"One...two....three...four..."
Taehyung's eyes slowly opened as he felt his cheek being poked. He realized it was Jungkook looking at him closely.
"Oh, there...five." Jungkook mumbled.
"What are you doing?" Taehyung asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"Counting your moles." Jungkook said as he laughed and scrunched his nose.
Taehyung gave him a weird look. "What has gotten into you?" He asked the alpha.
"Just familiarizing myself with your body." Jungkook said making Taehyung chuckle.
"You're obsessed." Taehyung said while covering her face with her hands.
"Don't. I love looking at you." Jungkook said trying to remove Taehyung's hands, but the younger turned over and laid down on his tummy.
"You really don't want to show me your face, huh?" Jungkook playfully asked.
"Nope." Taehyung muttered.
Jungkook smirked and removed the blanket that was covering Taehyung's naked body.
"You have one fine ass love." Jungkook said.
Taehyung gasped as he turned around instantly, grabbing a pillow and hit Jungkook with it.
"You perv!" Taehyung yelled as he continuosly hit Jungkook with the pillow.
Jungkook laughed as he grabbed himself a pillow as well.
The two ran around the room hitting each other while being stark naked. As they were lost in the fun, they didn't hear the door open.
"What the fuck! Shit I'm so sorry!" Jimin shrieked as he turned around after seeing the mates without their clothes on.
Taehyung quickly ran behind Jungkook while the latter covered his lower part with a pillow.
"Jimin! Why didn't you knock!?" Jungkook said loudly.
Jimin chuckled. "I was knocking duh! Anyway, Luna asked me to come and get you. Was about to say that breakfast is ready, but I guess you two already ate." He teased.
"Yaaa!" Jungkook whined.
"Next time, lock the door!" Jungkook waved his hand, not looking at the two.
Jungkook and Taehyung looked at each other and suddenly burst out laughing before deciding to quickly dress up to follow Jimin.
🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅
"Are they up, Jimin?" Shin-hye asked as the younger entered the kitchen.
"Oh, very much so, Luna." Jimin said as he chuckled.
"So, where are they?" Jin asked.
"Um, probably putting on clothes at the moment." Jimin said.
"What?! Don't tell me they were having..." Yoongi asked but was cut by Jimin.
"Oh god no. Thank the heavens. That would be so traumatic for all three of us. They were just having a pillow fight...without their clothes on."
"Well, I'm not surprised anymore. They were so loud last night I couldn't sleep, eomma!" Yoo Jung said.
"Oh, shush, Yoo Jung. It's normal. They're mates and I think your brother had his first heat. His scent was stronger last night." Shin-hye said, remembering the scent in Jungkook's room the night before.
"You think he marked him?" Jin asked, smiling at his fellow luna.
"Let's wait and see." Shin-hye said winking at Jin.
After a few minutes, Jungkook and Taehyung appeared in the dining area with the alpha piggybacking Taehyung who was busy nozzling the older's neck.
"Morning everyone." Jungkook said.
"Good morning, to you too, son. You look happy." Shin-hye teased.
"Very." Jungkook said as he placed Taehyung down and moved his shirt to show his mark and everyone gasped.
"Omo! You let him mark you?" Jin asked in a high pitched voice.
Taehyung was confused at everyone's reaction before turning to his eomma.
"Why do you sound surprised eomma?" Taehyung asked.
Jin stood up from his chair, walked towards Jungkook and gave him a tight hug.
"Thank you, Jungkook." A teary eyed Jin said.
Taehyung furrowed his brows when he saw his eomma about to cry. He also noticed Jimin fanning his eyes and Shin-hye grabbing a tissue to wipe her own.
"What's going on?" Taehyung asked.
"Taehyung, it's not a common practice for alphas to make their mates mark them, especially an omega. That just means that Jungkook treats you as his equal." Shin-hye said.
Taehyung's jaw dropped as he looked at Jungkook.
"Kook, I love the gesture and thank you. It means a lot, but why didn't you tell me?" Taehyung asked his mate.
Jungkook shrugged his shoulders. "I just didn't think it was important for me to explain it. Why? If I told you, you wouldn't have marked me?"
"Most probably, because you're our alpha, Kook. Won't people look down on you given that you're marked by an omega like me?" Taehyung worriedly asked.
"I don't care about your rank, Taehyung. You are my luna and I would proudly wear your mark around the pack." Jungkook said as he bopped Taehyung's nose.
"Guys, not in front of my food!" Hoseok said, making everyone laugh.
"I sure hope you're marked too, oppa?" Yoo Jung asked Taehyung.
The omega blushed and showed everyone his mark.
With that, everyone stood up to hug and congratulate the two.
"I'm so so proud of you son." Shin-hye said as she hugged Jungkook.
In that moment, Namjoon and Ji-Cheol appeared in the room with the latter looking good as new. Since he's a trueblood alpha himself, he quickly healed from his wounds.
"What did we miss?" Ji-Cheol asked.
"Well, these two marked each other last night." Shin-hye said.
"You let Taehyung mark you?!" Namjoon asked with a pleasantly surprised look on his face.
Jungkook nodded and Namjoon stepped forward and gave Jungkook a big hug.
"I knew you were so right for my son." Namjoon said.
Ji-Cheol patted Jungkook's back. "You make me so proud, Jungkook," he said.
"Thank you, appa. Are you feeling better now?" Jungkook asked as he gently held his father's hand to look at his finger.
Ji-Cheol wiggled his finger. "They saved it."
Jungkook hugged his father. "I'm so relieved that you're okay, appa."
"Come on, let's eat. We have something to talk about right after." Ji-Cheol said.
They all sat together and ate like one big happy family.
After breakfast, Ji-Cheol invited Jungkook to go to his office, but the younger had something else in mind.
"Can we discuss here for everyone to hear what you have to say?" Jungkook asked and everyone fell silent.
"This is a serious matter, Jungkook. We should discuss this first with the elders." Ji-Cheol said.
"No, appa. I don't trust some of them, but I trust everyone here at the moment. Please, appa can you listen to me just this once? You've been putting your faith on the wrong people and look at where it got you?" Jungkook sternly said.
Ji-Cheol sighed and nodded, telling everyone to transfer to the living room.
Meanwhile, Jungkook also called Jinyoung and Go-Eun to join them. When they arrived, Ji-Cheol started to tell them what happened.
"As you all know, I went to the council yesterday to discuss with the members what we're supposed to do with the rogues who attempted to abduct Taehyung and who were also responsible for burning your house. The rogues were charged with 5 years imprisonment so they were all brought to jail already. The council had to invite a witch to unfreeze them, by the way.
When the meeting ended, I was approached by Kai, Sehun and Suno who told me that there's trouble in the university so I rushed out with them.
We went straight to the parking lot and was about to hop in my car when Kai injected me with wolfsbane serum. He probably thought I didn't see him, but I saw him from the side mirror. I lost consciousness and when I woke up, we were in a warehouse and all four of us were tied with ropes drenched in wolfsbane and chains made of silver. I know that Kai, Sehun and Suno were just acting. They were so bad at it.
While we were chained, I heard two of the guards talking from afar and I could barely hear them. Yet, I caught some parts of their conversation. They were talking about you,Taehyung, being the chosen one. But, I didn't quite get what they meant by it. As they were talking, someone else arrived and they all knelt down. I couldn't see his face, but I definitely know the voice. It was Chang Wook, Jungkook. I think he's their leader."
"I knew it. I told you —"
"Wait. What time was this, alpha?" Hoseok asked.
"I don't know. Probably early in the afternoon?" Ji-Cheol answered.
"But, that's impossible. He was on campus around that time. He checked on Taehyung. He couldn't possibly travel from school to were you were that fast." Hoseok said.
"And he was here too. He approached me in the park around twenty minutes before you arrived." Taehyung said.
"This doesn't make sense." Bogum said. "How can he be in two places at one time?" He added.
"He can if he's a wizard or a hybrid like me." Taehyung said.
"I still refuse to believe that he can do this to us." Ji-Cheol said.
"Appa! I told you. I saw him put something on uncle's food. He poisoned his own father, your brother, why don't you believe me?!" Jungkook said.
"I told you that information should be kept between us first, Jungkook!!" Ji-Cheol yelled.
Just then a loud crash was heard and everyone looked at the shattered glass on the floor and a trembling Shin-hye.
"Jagi, what's wrong?" Ji-Cheol rushed to his wife's side.
"Chang Wook did that? Why didn't you tell me, Ji-Cheol?" Shin-Hye looked at his husband with tears in her eyes.
"We wanted to be sure first, why jagiya? What's wrong?" Ji-Cheol asked.
"Do-do you remember the three times I was pregnant, jagi? I would take these herbal tea that's supposed to help me with my pregnancy?" Shin-Hye's voice cracked. Ji-Cheol nodded.
"They were from Chang Wook. He would visit me everytime and bring me those. Do you think...you think he..." Shin-Hye said with eyes wide.
"No. No no no. That can't be. He couldn't." Ji-Cheol shook his head in denial.
Jungkook's eyes turned red and everyone in the room felt his strong aura.
"Stop it, appa! I don't care about what you think or say about him anymore. You've been protecting him for a long tine! At the expense of your own family?! He killed your brother and your children! MY siblings. He has to pay for everything that he did and if you can't do it, then I'll do it myself!" Jungkook yelled before grabbing the vase near him and throwing it on a picture of Chang Wook hanging on the living room wall. He was livid and didn't want to hear what his appa had to say about it. He took his coat and went out of the house.
"Kook!" Taehyung called after him and grabbed his own coat. Taehyung ran after Jungkook and saw him turn around the corner. He walked faster and when he was about to reach the corner, someone grabbed his hand.
"Going somewhere, Taehyung?"
"Professor Lee?" Taehyung was surprised and immediately pulled his hand away from her.
"Hello, Taehyung. Can we talk somewhere?" Lee Hanee said.
"What do you want from me? I already know that you're not a professor in our university. Who are you really?" Taehyung asked.
"I can explain everything." Hanee looked around and saw a small coffee shop across the street. "How about there?" Hanee pointed at the coffee shop.
"But, I have to run after my mate." Taehyung said.
"Taehyung, Alpha Jungkook's wolf has fully taken over him. Let them cool off first as he might inadvertently hurt you. Come with me first."
Taehyung was hesitant at first, but nodded. They walked together and Taehyung looked at the direction where Jungkook went. He could see the alpha from afar.
"He will calm down after a while. He's aware that he might end up hurting you that's why he had to leave." Hanee said.
"How do you know?" Taehyung asked.
"I'm an empath. I could feel people's emotions and read what's on their mind." Hanee explained.
"So, you're a witch?" Taehyung asked.
"Yes." Hanee said as she sat down on one of the chairs outside the coffee shop. "You don't mind sitting here outside, right? I love the weather."
Taehyung simply nodded and sat down.
A waitress approached them and asked for their orders.
"I'm sorry but I don't have my wallet with me." Taehyung told Hanee.
"It's alright, Taehyung. It's on me." Hanee said, smiling at the omega.
Taehyung gave his order and so did Hanee. The waitress left the two to prepare their coffee.
"The waitress found you gorgeous." Hanee said.
"Is that what you do all the time? Read people's minds without their consent?" Taehyung asked with a sarcastic tone.
"I'm sorry if I didn't tell you sooner about myself. I understand why you're acting this way. But, I don't mean you any harm, Taehyung. You are my nephew after all." Hanee said.
Taehyung was surprised at what she said. "Nephew?"
Hanee nodded. "My real name is Kim So-Hyun. Your father, Kim Hyun-Bin was my older brother." She explained.
"How can I be sure you're telling the truth?" Taehyung asked.
"Give me your hand." So-Hyun said and Taehyug reluctantly offered his hand.
So-Hyun held it and then closed her eyes.
Taehyung then saw a vision in his head.
FLASHBACK
A younger So-Hyun was crouched down gardening when her older brother stepped out of the house carrying a big duffel bag.
"Oppa, where are you going?" So-Hyun stood up and asked.
"I'm going to the Dark Moon pack to get Ji-Won out of there." Hyun-Bin said.
"What?! Oppa are you out of your mind?! The alpha king will kill you both!" So-Hyun said as tears welled up in her eyes.
Hyun-Bin hugged his sister as he looked at her pleading eyes.
"I can't leave her there, Hyun. She's in danger. She's pregnant with my baby." Hyun-Bin said.
"Oppa! Do you realize what you've done?! This is serious. You are going against the gods, the law of the wolves and witches. How can you let this happen?!" So-Hyun yelled.
"I love her, Hyun. I love her more than my life. The alpha king abuses her and I won't just sit around and do nothing about it!" Hyun-Bin yelled back.
"He's her destined mate!" Soo-Hyun yelled even louder, hoping her brother could finally hear her and put some sense in his head.
"That doesn't give him any right to hurt her! Listen to me Hyun. I will do everything to get her out of there. If anything happens to me, promise me that you'll find Ji-Won and protect her at all cost." Hyun-Bin said.
"Oppa!" Soo-Hyun sobbed.
"Promise me." Hyun-Bin said, holding both his sister's arms gently.
"I-I promise." Soo-Hyun said before they hugged each other for the last time.
Soo-Hyun watched her brother walk away and fell on her knees sobbing when she couldn't see his back anymore.
BACK TO PRESENT TIME
Soo-Hyun let go of Taehyung's hand and looked at her nephew who was already crying. She got some tissues from her bag and handed it to Taehyung and used some to wipe her own tears.
"Y-you never saw him again after that?" Taehyung asked.
"No. When he didn't come home after several days, we knew something bad happened to them. Our parents were devastated. My appa died of a heartbreak for losing his only son. My eomma and I decided to move far away from our place and we ended up in a wolf pack whose alpha welcomed witches. It eventually became our home and we were able to move on somehow.
Eight years later, we met your parents. Your family stayed in our pack and that's when I first saw you. I sensed that you weren't just a normal wolf so I made an effort to get close to your family. It didn't take long for me and your eomma to get close. One day, I read his mind and I saw his memories. I saw Ji-Won noona. So, I told your eomma about the vision I saw and she eventually told me everything.
I told my eomma about it and she said that it would be best not to tell Jin oppa about us as we didn't want to cause more trouble for you and your family. We didn't want the mad alpha king to connect you to us as they were looking for us too. He wanted to wipe out all of Hyun-Bin oppa's family members and that scared us. So, eomma thought of a way to help you somehow.
We made protection charms for you and your siblings and gave it to Jin oppa. I was able to convince him that they will keep all of you safe. So, he accepted them.
But, I didn't stop there. I couldn't so I followed you wherever you went. And here, we are." So-Hyun explained.
Taehyung kept quiet and absorbed everything that So-Hyun said. And then he pondered,
"If you knew who I was then what was that test all about?" Taehyung asked.
"Oh you mean the apple?" So-Hyu asked and Taehyung nodded.
"I wasn't sure how much of a which you are. Some hybrids become squibbs — meaning they don't have magical powers making their werewolf nature more prominent. But, you have it in you, just like my oppa." So-Hyun said.
"If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? You seem to look much older than my real appa." Taehyung asked.
"Oh, I forgot about that. Hang on." So-Hyun said before closing her eyes.
Taehyung's eyes widened and he gasped. So-Hyun suddenly looked so much younger.
"I had to make myself look older to pass as a professor." So-Hyun giggled, making Taehyung feel more comfortable with her.
"So, should I call you auntie from now on?" Taehyung asked.
"Just call me by my name, Taehyung. Auntie sounds too old for me." So-Hyun said.
"Do you want to see my eomma Jin again?" Taehyung asked.
"That would be wonderful. I missed him. He was very nice and he treated me like his younger sister." So-Hyun said.
"Let's just take out our coffee?" Taehyung asked.
"Okay, Taehyung." So-Hyun said.
"Un, thank you for being here." Taehyung said.
"I 'm really glad that you're safe and I will make sure to keep it that way." So-Hyun said.
The waitress arrived with their orders and handed it to them. So-hyun paid for them and the two walked in comfortable silence to the pack house.
Taehyung invited So-Hyun inside and when they stepped in the living room, they heard someone squeal.
"So-Hyun-ahh!"
The next thing Tarhyung saw was his eomma frantically running towards So-Hyun, engulfing her in a tight hug.
"It's so good to see you again, So-Hyun." Jin said.
"Likewise, oppa." So-Hyun said happily.
"But, wait. Why are you two together and how do you know each other?" Jin asked.
"You might want to sit down for that, eomma. It's a very interesting story." Taehyung said.