Destined {𝕄𝕀ℕ𝕊𝕌ℕ𝔾}

Chapter Thirty-One

"I'll go." Dongwook levelled Jisung with a look as he said it.

"Jisung, it's a very dangerous mission." He nodded, lips settling in a determined frown.

"I'm going. Felix is my friend, my brother by the Moon." He looked down; truth be told, he felt guilty, too; if he'd told Felix about the runes... they might haves stood a better chance. "If I'm to be alpha someday, how can I sit back and watch others fight while I stay here, twiddling my thumbs?" It came out harsher than he'd anticipated, and he winced a bit, shrinking back.

Dongwook smiled at him, though it was a small smile. "Very well." Not many of their pack were willing to volunteer to take a small party into the lion's den – the vampires' Crimson Castle.

"I'm going, too." Changbin looked up from where he sat, hands clenched tightly together, eyes burning in anger. Jisung couldn't stop the stab of pity that flowed through him.

He'd gotten a message this morning through their Mate link, the strongest link werewolves had ever known, and it had ended with the wolf on the other side screaming before his voice faded away from Changbin's mind. The fury in his eyes was well-warranted.

"Me, too." Hyunjin nodded as he stepped forward, arms folded across his chest. It was hard to find a wolf more loyal than he, really.

"I... I want to come." Everyone looked up as Jeongin had slipped into the room, unnoticed, eyes trailed on the ground as he fidgeted. "Hyunsik's probably there, and..." His cheeks flushed.

Jisung nodded. "Alright. Fine by me." Dongwook's eyebrows raised, but his heir didn't seem to catch it. He shook his head with a chuckle.

"Count me in, then." Nobody knew when Seungmin or Grand Wizard Moonsoo had entered the tent were a handful of the pack's members were gathered. Although concerned, the Grand Wizard of the Westwood Coven did not seem to object to his pupil's declaration.

"Is that all?" Dongwook surveyed the room, sighing when no one else stepped forward. "Very well; it's best to keep the party small." His voice turned to a grumble. "Though I would prefer it if any of the fully trained wolves would have volunteered." He shook his head.

"Tonight, the five of you will start your journey to the Crimson Castle. Be inconspicuous; the longer you can remain hidden, the better. They don't have a sharp sense of smell like we do, but they are intelligent." He nodded to each individual, and Jisung returned the nod, sucking in a deep breath.

He would be in charge on this mission; he wasn't too sure how he felt about that, though there was nothing he could do about it; he was to be alpha, soon. He had to learn how to do these things in an actual situation, where death could creep around the corner and hit anyone.

He shifted uncomfortably, and soon the meeting was adjourned. In only a few hours he would leave to go find Felix. He let out a shaky breath, and ran a hand through his hair. The journey would probably take a handful of days if they travelled as humans, and they'd need spare clothing, just in case.

He quickly walked back up to his room in the packhouse, thinking of everything he could pack but still remain light enough to move freely. When he opened the door to his bedroom, Minho looked up from where he'd previously been reading one of the books that had been on his shelf.

His cheeks flushed and he sat up, closing the book. "Sorry, I was getting bored..." Jisung simply smiled at him.

"It's fine, keep reading. You can read all of them, if you'd like." A small grin toyed at the edges of Minho's lips, and the wolf had to pull his eyes away, clearing his throat. He felt intense rushes of emotion every time he looked at him, and it only got worse every day.

Their kiss played in his mind, over and over again, on an endless loop set on making him miserable. Even if what Moonsoo said was true, that they were true Mates by whatever logic, he doubted it would ever really happen again – and if it did, certainly not then.

"Where are you going?" Minho asked as he slipped his legs over the side of the bed, dangling just above the floor. Jisung stopped and looked over his shoulder for a moment with a small smile.

"To get Felix. We're leaving tonight." Minho's eyes widened and he sat up straighter, leaning forward.

"Can I come?" There was an eagerness, a desperation in his voice, to which the wolf winced.

"The Crimson Castle is no place for a human, Minho. It's too dangerous." Minho opened his mouth to object, but Jisung shook his head. "You have nothing on a vampire's speed or their strength, a wolf could rip you in two without so much as breaking a sweat, and a wizard would pulverize you."

Minho flinched, eyes trailing to the ground, hands clenching into fists in his lap. Jisung sighed, running a hand through his hair as he sat down beside him, trying to ignore his own protective instincts and think logically.

"I'd let you come if I could, but... It's too dangerous. One of these guys took Felix down single-handedly, and he's one of the best fighters of our generation. We can't afford to look out for you, too."

"So I'm just a burden, then?" Minho turned to look up at him with a glare. Jisung's eyes widened and he shook his head vehemently.

"No, no, that's not what I'm saying." He sighed, running another hand through his hair. "What I'm saying, is that if you come along, it'll be like bringing them what they want, to their own house. They want you, for whatever reason, and that's why they took Felix. Probably to blackmail us, or guilt-trip you."

Minho bit his lip, eyes turning sad as he stared at the ground. "But it is my fault that they took Felix." Jisung shook his head again.

"No. Never." It's my fault. He took his hands in his own, the movement already done before he could so much as think about what he was doing. "They took him because of their twisted king, that's all. We'll get him back, so don't worry."

Minho's face flushed as he looked down at their hands, and Jisung's eyes widened and he abruptly let go. "S-Sorry, I don't know what came over me–" He choked on his words as they died in his throat when Minho laced their fingers together, a small smile on his face, now.

Jisung's cheeks reddened, and he cleared his throat with an awkward grin, though he did not move his hand away. Minho didn't, either. His heart felt like it was about to burst, and he chuckled to himself, his grin slowly widening. He felt ridiculous; why was such a simple thing making him so happy?

The grin immediately slipped off his face, however, when a voice screamed through the pack bond. "Moon Pack attack! Everyone on gu–AHHHH!" His eyes widened and he jumped off the bed, promptly letting go of Minho's hand.

Catching onto the urgency of his movements, the human looked up at him with wide eyes. "An enemy pack is invading. Minho, if they find you it won't be pretty. I have to go, but... change out of your clothes, wear anything of mine, and hide under blankets and pillows. It'll disguise your scent as much as possible." Without another word he bolted out the door.

Why are they attacking us now?

A/N: Yesterday's chappie!

After this fic is done (I should be done right before school starts if I keep up with daily updates and it's as long as I think it will be, holy shit that's so close--), I know for a fact I'm not going to be anywhere near done editing my novel by then, so which ship would you guys like me to write? It can be anything, even Minsung. At first, I was gonna write a Changlix fic, but I wanted to hear your suggestions, in case something strikes me with inspiration :3

Q: When was the last time you face-palmed?

A: Two days ago, when I was in the car with my dad driving to the trailer, because... *cough* haha, he thinks pansexual is a made-up thing and is convinced I'm just bisexual because he doesn't get my actual sexuality-- but it's fine, I don't really expect him to smh XD

Lots of love,

~Junnie