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trigger warning. Mention of death in this chapter.

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"The prodigal son has returned!"

Taehyung unconsciously stood up from the chair he was sitting on and looked at Jungkook with wide eyes. Those words and Jungkook's expression had the same warmth as a bucket of icy water.

"K-koo?"

Jungkook scoffed at that. "Haven't heard that in a while."

Taehyung couldn't believe what he was seeing actually. The person infront of him looked exactly like his Koo but behaved like the total opposite. Even V was confused as he could barely get his mate's scent. It was even weaker than the day they left when it should be much stronger now. Hell, both Taehyung and V was sure that Jungkook wolf would have been fully awakened long time ago, as he was very close to surfacing at that time too.

Jungkook turned his eyes away from Taehyung and looked at Yoona. His eyes marginally softened as he gave a soft smile to her and walked towards her bed.

"How are you doing today, Auntie?" Jungkook's voice had a hint of tenderness that Taehyung remembered. "Bet you're happy now that your son is here."

Yoona removed the oxygen mask again to give a small smile. "I-I can only be h-happy, when y-you two are happy.

"Well, I don't know about others but I'm happy."

"A-are you, Kookie?"

"I am. Can't you see I'm smiling?"

Yoona raised a feeble hand and placed it on Jungkook's cheek. She could see how the younger flinched from that touch but didn't made any movement to pull his face back.

"I-I w-want to see you s-smile like you smiled before. F-from your h-heart."

Jungkook gave a soft chuckle but Taehyung could clearly see that it wasn't a genuine one. If anything, that sounded rather sad to Taehyung. So did everyone else in the room.

"I think happiness is a flickering thing. Aren't you happy that I've found a different one?" Jungkook's voice held such powerful, raw emotions and Taehyung felt his heart clenche at that.

This was all his fault.

Yoona gave a smile again. "I am."

There was a silence for few minutes, where everyone just stood or sat silently, no one knowing what to say. Finally, it was Jungkook that broke the silence.

"I don't like that he's here." Jungkook's voice was barely a whisper but everyone heard it clearly. "You've been holding on till he came, right? Now that he's here, will you let go?"

Yoona face was filled with pain but it was not due to her physical condition. "Kookie-"

"Will you leave me too?"

Sonmi couldn't stop the sob that passed her lips and Yoona turned to give her a soft smile too. She and Sonmi had been best friends for a long time, it was so hard for both of them.

Junghyun took a step closer to Taemin and put his hand over the latter's shoulder. Losing a mate is the hardest thing a werewolf had to go through. Some even lose their minds with the grief. Taemin will need all the support he can get.

Yoona looked around at the faces of her loved ones. Her husband, her son, friends, people that are most important ones in her life. It pained her heart that she has to leave them.

Taehyung sat on the other side of the bed and Taemin walked to sat next to Yoona's head to give a soft kiss to her forehead. Sonmi was crying softly in Junghyun's arms as they all prepared to bid farewell to Yoona.

Yoona's eyes lingered at Taehyung for a long time, trying to compensate for not being able to look at it for the past year and half, before it finally stopped at Jungkook.

"I-I'm sorry, K-kookie. I'm very tired. L-let me have some r-rest now."

A single tear fell down from Jungkook's eye and he quickly wiped it off. It was after a very long time that Jungkook let himself feel emotions. He normally had everything closed down tightly in his heart.

"What right do I have to hold back anyone, Auntie?" Jungkook asked in a melancholy voice. "When they want to go, they go. No one cares about the people they leave behind."

Taehyung felt his heart breaking for the nth time, today. Those words were directed at him, he knew that very well. And Jungkook was not yet done talking.

"But you know, world doesn't stop for anyone. We just have to move on, whether we like it or not."

"Oh baby.." Yoona cried as she raised her arms weakly for a hug.

Jungkook stiffened for a second. He didn't let anyone hug him or touch him anymore. Not to anyone who loved him. Yoona could see the hesitation in Jungkook's eyes so she decided to use the final card she had at her disposal.

"D-deathbed p-privileges?"

Jungkook's resolve broke and he gently and carefully lowered himself in to Yoona's welcoming arms. He laid his head next to her shoulder, while being careful of all the tubes attached to her wrist. Yoona cradled the younger boy, remembering the very first time she held him. She was the one who literally welcomed the baby in to the world, being the first pair of arms that held him when he was born.

She would have liked to keep on staying like that, but the moment passed too soon. Jungkook pulled back and gave a soft kiss to Yoona's hand. It was his way of saying good bye.

Junghyun and Sonmi left the room after saying their own good byes, leaving only the family behind. It was their private moment, the last few ones to spend as a family.

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Yoona passed away that night, after struggling for months to hold on. Everyone knew it was inevitable but still, the wave of grief that gripped the pack was unbearable. Every one loved and respected Yoona and her presence will surely be missed.

The funeral process were simple and heartfelt, just like Yoona herself was. Taehyung grieved the lose of his mother and his heart was crushed by the guilt too. For not being able to be a good son and not being there in her time of difficulty.

Apart from mourning for his mother, Taehyung and V collectively felt guilty for Jungkook's state. They both knew that they were the sole cause for the younger's attitude change.

They made a sweet, kind and compassionate boy burned in to dust, and something totally different was rebuilt from the ashes.