Jeon Jungkook

"Jungkook and I are mates, Yoongi. That's why I'm here." The words slip from Taehyung's lips with such ease, as though they have always been meant to be spoken. I was frozen in disbelief, my mind unable to grasp what I had just heard. Had I really heard him correctly?

Taehyung kept his gaze fixed on Yoongi, but I was utterly captivated by the magnitude of the moment. His hand, warm and sure, sought mine, and he squeezed it gently, as though grounding me in this new reality. My heart pounded in my chest, threatening to escape entirely. Was he, at last, accepting this, accepting us?

The silence in the room felt suffocating, stretching between us in a heavy pause. I tore my gaze away from Taehyung's, dragging my attention to Yoongi, whose eyes flickered between the two of us, still processing what had been said. He blinked slowly, as though the words were still settling in his mind. Behind him, Jimin stood quietly, her presence a silent support.

"Oh," Yoongi finally uttered, his brow furrowing in mild confusion. "Congrats, guys, that's really... great. I'm happy for you." The words were clumsy, almost forced, as he nodded towards us, his voice hollow, not matching the weight of what was happening.

"You don't sound it," Taehyung replied instantly, his tone sharp but not cruel. His grip on my hand tightened in a way that suggested he was holding onto something far more fragile than I had realised. There was an underlying pain in his voice-like he was hurting, and perhaps, in part, because of this very moment.

Yoongi's expression softened, his eyes clouding with uncertainty. He began shaking his head slowly, as though trying to clear the fog of confusion. "No, I am happy for you both, truly. It's just... I'm shocked, that's all. This is the last thing I expected. After everything we've been through together, I never saw this coming."

Jimin stepped closer to him, her hand resting gently on his lower back, her touch grounding him as she whispered up to him. "Be happy for them, Yoongi."

"I am," he replied quickly, his voice still laced with disbelief. "It's just... We've been training together for over two months now, and you kept this from all of us? For so long?" His eyes, wide with confusion, landed on Taehyung, searching for answers.

Taehyung lowered his head, his shoulders slumping as if weighed down by the weight of his own guilt. "I know," he admitted quietly, his voice raw. "I know it took too long. It's my fault. I told Jungkook to keep quiet about it because I needed time to think about how everyone would react... how you would react. No one else knows-only you two." His eyes turned to me then, his green depths softening as he smiled, a smile that didn't quite reach the uncertainty that lingered just behind his gaze.

Yoongi's gaze then shifted to me, and I flinched, feeling exposed under his scrutiny. His lips pressed into a frown, and he spoke softly, his voice carrying an unexpected weight. "He's your mate, Taehyung. Not a secret." The simplicity of his words struck me in a way I hadn't anticipated, the sincerity in his tone making it impossible to ignore the truth.

The sting of tears welled up again, and I had to fight to keep them at bay. I couldn't afford to break down-not now.

"I know he's not a secret," Taehyung murmured, his voice barely audible as his gaze fell, avoiding the eyes of everyone in the room. He seemed smaller somehow, like a part of him had pulled away, hiding from the weight of our collective gaze.

Jimin, ever the mediator, stepped in to break the silence that had begun to settle uncomfortably between us. "Well," she said gently, her voice a soothing balm in the tense atmosphere, "we'll give you some space to talk." She linked her fingers through Yoongi's, pulling him towards the door, which swung closed with a resounding thud, leaving us in the quiet aftermath.

The room was still, the air thick with unsaid words and unresolved emotions. I felt Taehyung's hand tighten around mine once more, but he didn't speak immediately. Instead, he exhaled a long, strained sigh, his breath full of frustration and something heavier-regret, perhaps, or self-doubt. I didn't know which.

"This was never meant to happen, pups," he finally whispered, his voice carrying an edge of sorrow that made my chest tighten. He raised our entwined hands to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to the back of my hand. His lips lingered there for a moment, and I felt the warmth of his kiss sear through me.

"What wasn't?" I asked softly, my voice barely a murmur.

He stared out at the expanse of the room, his eyes distant, as though he were searching for something in the empty space. "This was never meant to get out of hand," he muttered, his voice thick with emotion. "You weren't meant to be here. You weren't supposed to need me like this." He flicked a glance at me, his green eyes glassy with unshed tears, a reflection of the vulnerability he kept hidden beneath the façade of strength. "This is all my fault."

I wanted to say something, to assure him that it wasn't his fault, that I didn't blame him for any of this. But the words didn't come. I was choking on them, the truth too complicated to untangle in a single breath.

"The thought of you getting into the water... with the purpose of-" He stopped abruptly, his voice trembling, as though he couldn't finish the sentence. A shudder passed through him, and he let out a ragged breath before continuing. "The thought of you trying to end it all haunts me, pups. I can't... I can't get the image out of my head." His eyes were red-rimmed, his gaze distant as he tried to steady himself. "I just..." He stopped again, wiping his eyes quickly, as though embarrassed by the weakness he was showing.

I hurriedly wiped the tears that had begun to fall again, my hands trembling as I clutched them to my chest. "I never meant for it to go that far, Taehyung. I swear. I wasn't trying to hurt myself, not like that." My voice cracked, and I could hear the desperation in it. "Being under the water, it was just so... quiet. It made me feel numb, like nothing mattered. I lost control, and before I knew it, I was sinking, deeper and deeper, and I didn't even realise what was happening until it was too late." I could feel my hands shaking uncontrollably now, and Taehyung, with the tenderness only he possessed, kissed them over and over, trying to calm me.

"But the worst part," I whispered, my voice breaking, "is that I liked it. I liked feeling nothing, Taehyung. Absolutely nothing."

The pain in Taehyung's eyes was unbearable, and I could hear the sharp intake of breath he took as he tried to process my words. "God," he groaned, burying his face in my hands. "That scares me, Jungkook. It fucking terrifies me."

I closed my eyes, unable to meet his gaze. "I just felt so alone, so completely lost. Everything was too much, and I wanted to know what it would feel like to just... stop. To feel nothing." I couldn't hold back the sob that broke through. "I never meant to hurt anyone, I swear. I just... couldn't see any way out."

"Why can't I ever get better?" I spat, my anger bubbling to the surface, the words cutting through me like daggers. "Am I broken? Why can't I just be normal?" I shouted the last word, the frustration and hopelessness pouring out of me in a torrent I couldn't control.

Taehyung moved swiftly, pulling me into him. His arms enveloped me with a strength that felt like the only thing holding me together. "Shh, shh," he murmured softly, rocking us back and forth. "Breathe, baby. Just breathe." His voice was soothing, as though it was the only thing keeping me from falling apart completely.

I didn't realise how desperately I needed the comfort of his embrace until now. His warmth seeped into me, calming the storm inside my chest. His heart beat steadily against mine, a quiet reminder that I wasn't alone in this.

"You need time, pups," Taehyung whispered, his voice low and serious. "And from now on, I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to wait for you outside your therapy sessions. Every time you have a bad day, we'll do something to take your mind off things. I'll be there, all the time. We'll spend so much time together." He paused, pulling away slightly to look into my eyes, his gaze unwavering. "It's you and me now. We're a team, okay?"

The strength in his words made my heart swell. I nodded, unable to form the words I wanted to say, my emotions too overwhelming to express.

"We're going to get you better," he said, a promise in his voice as his hand softly caressed my hair. "And I'm going to make you the happiest person on earth. I won't stop until I do."

A small, shaky smile broke through my tears, though my eyes remained wet.

"But I need to ask one thing," he said, his voice suddenly serious again. His gaze was soft yet determined.

"What?" I asked quietly, my heart fluttering in my chest.

"My dad's been around a lot lately. I want to tell my pack, I do, but I don't want to do it while he's here. He could ruin everything. Can we... can we wait a week or two until he's out of the picture?" Taehyung's voice wavered slightly, his vulnerability clear.

I frowned slightly, uncertainty flickering in my chest, but before I could speak, Taehyung spoke again, his eyes locking onto mine with determination.

"I want to focus on you, on your recovery," he said firmly. "I don't want distractions, not while you're still fighting this. It's all about you, Jungkook. I'll take care of everything else."

I felt my resolve strengthen, and I nodded. "Okay," I whispered, the word heavy but final.

"Okay?" Taehyung asked, his voice soft but hopeful.

"Yeah, we can wait," I said, my voice hoarse, but my heart lighter.

His face lit up with a soft smile, and he pulled me into a gentle kiss. When he pulled away, his gaze lingered on me, tracing every feature of my face as if he were memorising every detail.

"Don't look at me," I grumbled, trying to wipe away the remaining tears.

Taehyung chuckled softly and gently took my hands, pulling them away from my face. "Why not?" he teased, the sparkle in his eyes both affectionate and playful.

"Because I probably look like a zombie right now," I muttered, trying to pull away from him.

"Hmm," Taehyung hummed thoughtfully, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Maybe not a zombie, but a very, very hot werewolf." His smile was playful, his teeth just visible in the most endearing way.

I tried not to roll my eyes, though I could feel the laughter bubbling up inside me. I held his gaze, teasing him back. "Is that your way of cheering me up?" I raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at my lips despite myself.

"Maybe," Taehyung said, moving closer, his lips brushing against mine. "Is it working?"

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "No," I said with a playful sigh. "I don't think hot is the word for me right now."

Taehyung smiled wide and leaned in to kiss me again. "Yes it is," he said, pulling away for a moment to tease me. "We could argue about this all night, if you like."

"I'd rather spend the night with you," I admitted, my voice quiet, but laced with the sadness of the situation. The sterile hospital air made everything feel so much colder, and I was already sick of the smell of disinfectant.

"Then why don't we?" Taehyung suggested with a mischievous grin.

I sighed and shook my head, glancing down at the hospital bed. "I can't," I said, my voice defeated. "They want to keep me overnight."

"And?" Taehyung's voice held a challenging note, his determination not to let anything stand between us.

"Like that will stop me from staying here with you," he said, standing from the chair with an almost possessive air.

I smiled softly, a warmth blooming in my chest. "You think they'll let you stay?"

"They'll have to stop me," Taehyung replied with a playful glint in his eye.

He looked down at me and then climbed onto the bed, wrapping me up in his embrace. "Cuddle?" he asked, his voice tender.

A smile spread across my face as I moved over to give him space, settling into his arms, feeling the comfort of his presence envelop me.

"I missed you," I said into his chest, the words coming out more easily than I'd expected.

"I missed you too, pups," Taehyung murmured, squeezing my arm gently. "I'm sorry for not prioritising you, for getting caught up in everything. You should always come first."

I shook my head, my voice soft but sure. "I can't ask you to put your life on hold for me. I shouldn't rely on you for happiness."

"But you needed me, Jungkook. You weren't relying on me for happiness. You needed me, and I wasn't there for you. And I can't forgive myself for that." Taehyung's voice faltered, the rawness of his emotion leaving me speechless.

The room fell into silence, the occasional beep of the machines filling the space as I held onto him, afraid to let go.

"I want to get better," I said finally, my voice shaky but determined. "I want to get better-for you, and for me. For us."

Taehyung's grip tightened, and he placed a kiss on top of my head. "That makes me happy, pups. So happy."

I clung to him as though my life depended on it, knowing in that moment that nothing could break us. Not now. Not after everything we had been through.