Chapter II

Everyone quickly gathers in front of the main hall of the Den. Namjoon is walking at the very front, followed by Seokjin behind him, and Jimin with Yujin following Seokjin. Some of the pack are also following their leaders.

Namjoon can't think clearly. The thing he saw earlier with Seokjin, and just now he received another bad news.

"There has been an attack. One victim. It doesn't seem like a regular attack."

"Alpha!" When they arrive, everyone gathers around Namjoon with troubled look on their faces. The smell of fresh blood lingers in the air. Right in the front, an already stiffen dead body, covered with dark red blood. Just by the look of his wound, there's no chance of survival. He's dead. The mark on his right hand has fade.

"Youngjae…" Jimin mumbled softly at the sight of the dead body.

Namjoon walks towards Youngjae's body. Seokjin squat right beside him, taking a closer look. "Namjoon-ah…" Namjoon can easily read Seokjin's face, what is inside his Beta is just like what in his. He rubs his face, exhaling roughly, "Yes, I know."

"Kangdae, you were with him?" Namjoon asked him, the guy kneeling right beside Youngjae. "Y-yes, it happened so fast. Suddenly something attacked us and…" Seokjin tabs his shoulder when he suddenly burst in tears. "You did your best. Youngjae as well did his best while he was with us all. We have to bury him with respect."

***

Yujin stands by the door of the main building, thinking if she should go right away or wait until sunrise. The door opens so suddenly, startling her.

"What are you doing here?" Namjoon asked.

"Ah, that, I was just about to go up to my room."

"Really? I thought you were going to see him?"

"Wh-what? I think it's not the right time now. Many things happen just in one night. Isn't it a bit dangerous?"

"You're right. But maybe, he knows something about this. And, this Jung Yujin scared in the face of danger? I didn't know." Namjoon taps her shoulder before leaving.

Yujin walks out to the Den, which looked deserted because of what had just happened. When she is close to the front gate, suddenly Seokjin appears in front of her. Reflex, Yujin immediately stop her steps.

"Where are you going?" Seokjin asked in a cold tone. "I won't be long," Yujin said curtly and quickly walk past him. "Are you kidding me? After what just happened, you're going to see him?" Yujin keeps silent.

"I didn't shoot but I didn't hate it either. I don't consider him an enemy or anything." Yujin turns around and looks at Seokjin. "Listen to me. You understand what Namjoon said earlier? This may be human doing. What would the Pack say if their Sub is going to meet a human man some time after one of the Pack was murdered?" Yujin snorted softly while looking away. "I won't be long. Trust me."

Seokjin can only sigh as Yujin walks through the main gate. A long night. Please don't cause any more problems.

Without either of them knowing, a number of pairs of eyes are watching them both from a distance.

***

That night was the first time I met him. A boy, looks like his early teens, the same age as me. He stands with his back facing me. It looks like he is lost in the forest. What makes it unusually odd is, why is a child, a human child, is in the forest during night time?

Thankfully, the fog is not as thick tonight. But it is still dangerous for a human child to roam alone in this dark forest. Is he really lost? Separated from his family on a jungle adventure? Or did he run away from home? I don't know, I am in the form of my wolf, just watching him not far from where he is standing.

From where I stand, it looks like he is crying. Should I approach him, or just let him be ravaged by monsters or beasts? Not. Isn't that really cruel? Very unconscientious.

I decided to approach him in my human form. It seems like my footsteps are too noisy that cause the sound of crushed dry leaves or broken tree branches catches his attention. The boy is curled up and looking around, and I can see his face. He is crying. "W-Who is there?" he cried out in the darkness of this forest, stammering.

I tap him on the shoulder from behind. Probably not the best method to greet someone who is currently scared to death. He startled and fall to the ground, screaming loudly. "Hey, shh! I'm not a bad person! "He looks a little calmer after seeing me. "Are you lost?"

"Hey, what's wrong?" Suddenly came a voice in my head. Namjoon suddenly appear in the form of a wolf with his golden coat and green eyes staring at me.

The boy then screams again after seeing Namjoon who suddenly appeared. Even though he is not yet an adult, the form of a wolf was already quite big and terrifing for a human child. "Are you crazy? You scared him!" Namjoon changed back into his human form. "Why did you call me 'crazy'? I'm the next Alpha!"

I completely ignore Namjoon's words and look back at the boy. But when I turn around, he is no longer where he was. The boy has run deeper into the forest. "Yes, that's great Alpha."

We run to chase the boy together. What would humans say when they saw a boy tragically murdered in the middle of a forest, a territory under werewolf control? I don't even want to read all of those humans' confusing babble.

It's not hard to catch a boy if you're a werewolf. Of course the werewolves' stamina are so much better than humans even if the humans were more mature. I pull his hand causing him to stop running.

"Let me go!" he tries his best to let go of my grip, which is a futile effort because Namjoon is also clutching his other hand.

"I told you I'm not a bad person."

"Do you know him?" Namjoon asked, looking confused.

"Of course not. If we knew each other, should we bother chasing him?"

"You look so dirty. Did you fall into a pile of trash or something?" I wiped the dirt on the boy's face with my sleeve. The boy looks still scared but he still let me do it. "I don't know you said that to comfort him, or that you really just can't choose your words first." I just snorted at what Namjoon said. "Shut up."

"Hey, I'm Yujin and this is Namjoon. I think we are at the same age. Are you lost?"

He just remains silent and repeatedly look at the two of us alternately while sobbing a little. "Y-yes," he replied softly. Namjoon and I stare at each other. "Did you get in to the forest with your parents? Or any adults?" It was Namjoon who asked. But he doesn't answer.

"We can help you go back to the town. What's your name?"

***

Yujin arrives at her destination, the lower reaches of the river that bordered the Northern and Southern Han plains. The upstream part of this river is in the Northern region which is dominated by mountains. This downstream part is adjacent to forests and also the humans' town.

Yujin looks around but no one can be seen there. Of course, it's very late, almost dawn. She was just about to walk back to the Den when suddenly someone pushed her hard. If only there was no one to hold her body right then and there, maybe she would have been soaked in the cold river.

"Are you surprised?"

Yujin didn't answer. Still in a state of shock not only because she almost fell in, but also because she sees the figure she has been wanting to see appear suddenly in front of her.

"Sorry. Was that too much? Or are you surprised to find me still here after who knows how many hours of waiting for you?" He pulled Yujin in his arms, resting her head against his chest while stroking the nape of her neck.

Yujin wraps her arms to return his warm hug. "Sorry, many things happened tonight," Yujin said with a tired tone. He pulls away to see Yujin's face. His hand cups Yujin's cheek, "Does it have to do with your swollen face?" Yujin grimaced slightly at the sudden pain from her touching her cheek. "Sorry." Yujin smiles as she looks at his face, "It's okay. It will heal quickly, don't worry."

Slowly and carefully, he kissed Yujin's cheek. Yujin is a little surprised by that sudden action. "It will make it heal even faster," he said with a smile. "And don't tell me not to worry about you, because no matter how many times you ask, I won't be able to do it."

They just remained in the hug, busy with their own thoughts for a while.

"Actually I want to tell you something. Or maybe you already know about it?"

"Maybe you also already know the things I will ask next."