Ch. 21

Jin looked out of the window of the hotel, at the snowy city around him.

Somewhere, in the woods around them, the others were fighting for their lives.

Please be okay.

He turned, seeing Yoongi sitting by the fireplace and staring blankly into the flames. Ever since he and Jungkook had said goodbye, he had been silent, and looked even paler than normal.

Jimin was pacing by the door, muttering things and waving his hands. A spell of some kind, Jin guessed.

Suddenly, the witches head snapped up, his eyes wide.

"They're coming!" he gasped.

Jin felt a twist of fear in his stomach as a thunderous growl made the floor rumble.

"What about the others? Are they okay?" He asked, moving over and taking Yoongi's hand.

"Yeah, I'm sure they are. Some of the wolves probably just caught Yoongi's scent." Jimin was facing the door, his hands out, and Jin's eyes widened as purple sparks crackled between his palms.

"Okay, I only sense two around here. Do you remember the cave we showed you earlier?" Jimin asked, and Jin nodded, remembering Namjoon showing him the second hiding place two days earlier.

"Take Yoongi there. There shouldn't be anymore wolves. I can take care of these and then find you." Jimin ordered. Jin gulped, pulling Yoongi up.

"Will you be okay?" Yoongi asked, and Jin jumped, startled at hearing the raven's voice for the first time since Jungkook and he had been separated.

Jimin smiled. "I'll be fine. Go, you need to be safe."

Jin hated leaving Jimin, but he knew the witch would be better off if he wasn't worrying over them while fighting.

He and Yoongi hurried to the back wall, pressing the button Jimin had magically hidden. The wall slid to the side, and the humans hurried out, the bricks slipping back into place after.

As they ran, Jin heard thuds and growls coming from the hotel, and he prayed that Jimin was okay. He guided Yoongi through the forest, wishing they could move faster, but Yoongi was hindered by his stomach, and they were traveling slowly.

The reached a clearing, and Jin turned left, remembering that the cave was only a few more feet…

A growl made him freeze, his blood running cold in terror.

Glowing red eyes appeared in the woods in front of him, a horse-sized wolf prowling toward them from the forest.

Jin backed up, hearing Yoongi's breath stuttering with panic behind him.

Have to keep him and the baby safe.

Jin shifted so that his body was blocking Yoongi's from view. He wasn't sure what help he would be against the gigantic creature, but he had to try.

He grabbed a large stick from the ground, holding it like a baseball bat as the wolf circled them, doing his best to remember his days on the baseball team at his school.

He saw the wolf lower into a crouch and bare its teeth.

As it leapt forward, Jin shouted, "Run!" and swung the stick at the wolf. The wood cracked it across the muzzle, and Jin's jaw dropped as the wolf stumbled back.

"Go away!" he said, brandishing the stick and trying not to shake in terror.

The wolf's only reply was a snarl, and it lunged again, dodging Jin's swing. Jin's eyes widened in horror as he realized what the creature was doing.

It was going for Yoongi.

"No!" Jin screamed, whirling and leaping after the wolf as the animal sprinted toward Yoongi, who was scrambling back, terror written all over his face.

In a burst of adrenaline, Jin grabbed the wolf's tail, yanking. The creature stopped, and Jin tumbled forward. He landed with a thump on the ground and groaned, coughing.

He turned onto his back and saw the wolf standing above him, teeth bared. Jin kicked out, his foot hitting the animal's muzzle. He scooted back, but the wolf raised a huge, clawed paw, and Yoongi was screaming, and Jin couldn't hear over his own heartbeat…

Pain.

He howled as pain exploded in his stomach, the force behind the blow sending him flying into a tree.

"JIN!" he heard Yoongi screech, and he opened his eyes, his vision foggy. Yoongi was trying to get to him, but the wolf was circling him, closing in, snarling.

Jin tried to stand, but he couldn't, his legs failing him. He crawled forward, agony sending a fresh stab through him with every shift.

Then, catlike snarls echoed form the woods, and Jin wilted in relief as slim, human shapes slinked forward, fangs extended, eyes flashing in fury.

Jin caught Namjoon's gaze, and smiled in relief, ignoring the furious snarl the blond vampire let out.

Jungkook screeched, and lunged toward the wolf circling his mate, Hoseok close behind, and Jin saw Jimin there as well, a bit clawed but still alive.

He could hear the wolf yelping, but he focused on the arms gently lifting him up and cradling him against a cool, hard chest.

"Joon…" he sighed, his head pounding. He really wanted to sleep…

His eyelashes fluttered, and he faintly heard Namjoon say, "Jin, no, wait-"

Vaguely, he knew that he should answer, but his mouth wouldn't move...his body was getting heavy, and he was so tired…

He slipped into the black relief