Chapter Text
“Soulmates don’t exist,” Jimin immediately shot back. It was probably out of disbelief, more than anger, that the words came out so harsh.
Taehyung stared blankly in front of him. What did it mean—soulmates? What would that do to him, to Jungkook? He could feel his thoughts spiraling, but he couldn’t stop them. Everything was so new, so unknown, and Taehyung was drowning in all of it. To his right, Jungkook was stiff next to him. Taehyung wasn’t even sure that he was breathing.
Hoseok was watching his reaction but didn’t say anything else. Taehyung wanted him to say something. Maybe say that it was a joke. But with the way Jungkook reacted, Taehyung was coming to the realization that it wasn’t a joke. This was his new reality. But he didn’t know where that put him now.
Taehyung felt a feather-light touch against his thigh. He looked down to see Jungkook’s hand hovering. He looked up into Jungkook’s soft eyes and felt some of his fears melt away. Whatever connection was between them would be okay, is what Taehyung read from Jungkook's eyes. Taehyung broke eye contact and leaned over to brush his shoulder against Jungkook’s. Jungkook sighed and dropped his head onto Taehyung’s shoulder.
“Hoseok-ssi, what does it mean to have a soul-bond?”
“You can call me hyung, Taehyung-ah.”
Taehyung nodded at Hoseok’s smile. He wasn’t sure if he could call him hyung right away, but he’d try.
“It means that two people’s wolves recognize each other,” Jungkook said quietly, not raising his head from Taehyung’s shoulder. “It means that we knew each other before.”
Taehyung felt his heart skip a beat, awe falling over him. “Knew each other before?”
Jungkook shrugged.
Hoseok laughed at his expression. “It’s pretty romantic, isn’t it? But it doesn’t have to be. Some people have soul-bonds that are completely platonic. It’s more of a way for your wolf to hold on to a person for the rest of your life. That the person on the other end of the soul-bond will be important to you.”
Taehyung looked down at the top of Jungkook’s head and felt his heart squeeze. He knew he’d always have Jimin in his life, but to have someone else that would be with him throughout his life was comforting. He leaned down and rubbed his cheek against Jungkook’s hair.
“Do you know what you’re doing Taehyung-ah?”
Hoseok’s voice pulled Taehyung away from Jungkook’s shoulder.
“What do you mean?”
Hoseok laughed. “You’re rubbing your scent all over Jungkookie. It’s very cute.”
“Scent?”
“It’s like a claim or a calling card. When someone is close to you your instincts tell you to mark them. Mark them as family or pack,” Jungkook explained rubbing his cheek on Taehyung’s shoulder. “We smell like each other.”
Taehyung’s eyes welled up. To have Jungkook’s scent on him felt a little like love.
“Is that why Tae’s been extra clingy today?” Jimin asked.
“Most likely. He sees you as part of his pack and wanted everyone else to know it.”
Jimin looked pleased at Hoseok’s response. Taehyung wasn’t surprised. Jimin meant the world to him. Jungkook’s fingers made their way up to Taehyung’s nape and stroked the hair there. Taehyung sighed into the touch and felt like purring. Jungkook’s fingers were like magic.
“Taehyung-ah, there’s something important that we need to talk about before you go.”
Taehyung opened his eyes that he hadn’t realized were closed and hummed in question.
Hoseok smiled, “The full moon is tonight and you’re going to turn into a wolf. Do you have a place where you can safely be contained?”
Taehyung hesitated. He could lock himself in his bedroom, but he wasn’t really sure what to expect.
“You could stay here, Taehyung-hyung.” Jungkook said quietly. “We can make sure you’re safe.”
Taehyung’s heart skipped a beat, affection filling his entire being.
“Of course you can stay here, Taehyung-ah. It’s probably for the best anyway, so we can talk you through everything that will happen.”
“What is going to happen?”
“Do you trust me?” Hoseok asked.
Taehyung shared a concerned look at Jimin before turning his gaze to Jungkook. “I guess?”
“Give me a second then.”
Hoseok stood up and walked to the other room. Jimin kept flicking his gaze from Taehyung to Jungkook and back. Taehyung shrugged and focused on the feel of Jungkook’s fingers in his hair. They only waited for a minute or so before something fluffy came around the corner.
It was a large dog-like creature with big green eyes and reddish-brown fur which was thicker around its neck. Its tongue was hanging out of its mouth goofily, making Taehyung smile.
“Do you have a dog, Jungkook?” Jimin asked, reaching his hand out for the dog to sniff his hand. Giggling when it licked the back of his fingers.
Jungkook giggled into Taehyung’s shoulder. “That’s Hoseok-hyung. It’s his wolf.”
“What?” Jimin screeched, yanking his hand away.
Hoseok woofed and jumped up and licked Jimin in the face despite Jimin’s screaming and cowering. Taehyung laughed at the sight and leaned further into Jungkook’s side.
“Do you turn into a wolf too, Jungkookie?” Taehyung turned his head away from Jimin and Hoseok wrestling on the couch to look at Jungkook’s bunny smile and crinkled nose.
“Yeah, I do.” Jungkook looked over and hesitated. “Do you want to see?”
Taehyung’s eyes opened wide, and he nodded, speechless.
Jungkook grinned at him. “I’ll show you tonight, when you come over.”
“Will I turn into a wolf?”
Jungkook nodded.
“What do you think I’ll look like?”
“Beautiful,” Jungkook breathed.
Taehyung watched as a blush grew across Jungkook’s cheeks as his words caught up to him. He laughed at Jungkook’s shyness and ruffled his hair. Jungkook swatted his hand away, turning his head to further hide his blush.
“Will I like being a wolf?” Taehyung felt anxiety rise in his throat the more he thought about that night.
Jungkook gently turned to face Taehyung, taking both of Taehyung’s hands in his own. Taehyung felt himself smile softly at Jungkook’s earnest expression.
“I’ll make sure that you like being a wolf, hyung. I promise.”
Taehyung felt tears welling up in his eyes and let out a laugh to stop them from spilling over. He pulled Jungkook in by their connected hands and nuzzled into Jungkook's neck.
“I believe you, Kookie.”
Taehyung felt Jungkook relax against him at those words, hiding the curl of his lips in Jungkook’s fluffy hair.