WHELVE | TK

NINE

I don't know if any of you realized but in the first chapter I offered some hints.

Shifters with monochrome fur are descendants of the royal clans

Jimin and Yoongi are officially royal alphas, both descendants of two different royal clans

So yes, Jimin and Yoongi are both royalty

Sorry for any typos

***

When they got back, Jimin was sitting with Hoseok on a bench, laughing at something the other was telling him, a sight that made Taehyung's body fill with warmth. Before he could walk towards them, he turned around, meeting Jeongguk's gaze.

"I'll go now." The other nodded, a soft smile on his face, neither of them actually making an attempt to distance themselves. "Good luck hunting."

Taehyung turned around but he could still feel Jeongguk's eyes on him as he walked towards Jimin and Hoseok. However, after a few seconds, he heard shuffles behind him and knew that Jeongguk has shifted in order to return to his friends and proceed with their hunting trip.

"He's intense, to say the least." Was the first thing Jimin said once Taehyung reached them, a cheeky smile on his lips. "That was Jeongguk, right?"

Sitting down next to his friend, Taehyung sighed, then nodded. "He is. Sorry for him, he's been different ever since he came back."

When the younger looked up at his friend, Jimin was frowning as he looked into the distance. "What do you mean different?"

"He used to be more childish and he had a soft side to him but now it seems like he's always angry or on edge. And I noticed that he can't control his wolf as well as before."

Jimin hummed but, fortunately, he changed the subject. They stayed there, together, for at least two hours, laughing, but their attention was quickly diverted when a group of shifted wolves stepped into the background, Jeongguk walking ahead of them all. From his aura and from the way he walked, Taehyung could tell he was on edge again. The ones behind him were sulking, with their heads bowed down and, again, they must've communicated to their own bond because, at one point, Jeongguk hastily turned around and snapped its jaw towards Seungyoun, a gesture that forced Taehyung to raise from his spot.

"Jeongguk," he called out loud, walking closer to the others. He didn't like that fact that the other was taking his anger out on his friends and, even if he didn't have a right to do so, Taehyung still felt the need to calm the other down. "don't take it out on him."

His fated mate did turn around after hearing his voice, his eyes softer but that anger still present behind his red irises. The air around him was so intense, so thick, that Taehyung's body shivered visibly and he unknowingly took a step back. His body collided with Jimin's and, before Taehyung could even realize, the other stepped in front of him so that he was eye to eye with the huge wolf in front of him.

Unlike them all, Jimin didn't seem fazed by the thick air around Jeongguk.

"Listen here you, dumbass," he mumbled, making Taehyung and Hoseok gasp and the people behind Jeongguk softly growl. Even if they were scared of their considered leader, they still felt the need to protect Jeongguk. "you gotta accept it in order to control it. They didn't teach you anything in that camp, did they?"

Taehyung's body filled with fear at Jimin's voice because he knew that Jeongguk didn't like to be looked down onto by anyone so he feared that his mate would pound on the other again. However, surprisingly, Jeongguk simply growled before he walked past them and went towards his cabin, probably to change. Both him and Jimin watched the others do the same and, after a few more minutes, they all came back fully changed, with Seungyoun trialing after Jeongguk, his head bowed.

As they neared them, Taehyung could pick up on some of Jeongguk's words.

"Do that mistake again and I won't allow you to come hunting anymore. We lost everything because of your impatience."

So that's why he seemed so angry. They probably couldn't catch anything because of Seungyoun's mistake.

When all of them finally reached the part in which he, Jimin and Hoseok were seated, Jeongguk towered over them, his tattoos on show since he was wearing a sleeveless top.

"I need to talk to you." Was the only thing he said before he walked away and stepped into the forest, Jimin shrugging towards him and Hoseok before he quickly followed.

***

Taehyung  knew it wasn't right to do so but he couldn't stop himself from trailing after the two men. He was curious as to why Jeongguk wanted to talk to Jimin after he almost snapped his neck off and he was even more curious to find out if Jimin knew things he didn't. He did his best to keep his presence hidden and, to do that, he even put on Yoongi's necklace that he didn't wear anymore, ever since Jeongguk came back due to the fact that he didn't want him to see it. It was a mating ritual necklace craved from a special wood that could block his scent, it was, as Yoongi told him, a way for him to protect Taehyung when he wasn't there.

Taehyung was grateful to have it now since it could block his scent from the two shifters talking in the forest.

Once he was close enough to hear their words, Taehyung hid himself behind a tree, holding the necklace in his hands as he focused on their voices.

"You did what?" Jimin asked bewildered, anger being present in his voice. "Do you know how serious that is?"

If he would've come sooner he would've heard the rest of the conversation but Taehyung had to go retrieve the necklace from his room. However, he was glad he could even hear the rest.

"I had to do it and it's not like he didn't agree. He wanted to help me. He says it's his way of showing me that he cares, a way of him showing me that he's sorry for all these years. Like I care." Jeongguk mumbled softly, a touch of sadness present in his voice. "It kept me sane there. His helping hand somehow kept me sane in that hellhole. What he did for me—it was enough to keep me grounded for years. I felt like I was turning mad—I still do."

Jimin sighed at that and, for a few seconds, there were only shuffles, like one of them was pacing back and forth.

"Why didn't they teach you control?" He asked, his steps finally stopping.

"You know why." Was all Jeongguk answered. "The difference between you and me can even be seen in our wolves. Yours has white fur, is known to be calm and peaceful. You saw mine. They thought I was a monster from the beginning and, when that moment came, they realized I was worse than a monster. No one could teach me control because my wolf wouldn't accept someone that was weaker giving it orders."

"But there was one that could've taught you control. Where was he? I know the legends, I know there's a royal wolf out there who's strong enough to conquer anyone."

There was silence for a few seconds, a silence so thick that Taehyung feared they were going to hear his heartbeat.

When Jeongguk finally spoke, his words made Taehyung gasp softly in surprise.

"Yea, he's the one who helped me all those years but he still couldn't conquer me. Jimin, my blood no longer belongs to a purebred alpha."

The gasp that Jimin left out made Taehyung realize that the secret Jeongguk was hiding from everyone was indeed a huge one. And the moment he decided to look behind him, at the two men, he was surprised to see a wide eyed Jimin, sitting on one knee, in front of Jeongguk.

A man coming from a royal lineage was bowing in front of his mate and that sight made Taehyung question everything about Jeongguk's existence.

Who was Jeongguk and what was he hiding from them all?

***

WHELVE — to bury something deep; to hide

This chapter might be confusing but I think you're all used to that by now if you've read more of my books haha

Things will get sorted out in the future I promise