Jin and I worked well together as he helped me cut up the vegetables I needed. Once everything was simmering in the pot, I then helped him make some cupcakes. I told him about my boring life in Clarmore and some of my favorite books as well. I was happy to learn that Jin enjoyed reading as well so we swapped summaries of our favorite books. We hung out in the kitchen for a bit until the smell of the stew wafted throughout the house, slowly bringing the members of the pack into the kitchen. We all grabbed a beer and then each filled a bowl with my now famous stew. Everyone made their way out to the backyard to enjoy the cooling evening. No one was talking as they were filling their mouths and I became nervous. I looked at everyone, wondering if anyone would say anything.
"Wow Alanna! This is amazing!" Willa said, giving me a huge smile. Everyone else chimed in telling me how much they liked it and I felt all warm and fuzzy inside. Once we finished dinner, Yoongi and Jimin started to light the fire as the sun was getting lower in the sky. Once it was lite, we all picked seats around the fire. I sat in between Jungkook and Dakota while I had a perfect view of Taehyung who was pretty much straight across from me. Willa was sitting next to Yoongi, but eventually got up and ended up sitting on his lap, wrapping an arm around his neck. While everyone was having their own conversations with those next to them, I turned to Dakota.
"So, I know how Willa and Yoongi met, but how did you and Jin met?" It was loud enough that Jin, who was sitting on the other side of Dakota holding her hand, had heard me ask and leaned into the conversation.
"It's not as exciting as their story, but it's still cute I think." JIn said winking at Dakota who then turned back to me.
"We actually grew up together as many of us did. We got along pretty well as kids and then when we both reached full maturity which is at 18, we knew we were mates. It was great to be friends first, knowing each other and where we came from." I watched her turn to look at Jin as he gave her a quick kiss and then she turned back to me.
"So you all grew up together?" I asked her.
"Most of us. Myself, Jin, Hosek, Yoongi, and Taehyung all did. Taehyung's father was our Alpha, but when he was old enough to become an Alpha himself, he left and we all wanted to join him. Namjoon and Jimin were from another pack that we had close ties with and willingly joined us. Willa and Jungkook were actually rogue wolves who we took in."
"Jungkook told me about him and Willa as well as how Yoongi and Willa first met. Pretty crazy." I took a swig of my beer and looked across the fire. I noticed Taehyung talking with Willa and Hosek and he had the biggest smile on his face especially when he laughed. He looked all cozy in a zip up sweatshirt with his hood pulled up. When he smiled, his mouth was almost in this box shape and his eyes seemed to disappear. I couldn't help but to smile myself seeing him.
"Ya I guess, but your story is way better." I heard Dakota say and then I turned to face her.
"What do you mean?" Both Dakota and Jin gave each other a look.
"Oh come on! You are a human living in the middle of the woods. Our Alpha travels a little farther than expected and sees you and feels the mate connection. Then, BOOM. Guys are attacking you, Taehyung calls for us to help, Jin heals you and now here you are!" She gave me a huge smile and I started going over everything that had happened. I hadn't realized how crazy all this actually was.
"I guess that is pretty crazy." I took another swig and realized I was now out. I looked over to the side of our circle and saw a huge pile of beer cans and bottles. How was everyone not falling over drunk? I walked over to the cooler to grab another drink and saw it was empty.
"Hey, the cooler is empty. I'm going to grab some more from inside. Anyone else need another drink?" Pretty much everyone raised their hand and shouted 'ME'. I giggled and started walking inside. I heard some 'oooo's" and whistling behind me and when I turned around, I saw Taehyung walking towards me.
"Thought you could use some help." He smiled at me.
"Thanks." We walked inside and grabbed a couple of the cases that had yet to be opened. I was a little hungry so I grabbed some chips and leaned over the kitchen counter, taking a break from all the socializing. Taehyung was on the other side of the counter and I turned the bag towards him. He reached his hand in and grabbed a handful.
"Tired of us yet?" He asked me.
"Not at all, but I'm used to living alone so with this many people, it can get just a little overwhelming."
"They are a crazy bunch though."
"Ya, but it's great to see everyone hanging out and enjoying time together. Plus, it's nice to actually see you laughing and having fun for once." I smirked a little as I noticed Taehyung standing up straight.
"Ok, that's the second time you have referenced how glum and rude I am." I looked up to see his arms crossed across his chest with his eyebrows raised in my direction.
"Can you blame me?" I put my elbows on the counter and then my head in my hands smirking at him. He looked away and bit his lip, trying to prevent a smile. Every interaction we had now felt so easy and normal that it was hard to want to be away from him. When he bit his lip, all I was thinking about was how soft his lips might be and what he would taste like. When he turned back to look at me, I quickly stood and grabbed both of the cases of beer. "We should get these in the cooler or we could have a mutiny on our hands." Taehyung came over and reached for one of the cases.
"Let me help with that." He grabbed one of the cases I was holding and reached his hand for the handle that was occupied by my own hand. In attempting to move my hand out of the way, our fingers intertwined just for a moment and it was that split second that I felt a rush go through me. A surge of anger and guilt and pain. I knew that I didn't feel these things so why were they present in mind. I looked at Taehyung and he seemed unbothered by the slight brush of our hands. He smiled and walked out of the kitchen, but stopped before walking through the door and turned back towards me.
"No, I don't blame you for anything." Then he turned back around and walked towards the cooler. Everyone cheered as they saw us with all the alcohol. We emptied everything into the cooler so things could get cold and rejoined our pack around the fire.
"Ok I have a question for you all." I started and then all eyes were on me. "How have you guys drank so much and it seems as if you're not even buzzed." Everyone started laughing a little bit.
"We don't get drunk as fast. Wolf metabolism and all." Dakota said.
"Sounds expensive." I said taking a drink of my newly opened beer while everyone else was laughing. I was finally feeling a little buzzed and enjoying myself around my new family. I didn't even notice that Jimin was missing until he came back outside with a large speaker. He set it down and plugged his phone in playing some music. Immediately, Willa, Jin, Jimin, Hosek, and Jungkook got up and started dancing around the speaker. I couldn't help but smile noticing the difference in who was a little more outgoing and those who were still sitting down. I saw Jungkook get near me and reach his hand out to which I started to shake my head.
"Oh no. Not happening." I put my hands up trying to keep him away. He was singing to the song that was playing and was still coming near me, not taking no for an answer. He grabbed my arms and tried to pull me from my chair. At first, I tried to refuse, but he was pretty strong and I finally got up, but not before grabbing a laughing Dakota, dragging her with me. We all danced like idiots and sang at the top of our lungs. I glanced over at Taehyung a couple times and always saw him looking in my direction, smiling. Then, I heard the first howl come from Jungkook. I had heard wolves howl before, but being this close hurt my ears a little. One by one they started to join in, but the sound was ringing in my head. I backed away a little bit and covered my ears. I quickly felt someone behind me and their hands went over top mine and they pressed hard, trying to not let the loud howling hurt as much and it did help. I turned a little and saw Taehyung smile at me and then join the rest of his pack. I calmed down a little and that's when it happened again, the rush through my body. The anger and guilt was back, but it was not my own to feeling. Then the pain creeped in. I felt the pain of not being with me as well as the amount of affection that was felt towards me. Was I feeling what Taehyung was feeling? I focused on the affection and then felt the need to protect me which was very overwhelming.
The howling stopped, and Taehyung removed his hands from my ears.
"Thanks." I whispered to him. He nodded and then started to unzip his sweatshirt.
"Your ears are really cold. Here." He handed me his sweatshirt revealing a black t-shirt underneath.
"Aren't you cold?" I hesitantly reached for his sweatshirt.
"Nah. The fire is actually making me really hot." I took the sweatshirt and Taehyung walked back to his seat around the fire. I put the sweatshirt on and pulled it tightly around my body. I could smell cedarwood and pine and loved it. Everyone started dancing again and I walked back to the fire enjoying watching all the craziness that was this pack. Slowly, everyone started to head inside to bed and I finally called it a night shortly after Taehyung had left. I walked to my bedroom and closed the door.
I started remembering what had happened when Taehyung and I had touched earlier. He seemed to be angry at himself and guilty for the feelings he was having towards me, but I focused on the affection and protectiveness that he was feeling for me as well. I didn't realize how strong his emotions were for me. I paced around the room wondering what I should do and without overthinking it, I walked to his room. Thank god Willa had given me a tour a while ago or else I would not know which room was his. I pause outside his door wondering if this was a good idea at all. Then, I knocked on his door.
"It's late we can talk in-" The door opened revealing Taehyung trying to pull a shirt over his head. When he saw it was me he looked surprised. "Oh Alanna. I thought you were someone else. Umm, what's up." He pulled his shirt over his head and pulled it down so it covered his torso and then he leaned against the door frame.
"Can I come in?" I asked, looking into his eyes. Without saying anything he moved out of the way, opening the door further. I walked in and he closed the door behind me. I stood in the middle of his room, pacing a little. I looked up and saw him looking over at me waiting.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" His expression seemed tired, but he seemed a little happy to see me as well
"I umm." I rubbed my hands together, feeling them start to get sweaty as he just stared at me. "I felt something earlier, when we touched, in the kitchen." I cleared my throat as he looked at me confused. "I don't know if there is something between us because of the whole mate thing or if it's something different, but." I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, "I want to feel it again. I need to know what this is and if you can feel it too."
He started walking towards me and then stopped once he was right in front me and then held out his hand with the palm up. He didn't say anything, but I understood that he was allowing me to try again. I slowly lifted my hands and gently grasped his hand, closing my eyes to try to focus on just him. I felt a pull move from his hand and travel to his arm and then to his head. I could hear his heartbeat in my ears and felt his breathing along with mine. I saw myself, standing on the porch of my small cabin eating a bowl of soup. The picture faded and then I saw myself again, laying on the floor screaming in pain. Just as sudden as the pictures of his past lit up my mind, I felt the tug of his hand leave mine as I opened my eyes. I saw Taehyung holding his hand close to his body staring at me.
"How did you do that?" The look of shock was all over his face
"I-I don't know, but you saw that too?" He nodded.
"I felt my own power of seeing your memories, but then I could tell that you were seeing mine as well. Do you have what I have?" His eyes were wide.
"I've touched other pack members and nothing like this has happened."
"It has to be just a mate thing right?" I giggled at his question.
"You know more about this stuff than I do and you're asking me?" I saw him smile and laugh a little.
"What did you feel earlier?" Now he looked a little concerned.
"I just felt emotions and a lot of them. I felt how angry and frustrated you were." I saw his eyes look at me with sadness. "But then I felt the guilt and pain you have been hiding from your pack, from me. You feel guilty about forcing me to be here and I actually felt the pain you feel when you're around me, but can't be fully with me." He was trying to avoid my gaze and looked ashamed. I walked closer to him and our eyes met. "I also felt the deep affection and protectiveness you have over me. Why haven't you talked to me about this?"
"Alanna I pulled you from your home because of this stupid instinct that I have. I don't want to force you into anything, and it's hard when I know you don't feel the same."
I reached for his hand. "That's not entirely true." I placed his hand on my cheek. He furrowed his brows, confused at my action. "Feel what I feel." I saw his eyes close and I did the same, feeling him enter my mind. I felt my emotions come to the surface as I was wrapped in confusion and anger. While I let me guard down for him, I could feel that he did the same for me as we both felt confused for the situation we were in. Angry that it seemed we didn't have a choice in the matter. I felt his other hand grab mine and place it upon his own cheek and step a little closer to me. The confusion and anger started to fade as something else enveloped us. I felt pure affection and passion for Taehyung as he felt it for me as well, but fear started to creep up as well.
"You're scared." He whispered as I felt his forehead meet mine.
"So are you." I felt his heart start to race and his breath on my lips.
"Terrified." I saw the thoughts in his head bounce around as he thought about what his future would be like with his pack, with me. I started to wonder if I would be happy with him and if I could make him happy in return. Could we actually choose to be together or would this instinct be the forefront of our relationship?
"Alanna, this is my choice." I heard him whisper in his low voice as his lips slowly met mine. I melted into his touch as all the emotions were amped up. I felt everything he felt all at once and wanted more. I had never felt anything so intense in my life, especially just from a simple kiss. I couldn't even think straight with all the memories, thoughts, feelings swirling around my mind and my entire body. I knew Taehyung felt it too as we both pulled away and even took a couple steps away from each other. We were breathing hard as we stared at each other.
"What was that?" I asked him.
"I have no idea, but you saw everything too right?" I nodded
"Saw, felt. I couldn't decipher whose thoughts were whose."
"Ya same." He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to comprehend what just happened. I started to remember some things that I saw and felt like wanting to dominate me. The urge to be in charge and do things to my body. I put my arms around myself, feeling extremely vulnerable. I glanced over at his bed and then him, remembering his thought of wanting to push me down on his bed and do whatever he wanted to me. Our eyes met and I knew that he knew exactly what I was remembering.
"Alanna I didn't want-" He tried walking towards me.
"I gotta go." I quickly said and shrugged him away from me as I quickly left his room and walked into mine closing the door.
A/N: Well...well, what in the world just happened? Was what happened between Alanna and Taehyung a mate thing or something else?
Anyone have an idea what the Daeva are planning on doing? I'm curious if there are theories out there.
Comment and vote :)