"Hyung, I can't come. I don't wanna intrude." Jungkook said with a apologetic smile but Jin just shook his head.

"It'll be okay, Jungkook. It's a family event."

"Exactly! It should be family only."

"Oh shush!! They're gonna love you. Come with us."

"Hyung, I-"

"Jungkook, It'll take one day each for the travel so me and Joonie will be gone for three days. You will have to stay alone. Unless-" Jin's voice was much softer this time. "Unless you go back."

Jungkook's face saddened at that. This was the 3rd day he's staying in Jin and Namjoon's house, hoping Taehyung would come and meet him. But every night, he had to go to sleep with a pained heart.

Jin offered take him to Taehyung's place, but Jungkook refused. Part of it was because it's inappropriate and Jungkook didn't want to force Taehyung in to something. But the other part, the more important one, was that Jungkook was scared.

He was scared about another rejection. He was scared that Taehyung might use even more harsh words to chase him away this time. Jungkook may now know the reason behind Taehyung's action but his words of rejection still felt like knife stabs to Jungkook's heart.

Jungkook was worried that he wouldn't be able to hear Taehyung saying he doesn't want him one more time. He was sure that it will break his heart beyond repair.

But, even though Taehyung hadn't showed any sign of wavering, Jungkook wouldn't give up. He couldn't. He thought he had buried all feelings he had for Taehyung but guess a life time of loving would not fade away that easily. All it took was one spark, a hope of a hope, and Jungkook felt as his whole world shifted again.

His world was drifting away in the universe, without a proper direction. But now, it corrected its orbit back to revolve around its sun. Taehyung is the center of Jungkook's universe. Always has been, always will be.

"No." Jungkook whispered in a soft voice. "I won't go back without him."

Jin felt his heart ache at that. He knew the whole story, for Jungkook had told him in the first day itself. Jin didn't tell it to anyone, not even Namjoon, because it was not his story to tell.

He understood Taehyung's side perfectly. If in a similar situation, he would have done anything and everything to protect Namjoon. His own happiness or wellbeing doesn't hold a candle against Namjoon's life.

But at the same time, he understood where Jungkook is coming from too. The younger is perfectly justified in his actions. Right or wrong, it was his life. He should have a say in it. He should be allowed to chase what he wanted. Future is not set in a stone anyway.

"Okay, that's settled then. You're coming with us." Jin said as he ruffled the younger's hair affectionately.

"Hyung, are you sure-"

"Joonie! Back me up here, please!!"

Namjoon, who had been watching some entertainment program on TV, turned towards his husband. "Yes, love. What is it?"

"Tell him it's okay to come with us to your uncle's wedding anniversary."

Namjoon gave a soft smile at the way Jungkook was looking at him. Wide eyes and hesitant smile. Despite the apparent tough nature normally associated with tattoos and piercings, Namjoon didn't fail to read the vulnerability and pain behind the younger's bambi eyes.

It made him want to protect Jungkook. And Namjoon could very well see how that same instinct is in Jin's eyes, but multiple by about 100 times.

"Of course it's okay. They would love your company." Namjoon said in a gentle tone.

But he said it in a way that left no room for objections. That charisma is what made Jungkook stare at the elder with awestruck eyes. Jungkook couldn't help but nod his head. He wouldn't dare argue with Namjoon.

Jungkook was distracted with fanboy-ing over Namjoon, that he didn't notice the look shared by Jin and Namjoon.

One had a question in his eyes, while the other had a reassuring gaze.

____________________________________

Jimin was being hugged and kissed by 50 or so relatives for the past 20 minutes. It was too much for him to handle so he skillful sneaked in to the garden, where it seemed like less crowded. His uncle's family doesn't really understand the concept of a 'small gathering' so he was not really surprised at the head count.

Jimin just wanted few minutes to breath, before going back inside but what he saw, stopped him on his tracks. He quickly walked towards the guy, who was looking the way and didn't notice Jimin.

"Uhh.. What are you doing here?" Jimin tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice but failed miserably.

Jimin knew very well that the younger man didn't deserve his tone but he could help it. He was annoyed, angry and confused. But mostly, he was feeling guilty.

Guilty because after watching his friend be listless and dejected and just mope around for days, Jimin finally convinced Taehyung to come to this party. Jimin thought that a change of scenery and routine will be good for Taehyung. He needed a distraction from the constant heartache.

And to think that Jimin unknowingly brought Taehyung to the same place as the reason his heartache.

Jungkook turned around at those words and his eyes widened in suprise to see Jimin. "What are you doing here?!"

Jimin scoffed at that but answered anyway. "This is my uncle's wedding anniversary."

Jungkook gulped uncomfortably. "I-I came with Namjoon and Jin hyung."

Jimin swore loudly at that. He knew Jungkook was staying at Namjoon's place. He should have realised the possibility of the younger accompanying them.

"You really want to mess up Taehyung's life huh?"

Jungkook's eyes widened even more at the implications of that sentence and he turned his head to look at the crowd. "H-he's here?"

"Oh please!" Jimin rolled his eyes at that. "You want me to believe you didn't knew that already?! You made it your mission to stalk any and every place he might come!"

Jungkook wanted to tell one or two things he thought about Jimin, or maybe let his fist speak again, but the unmistakable scent of his mate stopped his words.

""

Jungkook could very well feel the excitement of his wolf, and it was making him giddy too. He could finally see Taehyung, after days.

Jungkook tried to turn and walk away but Jimin stopped him by grabbing his arm. "Why can't you take a hint? He doesn't want to be with you. Fucking give him a break!"

Jungkook pulled his hand out of Jimin's grasp harshly. "What I do with him, is none of your business. For God's sake, leave ilus the fuck alone!"

"You know, you're pretty confident for a guy who cheated on him."

Jungkook wasn't really listening to the first part as both he and JK were trying to locate Taehyung through the crowd. But the last part about cheating caught his attention.

"What?!"

"Why are you after him anyway? Clearly you made other choices than being faithful to him."

Jungkook took a step forward and grabbed Jimin's collar. "What the fuck are you talking about? I didn't cheat on him."

Jimin scoffed at that. He couldn't believe the nerve of this guy, who is still trying to lie. So he's a lier, as well as being clingy.

"You're wolf bond or whatever lets Taehyung know when you sleep with someone." Jimin watched as Jungkook's eyes widened in suprise. "Bet you didn't knew that!"

Jungkook released Jimin's collar and took few unsteady steps back. His mind was in chaos. He didn't betray Taehyung. He would never do that. What was this guy talking about?

Jimin felt a little uneasy at the shocked expression on the younger's face. It looked as if he was genuinely surprised. Jimin knew that he shouldn't keep on meddling with their business like that, but what else was he supposed to do?

If Taehyung wanted to be with this guy, Jimin will never do anything to stop that. But for whatever reason, Taehyung doesn't. Jimim may not know what's entitled when you are mates but he could take a good guess that loyalty is one of them.

He knows Taehyung never even thought about someone else like that but clearly, this guy doesn't uphold the same values. Jimin doesn't know about the history shared by these two but if Taehyung says he doesn't want to get involved with Jungkook, Jimin will help in any way he can.

"H-he thinks I slept with someone?"

"He knows you slept with someone. Knew it the minute you started." Jimin looked at the younger with angry gaze. "You know, I may have unknowingly called him a cheating bastard and a whore, but actually, you're the one suited for those words."

Jungkook felt his heart break, little by little. It was not for the words Jimin was saying. Heck, he didn't fucking care what the other would call him. He knows he never did anything like that.

No, Jungkook's heart was breaking cause he could very well sense Taehyung standing behind him. Within hearing distance.

Jungkook felt a tear slipping pass his eye as the silence dragged on. He was hoping, and hoping, till it seemed to a point of idiocy to hope anymore. He wiped the tear drop before turning around to face Taehyung.

The elder stood there with an expressionless face. He was looking back and forth at Jungkook and Jimin, while the youngest of them only had eyes for him.

Jungkook slowly walked toward Taehyung and stopped about two steps away. JK was, for a lack of better word, crying in his mind. The accusation of being unfaithful was even harder for the wolf to take.

"Guess you really have changed." Jungkook's voice was barely a whisper, but the screaming pain it had was so loud. "You would never let anyone talk about me like that. You would rip their heads out for me."

Taehyung felt his heart break at that sorrowful tone. Yes, he badly wanted to stop Jimin from saying these stuff but he was just so shocked. Getting Jungkook's scent here, having a debate with his own about whether to look for the younger or runaway from there, having spent about 5 agonising minutes trying to find him, and to finally hear the latter part of Jimin's and Jungkook's conversation.. it was too overwhelming for Taehyung.

He couldn't react in time, and stop Jimin from saying those stuff to Jungkook.

"Do you also think that I did something like that? Is that why you avoided me? Do you really not love me anymore?" Jungkook threw questions after question, not really focused about getting answers. His head was hung low, so neither saw each other's expressions.

"I didn't do it." Jungkook's voice was soft but it rang with a note of truth. "I survived a lot of things you said and done. But if you tell me I did this.. I won't be able to take it. It will break me."

Jungkook finally raised his head to look at Taehyung and the elder was shocked to see those tears filled eyes.

"Is this how you will kill me, hyungie?"

Few things happened at the same time. Both wolves howled in their respective minds with so much power, that for a second, Taehyung's and Jungkook's eyes flashed their red and blue.

Jungkook fell forward, as if his legs ran out of the strength to stand up. He would have fallen to the ground, if not for the sturdy hands that held him, and a chest he was made to lean on.

"Shut up!! I'm doing all this so that you will live. How dare you talk about dying?!" Taehyung pulled the younger back and looked in to his eyes. "How fucking dare you say something like that?!"

Jungkook cried. He cried like he hasn't cried in a long time. Taehyung could watch that only for a second, before he pulled the younger in to a tight embrace.

"Shh... it's okay. Please don't cry, baby." Taehyung whispered in to Jungkook's ear as he ran a soothing hand over the younger's back. "My baby."

"H-hyungie." Jungkook's voice sounded strained as he struggled to speak between his shaking sobs. "I-it h-hurts, hyungie. M-make it s-stop."

Taehyung tightened his arms around Jungkook even more, when he felt the younger shaking. Those sobs seem to be ripping his body in to pieces and Taehyung's hands were the only thing that was holding it whole.

"I will, Koo." Taehyung placed a soft kiss on to the side of the younger's head. "It won't hurt, ever again."

That made Jungkook cry even more, and with sweet words and kisses to the head every few seconds, Taehyung patiently waited till he calmed down.

Once Jungkook's sobs and muffled cries reduced a bit, only then Taehyung loosened his hold a bit too. But the moment he did that, Jungkook panicked and tightened his arms around the elder.

"D-don't leave me." Jungkook's voice sounds panicked and desperate. "P-please don't leave me again."

"Shh.. stop crying, Koo. I'm not leaving." Taehyung gave another kiss to the side of Jungkook's head and whispered in to his hair. "I'm done running."

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- Omg, it was too long but I didn't want to stop half way. You guys have been sad for a long time, and I wanted to finish the angsty part today.. hope you liked it. 🥰🥰🥰