"It was always going to be you, brother. Take care of her."
With those final words, Yeosang tears himself away from the plane and fights back Dimitri's hoard so Sand and I can climb into the sky.
No. He can't be–
"Yeosang!" San screams.
For a moment, it seems like Yeosang has won, knocking the army of wolves to the ground. But like a deadly tide, the wolves rise again, forming a horrifying circle around Yeosang.
"No."
As the plane surges into the air, the wolves descend on Yeosang, ripping him to shreds.
"NO!!!" San cries out.
My heart shatters as Yeosang disappears beneath his attackers, the only thing left is the scent of his blood rising in the air with me.
Oh my God. This can't be happening.
"Turn around! We have to go back!" I demand.
"You know we can't. And besides, we'd be going back for a body. Not our Alpha King." The pilot says.
"Yeosang!!!"
San moves to jump out of the open plane door. I throw my hand out and catch his arm, holding him back.
"No…you'll die from this height!"
"I don't care. I have to go back for him!"
"We can't go back. It's done. He's–"
"We have to!"
Tears rise in San's eyes as he bellow, ripping at the frame of the door .The metal crushes in his grasp as easily as tinfoil.
"We have to go back! If we don't he'll die!"
"San…there's nothing we can do."
"There has to be something. He can't just–He can't die!"
San slams a fist hard into the side of the plane and it shakes violently.
"What's going on back there?" The pilot asks.
"It's San. He's–"
San roars and rips a seat clean out of the floor, the plane jerks again.
"This is my fault! I should be down there!"
Sobbing, San slams the seat into the wall. The glass on the window cracks. We drop ten feet in the air and the pilot swears.
"He's going to make us crash!"
"San, you have to stop, you're going to–"
But San doesn't hear me. He can't hear me.
"It should have been me!!!"
He tears the plane apart, tears streaming down his face, tortured by his grief.
"Kill me! Rip me apart instead! I can't–I can't do this!!!"
My God, he's in so much pain. He's on a rampage.
San's outstretched claws threaten to tear the plane in half. But I'm faster. Without thinking, I fling myself at San, wrapping him tight in my arms, pinning him to my body.
"Let me go!"
"It's okay, San. I'm here."
"Let me…go…"
His words start to melt into racked sobs. I feel the muscles in him begin to loosen against my embrace. Then, he falls to his knees. I fall with him, and he buries his face in my shoulder.
"My brother…my little brother. I should have protected him. I should have done more for him."
"You did all that you could, San."
San's tears soak my hair as he draws me in closer, anchored by my strong arms around him.
"Oh, God. (Y/N)…"
He slowly wraps his arms around me, too. We stay like that, curled against each other for the remainder of the flight. When we land, San and I untangle our limbs.
"Thank you."
Those are all the words he's able to manage as we make the slow climb up to the castle. But I know he means them. When we arrive at the castle, we're met by the same guard that's always despised me. He puts his hand up.
"Stop right there."
"What's the problem, Riann?" San asks with annoyance.
"Are you going to point another gun at us? So fun the last time."
"I'm here to escort you, (Y/N). I won't leave your side from here on."
"Oh, joy. Another set of chains in the form of a dick."
"I suggest you both change out of those…clothes before approaching the Queen."
"I don't have time for this bull–"
San tries to shove past Riann but he unceremoniously grabs his arm.
"It's not a request, Saekki."
The two wolves glower at one another. After a long moment, San rips his arm from Riann's grasp.
"Fine."
We both change and make our way to the throne room. When we enter, it is disturbingly silent.
"(Y/N). San."
Tears glint over the rim of Jongho's glasses. Behind him, the Queen stands with her back turned, her hand resting on the stone throne.
"Brother. My Queen."
To my surprise, San falls into a deep bow. Taking my cue from San, I too sink into a low kneel before he Queen and Jongho.
I won't leave San alone in anything right now.
"I'm sorry to report that–"
"I already know."
The Queen's words slice through the air like a hot blade. San looks up.
"How?"
"Do you honestly think I wouldn't feel it?"
Roslyn turns then, her red, hateful eyes reflected in the ruby necklace that always hangs at her throat.
"Do you think I wouldn't feel my eldest son and King leave this world?"
San flinches at the Queen's words. She takes a step down toward San.
"Mother–" Jongho goes to speak.
"Of course, you'd be the one to come back. Tell me how it happened."
"This isn't something you want to hear." I speak.
"What did you say?"
"We just survived a dozen near-death experiences and we lost him, too. San doesn't have to–"
"It's okay, (Y/N)."
San cuts me off, his head still held low. The Queen takes another step toward him.
"No. No, you're right. San doesn't have to explain."
"What?"
He flinches as she places her hand under his chin, bidding him to rise.
"You don't have to explain."
He looks into her eyes. Confusion, sorrow, even hope churns within him.
"You don't have to explain…because I already know."
Her tone changes as her nails sharpen and dig into San's jaw.
"You were the pathetic, dirty-blooded boy you've always been. And you left your brother to rot."
"No, I–"
"Don't fucking lie to me, bastard. You ran off to claim this pathetic slut as your own. And my son came to defend what was his. You enjoyed it, didn't you? Watching him die. You enjoyed watching them tear the flesh from his bones. Admit it."
"No–"
"You've fantasized about his death since the day you were old enough to understand your position. You wanted this."
Roslyn bears down on San. He sinks to his knees in front of her, something in him threatening to break.
"Admit it. Admit it and I'll let you go. Tell everyone what a sick, twisted little boy you are."
Blood drips from where Roslyn's fingers dig into his flesh. But the real pain lies in his eyes. He opens his mouth.
No. He can't take the blame for this.
"It was my fault. Not San's."
My words ring out over the high walls, cutting off the Queen's grasp on San. She looks up at me.
"What are you saying?"
"(Y/N), you don't have to–"
"If you want to blame someone for this, you blame me. I put myself in harm's way. It was San and Yeosang who tried to rescue me. To bring me back to your court."
Stunned, the Queen releases San and he falls to the floor coughing. I step in front of him, my eyes blazing into hers.
"Both your son and San fought bravely. Together. And only one could return. That choice fell to me, and I made it."
"You're…you're telling me that you chose this dog over my pure-blooded–"
"I chose this man because he's braver than anyone I've ever known. Something your son would agree with. I know he would agree. Or he wouldn't have died for us."
My declaration lands like a blow over everyone in the court. The Queen staggers back. Suddenly, I feel San rise behind me. He whispers into my hair.
"Thank you."
Then, he sweeps out of the throne room.
"San–"
I move to follow him, but Roslyn grabs my arm.
"Oh, no. You're not–"
I rip myself from her grasp, accidentally brushing against the ruby necklace at her throat. On contact, everything in the room glows bright. My skin erupts with heat. The woman's voice from my dream surfaces again.
"…(Y/N)…"
That's…that's my mother's voice…
The Queen and I stumble away from each other, winded. She clutches her necklace with wide eyes.
"That was…magical."
"'Magical'? There's been nothing magical about your behavior. How dare you touch me."
"What? No, that necklace–"
"I don't know what you're talking about. You just grabbed me and seized up. Honestly, after all I've been through."
Is she lying? Or did she really not feel that?
She turns swiftly away and waves at my guard.
"Take her to her room, Riann. See that no one comes in contact with her until she's had a nice long rest."
"Come here."
Riann moves to grab me.
No fucking way. I'm not getting locked up anymore.
As he throws his arm around me, I expertly duck.
"Hey–!"
"Sorry. Maybe another time."
"Get her! NOW!"
Riann and several of his guards take off after me, but I know the castle well now. I duck into the hiding spot that San pulled me into when I first arrived, and wait for them all to pass.
Now. I need to find San.
I slink through the castle, trying to shake the feeling of that necklace. The voice still rings in my ears.
What was that? I didn't imagine it.
As I slip past a balcony overlooking the land, I spot San in the distance, near the forest.
"Where is he–?"
He suddenly shifts into his wolf form, and bounds into the thick tree line.
"He shouldn't be alone right now."
On instinct, I shift into my wolf, and leap from the balcony, running for the forest. When I dive through the trees, I close my eyes and sniff
"He's up that ridge to the left."
With my newfound speed and agility, I easily cut through wilderness, high up into the mountain. I find San staring out at a magnificent, plunging ravine, his paws so very close to the edge. With slow, careful footsteps, I move closer to San.
"San…are you…"
When my voice enters his thoughts, he whips around to look at me, losing his footing. At full speed, I leap for him and knock him to safety before it's too late. We both tumble over one another, a flurry of fur and fangs, until we shift back in unison and he pins me to the ground beneath him.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Me? What are you doing?"
"Trying to have a moment alone. But I see that's not in the card for me."
"Not when you're trying to kill yourself."
"Kill myself?"
San looks back at the ravine, his grip on my shoulders tightening.
"That's not what I was doing. You think after what he just sacrificed I'd throw my life away so callously?"
"I think you're not thinking clearly right now."
With a heavy sigh, he lets go of me. We both right ourselves, looking out at the vast expanse of land.
"This is the spot where Yeosang and I used to meet in secret and play as boys. Before…"
He turns away to hide his face. I inch toward him.
"San, I…I didn't know."
"No. You didn't. And I'm sorry for lashing out, I'm just–"
His words catch in his throat.
"I don't know who to be without him. We may have fought and there were times when I hated him but…but I loved him, too."
I hear the anguish in his voice. He turns to look at me, tears glinting in his silver eyes.
"I don't know how to say goodbye to him."
He digs his hands through his hair and presses his palms to his eyes.
"I have to do something. To thank him for…for what he did."
I hold out my hand to San.
"Come here."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to help you say goodbye."
He looks up at me. After a long moment, he finally takes my hand, and we stand. I lead him to the edge of the ravine.
"The place means a lot to you right?"
"Yeah. We used to…it's stupid."
"Tell me."
"We used to…howl out into the canyon. Dreaming of the day we could shift and rule over the world's packs."
His eyes glitter at the memory.
"Then we'll howl. For him."
"What?"
"You heard me. We're going to howl for Yeosang."
I squeeze his hand, then move to cup my hands over my mouth.
"Come on. Do it with me. I promise it will feel good."
Slowly, San cups his hands to his mouth.
"Awoooo!!!"
"Awoooo!!!"
We both howl together. The howls grow louder and louder until San bellows, his howl melting into an animalistic scream. The scream is cathartic. He wipes the tears from his eyes, winded, but finally smiling. He looks down at me.
"That felt good."
"Do you think he heard us?" I ask with a smile.
"I hope so."
San staggers back, pulling me away from the edge.
"(Y/N)…I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not being grateful that you…that you saved me."
"I would do it again."
"I have no doubt. But the first thing I did with your gift was try to throw it away."
He bows his head.
"So what you said…about not wanting to live… It wasn't entirely wrong."
"San…"
"I know. I'm ugly inside. Twisted into knots. And now, without Yeosang I–I just don't know what to do."
He turns away.
"I'll understand if you want to run away from this. From me."
"San…I don't want to run away from you."
"Maybe you should though."
"No. I'm not going anywhere."
He turns to look at me then, his eyes reflecting the moon above.
"Are you sure?"
I step in closer, closing the gap between us.
"Have you met me? I don't run away when things get hard. I fight."
My words wash over San slowly, like warm water. He takes my face in his hands, caressing me, looking deep into my eyes.
"And you think this…is worth fighting for?"
"Yes."
He searches my eyes, my words hanging between us.
"I do, too."
San kisses me then. He claims my mouth as though he's starving for me, his tongue buried deep and twining with mine. San's lips meet mine. My hand moves fast, sliding up through his hair and pulling him tighter against me. My tongue plunges into his mouth, meeting his in a breathless embrace. He pulls me to the ground, tearing at his clothes and mine until they are strewn about the forest floor.
"(Y/N)."
My name sounds husky on his lips. His hot breath warms my skin as his tongue travels down my neck. I lean back, letting him take control as he tastes my bare flesh. His teeth graze against my exposed throat as he whispers.
"I need you."
His hands slide up to my breasts, taking me in his grasp until I'm hot and pinned beneath him.
"I can't fucking stand it. Not anymore." He groans.
He…needs me?
Taking me in his arms, he crushes his mouth to mine, the steel of his desire parting my thighs on a gasp.
"San, are you–"
"Just let me. Let me feel you."
Every inch of his incredible body burns with passion. But it feels fragile, too. Like he is seconds from breaking.
"Let me feel you and nothing else."
"I want to feel you, too, San."
My few words are all he needs. He presses me into the earth, his knees parting my legs as he kisses me into a gasp.
"Are you ready for me, nae simjang?"
I feel the slick length of him press against my entrance, hard and wanting.
"Yes…I'm ready."
"Are you really?"
"Yes."
Slowly, San pushes into me. I arch my back, struggling against his cock, slowly accepting him.
"My God. (Y/N)."
San rolls his hips and slowly eases into me, every inch of him expanding my body and filling me to the hilt. I feel his name and a dozen swears on my lips as I arch my back, allowing him entry.
This feels…he feels…incredible.
Then, his hips meet mine as he sheaths himself to the hilt, stealing my breath.
Oh my God.
I drag my nails along his damp back, clutching him. I rock my hips to take him deeper. He swears into my hair.
"God, you're everything, (Y/N). Everything I've ever…"
San grips my thighs, pulling me close as he picks up speed, overtaking me. The pressure builds. I moan. Just before I hit my peak, he grabs me and pulls me on top of him.
"What are you–?"
"Ride me. I want you to."
He thrusts up into me, stealing my breath.
"I want this to last. I want you to take your time and feel everything with me."
"Yes."
That single word is all he needs. San pulls me down slowly. I arch my back and cry out, my body adjusting to his incredible girth. Keeping his hands on my hips, he guides me above him, rolling his hips to hit something incredible within me. Then, his hand twists in my hair. As he pulls, he thrusts hard, filling me to the core. I moan.
"You're so beautiful like this, (Y/N). So completely mine."
I'm his. And he's mine.
San slides his hands to my waist and guides himself deeper. He holds himself there.
"Yes."
He pulls out and thrusts into me again, his fullness rippling through my core.
"What was that? I couldn't hear you."
"Yes!"
I gasp the word as he thrusts hard into me again. I raise my hips to meet his pounding rhythm. I stare into San's eyes, now wide and stoic as he reaches the precipice of pleasure. With one final, intoxicating thrust, San sends a wave of unfathomable bliss through the far reaches of my body. We both swear in ecstasy. Energy electrifies the air around us both as we cling to each other's bodies. San eases off of me and tumblers into the earth.
"My God. That was…" San says while trying to catch his breath.
"That was more than I ever dreamed of."
"I could say the same."
My words trail off, leaving only the light breeze of the night to ruffle our hair and dry our naked bodies. But that all changes when a sound like a bomb rockets through the distance.
"What was that? It sounded like a–"
"Come on."
With no time to spare, we put our clothes back on and sprint into the woods, in the direction of the sound. When the castle comes into view, my heart stops. It is bright with flame, and surrounded by a shifter army, thousands deep. At the helm is the last person I ever hoped to see.
"I'm here to claim what's mine."
"That is far more people than Dimitri should have in his arsenal." I tell San.
"He must have rallied the eastern packs to his cause."
"You mean–"
"Half the world's power. Yes."
San's lips curl into a snarl and his hands ball into shaking fists.
"Let's go."
We slip past the army in the cover of darkness, using the catacombs to enter the castle. Everyone sprints past us in a panic, tears and shock and fear all reflected in their eyes.
"San!"
Jongho calls his brother's name and San rushes over to him. I move to follow. But a firm hand halts me, pulling me into the shadows.
"Don't move, (Y/N)."
"Riann. Now is not the time. If you haven't noticed, we're at war and–"
"My name isn't Riann, (Y/N)."
His grip on me intensifies. I look up at him.
"My name is I.N. I've been stationed here as a spy. And now, I've come to take you home."
"H-home? Home to…"
"Home to your parents. Bang Chan and Morgan of the Far West."