"You," Kyle growled, pointing a dirty finger at her.

​Jie-Yu just peeked up through her lashes and gave him the tiniest, fakest little wave. "Hello, Kyle-ssi. I hope you found your ID okay." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

​I almost lost it right there. This was going to be a very long meeting.

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from howling with laughter. Kyle looked like he was vibrating, his emerald eyes darting between the angelic Jie-Yu, who was currently hiding behind my shoulder, and me.

​"The commission, Kyle," I said, trying to sound like a serious customer while my soul was basically doing a victory dance. "Is it done, or are you too busy looking for your lost belongings?"

​"It’s done," Kyle snapped, though his voice lacked that aggressive bastard energy from our first meeting. He looked... unsettled. Like a big guard dog that had just realized the kitten in the room was actually a bobcat. "It’s on the bench. Just take it and go."

​I walked over to the workbench, but I made sure to leave enough space, so Jie-Yu was practically forced to stand right in Kyle’s line of sight.

​"You know, Kyle," I said, leaning over to inspect the velvet boxes. "Jie-Yu Noona was telling me how much she enjoyed the... ’agreement’ you two came to. She said you were surprisingly gentlemanly for someone who smells like a volcano."

​Kyle choked on his own spit. He glared at Jie-Yu, who just blinked at him with those wide, watery sheep eyes.

​"She’s a thief," Kyle muttered, though his ears were turning a suspicious shade of magenta. "She’s a dangerous woman. Why do you even have her around?"

​"Hey, don’t be like that," I said, picking up one of the rings. It was stunning—the matte platinum felt heavy and expensive. "She only takes things because she wants a reason to see you again. Right, Noona?"

​Jie-Yu let out a soft, shy little sigh. "I just... I worry about Kyle-ssi. He seems so disorganized. If I didn’t have his ID, how would I have known if he got home safely?"

​Kyle’s jaw literally dropped. "I’ve been getting home safely for thirty years without you holding my identity hostage!"

​"But you didn’t have a reason to call me before," she whispered, her voice so sweet it was practically dripping honey. She took a small step toward him, and I swear, Kyle actually flinched back against his anvil. "I hope you aren’t too mad. I brought you some tea. To help with the... sulfur."

​She pulled a thermos out of her bag like a magic trick. Kyle stared at it like it was a live grenade.

​"I’m not mad," he grunted, snatching the thermos and looking away. "Just... don’t do it again." Was that a blush I saw? "I had to tell the Boss I lost my wallet in a ’skirmish’ because I couldn’t exactly tell him a tiny girl stole it while I was in the shower."

​I smirked, tucking the four boxes into my bag. "See? Match made in heaven. Or a blacksmith’s shop. Same thing."

​I looked at the two of them. Kyle was brooding and clutching a thermos of tea like a lifeline, and Jie-Yu was standing there looking like she wouldn’t hurt a fly, even though she probably had his house keys in her bra by now.

​"I’ll leave you two to ’discuss’ the tea," I said, heading for the door. "Noona, don’t stay too long. Mr. Han is waiting."

​"I’ll be out in a minute, Jo-Pil!" Jie-Yu called out, her voice back to that soft, modest tone. But as I closed the door, I caught her giving Kyle a look that was definitely not modest.

​I leaned against the car, waiting. My heart felt light. Between my overprotective Alphas, a pregnant possibility, and my friend dating a chaotic blacksmith, my life was finally starting to feel like it belonged to me.

I looked at the velvet box holding the items I had commissioned. I wanted to take a look right away, but I held myself back. I trust Jin-Yeok’s blacksmith has great skills, so I don’t have to worry that he screwed it up.

My insides felt warm, giddy. Everything was falling into place.

Everything... was perfect.

​Ten minutes later, Jie-Yu skipped out of the shop. Her bun was slightly messy, but she was glowing. And then there was that sulphur scent that clung to her all of a sudden.

I narrowed my eyes. Ten minutes was a lot for someone to put in a rod and stir it a bit before the rod spilled.

Suspicious.

​"So?" I asked as she hopped back into the sedan. "Did you steal anything else?"

​"Uh, no," she slid a strand of hair behind her ear, and I could tell she was flustered. Something did happen in those ten minutes. "He promised to go out with me for dinner on Friday," she chirped and leaned back.

Hm, you spent ten minutes convincing him to take you out to dinner on Friday? Wow, Noona, you’re something else.

She fanned herself with her palms. "Gosh, Jo-Pil. You were right. Being the one in control? It’s way more fun than being the one in the cage."

​I looked out the window as Mr. Han pulled away. "Yeah," I whispered, touching the bag with the four brooches. "It really is."

​"Wait," Jie-Yu said, her eyes slightly narrowing as she looked at me. "You’re seeing the therapist tomorrow, right? Do you want me to go with you? I can hide in the car and steal the doctor’s ID if they’re mean to you."

​I looked at her, stunned for a second, and then laughed, leaning my head against the seat.

"No thanks, Noona. I think one stolen ID is enough for this week. And besides, Dr. Hye-Marin is nice." He closed his eyes. "I’ll be fine."

But before going to the therapists, I need to let them know that they aren’t just nightmares in my dream, or monsters I see in the shadows.

I want them to know that they are part of a future I see. A happiness I crave. A peace I wish to sit in.

My lovers, my Alphas.