The Hunt

9

The guys chatted quietly for a bit, while I nursed my drink.

Namjoon cleared his throat. "Y/n-ssi." Oh we're speaking formally now? Great.

"Yes?"

"Let's make a deal." He sat up a little straighter. "In exchange for helping us locate and eliminate the hunter, we won't report your location to your family. They are offering a modest reward for your return, you know?"

I downed the rest of my drink and set my empty glass on the coffee table.

"How about I don't help, and I won't tell the council about your hunter issue?" I countered. "My family obviously isn't overly concerned about me, or they would be searching for me themselves. They are just trying to save face in front of the Parks. And it doesn't sound like my fiance was too bothered by my absence, or he would have looked for me."

I sat back and let my words sink in. They just kept looking back and forth between each other. Obviously, they hadn't taken into consideration just how little my family thought of me.

A twisted smile slowly spread across the face of Yoongi. Out of the seven of them, I found him to be the most intimidating.

"It's true, JiHoon didn't look for you, but you have a new fiance now."

Of course I was well aware that the death of my fiance did not leave me exempt from the deal my family had made with the Parks. Had we actually gotten married and had children before he passed, I would not be expected to remarry another Park male. But, we never even met, so I would just be handed off to the next in line.

"Your point, kitten?" I gave him a smirk to show I wasn't intimidated.

Yoongi chuckled. "You left your family to avoid getting married, right? What if your new fiance isn't as patient as your last? You don't want to lose your freedom and have to be a good, submissive little wife, right?"

I clenched my fists in my lap, kicking and screaming internally. Yoongi hit the nail on the head. I didn't want to be forced into a loveless marriage, and I was weary of having to bend to my husband's whim. I was planning on challenging who ever I married for head of household. Traditionally, wives would just submit to their husbands, but in instances where the woman was the stronger hybrid, they would challenge for dominance. Fighting in their hybrid forms until one party submits to determine who would head the household. While there were no recorded cases of a male heir to an entire family being bested by his wife, it was possible. In that case, the wife would become the head of the family once the last member of the prior generation passed away.

"What makes you think I wouldn't be the head of household?"

Yoongi's face softened, and his smiled faded. "When is the last time you changed into your wolf form?"

How long has it been?

Jimin scoffed, then shifted his position on the armrest. "It doesn't matter. She wouldn't win." He gave me a pointed look, his lips curled up smugly.

I took a deep breath, and fought the urge to shove Jimin off the armrest of the couch. I wasn't a violent person normally, but he just seemed to know exactly how to push my buttons.

"How about you help us track down the hunter," Namjoon began. "And we can ensure a two year delay in your wedding."

I considered his offer. "I would only need to help track her? That's it?"

"That's it." Namjoon held his hands out, palms up, as if he was handing over an invisible gift. The others all looked to me expectantly, eyes hopeful.

"Fine," I relented. "I'll help track her down and then I never want to see any of you again."

The men all burst into laughter. All but Jimin. Hoseok slid from his seat onto the floor, arms hugging his sides, as he roared with laughter.

Namjoon wiped a tear from his eye. "I can't promise that last part, Y/n."