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acute-scorpion · 1 month ago

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Howl In My Chest Chap. 3

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ HOWL IN MY CHEST Chapter 3 ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

pairings: werewolves!the boyz x fem!reader

main pairing: werewolf!sunwoo x fem!reader

genre: slow burn, supernatural au, werewolf au, hurt/comfort, slight harem, love triangle (or more), soulmate au, domestic, a little bit of fluff, implied smut in later chapter (18+)

warnings: suggestive, mention of blood, mention of kill, kissing, cursing, possessive!sunwoo

wc: 6.6k

status: on going

chapter list: ➤ introduction ➤ chapter 1 ➤ chapter 2 ➤ chapter 3

tag lists: @babigriin @jwiloves @i8xuhao 𖹭

Everyone gathered in a tight circle around Sangyeon while the fire in the fireplace crackled softly, creating dancing shadows on the floor and walls. The silence in the living room weight heavily, until the Alpha finally spoke.

“We’re dealing with more than just werewolves. It’s not even just about us.”

You leaned forward slightly, the tension in the room wrapping around you.

“The other creatures who do prey on humans… right?” You asked, remembering that Sangyeon had mentioned this before.

They all nodded.

“There’s something in the forest. Here. In these woods. Something ancient.”

Sangyeon took a deep breath before continuing, “…it’s called The Veilwalker.”

“The… Veilwalker?” You blinked.

He nodded solemnly. “It starts as a human. A shaman, someone who once used healing and protective rituals.”

You listened, curiosity peaking despite the growing unease.

“But they turn to dark magic, do terrible things—like killing their bloodlines—just to get unnatural powers, immortality. Once it's crossed, they become something else. Twisted. Hungry. Not cursed like us, but changed. Forever.”

He glanced around the room before continuing. Something inside you recoiled at Sangyeon’s words, but not because you didn’t believe him. You did. That was the problem.

“They’ve got the ability to transform into wolves, coyotes, foxes, even hyenas. They can mimic voices. Steal faces. Lure victims in. They’re not monsters by instinct… they’re monsters by choice.”

A shiver ran down your spine. “So it’s… like a shapeshifter?”

“Yeah,” Sangyeon said. “But not the kind you want to meet in the woods.”

You took a deep breath.

A silence fell, cold and heavy. The only sound was the fire—and Haknyeon’s stomach growling loud enough for Chanhee to shoot him a look.

“…Sorry,” Haknyeon muttered a whisper. “I sacrificed my sacred snack hour for this.”

Chanhee rolled his eyes.

After that, the atmosphere went silent again.

“Why is it attacking now?” You asked.

Sangyeon’s jaw tightened. “Because it hates human.”

You stared.

He continued, voice colder now. “Centuries ago, the forest was protected by the veilwalker. It watched over this village. Guarded it. In return, people used to worship it, leave offerings, speak its name with reverence.”

Sangyeon paused as you swallowed. “But over years of years, the villagers grew distant. Stopped believing. Stopped giving thanks. And veilwalkers hates it."

You listened carefully.

"That time, the veilwalkers began hunting on human, especially since they loved human's blood. But there was a time when they stopped. When they weren’t allowed to.”

You blinked. “What do you mean?”

“There was a contract,” Sangyeon said. “Veilwalkers and werewolves made a pact. We agreed to protect the balance. In return, werewolves wouldn’t hunt them.”

"Until over years, a human—someone from the village—killed one of the veilwalkers.”

Your eyes widened. “Someone killed it?”

Sangyeon nodded. “I’m not sure whether the killing was accidental or intentional, but that was the last straw. The veilwalker was already teetering on the edge… but that betrayal broke it. Twisted it. It became vengeful. Corrupted by hatred. It saw the humans as ungrateful parasites who took from the land and gave nothing in return.”

He looked toward the window, as if remembering something darker.

“But it doesn’t just hate humans. It hates us too.”

You blinked. “You mean… werewolves?”

“Especially our pack,” Sangyeon said. “They saw werewolves as pretenders. Half-human, half-beast. Mockeries of the power they bled and sacrificed for. We didn’t earn our shift with rituals or murder. Our curse came through nature, not pain. And they couldn’t stand that.”

You sat back slightly, startled by the bitterness in his voice.

“They see us as rivals. And worst of all… protectors of the humans they want to destroy. Every time we stop them—every time we get in their way—it feeds their hatred.”

No one moved.

“That’s why it’s attacking,” Sangyeon said.

You looked at him, then at the others. Kevin’s hands were clenched lightly on his knees. Juyeon stared blankly at the fireplace, jaw tight. Everyone was silent.

“And… about the body in the woods?” you asked. “The one the police found? Who killed them?”

“It’s them,” Sangyeon said. “Sunwoo was attacked by it too.”

You turned slightly to glance at Sunwoo, who sat on the couch, gaze low. The memory of him on your backyard, bleeding and shivering, flashed behind your eyes.

“This is what we’ve been holding back all these years,” Sangyeon said. “This isn’t the first time they tried something. But now… now it’s getting bolder.”

You leaned back, breath shaky. “So what do we do?”

“We prepare,” Sangyeon said grimly. “And we make sure the humans don’t get caught in the middle. We keep the veilwalker from gaining more strength. From getting what it wants.”

“And if I can help?” you said, voice steady, “I want to.”

Sunwoo let out a frustrated exhale at that.

“Great,” Eric muttered under his breath. “More volunteers for the death squad.”

Changmin glared at him as Eric read the room again, realizing that it wasn’t the best time for jokes.

Outside, the wind howled against the trees.

And deep within the forest, something old stirred—watching. Waiting.

***

You could feel your heart drumming in your ears, your chest tightening as you looked at Sangyeon, still waiting. Hoping. But the way his gaze dropped told you everything.

Sangyeon didn’t say yes.

Not immediately.

His gaze lingered on you, unreadable, but guarded. Like a wall you weren’t sure you could climb.

But before he could say more—

“I won’t let you,” Sunwoo said suddenly. He had risen from his spot, eyes ablaze with something more than frustration. His voice was low but firm, edged with something volatile. Protective.

The words hit sharp, the room falling silent around him.

You blinked, startled. “What?”

His voice was low, rough with frustration. “You shouldn’t be involved in this. It’s not your fight.”

“Sunwoo, I’m already involved—”

“It’s dangerous.” His tone hardened, eyes blazing now. “This isn’t some game. That thing out there—it's not just a monster from some story. It's real. It kills. It almost killed me.”

“And I’m aware,” you shot back, standing your ground. “I know what I’m risking.”

“Exactly!” he snapped. “That’s the problem!”

Everyone turned toward Sunwoo. Even the usual hum of the fireplace felt muted.

The others stilled. Tension tightening the room like a string pulled taut.

“You’re the one dragging her into this mess, though.” Hyunjae chimed in. “If only you didn’t hunt that thing down by your own—”

“That’s why I’m the one responsible here! Not her!” Sunwoo cut him. “I don’t fucking care if this goes against what we’re supposed to do,” he growled. “I’m not just going to sit here and let her throw herself into this. She doesn’t understand what it means. How bad it can get.”

Changmin whispered, not so quietly, "He’s seriously freaking out..."

Even Sangyeon appeared taken aback by the intensity in Sunwoo’s voice. “Sunwoo…” He warned gently.

But Sunwoo didn’t budge. He looked like he wanted to argue again, but the words caught in his throat. His hands were clenched, his jaw locked. There was something deeper in his gaze now—fear, maybe. For you.

That was when Younghoon stood.

“She’s right,” Younghoon said, breaking the silence.

Everyone turned.

“She’s already involved,” he said calmly. “The veilwalker knows. It can smell Sunwoo’s blood on her. It’ll trace it. Her scent. Her home. She’s not safe just because she chooses to stay out of it.”

He looked at Sangyeon, voice firm. “If anything, she’s a bigger target now. The cops. The traps. The attention she drew by saving him—it all leads back to her.”

Sunwoo’s jaw twitched.

Hyunjae frowned, straightening. "You think she's being hunted?"

Jacob nodded. "If the veilwalker is as old and vengeful as we believe, it won't take chances. It'll try to erase anything that interfered. Including her."

“Her scent is now marked with the energy of our pack too.” Haknyeon added. “To them, isn’t she a symbol of broken rules? a human who invited and healed a werewolf into her home?”

“And we need to protect her. I want us to protect her.” Younghoon continued as he looked at Sangyeon.

Sangyeon’s gaze lingered on you, then swept slowly across the room.

Everyone was watching.

Some with surprise. Some with concern. But none with disagreement.

You felt all eyes on you. But for the first time, it didn’t make you feel small. You lifted your chin. "Then let me help. If I'm already marked, I'd rather be part of stopping it."

"Then we protect her," Sangyeon said at last. "And we plan."

You let out a quiet breath, only realizing now how tense your shoulders had been.

Sangyeon stood, his voice taking on a leader’s edge once more. “If the veilwalker is active again… it won’t stop. Not unless we stop it first.”

The pack began to straightening, focusing.

And this time, you weren’t just watching from the sidelines.

You were part of it.

***

The fire had burned low. No one spoke for a long while after Sangyeon’s final words. Then, finally, he exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“We’ll plan tomorrow,” he said, his voice steady but worn. “We all need rest. Even werewolves needed to breath.”

No one argued. The weight of the night was too much, too fast. Everyone looked like they’d aged a year in an hour.

One by one, the others began peeling away—some heading to the kitchen for late snacks, others stayed, some out back for fresh air. The mood had shifted from tension to exhaustion.

Sunwoo dropped himself down to the floor.

He didn’t move, hands clenched, eyes lowered like he was trying to burn a hole in the floorboards with his thoughts. He hadn’t looked at you since you said you wanted to help.

You wanted to ask what was on his mind, but something in his posture said he wouldn’t answer. Or couldn’t.

So you let the silence linger.

Until Juyeon shifted closer beside you, stretching his long legs out and sighing dramatically.

“I feel like I got hit by a truck made of anxiety,” he said dryly.

You smiled. “That sounds accurate.”

He glanced sideways at you, his tone softening. “You okay? I mean, really.”

You hesitated, then nodded, didn’t expect him to actually cared for you. “I think I’m still processing everything. But… yeah. I’m okay for now.”

Juyeon gave a small smile. “You’re braver than most people I’ve met. Most of us were born into this life. You just got tossed in and didn’t flinch.”

“Flinching came later,” you muttered.

He chuckled quietly. “Still. You’re holding up better than most people. Even Sunwoo.”

At the mention of his name, you glanced over at him.

Sunwoo still hadn’t moved. His eyes were distant now—lost somewhere in thought.

“He blames himself,” Juyeon whispered softly. “For dragging you into this.”

You frowned. “But I’m not blaming him.”

“Doesn’t matter,” he replied. “Sunwoo has this thing where he carries guilt like it’s a second heartbeat. Especially when it comes to people he cares about.”

You looked at Sunwoo again, this time with something softer in your chest. “I never thought he’d care this much.”

“He does,” Juyeon said. “More than he knows how to show without snarling.”

Just then, Younghoon approached, a glass of warm water in his hand. He stopped beside you, offering the drink wordlessly. You took it, mumbling a quiet thank you.

He looked at you with calm eyes—gentle, but unreadable. “If anything happens… I want you to know I’ll protect you.”

You blinked, startled by the sincerity in his tone. “Younghoon, you don’t—”

“I do,” he said. “This pack protects what matters. You matter now.”

It hit you somewhere deep. Unexpected.

You swallowed hard, nodding.

He turned and left just as quietly as he came.

You stayed there on the floor a little longer, until most of the others had gone to their corners of the house. Finally, you stood up and moved to sit next to Sunwoo on the floor, close but not too close.

He flinched slightly—like he hadn’t noticed you until now.

“I know you’re angry,” you said quietly. “Or scared. Or both. But I’m not going anywhere.”

He didn’t say anything.

You continued, “I chose this. Not because you dragged me. Because I care. Because I want to help. And because I think you would’ve done the same for me.”

At that, he turned his head slowly toward you.

His eyes were tired. But honest.

“You shouldn’t have to get hurt for me,” he murmured. “That’s what keeps messing with my head. I keep thinking… if you hadn’t found me—”

“Then you’d be dead,” you said flatly. “So let’s stop pretending I don’t belong here now.”

He looked at you, something shifting in his expression—relief, maybe. Or just the weight of guilt slowly loosening.

You bumped your shoulder gently against his.

“I’m not made of glass,” you added. “I can be stubborn too. You’ll get used to it.”

He finally gave you the faintest curve of a smile. “I already have.”

The quiet warmth between you more comforting than the fire. And for a brief moment, in the stillness of the night, things didn’t feel so heavy.

Not yet.

A loud clank followed by, “Haknyeon, for the love of god—stop trying to microwave the metal mugs!”

“I forgot it was metal!” came his outraged defense.

Laughter broke out from somewhere—probably Chanhee—and even you couldn’t stop the soft smile that pulled at your lips.

Sunwoo, still sitting beside you, finally stirred at the sound.

“They’re idiots,” he murmured, voice lower now, the tension in him easing by degrees.

You chuckled. “But the kind of idiots who care.”

For the first time in what felt like hours, his lips twitched—not quite a smile, but close. He leaned his head back against the wall and let out a long, quiet breath.

A moment passed.

Then you reached out and nudged his knee lightly with yours. “You know,” you said, feigning casual, “for someone who turns into a terrifying death-beast, you sulk like a very grumpy puppy.”

Sunwoo turned his head to stare at you. “Did you just compare me to a puppy?”

You raised an eyebrow. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

There was a pause.

Then, against all odds, he let out a short, rough breath that might’ve been a laugh.

He shook his head, and this time, a real smile formed. He didn’t say anything, just leaned the side of his arm slightly against yours, letting the silence settle back in.

And for that tiny moment, there was warmth again.

You stayed there for a while beside Sunwoo, head leaning against his shoulder. He didn’t flinch.

He didn’t say anything, but the tension in his shoulders loosened. Just a bit.

For a moment, it almost felt safe.

Until—

The lights dimmed.

Not flickered. Dimmed. Like the house had suddenly inhaled and forgotten how to breathe.

You froze.

Sunwoo’s muscles tensed beneath you.

The fire cracked—then snapped with a violent pop, flames lunging upward like something had grabbed them from beneath. The warmth vanished in a blink. Cold rushed in, sudden and absolute. Your breath misted white in the air.

And then… silence.

Sunwoo growled low. The sound was barely audible, but it rumbled through his chest like an echo.

Your skin crawled. Every nerve stood on edge, screaming without sound.

You didn’t need to be told.

Something was here.

Juyeon stood, slow and tense, his nostrils flaring. “Do you feel that?”

Hyunjae cursed under his breath. The rest followed—moving to the living room area like predators sensing a presence they couldn’t see but felt, crawling just beneath their skin.

Sangyeon’s expression darkened. Jacob’s shoulders locked tight.

“Something is here…” Changmin’s voice cracked. “It’s here. How?!”

Then—

Pressure.

Invisible fingers, ice-cold, crawling up the back of your neck. You jerked around.

Nothing.

But the pressure stayed.

And then you heard it.

Not a sound. Not through your ears.

A woman’s voice, like wet silk dragged over your mind: “Little human...”

Your knees buckled. You gripped your head, trying to erase the pain inside.

“(Y/N)?” Sunwoo turned at you instantly. “What’s wrong?”

“You touched what was mine.”

Your heart slammed against your ribs. You felt shivers down your spine and the pain was still there inside your head, so you gripped it more. All eyes were on you now.

“You healed him. Fed him. Marked him with your warmth.”

“Talk to me!” Sunwoo grabbed your shoulders, eyes wide with fear. “(Y/N) look at me!”

You tried to speak, but your throat closed up. You could barely breathe. The whisper came again—closer this time, like breath brushing the shell of your ear.

“You should’ve let him die.”

“You warmed the wolf. You will burn with him.”

A scream tore out of your throat. You clutched your head tightly. The fireplace exploded—embers bursting like sparks across the room. The lights surged, then blew out completely.

“MOVE!” Sangyeon roared.

“They’ve decided to protect you.”

Your blood turned to ice.

“Let them try.”

“It’s—she’s—she’s in my head—!”

Sunwoo's eyes blazed, horror and rage flooding them at once.

The fire hissed. The flames turned an unnatural green for a flicker of a second. A low, vibrating growl tore from Sunwoo’s chest. Everyone turned to him at once.

“Sunwoo—” Younghoon started, eyes wide.

But it was too late.

Sunwoo growled, low and feral.

Then he broke.

The sound that tore from him was not human. Not close. It was primal. A warning that didn’t need translation.

A violent shift overtook him.

His clothes split at the seams. His spine curved back, bones snapping, fur tearing through skin in bursts of black and silver. His hands clawed the floor before reforming into paws. Muscles rippled under fur. Eyes burned gold like twin suns in the dark.

It was fast, violent.

But it was beautiful.

And in the next heartbeat—he wasn’t a boy anymore. He was a massive wolf. A monster.

Your monster.

Snarling. Protecting. Ready to kill.

The others instinctively took a step back. Juyeon clenched his fists. Eric let out a sharp breath. Younghoon’s hands trembled.

But they held back.

Only Sunwoo had shifted.

Only he couldn’t control it right now.

Because the voice was still with you. Still whispering.

“He’ll die trying to protect you.”

“And you’ll watch it happen.”

That made you let out a sob, and that was it—

Sunwoo snapped.

He let out a deafening roar and lunged across the room—slamming into the wall where the scent was strongest, claws raking wood, his body bristling with rage. He was trying to fight something that wasn’t physically there.

Younghoon stepped forward. “(Y/N)—”

“Don’t move,” Juyeon hissed. “It’s testing her.”

Sangyeon’s voice rang out, cutting. “It made contact with her.”

“Through her mind,” Jacob murmured, his voice hollow. “Directly.”

“She’s marked now,” Chanhee said softly but his voice trembling. “Really marked.”

Sunwoo turned his head slowly toward you, massive body trembling with restrained fury.

His eyes—still golden, still burning—locked on yours.

You knelt slowly, breath shaking, reaching out.

Sunwoo stepped forward and pressed his forehead to yours, fur hot against your skin. You hugged him. Gently brushing hands through his fur.

“I’m okay,” you whispered. You weren’t. But you needed him to believe it. “I’m okay, Sunwoo…”

He growled low, reluctant to believe you.

The fire returned to normal.

The lights stuttered, then came back.

The chill faded, but not fully.

Because something had entered the house. Something had spoken through you. And it had provoked the one wolf who couldn’t watch you suffer.

***

The air had shifted.

The cold tension from earlier—the suffocating pressure, the unnatural presence—was gone now. What lingered was a heavy silence, but it was real. Human. Bearable.

You exhaled shakily, your breath no longer fogging in the air. Even the lights, though dimmed, had steadied.

And in front of you, Sunwoo still stood.

Still in his wolf form.

His chest rose and fell rapidly with the aftershock of adrenaline. Tufts of black and silver fur trembled with every breath. His glowing eyes—once wild and fierce—were slowly softening as he pressed closer to you, his body trembling not from rage now, but exhaustion.

Your hand moved gently through the thick fur at his shoulder, and that’s when you noticed—

The bandages were gone. Torn off, shredded during his transformation.

You drew in a breath. “Oh, Sunwoo…”

He was still injured.

“Let’s get you back,” Chanhee said softly, approaching with steady steps. His tone was gentle, like one might use with a spooked animal. “You need to lie down. You shifted too fast… You weren’t ready.”

Sunwoo whined but didn’t resist as Chanhee guided him with careful touches. The others instinctively cleared a path, watching in silence as the massive wolf limped slightly, following Chanhee out of the living room. A faint smear of blood was visible on the floor where his side brushed past the wall.

You swallowed, guilt creeping in like a whisper.

He’d shifted because of you. Because he thought you were in danger. And now he was hurting again.

I’m sorry, you wanted to say.

But it wasn’t the time.

As soon as Sunwoo disappeared into the hallway, the living room shifted again—tension coiling tight like a wire.

Sangyeon was still standing, his face grave.

The others gathered instinctively into a circle, no longer posturing, but planning. Serious.

Changmin was the first to speak. “How the hell did it get in?” His voice was sharp, quiet with tension. “We’re under spell protection. Nothing that strong should’ve been able to cross the border of our basecamp, let alone reach her like that.”

You saw the way his brows furrowed. Not just concerned—afraid.

Hyunjae exhaled through his nose. “The spell isn’t broken.”

Haknyeon turned to him. “You’re sure?”

“If it were?” Hyunjae’s eyes flicked to the fireplace. “We’d be standing in ashes right now. The whole place would’ve gone.”

That silence again.

Hyunjae glanced toward you, jaw tight. “It didn’t break through the barrier. It didn’t come in. It… already marked her.”

Your heart skipped.

“What?”

“You said it spoke to you. Reached into your head. That means the connection was already there,” Hyunjae said. “This wasn’t a random attack.”

He looked you dead in the eyes.

“It was probably had its eye on you for a while.”

The words hit like cold water.

Younghoon ran a hand through his hair. “So… it tagged her before she even came here?”

“Probably the moment she pulled Sunwoo off the forest floor,” Haknyeon muttered. “It must’ve followed the scent trail, saw her as interference.”

A heavy beat passed.

“I was already marked…” you whispered, more to yourself than anyone. “From the beginning.”

Younghoon, walking closer to you and sat down beside you, then he spoke, “it’s a good thing you’re here.”

You looked over at him.

“If (Y/N) were alone in her house,” Jacob muttered, his voice low, “with no protections, no wards, no one nearby…” He paused. “That wouldn’t have been a warning. It would’ve been… a kill.”

A chill ran through you.

“It couldn’t cross here,” Juyeon added, watching you carefully. “All it could do was… scare you. Test their mark on you. That’s what that was.”

“Then it’s bound by the same rules,” Sangyeon said. “At least for now.”

You sat back slowly, wrapping your arms around your knees, grounding yourself with the weight of what they were saying.

It hadn’t just sensed you tonight.

It had chosen you.

And now… you weren’t just a bystander. You were bait. A symbol. A target.

And still, part of you felt thankful.

Because if you were not here, if you’d been alone at home, in the dark, with nothing, you weren’t sure you’d be breathing now.

***

You lingered outside Sunwoo’s door for a moment, hand hovering just shy of knocking.

The hallway was still. The echoes of the conversation from the living room had dulled behind you, leaving only the sound of your own heartbeat.

Then, the door opened softly.

Chanhee stepped out just as you approached. His face was calm, but his eyes flicked to yours with something like concern, and something else. Relief. Like he’d been holding his breath.

“He’s not asleep,” he said softly, voice barely above a whisper. “But… He’s not agitated anymore.” A pause, then— “…I think he needs you.”

Your heart squeezed at the words.

When Chanhee left, you slipped inside his room and closed the door behind.

He was on the bed.

Half-covered by the sheets, bare from the waist up, a web of clean white bandages wrapped across his chest and around his shoulder. The lines of his muscles were drawn taut beneath his skin, not with strength but tension. Like someone mid-flinch, waiting for another blow.

Sunwoo leaned against the headboard, staring blankly at the wall across from him. He wasn’t blinking. Wasn’t breathing deeply. He looked like someone caught halfway between fight and flight, with nowhere left to run.

Even as you stepped closer, he didn’t move. Didn’t speak.

But just as you reached the side of the bed—

His hand shot out.

And he caught yours.

Not roughly. Not desperately.

But tightly. Like instinct. Like a drowning man clinging to the first real thing he’s touched in hours.

His fingers curled around yours—firm and shaking—as if reassuring himself that you were really there. That you hadn’t disappeared. That he hadn’t lost you.

You sat down slowly beside him. The mattress dipped under your weight, and finally—finally—he turned his head. Only a little. Just enough to look at your joined hands. Just enough to see you.

“I’m sorry,” you said, quietly. “I didn’t mean to make it worse. You were already hurt and I—”

“No,” he rasped. “Don’t say that…”

Sunwoo’s voice was hoarse. Worn thin from growls and shouting and screaming into the void. His throat felt raw—but the pain didn’t matter. Only this did.

“I dragged you into this,” he said, eyes still fixed on the wall.

“Sunwoo…”

His grip on your hand tightened. “That thing—that thing knew you now. Spoke through you. Hurt you. Because of me. Because I was too fucking stupid.”

He finally looked at you.

And something in his eyes shattered you.

Guilt. Fear. Regret. And beneath all that—pure, undiluted panic. He hadn’t realized just how much he cared until he thought he might lose you.

He had seen your body trembled. Had smelled you—your scent—filling the air. And in that moment, everything inside him collapsed into one blinding, paralyzing thought:

I can’t lose her. Not her.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, like the words physically hurt to say.

“I just wanted to find it before it found anyone else. I thought if I tracked it down alone, I could stop it before the rest of the pack got dragged in.” A bitter, dry laugh escaped him. “Turns out I just made everything worse. You got pulled into this. Hurt. Marked. Because of me.”

You didn’t speak. You just moved.

Gently, you leaned forward. Wrapping your arms around him, pulling him into a warm hug.

It wasn’t a rushed hug. It was a slow, deliberate embrace—like you were trying to gather every broken piece of him and hold it still.

His breath hitched. He froze.

For one aching second, he didn’t know what to do. He’d been clawing at the edges of panic for hours, trying to brace himself against the weight of what he might’ve caused. And now—your arms were around him. Soft. Real. Warm.

His free hand hovered in the air… then settled at your back. Carefully. Hesitantly. As if afraid he would hold you too tight.

“I’m okay now,” you whispered, resting your chin against his bare shoulder. “You’re here. I’m here. That’s what matters right now.”

Your voice calmed him.

He leaned his head, buried it close to your neck. He closed his eyes, and for the first time in what felt like years, he let himself breathe.

Sunwoo nuzzled his face on your neck as he breathed in your scent, deeply. It triggered something inside him when he inhaled it. His pillowy lips grazed your neck softly.

Your heartbeat was steady against his chest. His was not.

His heartbeat was fast beneath the bandages. Too fast.

The storm inside him was still there.

“I thought I lost you,” he rasped on your neck.

You loosened your grip on him just enough to looked at him. At his face. His eyes were glassy now. No longer burning gold—just normal, raw.

“I lost control,” he said, like the words physically pained him. “I shifted in front of you. I could’ve hurt you.” He looked away, jaw flexing.

“But I'm not hurt,” you whispered as you reached out and touched his cheek. “... Sunwoo, you just wanted to protect me.”

Something in him broke then.

He leaned forward slowly, resting his forehead against yours. His breath ghosted across your lips, uneven and warm. You could feel how hard his chest rose and fell. The tension in him—physical and emotional—coiled so tight he was practically vibrating. Like he was holding something. Holding himself back to not kiss you.

“I couldn’t breathe when I saw you clutching your head and screamed in pain like that,” he murmured. “My heart just… stopped. All I could think was… if I lose you—if that thing takes you—I won’t survive it.”

Your fingers tangled in his hair, dragging through the still-damp strands.

“I’m right here, Sunwoo…” you whispered again, reassuring him.

He moved then.

Not roughly. But with intention.

His hand came to the back of your neck, guiding you closer until your noses brushed. He didn’t kiss you—not yet. He just lingered there, breathing you in like he was trying to memorize your existence. His other hand pressed against the small of your back, pulling you closer gently. The blanket shifted with your weight, baring more of the line between his chest and stomach, heat radiating from his skin.

Your heartbeat pounded in time with his.

His eyes locked on your lips now. His mind fogged, overtaken by desire. He could feel the heat rose inside his body.

A primal thought struck him—he wanted to kiss you, hard and hungry, like he’d been starving for you forever. He needed your mouth on his, needed to devour and be devoured.

Your fingers slid over his shoulders, feeling the curve of muscle, the warmth of his skin under your palms.

“Sunwoo… I thought I was going to break apart,” you admitted. “But when you were shifted in front of me… I wasn’t afraid anymore.”

He let out a shaky breath.

Then finally—finally—he captured your lips.

He couldn’t hold it back anymore.

It was torturing him inside.

And you kissed him back. He melted into it.

The kiss was soft at first. Hesitant. But it deepened quickly, hungry with emotion. Not just want—but need.

He kissed like he’d nearly lost you. Like he was terrified of ever feeling that again. His mouth moved against yours with reverence, with restraint—but the kind that burned.

Your hands slid down his chest, feeling the scars of what he'd endured.

He pulled back just slightly, lips brushing yours.

“I don’t want to scare you,” he whispered, voice cracking. “But I don’t think I can pretend anymore. This isn’t just instinct. It’s more. You’re more.”

Your breath hitched.

“You don’t scare me,” you said, pressing your forehead to his again while panting softly. “I feel safest with you...”

His arms tightened around you as he kissed you again. Deeper this time, like he couldn’t get close enough, like kissing you was the only way to stay alive.

Each press of his plump lips grew rougher, needier, like something inside him had snapped, like he'd been holding back for too long. His hands gripped your waist, your back, like he was afraid you'd vanish if he let go.

He didn’t just kiss you—he devoured you, every breath stolen, every second heavier with heat, with hunger, with something that tasted too much like love to be denied.

You broke the kiss, gently. Your hands sliding to his chest.

And he leaned in again, his lips wanted to chased yours, drawn by instinct as he didn’t want it to stop. He wanted more. But you pressed your palm lightly against the warm skin over his bandages, a quiet reminder.

“Hey,” you whispered with a small, breathless smile. “You’re still injured.”

He blinked, like he’d just remembered. Like he hadn’t even noticed the pain until you spoke it aloud.

“I don’t want you moving too much,” you added softly. Your voice held no scolding—only concern. A trembling tenderness.

Sunwoo let out a low, reluctant sigh, head dropping to rest against your collarbone.

“Right,” he mumbled to your skin. “…but you make it really hard to be careful.”

You laughed, the sound small but real. “Guess you’ll just have to heal fast.”

He lifted his head and smiled. Not a full smile. But it was the first one you’d seen since the nightmare began.

Sunwoo pulled you into a hug as he plopped his face in the crook of your neck.

And for now… it was enough.

He didn’t want to let go. Neither did you.

Right now, there was only this.

Only him.

Only you.

***

The living room had settled into a heavy silence again. The storm had passed, but the air still felt thick with unspoken thoughts.

Changmin was the first to break the silence.

“There’s something wrong with him.”

Everyone turned.

He sat cross-legged on the floor near the couch, a thoughtful frown etched deep between his brows. “Sunwoo. He’s… off.”

Hyunjae arched a brow. “He literally tore through a full-body shift with half-healed injuries. Of course he’s off.”

Changmin shook his head slowly. “No, I mean… emotionally. The way he reacted earlier. It wasn’t just rage or pain.”

Eric looked uneasy. “Yeah. I felt it too, never seen him lose it like that before. I mean… I’ve barely had my awakening, and I can keep my cool better than that.”

“You think it’s the veilwalker’s influence?” Kevin asked, voice low.

“No,” Changmin said. “I think it’s her. (Y/N).”

A pause.

Younghoon stiffened where he sat.

Haknyeon frowned. “You mean… because she’s the one who saved him?”

“That could be it,” Jacob said quickly, trying to sound casual. “It’s not uncommon for trauma bonds to form in life-or-death situations. He was wounded, she took care of him. Saving his life. It makes sense.”

“Maybe.” Juyeon said, but his eyebrows knitted.

And Changmin didn’t look convinced.

“I know Sunwoo,” he said slowly, eyes narrowing. “I’ve known him a long time. He never cares about anyone unless it’s about our pack. But that look in his eyes—that fear? That desperation when she screamed? I’ve never seen that from him before. Not even for us.”

No one replied.

And then—soft footsteps.

Chanhee walked in from the hallway, arms crossed, an unreadable look on his face.

“You’re talking about Sunwoo?” he asked.

Everyone nodded.

Chanhee sighed and moved to sit on the arm of the couch. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but… when I was rewrapping his bandages earlier, he said something weird.”

Sangyeon’s eyes sharpened. “What did he say?”

Chanhee looked down, his voice quiet but clear.

“He said (Y/N)’s scent always driving him crazy.”

Haknyeon blinked. “What?”

“He said he couldn’t think straight when she was nearby. That he was restless, couldn’t focus. Like something inside him was reacting, and he didn’t know why.”

A weight dropped into the room.

Even the fire seemed to pause.

And that was when Sangyeon sat up straighter, his expression darkening as something seemed to settle behind his eyes. Slowly, he exhaled.

“…Oh.”

Juyeon glanced over. “Oh?”

Sangyeon looked at him. At all of them.

Then he said it.

“He imprinted her.”

The word landed like a dropped blade. For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then Kevin slowly sat forward, eyes wide. “Are you serious?”

Hyunjae slowly sat up straighter. “But that’s… sacred.”

“It adds up,” Sangyeon said, voice grave. “The protectiveness. The anger. The way his instincts took over. His reaction to her pain. The scent sensitivity. The mental unrest. If you combine that…”

He trailed off.

“Wait—” Eric looked between them all, confused. “I thought imprinting was rare. Like, super rare.”

“It is,” Haknyeon replied. “From what I know, it doesn’t happen unless the bond is absolute. Life-altering. Soul-deep. When the wolf's instincts are guided by profound love, not just hunger.”

“And usually not without the wolf realizing it,” Hyunjae added, rubbing the back of his neck. “But I guess… with Sunwoo, he probably didn’t notice. Or maybe he’s just been fighting it.”

Chanhee tilted his head. “Fighting it… or not understanding what it means.”

Jacob nodded. “I think the wolf knows before the man does.”

“It’s an unbreakable bond.” Sangyeon continued, “formed at the most instinctual level. Not chosen. Fated. His need to protect her isn’t just emotional—it’s primal. It goes beyond logic. His body and soul recognized her as his. Even before his mind caught up.”

No one spoke.

Because they all felt it.

The moment you screamed.

The way Sunwoo snapped.

The way his wolf took over—even when he was still half injured.

Eric’s voice came out in a whisper. “So (Y/N) is… his mate?”

“She’s his imprint,” Sangyeon clarified. “Matehood comes later—if it’s mutual. But imprinting is the beginning of it. The seed. The soul’s vow.”

All heads turned slowly to Younghoon.

He hadn’t moved.

His eyes were locked on the floor.

“...Younghoon?” Juyeon asked cautiously.

Younghoon looked up, and for the first time, there was a flicker of fear in his eyes.

Real, visceral.

“She’s marked by the veilwalker,” he said slowly. “And now you’re saying she’s also… imprinted on by Sunwoo?”

The silence was answer enough.

Younghoon’s jaw clenched. His hands were clenched in his lap. His heart felt like it was being wrung in silence. Because the moment Sangyeon said it, he knew it was true. He knew.

All the signs.

Sunwoo’s growing unrest. His raw protectiveness. The way his voice broke when he said your name. The look in his eyes when you were on the floor, screaming.

It wasn’t coincidence.

It was fate.

And it shattered something in Younghoon.

Not because he was angry. But because he had hoped. He had quietly, selfishly hoped that maybe—just maybe—he could be the one to keep you safe. To mean something to you.

But you were already meant for someone else.

And that someone was Sunwoo. The boy who hadn’t even realized it yet.

Chanhee glanced over at Younghoon, then paused, eyes softening slightly.

Everyone had fallen quiet again. Because now, it all made sense. Why the veilwalker had targeted your mind. Why Sunwoo couldn’t hold back the shift. Why the wolf had risen first—before the man could even breathe.

It wasn’t just about survival.

It was the bond.

The one word none of them had wanted to say—

But couldn’t deny anymore.

Sunwoo had imprinted on you.

And that changed everything.

***

To Be Continued...