Ah-Reum wakes with a warmth on her face.
She shivers blinking a few times readjusting to the daylight.
Sleeping beside her is Eun-Seong's slumbering form, face pressing against hers.
Her body tenses, her gaze tracing the rise and fall of his chest.
Instead she pokes his cheek, as if testing his reaction.
He huffs in his sleep pulling himself closer.
'So Eun-Seong is back in control of his body once more.'
She smiles pressing a hand on his face. Fingers sliding feeling the skin.
The softness returned to his face.
There is a bang on the door and she slides out of bed.
"Who—" She pushes open the door, her once annoyed face fizzled out with . "Why are you here?"
A frown presses on her face the warmth she felt frozen over in an instant.
"Snow Tiger, what brings you to my door this early?"
"Really, Ah-Reum? Distancing yourself from me now? You must really hate me then."
"I don't. It is my fault. But I will not continue letting this be my fault. Which brings me back to my question. Why are you here?" She leans over, eyes scanning him.
Charlie frowns.
"I wonder why, let's see. You were taken by a heavenly being possessing the guy who broke your heart into bed so that you would become pregnant. You being the girl I was in love with since I was young and finally finding you after years of searching hoping that you were okay… Of course I was worried!" His eyes shine with reverence a smile builds on his face.
"I love you— only you— it has to be you."
Ah-Reum feels it up from her stomach. The long sigh that escapes her lips.
"It was wrong of me to accept your advances."
"Huh? What no, I…"
"It was wrong. But you know that already."
"You and Eun-Seong aren't even really together." Charlie complains.
"That is not what I am talking about. There is only us. The path ahead means there is one type of relation that we can have. You may take a pick of your options. We can be family on friendly terms… Or we can be strangers." Ah-Reum looks at Charlie expectantly.
"You really want to… Did you not like me having action? I— I can swallow my fear, if that truly is what you want."
Ah-Reum closes her eyes, taking in a deep breath of air.
"You want family… An actual one. One that you can choose for yourself. One where you can add to and feel your choices and wants matter, am I right?"
"I…"
"I get that I am beautiful, but the girl you fell in love with is gone, she has been gone. She died fifteen years ago."
"She still blossomed into a beautiful strong woman."
Ah-Reum raises a hand.
"I don't want to disregard your feelings, but I don't think this should continue between us."
Charlie starts to open his mouth she raises a hand.
"This is not about Eun-Seong or about your preferences. I do not mind them. You don't have to fit into the box of what should and shouldn't be an omega. I in the end learned something new, about myself. I let you in because I was never loved that way. The people who loved me only wanted me to hold them up, even if I was drowning they could still breathe so they never noticed. They never wanted to."
"I…" He tries to start again.
"I am forever thankful." She finishes cutting him off, her sunset colored eyes sparkling. "Love is about showing the other person that love is longing and more than wanting to feel the other person's love and support. That both must be the one that fights for each other. Just like my mother and mama have said, but I never understood it until now."
Charlie pauses and tilts his gaze down to Ah-Reum's belly.
"Friendly family members, or strangers. Those are your choices. Nothing else."
His eyes flash bright blue, glowing as he shrinks down to his knees.
"I am afraid I cannot choose. I will love you till the end want to hold you till the end, even if you won't in return. Our daughter will be treated well." His smile reaches his eyes and hands come to her belly before resting his head on it. "I will assure you of that. She doesn't have to know you are her mother."
_____
The table is quiet.
It is one thing for another spirit to roam this halls, but it is another for it to actually take over his descendant's mind and wipe the floor of his rival family to get revenge on his own family…
Beom-Gyu rubs his temples hand over his face in annoyance.
Eun-Seong woke up with a foul mood and Ah-Reum is reflecting it and amplifying her annoyance back.
The family stares over at the source equal tired expressions on their faces.
Ah-Reum slumps over her plate shoveling rice into her mouth with a spoon.
"Come on I only wanted a bit!" Eun-Seong yells reaching over to Ah-Reum's plate with his own spoon.
"No!" She growls smacking his hand with her spoon. "You fvcking bit me!"
"You are still on that?!" He raises his hands. "I am sorry! My senses were still being taken over by Cheon-Yong. Come on, Just let me try some!"
"It is just brown rice go and get your own!"
_____
When Ah-Reum was done talking to Charlie she went back, only to see Eun-Seong sitting up in bed.
"Eun-Seong? You're up?" She asks walking over to Eun-Seong. "Sorry for waking you up."
She climbs into bed and pulls him back into her arms.
"Eun-Seong?" She asks waving a hand in front of his face.
His blank face morphs into a scowl and he turns over biting her hand. Her preferred hand.
"Ow! Bish!" She screeches, bapping him in the head using her right hand.
Eun-Seong shoves her over biting into her arm.
"Get Off!" She yells panicked. "Eun-Seong, you are hurting me!"
Eun-Seong sinks his omegan fangs deeper into the arm.
"Eun-Seong…" She warns voice lowering. "If you don't get off of me and control yourself right now, I will not hold back. Please don't make me have to whoop your arse."
Eun-Seong freezes eyes widening the warning clear. If he wants to continue. He will find out.
Ah-Reum smirks. Her face knowing. He knows and she will warmly welcome it.
It is buried in her gut. The feeling like a fire. Burning deep within.
"I… didn't mean to do that." Eun-Seong backs away.
"But you did it anyway." Ah-Reum says. "I will go and take a bath."
"But…"
She doesn't respond.
Ah-Reum removes her clothes the worn fabric hits the floor almost soundlessly save for the buttons making a clattering noise against the tile.
She sets the water to warm. Steam building up around the bathroom as she brushes her teeth and massages and brushes her hair into a low ponytail.
The water runs off of her hand and spills down her hand to the drain.
Hair covered in a shower cap.
Her left arm wraps around her belly. The same one that was bitten.
She has neglected looking down.
Refused to release her arm to see the damage.
A breath in of the slightly misty air she lifts her arm up to her face.
'Not as bad as I thought it would be…'
The skin has significant puncture wounds. But nothing as bad when Kang Deok-Su bit her.
She should heal after a day or so from the bites.
"What ticked him off that much?" She groans stepping into the falling water.
The first time was on purpose. The second time a mistake. The third she couldn't help, but blame herself for just being there.
The water cuts off. The mirror starts to clear as the cold air removes the faint fog from off of it.
Her eyes kept traveling down.
Down until the mirror reflected what she fears she seen that night when she stared looking at her own self.
"No…" She shakes her head.
Her eyes widen.
"Don't please…"
Azure wisps float from her belly lightning up with more force as it calls for her attention.
___
She doesn't look down. She doesn't want to acknowledge it. She doesn't want it to call for her. To beg.
Eun-Seong isn't helping.
She rests her head in her hands facing toward her cousins who sit together.
Her older cousin Soo Charlie and her cousin who is older, but the same age, Yun Sang-Won.
The elders watch carefully. The white haired boy shrugs it off.
Their eyes trail over to Eun-Seong. The reflection of light off of his short, wavy black hair gives off a deep mahogany glow almost enough to make you believe he is a picture… almost.
His eyes bore straight into Charlie.
A fork clatters onto a plate.
"What the hell is your problem?" Charlie asks standing suddenly, frozen gaze cutting at Eun-Seong.
"None." He smirks.
"Then stop staring at me."
"But I have eyes." Eun-Seong says matter-of-factly.
Charlie huffs.
"I am surprised they let you at the table." Charlie hisses turning his head when he sits back down.
"Same to you."
Charlie stiffens, but doesn't say anything else.
"He cannot find a word to say back. All bark no bite." He taunts.
Ah-Reum fed up from the energy of the room turns to Eun-Seong.
"Hey." She starts. "Can we talk?"
"Yes?" His eyes grow expectant.
She sighs putting her spoon down and pulling his hands into hers.
"Respectfully… Shut up." She drops his hands after turning back to her food and finishing up her brown rice. "You can leave the table if you are going to make problems."
"So you are siding with him?" Eun-Seong whines.
Ah-Reum inhales sharply and exhales loudly.
Her spoon clinks and she stands.
"I will take my leave from the table." She mutters.
"Same here." Sang-Won grumbles standing sharply to follow after Ah-Reum.
_____
"Wait." Sang-Won says. "How are you doing right now? Everything alright?"
"Peachy." Ah-Reum rolls her eyes folding her arms.
"The tigress bares her claws. Rawr." He playfully nudges her as he brings his hands up to his chin as he cutely says 'rawr'.
"You are so dumb." Ah-Reum says laughing slightly. Her tears that were threatening to spill fall down her face.
"Awe, find a better insult."
White Tiger should think highly of her for her strength. No matter if they all go their own paths. Solitary creatures during crisis will come together for the sake of united survival. Unlike other beings who can live reclusive lifestyles for years. The Seol's are a family, but most of all they are human. One human alone cannot best the wild. It takes many to guarantee that safety.
To that degree they are the same they only are around each other when it concerns their survival. Each branch has its own purpose the purpose to guarantee their survival.
Ah-Reum remembers when they were younger. On her fifth birthday. The year before the fire.
Sang-Won sat down next to her as her great-grandmother, Chae-Yin pulls her and him up onto her lap.
"Little tiger's, to survive this cruel world you must be prepared for a fight. Even if we are not around or nearby. You must lean on yourselves. Become strong. From there you can then when it is too much call on your family for help."
She envelopes Sang-Won and Ah-Reum in her warmth.
"Depend on each other. We may not always feel the need to. But for the sake of ourselves. We must help our blood. Never hurt it."
"You are descended from the Great Tiger of the West."
Ah-Reum stares into her great-grandmother's bright, green and golden eyes. Then over into Sang-Won's green eyes.
"So we shouldn't fight?" The two ask at the same time.
"Yes, little one. You should not."
"Sorry, Sang-Won. I shouldn't have hit you." Ah-Reum apologizes.
"I shouldn't have pranked you so hard."
"You left me hanging there for hours." She pouts folding her arms.
"Grand Father wants me to practice my traps otherwise who is going to protect the house? You just happened to be in the way." Sang-Won smirks dodging a playful bat from Ah-Reum.
"Children will be children." Jade Tiger smiles standing. "You have a lot to learn."
Her smile becomes neutral.
"Mr. Yun, may I ask why you are here?" She fixes her gaze over to the taller man. Black hair dark eyes, skin a misty pale brown tan. Thin gaze.
"Brave Tiger said you were with the children. So I came to pick up my grandson of course."
Ah-Reum, ever the observant watched, she isn't a stranger to the eldest line of the family. But she understands the look on Sang-Won's face when he freezes, when he lets go of her hair while they play fight.
His attention over to the tall man.
Her Grand-Uncle, Sang-Yeong. An alpha.
Ah-Reum has never been close to any alphas in her life other than her mother and her grandmother and Mr. Yun.
"Come, Sang-Won." He orders, in a plain deep voice.
Sang-Won is almost a carbon-copy of Mr. Yun. Just like how his father is almost a carbon-copy of Mr. Yun.
The only difference were his eye color and his personality. Deep brown almost black colored eyes and a very strict no-nonsense way of carrying himself. He walks into a room like a military officer, he makes orders like someone who knows they are in charge.
"Sang-Won. Come." Mr. Yun orders again, getting impatient.
Sang-Won makes a hesitant step forward.
Ah-Reum's hand slides into his.
"We can go together." She grins, squeezing his hand lightly walking him up to his grandfather.
"Mr. Yun! Can Sang-Won and I play a little longer? I think, he was having a lot of fun."
She looks over to her cousin sticking her tongue out. Sang-Won's eyes widen tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
"Plus, I didn't win yet." She beams pinching his cheek with her other hand.
"No." Mr. Yun says plainly.
"No?" Ah-Reum repeats like she had her dreams crushed in front of her.
Mr. Yun moves fast resting his hand on her shoulder before flicking her away watching as she falls to her feet.
"If you need a girl to face your fears then it seems like you didn't understand. You can't play with girls Sang-Won. Focus on your studies. Even if she is to be an Alpha it doesn't change the fact that they are only distractions."
She never was really close to any alpha's other than her mother and foremother. She has never met an alpha who was not a woman unless it was Mr. Yun and even still, she never saw him outside of a formal setting.
"You have to finish your training." He says pulling the boy by the wrist.
"Mr. Yun. I know you did not just push Ah-Reum like that." Great-Grandmother Chae-Yin frowns.
"Are you challenging me Jade Tiger?"
"No, I am reminding you of your place here in this family. If you ever lay your hands on my blood. Sang-Won included, I will ensure your pain and suffering." Her hair glows bright red and white.
"Continue how you are going and you will regret it. Sang-Won is a child. He shouldn't have to worry about things you should know how to handle yourself. It is not his responsibility to hold up the family and defend it. Let him grow up with peace of mind." She finishes her face pinching into a grimace.
"He is still coming with me. Whether you like it or not." Mr. Yun looks directly into Chae-Yin's eyes, eyes filled with contempt.
"I wanna go see Sang-Won train!" Ah-Reum beams fighting the tension from the two adults.
She scrambles up to her feet and bounds over playfully to her cousin.
"Then you can train me, Sang-Sang! Then we can kick butt together!" She grips his arm.
"Okay Red." Sang-Won grins.
=========
The field is long, target practice, weapons practice, and martial arts.
Mr. Yun's orders bark across the field.
Ten arrows at the main points of interest. Moving target practice with a gun with blank rounds.
"Move Sang-Won, run like someone is coming to kill you."
"Sang-Won, twenty push ups."
"How did you fail that? Do you like disappointing me?"
"Remember this you are training so that you don't have to be in the bottom rung. It is your job as an alpha to protect the ones that you love. And even more so because you are an alpha, to pay back the kindness the blessings that your family gave you with the entirety of you."
~
"Come Ah-Reum, let me teach you. Come at me." Sang-Won motions to her with a come hither motion.
"Ahhhhh!" She screams rushing at her cousin only to end up flipped and getting her tail handed to her.
"Wahh, that's so mean, Sang-Won! Why did you move?" She sniffles holding back her tears.
"I am not going to just stand there and let you hit me." He says. "Don't believe our enemies would either. This world knows no mercy. So lets assume first everyone and everything is out to kill us. Always be suspicious." He tells Ah-Reum.
"Okay, Sang-Sang."
Sang-Won became a different person around him, more hardened, angry, and watchful. But despite this he became refined in terms of knowing that his new face was one to be used against those who plan on hurting him and those he loves. The will to fight for the survival of the whole.
Mr. Yun shaped him into the perfect Alpha to protect his family. A replica of him, one that he has shaped his own son into, but he has perfected his vision in Sang-Won as he was the perfect outlet to him.
He has an Alpha grandson contrary to his Beta son.
Despite being an alpha himself, he dedicated himself to his wife and his children; to the family who took the place alpha's held; shaking who is on top. He signed his side into servitude of protecting the bloodline. Held with such rigor. Not a single room for error.
Then the day came when the Kim's decided, it was their time.
A one and done deal. A show of obnoxious power, hatred and greed to erase dissent about the classes and their structure.
By the time they have woken back up from the ashes they were ghosts, existence wiped over night, a memory. Ah-Reum wept in her grandmother's arms charred remains and left over ash from the fire still on everyone's skin. Burns covering from head to toe. Hair sprouting from their head angry and blackened at the tips.
Ah-Reum turns her head over to Sang-Won.
His eyes are glossy, the deep green color as crystalline as emeralds, watery like dew on a leaf threatening to drip as the rain begins to pour.
The worst part was that he couldn't do anything about it and he had failed. He failed the one job his side of the family was supposed to do. What he was supposed to do.
His father Yeong-Won and his mother Yae-In hold onto Sang-Won and each other.
Her own parents cradling her, cooing softly hoping to soothe the stress and alleviate some of the pain.
Like burn cream the numbness began. Each moment like the skin trying to figure out how to function once more.
The first day after was raw. Most of the time in class she had no clue what she was doing, just following instructions.
Tender.
Weak.
Fragile.
After some time the sensitivity doesn't go down instead it stays the same. More like when you are rushing to pour cool water on the affected area. It feels like hell, but you need it.
From then on it is cold a random blow every few turns, rubbing up against it again, sensitive once more. Cold from trying to ice the damage trying to get rid of it. A painful reminder of what happened. But it will take a whole lot more than that. It needs time.
The pain will subside, numbness will fade. But the scars can never truly fade, right?
She meant it when she said she felt that. A spark, a line of meaning. But he could never know what she saw. For him the moment was over after they met. Never once trying to make a connection even if she really wanted to. He was gone once she left his circle. Nothing to remember.
It is only after the events do the two finally sit side by side.
Her cousin,
best friend,
the one who went through everything with her.
The one she can truly talk to without filter.
A pair of knives, different styles, same metal. A duo who sit together once more.
Ah-Reum's first crush, every bad date, every time she needs to talk, he is there. Every joke, every secret, every hope. He was and is always going to be there.
For him she would do the same.
The pain would only disappear as she moved on. The scarred burn covered with flesh that is trying to figure out how to repair itself properly. A dark stain is left behind over her heart as it tries to comprehend all the reasons that which it was burned for.
Every complex thought and emotion she shared with Sang-Won, who sat and listened with care. If she ever could have had a brother. It would have been Sang-Won.
When it is healed, you could seemingly never tell. But the memories can last forever.
Even when they have their moments, and their own personalities, they have each other above all else.
_____
"You…" She sniffles wiping her eyes with the back of her sleeves.
"You remember that girl I was going out with?" He huffs.
"Oh my gosh don't even change the subject dweebus!" She sputters shoving him as she dries more tears.
"I know, but it is funny this time I swear." He smirks.
"Let me guess she pulled a pregnancy scare?" Ah-Reum, frowns. "Something is wrong with you bro. You can't just fertilize grass any how it won't get greener. You have to be more intentional."
"Fair enough. The whole relationship is kinda ehhhh…" He grumbles, "D!ck move I know, I tried to dump her before my rut and she didn't like that."
"There are condoms?" Ah-Reum makes a concerned face that insults Sang-Won's intelligence.
"I envy your ability to stay rational while in rut Oh-Great Ah-Reum. Unlike you, normal Alpha's lose their sh!t during rut season and become stupid." He waves his hands grandiosely rolling his eyes.
"So you knocked her up is what you mean to say."
"Supposedly." He shrugs.
She runs her hand down her face resting it over her mouth.
"When did you plan on saying this?" She questions.
"Ugh. You already got in trouble for something big. If I say something they are going to have me marry her to keep the heir. My old man's father is probably going to have a laugh."
"A laugh?" Ah-Reum lifts an eyebrow. "When has that miserable man ever laughed?"
"She's a beta. So she didn't know any better. I never told her I was an alpha. Kinda jumped on her and she was so fvcking scared after."
"I know about beta men having a secondary gender partner. But the other way around is probably a curse." He sighs.
Ah-Reum purses her lips.
"You never let me meet her. Is she really pretty?" She asks with an evil grin.
"No, Ah-Reum. You are not going after her. I am not getting sniped. Not after Joon-Li."
"Ohh. So that was her name! I deada$$ forgot."
"I forgot how many of the girls I was going to ask out that you headhunted. She is mine. I swear I will kick your a$$ if you try it."
"Bet?" She grins. "I never actually been with a beta girl before. Do you think it's better?"
"I can't with you. Stop joking around." Sang-Won pinches his nose bridge. "Eun-Seong will have a fit."
Ah-Reum grips Sang-Won's arm.
"Come on show me a picture."
"No! Forget I even said anything."
"You're gonna be a father. Hahahah!"
"Bruh. Shut up Ah-Reum!" He covers her mouth dragging her into his room.
_____
"Listen, I don't know much about Alpha pregnancy. But these are some scary switch ups. I'm gonna need you to chill the fvck out." Sang-Won says gripping her shoulders.
"Well you are a whole oddity beyond comprehension, so I don't even know what I am going to do with you.
He sighs resting his head down on her shoulder.
"She's pregnant and an alpha…" A sweet-sounding, rough voiced woman speaks.
The doors of the closet creak open and out comes a curly haired woman with black-blue tresses sharp peridot green eyes framed by siren like eyes on her stern, regal features, face cool deep ebony, glimmering like purple obsidian with deep, dark brown lips and a bright pale sugary flush of pink set in the middle of her bottom lip. Pear-shaped body in a white crop top and jeans, pink hoodie hanging off of her shoulders. If Ah-Reum didn't know any better, she would have thought her as some one her cousin either kidnapped, or she was a spy.
"Formidable obsidian." Ah-Reum smirks leaning over to look. "Has the night sky fallen onto the earth to grace us?"
Sang-Won sighs covering Ah-Reum's face.
"Sorry about her." He groans.
"Hey! I can't see!" Ah-Reum squirms as she tries to pull Sang-Won's hands from over her eyes.
"She is pregnant too. But with twins. So it would be best not to mess with her. Oh, she also has a jealous boyfriend."
"You can share. You can't just hog her to yourself. Let me bask in her beauty too." Ah-Reum starts to shove Sang-Won away she manages to slide her leg between Sang-Won's and compromises his footing.
"Fvck you." He groans from the floor.
The woman walks closer to her quietly. Warm green eyes searching.
"You're face. Is shaped like an elve. Sang-Won is this Lady Blessing's daughter?" She chuckles softly stopping the two from taking their punches as Sang-Won wrestles Ah-Reum lightly taking care not to hurt her.
"You know my mama?!" Ah-Reum gasps. Quickly pushes Sang-Won's arms off of her and bounds over to the woman.
"We are both part of the Princess program. I was put here on an assignment by your mom, met Sang-Won by accident. My name is Solange."
"Wait… if you were assigned here… What is your specific assignment?" She asks intrigued.
"Mostly gathering intel like most in the Princess network."
"Wait you know about that?" Sang-Won looks shocked, only now catching up about the contents of their speech.
"Yeah, I am a part of it. It's been around for years now." Ah-Reum mutters shooing Sang-Won away as he buzzes over her shoulder. "Glad to meet someone outside of the family who is part of it. Where your family from, oh?"
"Ai'ti. I lived in France since I was little tho." She says.
"Really?" Ah-Reum smiles.
"How are you two speaking English and I am not understanding any of it? I am an English major. Ah-Reum… Translate, please." Sang-Won whines poking her shoulder when he walks around to lean into Solang's shoulder and neck.
"Sang-Won wants an inch."
"Give an inch…" Solange mutters rolling her eyes playfully, petting his head.
"What's this about you, something happened didn't it?"
"Hmm… The Elder Princesses have noticed that there has been a strange drop in the amount of alphas who are born female. That and the amount of adult women alpha's seem to be depleting, they going missing. Princess Ovireya reported that there has been a huge drop in Korea starting since you were born and has been getting worse. I was sent here a year ago where I met this knuckle head."
"You're tailing me?" A-Reum asks.
"No, you may not realize it. But at school there are higher ups. I don't know what their problem is. But they have been following and watching a long time. Since you fully developed into an alpha. They have been anticipating something."
"But that would be since I was… thirteen…"
"We don't know much, but what I can say for sure is that it is much deeper than what we see, I don't know who blew my cover as well, but whoever it is. They might want to help or they might want us scrambling for our heads and they already got us right where they wanted." Solange says.
"But if they got us, why are they simply not wiping ups out? Why did they not clean their hands of us?" Ah-Reum questions.
"Good point. The problem isn't that we don't know what is the reason. The problem is when they will act. Erasures are usually carefully planned and drawn out hence why they didn't forcefully eradicate all. Some excuses here and there, 'Was in the way,' 'threatening us.' Or my favorite reason that they always jump for, 'it is our god given right.'" Solange says.
"Why believe in a heaven when people make their own heavens on Earth, why must we wait for ours in death? Why must we worry about our eligibility to receive it? Yet the same people say that they are doing for the will of a god who doesn't give a rat's arse about me to say that I will burn, yet are supposed to be kind to others because of their religion it turns subjective when they need a reason to hate someone else for being different."
"What I am trying to say is they never needed a reason, Ah-Reum. Their reason is because they have god-complexes and believe that they are better and know the will of a higher being despite not being able to explain anything and their reasons are flawed. To them women should be accessory. To attack directly would be too obvious. They ramped up their special way of erasing in the dark. To play with their food before eating it."
"What happens if they won't do it? Maybe there is some people who are fighting for alpha women other than us?"
Solange kisses her teeth.
"Lé ti poul fè dan." She shakes her head. "That is never happening. Men are always men, I don't know how your family lucked out so hard in that department.
"I wouldn't say that." Ah-Reum frowns.
"Well, you have multiple men in your family who is good. Sang-Won, your great-grandfather. I know there has to be more. I never met a man ho genuinely loves his wife that much even at their age and how long they have been married for. That is commitment. That is longing. That is why I told Sang-Won, that he will not be ditching me because he is going to be a man and be responsible."
+++++++++++
'We are in a part where words too can affect the game. It is our survival over theirs. They may have made the first move. But it isn't over yet until we are free and don't have to run and hide just to live. The ghost of a Tiger is not one of patience, but is also not one to rush in weak. Trust and reliability must come from our own strengths to win. We must stand tall together when it all crumbles so that we are not crushed we must ensure it is dust in the rain and we have our hands in our enemy's deck and eyes on the others who may unknowingly or knowingly find themselves playing against our hand. ~ Ah-Reum'
She closes the book.
Down the hallway stands many betas young, old, armed and ready. Protecting them from the outside world who would love nothing but to break in and tear them down.
The door creaks open and a weight sits warm over her shoulders.
"Ah-Reum-ya?"