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Shift. All you have to do is shift, then everyone will welcome you back with open arms. You can be in a pack again if you just shift. Shift already! Just close your eyes and visualize your wolf. Picture him in your mind and imagine you are turning into him. Feel your body changing and turning into your other half.
“It’s no use. He won’t come to me, no matter how hard I try.” I sighed as I looked around the forest.
The forest was silent except for the sound of an owl in the distance. It was the middle of the night and nobody was around to see me. This was the best time for me to head back to my new home.
My feet moved on their own as I started heading back to town, but the sound of something closely approaching quickly stopped me in my tracks. There was a faint smell of cinnamon in the air before I caught sight of a dark red wolf with golden eyes indicating they were a Beta. The wolf was running as if they were trying to escape from something, but I scanned the area and saw signs of nobody around us. My eyes locked with the Betas’ before they glowered at me and swiftly took off deeper into the woods.
It was best not to get involved with whatever was going on with that person. I already had enough problems to deal with and I didn’t need anymore. It was unusual for a Beta to be running around alone, especially at night. Plus, I had never seen a red wolf before.
My mind started to wander as I kept heading further out of the woods and let out a sigh of relief as I spotted my town.
I tried not to draw attention to myself as I passed by some drunken strangers who were loudly talking and laughing outside the local bar. I internally groaned and rolled my eyes at their behavior. Did this pack of mindless animals have nothing better to do?
“Well, look what we have here. A lost little wolf that’s all alone.” A male voice slurred as I turned around to find one of the drunken guys from earlier looking right at me and smirking.
Great. Just what I needed tonight.
“I’m on my way home now. Go bother someone else.” I said in an annoyed tone.
“Look here, boys. We’ve got a smart-mouthed one on our hands. We should teach this guy a lesson.” The guy smirked as his eyes flashed red, indicating he was an Alpha.
“I wouldn’t if I were you. Picking a fight with me is a bad idea.” I smiled back as I flashed my red eyes back at him.
The guy and his pack looked shocked and took a step back before the alpha started laughing like a maniac.
“I’m not scared of a little Alpha boy like you. I can crush you with my bare hands if I want to. Just the thought of it excites me.” The guy yelled out before I watched him shift into a brown wolf right before my eyes.
In times like this, I wish my wolf was still around so I could show people just how powerful I really am.
The brown wolf started slowly walking toward me as his friends cowardly stood on the sidewalk and cheered him on. Pathetic. It wasn’t until I heard a familiar howl in the night that had me smiling from ear to ear.
At full speed ahead, I watched as two wolves, one a light grey and the other white, came running at full speed at the brown wolf and started attacking him. The scene played out quickly as the grey wolf bit harshly into the brown wolf's neck, causing him to cry out in pain before he let out a low growl. I watched the white wolf look over at me and nod over to the residential area, indicating that I should quickly head home, which I did.
I ran as fast as I could back to my home and didn’t stop until I was inside the living room and could let out the breath I had been holding since I started running. As soon as I made it inside the house, I was greeted by a mint-haired male who was just a little shorter than me, but his age made up for it.
“Did you stir up trouble again?” The male questioned me as he crossed his arms against his chest.
“Not at all Yoongi. Those guys started picking a fight with me. Honest.” I whined.
“Fine. I’m sure Namjoon and Jin are making that guy pay for it right now. Sure sounds like he’s getting what he deserves.” Yoongi smirked.
“Where’s Hoseok and Jimin? Shouldn’t they be back by now?” I asked as I looked around for them.
“They should, but knowing them, they went off to help the others. You know Namjoon is going to scold you for this, and Jin, too. Better prepare for it now.”
“I know. My apology is already in my head. I have a question. Have you ever seen a red wolf before?”
“A red wolf? Those are supposed to be extremely rare. Why do you ask?” Yoongi arched his brow.
“I saw one tonight. A Beta, in fact. Looked like they were running from something in the woods. They saw me but continued to take off running.” I explained as I replayed the scene in my head.
“Strange. Betas don’t travel anywhere alone. They must be trying to get away from something or someone. What scent did they have?”
“They smelled like cinnamon with a hint of apple. Like one of those scented candles they sell in stores.” I chuckled.
“Well, I’ve never picked up that scent before. Could be someone just passing through town from another pack. That does happen from time to time. Every pack works differently from ours.” Yoongi shrugged.
“True, but you know I’m not an official pack member. I can’t be.” I said sadly as I looked at the floor.
“You’ll always be a part of our pack, no matter if you are an official member or not. Did you have any luck getting your wolf tonight?” Yoongi wondered as he slung an arm around my shoulder.
“Nothing. He’s still as silent as ever.”
“I’m sure he’s still healing from it, too. Losing your mate is a traumatic experience for anyone, even for regular humans. It’s going to take time, but I know he hasn’t completely abandoned you. He just needs to heal from the loss, and I’m sure he’ll return to you.”
Before I could reply, I watched four grown men walk inside the house, talking happily and excitedly about what had happened tonight. One of them looked straight at me before he let out a sigh.
“Jungkook, you know better than to go around provoking people. Our pack always tries to keep to ourselves as much as possible. We try not to cause problems for anyone because our pack is different from others.” The male spoke to me in a firm voice.
“I’m sorry, Namjoon. I didn’t do it on purpose. That guy started picking a fight with me and I was going to run away, but he shifted right before I could.” I muttered.
“I understand. Still, try to stay out of danger as much as possible. Without your wolf around, it’s dangerous for you. We can’t always be there to protect you if something goes wrong.”
“Alright. I think he knows not to do it again. Let’s all go wash up and get ready for bed. We’ve had a long day today.” Jin, a male with dark brown hair, stated as he gave me a small smile.
Namjoon and Jin were Fated Mates. Namjoon was the Alpha of our group, and Jin was an Omega. Yoongi was the Beta and Jimin was another Omega. Hoseok was the Delta of our group, and I was the outcast Alpha of our group. It’s not possible for there to be two Alpha males in one pack, so I couldn’t officially be a pack member. This pack operated differently from usual packs because in this pack everyone was treated equally, no matter what their rank was.
I came from a different pack where I was the Alpha, with my Omega by my side. We were attacked by an enemy pack one night and they ended up killing my mate. That was two years ago and ever since then, my wolf hasn’t appeared to me. He’s gone silent over the loss. My mate and I were Chosen Mates, not Fated Mates. Our parents wanted us to join the packs together to unify them, and we had barely been married and mated to each other for four months before she was taken from me. We had known each other since we were born and it hurt me deeply when she passed. My heart lost a part of itself and my wolf abandoned me soon after.
“Take it easy tonight. We know you better than that.” Hoseok said as he put his hand on my shoulder before quickly heading upstairs.
Namjoon, Yoongi, and Jin quickly headed upstairs next, leaving me alone with Jimin.
“You sure know how to make things exciting around here.” Jimin chuckled.
“It’s not intentional.” I huffed.
“I know. Alpha ego and all that. Is everything alright? You look a bit lost in thought.”
“Actually, do you know any red wolves?”
“Oh? Did someone catch your eye? Is our Jungkookie moving on now?” Jimin asked in curiosity.
“No. It’s not like that. I saw one running through the forest tonight. They saw me but kept on running. Smelled like cinnamon and apples. Plus, they were a Beta.”
“I don’t know anyone like that. It’s probably someone passing through.” Jimin shrugged.
“Yoongi said the same thing. Fated Mates are scary.” I shivered at the thought.
“Jungkookie, you’ll find your Fated Mate one day and I can’t wait to be there to give you a smug look.” Jimin laughed.
“That’s not going to happen. I won’t go through that kind of pain again.” I quickly shook my head.
“You’ll change your mind when you find the one that’s truly meant for you. Now let’s head to bed for the night.”
We didn’t say anything else as we walked upstairs together.
I didn’t even bother getting changed as I collapsed on my bed with thoughts of the red wolf drifting into my mind.
It was early in the morning when I heard someone banging their fist on the front door in an impatient manner. I rolled out of bed and let out a small yawn before I slowly made my way downstairs.
“I’m coming!” I yelled out before I quickly opened the front door.
I opened the door to find a male with tanned skin and thick lips with bright red hair and dark brown eyes glaring at me. This guy was beyond beautiful, dressed in an oversized white shirt and light denim jeans.
“Can I help you?” I asked the beautiful stranger as I looked into his eyes.
Before I knew what was happening, I felt something soft and warm on my lips. It took me a moment to realize that this stranger was fisting my shirt and kissing me. It felt nice having another pair of lips on my own since it had been so long. I wasn’t sure why he was kissing me, so I gently pushed him away as he looked at me with eyes full of lust and annoyance.
“Asshole. I don’t need this in my life right now.” The guy angrily huffed before he stormed off, leaving me in shock.
I heard a low whistle behind me, and I turned around to find Hoseok laughing at me.
“What did you do this time? The guy looked pissed.” Hoseok continued to laugh so hard that he nearly had tears in his eyes.
“I don’t know that guy. I’ve never seen him before.” I groaned.
“Well, he sure seemed to know who you are. You sure you don’t know him?”
“I’m positive. I’ve never seen him before. He just walked up and knocked on the door before he kissed me and took off.” I explained as we both headed back inside the house.
“You’re lucky I was at home because you know the others would go insane over this,” Hoseok mentioned as we walked into the kitchen together.
“Did they already go out on their run?” I wondered.
“Yep. They wanted to be extra cautious because of what happened last night. Namjoon told me to stay behind to keep an eye on you.”
“I’m not a child. I’m twenty-four, which is a legal adult.” I huffed.
“You know that trouble tends to follow you no matter where you go and what I just witnessed a few minutes ago, I’m right,” Hoseok explained as he pulled out two plates for us.
“Please don’t tell the others about this. I have enough problems already.”
“I won’t. What do you intend to do about your future? I know your previous pack kicked you out since your mate passed. It’s already been two years since that night. Have you given it any thought? I mean, you can stay in our pack for the rest of your life, if that’s what you want. You just need to come to a concrete decision one day.” He stated as he pulled out some food to make for breakfast.
“I know that. You know I’ll never be a permanent member of the pack because I’m an Alpha. Namjoon is a great leader and I definitely don’t want to take over his position. I’m nothing more than an outcast who was kicked out of their own pack.” I said quietly.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You know everyone is treated equally in our pack and you’re included in our pack. Not once did we ever treat you like you don’t belong here because you are a part of our pack family now. When we found you abandoned and alone two years ago, it was easy to see that you belonged with us. You’re our family and always will be, no matter where your life takes you.”
“Thank you, Hobi. I can’t explain it, but not being bonded to a pack feels like a part of me is missing. Sorry. We should probably change the topic.” I mumbled.
Hoseok didn’t say another word as he continued to prepare breakfast for the both of us. At times like this, I was secretly grateful that he let me sit in silence. My thoughts always ended up in a jumbled mess, and it was hard to unravel them. The one thought that kept sticking to me right now was about that guy who kissed me this morning. Who was he?
I never saw that guy before, but he did feel familiar to me. His scent was kind of familiar as well, and his lips were so tempting. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been intimate since my mate passed away, but his lips were very pleasing to me.
“Breakfast is ready. Any plans for the day?” Hoseok asked as he placed a plate of food in front of me.
“Nope. I’ll probably go out again tonight to see if I can call my wolf.” I shrugged.
“Well, be careful and try not to come back so late this time.”
I just hummed in response as I took a huge bite out of my breakfast.
It took some convincing, but Namjoon allowed me to come to the forest again as long as I promised to come back home sooner than I had last night. I agreed and quickly made my way into the deepest part of the forest, where I knew it would be secluded.
There was a familiar scent in the air as I looked around to see where it was coming from. It didn’t take long for me to catch sight of a pair of golden-colored eyes. There was a low growl coming from the owner of the eyes as they took slow and careful steps toward me. I could see in the moonlight that it was the same red wolf I had seen last night.
The wolf approached me and immediately started smelling me before it let out a low growl again and showed me its teeth.
“Do we know each other?” I asked the wolf.
I watched as the wolf glared at me before it huffed in annoyance. The wolf was beautiful and rare at that because of the color of their fur. Before I could stop myself, I put my hand on top of their head to pet them. They closed their eyes and relaxed into my touch as I began stroking their ears, but in an instant, their eyes shot open and they started growling at me again and backing up to put distance between us.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to touch you without permission. I don’t know what happened there. I’m really sorry about that. I promise it won’t happen again.” I said quietly.
The wolf stopped growling and rolled its eyes as if they didn’t believe me. I couldn’t help but laugh a little at how this wolf was acting. I had never met someone who wasn’t afraid to stand up to an Alpha. It was pretty impressive.
“I guess I’ll just have to work on gaining your trust, then. Can I see you again tomorrow night at the same time?”
The wolf cocked its head to the side as if it were confused.
“I’d like to see you again if that’s alright with you?”
The wolf slowly started pacing back and forth as if it were thinking about whether to agree or not, and I had to bite back my laugh. This wolf was truly unique in every sense of the word. They didn’t act like your typical Beta wolf, and they didn’t seem to care that they were with an Alpha who wasn’t in their pack. Betas rarely travel alone unless it’s an emergency situation. They typically stay by the Alpha's side at all times except for the pack I’m with, where rank means nothing. Betas also are unique in that they have both the traits of an Alpha and an Omega, but they will lean more toward one trait depending on what rank their mate is.
The wolf let out a small yip to get my attention as I looked up at them to find them sitting on the ground. They nodded, which was quickly followed by a huff.
“Oh. You’re a male wolf. Good to know. I’ll see you tomorrow night, then.” I commented as the wolf quickly stood up, as if he were embarrassed.
The wolf extended its front legs as if trying to stretch before he quickly took off into the woods. His scent lingered in the air as I watched him run off somewhere in the woods. I guess he was ready to end the conversation. What a unique wolf and probably person he was, I thought as I chuckled to myself.
I made it back home in time to find Jimin lazily sitting on the couch watching TV. He immediately turned his head as soon as I walked through the door and closed it.
“Kook, you have a new scent on you. Care to explain.” Jimin teased me as I walked into the living room and sat down beside him.
“It was that red wolf. I met them again tonight.”
“Oh? How did it go?”
“Fine, I think. I found out that the wolf is a male Beta and we agreed to meet up again tomorrow night.” I mentioned.
“I think I might know who the wolf is. I overheard some Omegas gossiping earlier today. There’s a pack that has a few red wolves. Supposedly, the youngest son of the pack leader recently ran away from home. Nobody knows why he ran away from his pack, but his pack is going crazy trying to find him. I think they said the son’s name is Kim Taehyung.”
“I’ll ask him when I see him tomorrow night. I didn’t get a chance to call my wolf, and I definitely didn’t want to face Namjoon’s wrath.” I shivered at the memories.
“Sure. I’m going to bed now since you’re back home. Hope it all works out with you and that red wolf. His scent isn’t that bad.” Jimin chuckled before he stood up and walked away.
I was left with my thoughts once again as I tried to absorb what Jimin had just told me. Was that red wolf the same Kim Taehyung that ran away from home? Why did he leave his pack? Was he an outcast, just like me?
There was a sense of déjà vu as I woke the following morning and heard someone banging on the front door again. I let out a yawn as I headed down the stairs to see who it was. As soon as I opened the door, I was greeted by the same red-haired male from yesterday.
“You again? I don’t know who you are, but I think you have me confused with someone else.” I muttered as I looked the guy up and down.
The guy looked flustered as his brown eyes were glowering at me. He was breathing heavily and wore an outfit similar to the one he wore the previous day, except this time the shirt was red to match his hair.
“Are you playing dumb right now? I don’t want this either. In fact, this is the last thing I want given my circumstances, but I can’t help it. I just really want you.” He gritted his teeth.
I felt my heart speed up at his words. I didn’t know why, but hearing those words from his lips just made my insides burn with desire. The way he looked at me with slightly parted lips and breathing heavily while he ran his slender fingers through his hair was definitely waking up things inside me that I didn’t even know existed.
I don’t know who made the first move, but I felt our lips connect once again in a heat of passion. Our hands were all over each other’s bodies and it didn’t matter that we were doing all of this on the porch where anyone could see us. His lips just felt so good and warm against my own. My hands made their way to his waist as I gripped it hard, causing him to gasp into my mouth.
All too soon, he pulled away from me as I tried to come back to my senses. My whole brain felt foggy as I watched him lick his lips before he gently swiped his thumb over them.
“I can’t. We can’t. I’m so sorry about this. Please forgive me.” He said before he took off running and didn’t give me a chance to respond.
Whoever this guy was, it was clear that my body wanted him, but did I want him?
I ended up in the forest again, just like I promised the red wolf. He looked like he was waiting for me as his ears perked up when I walked closer to him. He turned his head and stared at me before rolling his eyes.
“Sorry, I’m late. My friends forced me to eat dinner with them first before I could leave.” I explained which had the wolf nodding along as if he were agreeing with me.
The red wolf stood up and began circling me and sniffing around me. I guess he was trying to pick up my scent as well as the scent of my friends. He soon stopped circling me before he sneezed. I couldn’t help but laugh at him.
“You know, I feel kind of bad for not knowing your name. I’m Jeon Jungkook. What’s your name?” I asked the wolf as he huffed at me before walking off.
The wolf walked off before he quickly returned, carrying a decent-sized stick in his mouth. I watched as he sat down and began to draw something in the dirt. The dirt was still a bit wet from the rain that came in the morning. I watched in fascination as the wolf began to write what looked like a letter before he placed the stick beside him and looked up at me.
I moved closer and saw a simple letter. V. That was the letter written in the dirt and I pondered it.
“Is your name V?” I asked out loud as I watched him wag his tail and let out an excited howl.
Nice to meet you, V.” I stated as he held up his paw for me to shake.
I couldn’t help but laugh at how adorable he was. Most wolves didn’t act the least bit human while in their animal form. They let their animal instincts kick in and do all the work.
“So V, would you like to go to the lake with me?”
V stood up and started trotting off to where the lake was. He kept looking back now and then to make sure I was still following him.
Things were quiet at the lake as we saw the moon shine brightly over it. Sounds of frogs could be heard in the near distance as I sat down at the edge with V sitting next to me.
Things were peaceful as I glanced over at V and saw him staring at the lake as if he were lost in thought.
“Something on your mind?” I asked breaking the silence between us.
V nodded to me before he lightly pawed at his snout.
“Is it personal?”
Again, V just nodded his head as he went back to staring at the lake. I could relate to personal problems. I had many of my own, especially since I couldn’t call my wolf.
“If I tell you a secret, would you keep it?” I wondered out loud as I stared at V.
V turned his head to the side as he looked at me in what I could only assume was confusion.
“My wolf is gone. I’ve been coming here every night now for months just trying to summon him, but he doesn’t come. Not even a whisper from him. He left me the day my chosen mate passed away. We were married for a few months before she was killed by a rogue clan. Ever since that night, I haven’t been able to call him. I miss him and her.” I said softly, and I hadn’t realized when the tears started to come.
V wasted no time licking all over my face in an attempt to cheer me up, and I couldn’t help but giggle at how cute he was being. I gently pushed him away, but he laid down and put his head on top of my legs. He looked up at me before he nudged my hand with his nose. I laughed at how he was encouraging me to pet him.
“Thank you, V,” I whispered as I ran my fingers through his soft fur.
He gave a small huff as he made himself comfortable in my lap. Soon, a peaceful silence fell over us as we continued to stare out at the lake. It felt a little weird being with someone that I didn’t know, but somehow he made me feel comforted.
“Can I know something about you?” I whispered into the night air.
V immediately sat up and looked at me as if he were debating on what he wanted to do before he stood up and walked behind me. I turned around to look at him, but he started growling at me and I guess he didn’t want me to look at him.
“Ok. Sorry. I won’t look at you.” I chuckled before I turned back around and looked at the lake again.
I heard a small whine behind me before I could hear the sound of bones snapping back into place. Was he shifting back into his human form? Before I could turn around to check on him, my vision grew black as I felt something warm over my eyes. I could tell V was sitting behind me, and he covered my eyes with his hands.
“Please don’t look behind you. I don’t want you to see me.” V said in a deep voice that comforted me.
“Why can’t I see you? If you don’t mind answering, that is.” I replied.
“Because it will mean trouble for you if you know me,” V stated as he pressed his forehead on the back of my neck.
I could feel his hands slightly trembling as he continued to shield my eyes. My body felt warm to his touch, and it was an unfamiliar feeling to me. I wanted to respect his wishes.
“Fair enough. Is it alright for you to see me, though?” I questioned him.
“Yes. That’s because you’re my…friend.” V said quietly, as if he were trying to choose the right words.
“Alright. I promise I won’t look at you. I’ll keep my eyes forward. Is that alright?”
“Yeah. Yeah, it is. Thank you.”
“So, do I get to know more about you now?” I joked.
“My name is V. I’m a Beta, and I ran away from home recently,” V explained.
“Why did you run away?”
“My family wanted me to marry and mate with someone I didn’t love. I’m sorry about your mate.” V said in a saddened tone.
“Thank you. If you ran away from home, what are you going to do now?”
“I’m living not too far from you, actually. A friend of mine took me in and he’s helping me figure out what I should do next. I can’t go back home and risk getting married off to someone my family picked for me. I only want to be with my fated mate.”
“Do you know who your fated mate is? Have you met them?” I wondered as I felt something tug at my heart as I asked him.
“I did. We met recently and I know I can’t go back home, especially after I met them. However, my family strongly believes in arranged unions over fate. So even if I tell them about meeting my Fated Mate, they would still force me to marry the person they picked out and just keep my Fated Mate on the side. I can’t disrespect my mate like that or the person that I’m supposed to marry. I only want one mate for my life.” V rambled on and I couldn’t help but chuckle at how adorable he was.
“V, are you a hopeless romantic?” I teased.
“Don’t tease me! I just believe in saving myself for my Fated Mate and wanting to be with them only. I’ve seen how unhappy those with chosen mates are and I don’t want that for myself. My parents were chosen mates and they can’t get along at all. The two of them don’t agree on anything and they argue daily. They’re the perfect examples of how mates shouldn’t look. How about you? Do you want to find your Fated Mate one day? How long has it been since your mate passed?”
“It’s been two years now and I doubt I’ll find my Fated Mate. My wolf doesn’t come to me anymore and I’ve tried everything I can think of to get him to show up again. There is something important I’d like to ask you before I forget.”
“What is it?”
“Are you Kim Taehyung? I asked my pack about you and one of the guys told me your name. You’re also the guy that’s been kissing me in the morning, right?” I asked, already knowing the answer, but I still wanted to hear it from him.
“You’re right. I am. I’m sorry for wanting to hide from you and for kissing you without your permission. You can’t feel me, can you?” Taehyung asked me in the smallest of voices.
“Feel you? I can feel your forehead on the back of my neck. What do you mean?” I wondered, not understanding his question.
“Nothing. Forget I said anything. Take care of yourself, Jungkook.” Taehyung said softly as I felt the warmth of his body move away from me.
It was silent for a minute as I tried to process what Taehyung said to me.
“Taehyung, is it alright for me to call you by your real name?” I asked but was met with silence.
When I finally worked up the courage to turn around, Taehyung was nowhere in sight, and that was the last I saw of him.
Three months had passed by and it only took only a few hours after I last saw him for me to realize that I was his Fated Mate. My wolf made a very brief appearance two nights later, once we both realized that Taehyung wasn’t coming back. My wolf howled out as if he were in pain, and it was just like losing my chosen mate all over again. The only difference was it felt like my heart was actually breaking.
“I’m sorry. You want to do what?” Jin asked me as I looked around at the shocked faces of my pack members.
“I’m going to get Taehyung back. He’s my Fated Mate and I’m getting him back. I’ll storm into their place if I have to and scream at the top of my lungs to get him back.” I said in a serious tone as I stared at all of them.
“I just want to say that I knew this would happen and I approve. Let’s go and get our Kookie’s mate back from the evil clutches of his outdated traditionalist family.” Jimin squealed as he clapped his hands together like an excited child.
“This isn’t a vacation. They are known for killing outsiders and it’s dangerous to make such claims without proof.” Namjoon chimed in as he shook his head.
“I have to agree with them. I think we should help Kook. If they try to fight, then it’s best if he has a group of us to help back him up. We can’t let him go alone or he’ll die for sure. No offense, Kook.” Hoseok explained.
“I’m gonna agree with the others. Kook is a part of our pack family and if Taehyung is his mate, then we have to at least try to bring them together. It’s the right thing to do.” Jin said as he patted Namjoon’s shoulder.
“What do you think, Yoongi?” Namjoon asked as we all turned to look at the second-oldest member of our pack.
“Majority rules. I say we go. I’m always down for a fight if it comes to it. We may be a passive pack, but we need to show others that we fight for what we believe in and if we have to fight for Fated Mates, then so be it. We all know the risks and we willingly choose to go with our Jungkook and help him. He’s been through enough, and if there’s even a small chance of him being happy, then he should reach out and take it.”
“Fine. We need to prepare first before we head out. Do we even have any information on the Kim Clan?” Namjoon sighed as he rubbed at his temples.
“No, but I can go out and ask around,” Hoseok said before he gave me a small smile.
“I can ask the Omegas as well. They should be at the bar gossiping right now.” Jimin nodded.
“Thank you, everyone. I really do appreciate this.” I looked around at them and smiled.
“Alright. Everyone go out and get as much information as you can. Jungkook, I’d like a private word with you.” Namjoon stated in a stern tone.
I nervously swallowed as I followed Namjoon into his office. Nobody tried to stop us or interrupt as I watched him close the door behind us.
“I think you already know what I’m going to say, but I’ll say it, anyway. This is a bad idea, and it’s even more dangerous since you don’t have your wolf to protect you right now. My pack is willing to die for you, but I have to put their safety as a top priority. They come first and if something were to happen to any one of them, I’d have to save them first. Do you understand?” Namjoon sighed as he walked toward me.
“Do you not want me here, then? I’m sorry I’m not an official member of your pack. Sorry, I’ve failed you over and over again.” I said through gritted teeth as I clenched my fists.
“That’s not what I meant. My Alpha instincts will take over if it comes to a fight and will force me to protect those bonded to my pack. You’re an Alpha as well, so you know how it works. I will try to fight those instincts if you get hurt, but I can’t guarantee your safety or my protecting you. The option of bonding to my pack is still there if you’d like it to be. I hope you can understand where I’m coming from, Jungkook.”
“I understand. You know, it’s not possible to have two Alphas in one pack unless they’re blood relatives. I’ll leave tonight when everyone should be asleep and go look for Taehyung on my own.”
“Kook, it’s not safe for you to go alone. Please stop being stubborn about this.” Namjoon groaned.
“I’m an Alpha and you know it’s in our nature to be stubborn. Don’t worry. I’ll come back with Taehyung by my side.” I responded before I walked out of the room, not giving Namjoon a chance to say another word.
I gathered all the information that the guys found and used it to find Taehyung’s clan. The town they lived in didn’t look much different from my own, but I did notice that it wasn’t as lively. Even with it being the middle of the night, there were no signs of too many people roaming the streets. I decided it would be best to get a hotel for the night before trying to find Taehyung.
I entered the first hotel that I saw and all eyes were on me as hushed whispers made their way around the small entryway. My physical appearance didn’t really fit in around here. I was too muscular looking, with black hair, tattoos, and multiple piercings.
Doing my best to not make a scene, I walked up to the reception desk and booked a room. The receptionist scowled at me before she silently slid the room card in my direction.
“I can’t believe Beta Kim Taehyung is getting married tomorrow. Both brothers of the Kim Clan will have beautiful Omega wives and our clan will maintain its superiority.” I heard an Omega woman say in hushed tones.
I turned around to find a group of gossiping Omegas talking amongst themselves. My heart hurt at their words. Taehyung wouldn’t really get married tomorrow, would he?
“Excuse me, is it true? Is Beta Kim Taehyung getting married tomorrow?” I asked the receptionist.
“Yes. It’s the talk of the town. You must be a traveler if you aren’t aware of the news. The Kim Manor will be open all day to the general public in light of the wedding. It’s an honor when someone from the Kim Clan gets married.” The receptionist replied in a monotone voice, as if she had rehearsed her speech many times.
If Taehyung was set to get married tomorrow then I had to do whatever it took to stop the wedding at all costs. No matter what happened, tomorrow would be an eventful day.
I decided to text Jimin and the rest of the pack for help after explaining the situation. They scolded me for taking off but agreed to help come and stop the wedding. I texted them the directions and used this chance to visit the Kim Manor since it was open to the public for today.
The Kim Manor was impressive for its size. It was a super stereotypical rich looking house as I walked up the white marble steps and into the grand entrance hall. There were tons of people here already since it was open to the public.
People were taking selfies in front of statues, and others were casually talking about the wedding. I internally groaned as I looked around for any signs of Taehyung. I saw portraits of him and what looked like his family hanging on the walls as I made my way upstairs. There was a faint scent of cinnamon, and my heart began to race at the thought of seeing Taehyung again.
I followed the scent as it grew heavier with each step that I took. The scent was practically overflowing out of a closed door at the end of the hallway and I smiled as I placed my hand on the doorknob before quietly opening the dark wooden door.
Taehyung was dressed in all black, and his back was turned to me. He was slightly hunched overlooking some paperwork as his hands were placed on both sides of a dark-colored wooden desk.
Without saying anything, I silently shut the door and made slow steps toward him, hoping he wouldn’t hear me approaching. My heart threatened to beat out of my chest as I stood behind him and placed my hands over his eyes.
“Milly. Not now. I don’t have times to play games with you.” Taehyung said in a slightly irritated voice.
“I’m not Milly,” I said quietly.
I watched Taehyung tense up at my voice as he tried to turn around, but I stopped him.
“Nope. Don’t turn around. Let’s stay like this.”
“Jungkook, why are you here?” Taehyung asked in a surprised tone.
“To stop you from getting married and to bring my Fated Mate back home with me.” I chuckled.
“You don’t mean that.”
“Of course I mean it. I’m going to rescue you and you’ll come back home with me.” I whispered as I nuzzled the back of his neck.
“No. We can’t be together.” Taehyung shook his head, causing me to drop my arms.
“What are you talking about? Can you turn around and look at me?”
I watched Taehyung slowly turn around and look at me with his eyes full of pain and sadness.
“You rejected me, remember?” Taehyung choked out as his eyes filled with tears and his lower lip trembled.
“Rejected you? When did I do that?” I asked in honest disbelief.
“The night we met at the lake when I asked if you couldn’t feel me and you asked me what I meant. You basically rejected me when I asked if you could or couldn’t feel our Fated Mate bond. Not to mention my whole pack wouldn’t approve of us being together. I’m just so confused.” Taehyung said softly as he tried to wipe the tears from his eyes.
“No. Taehyung, you are my Fated Mate and the one I love and want to spend the rest of my life with. I was just an idiot because without my wolf I couldn’t feel our bond, but he came back briefly. As soon as he came back, I could feel our bond, and it was beautiful, but it hurt. Being away from you hurts me, Tae. I don’t want to be without you. I want to move on from my past, and I want to move on with you.” I explained as I helped wipe the tears from his eyes.
“So you’re not rejecting me?” Taehyung whispered as I gently caressed his cheek.
“Absolutely not. You are the only one for me. You are my Beta. You are my Taehyung. Mine. Just mine.” I explained before I pulled him in for a kiss.
I could feel Taehyung melt into my arms as we continued to kiss without stopping. How could I have missed that he was my Fated Mate when we kissed for the first time? My body knew right away who he was to me and there was no way I would lose my mate to anyone else ever again.
“What are we going to do? I’m supposed to be getting married in like an hour?!” Taehyung panicked as he slowly pulled away from me.
“I’ve got that covered. My pack is on its way to cause a distraction so we can get you away from here.”
“So, you plan on kidnapping me?”
“Pretty much, yeah.” I shrugged.
“I doubt anyone here would just let strangers waltz off with me.” Taehyung pointed out.
“True. Should we tango, then?” I chuckled.
“Oh no. No, no. Just no. I can’t believe I cried over you. Is there a way to change who my Fated Mate is?” Taehyung groaned at me as he shook his head.
“On a serious note, let’s get going now. If anyone asks, just pretend that I’m your assistant for the day or something like that.” I mentioned as I grabbed Taehyung’s hand and led us out into the hallway.
We made it out into the hallway and quickly started heading for the exit while the large crowds of people were distracted by someone putting on a performance. The courtyard was relatively empty except for a few stragglers here and there admiring the scenery.
“What do we do now?” Taehyung questioned as he tightly squeezed my hand.
“My guys should be here any minute now. We use the confusion as our chance to slip out unnoticed and leave. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly and we can be back home in time for dinner.” I informed him as I kissed his temple.
Unfortunately, nothing ever goes as planned. As soon as Yoongi and Hoseok appeared by our side, a small group of people approached us with fire in their eyes.
“Mother, father. What brings you here?” Taehyung asked as he let go of my hand and slowly tried to approach them.
“What is this? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re running off yet again. I expected better out of you, Taehyung.” The man known as Taehyung’s father spoke out in a deep voice.
“Father, I can’t get married to that girl. I don’t love her. I love Jungkook. He's my Fated Mate.” Taehyung explained as he looked back at me with saddened eyes.
“Oh yes. The Jeon Jungkook I’ve heard about. The one who failed to protect his first mate and was kicked out of his pack. A rejected Alpha. How the mighty have fallen. You don’t honestly expect me to believe that he will be a better fit for you than a woman who was properly educated and brought up to faithfully serve her husband, do you?” Taehyung’s father crossed his arms as he arched his brow.
I could feel my body start to heat up in anger, and I knew that my wolf was angry just as much as I was. He was coming back to me so he could protect Taehyung.
“I refuse to marry her. I don’t love her. It’s Jungkook or nobody, Father.” Taehyung stated as he stood his ground when he heard his father let out a low growl.
“Fine. I guess we’ll just have to lock you up then for the rest of your life. That should be enough time to reflect on your actions.” His father smirked.
It was then that I found myself losing control, and before I knew it, I was shifting into my wolf form and going straight for Taehyung’s father. I heard Taehyung’s shouts of my name, but I paid no attention as I raced toward him. He shifted into his wolf form and I saw nothing but wolves in defensive stances all around us.
My eyes locked with Taehyung’s wolf before I darted past him and lunged at his father. We were growling and biting at each other. I felt this urge to rip his throat out, but this was my mate’s father and I had to stay somewhat in control. Howls could be heard all around us, but the one that stood out the most was Taehyung’s. His howl sounded full of hurt and sadness. I can’t lose control here.
It was when I bit into the back of Taehyung’s father's neck that I knew it was time for me to stop. I heard him let out a pained howl before he stepped back. His red fur was stained an even darker red from where I punctured his skin and he did something that I never thought he would do. He bowed to me, and all the other wolves around us followed suit, including Taehyung.
Taehyung was the first to stand up as he approached me and nuzzled my neck before licking my cheek. I watched as he grabbed a stick and wrote the word room in the dirt before he looked at me. I understood the gist of what he meant as I excused myself from everyone and followed him to his room.
As soon as we made it to Taehyung’s room, we shifted into our human forms. He wasted no time in pulling me in for a passionate kiss, to which I put up no resistance. I put all of my feelings into our kiss before Taehyung slowly pulled away.
“You idiot. You attacked my father. He could’ve killed you, but I’m happy your wolf came back.” Taehyung lightly hit my chest.
“I don’t think so. He was challenging me to see how worthy I am of you. He held back so he wouldn’t hurt me because he knows how important we are to each other. I’m also glad my wolf came back, otherwise that would’ve ended very awkwardly.” I explained as I gently kissed his forehead.
“How do you know that?” Taehyung furrowed his brows.
“I could feel it. Your father is one of the most powerful Alpha’s to ever exist and he held back, for our sake. That says a lot about the type of leader he is and I see why people respect him so much.”
“I guess we’ll see in a bit. We should probably go shower now before we meet back up with them.”
“Want to shower together?” I smirked.
“Not yet! I want to make sure everything is fine with father first before we do all of that.” Taehyung blushed as he bit his lower lip, which was so adorable.
We both dressed quickly before meeting up with Taehyung’s parents and I couldn’t help but smile when I saw my pack standing around casually talking with some of Taehyung’s clan. It made me happy to see them all get along as we approached his parents.
“Well, you two certainly took long enough. I hope you didn’t try anything on my son.” Taehyung’s father shot me a teasing look that still sent shivers down my spine.
“No, sir. Absolutely not.” I shook my head.
“Relax. I won’t bite. You beat me fair and square today in our challenge. So I approve of you being with my son. I would’ve approved of your bond even if you didn’t try and attack me.” Taehyung’s father chuckled.
“What do you mean?” Taehyung chimed in.
“Oh darling, did you really think we would turn away your Fated Mate? You’ve been talking about finding yours since you were a small child. You would draw pictures of your wolf and your Fated Mate’s wolf all the time and you would tell us stories of how the two of you would meet. This arranged marriage was more of an excuse to get you to go out into the world and try to find your Fated Mate. You’ve always been a hopeless romantic, and we knew you’d find them eventually and I’m so happy that you did. All that nonsense about our clan being stuck up is just bad rumors.” Taehyung’s mother spoke up.
“This is honestly so embarrassing right now and unbelievable. You two are shameless.” Taehyung whined at his parents, which earned a laugh from both of them.
“Now that we’ve established our approval, there’s only one thing left to do here. We still have a wedding today and I have no doubt that it will be a good one. So please take these two away.” Taehyung’s father explained as people from their clan came to grab us and take us away from each other.
We didn’t have time to protest, but the look on the elder Alpha’s face said everything I needed to know.
My first wedding ceremony was strictly all business, and only the most important people showed up. It was quiet and felt more like a business deal than a marriage, but we were still happy despite the cloudy overcast that day. People offered their congratulations but didn’t bother to stick around. There was no celebration or after-party to look forward to. We were immediately thrown into a home near my parents and told to take care of each other, and that was it. There were no plans for a honeymoon or even just a simple vacation because the next day it went back to being business as usual, as if nothing had changed.
The wedding ceremony today was different from my first one. I was dressed in all black and Taehyung was dressed in all white and we stared lovingly into each other’s eyes. My pack was here to celebrate, and the weather was beautiful. Taehyung’s entire clan had shown up to support our marriage and as soon as we marked each other, there were such loud cheers from the crowd that it would rupture a normal person’s eardrums.
We smiled happily at each other as we looked over the faces of those who attended our ceremony and thanked them all for attending. I caught Yoongi and Namjoon wiping tears from their eyes as they looked at us. Jimin gave us a thumbs-up before he pulled Yoongi in for a quick kiss and Hoseok applauded us before he kept trying to tug at Seokjin’s shirt to remind him to calm down.
“Now I know you’ll take good care of my son here. I’m aware of what happened to your previous mate and I’m sorry for your loss. Nobody should ever have to go through something like that, especially at such a young age, and I know you did the best that you could. I’m sure in time your old pack will realize that too and try to make amends. It’s up to you whether you want to fix that relationship with them or not, but know that you have my support either way. You are family now and you’ll always be welcome here. Now make sure to take a nice long honeymoon and take in all the sights.” Taehyung’s father said as he pulled us both in for a brief hug before he excused himself to go mingle with the other guests.
“Oh, my darling little Tae. I’m so incredibly happy that you finally found your Fated Mate. Now I expect grandpups from you both soon. I want to live out the rest of my days in peace and happiness. Your older brother is already expecting his first and if he were here today, I know he’d be bragging about it. I’ll be sure to text him later and give him a piece of my mind about how he missed his little brother’s wedding. Jungkook, you certainly haven’t had an easy go of things, but you’ll always be welcome here. Feel free to call me mom and take care of our darling Tae.” Taehyung’s mom said before she pulled us into her embrace.
I looked up and saw my own pack eagerly waiting their turn to greet us, and Taehyung’s mother took that chance to politely excuse herself.
“Looks like everything worked out well in the end. I’m so happy for you, Kook.” Seokjin said as he hugged me first before he hugged Taehyung and walked off.
“Good job, kid. I’m proud of you.” Yoongi nodded at the both of us before he walked off.
“I can’t believe our Kookie is married to his Fated Mate. Taehyung, I have a feeling that we’re going to be best friends.” Jimin exclaimed as he tightly hugged Taehyung before walking away.
“It’s a beautiful day today and I’m happy for you both. Jungkook, I’m so proud of you.” Hoseok smiled at us both before he walked off.
“I guess I’m the last one of our pack then. I just want to say that I’m so proud of you, Jungkook. I’m proud of the man you’ve become. I know you suffered greatly when you were first with us and I just want you to know that you will always be a member of our pack. Always. No matter what path you take in life, I hope it takes you to where you really want to go with your pack by your side. Taehyung, thank you for coming into Jungkook’s life and for showing him what real love looks like. Thank you for giving him love and, more importantly, thank you for giving him a family.” Namjoon said as he pulled me in for a hug that had me sobbing in his arms with Taehyung trying to console me.
Taehyung and I took a three-month long honeymoon to relax and go sightseeing. It was the last night of our honeymoon and we were lazily resting on the beach in the evening watching the sunset. He was situated in between my legs as I casually ran my fingers through his hair.
“I can’t believe it’s the last night of our honeymoon. Is it bad that I don’t want to go back?” Taehyung asked.
“Well, my pack was kind enough to buy us a small condo as a wedding gift, and I’m eager to see what it looks like.” I hummed.
“Do you think it will be big enough?” Taehyung wondered as I lightly kissed up and down his neck.
“I mean it has four bedrooms. That should be enough for the two of us, right? Do you have a lot of stuff you’re bringing over from your clan?” I wondered as I slid my arm casually around his waist and began nibbling at his ear.
“Actually, there’s more than two of us,” Taehyung mentioned in a quiet voice.
“Tae, are you?”
Taehyung whipped his head around to look at me and he had his usual boxy smile on his face but in his eyes, I saw an entirely new world.