Jeon Jungkook

The weeks following Taehyung's announcement of our relationship were better than I had dared to imagine. No longer did we have to feign indifference or act as though we were strangers. For the first time, I felt free-free to be myself, free to love openly. There was no more hiding, no more pretending, and certainly no shame in being by Taehyung's side. How could I ever be embarrassed of him? He was my mate, my anchor, my everything.

Yet, not everything was as flawless as I hoped. While things between Taehyung and me were blissful, the rest of the world had other plans. Training resumed, and with it came the stares, whispers, and judgmental glances. At first, I told myself to ignore them, but the weight of their scrutiny grew heavier by the day, gnawing away at my confidence.

I had never been the focus of such attention, and to say I hated it would be an understatement. My wolf was weak, weaker than anyone else in either of our packs, and now, with all eyes on me, my flaws felt magnified. Every stumble, every misstep, every nervous glance-they saw it all. Their judgment was a constant reminder of how inadequate I was compared to Taehyung. He was everything I wasn't-strong, fair, a leader admired by all. And me? I was the frail shadow trailing behind him, an embarrassment by association.

Today, I promised myself that things would be different. I would tune out the others and focus solely on my training. No distractions. No doubts. Just me and the task at hand.

My paws thudded against the forest floor as I darted between the towering trees, the crisp winter air stinging my face. I pushed myself harder, faster, letting the rush of the wind clear my mind. Just as I reached the stream, the impact came.

A grey wolf lunged at me from the side, knocking me off balance. We tumbled across the ground, my body scraping against the unforgiving dirt and jagged branches. Pain shot through me as my head smacked against the earth, over and over again. I let out a sharp yelp, my breaths ragged and uneven.

When we finally came to a halt, the grey wolf loomed over me, growling with a smugness that made my stomach churn. Another wolf joined him, both standing tall, their sneering expressions filled with mockery.

I recognised them. They were part of Taehyung's pack, though their names escaped me.

What the fuck?! I barked through the mindlink, the anger boiling within me. Training allowed for tackles, sure, but this was deliberate-this was malicious.

Oh, Jaemin, you were so right the grey wolf jeered, circling me like a predator toying with its prey. He could never fight back. Weak little wolf.

The burn of humiliation and anger clawed at my chest, but I gritted my teeth, refusing to let them see me falter. Shut up, I snapped, my voice harsh.

Think you'll survive Taehyung's father?Jaemin taunted, his paw landing dangerously close to my side. His father already thinks we're slackers. Imagine what he'll think of you. If I were you, I'd sleep with one eye open.

The other wolf, Felix, chimed in with a cruel laugh. You're lucky you've got the bond. Without it, Taehyung wouldn't even look at you.

The words cut deeper than I wanted to admit. My chest tightened as dread coiled around me.

You know nothing, I growled, pushing myself to stand on shaky legs.

Ooooh, look who's getting cocky Jaemin mocked, a wicked grin spreading across his face. Felix, didn't you say you've got Taehyung's dad on speed dial?

I felt the nausea rise, my stomach churning violently. Felix's chuckle echoed in my head, taunting me. Sure do. One call, and I'm sure he'd love to meet his son's weak little mate.

I wanted to believe they were bluffing, but a nagging doubt lingered. Why were they so focused on me? Was it jealousy? Spite? Whatever their reasons, I couldn't stay.

Go fuck yourselves, I snarled before bolting, my paws pounding against the earth as adrenaline coursed through my veins. My back stung from the scratches, but I ignored the pain. I couldn't let Taehyung see me like this, not now.

When I reached the centre of the grounds, I skidded to a halt, collapsing onto the cold ground. My breaths came in shallow gasps as I fought to calm the storm within me. This wasn't the time to panic-I couldn't let them win.

I spent the rest of training sticking close to Jimin, trying to fade into the background. His sharp eyes studied me, concern flickering across his face.

"You okay?" he asked softly, his blond head tilting as he examined me.

I forced a smile. "Just tired. Done with today."

He nodded, though his expression told me he didn't entirely believe me. "Yeah, I feel that."

When training finally ended, Taehyung's voice echoed through the mindlink. You wanna come back to mine, pups?

My heart sank. There was no way I could face him after what had just happened. We can stay at mine, I replied, quickly heading toward my house.

Taehyung caught up with me by the time we reached the back door. Shifting, I grabbed the clothes I'd left out, slipping them on in silence. I didn't wait for him, retreating to my room as quickly as possible.

He followed moments later, but before he could say a word, I escaped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. The hot water of the shower roared to life, masking the sound of my shaky breaths.

Stripping off my clothes, I stepped under the water, the lukewarm stream trickling over me. My eyes squeezed shut as I tried to steady myself, but my hands trembled despite my efforts.

The sound of the door closing behind me sent a jolt through my body. I didn't turn. I didn't need to. Taehyung's presence was as comforting as it was overwhelming.

His arms slipped around me, his lips brushing against my shoulder as his forehead rested against the back of my head. "What's wrong, pups?" he murmured, his voice soft but firm.

I couldn't tell him. If he knew what they'd said, he'd lose it. I didn't want him to regret making our relationship public.

"Talk to me," he whispered, his breath warm against my skin. "I know when something's wrong."

I turned to face him, forcing a smile I prayed would be convincing. "Nothing," I lied. "Just a tough training session. I'm tired."

His eyes searched mine, doubt flickering in their depths. "That's all?"

I nodded quickly, desperate for him to drop the subject.

With a reluctant sigh, he let it go. "Alright," he said, reaching for the shampoo. "Turn around."

I obeyed without question, his touch grounding me in a way nothing else could. But the storm inside me raged on, and I knew this wasn't over.

━━

The evening passed in tranquil silence, with Taehyung and I curled up together, watching movies. I wasn't in the mood for conversation, and he seemed to sense that, his quiet presence comforting rather than intrusive. He didn't push, didn't pry-he simply stayed beside me, his warmth and the steady rhythm of his breathing a soothing balm to my frayed nerves.

As the hours slipped by, the exhaustion from training began to take hold. My eyelids grew heavy, fluttering shut for moments at a time until I let out a quiet yawn. Taehyung noticed instantly, his voice soft yet full of care as he asked, "Want to go to sleep?"

I nodded, and he reached over, closing the laptop with gentle precision before setting it on the floor. He leaned to switch off the lamp, and darkness enveloped the room. We lay facing each other, nose to nose, our breaths mingling in the quiet stillness.

There was something about the dark-the way it concealed everything but our voices-that made it easier to speak. The thoughts that I had been suppressing all evening bubbled to the surface, seeking release.

"What do you think of me, Taehyung?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He shifted slightly, his head lifting from the pillow so that I could just make out his eyes searching mine in the shadows. "What do you mean?" he asked, his tone curious but tinged with concern.

I hesitated, burying my face deeper into the pillow, trying to gather the courage to say what was gnawing at me. "Pups," he said more firmly, the nickname steadying me like an anchor. "Tell me what you mean."

The words tumbled out before I could stop them. "Does it bother you that I'm so... visibly weak compared to you?"

"Fuck, Jungkook," he muttered, sitting up abruptly. The duvet shifted as he moved, the sudden loss of warmth making me shiver. "Has someone said something to you?"

I shook my head, lying through my teeth. "No," I replied, my voice strained. "I just... I just want to know."

"You're not weak compared to me," he said firmly, his conviction almost startling.

I almost scoffed at his words, but I held back. "I am. I have so far to go with my training. I'm the weakest by miles, Taehyung. No strength, no stamina. I'm an embarrassment, and I know it doesn't make you look good." My voice was heavy with frustration, my self-doubt bleeding into every syllable.

Taehyung let out a quiet sigh, his fingers brushing gently against my arm in a soothing rhythm. "Pups, I couldn't care less about any of that. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. You're not weak-you're one of the strongest people I know, not because of your training or your physique, but because of your mind. You're resilient, determined, and you don't back down."

I wanted to believe him, but the insecurities clinging to me refused to let go. "I just worry," I admitted softly, "that I'm bringing you shame. That I'm... not enough."

"Please don't say that," he murmured, his voice laced with pain. His fingers found mine, intertwining with them as he brought my hand to his lips, kissing it tenderly. "I love you exactly as you are, Jungkook. I wouldn't change a single thing about you."

"But what about the bond?" The words escaped me harsher than I intended, my chest tightening.

"What about it?" he asked, confusion evident in his tone.

"Would you even like me without it?" I bit down on my lip, trying to suppress the wave of emotion threatening to spill over.

"Of course, I would," he replied, his voice carrying a note of desperation. "Where is this coming from?"

"Would you, though?" My voice wavered, a crack of vulnerability breaking through. "In the real world, Taehyung, I'm completely out of your league. Have you looked at yourself? Then looked at me?"

His hands cupped my face, holding me as if to stop me from spiraling any further. "Jungkook," he said firmly, his voice unwavering. "You are everything I've ever wanted. The blonde hair, the slim build, those goddamn blue eyes-you're perfect to me. You're my type, through and through."

God, I was going to cry.

"You are gorgeous," he continued, his voice softening as his forehead came to rest against mine. "Every single part of you is beautiful, and I wish you could see yourself the way I see you."

The tension in my body began to melt away, his words wrapping around me like a warm embrace. Maybe I was overthinking, letting the negativity creep in and cloud my judgment. Why did I always let the voices of others drown out the truth? Why couldn't I simply accept myself as I was?

"What happened today?" he asked gently, his voice drawing me back from my thoughts.

"Nothing," I lied again, too ashamed to admit the truth. "I've just... realised some things over the last few days. I want to be better-stronger, faster. I want to improve." My words tumbled out in a rush, tinged with determination.

"Alright," he said softly, his lips brushing my forehead in a tender kiss. "We can train together, away from everyone else. Just the two of us. How does that sound?"

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I'd like that," I whispered.

He smiled back, the curve of his lips visible even in the dim light. "Just promise me you'll believe me when I say I wouldn't change anything about you."

Instead of replying, I leaned forward, pressing my lips against his. Taehyung's hand cradled the back of my head, deepening the kiss with a passion that left me breathless.

Emboldened by his love, I straddled him, breaking the kiss to look down at him. Our chests rose and fell in unison, the room buzzing with unspoken emotion.

His hands slid beneath my shirt, his fingers toying with the hem before pulling it over my head. The cool air brushed against my skin, but the warmth of his gaze kept me steady.

I leaned down until our bare chests were pressed together, my lips grazing his as I whispered, "I love you, Taehyung."

His hands settled on my lower back, one drifting lower, and the other tracing soothing circles. He smiled, his lips finding mine once more, pouring his love into the kiss. He didn't need to say the words- i felt them in every touch, every breath, every moment we shared

Words-- 2251