Moonlit Shadows

Getting To Know You

"Anyway, I've not seen or heard from a Hunter since. Well, with the exception of our little escapade twenty years ago."

"Wow...you know, since I've known you, I've never heard about all the things you've seen over the centuries. The wars...technology..."

"Meh. It all blurs together after a while. But you know my favorite time period?"

"Which one?" smiled Sunny.

"The one that I met you in." Taehyung pressed his lips to her neck and trailed kisses upwards until he reached her ear.

Sunny leaned into his kisses, goosebumps racing across her arms as his lips tantalized her earlobe.

"I think that will end up being mine as well," she whispered.

* * *

"So, what is this...between us?" said Jaci, cheeks burning.

She and Jungkook were seated on his old bed, backs up against the wall. Their shoulders were pressed together, and their hands were clasped between them.

Jungkook sighed. "I may be 150 years old, but I have no personal experience with mate bonds."

"Is that what's going on between us? A mate bond?"

"I think so. And everyone else seems to think so. Now that I think about it, I think Ga-Eun was sure of it as well."

"Are we fated?"

Jungkook's head turned sharply, and his eyes probed Jaci's. "You know about those?"

Jaci shrugged. "I only know what I've read. And even that seems sketchy now. Can you tell me what you know about it?"

Her eyes, deep and brown, studied his own, making his heart race faster. He swallowed and looked down at their hands.

"Well, in werewolf lore, the Moon decides which werewolves will be together as mates. He decides every pairing. And they are called 'fated mates.' But over the centuries, modern werewolves have lost faith in the Moon. They trust their instincts and their hearts to find their mates. But I have heard of wolves still finding their fated mates from time to time. The bond is so much stronger and unique between them, unlike non-fated mates."

"Do you still believe in the Moon?"

Jungkook dipped his head shyly. "Yeah. Silly, isn't it?"

Jaci smiled warmly and shook her head. "Not at all. I think it's kind of romantic."

Jungkook laughed and threaded his fingers through hers. "Maybe so. But because of my belief, I've remained a bachelor for all these years."

"Maybe the Moon knew I wasn't born yet. Maybe he was reserving you just for me." Jaci wasn't sure where these words were coming from. It felt like someone else was using her mouth.

"Maybe you're right," said Jungkook, looking at her with eyes blazing gold.

"You've waited so long, my wolf," said Jaci, still wondering who was talking for her.  "But you must wait just a little more."

A whine, deep and mournful, came from Jungkook. He leaned over and pressed his forehead to hers.

"I will wait until the Moon falls from the sky," he said, his voice deep and raspy.

Jaci felt something loosen, and she gained control of her mouth once more. She and Jungkook separated and looked at each other.

"What was that?" she asked.

Jungkook had a sloppy smile on his face, and his eyes were dancing with excitement. "I think our wolves were communicating."

"Our wolves?"