WHELVE | TK

EIGHTEEN

Enjoy and sorry for any typos and mistakes

***

"We're going home
If we make it or we don't, we won't be alone
When I see your light shine, I know I'm home."

Taehyung turned around, staring at the pack one last time with tears in his eyes. They were about to leave, he, Jeongguk and all of their friends, leaving behind their parents and the children who were watching them with tears rolling down their cheeks.

Jeongguk cupped his cheek, wiping a tear away and making Taehyung look him in the eyes.

"They're on good hands." Jeongguk mumbled, his voice merely a whisper as he leaned in and pressed his lips on Taehyung's forehead. "If you wish to stay, I'll stay with you, pup. We can always return."

Shaking his head, Taehyung caught a hold of his wrists. "It's ok. We have to go."

Jeongguk nodded, then circled his arm around Taehyung's waist, bringing him closer. He then turned around, staring at everyone watching them.

When his crimson eyes locked onto another pair, Jeongguk bowed his head — a sign of respect and friendship. "Make sure everyone's safe and happy for us, alright? I'll come beat you up if I hear nonsense about your leadership."

Seungyoun, the head alpha, smirked from his spot at the center of the pack, his arm raising in a military salute towards his own leader — and friend.

"I'll do my best. I might make some mistakes on the way just so that you can come spare with me again."

Letting out a chuckle, Jeongguk shook his head, then turned towards the others. Jimin and Yoongi were behind them, the latter having an arm draped around Jimin's shoulders. Contrary to their passive aggressive behavior, they made quite a nice pair. Jeongguk's eyes then settles on Seokjin, the delta being accompanied by his own mate, just like he always was. Namjoon was very protective and Jeongguk was quite sure the alpha would've acted the same even if his mate wouldn't have been a delta, one of the rarest type of shapeshifters.

With a smile on his face, Jeongguk took his mate's hand, then nodded.

"Let's go see our home."

The walk back to the training grounds was familiar to Jeongguk and the others but Taehyung and Hoseok, who had decided to tag along, were constantly being amazed by the astonishing sceneries around them.

They had decided to walk in their human forms for a while so Jeongguk was currently admiring the scenery ahead of him as well — although it was not nature that had caught his eye.

What amazed him was the sight of his mate, who was laying down, humming a song as he threaded a few flowers into another flower crown, just like Jeongguk had taught him. He was so astonishingly pretty that Jeongguk couldn't believe his eyes.

He had never been able to grasp the fact that Taehyung was real — not when they were teenagers and madly in love, not even now, when he felt like he was falling in love once again, but deeper.

With warmth spreading through his whole body, Jeongguk left the others — who were munching on some food — behind, and walked towards his mate, laying down next to him and allowing Taehyung to drop the flower crown on his head.

As they stayed in their own world, Seokjin found himself smiling.

"What are you smiling at?" Yoongi asked, a teasing tone in his voice.

The delta simply shook his head, not wanting to share what he knew with the others.

"I'm just amazed by how much Jeongguk's changed." Was all he said before he resumed his lunch, hoping that everyone will forget.

And they did but Seokjin would never forget the memory that had passed through his mind while watching those too. A memory of them, during their first life together, with children running around them and a pack filled with love and warmth.

It was beautiful, everything about them and what they had managed to create but Seokjin felt like their memories from the past should be kept there, in the intimacy of the past so, with one last smile and glassy look thrown towards them, the delta erased his memories of The Primeval and his mate from his own former spirit wolf's vessel. They had been friends in their first life too but Seokjin didn't want those memories now.

They were Jeongguk and Taehyung now and they mattered the most.

***

Jeongguk frowned as he stepped into the training grounds once again, after only a few months of being away. It felt like home, even more so now that Taehyung was next to him.

As he looked around, at all the people watching them, at all the familiar faces he could see, he realized once again that the training grounds were not just that — a place made for training young warriors. That was the facade it wore in order to hide its true purpose.

That place on top of the mountain was where it had all started. Jeongguk now knew that somewhere deep into one of the caves no one was ever allowed to enter laid the shrine of The Primeval — he could feel it. He could also now see memories of days he had never lived — The Primeval's memories from his time spent there alongside his mate and family.

They were beautiful memories, so beautiful that Jeongguk felt his eyes become glassy whenever he saw those images.

Turning around to look at his mate, Jeongguk couldn't help but feel warmth spread to his body at the sight that awaited him. Taehyung was glowing — he glowed everywhere and at any time — but during those moments, in the place where everything had started, he seemed to own a greater light than before.

Not being able to restrain himself, Jeongguk waved Namjoon and a few other alphas off before he started to walk towards his mate. Taehyung saw him, his lips curling into a smile as he stepped away from Jimin and Yoongi.

They met each other halfway, as they always did, their arms reaching out for each other. Taehyung's hands settled around Jeongguk's neck just as his settled around his much smaller waist.

Taehyung nuzzled his head into his chest, embracing him, and Jeongguk — at that moment, with his mate in his arms and his friends watching them — felt the peaceful he's ever felt.

"We're home." Was all Taehyung said before he looked up, his eyes glistening.

Jeongguk let out a chuckle, leaning down to press a kiss on Taehyung's nose. "We've always been home, pup."

A frown appeared on Taehyung's face at that. "What do you mean?"

Pulling him even closer — not like it was even possible — Jeongguk laughed.

"You're my home. Every time I was with you I was home."

Taehyung laughed at that, telling him he was cheesy, but Jeongguk couldn't care less. He was finally happy, next to his mate, and he now knew that nothing could break them apart.

Not the secrets he had had to hide, not the fate of the primeval, not his parents.

There were no more secrets now and that thought was all it took in order to make Jeongguk smile — larger than ever. He took Taehyung in his arms, hearing his mate's laugh echo around them all, along the voices of their friends cheering for them.

"Now," Jeongguk mumbled as his eyes met Taehyung's. "I say it's time to settle into our new home."

Taehyung punched his shoulder as he ran through their house, still laughing, but Jeongguk never stopped.

Taehyung's laugher was the most melodious sound he has ever heard and he'd give anything to hear it until their last days.

***

Sigh I really wanna end this book

There's only the epilogue left