18 ⋆ Shower

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Jimin's POV

8 days before preparing for the mating ceremony

I sat next to Jungkook as he leaned over the table, pointing to different areas on the map sprawled out before us.

"Right here, here, and there." He said, his advisors sticking push pins into the locations he was pointing to.

"Should we also put a patrol on the Northside?" His Beta asked.

Jungkook sighed and nodded, "We probably should." He sat back down, sighing and taking my hand into his own rough palms.

"How many dead?" He asked, staring at his advisors. They shifted anxiously and pursed their lips at his question.

"Thirty-Two." Someone replied from the back. Jungkook looked away, uncomfortably thinking for a second.

I leaned forward and stared at the map, letting go of his hand. "How could this have happened? We had no idea they were coming." I asked, looking at them.

"We haven't been attacked in years. Our patrol squads aren't big."

I leaned back, thinking long and hard, "Then it's a failure on our part." I decided. I stood and leaned over the map once more, studying it with a close eye, "Where was their entry point?" I asked. Jackson pointed to one of the red pins. I looked at it, studying it for a while. I squinted my eyes, realizing something.

"When someone robs a house, where do they come in?" I questioned, still staring at the pin.

"Uh... probably through the back door?" Someone answered.

I sighed and looked at them, "There are three classes of burglars: the professional, the semi-pro, and the amateur-opportunist. The real worry is the semi-pros and amateurs because there are a lot of them around, and they often blend into the scenery."

"A high percentage of "easy" home burglaries are committed by teenagers who live close by. The semi-pro may scout a neighborhood for a week or more, while an amateur may spend only a few hours casing a residence. Either way, once he's made the decision to rob a particular house, he'll be in and out in just a few minutes."

"Our enemy scouted this for a long time because..." I leaned forward and placed my finger on the pin, "they didn't come in through the back door, they came in through the front." I moved my finger to the surrounding area. "They came in through this valley. Our scouts are placed on top of the mountains and cliffs looking down on the valley below."

"The only problem with that is that the valley is heavily wooded and it's snowing. Therefore, it's virtually impossible to see them under the trees and snow. It's a double blow. This means they're looking to attack through these kinds of areas. I wouldn't put scouts in the obvious places then because they know that's where we're putting them due to this attack."

"We need to put them in places we wouldn't think twice about because they've already hit in the most central part. They think we'll be looking at those areas." I looked away from the map, meeting the eyes of every single advisor who stared at me in amazement. Jungkook stood and looked over my shoulder quietly, placing a hand gently on my lower back. My skin shivered at his touch as he studied what I had said and looked at the map.

"You heard him. Start scouting." He finally declared. The advisors quickly stood, starting to talk and dispute over the map as Jungkook and I turned to leave the conference hall, leaving the arguing which faded into the back.

He stopped us outside after a few steps, staring at me, "How did you know all that back there?" Jungkook asked with furrowed brows.

I shrugged, "I grew up in bad places with bad people. You learn a thing or two."

He smiled softly and leaned down, pushing his lips against mine. I grinned into the kiss and wrapped my hands around his neck, pulling him as close as I could to me. He pulled away and held my hand, starting to walk again.

"Eight days." Jungkook brought up after a few moments.

I took in a deep breath and looked around at the snow falling. "That's just until the five days of preparation, right?" I asked. Jungkook nodded and swung our hands back and forth.

"What exactly do we do for the five days?" I asked.

"Well, we don't get to see each other. We're taken to two different houses and we go through training almost. We learn how to carry out the ceremony and other things. And then the night of the ceremony, that's when we see each other and... you know the rest."

I blushed at his words. "We don't get to see each other for five days?" I reiterated.

He nodded with a sad smile, "Believe me, it'll be more torturous for me than for you." He said softly.

"Why?" I asked, looking up at him confused.

Jungkook chuckled and sighed, "Based on what I've heard from my mother, you get taken to this beautiful, luxurious house to relax, "I, on the other hand, well... let's not talk about it." He quickly trailed off.

I stopped him and looked at him, "No, what is it?" I questioned, concerned.

Jungkook sighed and shook his head, "It'll scare you. No." He asserted.

"Fine, then I'll just stand here in the cold until you tell me."

Jungkook rolled his eyes, "You realize I can just pick you up, right?" I huffed at his words.

"Fine. It's a lot like the searching ceremony. Basically, I'm put in isolation for a few days and my wolf gets really anxious. When he's finally freed, he just takes over and all I can do is watch as he guides my body. So with the mating ceremony, I'll be let out, I'll have to find you once more, and then... yeah."

I swallowed hard. "Okay," I said, shuffling on my feet.

He raised an eyebrow, "Okay?"

I nodded and started to walk again, "Just don't hurt me." I told him and continued through the woods.

"I won't." He said.

We walked back into the house and moved up the steps slowly, feeling drained and tired. Both of us collapsed on the bed and sighed, laying there for a moment.

"Want to take a shower?" I asked suddenly. Jungkook turned his head and stared at me.

"Together?" He asked.

I shrugged, "Why not?"

A grin spread across his face and he quickly scooped me up, carrying me into the bathroom and setting me down on the counter. I laughed at his enthusiasm, watching as he pulled off his shirt and stood in between my legs, leaning forward to kiss me. I smiled and met his lips with mine, pulling him close. Our lips worked in sync against each other, a perfect fit that I was growing to love.

Jungkook pulled away and turned to the shower, turning it on as I hopped down and pulled off my shirt, staring at his muscular back. Suddenly, I was nervous. We were about to shower together, completely naked. But then, I laughed to myself. Why should I care? He loves me and I love him. And with that, while he was still turned, I stripped completely naked.

"Do you like it hot or-" Jungkook turned, freezing as he stared at me.

"Yeah, I like it hot," I said, pushing past him and getting into the water, my cheeks crimson. "Are you going to stare or...?" I asked, smiling, knowing what I was doing to him. I turned around, going under the large stream of water.

Moments later, his strong arms wrapped around my waist and his mouth was kissing up on my neck. I smiled and lolled my head back, resting it on his left shoulder as his warm and rough hands ran down the front of my body, resting on my smooth, lower stomach. I placed my hands over the top of his, loving the attention he was giving me.

Shivers ran through my body as my heart beat rapidly under his seductive touch. I could feel his canines rake over my skin. "We got cut off last time," I whispered as he lightly nipped my skin, making me moan.

"I'm not marking you," He said gruffly, kissing my skin, "but I can bite you." I smiled at the suggestion and let out a weak moan as he lightly bit my neck, his canines pricking the skin and drawing blood.

"Do it then." I whimpered, lacing my fingers into his as my knees shook with anticipation.

"It'll hurt." Jungkook murmured.

"Did I stutter?" I argued.

I felt him smile against my skin, "No."

I tightened my hold on his hands as his mouth opened slightly.

Slowly, he sunk the canines into my skin, making my eyes widen. I cried out feebly and grasped his hands tight as he bit down, his arms the only thing holding me up as pure ecstasy ran through my veins. "Oh my god," I whispered as the pain suddenly turned into pleasure.

"Jungkook..." I moaned; my eyes rolling back into my head as I stood under the warm water, my back to his chest, fingers laced with his, and neck pierced with devilish canines. I was in love.

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