JEON JUNGKOOK

The steady rhythm of Taehyung’s heartbeat was a lullaby to my soul. Being wrapped in his embrace, with his warmth surrounding me, felt like the safest place in the world. His fingers traced delicate patterns across my bare arm, sending a ripple of goosebumps down my skin. Butterflies stirred within my stomach, and I had to inhale sharply, trying to steady my breath and remind myself that this was real—this was us.

His hand paused, resting briefly on my skin, before his fingers lightly tapped against my arm. I looked up to meet his gaze.

"I may have done something, but I don’t want you to be angry at me," Taehyung’s voice was low, almost hesitant.

A frown tugged at my brows as I pushed my palm into the bed to sit up more fully, a sudden anxiety coursing through me. "What?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

"Today I reached out to a family friend, a therapist," Taehyung began, his eyes meeting mine with a mixture of guilt and concern. "Zara saw her for a few months—she didn’t have the best childhood, and this therapist really helped her."

My throat tightened, the words choking me as I fought to swallow. Taehyung’s hand found its way to my face, his thumb gently brushing across my cheekbone. "I only contacted her to ask if she might have time to visit. I’m not forcing you to do this, but I wanted you to have the option. It's entirely up to you, pups, but I really think you should consider it."

My gaze flickered between his eyes, searching for some reassurance, but eventually, I lowered my gaze to the bed. "Pups," he repeated softly, as if trying to anchor me.

"I’ll think about it," I croaked, my voice hoarse with emotion.

"Really?" His tone held a note of hope, as if the possibility of me agreeing meant more to him than I could understand.

I nodded, though my gaze remained fixed on the sheets beneath us.

"Look at me," he urged, his voice a gentle command.

I lifted my eyes, meeting his emerald gaze. "I’m proud of you, you know that?" His words washed over me, tender and sincere, and a wave of emotion gripped my chest.

Love.

Such an unfamiliar and surreal feeling.

A small, fragile smile curled at the corners of my lips. Taehyung leaned in, his lips lingering against my forehead in a kiss that felt like the world had paused around us.

But then, the sudden slam of the front door shattered the moment. The noise was loud enough to make me flinch, my heart skipping a beat. Taehyung’s posture shifted, and I felt a cold stir of dread settle in my bones. I grasped the covers tightly, bracing myself.

"Taehyung?" A voice shouted from downstairs.

"Shit," Taehyung muttered under his breath, jumping out of bed and pulling me up with him.

"Who is it?" I whispered urgently.

"Hoseok. I have no idea why he’s here," Taehyung exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration and panic. He began scanning the room, looking for something to do, some way to handle this unexpected situation.

Footsteps echoed up the stairs, growing nearer, and before I could process anything further, Taehyung shoved me toward the en suite bathroom, shutting the door behind me with a force that made my heart race. I stumbled into the small space, bracing myself against the sink to keep from crashing into the wall. My hands trembled as I pressed my ear to the door, listening to the muffled voices outside.

"What's happened? Why are you back?" Taehyung’s voice was muffled, but the tension in it was unmistakable.

Hoseok’s voice was harder to make out, though I could sense the proximity of their conversation as they stood just outside the room. A mention of Zara reached my ears, though I didn’t catch the full context.

Then, Hoseok’s voice cut through the air, clearer now.

"Is someone here? I can smell something," he said, his tone making my heart race even faster.

Taehyung’s awkward laugh followed, but it sounded forced.

"Damn man, you’ve had a girl over, haven’t you?" Hoseok teased, clearly amused.

"Yeah, just a quick one," Taehyung replied, his voice tight. "She’s... gone now."

The words hit me like a slap, and pain radiates through my chest. Why was he lying? Why did it hurt so much to hear him speak as though I didn’t matter?

Hoseok chuckled again, his voice full of mocking approval. "You little fuck boy. Was she good? Blonde like usual?"

My breath hitched, and a tear slipped down my cheek.

Taehyung’s voice cracked as he answered. "Yeah, blonde."

The conversation moved on, but I could feel the weight of Hoseok’s questions and Taehyung’s evasions pressing down on me. He wasn’t just lying to Hoseok—he was lying to himself. To me.

"Are you seeing your dad later?" Hoseok asked, seemingly unaware of the emotional wreckage he was causing.

"Yeah," Taehyung replied dismissively, his voice taking on a harder edge. "I’m leaving soon. You should get back to the others."

Hoseok’s voice softened as he mentioned grabbing Zara’s tablets before he made his exit, and a few moments later, the front door slammed shut.

My fists clenched involuntarily, my nails digging into my palms as a rush of fury and hurt collided within me. I took a moment to gather myself, then opened the bathroom door. Taehyung was standing by the bed, his breathing shallow and heavy. He looked... guilty. He should feel guilty.

"Pup—"

"Are you kidding me?" I whispered, the words sharp and full of pain. A tear fell from my eye, and I couldn’t hold it back anymore.

"I'm sorry, I didn’t—"

"Am I nothing to you?" I shouted, my voice breaking. More tears followed, streaming down my face uncontrollably. "Is that all I am to you, just some quick fling?"

"Pups, please," Taehyung's voice was desperate as he moved toward me.

I held up my hand to stop him. "Don't. Just don’t."

I was shaking, trying to breathe through the ache in my chest.

"I never meant for this to happen. I just panicked," Taehyung said, his hands moving as if to explain himself.

"So you lie to make yourself feel better?" I shouted, the anger mingling with my hurt. "Are you embarrassed of me?"

"No," Taehyung insisted urgently.

"Are you ashamed of me?" I cried, my voice cracking.

"No!" He shouted back, his words filled with a raw intensity. "I’m not embarrassed or ashamed of you, pups."

"Then why can’t you tell Hoseok? He’s not your father! He’s your goddamn beta, Taehyung! Do you think he’s going to judge you?" My voice wavered as I tried to hold it together.

Taehyung buried his face in his hands, a sound of frustration escaping him as he sighed heavily. "I’m scared," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.

"Scared of what?" I shouted, my voice so loud it seemed to reverberate through the walls.

"That my dad will find out, Jungkook. You know this," Taehyung snapped back, fury flashing in his eyes.

I shook my head, the tears still falling. "He’s not your dad, Taehyung. He’s your beta. If you don’t trust him, why is he your beta?"

Taehyung’s face softened, his eyes clouded with regret. "I’m scared of losing you, okay?" His voice was tinged with desperation.

I felt my own fear echoing in his words. "Then how long are we going to wait, Taehyung? How long will this secret hang over us?"

"I need time," he replied, his voice small, almost defeated.

"I know this is hard for you," I said, my voice softening, "but this is your life, Taehyung. Life is short, and we need to live it now."

Taehyung looked at me like I had just shaken him from a deep slumber, his expression unreadable. "I’m sorry I fuck everything up," he said, his words harsh, but there was a deep pain there. "I’m sorry I’m not strong enough to face this. But I can’t lose you."

"You won’t lose me if we stay together," I told him firmly, my hands finding his.

"You don’t know what my father is capable of," Taehyung said, exhaustion lining his features.

I squeezed his hands, my voice calm but resolute. "You have nothing to worry about, Taehyung. Your pack is afraid of him too. They won’t tell him. I promise you."

"You’re so strong, pups," Taehyung murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. "I don’t know how you do it."

"Everyone has their demons," I replied quietly, "But sometimes you have to push past them and find what makes you happy. You can’t live in fear forever."

He seemed to take in my words, his gaze softening, and for a moment, everything seemed to still.

"I never thought having a mate could be this special," Taehyung whispered, his hands cradling my face. "You’re going to save me, pups. You have no idea."

And in that moment, I realized I had already saved him. And he had already saved me.