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17

Changbin shivered as he sat outside Hyunjin’s door, his body trembling in the freezing night air. The cold bit into his skin, but it was nothing compared to the ache in his chest, the overwhelming need to be close to Hyunjin. His wolf howled in his mind, the bond pulling and stretching between them, as if it could tear at any moment.

He wanted so badly to shift into his wolf form, to curl up in the warmth of his thick fur and find some relief from the biting cold. But he couldn’t. Not here. Not like this. If Hyunjin saw him in his wolf form, it would only scare him more, push him further away. And that was the last thing Changbin wanted.

Tears welled in his eyes as he hugged his knees to his chest, the weight of rejection and loneliness crashing down on him. He had waited so long for his mate, had dreamed of this moment—but now that it was here, it felt like a nightmare. His wolf whimpered inside him, crying out for Hyunjin, aching for the connection that had been denied.

"Please," Changbin whispered, though he didn’t even know what he was asking for anymore. He just wanted the pain to stop, wanted Hyunjin to open the door and let him in. But he knew that wasn’t going to happen. Not tonight.

---

Back at the cabin, their friends were starting to grow concerned. Dinner had been quiet without Changbin and Hyunjin. Minho and Jisung had cooked a meal that filled the house with warmth and laughter, but there was an emptiness in the air that none of them could ignore.

Felix sat at the table with Chan, picking at his food, his thoughts drifting to Changbin. He could feel the bond pulling at him, a nagging worry that wouldn’t go away. “Do you think he’s okay?” Felix asked softly, glancing at Chan.

Chan sighed, his hand gently rubbing Felix’s back. “He’ll come back when he’s ready. He just needs time.”

“I don’t know,” Jisung said from the kitchen, his voice filled with concern. “Changbin’s never been good at waiting. Especially not when it comes to something this serious.”

Minho, standing beside Jisung, nodded in agreement. “Hyunjin’s probably overwhelmed. It’s a lot to take in, finding out about us—and about mates. Changbin’s probably giving him space, but…” He trailed off, his eyes flickering with worry.

They all knew how much this was hurting Changbin. The bond between mates was strong, and being rejected—however unintentional—was like a knife to the heart. It wasn’t just emotional; it was physical, a pain that ate away at you from the inside.

After they finished eating, each couple retreated to their rooms. They sought comfort in one another, the intimate bond between mates offering a reprieve from the tension that hung in the air. Felix curled up against Chan, his face pressed into Chan’s chest as they lay in bed, their bodies entwined beneath the blankets.

“I just hope Changbin’s okay,” Felix whispered, his voice small and worried. “He needs us.”

Chan kissed the top of Felix’s head, holding him close. “He’ll be okay. We’ll all make sure of it.”

In another room, Jisung and Minho lay together in the darkness. Jisung rested his head on Minho’s shoulder, his hand absently tracing patterns on Minho’s chest. “Do you think they’ll work it out?” Jisung asked quietly, his voice filled with uncertainty.

Minho sighed, his hand stroking Jisung’s hair. “I hope so. Hyunjin just needs time to adjust. But Changbin... he’s hurting.”

Jisung nodded, understanding all too well the depth of pain Changbin was feeling. “He loves him already, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah,” Minho replied softly. “He does.”

---

Meanwhile, Hyunjin sat inside his house, curled up on the couch with his knees drawn to his chest. His mind raced with everything that had happened, everything that had been said. His heart was heavy, his thoughts tangled and confused. He wanted to understand, but it all felt so unreal.

Outside, Changbin remained, shivering as the night dragged on. His tears had long since dried, but the ache in his chest only grew stronger. His wolf howled and scratched at the walls of his mind, desperate to be with their mate, to offer warmth, comfort, and love. But Changbin could do nothing but wait, hope, and suffer.

Until he heard the door unlock.

"C-changbin?"