first and goes into problem solving mode. If something is broken, it needs to be fixed and I can do it if you give me time.

The knowledge I lacked but gained over that time, was that she didn't need me to fix it. She needed me to be there for her.

It's been a long road and one that I wish I'd been able to prevent her from having to travel, though at the end of it, I can't say that we haven't grown closer.

The first month was the hardest. I tried. We all did. Eun-ji stuck to her like glue. In-guk and Carl held a BooBoo memorial service. Her dad cut his hours at work to stay home a little more. Jin-hyung started packing a whole extra lunch just for her, stuffed full with seafood only. Yoongi-hyung gave her the dvd he made of the 'sexy like a pornstar' mashup. She watched it with her grandma and it was the first time she'd laughed in weeks. Even her other cats had become more loving and attached to her, as if they were aware of how much she needed it and were trying to fill in the piece that had gone missing.

Little by little, she started to cheer up. The major turning point was when Lucifairy went to the vet to be spayed. When she came home, the cat decided that she was never going to leave Y/n's side again and proceeded from then on to follow her wherever she went.

Wherever. She. Went. The bathroom. The kitchen. The closet. Upstairs. Downstairs. Out to the mailbox. And strangest of all, sat in her lap while they would drive to a fast food joint, go through the drive through, order ice cream, and then drive back home.

They even shared the ice cream.

This ended up with the cat crying and scratching at the door whenever she had to leave the house, and greeting her with enthusiasm on her return. The end result was Y/n thrilled at her new founded connection. She was better. Though sometimes I could still make out a lone spark of disappointment when she came home and there was a female, white cat there to greet her, rather than an old, male, orange one.

From there we'd resumed regular dating. That, too, had been difficult, and somewhat uncomfortable for her. She'd expressed on more than one occasion that she felt guilty being happy, and each time I had to remind her that BooBoo wouldn't want that.

Time felt as if it moved at a slower pace than it really did. Fall turned to winter and winter turned to spring. Eventually her tears stopped coming and her heart healed, even if BooBoo is still a touchy subject for her. The process was long and tough and it's almost as if she's a different, yet stronger person on some level.

Our relationship had also changed. At first, I'd loved her because she was my mate. Now, I love her because she's Y/n. From the basics down to the smallest of details in her quirks and personality, she's perfect for me. The way she clasps a hair tie between her teeth while putting her hair up. Her habit of kissing her cats goodbye in a certain order that only makes sense to her. When she asks me how my day was and actually wants to hear about it. That time she told me to 'fight her in the pit' because I took the last piece of candy. How every time I get upset she hugs me without question and invites me to put my face in her neck. When she scolds the guys for teasing me too much.

And that time I got sick with the flu and she went overboard with nursing me back to health. Feeding me, wiping my sweat, helping me take medicine and singing in an off-key tune until I would drift off into dream land.

That was the point where she officially locked my heart up in her prison and threw away the key. I was hopelessly in love with her and there was nothing I could do about it, if I even wanted to. Which I don't.

It made the other guys envious of not having their mate yet, and had me head over heels, although she was unaware of that, even to this day. Fluffy has no problem saying it every full moon that she thankfully agrees to spend with us. Yet she's never said it back, therefore I hold back on confessing, wanting to make sure she felt the same before I did anything stupid.

She wouldn't take care of us if she didn't love us. That's not the point. She has to be ready to say it.

Inevitably we'd grown closer. I got to hear of her thoughts and dreams for a future in big cat rescue. The admission didn't surprise me one bit, but Fluffy panicked at the thought of her working with such big predators.

Mate is too cat obsessed, she'll think a dominant lion's mane is cute. What if she tries to hug it? She's cat obsessed; she isn't stupid.

That, and she opened up about her mother, her ex boyfriend, how much she hated almost everyone in society, and all about her family.

In turn I'd let her in on my own life, that mostly consisted of the history of how all us guys had come to live together, and how much they all meant to me. Every good and bad memory and all the funny and sad stories I could think of, until there wasn't much left to tell.

We'd opened up our lives and hearts to each other. One of the only areas left uncovered had been to see the other side of herself, her animal side. I'd been shamelessly begging for a week and now that has been spoiled, but I'm hoping it can be recovered.

By the time I've put on a new shirt and wiped the sweat and blood from my face (I don't know whose blood) I've found her.

She surprised me. I'd expected her...well...I hadn't expected to find her stretched out next to Lil' Meow Meow and Sparky, casually soaking in the sun by the bay window.

"Y/n?"

All three black cats turned, each of them displaying various forms of indifference. Lil' Meow Meow was the first to look away, not forgetting to show off how unimpressed she was that I wasn't Yoongi-hyung. Sparky, my cat, just stared and then yawned, reminding me of why our relationship was one of love/hate. The only time I was given attention was when I had food or a phone charger (her favorite thing to chew on) on hand.

Y/n hesitates, one of her front paws tapping on the floor for a moment. That was all the time it lasted, a moment, before she's hurrying across the short distance to greet me.

Silently I sink down into a crouch to be closer to her level, one hand on my mouth to prevent any embarrassing noises from escaping. Inside, Fluffy was screaming. Outside, my face felt as though it were bright red and my cheeks were hurting from how hard I was smiling, but I was still trying hard to play it cool.

When I don't say anything her head tilts upward to gaze at my face, one long, black tail twitching behind her.

I'm going to explode.

She's so.

So.

SO-

"Hyung!" Taehyung's calling from the next room snaps me out of the trance I'd fallen into. It's a good thing. I was about to lose it.

"Just a minute." I answer back and tentatively hold one hand out to my mate. "The guys saw and are curious. They want to see you. But the choice is yours. You don't have to."

On one level I want her to be comfortable like this. As a werecat, with my friends, with her mate. On another, more selfish one, I silently wish that she'd decide to only show this part of herself to me. Shape shifting like this in the presence of others displays a significant level of trust. For werewolves we only show that side to other wolves we're close to and our mate. It's the equivalent of a human taking their clothes off and saying look at me. That's not something you do for just anybody.

That she's willingly showing this side of herself to me fills me with pride and so much joy it feels like I might burst.

Another quiet few moments pass between us while she glances from me to the floor and then back again. My eyes are drawn to the tiny, black padded feet, so different from Fluffy's massive canine paws. Small and delicate, little enough to make me aware of this switch in me that I can either flip between wanting to cuddle her gently for being so adorable, and wanting to squeeze her tightly and hug forever and ever and ever and-

She makes eye contact. "Meow."

Understandably, this is when I lost my mind.

"Y/n!" I sigh out her name while at the same time leaning forward to grab her. "You're so CUTE!"

Why is there such a strong sense of Déjà vu in the air?

Without waiting for approval, I scoop her up and cuddle this miniature version of my mate to my chest.

"Cute!" I plant a kiss between two, pointed cat ears. Shifting her to one arm I gently stroke the whiskers (my girlfriend has whiskers) on either side of her nose. "Cute!" Now that my hand wasn't covering my mouth all those embarrassing noise were coming out, a mix of giddy laughter and this odd and very unmasculine squealing sound.

Once I catch one of her paws in the palm of my hand and compare the sizes, I squeal again and wrap her up in a tight hug, swaying her little body from side to side as I sigh happily.

The other two cats in the room are watching, judgment obvious in their posture and expression. I don't care. Besides the day I first found her, this is the happiest I've ever been.

When I feel her moving around, I assume she wants to be let down. Having no desire to spoil the moment, I half heartedly loosen my grip on her until Fluffy brings my attention to what's actually happening.

She's scenting us!

Amazed, astonished, and not wanting to scare or embarrass her, I hold still and let her do what she wants, elation filling up every inch of my being. Across the expanse of my chest and then up the side of my neck she rubs her face, once, twice, three times, then purrs loudly and snuggles into my arms.

I love her. Does she know how much that just meant to me? Knowing she read the book, I gather that she is aware of how meaningful that interaction was. She claimed me as hers and now everyone will know it. Impossibly, my love for her grows larger.

I should say it. I want to say it. I feel it and it's hard to keep it in. She should know how treasured and extraordinary she is.

"Y/n," I look down and we lock eyes and I have to resist the urge to hug her again. "I lo-"

"Noona?" Jungkook's voice from behind us cuts me off, and to be honest, I'm partially thankful for it. I shouldn't say I love you until she at least has the voice to say it back.

Y/n's feline eyes move from my face to where Jungkook stands in the doorway. "Meow."

I gasp and then squeeze her into a hug all over again, unable to resist the urge while she's in this form.

__

Edited 6/2/22