Destined {𝕄𝕀ℕ𝕊𝕌ℕ𝔾}

Chapter Fifty-Seven

1854

Terror would have been an understatement when it came to describing how Myungsoo felt in that moment, racing through the woods atop a large wolf's back. The emotion felt too human – and although he'd always felt too human for a vampire, this was another level of terror he hadn't felt since he'd been turned.

Although he knew he would have been able to catch himself if he fell, he clutched tightly onto Jinsun's fur as if his life depended on it. The sounds of angry wolves chased behind them, but clearly the Werewolf Lord was faster as he zipped through the woods with a staggering familiarity; he'd never known that he had come to know the forest surrounding the Castle so well.

In a way, Myungsoo envied him; he was able to roam freely, through the underbrush and the moss and the mud without any restraint – they were all like that, he imagined. He hadn't really been out of the castle since he'd arrived, but it was a sight that quickly got dull and uninteresting.

His heartbeat accelerated in a way that he did not know was possible; he felt so free, even though the wolf was the one carrying him through these woods. He felt as though he had broken away from tight constraints that had been locked around his neck, his arms, his ankles, tearing away the shackles atop this wolf's back.

After a handful of moments, the terror faded, and it was replaced with relief.

That in and of itself terrified him; how could he ever go back to being locked up within that Castle now that he'd tasted true freedom for the first time in a long while? The sounds of the wolves chasing them faded away, and then Jinsun slowed, paws lightly padding over the greenery.

They came to a standstill in front of a beautiful, crystalline lake. The sight took his breath away – what little of it there was left, anyway. For the first time in a while, he also felt wonder. He slowly slid off the wolf's back, and his sharp ears caught the snapping of bones as Jisung Shifted; he cringed.

He waited until the lord was decent before he turned, eyes sparkling with curiosity. Another thing he had not felt in a handful of decades; life had turned so bland, so meaningless after he'd been turned. The memory of that night still haunted him, hovering over the edges of his consciousness where he'd shoved it.

"Does it hurt?"

Jinsun quirked an eyebrow as he plopped down on the grass by the lake, the golden skin of his bare chest glistening in the sun; Myungsoo was surprised by the heat that crept over his face. He retreated to the shadows, not wanting to feel the after-effects of being out in the sun for too long. "To Shift, I mean."

He peered over at the lord curiously as he grunted. "Not anymore." He was perplexed. Jinsun's eyes drifted away from the lake and met his. "It did, once. Perhaps when I was nothing more than a pup. It was excruciating, actually, but those memories are so far in my recollection that I barely remember how it felt." He curled and uncurled his fist in front of his eyes.

"Each time we Shift, our bodies adapt, grow stronger until broken bones feel like a pinch, torn flesh like a small scratch. Eventually, it faded completely, until all you feel is joy, freedom. It feels a bit like stretching." A small grin tickled the edges of his lips. Myungsoo blinked at him, gaping. Stretching?

Despite himself, he giggled at the analogy. "Stretching," he mused, shaking his head as he smiled. He supposed that was why it was impossible to torture a werewolf – their tolerance to pain was astounding, and it had always awed him.

The slight grin was off Jinsun's face in a moment, his eyebrows furrowing. He hesitated to ask. "What... what is it?"

The wolf's lips pressed into a thin line. "They're patrolling the area; they won't attack me outright, they're not stupid enough for that." The tone of his voice was enough to send a thousand shudders down his spine. "They're trying to barter with me," he growled, shaking his head. He knew who they were trying to get.

"Why... why do they want me?" It came out as more of a whisper than anything, but he couldn't bring himself to care.

Jinsun's gaze was cold as they met his. "Because they want to harm the King in the worst way they can."

Myungsoo chuckled dryly, grimacing. "Then why don't you let them?" A flash of surprise drifted through the wolf's eyes, but it was gone in a moment.

"I would like nothing more than to rid myself of him," he hissed, eyes hard. Myungsoo gulped. "However, the safety and well-being of my people come before my own personal feelings. These Accords promise peace – no more destroying pack homes, no more raids, no more..." The final subject seemed difficult for him to breach. "No more hunting of werewolf children."

The anger on his face was unbelievable, clenched fists shaking at his sides. Myungsoo... Myungsoo was appalled. "No," he said in shock, eyes blowing wide. He swallowed thickly. "Hunting... children?" Jinsun himself seemed surprised by his complete shock and disgust at the subject.

His eyes narrowed. "It is a common enough practice. The children I have had to burn and bury is a number far greater than it should be." His eyes were ablaze with an endless fury he doubted would ever go away. Another human emotion struck Myungsoo like a derailed train; tears welled in his eyes, and he quickly averted them, blinking rapidly.

Children...? And Chan, the man he was set to Mate, condoned it? It was unimaginable, horrific, disgusting... He suddenly understood why these wolves were so against the Accords, why Jisung's friend had betrayed him as he had.

It was obvious to him, now, that Chan could not be trusted where werewolves were concerned, and only a small hope kept Jinsun attached to it at all; he was skeptical, too, he could see it in his eyes.

Perhaps he should let them take him, end his suffering – and make Chan understand the pain the parents of those children must have felt.

"You are not particularly good at masking your expressions," Jinsun said, voice softer now, though it was still fierce. "What you are thinking of doing is idiotic and ridiculous; the King is not a reasonable man. Once you die by our hand, he will hunt down every last one of us." His eyes held meaning, and Myungsoo was forced to look away again.

"And I will not allow that to happen."

A/N: So like I feel like my writing has been a bit sub-par lately, and it's really been bothering me. I have no idea why, and I think that might be one of the reasons I'm so like asldfajsdgargadsvnthepdfv. So, if you guys have noticed anything, please tell me the areas that have been a bit lacking so I can fix these problems as quickly as I can <3

Q: Do y'all have any questions to ask me?

A: asdfasnckaslkdnwarfcsasbdasdjkba

Lots of love,

~Junnie