"What?" Yoongi cries. "You're just giving in?" The others whirl on Jin in denial.

"You can't do that, Hyung." Jungkook cries.

"Don't give in to her demands," Taehyung yells. The others just stand, mute, staring at the witch, but if looks could kill....well...

"Enough!" Namjoon yells, anger evident in his stance. "Do what he tells you." And I watch as Namjoon walks over to one of the harnesses and stands before it. Ceren smirks and snaps her fingers and the restraints magically seal around him, chaining him to the wall. I hear her laugh above me. She's enjoying this.

As Jimin slowly walked over, I couldn't help but ask, "I have a question?" Ceren's eyes kept a close watch on Jimin as he got in position.

"What question is that?" she asks, almost absentmindedly as she snaps her fingers and chains Jimin in place.  He tugs on the chains, testing them, glaring balefully at Ceren. 

"I'm confused about something," I hedge.

"Not surprising, you aren't very smart." She mutters, keeping the knife tight against my neck while watching Taehyung walk towards the wall. His tiger nature is very much evident as he nearly stalks forward, growling his displeasure the whole way. I ignored the insult.

"You told me I was conceived in that forest clearing, but my parents got pregnant in the back of a car in their driveway. Why did you lie?" I prompt. She pauses as she looks down at me, I, in turn, stare up at her.

"That's because you were conceived through me. The child of your adoptive parents died." She throws that out there like it's no big deal. I choke on my gasp as it pushes the knife into my throat, cutting me a little. I had suspected this was the case, but hearing it said, made tears fill my eyes.

"Did you kill her?" I ask. She laughs at my question while snapping her fingers and restraining Taehyung to the wall.

"Nope. You did." My mouth drops open and Ceren laughs loudly at the shock on mine and Bangtan's faces.

"What do you mean, she killed her?" Jin asks, incredulous.

Did I kill my parent's child? I choke on bitter tears that start streaming down my face. They had raised their strange shape-changing baby without prejudice and with enormous love and support. How would I face them now?

"Don't get dramatic." Ceren pulls on my hair. "The child was already dying. I had intended for you to be someone else's replacement child, but the opportunity to hide you in plain sight was too good to pass up. The child had choked to death during delivery and was struggling to hold onto life. I was going to kill it and coat you in its blood to encourage the transformation but when I placed you next to the child, you touched the baby and transformed. When the child took its last breath, I removed it and you became their child."

What?!! I'm speechless. I'm a murderer? Did I suck out innocent life? I can see the same shock I feel in the eyes of my men as they listen to the story. The strands light up inside me at our shock. I can feel everyone reject this part of the story. My eyes search for Jin, begging this not to be true.

"I should thank you. Before you touched that baby, I didn't realize that you didn't need to drown in the blood of what you wanted to change into. You just needed a drop. The newborn was starting to cough up blood and a drop or two must have been on the limb you touched. " She pulls out a vial and shows it to me. "Thanks to that knowledge, I now only need a small vial of my disguise's blood to maintain my illusions. You made things so much easier for me."

Wait..so I didn't take anyone's life, I just what...absorbed their likeness? I raise my hands and stare at them. I think about what she just said. She needed blood to change. I didn't have any access to blood when I changed in my destroyed apartment. I didn't touch any blood when I changed for my parents, either.

A realization dawns on me. I don't need blood to change form! The magic rustles along the strands at my realization, confirming that it obeys my commands willingly, not through force.

My eyes fly to Jin, who is still standing there, free of chains, watching me and his brothers one by one, get chained up.  I stare into Jin's eyes and I mouth the words, "I don't need blood". Jin's mouth raises a little in the smallest hint of a smile and he looks down at the floor and then back up to me. A hidden nod, meaning he understood me.

The magic was right, I am different. I'm not like the witch, who is bound by blood to this curse. Now, just to confirm something else.

"So why make me the bait?" I ask her. She chuckles as Jungkook stands before the next set of chains and is bound to the wall by her magic.

"Do you have any idea how long it took me to perfect you?" She says. She glances down at me, smirking.

"Perfect me?" I turn my head up to hers, confused. I can see the gloat in her eyes at whatever she knows.

Hobi starts moving toward the harnesses. Walking slowly, the witch's eyes leave me and watch him closely, waiting for him to do something unexpected. To fight her in some way. Hobi just challenges her with his eyes as he slowly walks to the wall, making it clear that he wasn't giving up or submitting to her in ANY way.

A sneer curls her lips into an ugly shape. "Faster Hobi, you wouldn't want me to slip." She mimes sawing at my neck. Anger flares anew in his eyes but he walks a little faster and gets in place, the leather almost jumping to immobilize him.

She chuckles at his resistance, when he pulls on the chains, testing them. "Yes, perfect you. It took centuries to get the right bait. To create the right sort of bait who could hold onto the strands and catch my men but not own the strands." She growls.

"Several of your predecessors tried to keep the strands for themselves. I couldn't have that." I feel her anger at the memory vibrate through her, causing the knife to tremble against me.

"So, I have siblings?" I tentatively ask.

She scoffs, "I don't keep waste," I choke at her words. Did she admit to killing them? All who came before me, dead? So that means I have no siblings. Oh no. My eyes shut against that last piece of knowledge.

This woman was sicker than I ever knew. Countless children lost to obsession. I felt nausea bubble up and I leaned over and threw up at her feet. Ceren jumped back and cursed as I made a mess of her dais.

"You bitch, clean that up." She pointed to a stack of towels that sat to the side. What did she have towels for? You know what? I don't want to know.

As I walk over to grab a towel, I feel arms come around me and pull me into a hug. I turn and see that the arms belong to Jin. I shudder for a moment, tormented by the knowledge that the sickness goes so much deeper and darker than we ever knew. I feel him leave a kiss on my cheek before I'm whisked away, pulled to the dais again, and slammed into the side with an oomph.

"Jin is mine," Ceren snarls. "Clean up your mess, brat." Aching and feeling bruised, I clean up the mess I made and throw the towel to the side. I glance over at Brendan and see him sitting dazed and oblivious. Blissed out and I decide she must have him on something so he doesn't fight her. I tug on his ankle, to catch his attention and see something shimmer along his skin. Another spell? Does she have him bound in blissful ignorance by a spell?

I'm tugged again by my hair as Ceren settles behind me, knife back in place as she glares at Yoongi. He glares right back. "You're next, Min Yoongi!" she snarls.

He growls and slowly takes his place, glaring the whole way, "You'll never own me, witch. No matter what you do, I'll fight against you till the end." Once he's chained, he pulls against the restraints, the chain loudly clanking against the rock wall.

Ceren laughs maniacally, "Once I hold your strand, you'll ever be my loving slave. You'll worship me till the end of time," she purred at the end, relishing her near victory.

I roll my eyes, I'm getting tired of this woman. She really can't think of anything else.

"Calm, Yoongi," I call out. My eyes calmly watched him. He stares at me, shakes his head, and leans back against the rock wall. Grumbling.

"Good, pet," Ceren purrs and pats my head. What the hell? I roll my eyes. Oh, brother.

Jin POV

All that's left now is the witch and me. The others are chained to the wall. Y/N is on her knees at the witch's feet with a knife held to her throat and the poor guy next to them is too high on whatever to know even what planet he's on.

Ceren stands there, proud and nearly giddy with victory, dressed like some ebony sex goddess. This woman and her costumes. I swear, she's so predictable that I'm almost disappointed. As if she could ever hold any sex appeal for us after all she's done.

My heart breaks at the knowledge that there are countless lives lost to this madwoman's obsession with me. Countless children were created to be potential baits who were killed by her when they didn't work out. Did they never make it past babyhood? Did any of them ever get old enough to work for the Center? Did we ever know any of them? I shake my head at the endless questions that could drive a person mad thinking of them. So much wasted life and all of it now rested on Y/N's shoulders. Her strength in the face of endless horror makes me proud.

I watch Y/N roll her eyes at being treated like a good pet. I can't help but quirk a small smile at her expression, she doesn't have a submissive bone in her body. How the witch can't tell that she has the most dangerous one of us all at her feet makes me want to laugh.

Now that I knew that Y/N doesn't need blood to work her magic means that the tables have turned. Y/N had explained that our choices were the key to unraveling this curse, but we had to be willing to put ourselves in the witch's power to make that choice. Now that we had a mate, we could choose between them as we couldn't 500 years ago.

The witch called Y/N bait. Saw her as nothing more than a tool to be used. She understood nothing of the creature she had created. The trap she was walking into. All she needed now was me but if I gave in too easily, she's be suspicious.

So I better make this good.

Witch's POV

I pulled on the hair of the bait at my feet. This weak creature who I created to secure the mate strands that my men refused to seal with me. Now they were mine and as soon as I had Jin secured, I could reclaim my rights to them.

The moon was almost in place above me. I could feel its power radiate through the cave and focus on the dais I had created to capture its power and use it to transfer the strands from the bait to me. The strands that now thrum with power in my creation that would once again be all mine.

I glance at the others who are already chained to the walls. My pets. My beautiful possessions. Now finally mine. Just one left who I needed to finish my collection.

"Your turn now, my beautiful Jin." I croon. His gem-like eyes sparkle with anger towards me. He never understood that his anger for me only heightened his beauty. Heightened my need to make him submit to me. To control that passion, bend it to my will, mold it to my passions. Yoongi had the same appeal but for different reasons. I just wanted to force his submission. With Jin, his beauty and grace were a prize to treasure and mold into my perfect mate. His beauty complimented my own. Once I own them, I'll have all of the Kim Foundation under my control. The power I will wield in the world through them makes what we would have had 500 years ago a beggar's pittance.

"You are so transparent in your greed for power. Do you think owning me will give you what you want?" He says.

"Owning you will be a pleasure, but the power I'll wield through Kim Foundation will make the last 500 years of suffering all be worth it." I purr.

I hear several of the men scoff at my words. Jin just smirks, "Well, I hate to disappoint you, but before we came here, we transferred all power to the individual family heads." I gasp. "When we leave here, we will not own a single thing."

"No," I snarl. My hand pressed the knife against the bait's throat beneath me. "You wouldn't dare give it all up."

Jin just laughs, "Do you think any of it will mean anything if we're slaves? We will never give ourselves to you willingly."

I snarl, but soon get myself under control, "No matter. I will own you and your skills will serve me and we'll reclaim everything you think you've kept out of my reach." I pull on Y/N's hair as I glare at him.

"Keep dreaming," Yoongi grunts from his chains. I flick my wrist and slam him against the wall, causing him to let out a groan. I smirk at the sound. Oh, I can't wait to make him cry in the pain I will inflict on him. The pleasure those sounds will be when I wring them from his lips.

I flick my wrist and the 8th set of harnesses pulls out of the rock and heads to me. I wrap Y/N in them and insert them into the dais. Chaining her before me where she can't move and keeping her where I need her.

The member of Bangtan growl in their fury as they watch their temporary mate become tied to the stone. Each of them pulled against the chains and leather, growling. Jungkook and V even start to transform in their need and anger to pull the chains from the rock. I watch in fascination as they switch to their original forms that I blessed them with and then watch them grow even more impressive.

I grin as I examine their beauty. Fangs and claws dripping with their poison. Muscles bulging, their clothes tight and starting to tear. If it wasn't for the magic, they would easily be able to break free. I step down from the raised stone platform and walk closer to Jungkook. His power and beauty are a sight to behold. I feel like a proud owner.

"Oh, your power will be glorious to bend to my will, Jungkook." My eyes rake over his form, paying close attention to the power in his thighs. "Oh, I will so enjoy bending you to my will." I purr while he growls. My body feels almost ready to orgasm just at the thought of him between my thighs.

I walk over to V and watch as his furious eyes promised untold pain at his hands. Oh, I couldn't wait. I had learned the beauty and power of pain over the years. I reveled in it and I would enjoy the pleasure they brought to me with it. "When I claim you as my own, you'll forget all who came before. You'll only be V for me, nothing of your past will remain. I'll enjoy what the monster in you will do for me."

"Don't count on it bitch," He growls, "I'll rip you apart with my own hands," Venom drips off his fangs as he threatens me.

"I'm counting on it," I grin. Oh, he'll be so much fun. I love when they fight. Of course, under the pull of the strands that will bind us, he won't have much fight...pity.

I ignore the others as I focus back on Jin who still hadn't moved from where he had hugged my bait. His eyes narrowed and calculated. No matter what he thinks, he can't get away from me this time.

I turn my body to him, running my hands down my curves in a caress as I contemplate the beauty before me. All mine. I hum at the thought.

"Now, my beautiful, naughty, Jin. Your turn to join my collection." I gesture to the last harness.

"And if I say no?" he asks. His shoulders back, spine straight, challenging me. I'm gonna love breaking him like the prized stallion that he is.

I walk over to him, slowly, sultry, and place my hand on his chest as he stiffens before me, "Then I will kill Y/N before your very eyes."

"Weren't you going to do that anyway?" He sneers.

"Oh, she is going to die, make no mistake about it, but it's a difference in style." I start to walk around him, circle him, letting my hand trail across the firm muscles of his chest and back. "If she dies when she loses the strands, it'll be painless, numb, quick. But, if I peel her skin off first. It will be oh so much more painful." I look up into his furious ruby gaze and make sure he understands that I will brook no disobedience. Training begins now.

I start to walk back to the dais, my back to him but letting my hips sway in a sexy strut. "I will also kill everyone in this room that is precious to you." I turn to him when I reach the top. "It's up to you." I smile, letting him know that he has no choice at all but to obey.

I can see the power of his wolf flash in his expressive heated gaze. Thrill thrums through me as I see the dangerous power of the man before me. That power will soon be all mine and I am almost giddy with excitement. Once he's in place, I'll trip the spell. I chuckle at the thought.

Y/N POV

Fury and hatred flash in Jin's eyes as he starts to walk to the last harness on the wall. I hear the woman behind me chuckle as she watches his capitulation. His eyes drop to mine and I calmly watch him stand in front of the chains that will bind him to the wall, unable to be of any assistance to prevent what will take place.

I admit I feel apprehensive, but I try to not let that feeling ghost over the strands that are thrumming deep within me, near my heart. Each of us is now bound together, at this moment, letting our love and dedication for each other buoy us as she gloats over us. I take comfort in feeling their love and sending mine to them. I know she can't do anything to me before she takes the strands and I already know what it feels like to be disconnected. When the numbness starts, it won't take me by surprise this time. Yoongi also won't be surprised, but I don't know what the others will do. I also don't know if they will feel anything different since the witch is just planning on transferring the strands to herself. Then the true test will come.

I watch the chains setting around Jin, leather locking in place on his arms and legs. Jungkook and Tae are fully transformed into their monster forms and the others are barely holding back. I honestly think this woman would enjoy seeing them all transformed. She lets go of my hair and pushes me down to the floor of the platform, my face scrapes against the rock. The scrapes sting.

She steps on my back, pushing me down flat. "Now that you are where you belong, it's time to get started, shall we?" I feel her take a step on me and step over. I grunt against the weight of her heels pressing into my back as she uses me as a step.

Patience Y/N, patience.

She walks over to Brendan and pulls his dazed self up and stands him before her. I watch, suspicious of what she is going to do. She starts to murmur and beneath me, the dais starts to glow. I can feel the magic moving, restless against the strands. I feel power being drawn in from somewhere. It electrifies the platform, colors start to move like an iridescent shine over the rock. Purple, gold, silver, and a touch of black, skim over us as whatever spell she is beginning starts to coalesce.

I watch in growing horror as the knife in her hand starts to trail along Brendan's skin. Slowly cutting him, blood started to bead from each cut. As she moves higher up his body, the cuts become deeper, till rivulets of blood start to flow.

"NO!" I yell and pull against the chains. The rest of Bangtan start to pull and fight against their hold. It doesn't take long for them all to transform into their stronger monster selves in their