Time had passed since that fateful day at Kairan's apartment, and life felt like it was finally settling into something warm and intimate. Almost a month had gone by, and Kairan's protective, possessive nature had only grown. He rarely let Serin out of his sight or his arms and she wasn't complaining. His constant presence, his touch, and his intensity made her feel cherished and alive.
Today, they were all gathered at the vacation house that she and Junghyun had bought...a place that had become a sanctuary for the siblings and their mates. It was filled with warmth, laughter, and the kind of chaos that only their family could create.
In the spacious living room, Serin and Taejung were dancing to a lively song, their movements smooth and synchronized as they twirled and swayed. Every time a romantic line came up, they would steal glances at their significant others, teasing them with exaggerated gestures.
Kairan and Junghyun who were normally the epitome of cold, reserved alphas were sitting on the couch, watching their mates with what could only be described as love-struck expressions. Kairan's ghost of a smile softened his sharp features, his eyes tracking Serin's every move. Junghyun, on the other hand, looked utterly captivated, his usual stoic demeanor melting away as he watched Taejung twirl, his every gesture graceful and elegant.
It was a rare moment, seeing the two frozen popsicle men transformed into lovesick fools, and Serin couldn't help but laugh between steps.
The cheerful mood was disrupted when Inseo suddenly jumped into the middle of the floor. His attempt at dancing was.....well, disastrous. His movements were stiff and erratic, completely out of rhythm, but his goofy grin showed he didn't care in the slightest.
"Is he trying to kill the song?" Taejung quipped, his voice dripping with sass as he stopped mid-dance to stare at Inseo.
Ii Hyeok, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. "I think the song's already dead. Inseo just buried it."
Serin couldn't hold it in anymore. She doubled over, clutching her stomach as she laughed uncontrollably. "Oh my god, Inseo! What even is that?!" she managed between bursts of laughter, tears streaming down her face.
Inseo struck a ridiculous pose, unbothered by the judgment. "It's called art, Noona. You wouldn't understand."
Taejung rolled his eyes dramatically, turning to Serin. "Your brother is a menace. I'm telling you, we need to stage an intervention for this... 'art.'"
"I can't breathe!" Serin gasped, collapsing onto the floor and rolling as her laughter intensified.
Kairan, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help the faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. His eyes never left Serin, the sound of her laughter like a melody to his ears. Junghyun, had ab utterly disgusted expression and refused to even call Inseo his brother.
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After the chaotic and laughter-filled dance session, the group began to disperse. Ii Hyeok and Inseo decided to head out for a date, the latter trying to make up for years of being an unintentional jerk to his mate. As they left, Inseo declared, "I'm going to prove I'm a romantic genius, Hyeok" to which Ii Hyeok muttered under his breath, a slight blush on his cheeks, "You better, or I'm not forgiving you for that 'art' you called dancing."
Kairan and Junghyun, on the other hand, retreated to discuss Junghyun's latest album project. The two men shared a quiet camaraderie as they talked about music and strategy, before eventually heading to the gym for a workout session. It wasn't often that the two wolfs trained together, but when they did, the intensity was palpable.
Meanwhile, Serin and Taejung made their way to the cozy reading room that had been specially designed for moments like this. The walls were lined with shelves filled with books, and two fluffy chairs sat by the window, offering the perfect view of the garden. A warm glow from the lamps bathed the room in a soft light, creating an atmosphere of comfort and intimacy.
Taejung flopped dramatically onto one of the chairs, holding a book in one hand while the other rested on his chest. "Ah, my favorite room in the entire house. A sanctuary for the soul.....and a stage for my sass."
Serin laughed as she curled up in her own chair, holding her copy of 'The King of Pride' "It's perfect, isn't it? I swear, Junghyun thought of everything when we designed this place."
The two fell into a comfortable rhythm of reading and chatting, with Taejung occasionally interrupting the quiet with his usual dramatic flair.
"So" Taejung began, setting his book down and looking at Serin with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Let's talk about your taste in fictional men. Kai Young and Ronan ? Really? They're complete opposites!"
Serin smirked, unbothered by his teasing. "What's wrong with that? They both have their charm!"
"Kai is a calculated, suave gentleman who hides his emotions behind layers of control" Taejung said, ticking off his points on his fingers. "Ronan, on the other hand, is a morally grey lunatic who would burn the world for Mila."
"And that's exactly why I love them both" Serin replied, leaning back with a dreamy smile. "Kai has this quiet intensity that makes you want to peel back his layers and see what's underneath. But Ronan? He's wild, dangerous, and completely unpredictable. He's like a storm you want to get swept up in."
Taejung rolled his eyes. "You're impossible. How can you like two such different men? Are you secretly living a double life, Serin?"
"Maybe" she teased. "Or maybe I just have range."
Taejung snorted, flipping through his book absentmindedly. "Well, I hate to break it to you, but your real-life mate is definitely more Ronan than Kai. Kairan's aura practically screams 'morally grey villain'."
At the mention of Kairan, Serin's cheeks flushed, and she shifted in her seat. "He's not a villain, He is a gentleman" she said softly, though the fondness in her voice was unmistakable.
" Honey... their is nothing Gentle in that man and Oh, don't get me wrong" Taejung said, holding up a hand. "I'm not saying he's evil. But let's be real here, Serin. That man exudes danger and dominance. I mean, have you 'seen' the way he looks at you? It's like he wants to devour you."
Serin's face turned a deeper shade of red as she buried it in her hands. "Tae! Stop!"
Taejung laughed, clearly enjoying her embarrassment. "What? I'm just saying the truth! He's got that dark, brooding energy that makes every omega in a ten-mile radius weak in the knees."
Serin peeked at him through her fingers, her voice muffled. "You're insufferable."
"And you're in denial" Taejung shot back, grinning. Then his expression softened, and he tilted his head. "But honestly, Serin… what's it like with him? You know, being mated to someone like Kairan."
Serin hesitated, her hands lowering as she thought about his question. "It's… intense" she admitted. "But in the best way. He's so protective, so possessive, but he's also gentle with me. Like, he's this unstoppable force, but when it comes to me, he's all warmth and tenderness."
Taejung hummed thoughtfully. "That's sweet. But let me guess...he hasn't shown you his full dark side yet, has he?"
Serin's cheeks heated again, and she looked away. "Tae! That's none of your business!"
"Oh, Ser" Taejung said dramatically, using her nickname in an exaggerated tone. "You're killing me with this wholesomeness. I swear, when it happens, it's going to be a full-blown hurricane."
Before Serin could reply, a faint sound from the doorway caught their attention. They both turned to see Junghyun and Kairan standing there, their expressions unreadable.
"Oh, crap" Taejung muttered, his cheeks flushing slightly. "How long have you two been there?"
Kairan's lips twitched into the faintest ghost of a smile as he stepped into the room, his gaze locking onto Serin. "Long enough" he said in his low, velvety voice, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Junghyun crossed his arms, smirking at Taejung. "So, this is what you two do when we're not around? Gossip about us?"
Taejung huffed, trying to regain his composure. "Well, maybe if you didn't give us so much material, we wouldn't have to."
Serin, still flustered, buried her face in her book. "I hate all of you" she mumbled.
Kairan's voice was a soft rumble as he approached her. "Hate us all you want, Luna. You're still mine."
Taejung shifted in his seat, letting out a content sigh as Junghyun's fingers brushed softly through his hair. Junghyun had pulled him onto his lap after one of Tae's sassier remarks, and the dominant yet tender energy between them was palpable. It was rare to see Junghyun like this, his usual cold demeanor replaced by a softer side reserved only for Taejung.
"You're such a brat" Junghyun murmured, his voice low but warm as he nipped at Taejung's ear.
"And you love it" Tae replied smugly, leaning into Junghyun's touch with a small, satisfied grin.
Serin watched the interaction with a mix of fondness and curiosity, the way Tae melted under Junghyun's possessive yet affectionate hold stirring something in her heart. But then, a thought struck her....a question she had never quite dared to ask before.
"Tae…" she began, her voice hesitant yet determined.
He glanced at her, raising a brow as he straightened slightly. "Hmm? What's up, Serin?"
"You really love him" she said softly, her gaze flickering between Taejung and Junghyun. "It's so obvious. Nothing could keep you apart. So… why did you run away? Why did you leave Junghyun back then, all because of a threat from my mother? It was not that simple was it?"
The room instantly grew heavier, the lighthearted atmosphere dissolving into something far more serious. Taejung's playful expression faltered, and he shifted uncomfortably on Junghyun's lap.
Junghyun's jaw tightened, his hand stilling in Tae's hair as he glanced at his mate with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Tae" he said quietly, "she has a point. Why didn't you just tell me?"
Taejung swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the floor as he fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. "It wasn't… just a threat" he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What do you mean?" Serin pressed gently, leaning forward as worry crept into her tone.
Tae let out a shaky breath, finally meeting Junghyun's piercing gaze. "Your mother didn't just threaten me, Serin. She… she had a potion."
Junghyun's brows furrowed, his grip on Taejung tightening slightly. "A potion?"
Tae nodded, his voice trembling. "It was specifically designed to suppress pheromones. But if used in bulk…" He hesitated, as if the words were too painful to say out loud.
"What, Tae?" Junghyun asked, his voice laced with a quiet intensity.
"It would've killed your wolf" Tae whispered, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "She said she'd use it on you if I didn't leave. She said she'd make sure you'd never recover that if you didn't get engaged to that girl, you'd be a hollow shell, barely alive."
Junghyun's entire body went rigid, his eyes darkening with a storm of emotions. Anger, disbelief, and pain flickered across his face as he processed Taejung's words.
"She… threatened to destroy my wolf?" Junghyun said slowly, his voice dangerously low.
Taejung nodded, his voice breaking as he added, "I couldn't risk it, Junghyun. I couldn't let her do that to you. So I left."
Serin's heart ached as she watched the exchange, the weight of her mother's actions settling heavily on her chest. "Tae…" she said softly, reaching out to hug hum. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea."
Junghyun exhaled sharply, his grip on Taejung firm yet reassuring. "You should've told me" he said, his voice strained. "I would've handled it. I would've protected you."
Tae's lips trembled as he shook his head. "You don't get it, Junghyun. She was willing to destroy you. I couldn't risk that...not for anything. You mean too much to me."
Junghyun's expression softened slightly, though his eyes still burned with an underlying fury. "I would've faced anything to keep you, Tae. Anything. You're mine, and no one not even her has the right to take you away from me."
Taejung's eyes filled with tears as he leaned into Junghyun's chest, his voice a broken whisper. "I'm sorry. I thought I was protecting you."
Serin looked away, giving them a moment of privacy as emotions ran high. But in the back of her mind, a new fear took root....a fear of what her mother might still be capable of, and what lengths she might go to in order to control their lives. Who knew that she will soon show what else she can do.