The Temptress

I stirred to feel a soft but welcome presence in my chest. I opened my eyes to see Jimin, her eyes studying my face seriously.

"Do I have eye boogers?" I joked.

Jimin nodded, a wide grin spread across her face. "Remove it yourself — you're gross." She quips back.

With my free hand, I rubbed the sleep off my eyes while the other wraps around her body, squeezing the soft flesh of her waist and pressing her tighter against my body.

"Just because you wake up already perfect," I retorted.

"You're just biased," Jimin giggled.

Once I finally removed my eye boogers, I held Jimin's cheeks and pulled her close to me for a deep kiss. "Good morning," I whispered after we pulled away.

"Good morning indeed," she smiled, her eyes still closed as if expecting another kiss — which I gave.

"Hmmm," Jimin sighed after pulling away.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Around seven," Jimin replied.

I chuckled, "How much sleep did we have?"

"Around two hours give or take," Jimin chuckled.

"You kept waking me up, you're insatiable," I teased and squeezed her waist again, relishing the feel of its softness and her full chest pressing upon mine.

"Hey! You kept poking me with your —"

"That's because you kept rubbing on me!"

We both burst out laughing — it felt good, normal, easy. We sounded like a normal couple after a great night together, but we both know only the latter is true. Once we leave the confines of her apartment, we will be back to what we were — really, really close friends.

Jimin finally rose, covering her body with the blanket. I watched her move gracefully towards her wardrobe and pulled out one towel and threw it at me.

"We need to get ready or we'll be late," she said as she walked towards the door of her bathroom. I took the towel, rose up, and followed her only to be stopped when we're finally at the threshold.

"And where do you think you're going?" Jimin teased as she stopped me with a hand on my chest.

"Shower," I replied dumbly.

"There's another bathroom by the living room, use that," Jimin responded, grinning teasingly.

"What-?"

"Just to remind you, we're not dating, Seren. Well — not officially, at least," Jimin said still grinning teasingly.

"But we just-?" I tried to protest.

"I know — and it was great — really, really great. But since we're not 'officially' dating — I still need to keep you on your toes." She pulled me close for a quick peck, winked at me when she pulled away, then shut her bathroom door close. 

"Such a tease," I muttered before leaving her room and walking for the living room bathroom. I chuckled in spite of myself, yet I hoped she didn't remind me of that.

I finished bathing and changing before Jimin did, and with nothing else to do, I raided her kitchen and decided to make both of us some coffee. The mundaneness of the chore, and the fact that I am alone, brought back chaos to my mind. Jimin and I had, arguably, the best night of our lives yet, but we're not "officially" dating. That raised more questions than answers, I thought. How long could we keep pretending this was enough? Because by what we both felt last night, we seem unable to get enough of each other.

I set the coffee cups on the counter, their brewed scent clearing up my mind a bit. As I took a sip, Jimin finally burst out of her room, wearing a black shirt that hugged her curves and exposing a little bit of her midriff, jeans, a hoodie, and sneakers. She looked great, even dressing normally, she looked great.

"You copying my fashion, Yu Jimin?" I teased as she sat down and took a sip of coffee.

"Ahhh. That coffee's good," Jimin said as she melted adorably on the counter. "And no, I'm not copying your fashion, Seren Vale. You don't have a copyright on this combination of clothes. And besides — I pull it off better."

"I was trying to say you look good, you didn't have to hurt my feelings," I joked, taking another sip of coffee.

"Don't worry. I'll make it up to you," Jimin teased with a naughty wink before slowly, almost seductively, took a long sip from her cup.

"I'll hold you to that," I chuckled before finishing my own cup.

"So," Jimin drummed her hands on the counter as she set her now empty cup down. "Ready for another day of normalcy?"

"Normalcy is what I'm praying for right now," I replied.

Jimin chuckled as we got off her counter. I snatched my bag from her couch and we walked towards her door. I paused as she held her doorknob.

"What is it, Seren? You okay?" Jimin asked in concern.

"When we leave this door, we'll be back to normal." I said melancholically.

Jimin dipped her head and nodded.

"Then one last time for this morning," I said and pressed her against her door, held her waists, and crashed my lips on her.

Jimin gasped and wrapped her arms around my neck as she reciprocated my kiss with equal passion. She tasted of coffee — and of regret. She pulled me closer and opened her mouth, inviting my tongue inside her — and the taste of coffee grew weaker while the taste of regret grew stronger — but why did regret also tasted sweeter?

When I pulled away, her face was flushed red — and so was mine probably.

"We —" Jimin panted.

"I know," I whispered as I reached for her door knob, it felt cold, and my body wanted to let it go, to stay in this bubble, this haven, with Jimin. Jimin looked at me, her eyes expectant and quivering, like she wanted me to decide for her.

Yet my brain overruled me as it commanded my hand to turn the knob. Jimin released a sigh — of relief or of sadness, I can't tell. I pulled the door open and we stepped outside the hall, back to where we started — well not exactly.

The sun was covered by the clouds as we walked towards the campus. Jimin held my arm while we walked — the gesture half wholesome half romantic though I wanted to hold her hand instead — but that would be too obvious.

As we round a corner that leads directly to the college, two figures emerged and pulled us back — Ryujin and Chaeryoung — and here I was thinking that the most difficult part of the day would be leaving Jimin's place — how pathetically wrong of me to expect, to hope.

"Wait — what is this? What are you both doing?" Jimin asked in confusion as the duo led us around the walls outside the campus.

"Yeah. Good morning to you too," Ryujin replied. She was wearing an oversized hoodie that reached down her hips, exposing her bare thighs and legs.

"Ryujin felt we need to intercept you before you reach the campus entrance, turns out she's right," Chaeryoung, who wore a blue sleeveless blouse tucked in her jean shorts, answered Jimin's query.

"Felt?" Jimin clarified.

"Wild Instinct?" I followed.

"What's that?" Jimin looked at me curiously, her eyes seemingly surprised that I know something about werebeasts she apparently doesn't.

"An instinct that sort of, guides their actions, tells them where to go and what to do," I replied, though Jimin didn't seem satisfied — she's gonna ask everything about this to the trio the first chance she gets.

"How do you know about that?" Ryujin then asked.

"Seulgi mentioned it, then Yeji explained it to me," I answered.

The two werebeasts nodded yet Jimin's expression seemed to darken at the mention of Yeji.

"Well," Chaeryoung began. "Ryujin has the strongest Instinct among the three of us, so we both learned to trust her when it comes to things like this."

"And what exactly is happening?" Jimin asked as we reached the back of the school, its high walls looming above us.

"Human media," Ryujin replied and Jimin's eyes and mine widened in surprise.

"They're out there to interview you about the fight at the Archives," Chaeryoung added.

"And there's a ton of them, security can barely hold them off," Ryujin finished.

"Shit," Jimin and I exclaimed simultaneously.

"It's understandable though," Chaeryoung commented. "They can't get statements from the Wild Hunt, nor from the fae court, nor from our Triarchy, so naturally, they went for those they think they can bully answers out."

"Triarchy?" I asked, singling out the one unfamiliar term.

Jimin rolled her eyes, "You know about Wild Instinct yet you don't know about the Triarchy?"

"I'm guessing you're about to tell me," I quipped.

Jimin looked like she was considering it then answered, "Actually, no. You could ask Yeji about that that too," she snapped, earning curious looks from Ryujin and Chaeryoung.

"Are we... interrupting something?" Chaeryoung asked cautiously.

"A lover's quarrel perhaps —?" Ryujin asked, intentionally tactless.

"No, you're not," I replied.

"And it's not a lover's quarrel," Jimin added, clearly annoyed as she crossed her arms on her chest.

"It's a quarrel alright," Ryujin smirked.

"What the heck is a Triarchy?" I asked again, raising my voice slightly so that we can move on from all the awkward energy.

Chaeryoung sighed as Jimin stubbornly stayed quiet. "The Triarchy is the trio of leaders of the respective werebeast factions which consists of the predators — which is us — then the herbivores, and lastly, the avians. Together they sit like a council ruling over the werebeasts of Verrath."

“So basically, a council of predators, prey, and avians keeping the balance — like a furry parliament.” I recapitulated.

"Herbivores, not prey," Chaeryoung corrected, "they don't like to be called that way, makes them look weak."

"And feathery," Ryujin interjected. "Don't forget about the avians, Lady Choi is known to be petty and a little bit vindictive. And they refuse to provide a statement about what happened at the Archives aside from what Seulgi already released," Ryujin added.

"And Seulgi already had too much in her plate and now the Triarchy is breathing down her neck. It was fortunate that Yeji was able to convince the Triarchy to let us stay in this assignment as your protectors, justifying that Orion — the Lord of the Hunt — will surely strike again one way or another," Chaeryoung finished.

"And where is Yeji now?" Jimin asked, her voice a mix of annoyance and genuine concern.

"Inside the campus, talking with the Dean to keep us studying here," Chaeryoung replied.

"Do you still need to study here?" Jimin asked, "I mean, you're already huntresses, you must be what? A few decades old?"

"Ouch," Ryujin replied. "For your information Ms Yu, we are about your age."

Jimin's eyes widened, "But... huntresses..."

"We're the youngest huntresses in like, a generation," Chaeryoung said proudly.

"Seulgi was around her late thirties when she was elevated as a huntress," Ryujin added.

"And how old is she?" I asked cautiously.

"About six decades old," Chaeryoung replied.

Shit — I had sex with a sixty year old hot werebeast. I know they age differently but — damn — good thing they age differently.

"Anyway, we really should go inside," Ryujin said. "We're about to be late."

"How do you plan to do that?" I asked gesturing at the fifteen foot wall in front of us.

Ryujin smirked then approached Jimin and scooped her up unceremoniously in a lover's carry.

"Hey!" Jimin protested. 

"Hold tight, princess," she grinned, and before Jimin can protest any further, Ryujin leapt, easily clearing the jump and crossing the wall.

Chaeryoung giggled as she saw my jaw drop. "Can you — can all of you — do that?" I asked pointing at the wall.

Chaeryoung nodded, "Yeji is physically the strongest among us as well as having the strongest healing factor, Ryujin has the strongest Instinct, and I am the fastest." She then walked towards me, "So how do you want to do this? I doubt you'd want me to carry you the way Ryujin carried Jimin."

I imagine myself carried by Chaeryoung in a lover's carry — yep, that would be embarrassing and a direct hit to my masculine pride, I can't have Jimin see me like that, annoyed as she already is at the mention of Yeji.

"Yep, not that way," I replied.

Chaeryoung chuckled. "How about we hold each other's waist?"

I nodded after a moment's consideration. "Yeah. I think that works."

Chaeryoung wrapped an arm around my waist and I instinctively wrapped mine around hers. Her breath hitched at the contact.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, yeah. I am." Her cheeks were flushed red though. Then she tensed her legs, and leapt.

Contrary to what I expected, Chaeryoung leapt and landed smoothly on the other side where Ryujin and Jimin were waiting.

"Took your time," Ryujin commented.

"Just needed some time to adjust," I replied.

"Well then, shall we?" Jimin asked. We all nodded and started making our way to the lecture hall.

The hall grew quiet once we entered. We ignored curious gazes and the hushed whispers of the class — after all, we are walking with two werebeasts after surviving the attack at the Archives.

We sat down our seats, Jimin and I at the upper row while the two werebeasts at the row below us. They left one space between them — for Yeji I presumed. And right on cue, Yeji entered the hall, blazing with confidence in a black shirt, jeans, sneakers, and a hoodie — which I thought looked familiar — until I turned beside me. Jimin was wearing the exact same combination of clothes and I watched her stare at the approaching Yeji with an indifferent — almost cold, gaze.

Yeji either didn't seem to notice or just didn't care as she strut to her team. She then tiptoed and rested her arms and head right between mine and Jimin's desk. "So, situation report," she started coolly — like Jimin was not boring her eyes into her soul. "Dean and the board cleared us, we'll keep studying here — even though we think we don't need it."

"Ditto," Jimin interjected flatly.

Yeji nodded her head once and kept going, "And I received word that Joohyun will also be absent today —"

"Wait — why?" Jimin leaned in, the coldness in her voice replaced by genuine serious and concern. "And what did you mean by 'also'?"

"She was absent yesterday as well," Yeji replied. "What the school knows is that her parents are concerned about sending her back here after the attack for 'security reasons' —"

"But?" Jimin asked.

Yeji sighed, "But the truth is, she's embroiled in a political war inside the coven. She pushes for retaliation against Orion because of the attack. Her brother however, argues that she involved herself and her Death Dealers arbitrarily to save both of you — he says that the incident was a personal matter for Joohyun and that the entire coven must not be involved into something that might pull them and the fae court into open conflict."

Jimin dipped her head in concern, "I hope she's alright," she whispered.

So did I. Joohyun's help was pivotal during the attack — without her and her Death Dealers, we wouldn't have survived, and I might be somewhere in the faewoods being experimented on by Orion.

"And the Triarchy?" Chaeryoung asked, "What are they planning?"

"All hunters and huntresses are ordered to be vigilant in their assignments while those without one are ordered to remain on standby," Yeji replied.

"So we keep guarding Seren?" Ryujin followed.

"And Jimin," Yeji replied.

"Me?" Jimin asked in surprise.

"Uh-huh," Yeji nodded. "These two," she gestured to Ryujin and Chaeryoung, "will be rotating in guarding both of you — even at night — as the unit assigned for the night guard was pulled out to conduct intelligence operations instead. Don't worry, they'll be watching from afar so as not to intrude on your privacy."

"And you?" Jimin asked warily. She then extends a hand on the desk, slowly gliding it across to hold my hand.

"I'll be helping Seulgi scour Verrath's records in order to figure out what Seren is," Yeji answered. Her eyes followed Jimin's hand curiously and grinned. "So are you both dating already? Did anything happen last night?" Yeji smiled teasingly.

"We're not dating, at least not —" Jimin paused struggling to find the words — and frankly so did I. How can one explain our situation? A situationship? What the heck does that even mean?

"So it means Seren is still free, huh," Yeji remarked. "So are you staking your claim on him, Yu Jimin?" Yeji followed, her voice teasing and testing.

"Perhaps," Jimin replied.

"It's a bad time for that, Jimin," Chaeryoung commented. "Seren is a target of the Hunt, if they find out you're dating him, you'll be targeted too."

"Don't you think I'm already a target?" Jimin countered.

"It's possible," Yeji replied. "But Orion could have also viewed you as just a coworker at the Archives. Dating him openly would be —"

"And you'll like that, wouldn't you?" Jimin uttered.

I could have heard a pin drop as Yeji tilted her head and narrowed her cat eyes towards Jimin. I also noticed Ryujin and Chaeryoung perk their ears up. Shit — I have to do something against this brewing tension, but what do I do if the tension was because of me? At best, i'll only make it worse — and the worst case — I don't even wanna think about a worst case.

Yeji, with her usual fire, didn't back down. "If Seren proves a worthy candidate, why not? I'll guess even fae or sirens would be attracted to him once his nature becomes general knowledge to the Night Folk. You may even throw in some succubi in there."

"Yeji, please —" I tried to mediate — emphasis on tried.

"Then they'll have a hard time against Seren," Jimin bit back.

"Or a good one," Yeji countered.

"Hold the f up," Ryujin interjected. She and Chaeryoung swiveled their seats and stood on either side of Yeji, giving all three of us curious looks.

Here it comes — hell — I thought. Well — I tried.

"Did you and you—?" Chaeryoung pointed at Yeji and Jimin who were now staring daggers at each other.

"Did it with you?" Ryujin pointed at me, clearly trying to hold her laughter.

My face burned with embarrassment. The awkward silence and the obvious blushing of my face was all the answer Yeji's subordinates needed.

Chaeryoung's jaw seemed to drop in slow motion. Ryujin however, was having the time of her life. "Shit, Seren! Didn't know you had it in you! Yeji and Jimin — damn." She paused then leaned in, "So when is it my turn?" She teased.

"Shin Ryujin!" All four of us exclaimed, our faces a combined mix of embarrassment, shame, ridicule, and outrage, earning more curious glances from the class.

Curse you — you not so little cat — I seethed as Ryujin kept chuckling, "It was a joke — or was it?"

"I'm serious, Shin Ryujin!" Yeji scolded.

"Serious about Seren?" Ryujin countered.

Yeji shook her head incredulously, "No," she said, her voice rising an octave higher.

"And Seren and Jimin aren't dating so..." Ryujin let the insinuation hang as all our eyes are focused at her and her ridiculousness.

Thankfully, Professor Zhang arrives and calls for all students to get on their seats. Ryujin sat first, followed by Chaeryoung who looked beet red. Yeji seated last, turning towards Jimin and I to mouth a genuine "I'm sorry," before making a circular gesture. Jimin and I both got the message — "Sorry for everything."

Jimin leaned close to me and whispered, "We'll talk about this later." Thankfully there was no heat in her voice, just genuine desire to smoothen things out. I squeezed her hand and for a change — I decided to actually listen to Professor Zhang's lecture.

We had two more periods before lunch time, algebra, and fae runes — one normal and one not so normal. At lunchtime we sat at the bench tables by the school's courtyard, bringing with us a tray of what could only be described as rations — a cup of rice, a spoonful of scrambled eggs, and an inch long sausage.

"They should really take care of their students' welfare," Chaeryoung commented.

"That's why most students bring their own lunch," Jimin responded as she played with the pitiful sausage with her fork.

"Why don't you?" Chaeryoung inquired.

"No time to cook," Jimin answered.

"Too lazy to cook," I replied.

Yeji scoffs while Jimin and Chaeryoung stifled a giggle. Ryujin however, was tense and was always craning her head as if searching for something — or someone.

Yeji notices this first, "Hey. Instinct's picking something?" Ryujin nodded and all five of us suddenly became wary as we scanned the courtyard.

"Someone's coming, someone — I don't know — dangerous? No, not really — not immediately but, maybe? I can't put a finger on it, but bottomline is — someone's coming to us," Ryujin answered.

Then as if on cue, Kim Minjeong sits down at the seat beside Jimin, pouting with her watery eyes. "Jimin," she whined as the huntresses jumped in surprise.

Jimin immediately held the girl's hand in concern, "Hey what is it? Is it Yizhuo?"

Minjeong shook her head. "Yizhuo's fine now, she recovered from her cold yesterday but..." Minjeong was now on the verge of crying.

"What is it? Spit it out, Kim Minjeong," I asked as I grew a bit impatient.

"Be gentle, Seren," Jimin berated me.

Minjeong whined again as she shook her head — which was so cute the werebeast trio seemed to be melting. "Seren can be mean to me all he likes. Because of us... because of us... because we asked you to take our shifts..." tears were now falling freely from Minjeong's cheeks.

"Hey, hey. It's not your fault," I said, suddenly remorseful. The girl was racked with guilt. It was supposedly her and Yizhuo's shift at the Archives the night of the attack — but because Yizhuo caught a cold, she asked Jimin and I to cover for both of them instead.

"All turned out to be fine, Minjeong," Jimin said as she wiped the girl's tears. "These werebeast huntresses were there so, we got saved by their instinct."

"Yeah... yeah..." Minjeong kept sobbing, her eyes now blood red and her cheeks are like a tomato's. "I saw the footage at the reception. You were all so cool — Ms Yeji with that orange patch of fur in her head was so cute," Minjeong paused to sniff her nose while Yeji consciously patted her orange crown of a hair. "And... and... Ms Ryujin's all black form looks so sick. And... and... and... Ms Chaeryoung's slender feline grace looked so sexy. And... and..." she pulled out her handkerchief and blew her nose.

Minjeong toed the line between annoyingly cute, and straight up adorable. The huntresses melted at her cuteness, even Ryujin tried to hide a smile. "Uhhh.. thanks, I guess," Yeji stuttered, her lips twitching while fighting back a smile. "Why was I cute and you're sick and she's sexy?" Yeji asked, pointing at Ryujin and Chaeryoung respectively.

Jimin and I can't help but chuckle — which I thought was good — Jimin was not entirely cold nor dismissive of Yeji. They're not entirely in conflict, something which we can work on for reconcillation.

"Jimin, Seren," Minjeong once again turned to us. "Yizhuo and I owe you two."

"No, you don't," I replied.

"Yes, you don't" Jimin supported. "It was a good thing it was us that were there, Minjeong. Do you think both you and Yizhuo would have survived if you took that shift?" Jimin asked gently to which Minjeong shook her head.

"Exactly. Some divine intervention spun the threads of fate so that it would be Seren, I, and the huntresses who were there, not you and Yizhuo." Jimin spoke gently as she squeezed Minjeong's hands.

"We'll pay you back, anyway we can and anytime we can," Minjeong sobbed again.

Jimin chuckled, "Fine, we'll call on you whenever we need anything."

"Thank you again, Jimin and Seren," Minjeong nodded her head vigorously at the two of us.

Then suddenly, Ryujin tensed, alerting Yeji and Chaeryoung. "It's here, the one I felt coming," Ryujin whispered.

"What-?" Minjeong asked confused as Jimin and I tensed with the werebeasts.

Then – as if a gust of wind blew petals in — two figures emerged from the campus building and out to the courtyard. All eyes turned to them — for they were unnervingly beautiful. The kind of beauty that is ethereal yet can pass as normal – unlike Joohyun whose default is ethereal, but then again, Joohyun is a vampire, and these two, to my knowledge are humans.

The first one walked with a confidence that could rival Yeji. She had long red hair, and wore a cropped buttoned shirt, its hems tied to where her chest met her bare stomach. And her figure — was an hourglass — a tiny waist accentuating the flair of her hips from the tight denim shorts she wore. She looked like an it girl — if the it girl can kill with her looks or her heels yet still you'll thank her for it.

Following her was another girl that looked a little bit more timid. She had long and wavy brown hair with a face that resembled a deer — a very, very pretty deer. She wore a simple white shirt, denim jeans, and black heels. She looked like someone's first love — heck she would have been my first love if I didn't had one already.

As the ladies strutted towards our table, Jimin leaned in to Minjeong. "Do you know them?"

"Only the one behind," Minjeong sniffed her nose again before continuing, "that's Seol YoonAh — considered to be one of the prettiest sophomores in school. The one in front seems familiar but I can't put my finger on it." Minjeong whispered back.

"Well, I guess we're about to find out," Ryujin commented, her eyes studying the girl like prey she's about to dissect.

The lead girl confidently walks up to us and stands right in front of me. She smelled sweet, like the period between spring and summer. Yet the way her eyes looked at me screamed danger — not the "I'll kill you" kind of danger, more like the "I can ruin you and you'll thank me for it" danger.

"Are you Seren Vale? The one who was at the Archives during the attack?" She asked, her voice surprisingly sweet and playful and... flirty? Or was I just mishearing things?

"Yeeeaaaah." I drawled, unsure how to react. Then, in a move that utterly surprised everyone at the table, the girl sat over it, her hips moved dangerously to my arm that I had to pull them back to avoid making physical contact with her bare thighs.

She sat in front of me, tilted her head flirtatiously with eyes that sparkled and seemed to say "ruin me" and a smile that says "I dare you." She held out her hand, elegantly curved for a handshake. 

"I'm Shin Yuna, I've been looking for you since yesterday. It's good to finally meet someone with first hand experience with the fae." Shin Yuna greeted — and all my hair stood on edge as I felt the cold stare of Jimin and the huntresses upon me.

I extended my hand tentatively to shake hers, "Seren —"

"I know, Seren Vale, I said it, right?" Yuna grips my hand softly but somehow — I can't find the strength to let go. "Anyway, can I interest you in a — proposal?" She asked, her voice teetering at the edge between seduction and flirtation.

"What... uh.. proposal?" I stammered, distracted and flustered, unable to concentrate — which I think is her point.

"Sullyoon and I," Yuna motions at Seol YoonAh who was absently looking at the patch of flowers right behind us. "We are having a project about the fae, well — there are a lot of interactions with the fae court — but encounters with the Wild Hunt, now that's rare — especially those who survive." She fixes her eyes on me, half-lidded and unreadable.

"Uhm... my companions here also encountered and survived as well,"  I swallowed a lump on my throat as I motioned to Jimin and the huntresses.

Yuna giggled, a little bit amused and a little bit... mocking? 

"So I take that as a yes, then?" She asked, though I felt that it wasn't really a question.

"What? That wasn't what I was —"

She leaned in and pulled me by the chin, she was close — close enough that I can almost smell the flowery scent of her mouth. My hand reached beside me, hoping to grab a hold of Jimin's hand. To my dismay, all my hand caught was the bench's wooden board. My breathing and my heartbeat quickens. Damn it — I thought — Jimin was still holding Minjeong's hands.

Shit, shit. Yuna's moving closer. My eyes fluttered all around me, a silent plea for help. Yet they all didn't move, like they were rooted on the spot, like they were under some kind of spell compelling them to just watch everything flow — and with it, my sanity.

Yuna moved her face beside my ear and whispered, breathy, dangerously inviting, "I'll see you soon, Vale."

Yuna's fingers caressed my cheek lightly before pulling away. She winked at me and I felt more blood rush to my cheeks and I am pretty sure my ears were steaming. She got off sensually from the table then started to strut away.

"Come, Seol," she beckoned to Seol YoonAh playfully. Seol YoonAh turned her head away from the flower patch — she seems to be a bit of an airhead — cute, I thought.

"Ah, right. Right behind you." Seol YoonAh then turned toward us, "I'm Seol YoonAh by the way, but you can call me Sullyoon, so you won't get confused between me and Yuna here."

"Seol," Yuna called again, too sweetly that it sent shivers down my spine. She gave me the feeling that when she calls — you answer and you come — whether you want to or not.

"Ah, right. Coming!" Sullyoon bowed again to us before skipping to rejoin Shin Yuna.

Then my companions stirred — like they were broken from some kind of trance.

"What the hell was that?" Ryujin exclaimed.

"That's what I should say! You all didn't even say a word!" I retorted.

"We couldn't, it's like —" Chaeryoung paused, unable to find the right words.

"Like we were compelled to just watch," Minjeong suggested.

"That was so uncomfortable," Yeji shuddered.

"You tell me. She was talking to me." I protested.

Then Jimin's hands found mine — and I calmed dowm immediately at her touch. "Are you okay?" Jimin asked in genuine concern, her earlier annoyance with me seemingly melting away.

"As far as I can tell," I replied. "But that girl, Shin Yuna — human or not — she's trouble," and all of us agreed.

"If she comes calling, don't answer," Yeji said sternly.

"I feel like if she does, she won't give me a choice," I retorted.

"Then you call on one of them," Jimin interjected, pointing at the huntresses. "They're assigned to protect you, right?"

"Against the Night Folk, Jimin," Chaeryoung clarified. "But if it's against humans –"

"That girl can't be an ordinary human," Jimin protested. 

"Perhaps, Jimin," Yeji answered, "but unless we're sure, we can't act against Shin Yuna."

Jimin slumped on her seat, Minjeong and I looking at her with concern.

"Hey." I started. "I get your concern, I'm thankful for it — but we don't have proof, at least not yet." I spoke softly to Jimin who seemed to calm down.

"It's just —" Jimin sighed.

"I know — even I would react this way if something similar happened to you. But if Yuna is just an ordinary human, I think I can defend myself from her. And if not —" I gestured to the huntresses.

Jimin nodded and turned to Yeji, "Protect him, will you? He's stupid and naive and slow and —"

Yeji chuckled as I recoiled at every word Jimin said. "Ouch, Yu Jimin, I'm right here."

"I know, I meant for you to hear that," Jimin bit back.

"Are you sure about this, Jimin?" Yeji asked. "Knowing what happened, between, well, the three of us — do you still trust me?"

Jimin sighed heavily before answering, "It's not my business who this guy sticks his business in," Jimin finally said. "We're not dating, as we clarified."

"But?" Yeji inquired as she leaned closer. Ryujin and Chaeryoung were still as cats, their attention focused on Jimin while Minjeong kept turning her head on who's speaking, clearly confused.

"But I stake my claim," Jimin said confidently. "And until all this conflict is done, when Seren finds out who and what he is, I'll be waiting at the end of the tunnel."

The huntresses smiled proudly at Jimin. 

"That's my girl," Ryujin uttered.

"So should I stake my claim too?" Yeji teased.

"Bring it on, huntress," Jimin bit back with a confident smile.

I sighed in relief, hopefully that's one part of my problem taken care of. I felt it was too easy but I won't complain. 

What I would complain about is the sudden drops of rain that fell softly upon us — we then rushed for shelter inside the campus as the light drizzle suddenly turned into a full blown rainstorm.

The storm continued until early evening, with frequent flashes of lightning and crashes of thunder. I walked alone while Chaeryoung and Ryujin walked with Jimin. Yeji went our opposite way, saying that she's going to assist Seulgi in finding out my lineage at Verrath's records.

Once I reached my apartment, I shook my umbrella — a pitiful and old black thing that I had since time immemorial — and hung it on a rack beside the door. My upper clothes weren't wet, thankfully, but my pants and shoes were. I removed my clothes so as not to drip rainwater on my floor and rushed to my room to quickly change — a sleeveless shirt and jersey shorts. I threw my used clothes at the laundry basket and went to my kitchen to make some hot chocolate.

Rainwatter patted heavily outside as I absently stirred my cup when a rhythmic tapping broke me from my trance. I turned to the window and to my surprise — Shin Ryujin was sitting by the rails, her hoodie pulled over her head while she knocked on the glass with a wide grin on her face.

I rushed towards the window to open it up and let her in. "What the hell were you thinking Shin Ryujin?!" I exclaimed as I pulled her into my room.

Ryujin shivered from the cold as she dropped down, rainwater drips down her thighs and legs, making them glisten slightly, "Well as you know, it's my turn for guard duty, and I won't be guarding you outside in that shitstorm and — are those claw marks?" Ryujin asked teasingly as she inspected Yeji's claw marks on my couch — an unfortunate byproduct when we had sex.

Damn it — I really need to patch that couch up — I thought as I closed the window.

"These marks have Yeji's scent, seems like you gave her the time of her life," Ryujin kept teasing.

"Yeah, yeah. We both needed the release that night," I said.

"But whose are those, though?" Ryujin inquisitively pointed at the ten half a foot gashes on the other side of the couch. "That seems too long and deep to be Yeji's claws," Ryujin teasingly observed.

I sighed as I made my way back to the kitchen. Well — cat's out of the bag and there's no use lying. "Seulgi's," I grumbled.

Ryujin's eyes widened and I saw her face transition from surprise, to disbelief, to acceptance, and finally — and to my greatest discomfort — to mischievousness.

"Holy shi—" Ryujin exclaimed. "Even Seulgi? Damn, Seren! So again, when is it my turn?" Ryujin teased as she stood by the kitchen counter and took a sip from my cup of chocolate. "Ahhh, you make good chocolate."

I sighed heavily as I made another cup of chocolate for myself. "Thanks," I replied, exhausted to entertain her teasing.

"So, what do you think of Shin Yuna?" Ryujin asked.

I sighed and momentarily stopped stirring my cup as I recalled the events of the day. Shin Yuna was extremely pretty, the kind of pretty that could ruin your life if you involve yourself with it — and she's trying to actively involve me with her.

"Trouble," I replied as I resumed stirring. "How about you? You have the strongest Wild Instinct, and you felt her coming."

Ryujin shrugged, "The same thing you think," she replied.

"Is that it?" I asked. "Is she human or Night Folk?" I followed.

Ryujin took another sip of chocolate before answering, "As far as I and my teammates can tell, she's human. If she's not, she's doing a damn good job hiding it."

I nodded slowly, "Yeji says the fae can do that if they actually try."

"They could, but they're not the only one. Joohyun is with us in school, and if she's not a high profile vampire in Night Folk society, we wouldn't have known nor noticed that she's a vampire — let alone the Pale Princess herself," Ryujin answered.

I sighed again, "So, what do you think we should do with this Shin Yuna?"

"I think you should steer well away from her."

"What does your Instinct say though?" I followed.

Ryujin smirked and huffed, "My Instinct says to let it play out, let her play her little game. That way, we'll know what she really is — if she's really just a flirty student with a project or a Night Folk agent with an objective."

"So you're saying that I willingly jump into her fire?"

"Yep." Ryujin answered casually.

"Are you really just here to take shelter or to make me feel miserable?" I asked, walking towards the couch with my cup in hand.

"Why not both?"

I tool a sip from my cup before answering. "Please just choose one."

"Well," Ryujin shrugged. "I'm here for my turn," she said flatly.

"Please stop joking about that," I responded.

"Why shouldn't I? What if I say I also needed the release?"

"Then find someone else, a werebeast like you preferably."

"Why not you?" Ryujin kept pushing and frankly, I was getting a little bit annoyed.

"I'm tired, Ryujin," I said as I took another sip of chocolate.

"That's not exactly a no."

"Why me, Shin Ryujin? Of all people you can bother for sex, why me?" I asked, my voice rising a bit.

"Why not? Are you refusing me? My pride's going to take a hit from that," Ryujin chuckled.

"I could care less about your pride," I spat a little bit harshly.

Ryujin grew quiet. I stared at her, her back was to me. She still hasn't changed her clothes — an oversized hoodie that reached to just above her thighs although I can now catch slight glimpses of the denim shorts she wore. Her thighs and legs glistened wet from the rainwater — and Shin Ryujin looked alluringly sexy as she stood on the counter. Suddenly her proposal for her turn doesn't seem so ridiculous at all.

"I'm sorry, that was harsh of me," I whispered, knowing that she could still hear me.

"It's fine," Ryujin sighed. "I guess you're one of those guys who claim they need a connection in order to engage in intimacy."

"Are you trying to bait me into ssying something hypocritical?" I asked.

"Huh," Ryujin scoffed. "That was sharp of you — and self-aware." Ryujin then took another sip of chocolate before setting it down with a familiar clink.

The silence returned, heavy but strangely comfortable, until Ryujin decided to break it, "Why do we need deep reasons to do things we want anyway — in fact, why do we need reasons at all?"

To that — I had no answer - yet something in what she said stirred something inside of me.

Ryujin sighed at my silence. "Sorry for intruding tonight, Seren. I'll leave you to your — hmph!" Ryujin gasped as I now stood behind her, my hands stroking behind her just outside her shorts.

"I don't have a reason to do this," I whispered in Ryujin's ear as she leaned back to press her body on me. "But I think I want to, how about you?"

"Damn, Seren," Ryujin moaned as she melted on my touch. "I want to, I fucking want to."

My hands snaked in front of her, one caresses her toned stomach, smooth and ridged with her abs. The other makes its way inside her shorts and panties to her now drenched wetness. I inserted two fingers inside her without any preamble, and Ryujin's breath hitched as she started squirming in my touch.

"That's good... Seren," she whined breathily. Her hips started grinding in sync with the rhythm of my fingers. Her insides were hot, every ridge seemed to be prickling my fingers with hot needles.

Ryujin's hand slowly caressed my neck as she slowly reached behind her, entangling her fingers on my hair. Her other hand gripped the edge of the counter, knuckles slowly fading white as she tried to steady herself.

"Seren," she whimpered.

"I know," I whispered. She's close, I can feel it by the way her hips now buck erratically in my hands and how her walls are now gripping my fingers tighter inside her.

"Let go, Shin Ryujin," I whispered. "Let go," and my other hand snaked up her body inside her hoodie from her stomach to her chest, pushing her bra upward and taking one tit on my palms.

And Ryujin finally let go. "Hnnnnnngh!" She whimpered, fingers pulled on my hair while her body twitched and her pussy convulsed while copious amounts of her slick juices trickle down from inside her, completely drenching my hand.

Ryujin pulled me by the hair and crashed her mouth on me. It was sloppy, tongues and teeth clashing as Ryujin devoured my lips while she cums.

Finally, she pulled away, smiling at me with a flushed face. "Good?" I asked.

"Great," she replied. I pulled my fingers out of her and placed them to her mouth. Ryujin sucked at them with enthusiasm as she tasted herself on my fingers.

"Do you like how you taste?" I teased.

She nodded before taking my fingers out and pulling me in for another sloppy kiss.

"Do you like how I taste?" Ryujin whispered low once we pulled apart.

I chuckled and kissed her again. My hand goes back to her shorts, unbuttoning it while my other hand gropes her tits. They were small but perky, and her nipples are so hard that the contrast from her smooth skin felt so good.

Once I unbuttoned her shorts, I pulled them down. A single string of slick tried to cling to her panties but dropped once her shorts and panties reached the floor. Ryujin kicked her clothes away and slowly bent over my counter.

"You gonna fuck me now?" She teased as she wiggled her ass at me.

I slapped her ass, the sound seemed as loud as the thunder outside. "Fuck!" Ryujin exclaimed. "Don't hold back, Seren."

I gave her another slap, her ass reddening as I did not hold back like she requested. I then pulled my shorts down and freed my cock. Ryujin now held the counter with both hands, her breathing heavy with anticipation as I rubbed my tip outside her pussy.

"You feel big, Seren." Ryujin sighed as she tried to push back and insert my cock inside her. "Put it the fuck in already."

I chuckled, "So impatient."

"Can't blame me, I got more excited when I saw the claw marks on your couch. How hard did you fuck them for them to ruin your couch?"

"You're about to find out," and I slowly pushed my tip inside of her.

"Shiiiiit—" Ryujin moaned, her hands balled into fists, her head flat on the counter. "Slow down, slow down, Seren."

"I thought you wanted me to go hard?" I teased.

"Asshole! Allow me to adju– FUCK YOU!" Ryujin couldn't help but scream as I forcefully pushed at least half of my shaft inside her. Her thighs shook as she adjusted and I caught her right arm as she reached behind her.

"Fuck you, Seren!" Ryujin cursed.

"Did that hurt?" I chuckled.

"What do you think?!" She growled.

"It felt good," I replied.

"For you maybe, but — FUCK!" Ryujin screamed again as I thrust another quarter of my shaft inside of her.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!" Ryujin kept swearing. Her hand gripped mine tightly as she slowly grind her hips, slowly adjusting to my girth.

"Good?" I asked.

"Yeah. Fucking good," Ryujin sighed. "So fucking deep."

"That's not all yet," I informed her.

Her head snapped to look at me, "Whay do you mean that's not — AHHHHH!" Another scream was torn out of her as I finally bottomed out inside her.

"You're a fucking asshole, Vale!" Ryujin cursed.

"You wanted this didn't you?" I teased, chuckling as I felt her pussy squeezed my shaft.

"And I'm not regretting it," Ryujin panted. "Move, Seren, I want to feel you pound me."

And who was I to deny her?

I pounded Shin Ryujin with a punishing pace. The rain outside continued to pour like the floodgates of heaven have opened. It worked to our advantage as it masked Ryujin's moans and screams as I fucked her.

"FUCK! SHIT! FUCK — SEREN!" Ryujin screamed as pleasure rocked both our bodies. Her free hand reached for the back of her hoodie and pulled it off of her. Immediately, my hands flew towards the clasp of her bra, unhooked it, and Ryujin just let it fall down her arms towards the floor.

"You like that, Shin Ryujin?" I growled, pulling her by the hair towards me, my other hand squeezed one tit hard.

"FUCK YES! FUCK YES! DON'T STOP! DON'T FUCKING — FUUUUUCK!" Her body convulses and her pussy tightens without warning, her eyes roll to the top of her head as she squirts strongly on my floor, creating a slick pool that I may have to clean — or just let dry out.

"Did you just—?" I chuckled, panting as I slowed down to allow her to ride out her climax.

"Did anybody tell you that you become such an asshole while you fuck?" Ryujin panted.

"They might have," I replied. "Does it matter as long as you liked it?"

"Touchè, asshole," Ryujin chuckled. She then faced me and finally got a view of my cock. "Shit. This was what was ravaging me all along?" Her soft and warm hands stroked me slowly. "You're bigger than most werebeasts," she said, her eyes wide with fascination.

"Seulgi and Yeji said the same," I shrugged. I took Ryujin by the cheek and kissed her, our tongues fencing within each other's mouths. I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her up.

Ryujin wrapped her legs around me. She slowly prodded my dick with her pussy, grinding upon the tip as she slowly sank down on it.

"Fuuuuck —" Ryujin sighed on my ear after pulling away with the kiss. "I might have to stake my claim on you as well," she whispered before giving the back of my ear a slow and sensual lick.

I shuddered and almost lost my balance at how good it felt. Ryujin finally had enough and took all of my cock back inside of her.

"Just like before, Vale. Hard, fuck me hard. Make me scream in your fucking ear," Ryujin whispered.

I held her ass in response, squeezed them, then started thrusting my hips inside her while guiding her body with my hands.

"YES! YES VALE! JUST LIKE THAT! JUST LIKE — FUCK!" Ryujin did good on her pledge to scream at my ear. Her nails — which I felt were now growing into claws — dug on my back. Yet the pain only heightened the pleasure.

In retaliation however, I bit down on Ryujin's neck, just to give her another sensation other than the pleasure of sex. This triggered her third orgasm of the night.

"FUCK YOU, YOU ASSHOLE!!!" Ryujin screamed hoarsely, her pussy constricting my cock as her juices hit my stomach while she squirts.

I fucked her through it all, biting her harder knowing full well that their healing factor would make it seem like nothing happened.

"Seren, wait — shit — I'm still — fuck — fucking sensitive — fuck I'm cumming again — fuck — FUUUUUCK!" Ryujin's body unravels again, her pussy tightens so much that it forced me to stop inside her while she squirts again. Her cum trickles copiously down my thighs, making the already existing pool on my floor even wider.

"Shit — stop. Let me breathe," Ryujin panted heavily, her hands now held my shoulder.

"I thought you wanted it hard?" I teased.

"I did," Ryujin replied. "I may have got more than I bargained for."

"Still not regretting it?"

Ryujin scoffed, "Not an ounce."

I chuckled and slowly walked, carrying her to my room where I sat down at the edge of the bed.

"Is it my turn now?" Ryujin giggled as she tentatively grinded while straddling me.

"Do what you want. You're in control now Shin Ryujin." I stroked the spot where I bit her, teeth marks dug deeply on her flesh but not deep enough to draw blood.

"That hurt, you know." Ryujin sighed as she slowly picked up her pace.

"Says the werebeast with her claws on my back," I retorted.

"Fine then, we're even."

"No. Not by a long shot. You already came thrice."

Ryujin grinned seductively, "Then let me make it up to you, asshole," she whispered and finally started bouncing on my dick. She planted her feet on the edge of the bed in order to gain more leverage. It was not as hard as when I pounded on her, but this is Ryujin's time, she sets the pace.

"Damn, that's big, I feel like you're hitting my stomach, Seren." Her pace was enough to let her speak. I leaned back to watch her bounce, her perky tits bouncing with her. My hands wraoped around her ass, squeezing them, but still allowing her control.

"You're taking it slow now, Ryujin?" I asked.

"A change of pace," she moaned. "Do you have any complaints?"

"None," I replied.

"Thought so. Meet my bounces, Vale," Ryujin instructed. I started thrusting upward, syncing with her pace, and the volume of her voice rises again.

"Fuck just like that, I'm getting close again," Ryujin moaned louder.

I started pounding her and slamming her down with my hands on her ass. Her bouncing tits looked so good I leaned in to suck on her nipples.

"FUCK THAT'S IT, SEREN! KEEP GOING! KEEP GOING! I'M CUMMING! FUCK I'M CUMMING! FUUUUUCK!" Shin Ryujin cums again, her body squirms and writhes on my grasp. She still squirted, but not as much and not as strong as the previous one.

"You close?" She asked, her eyes half lidded as her orgasm dies down.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Okay," Ryujin got off of me and as she stood and my cock was removed from her pussy, more of her slick spilled splashing on the edge of the bed and to the floor.

"Fuck, Shin Ryujin. You're making a mess," I exclaimed.

Ryujin laughed, hearty and lustful, "You speak as if you didn't like it," she said as she knelt on the floor and took my cock in her mouth.

"Touchè — fuck that's good!" I moaned loudly as Ryujin slowly took half of me in her mouth. She can't take it all so she opted in jerking the bottom half off while she sucked the upper half.

"Fuck Ryujin, you're good at this," I can now feel the familiar pull in my gut. I'm going to cum and I'm going to cum hard.

"Ryujin I'm — fuck!" I held Ryujin's head and pulled on her hair as I thrust upward, planting half of my cock deep inside Ryujin's mouth. Her hands gripped my thighs as ropes of my seed were shot down her throat while some of it trickles down outside of Ryujin's mouth. 

Once I relaxed, Ryujin bobbed her head slowly again then she released my shaft. She licked at the cum that escaped her mouth as she cleaned my dick with her tongue.

Once cleaned, she faced me, her eyes red with hints of tears. "That was —"

"Amazing," I said.

"Really great," Ryujin agreed. She then stood and straddled me again. She leaned in and gave me a long and deep kiss.

"I don't think we should do this regularly, Seren, I might get addicted." Ryujin whispered.

"Aren't you already?" I teased.

Ryujin chuckled lightly, "Perhaps."

I then wrapped my arms around her, turned her over, and laid her on the bed. "Such a gentleman, after what you did," Ryujin giggled.

"Balance, Ryujin." I joked.

"Hah!" Ryujin scoffed. "Says the asshole during sex."

I laid beside her and pulled the sheets to cover us. Ryujin immediately wraps an arm around my chest and nuzzles on my shoulder. "But that's a pro, not a con," she whispers in my ear.

I chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. I can feel the warmth of her body seeping to me despite the cold air of the stormy night. "Goodnight, Shin Ryujin."

"Great night, Seren Vale," Ryujin replied and closed her eyes.

As the night went on, another werebeast huntress slept naked in my arms. Yet I felt no more guilt — was I changing? Was my feelings for Jimin fading just because of all the women suddenly around me? Or was I just being complacent when Jimin declared she'll be waiting at the end of this tunnel?

Ryujin snored softly on my chest. How nice must it feel to sleep that peacefully? I stared at Ryujin's face, for all her boyishness, she was indeed pretty. Was it really desire that brought her here, or was it her Wild Instinct. Either way, the question she posed still echoed in my head — "why do we need a reason to do anything at all?"