I hold my breath, and Namjoon's body, as he jumps from my office window. He transforms into the great eagle and his wings open and catch the wind and flies us quickly above the treetops. It took me a while to get my lungs to work right so I could breathe. I hold on for dear life and marvel that while I could see the eagle beneath me, what I felt was Namjoon's body beneath me. Was that because I was on his back before the change? Was I being carried like Jimin's cellphone?

I had pet the eagle a few times. For heaven's sake, the eagle had slept in my room several times. I didn't feel Namjoon's body then. How in the hell did this work? I was technically bigger than the eagle but that didn't seem to matter at all. He carried me with ease and without effort. My scientist's brain wanted to study this very odd phenomenon and yet I scolded myself.

Pay attention Y/N, you're flying on an eagle! Get perspective!!

I laugh at myself. I stop analyzing my situation and just look at the world around me. I marvel at the treetops, like pointy little houses all spread out. I feel the wind on my face, squinting my eyes a little at the fierceness of the wind. It was also cold this high up. I can see the river that flows at the edge of the forest and I notice the edge of the cliffside where the truck fell. The world looks magnificent up here.

I watch other birds fly around, keeping a large distance from the big predator between my legs. I look down at the great bird and give into a naughty laugh. I'll have to find a way to tease Namjoon about his "big predator". Too bad this was as close as I was ever going to get to my mates. Maybe when we solve this curse, they won't be poisonous anymore. Now there's a thought to look forward to.

I notice an owl fly over towards us and I smile as I recognize Hobi's animal form. I smile at the other big bird in my life and faintly hear a hoot in our direction. The eagle and owl fly together, showing me the forest from their perspective.

Namjoon's POV

As we skim over the trees, I feel an incredible sense of joy with my mate on my back. Before the curse, I had heard of soulmates but I never believed in them. Then when I became an eagle I learned that eagles mate for life. I had been very worried about what that meant for me and my friends. We did everything we could to avoid being bound to the witch who trapped us in this life, but we also worried that our animals would mate with their species. After a long time, we realized that our animals were just as bound to the witch as we were. I didn't know whether to be scared or relieved. Relieved that I didn't have to worry about an animal I couldn't give my heart to and was scared that my animal would turn to the witch against my will. The questions of our fate seemed to build as time went on.

I know now that the answers I was waiting for have been given. The beautiful girl on my back seemed to settle me and my eagle. Jin and Yoongi were correct, being bound to her was an indescribable feeling of peace and joy that I never wanted to lose. There was no fear that our feelings would lead to enslavement.

I smile to myself as I hear her laugh in her surprise and delight as we show her the world that Hobi and I enjoy. When we realized we could carry things with us, we each brought our friends up to see the world we could see. It built within each of us a deep desire to protect this forest and we've been lucky to have this sanctuary. Our families could have turned on us, but they loved us instead and protected us. Now we had Brendan and Y/N on our side and I felt safer than I had ever had before.

"Is she feeling ok?" Hobi asks me.

"She is feeling overwhelmed with what Daniel told her today. I got her out of her office to take her mind off things."

"Let's take her to the treehouse. That will distract her." I like his suggestion. That would be perfect.

Hobi hoots toward me and I follow him as he flies in the direction of the treehouse. Given her love of the forest, I know she'll love the new perch.

Y/N POV

The birds change course and fly us towards a very large grove of trees. The middle tree is the tallest tree I've ever seen. I had heard we had some very old trees in this forest but hadn't yet checked them out. Namjoon starts to descend through the trees and as we maneuver around I see something that I didn't expect at all.

The treehouse was huge. It seems to be built among the tall trees of the grove. The eagle flies around the whole structure so I can get a good look at it. It's built around 8 trees and their branches and trunks appear to be built into the structure as supports. It looks like it's sealed against the elements and set up like a proper house. There is a large wrap-around porch with large railings. The reason for those railings becomes obvious as the owl and eagle land.

Namjoon transforms and I'm once again holding onto his back. I slip my legs down and land on my feet as Hobi transforms. I could stare at these gorgeous men forever, but the view from up here is outstanding.

"This is amazing. How did I not know this was here?" I look out on the forest, enjoying the scenery from this amazing vantage point. I knew we were deep in the forest, in an area I had not been in yet. I wonder if Brendan knew this was here?

"This is a private part of the forest that is not open to tourists or logging. We make sure there are no hiking trails that lead here. There are no campsites nearby for over a mile. We make sure to have some privacy so that we can be ourselves." Namjoon explains.

"We built this treehouse when we realized that we needed more privacy than the cabin could provide. A place only we could get to." Hobi continues.

"Only you could get to? So everyone has to fly up here?" I ask, shocked.

"You're so silly," Hobi laughs taking my cheeks between his hands and rubbing my face. "There are stairs up here, built into the trees. I just meant that anytime you want to come here, we'll bring you."

"What about the cave? Doesn't that give you privacy?" I ask between smushed cheeks.

"The cave is more cage than freedom," Namjoon responds. I remove my head from Hobi's hands and look at Namjoon in question. "Our curse does have a dangerous side. As you saw with Jungkook on the full moon. Sometimes, we need to restrain ourselves and the cave is a good place for that. It's out of sight, not easily accessible, and close to the cabin." He gestures to the treehouse, "This is a place for us to escape and feel away from our problems. To feel above the things that drown us. We brought you here because you were freaking out learning about the Foundation."

"Well, that's true," I murmur. Namjoon takes my hand. It's an odd moment for me as I'm in Hobi's arms and yet I have Namjoon holding my hand, looking at me with tender feelings in his eyes. I'm not sure how to deal with this situation.

"Come," he says, "Let us show you the treehouse." I smile as he pulls me to the door.

Inside, you could see that the cabin feel was kept here as well. Dark wood couches and chairs with blue and green cushions with warm accents touch here or there gave the treehouse a coziness that make me feel like I was cocooned from the world. There was a small kitchenette on the side while stairs led up to bedrooms. The top floor of the treehouse was an activity room with pool tables, game systems, and a foosball table. There were also cushions and perches available in case anyone chose to be in animal form but still wanted to be with the group. There was one giant pillow that looked like a small bed and I was told that Taehyung's tiger claimed that prize although Jin's wolf always tried to nuzzle in.

There were plenty of large windows to look out over the forest and holding Namjoon's hand, I couldn't help but feel calm settle over me as I just let my worries go.

Hobi POV

I smile as I watch Namjoon pull Y/N toward the door to the treehouse. I knew this would help take her mind off her worries. It tends to do the trick for us. I take a deep breath and look over the trees for a moment before joining them inside.

Inside, Namjoon shows her the various parts of the treehouse and I see her delight and amazement at each discovery.

Up in the game room, Namjoon and I challenge her to a game of pool we were going for fun but she turns out to be quite competitive. We've had a century of practice, but she still held her own. As I watch her bend over the table, I catch Namjoon's gaze and we both share a wistful and heated expression. If only we weren't poisonous to her. To touch her, and love her like we both want to do is a building wish I know we all want. She wouldn't have gotten too much of the venom from Yoongi's kiss, but if both of us were to love her, she would be overwhelmed by the poison and no amount of anti-toxin would save her.

To want to love her, but not be able to do more than touch her skin just might drive us all crazy. I pull on all my skill to keep the conversations light and fun. Teasing her as we play, watching her laugh at my silly jokes. This would have to be enough for now. She was my mate. My owl recognized her as his own. Somehow this had to work out. I refuse to believe this was hopeless. That curse has stolen so much from us, we would not let it have this, too.

Her hands often find their way to caressing us as she moves around us playing game after game. Her touch is hesitant at first and slowly grows in confidence as she learns we are okay with her caresses. I want to take her in my arms and surrender to her kiss but that could be a death sentence.

When I win the last game, Y/N pouts as if disappointed. I pull at her bottom lip and tease her, "you shouldn't let that hang out or birds might perch on it."

"You would know," she teases back. I hold my heart as if wounded.

"Ack, strike to the heart." I fall over, hamming it up. She laughs.

"Oh, Hobi, never change." She grins.

"Oh, I would change in one way if I could," I say, taking her hands in my own.

"What would that be?" She looks up at me with warm eyes, shining with mischief.

"That I was free to kiss you. That I wouldn't hurt you if I took you in my arms and surrendered to your lips." I said a little breathlessly.

I hear her breath catch at my words. Her hands cup my face and she leans in close, brushing her lips against my cheek. She kisses the other side and then kisses my chin.

"Oh, Hobi, I promise to help you find an answer to that. I would like nothing better than to be able to kiss you without being afraid of poisoning." I wish for that as well. When I felt the bonds between us break and we almost lost her and Yoongi, I thought my heart was going to stop. And when we got them back and the bonds were whole again, I knew there was no way I was ever letting them go again.

Namjoon moves closer in and Y/N turns to give him kisses on his face as well. I know there are ways of being safe with sex, but the animal sides of our natures mean that the physical side of things can get out of control too easily. It's far too risky and with how overwhelming these feelings are for her, there is no guarantee that we could be safe. Even now, all I want to do is devour her and I know Namjoon feels the same way.

There has to be a way.